National Tribal Broadband Grant; Solicitation of Proposals, 50870-50875 [2022-17783]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Indian Affairs

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 159 (Thursday, August 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50870-50875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17783]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[2231A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900]


National Tribal Broadband Grant; Solicitation of Proposals

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), through the Office 
of Indian Economic Development (OIED), Division of Economic Development 
(DED), solicits proposals from eligible federally recognized Tribes for 
the National Tribal Broadband Grant (NTBG) to support feasibility 
studies for installation or expansion of high-speed internet 
(broadband).

DATES: Grant application packages must be submitted to Grants.gov no 
later than 5 p.m. ET, on October 17, 2022. OIED will not consider 
proposals received after this time and date.

ADDRESSES: The required method of submitting proposals is through 
Grants.gov. For information on how to apply for grants in Grants.gov, 
see the instructions available at https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/Applicants/HowToApplyForGrants.htm. Proposals must be submitted to 
Grants.gov by the deadline established in the DATES section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dennis Wilson, Grant Management 
Specialist, Office of Indian Economic Development, telephone: (505) 
917-3235; email: [email protected]. If you have questions regarding 
the application process, please contact Ms. Jo Ann Metcalfe, Grant 
Officer, telephone (410) 703-3390; email [email protected]. 
Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of 
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or 
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Additional 
Program information can be found at: https://www.bia.gov/service/grants/ntbg.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information
II. Number of Projects Funded
III. Background
IV. Eligibility for Funding
V. Who May Perform Feasibility Studies Funded by NTBG Grants
VI. Applicant Procurement Procedures
VII. Limitations
VIII. NTBG Application Guidance
IX. Mandatory Components
X. Incomplete Applications
XI. Review and Selection Process
XII. Evaluation Criteria
XIII. Transfer of Funds
XIV. Reporting Requirements for Award Recipients
XV. Conflicts of Interest
XVI. Questions and Requests for OIED Assistance
XVII. Paperwork Reduction Act
XVIII. Authority

I. General Information

    Award Ceiling: $175,000.
    Award Floor: $100,000.
    CFDA Numbers: 15.032.
    Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No.
    Number of Awards: 15-27.
    Category: Business Development or Communications.
    Length of Project Period: Twenty-four (24) month project period.

II. Number of Projects Funded

    OIED anticipates award of approximately 15 to 27 grants under this 
announcement ranging in value from approximately $100,000 to $175,000. 
NTBG awards will remain active for a two-year period of performance. 
OIED will use a competitive evaluation process for awarding based on 
criteria described in the Review and Selection Process (Criteria) 
section of this notice. Only one application will be accepted from an 
eligible Tribe.

III. Background

    The Secretary, through OIED, is soliciting proposals from federally 
recognized Indian Tribes listed as Indian Entities Recognized by and 
Eligible to Receive Services from the United States Bureau of Indian 
Affairs at 87 FR 4636 (January 28, 2022) for NTBG grants. Indian Tribes 
are referred to using the term ``Tribe'' throughout this notice. The 
grant funding is to hire consultants to perform feasibility studies for 
deployment or expansion of high-speed internet (broadband) transmitted, 
variously, through DSL,

[[Page 50871]]

cable modem, fiber, wireless, satellite and BPL.
    NTBG grants may be used to fund an assessment of the current 
broadband services, if any, that are available to an applicant's 
community; an engineering assessment of new or expanded broadband 
services; an estimate of the cost of building or expanding a broadband 
network; a determination of the transmission medium(s) that will be 
employed; identification of potential funding and/or financing for the 
network; and consideration of financial and practical risks associated 
with developing a broadband network.
    The purpose of the NTBG is to improve the quality of life, spur 
economic development and commercial activity, create opportunities for 
self-employment, enhance educational resources and remote learning 
opportunities, and meet emergency and law enforcement needs by bringing 
broadband services to Native American communities that lack them. 
Feasibility studies funded through NTBG will assist Tribes to make 
informed decisions regarding deployment or expansion of broadband in 
their communities.
    The funding periods and amounts referenced in this solicitation are 
subject to the availability of funds at the time of award, as well as 
the Department of the Interior (DOI) and Indian Affairs priorities at 
the time of the award. Neither DOI nor Indian Affairs will be held 
responsible for proposal or application preparation costs. Publication 
of this solicitation does not obligate DOI or Indian Affairs to award 
any specific grant or to obligate all or any part of available funds. 
Future funding is subject to the availability of Congressional 
appropriations and cannot be guaranteed. DOI or Indian Affairs may 
cancel or withdraw this solicitation at any time.

