United South & Eastern Tribes

USDA Tribal Consultation on increased and expanded Tribal self-determination policies
2024-06-03 15:30 - 18:30, 2024-06-05 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Hybrid Event, TN
USDA Tribal Consultations on Expanding Tribal Self Determination Policies at USDA
(Hybrid: In-person and virtual)
Taking Place during the NCAI Mid-Year at Cherokee, North Carolina
Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Forestry Consultation
June 3 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Register
Meat Inspections Consultation
June 3 at 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern
Register
Food and Nutrition Programs Consultation
June 5 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Register

All attendees, including those attending in-person, must register/RSVP above. The Zoom link will allow you to choose “Virtual” or “In-Person.”
This will be a formal Tribal Consultation. Tribal leaders and proxies will have the floor in a nation-to-nation consultation. Tribal leaders may formally designate proxies to attend and speak on their behalf, and/or may call on subject matter experts to speak on their behalf during the consultation. Proxies may submit their proxy forms, which are enclosed with this letter to tribal.relations@usda.gov.

Contract Support Cost Training
2024-06-04 11:00 - 19:00, 2024-06-05 11:00 - 19:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
April 30 – May 1 at 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Central
June 4 – 5 at 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Pacific
June 10 – 11 at 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Eastern
Registration link
The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Indian Services, Division of Self Determination, is
pleased to announce the Contract Support Cost (CSC) training schedule for FY 2024. The
training sessions are specifically designed for elected Tribal officials, Tribal employees
responsible for the calculation of CSC, Tribal organizations, and others interested in the
calculation of CSC. Each training session is hosted virtually and will be instructor-led.
The training sessions will include a brief overview of P.L. 93-638 Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act, as Amended, the regulations, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs CSC
policy. A considerable portion of the agenda is dedicated to including detailed and concentrated
examples of CSC worksheets and calculations.
Interested participants are invited to enroll using the training link provided. A confirmation
email and a meeting invitation will be provided prior to the start of each training session.
Participation is accepted up to the maximum capacity of the hosting platform.
Questions regarding the CSC training schedule may be directed to Ms. Sunshine Jordan, Chief,
Division of Self-Determination, by email at: Sunshine.Jordan@bia.gov.

NAFOA Webinar with the Department of Energy on Tribal Energy Financing Program
2024-06-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
June 4 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern
Register
During the 42nd Annual NAFOA Conference, the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) Director Jigar Shah shared with attendees an overview of the recent conditional commitment for a loan guarantee to the Viejas Microgrid and/or microgrid projects for high-load centers like gaming, hospitality, and retail facilities — can be great candidates for the Tribal Energy Financing Program.
To follow up on the announcement, NAFOA will host a webinar with the Department of Energy on Tuesday, June 4, from 1-2 p.m. EDT. Members of the Tribal Energy Finance Program team will share more about how solar-plus-storage and microgrid projects can address the needs of Tribal Nations’ high-load facilities, how LPO would work with Tribal Nations on such projects, and answer questions about the topics.

Tribal Public Health Preparedness and Resilience Task Force Meeting
2024-06-04 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
The USET Tribal Public Health Preparedness and Resilience Task Force (Tribal PHPR) is a Tribally centered epidemiological approach to public health preparedness and resilience with the primary goal of strengthening the resilience of Tribal Nations in the USET region through public health strategies focused on the mitigation, prevention, and preparation phases of the disaster management cycle.  The goal of this Task Force is to build relationships between Tribal Nations in the USET region and the USET Epidemiology team! Join the contact list today to start receiving updates.
Date: June 4, 2024 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm Central / 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Eastern (occurring on the first Tuesday of every month)

Who Should Attend?

Tribal Leaders and Tribal Council Members
Health Directors, Physicians, Medical Staff, Behavioral Health Professionals, Public Health Nurses
Emergency Response/ Coordination Personnel, Homeland Security Personnel
Emergency Services Personnel, First Responders, Public Safety Personnel
Epidemiologists, Data Specialists
Risk Management Personnel, Community Planners
Environmental Health Staff, Public Works Personnel
Anyone interested in Public Health Preparedness and Resilience

Registration: Register today for the zoom meeting.
Questions: For questions, please contact Anna Garrett, USET Senior Epidemiologist at agarrett@usetinc.org or Samantha Rieche, USET Program Coordinator at srieche@usetinc.org.

SMART Grant FY24 Stage 1 NOFO: How to Apply
2024-06-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) discretionary grant program with $100 million appropriated annually for fiscal years (FY) 2022-2026.
The SMART program was established to provide grants to eligible public sector agencies to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems in order to improve transportation efficiency and safety.
SMART is a two-stage program. Stage 1(up to $2,000,000 dollars and 18 months) grants are open for any eligible entity to apply. Recipients of Stage 1 grants will be eligible to expand their projects through Stage 2 grants (up to $15,000,000 and 36 months). Applicants must have received a Stage 1 grant to apply to Stage 2.
The next Stage 1 NOFO is now open.
The application window for the FY24 Stage 1 NOFO is now open. Applications are due July 12th at 5 PM ET. Late applications will not be accepted.
To view the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), click here. The NOFO is also posted on Grants.gov. USDOT anticipates this will be the final Stage 1 NOFO of the SMART Grants Program.
For more information on applying, see the resources under How to Apply. A webinar on How to Apply for the FY24 Stage 1 SMART Grant NOFO will be held on May 28th, 2024, at 1pm ET.
Register for the webinar. A recording will be made available after the webinar.

