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

Download as PDF khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 50870 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 159 / Thursday, August 18, 2022 / Notices (4) Adoption of the agenda. (5) Acceptance of Minutes from Committee Meeting Two (May 3, 2022). (6) Remarks from U.S. Coast Guard Leadership. (7) Introduction of new task. (8) Introduction of task addendum. (9) U.S. Coast Guard presentations. (10) Reports from the subcommittee Chair or Co-Chairs. The Committee will review the information presented on the following Task Statements and deliberate on any recommendations presented by the subcommittees, recommendations may be approved and completed tasks may be closed. Official action on these topics may be taken: (a) Task Statement 21–1, Review of IMO Model Courses Being Validated by the IMO HTW Subcommittee (b) Task Statement 21–2, Communication Between External Stakeholders and the Mariner Credentialing Program, including amendment Task Statement 21–2A, Reviewing Assessments in NVICS for STCW; (c) Task Statement 21–3, Military Education, Training, and Assessment for STCW and National Mariner Endorsements; (d) Task Statement 21–04, STCW Convention and STCW Code Review; (e) Task Statement 21–5, Review of Merchant Mariner Rating and Officer Endorsement Job Task Analyses, including amendment Task Statement 21–5A, JTA to Mass Mapping; (f) Task Statement 21–6, Sea Service for Merchant Mariner Credential Endorsements; (g) Task Statement 21–8, Remote Operators of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships; (h) Task Statement 21–9, Sexual Harassment and Sexual AssaultPrevention and Culture Change in the Merchant Marine; (i) Task Statement 22–1, Propulsion Power Limits; and (j) Task Statement 22–2, Alternative Methods for Meeting STCW Training Requirements at the Operational Level. (11) Public comment period. (12) Closing remarks. (13) Adjournment of meeting. A copy of all meeting documentation will be available at https:// homeport.uscg.mil/missions/federaladvisory-committees/nationalmerchant-marine-personnel-advisorycommittee-(nmerpac) by August 24, 2022. Alternatively, you may contact the individual noted in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above. Public comments or questions will be taken throughout the meetings as the Committee discusses the issues, and prior to deliberations and voting. There VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:42 Aug 17, 2022 Jkt 256001 will also be a public comment period at the end of the meeting on September 9, 2022 at approximately 2:30 p.m. (EDT). Public comments will be limited to 3 minutes per speaker. Please note that the public comments period will end following the last call for comments. Please contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to register as a speaker. Dated: August 15, 2022. Jeffrey G. Lantz, Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards. [FR Doc. 2022–17794 Filed 8–17–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs [2231A2100DD/AAKC001030/ A0A501010.999900] National Tribal Broadband Grant; Solicitation of Proposals Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: 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: dennis.wilson@bia.gov. If you have questions regarding the application process, please contact Ms. Jo Ann Metcalfe, Grant Officer, telephone (410) 703–3390; email jo.metcalfe@bia.gov. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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, E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM 18AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 159 / Thursday, August 18, 2022 / Notices 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 selfemployment, 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. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:42 Aug 17, 2022 Jkt 256001 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); PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 50871 • 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 NonConstruction 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. E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM 18AUN1 50872 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 159 / Thursday, August 18, 2022 / Notices • 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. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 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: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:42 Aug 17, 2022 Jkt 256001 • 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 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 NonConstruction 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. E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM 18AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 159 / Thursday, August 18, 2022 / Notices 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 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. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 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; 17:42 Aug 17, 2022 Jkt 256001 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 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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 • 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. 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. PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 50873 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 economicallydistressed 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/OpportunityZones.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 E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM 18AUN1 50874 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 159 / Thursday, August 18, 2022 / Notices 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. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:42 Aug 17, 2022 Jkt 256001 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 subrecipient 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. NonFederal 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 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 preapplication phase through the postaward 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=98a8ecfd0f3d45 2693e589c6a0a678d8 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. E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM 18AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 159 / Thursday, August 18, 2022 / Notices 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 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [LLAK941000.L14100000.ET0000.223] Racheal Jones at (907) 290–0307, or by email at rajones@blm.gov, on questions specific to NEPA or to have your name added to our mailing list; and Bettie Shelby at (907) 271–5596, or by email at bshelby@blm.gov, on questions specific to the actions at issue in this EIS. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, blind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7899, which would revoke withdrawals established under ANCSA Section 17(d)(1) on lands in the Kobuk-Seward Peninsula planning area, was signed on January 11, 2021, and published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2021 (86 FR 5236). PLO Nos. 7900, 7901, 7902, and 7903, which would revoke withdrawals established under ANCSA Section 17(d)(1) on lands in the Ring of Fire, Bay, Bering Sea-Western Interior, and East Alaska planning areas, respectively, were signed on January 15 and 16, 2021, but were never published in the Federal Register. The Department deferred the Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To Consider the Impacts of Opening Lands Subject to ANCSA 17(d)(1) Withdrawals, Including Lands Within the Bay, Bering Sea-Western Interior, East Alaska, Kobuk-Seward Peninsula, and Ring of Fire Planning Areas; Alaska Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. AGENCY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended; the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended; the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), as amended; and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of opening lands subject to withdrawals established pursuant to section 17(d)(1) of ANCSA on lands within the Bay, Bering Sea-Western Interior, East Alaska, Kobuk-Seward Peninsula, and Ring of Fire planning areas, and by this SUMMARY: khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. The BLM requests comments concerning the scope of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant information by October 17, 2022. To afford the BLM the opportunity to consider comments in the Draft EIS, please ensure your comments are received prior to the close of the 60-day scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues related to this process by any of the following methods: • ePlanning website: https:// eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/ project/2018002/510 • Mail: 222 W 7th Avenue, Stop #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99513 • More details and instructions for submitting public comment can be found on the BLM ePlanning website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/ project/2018002/510 Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the ePlanning website. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:42 Aug 17, 2022 Jkt 256001 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 50875 opening of the lands described in PLO No. 7899 by 60 days on February 18, 2021, to provide an opportunity to review the decisions and ensure the orderly management of the public lands (86 FR 10131). Subsequently, the Department identified certain procedural and legal defects in the decision-making process for PLO Nos. 7899, 7900, 7901, 7902, and 7903, including insufficient analysis under NEPA, failure to follow section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), possible failure to adequately evaluate impacts under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), failure to secure consent from the Department of Defense (DOD) with regard to lands under DOD administration as required by Section 204(i) of FLPMA (43 U.S.C. 1714(i)), failure to adequately analyze potential impacts on subsistence hunting and fishing, and reliance on potentially outdated data in EISs prepared in 2006 and 2007. Due to these identified deficiencies, on April 16, 2021, the Department—relying on its inherent authority to revisit decisions based on identified legal errors— deferred the opening of lands under PLO No. 7899 and the publication of PLO Nos. 7900, 7901, 7902, and 7903 in order to address the deficiencies in the decision-making process that led to the PLOs (86 FR 20193). As a result, the BLM completed an environmental assessment on April 21, 2022, to ensure legal compliance for opening lands within the areas affected by PLO Nos. 7899, 7900, 7901, 7902, and 7903 to selection by Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans under Section 1119 of the Dingell Act due to the fiveyear statutory limit on the application period for allotment selections. The Secretary issued a public land order to open the land to allotment selection on January 19, 2021. The BLM is now undertaking this process to address the remaining legal defects in the decisionmaking processes for PLO Nos. 7899, 7900, 7901, 7902, and 7903 and to ensure compliance with the requirements of NEPA, Section 204(i) of FLPMA, Section 106 of the NHPA, Section 7 of the ESA, and Section 810 of ANILCA. The BLM will consider a range of alternatives in the EIS, which may include full or partial revocation of the ANCSA 17(d)(1) withdrawals, making one or more withdrawals under FLPMA, or retention of some or all of the ANCSA 17(d)(1) withdrawals. Full or partial revocation of the ANCSA 17(d)(1) withdrawals may result in changes to land use that could affect local residents, wildlife, vegetation, cultural resources, subsistence use, air E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM 18AUN1

Agencies

[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


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