FEDERAL AGENCY:

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

AUTHORIZATION:

Federal Highway Act of 1921, as amended, Public Law 70-520, 45 Stat. 750, 25 U.S.C. 318(a); Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Public Law 93-638, as amended, 25 U.S.C. 450.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide limited routine maintenance on paved, gravel, earth, and unimproved roads; bridges; and airstrips.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Direct Payments for Specified Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

These funds are used to repair and maintain public roads serving Indian reservations, with particular emphasis on school bus routes and arterial highways; for snow removal, ice control, washout repair, and landslide removal; for replacement, rehabilitation, or maintenance of the 745 bridges on Indian reservation roads; for operation and maintenance of a ferry across Lake Roosevelt serving the Colville Indian Reservation; and for the maintenance of public airstrips located on Indian reservations which are not maintained by other governmental entities. Access to these funds is restricted to tribes with qualifying road miles or other facilities required to be maintained by this program.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments and Native American Organizations authorized by Tribal governments which have jurisdiction over roads or other facilities that qualify for this program.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments and individual American Indians.

Credentials/Documentation:   Initial application must be accompanied by a resolution of the governing body of the Indian tribe.

Pre-application Coordination:   Tribes must submit a needs request to have roads or facilities added to the system being maintained under this program. An informal preapplication conference is recommended. Technical assistance in preparing the application is available upon request. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Initial applications must contain the information specified in 25 CFR, Part 900, Subpart C, "Contract Proposal Contents." Completed applications should be submitted to the local Bureau of Indian Affairs agency office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Award Procedure:   The dollar value of the awards depends upon the amount that has been prioritized by the individual Tribe through tribal participation in the BIA's budget formulation process.

Deadlines:   None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Applications will be processed within 90 days.

Appeals:   An unsuccessful applicant may request an informal conference with the deciding official or may appeal the denial of the application directly to the Interior Board of Indian Appeals, or may bring suit in U.S. District Court. Full appeal procedures are found in 25 CFR, Part 900.

Renewals:   Awards may be renewed indefinitely upon satisfactory performance by the contractor/grantee. A notice of intent to renew should be submitted at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the current award. The amount of the award may be adjusted as a result of individual tribal priorities established in the budget formulation process.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Awards are made on an annual basis and the funds remain available until expended by the contractor/grantee. Payments may be made in advance or by way of reimbursement. The timing of payments will be negotiated with the grantee.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Financial status reports, SF 269A, are required. The timing and nature of program accomplishment data will be negotiated with the contractor/grantee.

Audits:   For awards made under this program, grantees/contractors are responsible for obtaining audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501 et. seq.).

Records:   Financial records must be retained for 3 years from the date of submission of the single audit report. Procurement records must be retained for 3 years from the date of final payment. Property records must be retained for 3 years from the date of disposition, replacement, or transfer. Records pertaining to any litigation, audit exceptions or claims must be retained until the dispute has been resolved.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   14-2100-0-1-452.

Obligations:   (Total Amount of Awards) FY 01 $6,934,000; FY 02 est $7,378,290; and FY 03 est $7,471,440.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
$300 to $500,000; Average: $100,000.

Approximately 50,000 miles of roads, 745 bridges, a ferry, and numerous airstrips are operated and/or maintained under this program.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

25 CFR 170.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Applications may be filed with the local Bureau of Indian Affairs' agency office as listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office:   LeRoy Gishi, Office of Indian Services, Division of Transportation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street NW, MS-4532 MIB, Washington, District of Columbia 20240 Phone: (202) 513-7714.

Web Site Address:  
http://www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/BIA/OIS/Transportation

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Projects are funded in the areas of Routine Maintenance and Administration which maintains public roads serving Indian reservations; Emergency Maintenance which provides for snow removal, ice control, washout repair and landslide removal; Bridge Maintenance which inspects and maintains 745 bridges on Indian reservations; Ferry Boat Operation and Maintenance which operates and maintains a ferry across Lake Roosevelt serving the Colville Indian Reservation; and Airstrip Maintenance which provides maintenance services for public airstrips located on Indian reservations.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

All applicants meeting the criteria in 25 CFR Part 900 will be funded.