BUREAU
OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
AUTHORIZATION:
Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Public Law 93-638,
as amended, 25 U.S.C. 450; Snyder Act of 1921, Public Law 67-85,
42 Stat. 208, 25 U.S.C. 13; Indian Minerals Development Act, Public
Law 97-382, 98 Stat. 1938, 25 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.; Umatilla Basin
Project Act, Public Law 101-557, 16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.
To
assist and support the inventory and prudent development of energy
and mineral resources on Indian lands.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Direct Payments for Specified Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition
Provision of Specialized Services. Place Cursor Here for Definition
Dissemination of Technical Information. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Minerals
and Mining: Funding may be used to facilitate the inventory, development,
and production of nonrenewable resources on Indian lands. Mineral
Assessments: Funds are awarded competitively to support inventory
programs and/or develop baseline data, but cannot be used for development
purposes.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Federally Recognized Indian Tribal
Governments and Native American Organizations authorized by Indian
tribal governments.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Federally Recognized Indian Tribal
Governments and their members, Native American Organizations,
and/or individual American Indian mineral property owners.
Credentials/Documentation:
Minerals and Mining: Initial application for assistance must be
accompanied by a resolution of the governing body of the Indian
tribe. Mineral Assessments. Proposals must include: 1) a current
tribal resolution authorizing the proposed project; 2) a proposal
describing the proposed activities and the planned deliverable
products; 3) a detailed budget estimate; and 4) a letter from
the BIA Agency Superintendent verifying that the work to be performed
is on trust lands.
Pre-application
Coordination: 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 for financial
assistance must contain the information specified in 25 CFR, Part
900, Subpart C, "Contract Proposal Contents." Completed applications
for Minerals and Mining should be submitted to the local BIA agency
office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Award
Procedure: Minerals and Mining: In most cases,
awards can be approved at the agency level. In some instances,
the application will be forwarded to the Regional Director for
approval. The dollar value of awards depends upon the amount that
has been prioritized by the individual tribe through tribal participation
in the BIA's budget formulation process. Mineral Assessments.
Proposals are paneled by the Office of Trust Responsibilities.
Funds are awarded according to the order of ranking of the proposals.
Deadlines:
Minerals and Mining: Proposals may be submitted at any time. Mineral
Assessments: Proposals must be submitted within 90 days of the
original solicitation, usually in December.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Minerals and
Mining: Within 90 days. Mineral Assessments: Within 120 days after
the solicitation period.
Appeals:
An unsuccessful applicant may request an informal conference with
the deciding official, or may appeal the denial of the application
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:
Minerals and Mining: 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. Mineral Assessments: Awards are non- renewable.
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 is 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. Technical reports describing project outcomes
are defined as deliverables in a Mineral Assessment award and the
data generated must be presented in a compatible computer format
as specified by the Division of Energy and Mineral Resources.
Audits:
For awards made under this program, grantees and subgrantees 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. For Mineral Assessment awards, one paper copy
of all data (field data, processed data, analyses, assays, etc.)
must be submitted at completion of contract.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 14-2100-0-1-302.
Obligations:
(Total Amount of Awards) FY 01 $380,000; FY 02 est $517,560; and
FY 03 est $624,480.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
Minerals and Mining: Currently not contracted by any of the tribal
governments. Mineral Assessments: $25,000 to $150,000; Average:
$75,000.
Minerals and Mining facilitates over $200 million in annual minerals
income to tribes and allottees. Between 25 and 35 Tribes request
Mineral Assessment projects annually; generally 10 to 15 projects
are funded.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
25 CFR, Part 900 and Subchapter I - Energy and Minerals.
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: Office of Trust Responsibilities,
Division of Energy and Minerals, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 12136
W. Bayaud Ave, Suite 300, Lakewood, CO 80228. Telephone: (303)
969-5270, ext. 234. Contact: Kim Snyder.
Web
Site Address: http://www.doi.gov/bia/otrhome.htm#Energy http://www.doi.gov/bureau-indian-affairs.html
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Projects support tribal leasing and accounting staffs, feasibility
studies and mining plans, lease compliance on oil and gas contracts;
environmental reviews, training, and oil and gas inspection and
enforcement. Mineral Assessments include seismic exploration, inventories
of existing geophysical and geological data, development of an oil
and gas resource database and mapping system, and evaluation and
assessment of mineral resources.
CRITERIA
FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Minerals and Mining: All applicants meeting the criteria in 25 CFR
part 900 will be funded. Mineral Assessments. Proposals are evaluated
according to technical merits of the mandatory elements of the proposal.
Additionally, selection criteria for ranking contain three major
factors: mineral potential; commodity marketability; and potential
benefit.
