FEDERAL AGENCY:

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

AUTHORIZATION:

Snyder Act of 1921, Public Law 67-85, 42 Stat. 208, 25 U.S.C. 13; Indian Adult Vocational Training Act of 1956, Public Law 84-959, 70 Stat. 986, as amended; Public Law 88-230, 77 Stat. 471, 25 U.S.C. 309; Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Public Law 93-638, as amended, 25 U.S.C. 450.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide vocational training to individual American Indians through the United Tribes Technical College, located in Bismarck, North Dakota.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition

Training. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Financial aid is used to assist individual Indians to obtain a marketable skill through vocational training at the United Tribes Technical College, located in Bismarck, North Dakota. Restricted to American Indian people who are determined eligible for these services.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Application to administer the program is limited to the United Tribes Technical College. Individual American Indian applicants must be a member of a Federally Recognized Indian Tribe, be in need of financial assistance, and reside on or near an Indian reservation under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Individual American Indians who are members of a Federally Recognized Indian Tribe and reside on or near an Indian reservation under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Complete information on beneficiary eligibility is found in 25 CFR, Parts 26 and 27.

Credentials/Documentation:   Applicant must submit a certificate signed by a Bureau Agency Superintendent or an authorized Tribal representative that indicates the applicant is an enrolled member or registered with a Federally Recognized Indian Tribe.

Pre-application Coordination:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   The application by the United Tribes Technical College to administer the program must contain the information specified in 25 CFR, Part 900, Subpart C, "Contract Proposal Contents." The completed application should be submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Aberdeen Regional Office. Individual American Indian applicants should apply for program services using the application form designated by the College. Individual application forms may be obtained directly from the United Tribes Technical College or from Bureau of Indian Affairs Agency or Regional Offices listed in appendix IV of the Catalog.

Award Procedure:   Applications for individual subsistence benefits are approved by the designated United Tribes Technical College official.

Deadlines:   None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   1 to 90 days.

Appeals:   Disputes between the United Tribes Technical College and the Bureau of Indian Affairs may be appealed through an informal conference with the deciding official, may be appealed 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. An appeal of a college official's decision must be made under the college's appeal procedures.

Renewals:   Awards to the United Tribes Technical College to administer the program may be renewed indefinitely upon satisfactory performance by the college and the availability of appropriations. A notice of intent to renew should be submitted at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the current award. Renewals of grants to individual beneficiaries are granted based on evidence of satisfactory performance and the availability of funds.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Awards to the United Tribes Technical College to administer the program are made on an annual basis and the funds remain available until expended by the college. Payments may be made in advance or by way of reimbursement. The timing of payments will be negotiated with the college. Grants to individual beneficiaries for subsistence are released monthly or quarterly, based upon individual needs. Vocational and employment counseling are provided by the college. Funding is limited in duration to the length of the vocational program, which varies by area of study.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   The United Tribes Technical College must submit financial status reports, SF 269A. The timing and nature of program accomplishment data will be negotiated with the College.

Audits:   For awards administered by the United Tribes Technical College, the College is responsible for obtaining audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501 et. seq.).

Records:   The United Tribes Technical College must retain financial records for three years from the date of submission of the single audit report. Procurement records must be retained for three years from the date of final payment. Property records must be retained for three 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:   14-2100-0-1-452.

Obligations:   (Total Amount of Awards) FY 01 $2,242,000; FY 02 est $3,000,000; and FY 03 est not available.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
$500 to $3,000; Average: $2,500.

The United Tribes Technical College offers 23 vocational certificates and degrees. They have approximately 160 new students each year.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

25 CFR 26 and 25 CFR 27. For awards to United Tribes Technical College see also 25 CFR Part 900.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Applications may be obtained from the local Bureau of Indian Affairs agency office as listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog or with the United Tribes Technical College. For direct contact: United Tribes Technical College, 3315 University Dr., Bismarck, North Dakota 58504. Contact: Vivian Gillette, Admissions. Telephone: (701) 255-3285, ext. 334.

Headquarters Office:   Lynn Forcia, Office of Self-Governance and Self-Determination, Division of Job Placement and Training, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street, NW, MS 2542 MIB, Washington, District of Columbia 20240 Phone: (202) 219-5270.

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

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

On average about 80 percent of attendees are place in jobs upon completion of a vocation certificate program and about 20 percent continue on to higher education.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Final determination to fund an application is based on the individual's eligibility and financial need and total dollars available to the College.