FEDERAL AGENCY:

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

AUTHORIZATION:

Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Public Law 93-638, as amended, 25 U.S.C. 450; Snyder Act of 1921, Public Law 67-85, 42 Stat. 208, 25 U.S.C. 13; Indian Forest Resources Management Act of 1990, 36 Stat. 857, 25 U.S.C. 406 and 407; Act of June 25, 1910, Public Law 61-313; 62 Stat. 787 and 788, 18 U.S.C. 1853, 1855, and 1856; Rumsey Indian Rancheria Act, Sections 304-320, 104 Stat. 4531.

OBJECTIVES:

To maintain, protect, enhance, and develop Indian forest resources through the execution of forest management activities.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Direct Payments for Specified Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition

Provision of Specialized Services. Place Cursor Here for Definition

Advisory Services and Counseling. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Funds are used to support activities of reforestation and commercial forest stand improvement; timber sales management; forest inventories and plans; forest program management and administration; and forest protection activities. Forest Inventory, Management Planning and Forest Development funds are awarded competitively.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments and Native American Organizations authorized by Indian tribal governments.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments and their members and Native American Organizations.

Credentials/Documentation:   Initial application for financial assistance (P.L. 93-638) must be accompanied by a resolution of the governing body of the Indian tribe.

Pre-application Coordination:   Informal preapplication conference is recommended. Technical assistance in preparing the application is available upon request. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Initial applications for financial assistance must contain the information specified in 25 CFR, Part 900, Subpart C, "Contract Proposal Contents." Completed applications should be submitted to the local BIA agency office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Requests for technical services can be made through the local BIA agency office.

Award Procedure:   In most cases, the award can be approved at the agency level. In some instances, the application will be forwarded to the Regional Director for approval. The dollar value of Forestry awards depends upon the amount that has been prioritized by the individual tribe through tribal participation in the BIA's budget formulation process.

Deadlines:   None.

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

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

Renewals:   Forestry. Awards may be renewed indefinitely upon satisfactory performance by the contractor/grantee. A notice of intent to renew should be submitted at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the current award. Forestry Management Planning and Development. Funds are awarded for projects on a year-by-year basis and are not intended to provide perennial support for tribal programs.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Not applicable.

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

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

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

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

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

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   14-2100-0-1-302.

Obligations:   (Total Amount of Awards) FY 01 $13,352,000; FY 02 est $12,710,280; and FY 03 est $13,349,160.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
$10,000 to $1,000,000; Average: $100,000.

The program supported reforestation activities on about 14,000 acres. Timber sales managed through the program created about 9,000 person years of employment and generated revenues of approximately $100 million. To date, 80 management plans have been developed to direct forestry activities on 17 million acres of Indian forest lands.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

25 CFR, Part 900; 25 CFR 163 -- General Forestry Regulations.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

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

Headquarters Office:   Bill Downes, Office of Trust Services, Division of Forestry and Wildland Fire Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street N.W., MS-4513 MIB, Washington, District of Columbia 20240 Email: bill_downes@bia.gov Phone: (202) 208-4620.

Web Site Address:  
http://www.bia.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Funds are used for planting trees; greenhouse operations; weeding and fertilization; development or revision of reservation specific long-term sustained yield forest management plans; and development of environmental compliance documents, sales documents, and timber sale contracts.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Forestry: All applicants meeting the criteria in 25 CFR part 900 will be funded. Forestry Management and Development: Criteria include need, benefit/cost analysis, capability of the applicant to successfully conduct the project, and budget and its effective use. Awards are based on the commercial timber base, the annual forest development inventory, and on periodic priority needs as determined by Regional Offices.