Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories

 

The Office of Insular Affairs will pursue the Departments mission of Fulfilling Our Trust and Insular Responsibilities by executing activities which bolster healthcare capacity, strengthen island economies, and fulfill U.S. Compact obligations. OIA carries out the Secretarys responsibilities for U.S.-affiliated insular areas. These include the territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). Additionally, OIA administers and oversees Federal assistance to three freely associated states (FAS): the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Republic of Palau (Palau). This program will support projects funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act PL 117-58, Section 40804(b) Ecosystem Restoration.

Active 15.875 Insular Affairs, Department of The Interior A - Formula Grants; B - Project Grants; C - Direct Payments For Specified Use; D - Direct Payments With Unrestricted Use Fiscal Year 2017 Information not available. OIA financial assistance has enabled the seven insular areas to develop economically, socially, and politically helping to empower these communities. Recent accomplishments include the construction of classrooms, the installation of software to enhance government accountability, and the purchase of public safety equipment such as fire trucks and ambulances. Data on the number and ratio of applications is currently not available. Approximately 120 awards are made annually.
Fiscal Year 2018 OIA financial assistance has enabled the seven insular areas to develop economically, socially, and politically helping to empower these communities. Recent accomplishments include the construction of classrooms, the installation of software to enhance government accountability, and the purchase of public safety equipment such as fire trucks, ambulances, school buses, and waste collection trucks. In FY18 approximately 120 awards were made.
Fiscal Year 2021 American Samoa: Placed a Coral Fellow in fiscal year 2021 in each of the following territories: American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Coral Fellow program has provided needed capacity in the territories for both coral reef conservation and invasive species management. Grantee: Nova Southeastern University National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Program. Promote coral reef and human health by improving dry litter piggeries and implementing green infrastructure treatment of shallow groundwater with elevated nutrients in select villages of American Samoa. Grantee: Ridge to Reefs. Construction of the Manulife Elementary School gym, Lupelele Elementary School gym, Matafao Elementary School gym, and Pago Pago Elementary School gym. Substantial progress on multiyear projects at the American Samoa Shipyard Authority 3,000 Ton Slipway and the Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center Labor Delivery and Operating Room renovations. CNMI – Supports RBP. Focal species: Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle. The CNMI continues to be proactive with its approach to combat the invasive species – CRB detection, eradication and preventative measures. Grantee: Department of Land and Natural Resources. Support RBP. Focal species: Plants. To eliminate certain plant species that threaten the natural resources on Mount Sabana’s Forest on the island of Rota by removing the ever-growing pandanus forest trees as well introduce native species that offer benefits to the forests as well as residents. Grantee: Department of Lands and Natural Resources. Guam – Supports RBP. Focal species: Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle. To establish a detector dog program to identify invasive species residing at the ports of entry and transiting cargo. The detector dog will be cross trained on other target invertebrate invasive species scents. Construction project at the University of Guam. Phase I of the Department of Public Works’ renovation and repair of public gymnasiums, sports facilities, and public restrooms throughout the island was completed in December 2021 and Phase II has commenced. USVI – Established Strike Teams to conduct systematic surveys to search for and neutralize recently discovered outbreaks of the Stoney Coral Tissue Loss Disease, which has already impacted almost half of the coral species found in the USVI. Grantee: Department of Planning and Natural Resources. Construction projects in the USVI are focused on repairing critical road infrastructure on all three islands, water and wastewater site improvements, and deferred maintenance reduction within the Virgin Islands Department of Education. The public libraries are also a focus, as the Florence Williams Public Library and Athalie McFarlane Petersen Public Library on St. Croix are in need of structural renovations to repair cracked walls, masonry, roof gutters, fire protection, generator, and install upgrades to the electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and telephone systems. All projects are multiyear and are ongoing. FSM – Enhancing Kosrae, Chuuk, and Yap’s Ecosystem and Food Security through the Prevention, Eradication, Control and Management of Invasive Alien Species. Grantee: Micronesia Conservation Trust. RMI – Supports RBP. Focal species: small mammalian carnivores. Remove invasive rats from part of Mili Atoll. Island Conservation will work with local partners to construct and implement a biosecurity plan; design and implement a rodent eradication on a minimum of three islets. Grantee: Island Conservation.
Fiscal Year 2023 OIA financial assistance has enabled the seven insular areas to develop economically, socially, and politically helping to empower these communities. Grants were awarded this year based upon the top priorities for this Administration which included: climate change (including food and water security), energy, natural and cultural resources, youth programs, health initiatives and health IT systems, public safety/emergencies, invasive species management, accountability, financial management, economic development, education (including training), management control initiatives, disaster planning, capacity building, and information technology.
