Indian Employment Assistance

 

To provide vocational training and employment opportunities to eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives to reduce Federal dependence.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
15.108
Federal Agency/Office
Bureau of Indian Education, Department of The Interior
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
C - Direct Payments For Specified Use
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 No Information Available.
Fiscal Year 2017 No Information Available.
Fiscal Year 2018 No Information Available.
Fiscal Year 2020 The IA fulfilled its mission objectives by issuing a combined 55 awards to Indian Tribes: Self-Determination and Employment Assistance Grants.
Fiscal Year 2021 In FY21, IA issued 40 new awards and modifications to existing awards to 39 recipients.
Fiscal Year 2022 Awards 7 grants to entities to complete the goals and objectives of the program.
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, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments and Native American Organizations authorized by Indian Tribal Governments may apply to administer the program. Individual American Indian and Alaska Native 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 or in Alaska under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Members of Federally Recognized Indian Tribes who are unemployed, underemployed, or in need of training to obtain reasonable and gainful employment. Complete information on beneficiary eligibility is found in 25 CFR, Part 26.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants must submit a certificate signed by a Bureau Agency Superintendent or an authorized Tribal representative that indicates the applicant is an enrolled member or a descendent of an enrolled member or registered with a Federally Recognized Indian Tribe.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Initial applications by Indian Tribal Governments to administer the program must contain the information specified in 25 CFR, Part 900, Subpart C, "Contract Proposal Contents." Completed applications should be submitted to the local Bureau of Indian Affairs agency office listed in Appendix IV. Individual American Indian and Alaska Native applicants should apply for program services on the Bureau of Indian Affairs Form BIA-8205 if they are applying at the nearest Bureau Employment Assistance office to their residence. If an eligible applicant is applying for services from a tribal program contractor the tribe will make available a facsimile (application).
Award Procedure
The dollar value of the awards to Indian Tribal Governments depends upon the amount that has been prioritized by the individual Tribe through tribal participation in the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Tribal Priority Allocation budget formulation process. Applications for individual benefits are approved by the Bureau Agency Superintendent or authorized tribal representative.
Deadlines
Not applicable.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
Applications by Tribal Governments to administer the program will be processed within 90 days. Applications by individuals for benefits will be processed within 30 days.
Appeals
A Tribal Government whose request to administer the program is denied may request an informal conference with the deciding official, or may appeal the denial of the application to the Federal Civilian Board of Appeals, or may bring suit in U.S. District Court. Full appeal procedures are found in 25 CFR, Part 900. An individual may appeal the BIA agency Superintendent's decision to the Regional Director. The complete appeal process for an individual is found in 25 CFR Part 2, "Appeals from Administrative Action." An appeal of a Tribal contractor's decision must be made under the Tribe's appeal procedures.
Renewals
Awards to Tribal Governments to administer the program 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. The amount of the award may be adjusted as a result of individual tribal priorities established in the budget formulation process. Renewals of grants to individual beneficiaries are based on evidence of satisfactory performance and the availability of funds.
How are proposals selected?
Not applicable.
How may assistance be used?
Financial aid is used to assist individual Indians to obtain a marketable skill through vocational training and to assist those who have a job skill to find permanent employment. Vocational and employment counseling are provided by the program. Eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives may receive vocational training or job placement on or near the reservation or in Urban and Rural settings.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
For awards administered by Indian Tribal Governments, the Tribe is responsible for obtaining audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.).
Records
Indian Tribal Governments administering the program must retain financial records 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.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Awards to Indian Tribal Governments and Native American Organizations to administer the program 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 Tribal Government. Grants to individual beneficiaries for subsistence, tuition and related training costs, supportive services, etc., are released as required by beneficiary, up to the amount of the award. Assistance for job placement is provided until the beneficiary receives the first full paycheck from employment. Individual beneficiaries may not receive more than 24 months of full-time training, except for Registered Nursing students who may receive 36 months of training. Not available.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
Applications may be filed with the local Bureau of Indian Affairs agency office as listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog or with the Tribal Government administering the program.
Headquarters Office
Juanita Mendoza
1849 C Street, N.W.
Bureau of Indian Education, MS 4657-MIB
Washington, DC 20240 US
juanita.mendoza@bie.edu
Phone: 2022083559
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-2100-0-1-452
Obligations
(Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 22$206,655.00; FY 23 est $3,630,807.00; FY 24 est $3,500,000.00; FY 21$108,628,324.00; FY 20$19,295,118.00; FY 19$73,247,383.00; FY 18$9,094,211.00; FY 16 FY 17 - Budget Fiscal Year 2024 estimate based on prior year appropriations and expenditures.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not available.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
25 CFR 26 and 25 CFR 27. For awards to Indian Tribal Governments see also 25 CFR Part 900.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2023 Projects funded will provide Tribes resources to meet the objectives of this program.

 


Related Federal Grants


Federal Grants Resources