Tribal Tourism Grant Program; Solicitation of Proposals, 52021-52026 [2022-18242]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2022 / Notices jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C., appendix 2), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552B, as amended), and 41 CFR 102–3.140 and 102–3.150. Purpose of the Meeting: The NGAC provides advice and recommendations related to management of Federal and national geospatial programs, the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), and the implementation of the Geospatial Data Act of 2018 (GDA) and the Office of Management and Budget Circular A–16. The NGAC reviews and comments on geospatial policy and management issues and provides a forum to convey views representative of non-federal stakeholders in the geospatial community. The NGAC meeting is one of the primary ways that the FGDC collaborates with its broad network of partners. Additional information about the NGAC meeting is available at: www.fgdc.gov/ngac. Agenda Topics —FGDC Update —Landsat Advisory Group —3D Elevation Program —GDA Reporting —Review of GDA Implementation —Geospatial Excellence and Innovation —Executive Order 14008, Climate Mapping Initiative —Public Comment Meeting Accessibility/Special Accommodations: The webinar meeting is open to the public and will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on September 7, 2022, and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on September 8, 2022. Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting should visit www.fgdc.gov/ ngac or contact Mr. John Mahoney (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Webinar/conference line instructions will be provided to registered attendees prior to the meeting. Please make requests in advance for sign language interpreter services, assistive listening devices, or other reasonable accommodations. We ask that you contact the person listed in the (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) section of this notice at least seven (7) business days prior to the meeting to give the Department of the Interior sufficient time to process your request. All reasonable accommodation requests are managed on a case-by-case basis. 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Aug 23, 2022 Jkt 256001 international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States. Public Disclosure of Comments: There will be an opportunity for public comment during both days of the meeting. Depending on the number of people who wish to speak and the time available, the time for individual comments may be limited. Written comments may also be sent to the NGAC for consideration. To allow for full consideration of information by the NGAC members, written comments must be provided to John Mahoney (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least three (3) business days prior to the meeting. Any written comments received will be provided to Committee members before the meeting. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information (PII) in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your PII—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your PII from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2. Dionne Duncan-Hughes, FACA Liaison Officer USGS. [FR Doc. 2022–18247 Filed 8–23–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4338–11–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs [2231A2100DD/AAKC001030/ A0A501010.999900] Tribal Tourism Grant Program; Solicitation of Proposals Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), through the Office of Indian Economic Development (OIED), Division of Economic Development (DED), is soliciting proposals from eligible federally recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations for the Tribal Tourism Grant Program (TTGP). The grant funding will be used to support Tribal tourism by providing Tribes and Tribal organizations funding to obtain technical assistance to perform feasibility studies or develop Tribal tourism business plans. The TTGP grant will provide Tribes resources to explore opportunities to increase Tribal capacity to plan, develop, and manage tourism and related infrastructure, in support of economic development and the Native SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 52021 American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act or NATIVE Act. The feasibility study or business plan will empower Tribes to make informed decisions on potential tourism project(s). Grant application packages will be accepted until 5 p.m. ET, on October 24, 2022. OIED will not consider proposals received after this time and date. DATES: 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 (401) 703–3390; email jo.metcalfe@bia.gov. 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/ttgp. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: I. General Information II. Number of Projects Funded III. Background IV. Eligibility for Funding V. Who May Perform Feasibility Studies Funded by TTGP Grants? VI. Applicant Procurement Procedures VII. Limitations VIII. TTGP 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: $150,000. Award Floor: $25,000. CFDA Number: 15.032. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No. Number of Awards: 20–35. E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM 24AUN1 52022 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2022 / Notices Category: Business Development. jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES II. Number of Projects Funded OIED anticipates awarding of approximately 20 to 35 grants under this announcement ranging in value from approximately $25,000 to $150,000. The funded projects are for a one-year term. 