U.S. DOJ Tribal EJ Consultation
2024-06-05 12:00 - 14:00 | Hybrid Event, TN
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
June 5 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
During the NCAI Mid-Year 2024 Annual Conference
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
777 Casino Drive
Cherokee, NC 28719
July 11 at 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Virtual
Register
Submit your written comments either by email to OTJ@usdoj.gov or by mail to Office of Tribal Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001 by August 16, 2024.

Tribal Homelessness Network
2024-06-06 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
What is the Tribal Homelessness Network (THN): A network of Tribes/TDHEs coming together online for group learning, peer-to-peer collaborative approaches to prevent and end homelessness, and to access technical assistance and support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Discussions will be Tribally-led based on topics brought forth from the network around issues and challenges they see in their communities.
When will sessions be held? The first two sessions have been scheduled for April 29, 2024 & June 6, 2024. Additional sessions will be scheduled on topics identified by the THN.
How do I register? Register Today: Tribal Homelessness Network Series – HUD Exchange
Where can I get more information? Dear Tribal Leader Letter

2024 USET Tribal Climate Resilience Camp
2024-06-10 - 2024-06-14 | Avila Center, 711 Mason Road, Durham, NC, 27712, United States
The USET Office of Environmental Resource Management presents the
2024 USET Tribal Climate Resilience Camp

United South and Eastern Tribes (USET), in partnership with the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (SE CASC), will convene a Tribal Climate Resilience Camp this year and will support teams representing USET Member Tribal Nations to attend the camp. Participating teams can be comprised of Tribal Leaders, climate change coordinators, planners, program managers, and/or community members with a goal to gather information, build skills, and develop Tribal policies and plans to address climate change impacts. This year’s participants are encouraged to bring specific climate adaptation objectives and/or projects to focus and work on, and to make headway on resiliency plans. Such projects may include community outreach plans, adaptation plans, vulnerability assessments, funding strategies, or other related initiatives. USET’s Climate Camp staff, facilitators, and guest speakers will support participants to further develop specific climate adaptation objectives and/or projects. Accordingly, interested USET Member Tribal Nations and their teams should apply early to allow USET to prepare and ensure resources and facilitators are available to fit each project.

When: June 10-14, 2023

June 10 | 5:00 pm Eastern (Suggested travel day and kick-off dinner)
June 11 – 13 | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Eastern each day
June 14 | 8:00 am Eastern (Breakfast and departure)

Where: The Avila Center, 711 Mason Rd., Durham, NC 27712
Reservations will be made for attendees when they register for the camp.

Who should attend: This year we are encouraging Tribal Nations to bring with them, to the camp, specific climate adaptation objectives and/or projects to focus on, work on, and make headway on during the week. So, ideal candidates to comprise a Tribal Nation’s team for this year’s camp would be any individual connected to those objectives or projects. USET’s Climate Camp staff, facilitators, and guest speakers will all be on hand to support you, whether you’re working alone or as a team, to begin making progress on those specific climate adaptation objectives and/or projects.
We recognize that some Tribal Nations may only be able to send one participant to the Camp. These “Teams” of one are still encouraged to register and attend and will be grouped with other individual participants to benefit from peer learning and discussion opportunities.
Prospective attendees are encouraged to view a brief video (below) on the camp held in the traditional homelands of the Wabanaki at the Schoodic Institute. This camp was hosted by the Penobscot Nation.

Camp Objectives:

Learn examples of Tribal climate adaptation planning.
Identify climate adaptation resources from climate adaptation science centers.
Build camaraderie with your Tribal Nation team.
Discuss how climate adaptation can align with the values and priorities of your Tribal Nation/community.
Create a strategy to engage your Tribal Nation/community in climate adaptation planning.
Bring with you a climate adaptation objective or a climate adaptation/resilience project to focus on, work on, and make headway on with a team of dedicated camp facilitators to help and support you all week!

Agenda (as of 5/28/24)
Agenda at-a-glance

Register
Registration is open. There is no fee for registration. Space is limited (~30 Tribal participants), and limited spots will be appointed on a first come first serve basis. Registration closes on May 10.

Travel Information
Meals and lodging for Tribal Nation teams at the Avila Retreat Center will be covered by the program. Tribal Nation teams, however, are responsible for covering all travel costs getting to and from the event (including but not limited to airfare, airport parking, mileage, per diem, car rental or other expenses on travel days). Teams or individuals from federally recognized Tribal Nations may request stipends for travel reimbursement. The Raleigh Durham International Airport is about 24 miles from the Avila Center. Travel options to and from the airport and Avila center could include taxis, rideshare, or vehicle rental. If limited by travel funding, please contact the USET camp coordinators. We will have a limited number of travel stipends on a first come first serve basis.

COVID Protocols
The USET Tribal Epidemiology Center (USET TEC) is a recognized public health authority supported by the Tribal Nations within the USET region. Throughout the course of the COVID pandemic, we have relied on their expertise to guide us to ensure for the overall safety, health, and wellness for our members, staff, and event attendees. As the impacts of COVID have evolved, we have continued to assess our protocols to ensure that they remain reflective of the current status of the pandemic.
Currently (as of 04/17/2023, subject to change), USET is no longer requiring proof of vaccination to attend USET-sponsored meetings. A supply of masks and tests will be made available for attendees to use at their discretion.

Contact:
For questions, please contact the USET OERM Climate Program: Casey Thornbrough, Climate Program Manager, at cthornbrugh@usetinc.org; Steph Courtney, Assistant Tribal Climate Science Liaison, scourtney@usetinc.org; Tyler Everett, Tribal Forest Adaptation Technical Assistant, teverett@usetinc.org.

