[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23331-23333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9672]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI) Funding 
Solicitations and Reporting: Comment Request

AGENCIES: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Submission to the Office of Management and Budget.

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SUMMARY: The Division of Economic Development (DED), Office of Indian 
Energy and Economic Development (IEED) seeks to spur job growth and 
sustainable economies on American Indian reservations. The DED created 
the Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI) to provide 
tribes and tribal businesses with expert advice regarding economic 
development matters. In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, DED is seeking comments on a proposed information collection 
related to the NABDI's funding of economic development feasibility 
studies (studies) and long-term strategic, reservation-wide economic 
development plans (plans). Federally recognized Indian tribes, on their 
own behalf or on behalf of tribally owned business, may apply for the 
funding by providing certain information. Applicants receiving funding 
must provide a final report summarizing the progress of and results of 
studies and plans. This notice requests comments on the information

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collection associated with the application and final report.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
May 26, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection to the 
Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at the Office of 
Management and Budget, by facsimile to (202) 395-5806 or you may send 
an e-mail to: [email protected]. Please send a copy of your 
comments to Mr. Victor Christiansen, Division of Economic Development, 
Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, U.S. Department of 
the Interior, Room 14--South Interior Building, 1951 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20245, fax (202) 208-4564; e-mail: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may request further information 
from Mr. Victor Christiansen, Division of Economic Development, Office 
of Indian Energy and Economic Development, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, Telephone: (202) 219-0739. You may review the ICR online at 
http://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of 
the Interior collections under review by OMB.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The DED established the NABDI to provide technical assistance 
funding to federally recognized American Indian tribes seeking to 
retain universities and colleges, private consulting firms, non-
academic/non-profit entities, or others to prepare studies of economic 
development opportunities or plans. These studies and plans will 
empower American Indian tribes and tribal businesses to make informed 
decisions regarding their economic futures. Studies may concern the 
viability of an economic development project or business or the 
practicality of a technology a tribe may choose to pursue. The DED will 
specifically exclude from consideration proposals for research and 
development projects, requests for funding of salaries for tribal 
government personnel, funding to pay legal fees, and requests for 
funding for the purchase or lease of structures, machinery, hardware or 
other capital items. Plans may encompass future periods of five years 
or more and include one or more economic development factors including 
but not limited to land and retail use, industrial development, 
tourism, energy, resource development and transportation.
    This is an annual program whose primary objective is to create jobs 
and foster economic activity within tribal communities. The DED will 
administer the program within IEED; and studies and plans as described 
herein will be the sole discretionary projects DED will consider or 
fund absent a competitive bidding process. When funding is available, 
DED will solicit proposals for studies and plans. To receive these 
funds, tribes may use the contracting mechanism established by Public 
Law 93-638, the Indian Self-Determination Act or may obtain adjustments 
to their funding from the Office of Self-Governance. See 25 U.S.C. 450 
et seq.
    Interested applicants must submit a tribal resolution requesting 
funding, a statement of work describing the project for which the study 
is requested or the scope of the plan envisioned, the identity of the 
academic institution or other entity the applicant wishes to retain (if 
known) and a budget indicating the funding amount requested and how it 
will be spent. The DED expressly retains the authority to reduce or 
otherwise modify proposed budgets and funding amounts.
    Applications for funding will be juried and evaluated on the basis 
of a proposed project's potential to generate jobs and economic 
activity on the reservation.

II. Request for Comments

    The DED requests that you send your comments on this collection to 
the location 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 our 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.-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: 1076-0XXX.
    Type of Review: New.
    Title: Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI) 
Funding Solicitations and Reporting.
    Brief Description of Collection: Indian tribes that would like to 
apply for NABDI funding must submit an application that includes 
certain information. A complete application must contain:
     A duly-enacted, signed resolution of the governing body of 
the tribe;
     A proposal describing the planned activities and 
deliverable products; and
     The identity (if known) of the academic institution, 
private consultant, non-profit/non-academic entity, or other entity the 
tribe has chosen to perform the study or prepare the plan; and
     A detailed budget estimate, including contracted personnel 
costs, travel estimates, data collection and analysis costs, and other 
expenses, though DED reserves authority to reduce or otherwise modify 
this budget.
    The DED requires this information to ensure that it provides 
funding only to those projects that meet the economic development and 
job creation goals for which NABDI was established. Applications will 
be evaluated on the basis of the proposed project's potential to 
generate jobs and economic activity on the reservation. Upon completion 
of the funded project, a tribe must then submit a final report 
summarizing events, accomplishments, problems and/or results in 
executing the project. The DED estimates that approximately 20 tribes 
will apply each year, and that DED will accept approximately all 20 
into the program annually.
    Respondents: Indian tribes with trust or restricted land.
    Number of Respondents: 20 applicants per year; 20 project 
participants each year.
    Estimated Time per Response: 40 hours per application; 1.5 hours 
per report.
    Frequency of Response: Once per year for applications and final 
report.
    Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 830 hours (800 for applications 
and 30 for final reports).


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    Dated: April 11, 2011.
Alvin Foster,
Acting Chief Information Officer--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-9672 Filed 4-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-4J-P