IV. Eligibility for Funding

    The Office of the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, through 
OIED, is soliciting proposals from federally recognized Tribes listed 
as Indian Entities Recognized by and Eligible to Receive Services from 
the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs at 87 FR 4636 (January 28, 
2022).

V. Who May Perform Broadband Feasibility Studies Funded by NTBG Grants

    The applicant determines who will conduct its broadband feasibility 
study. An applicant has several choices, including but not limited to:
    a. Universities and colleges;
    b. Private consulting firms; or
    c. Non-academic, non-profit entities.

VI. Applicant Procurement Procedures

    The applicant is subject to the procurement standards under 2 CFR 
200.318 through 200.326. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.318, an applicant 
must use its own documented procurement procedures which reflect Tribal 
laws and regulations, provided that the procurements conform to 
applicable Federal law and standards identified in Part 2 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations.

VII. Limitations

    NTBG grant funding must be expended in accordance with applicable 
Federal statutory and regulatory requirements, including 2 CFR part 
200. As part of the grant application review process, OIED may conduct 
a review of an applicant's prior OIED grant(s). Applicants currently 
under BIA sanction Level 2 or higher resulting from noncompliance with 
the Single Audit Act are ineligible for a NTBG grants. Applicants at 
Sanction Level 1 will be considered for funding.
    Only one application will be accepted from an eligible Tribe. 
Applications should address one project and any submissions that 
contain multiple project proposals will not be considered. OIED will 
apply the same objective ranking criteria to each proposal.
    NTBG funding may allocated to personnel to provide project 
oversight and management. This individual(s) may be a full-time person 
(FTE) brought on specifically for the 2-year duration of the project, 
or be portion of an FTE allocation. The utilization of a project 
manager(s) must be demonstrated as necessary and reasonable with 
compensation that is commensurate to similar industry standards.
    The purpose of NTBG grants is to fund broadband feasibility studies 
only. NTBG awards may not be used for:
     Establishing or operating a Tribal office;
     Indirect costs or administrative costs as defined by the 
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR);
     Purchase of equipment used to develop the feasibility 
studies, such as computers, vehicles, field gear, etc. (however, 
leasing of this type of equipment for the purpose of developing 
feasibility studies is allowed);
     Supplementing employment or income for current positions 
not significantly and directly involved in the proposed project (e.g., 
positions like Executive Directors with little to no described 
involvement in the proposed work);
     International travel;
     Legal fees;
     Application fees associated with permitting;
     Training;
     Contract negotiation fees;
     Feasibility studies of energy, mineral, energy legal 
infrastructure, or broadband related projects, businesses, or 
technologies that are addressed by OIED's Energy and Mineral 
Development Program (EMDP), Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC); 
and
     Any other activities not authorized by the grant award 
letter.

VIII. TTGP Application Guidance

    All applications are required to be submitted in digital form to 
grants.gov. For instructions, see https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/Applicants/HowToApplyForGrants.htm.

IX. Mandatory Components

    The mandatory components, and forms identified below, must be 
included in the proposal package. Links to the mandatory forms can be 
found under the ``package'' tab on the NTBG FY2022 grant opportunity 
page at www.grants.gov. Any information in the possession of the BIA or 
submitted to the BIA throughout the process, including final work 
product, constitutes government records and may be subject to 
disclosure to third parties under the Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552, and the Department of the Interior's FOIA 
regulations at 43 CFR part 2, unless a FOIA exemption or exception 
applies, or other provisions of law protect the information. Following 
are the names of the required forms:

 Cover Page
 Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) [V4.0]
 Cover Letter
 Project Abstract Summary [V2.0]
 Project Narrative Attachment Form [V1.2]
 Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) 
[V1.0]
 Attachments [V1.2]
 Key Contacts [V2.0]

Cover Page

    A Cover Page must be included in the application and contain the 
following:
     Category of Funding for the NTBG application.
     Proposal Title.
     Total Amount of funding requested from the Program.
     Full and Proper Name of the applicant organization.

