Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories and the Freely Associated States (15.875)

Program

15.875 Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories and the Freely Associated States

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of the Interior
Office: Office Of Territorial And International Affairs

Authorization

The Guam Organic Act, 64 Stat. 384, 48 U.S.C. 1421 et. seq., Act of February 20, 1929, 48 U.S.C. 1661; Executive Order 10264; Public Law 83-517, 48 U.S.C. et. seq.; Public Law 94-241, Public Law 104-134, Public Law 108-188.

Program Number

15.875

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To promote greater self-sufficiency through the social, economic, and political development of the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Financial assistance is limited to the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as well as to organizations whose missions directly benefit these four territories. A notable exception is Compact Impact aid to Hawaii which is mandated by Public Law 108-188. Grant funds are provided for capital improvements, government operations, and technical assistance activities.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants are the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as organizations whose missions directly benefit these four territories.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Beneficiaries are the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs will be determined in accordance with 43 CFR Part 12 Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments." Section 12.62, identifies Federal cost principles for determining allowable costs. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Applications for technical assistance grants may be submitted at any time. Directed assistance application procedures, which make up the majority of the Office of Insular Affairs' (OIA) financial assistance, vary depending on the purpose of the funding. For capital improvement funds, call letters are sent out annually requesting spending plans from the 4 U.S. territories while government operations awards are made automatically once the funds are appropriated by the U.S. Congress. Direct payments are provided in accordance with laws and reports for Virgin Islands Rum Excise Tax advances and Guam Section 30 Income Tax Collection advances.

Award Procedure

A grant award is made to each territorial government entity in the specific amounts and for the specific purposes set forth in the annual Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation Act signed by the President.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: There are no formula requirements. The majority of OIA's financial assistance programs do not have a matching requirement. The two exceptions are the American Samoa Operations and Maintenance Set-Aside Program, which has a 50% local match requirement, and OIA's Operations and Maintenance Improvement Program (OMIP). However, OMIP match requirements are left to the discretion of the grant manager and may be waived should the application warrant it.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The period of performance for OIA grants is dependent on the activity to be funded and is specified in the grant terms and conditions. Payments are generally made through wire transfer arrangements. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Information not available.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Reports that are required by 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments," must be submitted on a timely basis as specified in the grant terms and conditions. Final reports are due within 90 days of grant completion or termination. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Federal Financial Report, SF 425 is required. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Grants are also subject to inspection and audit by Interior's Office of the Inspector General, OIA staff, or any other authorized representative of the Federal government.

Records

Record retention requirements are the same as those contained in 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments.".

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: OIA financial assistance has enabled the U.S. territories to develop economically, socially, and politically thereby fostering their self-sufficiency. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-0414-0-1-806; 14-0412-0-1-806.

Obligations

(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 08 $223,475,000; FY 09 est $209,621,000; FY 10 est $0 - FY 2010 estimate is not available.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

OIA financial assistance awards range from a few thousand dollars to tens of millions.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

None.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Faride Komisar Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, The Budget and Grants Management Division or the Technical Assistance Division, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20240 Phone: (202)208-6971 Fax: (202)208-7585

Web Site Address

http://www/doi.gov/oia.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Operational support to the American Samoa Government and grants for the construction of basic infrastructure including roads, water systems, power, sewer, schools, and hospitals. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The following consideration will be used in determining projects to be funded: (1) Directed appropriations, (2) Availability of funds; and (3) Relevance to program priorities.