AIANTA/USFS NATIVE Act Request for Proposals for FY 2024 Webinar
2024-06-10 11:00 | Virtual Event
June 10 at 11:00 am Central
Register
AIANTA and the U.S. Forest Service will host an informational webinar regarding the Request for Proposals for NATIVE Act Tribal Projects and Initiatives on or Adjacent to U.S. Forest Service Managed Lands for FY 2024. The webinar will include a panel of past grantees and a question and answer session specific to types of projects, timelines, the application process and implementation.

National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE) Open Virtual Meeting
2024-06-11 12:00 - 15:30, 2024-06-12 12:00 - 15:30 | Virtual Event
The National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE) is hosting an open virtual meeting on June 11-12, 2024, from 1-4:30 p.m. ET daily.
The purpose of this meeting is to convene NACIE and conduct the following business: (1) discuss and approve the 2023-2024 Annual Report to Congress; (2) discuss fiscal year 2024 planning activities; (3) discuss and coordinate with the White House Initiative to fulfill Executive Order 14049; and (4) discuss subcommittee activities. On June 12, 2024, NACIE will conduct the following business: (5) discuss and hear updates from federal representatives regarding technical assistance, best practices, and development of regulatory or non-regulatory actions; and (6) hear comments from members of the public.
About NACIE
NACIE is authorized by section 6141 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended (20 U.S.C. 7471). The work of NACIE was expanded by Executive Order 14049. In accordance with section 6141 of the ESEA, NACIE shall advise the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Interior on the funding and administration (including the development of regulations and administrative policies and practices) of any program, including any program established under title VI, part A of the ESEA, with respect to which the Secretary of Education has jurisdiction and (1) that includes Indian children or adults as participants or (2) that may benefit Indian children or adults.
Instructions for Accessing the Meeting
Members of the public may access the NACIE meeting via virtual teleconference. Up to 350 lines will be available on a first come, first serve basis for those who wish to join via teleconference.
Join by Phone
The dial-in listen-only phone number for the meeting is 1–669–254–5252, Meeting ID: 160 613 4472, passcode: [REDACTED]
Join by Web
The web link to register to access the meeting via Zoom.gov is https://www.zoomgov.com/​meeting/​register/​vJItceirqj8tGMEWbkcF5jjkEMhIW7qsBYo (-> l9nnctdbb.cc.rs6.net)
Public Comment
Members of the public interested in submitting written comments may do so via email to Julian Guerrero at Julian.Guerrero@ed.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. eastern time (ET) on June 12, 2024. Requests to make oral comment will be accepted on a first requested, first served basis. Each commenter will have a maximum of three minutes to state his or her comment and/or question. Please note that written comments and oral comments made during the open meeting should pertain to the work of NACIE.
Reasonable Accommodations
The virtual meeting is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you will need an auxiliary aid or service for the meeting (e.g., interpreting service, assistive listening device, or materials in an alternate format), notify the contact person listed in this notice no later than May 28, 2024. Although we will attempt to meet a request received after that date, we may not be able to make available the requested auxiliary aid or service because of insufficient time to arrange it.
Access Meeting Records
The Department will post the official minutes of this meeting on the OESE website, https://oese.ed.gov/​offices/​office-of-indian-education/​national-advisory-council-on-indian-education-oie/ (-> l9nnctdbb.cc.rs6.net)​, 21 days after the meeting. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 1009(b), the public may also inspect NACIE records at the Office of Indian Education, United States Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST). Please email Julian Guerrero at Julian.Guerrero@ed.gov to schedule an appointment.

DOJ BJA Tribal Solicitation: Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, & Substance Abuse Site-Based Program
2024-06-11 13:00 | Virtual Event
DOJ BJA Tribal Solicitation: Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, & Substance Abuse Site-Based Program
Informational Webinar – June 11, 2024 at 1:00 pm Central
Webinar Registration – Zoom

CANCELED FOR JUNE: USET Infectious Disease ECHO
2024-06-12 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
UPDATE: June’s Infectious Disease ECHO has been canceled. We look forward to speaking with you in July.

We invite you and your staff to participate in the Infectious Disease ECHO. This ECHO merged the previous COVID-19 and Hepatitis C ECHOs and will focus on a different topic every month. Additionally, clinical cases are encouraged to be submitted to gain insight into healthcare recommendations from other medical providers working in the field. Beginning in March 2024, this no-cost telehealth series is held on the second Wednesday of every month at 1:00 pm Central/2:00 pm Eastern.
Each session is one hour in length and provides an opportunity for participants to:

Learn about emerging infectious diseases
Gain skills on treating different infectious diseases
Continue to stay up to date on COVID-19

Who should attend? Tribal Nation health directors, clinic staff, physicians, nurses, Tribal Epidemiology Center staff, and anyone supporting Tribal Nation citizens through the health sector are welcome to join.
Registration: Register in advance for the session. You ONLY need to register ONCE for the series. Once you register, you can download the reminder to your calendar with the Zoom information.
Continuing Education: This activity will offer CE credits for a variety of professionals. More information will be provided at a later date.

For questions, please contact Gabbie Niski, USET THPS Infectious Disease Program Manager at gniski@usetinc.org or Bryan Hendrix, USET THPS Quality Improvement Data Analyst, at bhendrix@usetinc.org.