[[Page 50872]]

     Statement confirming the proposed work will have the 
potential to reach the intended goals and objectives.
     Confirm active registration in SAM, attaching print-out 
from sam.gov to the cover page. See instructions and registration 
instructions in Appendix.
     Provide active enrollment in ASAP and your Recipient ID 
with the BIA. Allow 3-4 weeks to complete all steps of enrollment prior 
to submission deadline. The organization must be enrolled in ASAP with 
BIA, current enrollment with other Federal agencies is not sufficient. 
See instructions and registration instructions in Appendix.
     Confirmation of other completed Mandatory Components 
identified in this section (SF-424, Project Abstract Summary, etc).
     Identification of any personnel that will provide project 
oversight and management.
     Identification of partnerships such as Tribes, other 
Tribal Organizations or Entities.

Application for Federal Assistance SF-424 [V4.0]

    Applicants are required to complete the Application for Federal 
Assistance SF-424, version 4. Please use a descriptive file name that 
includes tribal name and project description. For example: 
NTBGSF424.Tribalname.Project. The SF-424 [V4.0] form requires the 
Congressional District number of the applicant, which can be found at 
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative.

Cover Letter

    A cover letter is not to exceed one (1) page that summarizes the 
interest and intent, complete with authorized signature(s) of 
organization leadership.

Project Abstract Summary and Project Narrative Attachment

    Project Narratives are not judged based on their length. Please do 
not submit any unnecessary attachments or documents beyond what is 
listed above, e.g., Tribal history, unrelated photos and maps.
    The first paragraph of the project narrative must include the title 
and basic description of the proposed broadband feasibility study. The 
Project Narrative must not exceed 15 pages. Supplemental information 
such as letters of support, graphs, charts, maps, photographs and other 
graphic and/or other relevant information may be included in an 
appendix and not counted against the 15-page Project Narrative Limit. 
At a minimum, it should include:
     A technical description of the project that includes 
identifying any existing broadband feasibility information and, if 
applicable, an explanation of how the proposed new study and/or 
business plan would benefit the applicant and does not duplicate 
previous work;
     A description of the project objectives and goals, 
including a description of the areas in which broadband will be 
deployed or expanded, short and long term benefits of broadband 
deployment or expansion, and how the feasibility study will meet the 
goals of the NTBG;
     Deliverable products that the consultant is expected to 
generate, including interim deliverables (such as status reports and 
technical data to be obtained) and final deliverables (the feasibility 
study);
     Resume and Qualifications of any identified personnel who 
would be providing project oversight and management. This individual(s) 
may be a full-time person (FTE) brought on specifically for the 2-year 
duration of the project, or be a portion of an FTE allocation. The 
utilization of a project manager(s) must be demonstrated as necessary 
and reasonable with compensation that is commensurate to similar 
industry standards. The responsibilities of the project personnel, with 
sufficient qualifications to fulfill those responsibilities, must be 
demonstrated by the Applicant. If new staff members are to be hired, 
applicants should describe the recruitment and hiring process. Common 
challenges include, but not limited to, identification and retention of 
qualified staff, policies and procedures that delay hiring, etc. 
Applicants must describe accessibility of potential candidates and 
include contingency plans to describe how the project will progress 
until vacant positions are filled.
     Applicants must also demonstrate qualifications for key 
partnerships and consultants, as well as project management oversight, 
towards the implementation of project activities. Applicants must 
describe the role of the partner organization and staff, including 
relevant expertise and experience, as well as clear roles and 
responsibilities for project implementation. If formal agreements have 
not been established at the time of application, the applicant must 
describe plans to finalize any partnership agreements, including firm 
commitments and contingency plans for these partners. The resumes of 
key consultants and personnel to be retained, if available, and the 
names of subcontractors, if applicable, may be included as an 
attachment to the application and will not be counted towards the 15-
page limitation.
     Please use a descriptive file name that includes Tribal 
name and project description. For example: 
NTBGNarrative.Tribalname.Project

Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) [V1.0] and 
Budget Narrative Attachment Form [V1.2]