Fiscal Year 2024 Information not available. In FY23, the program anticipates issuing approximately 190 awards. 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, and Public Law 99-658, 48 U.S.C. 1469d. U.S. Territories and possessions (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals) Eligible applicants are the U.S. territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; the state of Hawaii; the Freely Associated States of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau; and any non-profit institutions/organizations whose missions directly benefit the seven insular areas. Beneficiaries are the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; the state of Hawaii; and the Freely Associated States of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. An environmental impact statement or an environmental impact assessment may be required depending on the project grant. All proposed projects shall be reviewed for applicability. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Application procedures vary. Please contact the Headquarters Office for specific information. The standard SF-424 forms are required for project grants with the exception of projects funded by the Compacts of Free Association. Please review Grants.gov and GrantSolutions.gov for more information. A grant award is made to an eligible 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. Grants are awarded and distributed through GrantSolutions.gov. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. The following consideration will be used in determining projects to be funded: (1) Directed appropriations, (2) Relevance to program priorities, and (3) Availability of funds. Competitive criteria are detailed in the funding opportunity announcements on Grants.gov under CFDA 15.875. Financial assistance is limited to the U.S. territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States which are Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, and to non-profit organizations whose missions directly benefit these seven insular areas. A notable exception is the state of Hawaii which receives Compact Impact aid mandated by Public Law 108-188 and Brown Treesnake Control Program funding. Financial assistance is used for a variety of activities including capital improvements, government operations, and Technical Assistance, Maintenance Assistance, Coral Reef and Natural Resources(CRNR) (including invasive species mitigation efforts). Technical Assistance priorities include climate change (including food and water security), energy production, natural and cultural resources, health initiatives and health IT systems, public safety / emergencies, invasive species management, accountability, financial management, economic development, education, management control initiative, disaster planning, capacity building, and information technology. Maintenance Assistance funding is used to support, develop, improve, and institutionalize infrastructure maintenance practices in the seven areas. Funding may also be used for minor renovations and critical repairs to infrastructure. CRNR provides funding to improve the health of coral reef ecosystems, to improve coastal resilience, to protect other natural resources, and to eradicate, mitigate invasive aquatic and terrestrial species. Not applicable. Audits of the three Freely Associated States, when receiving funding under the Compacts of Free Association, are governed by those compacts (Public Law 108-188 and Public Law 99-658) and their related agreements. Financial assistance awards 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. Record retention requirements are, at a minimum, the same as those contained in 2 CFR 200 and those dictated by the Compacts of Free Association (Public Law 108-188 and Public Law 99-658), the Office of Insular Affairs record retention schedule, and their related agreements (as applicable). Statutory Formula: Public Law 108-188

Matching is voluntary_rating. Matching Requirements: The majority of OIA's financial assistance programs do not have a matching requirement. The two exceptions are the American Samoa Capital Improvement Project Operations and Maintenance Set-Aside Program (CIP O&M), and the Maintenance Assistance Program (MAP). However, match requirements are left to the discretion of OIA and may be waived as appropriate. At this time, OIA is currently waiving all matching requirements for both the CIP O&M and MAP programs.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The period of performance for OIA grants is dependent on the activity to be funded and is specified in the grant terms and conditions. Awards are processed through GrantSolutions and distributed via email. Payments are generally made through ASAP Financial System. The frequency of the payment varies. Please contact the Headquarters Office for more information. None/Not specified. Aimee Munzi
Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, 1849 C Street, NW, Mail Stop 3117
Washington, DC 20240 US
Aimee_Munzi@ios.doi.gov
Phone: (202)208-3913 http://www.doi.gov/oia 14-0102-0-1-806 (Project Grants) FY 22$339,397,000.00; FY 23 est $357,800,000.00; FY 24 est $144,344,000.00; FY 21$342,701,000.00; FY 20$391,252,000.00; FY 19$327,624,000.00; FY 18$436,417,000.00; FY 17$319,867,000.00; - (Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 22$296,564,000.00; FY 23 est $380,000,000.00; FY 24 est $380,000,000.00; FY 21$369,841,000.00; FY 20$342,527,000.00; FY 19$330,533,000.00; FY 18$331,073,000.00; - Guam Section 30 Income Taxes $ VI Rum Excise Taxes(Project Grants (for specified projects)) FY 22$900,000.00; FY 23 est $0.00; FY 24 est $1,250,000.00; FY 21$0.00; - These funds are for OIA BIL Activity 6 - Invasives. Funding will be used for invasive species detection, prevention, and eradication. Eligible areas include American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI, and the USVI.(Project Grants (for specified projects)) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $555,765.00; FY 24 est $1,000,000.00; FY 21$0.00; - OIA BIL Activity 8 - Funding will be used to restore native vegetation and mitigate environmental hazards on mined Federal and non-Federal lands. Examples include restoring lands used for sand, gravel, and coral mining. Eligible areas include American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI, and the USVI.(Project Grants (for specified projects)) FY 22$389,025.00; FY 23 FY 24 est $2,000,000.00; FY 21$0.00; - OIA BIL Activity 9 - Funding will be used to establish and implement revegetation efforts on Federal and non-Federal lands utilizing native plants and seeds. Eligible areas include American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI, and the USVI.(Project Grants (for specified projects)) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $12,000,000.00; FY 24 est $3,000,000.00; FY 21$0.00; - IRA - Climate Change Technical Assistance for Climate Change Planning, Adaptation, Mitigation and Resilience. Eligible applicants include the local governments of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.(Project Grants (for specified projects)) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $512,000.00; FY 24 - OIA BIL Activity 1 - funding will be used to restore ecological health on minimum of 10,000 acres of federal land including Indian forest or rangeland. Eligible areas include American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI, and the USVI. There is no minimum or maximum award. OIA financial assistance awards range from a few thousand dollars to tens of millions annually. The average award amount varies annually. 2 CFR 200 Fiscal Year 2017 No information available. Operational support to the American Samoa Government and grants for the construction of basic infrastructure including marina renovations, solid waste facility construction, power generation improvements, invasive species control tool development, coral reef protection, public safety equipment, staff training, and construction of basic infrastructure.