USET OERM Webinar | Learning About Lead Exposure in Tribal Children
2024-06-13 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
The USET Office of Environmental Resource Management presents
the Learning About Lead Exposure in Tribal Children Webinar
USET’s Office of Environmental Resource Management (OERM) is introducing our Lead Testing program. EPA’s 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities was developed to help schools and child-care facilities to implement a voluntary program for reducing lead in drinking water. This EPA program is focused on promoting voluntary testing of drinking water for lead, taking corrective action if problems are identified, and sharing testing results and plans for reducing lead exposure in drinking water with parents, staff, students, and the community at large.

When:

April 4 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Central/2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
May 9 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Central/2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
June 13 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm /2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern

Who should attend: Tribal Leaders, Health Directors, Education Directors, Education Faculty/Staff, Tribal Administrators, Clinic Staff, Tribal utility workers at USET member Tribal Nations

What: This webinar will cover the following:

Physical properties of lead
Adverse health effects of lead poisoning
Guidance and remediation of lead plumbing from schools and childcare facilities

Registration:
Register today.

Lead Program Summary:
Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal that is globally recognized as a substance that has serious health consequences if consumed, especially for children. The adverse health effects range, from lowered birth weight and slowed physical and mental development in infants, to lowered IQ levels, impaired hearing, reduced attention span, and poor classroom performance in young children. Clean and safe water is essential and paramount to building a sustainable economy, successful educational and public health systems, and most importantly, a healthy and productive environment for children.
The USET Office of Environmental Resource Management (OERM) is introducing our Lead Testing program, which is funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The OERM Lead Testing program has adopted the EPA 3 Ts program for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities. This program was developed to help schools and child-care facilities to implement a voluntary program for reducing lead in drinking water.
Our Lead Testing program promotes voluntary training, testing of drinking water for lead, and taking corrective action if problems are identified. For USET Member Tribal Nation participants, OERM is offering assistance to conduct testing at Tribal schools and child-care facilities. USET will assist with sampling Tribal childcare facilities, and will collect data such as sampling results and facility location on behalf of participating Member Tribal Nations. Member Tribal Nations may store data on a secure USET server that is only accessible by the respective Member Tribal Nation.
We survey Tribal childcare facilities to prioritize the needs of our respective Member Tribal Nation community.
For USET Member Tribal Nations who are interested in participating in our Lead Testing program, please complete the Lead Testing program application.
For more information, please contact USET’s Lead Program team:
Jakira Saunders, Program Manager
Ben Peyton, Senior Technical Assistant Specialist

Tribal Consultation on the Build America, Buy America Act and Tribal Data Sovereignty
2024-06-13 13:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader,
On June 13, 2024, from 2-5 p.m. ET, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) will conduct a Tribal Consultation on the implementation of the Build America, Buy America Act and Tribal data sovereignty. This consultation advances the Department’s commitment to uphold the federal trust responsibility as described in Executive Order 13175 – Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments and Executive Order 14112 – Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination.
The Tribal consultation will be conducted by the Office of Indian Education and facilitated by the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Native Americans and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities.
Register for the Tribal Consultation.
Please follow the registration link above to participate in the consultation. To maintain online security, each attendee must register individually, and registration cannot be transferred to or used by others. Once you have completed registration, an individualized access link for the session will be sent to you with additional information.
Written Comment Period
Written public comments for both topics will only be collected through the TribalConsultation@ed.gov email address. The comment period is now open, and all comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 15, 2024. The Department of Education remains steadfast in its commitment to honor the nation-to-nation relationship and advance Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
A Tribal government may designate information provided during the consultation as “sensitive” and request non-disclosure of the information to the public. Certain federal laws, including the Freedom of Information Act, may require disclosure of information designated sensitive by a Tribal government. Questions about this notice can be sent to TribalConsultation@ed.gov. This consultation is a closed press event.
Background
Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA)

On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act P.L. 117-58 (IIJA) into law. A component of the IIJA is the Build America, Buy America Act (Division G, Title IX of the IIJA) (BABAA).
BABAA establishes for all covered Federal agencies (including the U.S. Department of Education (ED)), the following domestic content procurement preference requirement: “none of the funds made available for a Federal financial assistance program for infrastructure…may be obligated for a project unless all of the iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in the project are produced in the United States.”
At ED, infrastructure and the corresponding BABAA domestic sourcing requirements are generally limited to construction and broadband infrastructure.
After review and a public comment period, ED may waive BABAA requirements when (1) applying the preference would be inconsistent with the public interest; (2) types of iron, steel, manufactured products, or construction materials are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities or of a satisfactory quality; or (3) the inclusion of iron, steel, manufactured products, or construction materials produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25 percent.
For ED, BABAA requirements went into effect as of October 1, 2022.
ED consulted with Tribes on August 23, 2022, regarding BABAA implementation before that implementation date. ED also heard consultation with Tribal Nations through a September 21, 2022, consultation hosted by the White House Council on Native American Affairs and other agencies.
Since that time, OMB has established regulations regarding BABAA implementation, which are available at 2 CFR part 184, and supporting guidance in M-24-02 – Implementation Guidance on Application of Buy America Preference in Federal Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure.

