[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34686-34687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15678]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[178A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G]


Agency Information Collection Activities: OMB Control Number 
1076-0178; Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI) 
Funding Solicitations and Reporting

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs is

[[Page 34687]]

seeking comments on the renewal of Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) approval for the collection of information for the Native 
American Business Development Institute (NABDI) Funding Solicitation 
and Reporting authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0178. This 
information collection expires September 30, 2017.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 25, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection to Mr. 
Jack Stevens, Division Chief, Office of Indian Energy and Economic 
Development, Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, 1951 Constitution 
Avenue NW., MS-20 SIB, Washington, DC 20240; facsimile: (202) 208-4564; 
email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jack Stevens, (202) 208-6764.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Division of Economic Development (DED), within the Office of 
Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), established the Native 
American Business Development Institute (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 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 IEED requests 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 personal 
identifying 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: 1076-0178.
    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 
deliverables 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, through 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.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents: Indian Tribes with trust or restricted land.
    Number of Respondents: 20 applicants per year; 20 project 
participants each year, on average.
    Frequency of Response: Once per year for applications and final 
report.
    Estimated Time per Response: 40 hours per application; 1.5 hours 
per progress report.
    Obligation to Respond: Response is required to obtain a benefit.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 830 hours (800 for applications 
and 30 for final reports).
    Estimated Total Annual Non-Hour Dollar Cost: $0.

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

Elizabeth K. Appel,
Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action--Indian 
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-15678 Filed 7-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4337-15-P