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, and only one application will be accepted from an eligible Tribal Organization of that Tribe. III. Background 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) and Tribal Organizations eligible for TTGP grants. Indian Tribes are referred to using the term ‘‘Tribe’’ throughout this notice. Tribal Organization is defined by 25 U.S.C. 5304(l). The grant funding is to retain consultants to perform feasibility studies on Tribal tourism opportunities or develop a tourism business plan. The feasibility studies will help facilitate informed decisionmaking regarding Tribes’ economic futures and may concern the viability of a tourism project. The feasibility study or business plan will empower Tribes to make informed decisions on potential tourism project(s), a Tribal tourism business, or Tribal tourism businesses recovering from the economic impacts of the COVID–19 pandemic. The OIED supports Tribes and Tribal organizations capacity building to plan, develop and manage tourism and related infrastructure in support of economic development and the NATIVE Act (Pub. L. 114–221). The OIED administers this program through its DED. The funding periods and amounts referenced in this solicitation are subject to the availability of non-recurring appropriation funds of the BIA budget 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Aug 23, 2022 Jkt 256001 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) and eligible Tribal Organizations as defined by 25 U.S.C. 5304(l). Note: The U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Native Hawaiian Relations is managing NATIVE Act tourism grants to Native Hawaiian Organizations. For additional information on grants for Native Hawaiian Organizations, please contact Ka‘i‘ini Kaloi, Director, Office of Native Hawaiian Relations, (202) 208–7462, Kaiini_Kaloi@ios.doi.gov. V. Who May Perform Tourism Feasibility Studies or Develop Tourism Business Plans Funded by TTGP Grants The applicant determines who will conduct its feasibility study or business plan. An applicant has several choices, including but not limited to: • Universities and colleges, including but not limited to Tribal colleges and universities; • Private consulting firms; or • Non-academic, non-profit entities. VI. Applicant Procurement Procedures The applicant is subject to the procurement standards in 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 the procurements conform to applicable Federal law and standards. VII. Limitations TTGP grant funding must be expended in accordance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, including 2 CFR 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 non-compliance with the Single Audit Act are ineligible for a TTGP grants. Applicants at Sanction Level 1 will be considered for funding. Only one application will be accepted from an eligible Tribe, and only one application will be accepted from an eligible Tribal Organization of that Tribe. Applications should address one project and any submissions that PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 contain multiple project proposals will not be considered. OIED will apply the same objective ranking criteria to each proposal. The purpose of TTGP grants is to empower Tribes to make informed decisions on potential tourism project(s), a Tribal tourism business, or Tribal tourism businesses recovering from the economic impacts of the COVID–19 pandemic. An application can request funding for a feasibility study, or a business plan, depending on the Tribe’s needs. TTGP grants 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); • Creating Tribal jobs to complete the project. A TTGP grant is not intended to create temporary administrative jobs or supplement employment for Tribal members; • Supplementing employment 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 TTGP FY2022 grant opportunity page at E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM 24AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2022 / Notices 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 jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES A Cover Page must be included in the application and contain the following: • Category of Funding for the TTGP application; • Proposal Title; • Total Amount of funding requested from the Program; • Full and Proper Name of the applicant organization; • 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 partnerships such as Tribes, other Tribal Organizations or Entities. Application for Federal Assistance SF–424 Applicants are required complete the Application for Federal Assistance SF–424. Please use a descriptive file name that includes tribal name and project description. For example: TTGPSF424.Tribalname.Project. The VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Aug 23, 2022 Jkt 256001 SF–424 form requires the Congressional District number of the applicant, which can be found at https://www.house.gov/ representatives/find-yourrepresentative. 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 The first paragraph of the project narrative must include the title and basic description of the proposed Tribal tourism feasibility study and/or Tribal tourism business plan. 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 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; • 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); and • Resumes of key consultants and personnel to be retained, if available, and the names of subcontractors, if applicable. This information 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: TTGPNarrative.Tribalname.Project. In addition, unless prohibited by Tribal procurement procedures, please include a description of the consultant(s) the applicant wishes to retain, including the consultant’s contact information, technical expertise, training, qualifications, and suitability to undertake the feasibility study. These documents may be included at the end of the Project Narrative and will not be counted toward the 15-page limitation. Project Narratives are not judged based on their length. Please do not submit any unnecessary attachments or documents beyond what is listed above, PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 52023 e.g., Tribal history, unrelated photos and maps. 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: TTGPBudget.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. • Other expenses may include computer rental, report generation, drafting, and advertising costs for a proposed project. 