[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 146 (Wednesday, July 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45650-45651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16404]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[201A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G; OMB Control Number 1076-
0178]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Native American 
Business Development Institute (NABDI) Funding Solicitations and 
Reporting

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) are proposing to renew an 
information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
September 28, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by email to Mr. Jack Stevens, Office of Indian Energy and 
Economic Development, Office of the Assistant Secretary--Indian 
Affairs, at: 1849 C Street NW, MS-4152 MIB, Washington, DC 20240; or by 
email to [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 
1076-0178 in the subject line of your comments. If you have comments 
but are unable to email them, please contact the person listed in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Jack Stevens by email at [email protected], 
or by telephone at (202) 208-6764.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact 
of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information

[[Page 45651]]

collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired 
format.
    We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described 
below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper 
functions of the BIA; (2) will this information be processed and used 
in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how 
might the BIA enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the BIA minimize the 
burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use 
of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. 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.
    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 
feasibility studies of potential economic development opportunities. 
These studies 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; funding for 
the purchase or lease of structures, machinery, hardware or other 
capital items; and funding related to mineral, energy, or broadband 
development, as these are addressed by other IEED grant programs
    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 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. To receive these funds, Tribes may, if 
eligible, 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, the identity of the academic institution, consultants, 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 primarily on 
the basis of a proposed project's potential to generate jobs and 
economic activity in a Tribal community.
    Title of Collection: Native American Business Development Institute 
(NABDI) Funding Solicitations and Reporting.
    OMB Control Number: 1076-0178.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Indian Tribes with trust or restricted 
land.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 20 applicants per 
year; 20 project participants each year, on average.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 40.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 50 hours per application; 
1.5 hours per progress report.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,030 hours (1,000 
for applications and 30 for final reports).
    Respondent's Obligation: Response is required to obtain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: Once per year for applications and final 
report.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $0.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.
    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. 2020-16404 Filed 7-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P