    Applicants are required to utilize the SF-424A for the budget 
submission. Please use a descriptive file name that includes tribal 
name and project description. For example: 
NTBGBudget.Tribalname.Project. The budget must identify the amount of 
grant funding requested and a comprehensive breakdown of all projected 
and anticipated expenditures, including contracted personnel fees, 
consulting fees (hourly or fixed), travel costs, data collection and 
analysis costs, computer rentals, report generation, drafting, 
advertising costs for a proposed project and other relevant project 
expenses, and their subcomponents.
     Travel costs should be itemized by airfare, vehicle 
rental, lodging, and per diem, based on the current Federal government 
per diem schedule.
     Data collection and analysis costs should be itemized in 
sufficient detail for the OIED review committee to evaluate the 
charges.
     Personnel oversight management. Compensation and 
associated costs of personnel who will be providing management 
oversight will not be indirectly charged. Do not include the personnel 
costs of consultants or contractors under this category. For any 
position, provide: the name of the individual (if known), their title; 
time commitment to the project in months; time commitment to the 
project as a percentage or full-time equivalent; annual salary; grant 
salary; wage rates; etc. Identify the project director or principal 
investigator, if known at the time of application. Costs of employee 
fringe benefits are allowances and services provided by employers to 
their employees in addition to regular salaries and wages. Typically, 
fringe benefit amounts are determined by applying a calculated rate for 
a particular class of employee (full-time or part-time) to the salary 
and wages requested. Fringe benefits, like salary, will also be as 
direct cost (Health insurance, Federal Insurance Contributions Act 
(FICA) taxes, retirement, taxes, etc.)
     Other expenses may include computer rental, report 
generation, drafting, and advertising costs for a proposed project.

[[Page 50873]]

Attachments [V1.2]

    Utilize the ``attachments form'' to include the Tribal resolution 
issued in the fiscal year of the grant application, authorizing the 
submission of a NTBG 2022 grant application. It must be signed by 
authorized Tribal representative(s). The Tribal resolution must also 
include a description of the feasibility study to be developed. An 
application submitted without a Tribal Resolution will be considered 
incomplete. The attachments form can also be used to include any other 
attachments related to the proposal.

Required Grantee Travel and Attendance at a Broadband Annual Grantee 
Meeting

    Grantees will be required to have two individuals who work directly 
on the project attend an in-person annual DOI/OIED-sponsored grantee 3-
day meeting in Washington, DC, during the year of the grant award. 
Applicants must include costs in the budget to cover this requirement. 
Travel costs must not exceed $6,000 per person. Applicants should 
follow their own travel policies to budget for this 3-day meeting. 
Additional funds for these expenses will not be available once grant is 
awarded. In the event the meeting is converted to a virtual meeting due 
to timing or COVID related issues, those funds may be repurposed in the 
grant.

Special Note

    Please make sure that the System for Award Management (SAM) number 
used to apply is active, not expired, with a current Unique Entity 
Identifier (UEI) number on the SF-424. Please make sure an active 
Automated Standard Application for Payment (ASAP) number is provided. 
Applicants must have an ASAP number and be enrolled with the BIA to be 
eligible. Please list counties where the project is located and 
congressional district number where the project will be located.

Key Contacts [V2.0]

    Please list the county(ies) where the project is located and 
congressional district number(s) where the project is located. 
Applicants must include the Key Contacts information page that 
includes:
     Please use a descriptive file name that includes tribal 
name and identifies it as the critical information page (CIP). For 
example: NTBGCIP.Tribalname.Project;
     Project Manager's contact information including address, 
email, desk, and cell phone number;
     Please make sure the System for Award Management (SAM) 
number used to apply is active, not expired, with a current UEI number 
on the SF-424;
     Please make sure an active Automated Standard Application 
for Payment (ASAP) number is provided. Applicants must have an ASAP 
number for the BIA to be eligible.

X. Incomplete Applications

    Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Please ensure that 
all forms listed in the announcement are completed and submitted in 
grants.gov.

XI. Review and Selection Process

    Upon receiving a NTBG application, OIED will determine whether the 
application is complete and that the proposed project does not 
duplicate or overlap previous or currently funded OIED technical 
assistance projects. Any proposal that is received after the date and 
time in the DATES section of this notice will not be reviewed.
    The OIED Review Committee (Committee), comprised of OIED staff, 
staff from other Federal agencies, and subject matter experts, will 
evaluate the proposals against the ranking criteria. Proposals will be 
evaluated using the four criteria listed below, with a maximum 
achievable total of 100 points.
    Final award selections will be approved by the Assistant 
Secretary--Indian Affairs and the Associate Deputy Secretary, U.S. 
Department of the Interior. Applicants not selected for award will be 
notified in writing.

