[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 46 (Friday, March 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15035-15036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05498]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Extension, Without Changes of Agency Information Collection for 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Contracts

AGENCIES:  Bureau of Indian Affairs, DOI, and Indian Health Service, 
HHS.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, which requires 60 days for public comment on 
proposed information collection projects, the Bureau of Indian Affairs 
(BIA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) are publishing for comment, a 
summary of a proposed information collection, titled ``Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Contracts, 25 CFR part 900,'' to 
be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. 
The information is collected to process contracts, grants or 
cooperative agreements (contracts) for award by BIA and IHS, as 
authorized by the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (ISDEAA), as amended (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.). This previously 
approved information collection (OMB Control Number 1076-0136) expires 
May 31, 2013.

DATES: Submit comments on or before May 7, 2013.
    Send Comments To: You may submit comments regarding the BIA 
information collection activities (OMB Control No. 1076-0136) to Terry 
Parks, Division Chief, BIA Office of Indian Services, 1849 C Street 
NW., Mail Stop 4513, Washington, DC 20240; send via facsimile to (202) 
208-5113; or send via email to [email protected]. Comments 
relating to the IHS information collection activities (OMB Control No. 
1076-0136) may be sent to Roselyn Tso, Acting Director, IHS Office of 
Direct Services and Contracting Tribes (ODSCT), 801 Thompson Ave., Ste. 
220, Rockville, MD 20852; send via facsimile to (301) 443-4446; or send 
via email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Parks through the methods listed 
in the above section or by calling (202) 513-7625 regarding the BIA 
information collection activities (OMB Control No. 1076-0136); and 
contact Roselyn Tso through the methods listed in the above

[[Page 15036]]

section or by calling (301) 443-1104, regarding the IHS information 
collection activities (OMB Control No. 1076-0136).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Representatives of the BIA and IHS seek renewal of the approval for 
information collections conducted under their joint rule, 25 CFR part 
900, implementing the ISDEAA. The Act requires the joint rule to govern 
how contracts 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). 
The joint rule at 25 CFR part 900 was developed through negotiated 
rulemaking with tribes in 1996 and governs, among other things, what 
must be included in a tribe's initial ISDEAA contract proposal to the 
BIA or IHS. 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. Under 
the Act, the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and the 
Department of the Interior are directed to enter into self-
determination contracts with tribes upon request, unless specific 
declination criteria apply, and, generally, tribes may renew these 
contracts annually, whereas other agencies provide grants on a 
discretionary or competitive basis. Both the BIA and IHS award 
contracts for multiple programs whereas other agencies usually award 
single grants to tribes.
    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 proposals to the 
appropriate Federal agency. No third party notification or public 
disclosure burden is associated with this collection.

II. Request for Comments

    The BIA and IHS request your comments on this collection 
concerning: (a) The necessity of this information collection for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's 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.
    Please note that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, 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. Before 
including your address, phone number, email address or other personally 
identifiable information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, 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 part 900.
    Brief Description of Collection: An Indian tribe or tribal 
organization is required to submit this information each time that it 
proposes to contract with BIA or IHS under the ISDEAA. 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 respondents do not incur the burden associated 
with subpart C when contracts are renewed. Subpart F describes minimum 
standards for 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 contracts. 
Responses are required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents: Federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal 
organizations.
    Number of Respondents: 550.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 5,267.
    Estimated Time per Response: Varies from 10 to 50 hours, with an 
average of 45 hours per response.
    Frequency of Response: Each time programs are contracted from the 
BIA or IHS under the ISDEAA.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 219,792 hours.
    Comment Due Date: Your comments regarding this information 
collection are best assured of having their full effect if received 
within 60-days of the date of this publication.

    Dated: February 28, 2013.
John Ashley,
Acting Assistant Director for Information Resources, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs.
    Dated: February 25, 2013.
Yvette Roubideaux,
Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-05498 Filed 3-7-13; 8:45 am]
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