Fiscal Year 2018 Operational support to a local government and grants for the construction of basic infrastructure including marina renovations, solid waste facility construction, power generation improvements, invasive species control tool development, coral reef protection, public safety equipment, staff training, and construction of basic infrastructure.
Fiscal Year 2020 Examples of funded projects include: Energizing Insular Communities (EIC) Program : American Samoa; $1.2M the Island of Aunu'u 100% Renewable Energy: To install solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage systems to replace the existing diesel generation system to power the island of Aunu’u by 100% renewable energy. Capital Infrastructure Project (CIP): Guam; $3.5M for Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA) HVAC A&E and Replacement: Design and construction services for the removal and replacement of GMHA's hospital-wide HVAC System and associated components. Technical Assistance Program (TAP): Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI); $334,360 to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation for Advancing Mammography Equipment; Procurement of a new full-field digital mammography system with tomosynthesis for CHC's Department of Radiology. Maintenance Assistance Program (MAP): U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI); $535,000 to the VI Waste Management Authority for Specialty Equipment and Training. Procurement of specialty vehicles and personnel training for wastewater infrastructure. Compact Grant Program: Republic of the Marshall Islands; $500,000 RMI Ministry of Finance, Funding for RMI 2020 Single Audit Assistance.
Fiscal Year 2021 Highlights of some of the awarded financial assistance include: CNMI: Department of Finance - development of a new tax system that will be integrated to work with the Department of Finance Financial Management Information System. Appraisals for the CNMI government property in order to ensure government asset management and financial risk management. CNMI Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreational Planning Initiative. Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Wastewater Collection, Transmission, and Treatment System feasibility study. Office of the Governor - new Comprehensive Wetlands Management Plan. Saipan Street naming and Addressing Master Map. Commonwealth Utilities Corporation for an Automated Water Read, Supply, and Leak Detection System pilot project. House of Taga Restoration and Preservation Project. Guam: Guam Bureau of Statistics and Plans - 2050 Sustainability Plan. Guam Community College - Construction Trades Bootcamp program. Guam Power Authority - Energy Engineering Training and Certification program. Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation - training for revenue officers and auditor and revenue agents. Mane’lu - Micronesian Resource Center One Stop Shop. American Samoa: Department of Treasury - Tax System replacement feasibility study and design. LBJ Tropical Medical Center - Maternal Fetal Medicine Telehealth Training project. Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management - building survey for all American Samoa Government public buildings. Department of Commerce - Statistical Enhancement Framework project. USVI: Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency - 911 Emergency Communications Center Phone System Upgrade. University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) - Capacity Building in the USVI to Increase Constitutional Development and Self-Determination project. UVI Business Innovation Center. Virgin Islands Bureau of Information Technology - Cybersecurity Vulnerability Prevention project. Virgin Islands Department of Finance - Electronic Payment Process Solution project. Federated States of Micronesia (FSM): Habele - Robo League –student robotics teams at 26 public and private high schools across the Federated States of Micronesia. Pohnpei State Aid Coordination Unit Office- support and enhance Pohnpei Public Broadcasting Corporation. Pacific Mission Aviation -equipment for one Short Take-Off and Landing Aircraft. Pohnpei Port Authority - development of a Master Plan for the Pohnpei State transportation Zone. Micronesian Productions- equipment . Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI): Republic of the Marshall Islands 4 Atoll Health Care - primary healthcare physicians and nurses and healthcare programs to nuclear affected residents of Enewetak, Bikini, Rongelap and Utrik in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. RMI Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office - RMI Census of Population and Housing 2020. Rongelap Government - Solar Energy Power for Homes project. Namo Government - Renewable Energy Project. Marshallese Youth of Orange County - COVID Aid, Relief and Economic Security project. Kili Bikini Ejit Government – Bikini COVID-19 Repatriation Costs. RMI Ministry of Health and Human Services - Vaccination Program for Outer Islands. Palau: WestCare Pacific Islands, Inc for the Cherberdil Belau Center in Palau. This youth and family center will provide workshops for healthy relationships, parenting and financial management education
Fiscal Year 2023 Operational support to a local government and grants for the construction of basic infrastructure including fiber optic cable repairs, solid waste facility renovations, power generation improvements, invasive species control and eradication, coral reef protection, public safety equipment, staff training, construction of basic infrastructure, and operational assistance. See section, "Describe how assistance may be used" for more information.
Fiscal Year 2024 No information available, but similar projects to past years are anticipated.