XII. Evaluation Criteria

    Proposals will be formally evaluated by an OIED review committee 
using the four criteria listed below. Each criterion provides a 
percentage of the total maximum rating of 100 points. NTBG applications 
will be ranked using only these criteria:
     Community Impact Potential: 55 points.
     Need: 20 points.
     Project Location in an Opportunity Zone: 15 points.
     Authenticity: 10 points.

Community Impact Potential

    This criterion focuses on how deployment or expansion of broadband 
services will improve the quality of life in the applicant's community, 
create educational and self-employment opportunities, and benefit the 
applicant's residents, businesses, commercial activities, schools, 
libraries, and law enforcement and emergency operations.

Need

    This criterion focuses on an applicant's lack of capacity to obtain 
a broadband feasibility study absent grant funding.

Project Location in an Opportunity Zone

    Points will be awarded for projects located in an Opportunity Zone. 
An Opportunity Zone is an economically-distressed community where new 
investments, under certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential 
tax treatment. See 26 U.S.C. 14002-1 and 14002-2. A map and list of 
Opportunity Zones can be found at: https://www.cdfifund.gov/Pages/Opportunity-Zones.aspx.

Authenticity

    The OIED review committee understands that applicants may intend 
that the consultant(s) they retain to prepare the broadband proposal 
will also conduct the feasibility study if the grant is awarded. This 
does not prejudice an applicant's chances of being selected as a 
grantee. However, the OIED review committee will view unfavorably 
proposals that show little evidence of communication between the 
consultant(s) and the applicant or scant regard for the applicant 
community's unique circumstances. Facsimile applications prepared by 
the same consultant(s) and submitted by multiple applicants will 
receive scrutiny in this regard.

XIII. Transfer of Funds

    OIED's obligation under this solicitation is contingent on receipt 
of Congressionally appropriated funds. No liability on the part of the 
U.S. Government for any payment may arise until funds are made 
available to the awarding officer for this grant and until the 
recipient receives notice of such availability, to be confirmed in 
writing by the grant officer.
    All payments under this agreement will be made by electronic funds 
transfer through the ASAP system. All award recipients are required to 
have a current and accurate UEI number to receive funds. All payments 
will be deposited to the banking information designated by the 
applicant in the SAM.

XIV. Reporting Requirements for Award Recipients

    The applicant must deliver all products and data required by the 
signed Grant Agreement for the proposed NTBG feasibility study project 
to OIED within 30 days of the end of each quarter and 120 days after 
completion of the project. The reporting

[[Page 50874]]

periods will be established in the terms and conditions of the final 
award.
    OIED requires that deliverable products be provided in both digital 
format and submitted in the GrantSolutions system. Reports can be 
provided in either Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat PDF format. 
Spreadsheet data can be provided in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, 
or Adobe PDF formats. All vector figures should be converted to PDF 
format. Raster images can be provided in PDF, JPEG, TIFF, or any of the 
Windows metafile formats. The contract between the grantee and the 
consultant conducting the NTBG funded feasibility study must include 
deliverable products and require that the products be prepared in the 
format described above.
    The contract should include budget amounts for all printed and 
digital copies to be delivered in accordance with the grant agreement. 
In addition, the contract must specify that all products generated by a 
consultant belong to the grantee and cannot be released to the public 
without the grantee's written approval. Products include, but are not 
limited to, all reports and technical data obtained, maps, status 
reports, and the final report.
    In addition, this funding opportunity and financial assistance 
award must adhere to the following provisions:

XV. Conflicts of Interest

Applicability

     This section intends to ensure that non-Federal entities 
and their employees take appropriate steps to avoid conflict-of-
interest in their responsibilities under or with respect to Federal 
financial assistance agreements.
     In the procurement of supplies, equipment, construction, 
and services by recipients and by sub-recipients, the conflict-of-
interest provisions in 2 CFR 200.318 apply.

Requirements

     Non-Federal entities must avoid prohibited conflicts-of-
interest, including any significant financial interests that could 
cause a reasonable person to question the recipient's ability to 
provide impartial, technically sound, and objective performance under 
or with respect to a Federal financial assistance agreement.
     In addition to any other prohibitions that may apply with 
respect to conflict-of-interest, no key official of an actual or 
proposed recipient or sub-recipient, who is substantially involved in 
the proposal or project, may have been a former Federal employee who, 
within the last one (1) year, participated personally and substantially 
in the evaluation, awarding, or administration of a grant with respect 
to that recipient or sub-recipient or in development of the requirement 
leading to the funding announcement.
     No actual or prospective recipient or sub-recipient may 
solicit, obtain, or use non-public information regarding the 
evaluation, grant, administration of a grant to that recipient or sub-
recipient or the development of a Federal financial assistance 
opportunity that may be of competitive interest to that recipient or 
sub-recipient.

