[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9915-9916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-03720]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[DR.5A211.IA000413]


Contract Support Costs

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of tribal consultation.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, in conjunction with 
the Acting Director, Indian Health Service (IHS), will conduct a 
consultation session with Indian tribes to work together to identify 
long-term solutions concerning contract support costs (CSC) as it 
relates to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

DATES: The listening session will be held on March 11, 2014, from 9:00 
a.m. to noon. Written comments must be received April 22, 2014.

ADDRESSES: See the SUPPLMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for 
the location of the tribal consultation session. Submit comments by 
email to: [email protected] or by U.S. mail to: Office of the 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, 
attn: Sequoyah Simermeyer, Mail Stop 3071 MIB, 1849 C Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sequoyah Simermeyer, Deputy Chief of 
Staff, Office of the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, (202) 208-
7163.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, in 
conjunction with the Acting Director, IHS, will conduct a consultation 
session on Contract Support Costs (CSC) as part of the National 
Congress of American Indians Executive Winter Session, Westin 
Washington DC City Center--Monticello Ballroom, 1400 M Street NW., 
Washington, DC, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, on Tuesday, March 11, 2014.
    The FY 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act includes funding to 
implement the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 
1975 for both the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the IHS. The Act 
does not specify a limit on the amount of such funds available in FY 
2014 for the payment of CSC, nor does it include the proposal put forth 
in the Administration's FY 2014 budget request that would place a cap 
on the CSC amounts available for each tribal contract or compact. 
Instead, as set forth in the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying 
the Act, Congress ``remanded back to the agencies to resolve'' the 
determination of CSC amounts to be paid from within the FY 2014 
appropriation.
    Congress further directed the BIA and the IHS to consult with the 
tribes and work with the House and Senate committees of jurisdiction, 
the Office of Management and Budget, and the Committees on 
Appropriations to formulate long-term accounting, budget, and 
legislative strategies that will yield solutions going forward. 
Congress indicated that the BIA and the IHS should consider a 
standardized approach that streamlines the contract negotiation 
process, provides consistent and clear cost categories, and ensures 
efficient and timely cost documentation for the agencies and the 
Tribes. A work plan is due to Congress on May 17, 2014 (120 days from 
enactment of the appropriations bill) for both the BIA and the IHS, and 
this consultation will help

[[Page 9916]]

inform the development of the work plan.

    Dated: February 14, 2014.
Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-03720 Filed 2-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P