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 TTGP 2022 grant application. It must be signed by authorized Tribal representative(s). The Tribal resolution must also include a description of the feasibility study or business plan 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 Tribal Tourism 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. E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM 24AUN1 52024 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2022 / Notices 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] Applicants must include the Key Contacts information page that includes: • Please use a descriptive file name that includes tribal name and identifies it is the critical information page (CIP). For example: TTGPICIP.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. Please list the county(ies) where the project is located and congressional district number(s) where the project is located. 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. jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES XI. Review and Selection Process Upon receiving a TTGP application, OIED will determine whether the application is complete and that the proposed project does not duplicate or overlap previous or currently funded OIED tourism 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, comprised of OIED staff, staff from other Federal agencies, and subject matter experts, will evaluate the proposals VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Aug 23, 2022 Jkt 256001 against the ranking criteria. Proposals will be evaluated using the five ranking 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 an award will be notified in writing. XII. Evaluation Criteria Proposals (both feasibility or business plans) will be formally evaluated by an OIED review committee using the five criteria listed below. Each criterion provides a percentage of the total maximum rating of 100 points: • The Project’s Economic Benefits: 50 points; • Project Deliverables: 20 Points; • Feasibility Process and Analysis: 10 points; • Costs of Proposal: 10 points; • Specificity: 10 points. The Project’s Economic Benefits: 50 Points The reviewers will determine if the proposal’s scope of work clearly states the tourism opportunity to be studied. Factors that the reviewers will consider when allocating points are, but not limited to: • Does the tourism proposal address what is needed to increase tourism capacity? • Does the proposal describe the benefits that the tourism project would have if implemented? • Does the proposal describe how the project will address economic development challenges such as unemployment, workforce development, infrastructure needs, and stimulate economic activity within a Native community? • Does the proposal address sustainability planning, ensuring that the project has long-term benefits for the community? • Does the proposal identify any partnerships with non-profit or private sector resources that might increase the potential that the tourism project will succeed? Project Deliverables: 20 Points The reviewers will determine if the proposal describes in detail applicable proposed deliverables. For example, a mountain biking tour study would include deliverables such as, but not limited to, site analysis, market demographics, marketing strategies, drive-time market, regional competition, market demands, and a financial model that includes investment and return on investment projections. PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Project Tasks and Timeline: 10 Points The reviewers will determine if a comprehensive timeline has been developed to address tasks that are needed to successfully complete the objectives outlined in the scope of work. Costs of Proposal/Budget: 10 Points The reviewers will assess the costs listed in the budget to determine if the overall value of the project is competitively priced and in accordance with the goals stated within the proposal/scope of work. Specificity: 10 Points In addition, the reviewers understand that applicants may retain consultant(s) that prepare the Tourism proposal to 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, proposals will be viewed unfavorably if they 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. All grant 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 System for Award Management (SAM). XIV. Reporting Requirements for Award Recipients The applicant must deliver all products and data required by the signed Grant Agreement for the proposed TTGP feasibility study or business plan project to OIED within 30 days of the end of each reporting period and 120 days after completion of the project. The reporting periods will be established in the terms and conditions of the final award. OIED requires that deliverable products be provided in digital format E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM 24AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2022 / Notices 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 TTGP funded feasibility study or business plan 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 conflicts 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. jspears on DSK121TN23PROD 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 conflicts 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Aug 23, 2022 Jkt 256001 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 and substantively evaluate the data, methodology, and analysis used by the Department to inform its decisions. PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 52025 • 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: Æ The scientific data relied upon; Æ The analysis relied upon; and Æ The 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 at https://app.smartsheet.com/b/ publish?EQBCT=98a8ecfd0f3d452693e 589c6a0a678d8 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. XVIII. Authority This is a discretionary grant program authorized under the NATIVE Act (25 U.S.C. 4354(b)). The NATIVE Act authorizes the head of an agency with assets or resources relating to travel, E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM 24AUN1 52026 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2022 / Notices recreation, or tourism promotion or branding enhancement for which Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, or Native Hawaiian organizations are eligible may be used: (1) to support the efforts of Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to tell the story of Native Americans as the First Peoples of the United States; (2) to use the arts and humanities to help revitalize Native communities, promote economic development, increase livability, and present the uniqueness of the United States to visitors in a way that celebrates the diversity of the United States; and to carry out 25 U.S.C. 4354. Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 2022–18242 Filed 8–23–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4337–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LAZP04000.L17110000.DU0000.223] Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the Sonoran Desert National Monument, Arizona, and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona State Director intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated environmental assessment (EA) concerning recreational target shooting for the Sonoran Desert National Monument (SDNM). By this notice the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping period to solicit public comments and identify issues and is providing the planning criteria for public review. DATES: The BLM requests that the public submit comments concerning the scope of the analysis, potential alternatives, planning criteria, and identification of relevant information, and studies by September 23, 2022. To afford the BLM the opportunity to consider issues please ensure your comments are received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. The date(s) and time(s) of scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Aug 23, 2022 Jkt 256001 advance through local news releases, newspapers, and the BLM Arizona Phoenix District web page, https:// www.blm.gov/office/phoenix-districtoffice. You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria related to the SDNM RMP Amendment and EA addressing Recreational Target Shooting availability in the monument by any of the following methods: • Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/ eplanning-ui/project/2019811/510. • Email: BLM_AZ_ SDNMtargetshooting@blm.gov. • Mail: BLM, Sonoran Desert National Monument, Attn.: RMPA EA, 2020 E. Bell Road, Phoenix AZ 85022. ADDRESSES: Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at https:// eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/ project/2019811/510 and at the Phoenix District Office, 2020 E. Bell Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85022. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie White Bull, Acting Field Manager, telephone (480) 739–8721; address 2020 E. Bell Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85022; email kwhitebull@blm.gov. Contact Ms. White Bull to have your name added to our mailing list. 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 for contacting Ms. White Bull. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States. This document provides notice that the BLM Arizona State Director intends to prepare and consider an RMP amendment with an associated EA for recreational target shooting availability in the SDNM, announces the beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input on issues, preliminary alternatives, and planning criteria. The RMP amendment would change the existing SDNM Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan (BLM 2012), as amended by the 2018 Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment. The planning area is located in Maricopa and Pinal Counties, Arizona and encompasses approximately 486,400 acres of public land. The scope of this land use planning process does not include addressing the evaluation or designation of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (ACECs), and the BLM is not considering ACEC nominations as part of this process. Purpose and Need The purpose of the RMP amendment is to establish management guidance specific to recreational target shooting on public land within the SDNM while ensuring the decisions are consistent with the SDNM proclamation and other resource decisions in the 2012 SDNM Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan. The need for this planning effort is to fulfill requirements of an April 2022 settlement agreement that the BLM entered to resolve litigation concerning the agency’s 2018 Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment for the SDNM. Preliminary Alternatives The RMP amendment process will consider whether and where recreational target shooting should be allowed in the SDNM, along with any associated management actions. Preliminary alternatives include the No Action alternative, which reflects the 2018 Record of Decision and approved resource management plan amendment that identified approximately 435,700 acres of public land as available for dispersed recreational target shooting along with a monitoring and mitigation framework to avoid or minimize impacts on monument objects while increasing public safety. In accordance with the April 2022 settlement agreement referenced earlier, the BLM will also analyze an alternative under which several areas in the monument would be unavailable to recreational target shooting, including designated wilderness; lands with wilderness characteristics managed to protect those characteristics; an area in the northwest portion of the monument where the Komatke Trail is suspected to exist, along with a 0.5 mile buffer north of the suspected trail, unless, prior to the completion of the land use planning process, additional field work demonstrates the nonexistence of the trail; the area south of Highway 238 from the western edge of the monument boundary to the western edge of the South Maricopa Mountains Wilderness area boundary, and the area south of I– 8 and west of the Table Top Wilderness, known as the Vekol Valley; the portion of the monument that used to be part of the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range before it was reconveyed to the BLM; and any area where the BLM’s suitability analysis identifies monument objects and determines target shooting is inconsistent with the objects’ proper E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM 24AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 24, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52021-52026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18242]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[2231A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900]