Notification

     Non-Federal entities, including applicants for financial 
assistance awards, must disclose in writing any conflict of interest to 
the DOI awarding agency or pass-through entity in accordance with 2 CFR 
200.112, Conflicts of Interest.
     Recipients must establish internal controls that include, 
at a minimum, procedures to identify, disclose, and mitigate or 
eliminate identified conflicts of interest. The recipient is 
responsible for notifying the Financial Assistance Officer in writing 
of any conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of the 
grant, including those that have been reported by sub-recipients.
     Restrictions on Lobbying. Non-Federal entities are 
strictly prohibited from using funds under this grant or cooperative 
agreement for lobbying activities and must provide the required 
certifications and disclosures pursuant to 43 CFR part 18 and 31 U.S.C. 
1352.
     Review Procedures. The Financial Assistance Officer will 
examine each conflict-of-interest disclosure on the basis of its 
particular facts and the nature of the proposed grant or cooperative 
agreement, and will determine whether a significant potential conflict 
exists and, if it does, develop an appropriate means for resolving it.
     Enforcement. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a 
manner that satisfies the Government may be cause for termination of 
the award. Failure to make the required disclosures may result in any 
of the remedies described in 2 CFR 200.338, Remedies for Noncompliance, 
including suspension or debarment (see also 2 CFR part 180).

Data Availability

     Applicability. The Department of the Interior is committed 
to basing its decisions on the best available science and providing the 
American people with enough information to thoughtfully and 
substantively evaluate the data, methodology, and analysis used by the 
Department to inform its decisions.
     Use of Data. The regulations at 2 CFR 200.315 apply to 
data produced under a Federal award, including the provision that the 
Federal Government has the right to obtain, reproduce, publish, or 
otherwise use the data produced under a Federal award as well as 
authorize others to receive, reproduce, publish, or otherwise use such 
data for Federal purposes.
     Availability of Data. The recipient shall make the data 
produced under this award and any subaward(s) available to the 
Government for public release, consistent with applicable law, to allow 
meaningful third-party evaluation and reproduction of the following the 
scientific data relied upon; analysis relied upon; and methodology, 
including models, used to gather and analyze data.

XVI. Questions and Requests for IED Assistance

    Technical consultation from OIED may include clarifying application 
requirements, confirming whether an applicant previously submitted the 
same or similar proposal, and registration information for SAM or ASAP. 
Technical assistance will be provided by the OIED contractor, Tribal 
Tech. The applicant is solely responsible for the preparation of its 
grant proposal. All eligible applicants will have access to scheduled 
training and can request assistance from the pre-application phase 
through the post-award close-out. It is strongly recommended that any 
assistance be a consolidation of items based off reasonably completed 
working drafts. Please complete an in-take form with Tribal Tech to 
request assistance: Please complete an in-take form at https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=98a8ecfd0f3d452693e589c6a0a678d8 to 
request assistance with Tribal Tech.

XVII. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collection requirements contained in this notice 
have been reviewed and approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3504(h). The OMB 
control number is 4040-0004. The authorization expires on December 31, 
2022. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to 
respond to, any information collection that does not display a 
currently valid OMB Control Number.

[[Page 50875]]

XVIII. Authority

    This is a discretionary grant program authorized under the Snyder 
Act (25 U.S.C. 13), the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (HR 2471-
312), and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117-2). The 
Snyder Act authorizes the BIA to expend such moneys as Congress may 
appropriate for the benefit, care, and assistance of Indians for the 
purposes listed in the Act. Broadband deployment or expansion 
facilitates two of the purposes listed in the Snyder Act: ``General 
support and civilization, including education'' and ``industrial 
assistance and advancement.'' The Consolidated Appropriations Act 
authorizes the BIA to ``carry out the operation of Indian programs by 
direct expenditure, contracts, cooperative agreements, compacts, and 
grants, either directly or in cooperation with States and other 
organizations.''

Bryan Newland,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2022-17783 Filed 8-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P