ED has 4 agency-level waivers currently in effect:

Public Interest Tribal Consultation Waiver for Financial Assistance Agreements with Tribes: Applicable 2/7/2024 – 2/6/2025. This waiver applies to federally recognized Tribes, including their governmental arms and instrumentalities, or Tribal organizations (Federal financial assistance recipients who are Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) are included in the scope). The waiver allows the use of non-domestic iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials in infrastructure projects and activities. The waiver applies to grants obligated on or after 2/7/2024, and, in the case of grants obligated before 2/7/2024, but after 10/01/2022, the waiver applies to all expenditures for non-domestic iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials incurred after 2/7/2024.
De Minimis, Small Grants, and Minor Components Waiver: Applicable 7/31/2023 – 7/30/2028. The De Minimis element sets a De Minimis infrastructure project purchases threshold of 5% of total applicable project costs. Applicable project costs are defined as material costs subject to the Buy America domestic content procurement preference up to a maximum of $1,000,000. The Small Grants element applies to awards with total federal funding at or below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, which is currently set at $250,000. The Minor Components element allows infrastructure grantees to use non-domestically produced miscellaneous minor iron and steel components comprising no more than 5% of the total material cost of an otherwise domestically produced iron and steel product. This waiver applies to infrastructure grants obligated on or after 7/31/2023, and, in the case of grants obligated before 7/31/2023, but after 10/01/2022; the waiver will apply to all expenditures for non-domestic iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials incurred after 7/31/2023.
Public Interest Waiver for the Pacific Island Territories of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa: Applicable 1/2/2024 – 1/1/2025. This waiver permits the use of non-domestic iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials in infrastructure projects located within the Pacific Island Territories (PITs) when the total Federal award exceeds the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, currently set at $250,000. The waiver applies to PIT infrastructure grants obligated on or after 1/2/2024, and, in the case of grants obligated before 1/2/2024, but after on or after 10/01/2022, the waiver applies to all expenditures for non-domestic iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials incurred after 1/2/2024.
Public Interest Waiver for Certain Previously Planned Infrastructure Projects: Applicable from 11/3/2023 – 11/2/2025. Waives BABAA requirements for ED awards obligated on or after 11/3/2023 that support (i) contracts that ED grantees entered into prior to 10/1/2022 and/or (ii) contracts entered into before 3/1/2023 resulting from solicitations published before 5/14/2022. For awards and amendments that otherwise meet these criteria but which were obligated before 11/3/2023, the waiver applies to eligible expenditures on or after 11/3/2023.

Listed below are the Department-administered grant programs subject to the BABAA requirements that are more likely to award grants to Tribes or Tribal organizations:

Alaska Native Education (Assistance Listing Number 84.356A)
American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (Part F) (ALN 84.031D)
American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (ALN 84.031T)
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part B
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part C
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)- HBCU, TCCU, and MSI Research and Development Infrastructure Program (ALN 84.116H)

Data Sovereignty
High-quality, culturally relevant data collection is critical to meeting the educational needs of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AI/AN and NH) students. In 2018, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ Broken Promises report found that under 2007 guidelines (72 FR 59266), the Department collected data reports only from AI/AN students, who did not indicate that they were ‘multiracial’. This guideline will be updated with the Office of Budget and Management’s (OMB) revisions to Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity. Along with federal data, Tribal Nations have a sovereign right to collect, use, manage, and access their data.
The Department is seeking input from Tribal Leaders and Tribal Education Departments regarding the development, collection, protection, and application of data sovereignty, including as it relates to education, student counts, traditional knowledge, and Native languages.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
FERPA (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99), is a federal law that is administered by the Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) in the U.S. Department of Education (Department) that provides certain rights for parents regarding their children’s education records. When a student reaches 18 years of age or attends an institution of postsecondary education at any age, he or she becomes an “eligible student,” and all rights under FERPA transfer from the parent to the student. FERPA applies to schools that receive funding under any program administered by the Department. Private and faith-based schools at the elementary and secondary levels generally do not receive such funding and are, therefore, generally not subject to FERPA.
FERPA protects “education records,” which are generally defined as records that are directly related to a student and maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution. An “educational agency or institution,” generally means a school district, a public elementary or secondary school, or an institution of postsecondary education such as a college or university.
Under FERPA, an educational agency or institution generally may not disclose personally identifiable information (PII), from a student’s education records to a third party unless the student’s parent has provided prior written consent. However, there are a number of exceptions to FERPA’s general consent requirement that permit a school to disclose PII from education records without consent, but they are not required to do so by FERPA. For more information regarding FERPA, please visit our student privacy website at: https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/ (-> l9nnctdbb.cc.rs6.net). In addition, here are two specific resources that may be helpful:

A Parent Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Letter to UTAH SEA Regarding Disclosures to Indian Tribes-April 2005

The Department supports data transparency consistent with relevant statutory requirements. For example. https://data.ed.gov/ (-> l9nnctdbb.cc.rs6.net) provides access to the Department’s open data.
Consultation Questions
Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA)

What questions do Tribes have about the BABAA requirements? How would you prefer those questions be addressed? Are there particular formats or contexts for responding to questions that would be most useful?
Is your Tribe currently implementing any infrastructure projects using ED funds? If so, have you faced any BABAA-related challenges?
Does your Tribe generally source iron, steel, manufactured products, and/or construction materials from the United States?
Are there particular types of materials that you find particularly challenging to source in the United States?
How can ED assist Tribes in implementing the BABAA requirements?
Has your Tribe made use of an ED agency level BABAA waiver? If so, which one? Do you have any feedback you would like to share in terms of the process? If not, do you plan to use one in the future?
What other recommendations do Tribes have for ED related to BABAA policy, procedures, waivers, and guidance?

