[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 181 (Monday, September 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48095-48096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22629]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Proposed Renewal of Agency Information Collection for Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Contracts

AGENCIES: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior and Indian Health 
Services, Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Indian Health Service 
(IHS) are proposing to submit the information collection, titled 
``Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act Programs, 25 
CFR 900'' to the Office of Management and Budget for renewal. The 
current approval, designated by OMB Control Number 1076-0136, expires 
on February 28, 2010. The information is collected to process 
contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements for award by the BIA and 
the IHS, as authorized by the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act. The Department of the Interior and the Department of 
Health and Human Services invite you to submit comments on the proposed 
renewal, as described below.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
November 20, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection to the 
Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior, by facsimile at (202) 
395-5806 or you may send an e-mail to: [email protected].
    Please send copy of comments to Terry Parks, Office of Indian 
Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, 1849 C 
Street, NW., Mail Stop 4520, Washington, DC 20240, Facsimile: (202) 
208-5113.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may request further information or 
obtain copies of the information collection request submission from 
Terry Parks, telephone: (202) 513-7625.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Representatives of the BIA and IHS seek renewal of the approvals 
for information collections conducted under their joint rule, 25 CFR 
part 900, implementing the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act, as amended (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.). The Act required 
the joint rule to govern how contracts and grants are awarded to Indian 
tribes, thereby avoiding the unnecessary burden or confusion associated 
with two sets of rules and information collection requirements. See 25 
U.S.C. 450k(a)(2)(A)(ii). There is no change to the approved burden 
hours for this information collection.
    The information requirements for this joint rule represent 
significant differences from other agencies in several respects. Both 
the BIA and IHS let contracts for multiple programs whereas other 
agencies usually award single grants to tribes. Under the Act, tribes 
are entitled to contract and may renew contracts annually, whereas 
other agencies provide grants on a discretionary or competitive basis.
    The BIA and IHS use the information collected to determine 
applicant eligibility, evaluate applicant capabilities, protect the 
service population, safeguard Federal funds and other resources, and 
permit the Federal agencies to administer and evaluate contract 
programs. Tribal governments or tribal organizations provide the 
information by submitting Public Law 93-638 contract or grant proposals 
to the appropriate Federal agency. No third party notification or 
public disclosure burden is associated with this collection. Approval 
for the collection expires on February 28, 2010.

II. Request for Comments

    The BIA and IHS request that you send your comments on this 
collection to the locations listed in the ADDRESSES section. Your 
comments should address: (a) The necessity of the information 
collection for the proper performance of the agencies, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of the agencies' estimate of the burden (hours and cost) of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (c) ways we could enhance the quality, utility 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways we could 
minimize the burden of the collection of the information on the 
respondents, such as through the use of automated collection techniques 
or other forms of information technology.
    Please note that an agency may not sponsor or conduct, and an 
individual need not respond to, a collection of information unless it 
has a valid OMB Control Number.
    It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for 
review at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section during the hours 
of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday except for 
legal holidays. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 
address or other personally identifiable information, be advised that 
your entire comment--including your personally identifiable 
information--may be made public at any time. While you may request that 
we withhold your personally identifiable information, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1076-0136.
    Title: Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Contracts, 25 CFR 900.
    Brief Description of Collection: An Indian tribe or tribal 
organization may be required to respond from 1 to 12 times per year, 
depending upon the number of programs they contract from the BIA and 
IHS. Each response may vary in its length. In addition, each subpart of 
25 CFR part 900 concerns different parts of the contracting process. 
For example, Subpart C relates to provisions of the contents for the 
initial contract proposal. The burden associated with this would not be 
used when contracts are renewed. Subpart F describes minimum standards 
for the management systems used by Indian tribes or tribal 
organizations under these contracts. Subpart G addresses the 
negotiability of all reporting and data requirements in the contract.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Respondents: Federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal 
organizations.
    Number of Respondents: 550.
    Total Number of Responses: 5,267.
    Estimated Time per Response: Varies from 10 to 50 hours, with an 
average of 45 hours per response.
    Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 219,792 hours.


[[Page 48096]]


    Dated: August 19, 2009.
Alvin Foster,
Chief Information Officer, Bureau of Indian Affairs.

    Dated: September 9, 2009.
Randy Grinnell,
Deputy Director of Indian Health Services.
[FR Doc. E9-22629 Filed 9-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-4J-P