Tribal Tourism Grant Program; Solicitation of Proposals

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), 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), is soliciting proposals from eligible federally recognized 
Tribes and Tribal organizations for the Tribal Tourism Grant Program 
(TTGP). The grant funding will be used to support Tribal tourism by 
providing Tribes and Tribal organizations funding to obtain technical 
assistance to perform feasibility studies or develop Tribal tourism 
business plans. The TTGP grant will provide Tribes resources to explore 
opportunities to increase Tribal capacity to plan, develop, and manage 
tourism and related infrastructure, in support of economic development 
and the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act or 
NATIVE Act. The feasibility study or business plan will empower Tribes 
to make informed decisions on potential tourism project(s).

DATES: Grant application packages will be accepted until 5 p.m. ET, on 
October 24, 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 (401) 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/ttgp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information
II. Number of Projects Funded
III. Background
IV. Eligibility for Funding
V. Who May Perform Feasibility Studies Funded by TTGP Grants?
VI. Applicant Procurement Procedures
VII. Limitations
VIII. TTGP 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: $150,000.
    Award Floor: $25,000.
    CFDA Number: 15.032.
    Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No.
    Number of Awards: 20-35.

[[Page 52022]]

    Category: Business Development.

II. Number of Projects Funded

    OIED anticipates awarding of approximately 20 to 35 grants under 
this announcement ranging in value from approximately $25,000 to 
$150,000. The funded projects are for a one-year term. 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, and only 
one application will be accepted from an eligible Tribal Organization 
of that Tribe.

III. Background

    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) and Tribal Organizations eligible for TTGP grants. Indian Tribes 
are referred to using the term ``Tribe'' throughout this notice. Tribal 
Organization is defined by 25 U.S.C. 5304(l). The grant funding is to 
retain consultants to perform feasibility studies on Tribal tourism 
opportunities or develop a tourism business plan. The feasibility 
studies will help facilitate informed decision-making regarding Tribes' 
economic futures and may concern the viability of a tourism project. 
The feasibility study or business plan will empower Tribes to make 
informed decisions on potential tourism project(s), a Tribal tourism 
business, or Tribal tourism businesses recovering from the economic 
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The OIED supports Tribes and Tribal 
organizations capacity building to plan, develop and manage tourism and 
related infrastructure in support of economic development and the 
NATIVE Act (Pub. L. 114-221). The OIED administers this program through 
its DED.
    The funding periods and amounts referenced in this solicitation are 
subject to the availability of non-recurring appropriation funds of the 
BIA budget 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) and eligible Tribal Organizations as defined by 25 U.S.C. 
5304(l). Note: The U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Native 
Hawaiian Relations is managing NATIVE Act tourism grants to Native 
Hawaiian Organizations. For additional information on grants for Native 
Hawaiian Organizations, please contact Ka`i`ini Kaloi, Director, Office 
of Native Hawaiian Relations, (202) 208-7462, [email protected].

V. Who May Perform Tourism Feasibility Studies or Develop Tourism 
Business Plans Funded by TTGP Grants

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

VI. Applicant Procurement Procedures

    The applicant is subject to the procurement standards in 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 the procurements conform to applicable 
Federal law and standards.

VII. Limitations

    TTGP grant funding must be expended in accordance with applicable 
statutory and regulatory requirements, including 2 CFR 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 non-compliance with the Single Audit Act are ineligible for a TTGP 
grants. Applicants at Sanction Level 1 will be considered for funding.
    Only one application will be accepted from an eligible Tribe, and 
only one application will be accepted from an eligible Tribal 
Organization of that 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.
    The purpose of TTGP grants is to empower Tribes to make informed 
decisions on potential tourism project(s), a Tribal tourism business, 
or Tribal tourism businesses recovering from the economic impacts of 
the COVID-19 pandemic. An application can request funding for a 
feasibility study, or a business plan, depending on the Tribe's needs.
    TTGP grants 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);
     Creating Tribal jobs to complete the project. A TTGP grant 
is not intended to create temporary administrative jobs or supplement 
employment for Tribal members;
     Supplementing employment 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 TTGP FY2022 grant opportunity 
page at

[[Page 52023]]

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 TTGP application;
     Proposal Title;
     Total Amount of funding requested from the Program;
     Full and Proper Name of the applicant organization;
     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 partnerships such as Tribes, other 
Tribal Organizations or Entities.

Application for Federal Assistance SF-424

    Applicants are required complete the Application for Federal 
Assistance SF-424. Please use a descriptive file name that includes 
tribal name and project description. For example: 
TTGPSF424.Tribalname.Project. The SF-424 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

    The first paragraph of the project narrative must include the title 
and basic description of the proposed Tribal tourism feasibility study 
and/or Tribal tourism business plan. 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 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;
     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); and
     Resumes of key consultants and personnel to be retained, 
if available, and the names of subcontractors, if applicable. This 
information 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: 
TTGPNarrative.Tribalname.Project.
    In addition, unless prohibited by Tribal procurement procedures, 
please include a description of the consultant(s) the applicant wishes 
to retain, including the consultant's contact information, technical 
expertise, training, qualifications, and suitability to undertake the 
feasibility study. These documents may be included at the end of the 
Project Narrative and will not be counted toward the 15-page 
limitation.
    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.