Data Sovereignty

The Department uses data to inform its budget, grantmaking, and other decisions. What sources of information or data on the performance and needs of Native American students, teachers, and schools do you believe should inform these processes the Department?
What types of data do you use to gather information about education and/or AI/AN and NH students? Is this public information? If so, please share sources with the Department.
Given existing statutory limitations, what recommendations do you have for promoting educational data sovereignty?
What recommendations do you have for specific federal reforms regarding the use of traditional knowledge in the U.S. educational system?
How can the federal government co-manage data with tribal governments, tribal organizations, and tribal colleges and universities including Native-serving institutions in postsecondary education?

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
How does FERPA impact a Tribe’s and/or Tribal Education Department’s ability to receive student-level data from educational agencies or institutions?

a DOJ Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation on Telemedicine Regulations
2024-06-13 14:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Framing Paper

June 13 at 3:00 pm Eastern
June 27 at 3:00 pm Eastern

If you are interested in attending one or both virtual consultations, please respond to OTJ@usdoj.gov by June 11, 2024, and include the name(s) and email addresses of your representatives. If you do not have reliable access to email you are welcome to join by phone; please call (202) 514-8835 if you will need to join by phone and be sure to leave a contact name and phone number in your message. Written comments will be welcome.

In response to the two March 2023 NPRMs, DEA received at least six comments from Alaskan Native and American Indian (AN/AI) organizations expressing concerns about the proposed telemedicine regulations. Among their concerns was DEA’s assertion that there would be no direct impact on Tribal communities, which they argued was inaccurate. They contended that despite the telemedicine exception for certain Indian Health Services and Tribal practitioners there would still be a substantial direct effect on Tribal communities given the limited practical and legal scope of the exception under 21 USC 802(54)(C).
Based on the comments received regarding the two NPRMs and presentations at the September 2023 Telemedicine Listening Sessions, DEA requests interested Tribal communities and persons to share concerns and feedback regarding the practice of Telemedicine and its impact on Tribal communities.
DEA, in coordination with the US Department of Justice Office of Tribal Justice (OTJ), will be hosting two virtual consultations.

FCC ONAP Tribal Consultation on Missing and Endangered Persons (MEP) Event Code NPRM
2024-06-13 15:00 - 17:00 | 123 Easy Street, Nashville, TN, 37211, United States
June 13 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm in Phoenix, Arizona at the Heard Museum (2301 North Central Avenue)
This Tribal consultation will be on the Federal Communications Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing that a new “Missing and Endangered Person” (MEP) event code be added to the nation’s Emergency Alert System. Further information about the FCC’s MEP event code proceeding can be found online at www.fcc.gov/MEP.
To register, please visit ONAP’s event registration page and fill out the requested information: www.fcc.gov/onap-event-registration. After you register, ONAP staff will confirm your registration and provide logistical information by email from Tribal.Events@fcc.gov.
ONAP is coordinating Tribal consultation on the NPRM to facilitate substantive engagement with federally recognized Tribal Nations and Native Hawaiian Organizations. In addition to Tribal leaders, this consultation may be of special interest to communications and broadcasting personnel; social services, public safety and emergency management personnel; Tribal law enforcement; and other interested representatives from your Nation.
As part of the consultation process, Tribal leaders are invited to present statements and comments which, at the option of the Tribal leader, ONAP will enter into the formal record for the proceeding with the goal of ensuring that the FCC considers Tribal input on this important issue. There will be time on the agenda for a discussion and listening session for other Tribal representatives after Tribal leaders have presented their statements and comments during the consultation.
They invite Tribal leaders to send their statements regarding the FCC’s proposal in advance, if possible, or after the consultation. Please send statements to Native@fcc.gov which is an email inbox monitored by ONAP staff.
Filing Public Comments
They also encourage you to submit written comments directly to the docket for this proceeding via the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System, using the following docket numbers: PS 15-91 and PS 15-94. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024, announcing that public comments were due May 20, 2024, and reply comments are due June 17, 2024.
If you have questions or seek further information please write to Native@fcc.gov, or visit www.fcc.gov/office-native-affairs-and-policy.

APHIS Tribal Funding Opportunity Webinar | FY25 Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program
2024-06-17 12:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Registration link
June 17 & 21 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Join link
July 8 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Join link
The APHIS Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program provides funding to help safeguard against, detect, and respond to invasive plant pests and diseases. APHIS worked with other governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, industry organizations, the National Plant Board, State departments of agriculture, and Tribal organizations to develop the FY25 Implementation Plan.
The FY25 plan outlines six strategic goal areas for funding projects:

Enhancing plant pest/disease analysis and survey;
Targeting domestic inspection activities at vulnerable points in the safeguarding continuum;
Enhancing and strengthening pest identification and technology;
Safeguarding nursery production;
Conducting targeted outreach and education; and
Enhancing mitigation and rapid response capabilities.

If you have questions about the webinar, please contact ONTL Program Analyst Denise Salvetti at denise.salvetti@usda.gov.

FCC’s Office of Native Affairs and Policy Virtual Tribal Consultation and Listening Session
2024-06-17 12:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
June 17 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
The FCC is pleased to announce that on Monday, June 17, 2024, the FCC’s Office of Native Affairs and Policy (ONAP) will hold a virtual Tribal Consultation and Listening Session from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT.
To register for this event, please visit the ONAP event registration page and fill out the requested information. After you register, you will receive an email confirming your registration with instructions for joining the session.
About this Event
This Tribal Consultation and Listening Session will focus on the Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing that a new “Missing and Endangered Persons” (MEP) event code be added to the nation’s Emergency Alert System. Further information about the FCC’s MEP event code proceeding can be found online at www.fcc.gov/MEP.
ONAP was directed by the Commission to coordinate Tribal consultation on the NPRM to facilitate substantive engagement with federally recognized Tribal Nations and Alaska Native villages. In addition to Tribal leaders, this consultation may be of special interest to Tribal law enforcement personnel; social services; communications and broadcasting personnel; public safety and emergency management personnel; and other interested representatives from your Nation.