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: 
TTGPBudget.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.
     Other expenses may include computer rental, report 
generation, drafting, and advertising costs for a proposed project.

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 TTGP 2022 grant application. It must be signed by 
authorized Tribal representative(s). The Tribal resolution must also 
include a description of the feasibility study or business plan 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 Tribal Tourism 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.

[[Page 52024]]

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]

    Applicants must include the Key Contacts information page that 
includes:
     Please use a descriptive file name that includes tribal 
name and identifies it is the critical information page (CIP). For 
example: TTGPICIP.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.
    Please list the county(ies) where the project is located and 
congressional district number(s) where the project is located.

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 TTGP application, OIED will determine whether the 
application is complete and that the proposed project does not 
duplicate or overlap previous or currently funded OIED tourism 
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, 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 five ranking 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 an award will 
be notified in writing.

XII. Evaluation Criteria

    Proposals (both feasibility or business plans) will be formally 
evaluated by an OIED review committee using the five criteria listed 
below. Each criterion provides a percentage of the total maximum rating 
of 100 points:
     The Project's Economic Benefits: 50 points;
     Project Deliverables: 20 Points;
     Feasibility Process and Analysis: 10 points;
     Costs of Proposal: 10 points;
     Specificity: 10 points.

The Project's Economic Benefits: 50 Points

    The reviewers will determine if the proposal's scope of work 
clearly states the tourism opportunity to be studied. Factors that the 
reviewers will consider when allocating points are, but not limited to:
     Does the tourism proposal address what is needed to 
increase tourism capacity?
     Does the proposal describe the benefits that the tourism 
project would have if implemented?
     Does the proposal describe how the project will address 
economic development challenges such as unemployment, workforce 
development, infrastructure needs, and stimulate economic activity 
within a Native community?
     Does the proposal address sustainability planning, 
ensuring that the project has long-term benefits for the community?
     Does the proposal identify any partnerships with non-
profit or private sector resources that might increase the potential 
that the tourism project will succeed?

Project Deliverables: 20 Points

    The reviewers will determine if the proposal describes in detail 
applicable proposed deliverables. For example, a mountain biking tour 
study would include deliverables such as, but not limited to, site 
analysis, market demographics, marketing strategies, drive-time market, 
regional competition, market demands, and a financial model that 
includes investment and return on investment projections.

Project Tasks and Timeline: 10 Points

    The reviewers will determine if a comprehensive timeline has been 
developed to address tasks that are needed to successfully complete the 
objectives outlined in the scope of work.

Costs of Proposal/Budget: 10 Points

    The reviewers will assess the costs listed in the budget to 
determine if the overall value of the project is competitively priced 
and in accordance with the goals stated within the proposal/scope of 
work.

Specificity: 10 Points

    In addition, the reviewers understand that applicants may retain 
consultant(s) that prepare the Tourism proposal to 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, proposals 
will be viewed unfavorably if they 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. All grant 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 
System for Award Management (SAM).

XIV. Reporting Requirements for Award Recipients

    The applicant must deliver all products and data required by the 
signed Grant Agreement for the proposed TTGP feasibility study or 
business plan project to OIED within 30 days of the end of each 
reporting period and 120 days after completion of the project. The 
reporting periods will be established in the terms and conditions of 
the final award.
    OIED requires that deliverable products be provided in digital 
format

[[Page 52025]]

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 TTGP 
funded feasibility study or business plan 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 conflicts 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 conflicts 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:
    [cir] The scientific data relied upon;
    [cir] The analysis relied upon; and
    [cir] The 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 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.

XVIII. Authority

    This is a discretionary grant program authorized under the NATIVE 
Act (25 U.S.C. 4354(b)). The NATIVE Act authorizes the head of an 
agency with assets or resources relating to travel,

[[Page 52026]]

recreation, or tourism promotion or branding enhancement for which 
Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, or Native Hawaiian organizations 
are eligible may be used: (1) to support the efforts of Indian Tribes, 
Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to tell the 
story of Native Americans as the First Peoples of the United States; 
(2) to use the arts and humanities to help revitalize Native 
communities, promote economic development, increase livability, and 
present the uniqueness of the United States to visitors in a way that 
celebrates the diversity of the United States; and to carry out 25 
U.S.C. 4354.

Bryan Newland,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2022-18242 Filed 8-23-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P
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