Entering Statements into the Formal Record
As part of the consultation process, Tribal leaders will be invited to present statements and comments which, at the option of the Tribal leader, ONAP will enter into the formal record for the proceeding with the goal of ensuring that the FCC considers Tribal input on this important issue.
They invite Tribal leaders to send written versions of their statements regarding the FCC’s proposal in advance of the June 17th virtual consultation, if possible, or after the consultation. Please send statements to Native@fcc.gov which is an email inbox monitored by ONAP staff.
There will be time on the agenda for a discussion and listening session for other Tribal representatives after Tribal leaders have presented their statements and comments during the consultation. ONAP staff will provide a summary of comments made by such participants for the official record, in accordance with the Commission’s rules for ex parte presentations in “permit but disclose” proceedings.
Filing Public Comments
They also encourage you to submit written comments directly to the docket for this proceeding via the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System, using the following docket numbers: PS 15-91 and PS 15-94. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024, announcing that public comments were due May 20, 2024, and reply comments are due June 17, 2024.
If you have questions or seek further information please write to Native@fcc.gov, or visit www.fcc.gov/office-native-affairs-and-policy.

Office on Violence Against Womne and DOJ | 904 Task Force Meeting
2024-06-17 12:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
June 17 at 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Register
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), U.S. Department of Justice has scheduled a meeting of the 904 Task Force on Research on Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women (hereinafter “the Task Force”). The virtual meeting will take place on June 17, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m (EST).
About the Task Force:
The Task Force is a federal advisory committee that provides advice and recommendations on the U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) program of research on violence against American Indian and Alaska Native Women.
Title IX of the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005), as amended, required the Attorney General to establish a task force to assist the NIJ in developing and implementing a program of research on violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, sex trafficking, and murder. The program will evaluate the effectiveness of the federal, state, tribal, and local response to violence against Indian women and propose recommendations to improve the government response. The Task Force was established on March 31, 2008, and the charter has been renewed every two years since then.

ARPA-E & USDA Rural Energy Innovation Webinar
2024-06-17 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
June 17 at 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Eastern
Register
The webinar is intended to help bring awareness to a number of emerging energy technologies.
The Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) and the USDA Rural Development Innovation Center are convening technology innovators and end-users to highlight select ARPA-E projects and programs for key USDA stakeholders. Both agencies believe that focused engagement with rural stakeholders–including, but not limited to, electric cooperatives and enterprises involved in the agricultural sector–will enhance their ability to deliver innovation that advances economic development and energy security in rural America.
The ARPA-E is a DOE agency that advances high-potential, high-impact energy technologies that are too early for private-sector investment. ARPA-E awardees are unique because they are developing new ways to generate, store, and use energy.
The following projects will be featured in the June 17th Webinar:

Project
URL
Summary

Emrgy
Link
Hydrokinetic energy system in canals and agriculture areas

BladeRunner
Link
Hydrokinetic energy system in tidal/river environments

Quidnet
Link
Geochemical pumped storage

Antora
Link
Thermal energy storage

Department of Defense Listening Session to discuss environmental justice goas and overall implementation approach
2024-06-18 09:00 - 10:30, 2024-06-20 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
DOD EJ Strategy Draft Goals and Approach
The Department of Defense has scheduled three regional virtual listening sessions to discuss DoD’s draft environmental justice (EJ) goals and overall implementation approach, as required under Executive Order (E.O.) 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All. E.O. 14096 requires Federal agencies to engage with the public while developing their EJ Strategic Plans. These listening sessions are designed to gather feedback from federally recognized Tribal Nations on DoD’s draft goals and overall implementation approach.
June 18 at 10:00 am – 11:30 am Eastern (Region East/South/Midwest)
Register
June 20 at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern (Region Rocky Mountain/Southwest/West)
Register
June 20 at 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Eastern (Region Alask/Pacific Northwest)
Register

NAP Member Education Sessions: Regarding Reparations
2024-06-18 12:00 | Virtual Event
June 18 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Register
ABFE and Native Americans in Philanthropy welcome you to engage in a gathering of non-profits, philanthropy, and emerging leaders for discussions and collaborative action-building philanthropy rooted in Native traditions and values as we explore the advocacy for responsive and transformative investment in Black and Indigenous communities.
NAP’s curated education sessions of virtual conversations, panels, and speakers represent the diversity of Indian Country, the experiences of Indigenous Peoples in America, and the allies that are working to support these communities. These sessions are designed for NAP members working in philanthropy and will focus on how philanthropy can operate differently to center Indigenous perspectives and values. Through these sessions, NAP is passing the mic to individuals, Tribes, and Indigenous non-profits who are experts in their respective fields. In a celebration of solidarity and liberation, June’s session shares this platform with our partners at ABFE.
ABFE is central to a movement of philanthropic entities, donors, and non-profits to improve outcomes for Black communities and the country. Their mission has prioritized Black communities through their professional development and technical assistance. They are an unwavering voice highlighting the urgency of diversity, equity, and inclusion in philanthropy.

Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee In-Person Training on ACA/IHCIA
2024-06-19 - 2024-06-20 | Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Downton, 319 SW Pine Street, Portland, OR, 97204, United States
June 19-20, 2024 in Portland Oregon
Register
The Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee (TSGAC) is excited to announce they will be hosting an in-person training on the Affordable Care Act/Indian Health Care Improvement Act (ACA/IHCIA) in Portland, OR. The training will be held on June 19-20, 2024, from 9 am to 4 pm both days. The meeting will take place at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Downtown 319 SW Pine Street, Portland, OR 97204.
The Training is targeted for Tribal leaders, Health Directors and front-line health care staff who would like to learn more about opportunities available under the ACA/IHCIA. Specific topics to be addressed during the training include:

ACA/IHCIA 101 Refresher
Opportunities to Increase Health Care Revenues
How to plan for and steps needed to initiate a Tribal Sponsorship program (Reimbursement of Marketplace Premiums and Medicare Parts B & D)
The latest information on CHAP implementation
Open Discussion, including ways for Self-Governance Tribes to get involved

Hotel Lodging:

Booking Link: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Embassy Suites. Please use the following link to make reservations directly.
Phone reservations: Attendees may also make reservations via phone by calling 800-643-7892 and referencing group code 917 or “TSGAC Training on ACA/IHCIA”.

For more information about the training, please contact Cyndi Ferguson, TSGACGAC ACA/IHCIA Project Lead at cyndif@senseinc.com

HHS Annual Regional Tribal Consultations: Region 1
2024-06-20 | 123 Easy Street, Nashville, TN, 37211, United States
Dear Tribal Leader:
I write to invite you to the 2024 Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Annual Regional Tribal Consultations that will be held across the country. The Regional Consultations provide regional forums for Tribes to share their views, concerns, and recommendations with HHS officials on health and human services priorities. We hope the consultations will provide a venue for two-way conversations between Tribal leaders and HHS officials.
As in previous years, Regional Consultations will also include opportunities for Tribes to meet one-on-one with regional leadership. These sessions are intended to provide Tribes with time to discuss their specific health and human service issues with HHS officials. Please contact your Regional Tribal Liaison for further information on signing up for a one-on-one session. The contact information for each of the Regions is listed in an appendix to this letter.
Below are the dates for the 2024 Regional Consultations:
May 1-3: Region 10 (Hybrid)
Silver Reef Hotel Casino Resort
4876 Haxton Way
Ferndale, WA 98248
May 14-15: Region 9 (In-person)
University of Nevada – Las Vegas
4505 S Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV 89154
May 30: Region 2 (Primarily in-person, hybrid option)
St. Regis Mohawk
Akwesasne Mohawk Resort
873 NY-37, Hogansburg, NY 13655
June 12-13: Region 5 (In-person)
Pending
June 20: Region 1 (Virtual)
ZoomGov
June 25-26: Region 7 (In-person)
Bolling Federal Office Building
601 East 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
July 16-17: Region 3 (In-person)
Chickahominy Indian Tribe
8200 Lott Cary Road
Providence Forge, VA 23140
July 29-30: Region 8 (In-person)
Denver Art Museum
100 W 14th Ave. Pkwy
Denver, CO 80204
August 14-15: Region 4 (Primarily in-person, hybrid option)
Eastern Band of Cherokee
Building location TBD
August 20-22: Region 6 (Hybrid)
MetroTech Conference Center
1900 Springlake Dr.
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Additional details are forthcoming, including registration links and agendas, and will be communicated directly through each Region to their area’s respective Tribes, as well as via the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) Tribal Affairs Bi-Weekly Newsletter (please sign up for our listserv here).
Thank you for your continued support of the consultation process. We look forward to your participation and ongoing partnership. In the interim, please contact the IEA Tribal Affairs team at consultation@hhs.gov with any questions.
Respectfully,
Bertha Alisia Guerrero, Director
Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs
Appendix: Regional Tribal Liaison Contact Information

Region 1: Taylor Bryan Turner taylor.bryanturner@hhs.gov
Region 2: Sean Hightower sean.hightower@hhs.gov
Region 3: Melissa Herd melissa.herd@hhs.gov
Region 4: Natalia Cales natalia.cales@hhs.gov
Region 5: Melissa Watt melissa.watt@hhs.gov
Region 6: Julia Lothrop julia.lothrop@hhs.gov
Region 7: Nick Clasen nickolas.clasen@hhs.gov
Region 8: Elsa Ramirez elsa.ramirez@hhs.gov
Region 9: Schuyler Hall schuyler.hall@hhs.gov
Region 10: Priya Helweg priya.helweg@hhs.gov

NIHB All Tribes Call | Supreme Court decision in Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe
2024-06-20 12:30 | Virtual Event
June 20 at 1:30 pm Eastern
Register
Please join the National Indian Health Board for an All Tribes Call to discuss the recent Supreme Court decision in Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe (23-250). They will be joined by key attorneys and policy experts on June 20, 2024, at 1:30pm Eastern Time to discuss the case and the impacts it will have on the IHS budget and the Indian health system. They will also discuss some important legislative actions that must be taken to ensure these costs continue to be paid without impacting other areas of IHS funding.

Rural LISC Raising the Roof Webinar
2024-06-20 14:00 | Virtual Event
June 20 at 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
You are invited to join Rural LISC for the latest “Raising the Roof” webinar on June 20, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. EST where we will focus on federal rural affordable housing and community development policy.
This informative session will cover the status of key bills and funding levels for federal rural housing programs, with insights from staff of Sen. Smith and Sen. Rounds on the Rural Housing Service Reform Act. Rural LISC partner GROW South Dakota will also discuss how these policy initiatives can benefit rural communities.
The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session, offering an opportunity to engage with experts. Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable information and participate in the discussion.
