Tribal Self-Governance Negotiation Cooperative Agreement Program | HS U153I 24 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for HS U153I 24 002

The Tribal Self-Governance Negotiation Cooperative Agreement Program is a discretionary funding opportunity from the Indian Health Service (IHS) designed to help Tribes cover the practical, real-world costs of getting ready for and participating in Tribal Self-Governance Program (TSGP) negotiations. These negotiations are not treated as a routine paperwork exercise. They are described as tribally driven and evolving, meaning they require steady coordination, careful planning, and the exchange of accurate, current information between Tribal and Federal negotiation teams. The overall intent of the award is to reduce the financial burden on Tribes as they prepare for either an initial transition into self-governance or an expansion of an existing self-governance arrangement, recognizing that each Tribe enters negotiations with different health system needs, priorities, and local circumstances.

A major focus of the program is supporting the negotiation process that leads to two core documents required for participation in TSGP: a Compact and a Funding Agreement (FA). The Compact establishes the broad government-to-government relationship between the Tribe and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Funding Agreement is the detailed implementation document that translates that relationship into specific operational terms. In practice, the FA spells out how long the agreement will last (annual or multi-year), which IHS programs, services, functions, and activities (PSFAs), or portions of them, the Tribe will assume responsibility for, and how much funding is associated with that assumption. It also includes any terms that federal law requires, along with any additional provisions the parties mutually agree to during negotiations. Once signed by both parties, the Compact and FA become legally binding and enforceable, and either one can be renegotiated if the Tribe requests changes later on.

The opportunity emphasizes that negotiations are collaborative by design. The stated goals of that collaboration are to allow the Tribe to set its own priorities as it takes on IHS PSFAs, to respect and uphold the government-to-government relationship between the United States and each Tribe, and to ensure active participation from both Tribal and IHS representatives, including involvement from the Office of Tribal Self-Governance (OTSG). In other words, the cooperative agreement is meant to support informed, well-prepared negotiations where both sides can work through the Tribe-specific details needed for a successful and sustainable self-governance arrangement in Indian health.

Eligibility is limited to certain Tribal entities. Applicants must qualify as an "Indian Tribe" as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304(e), a "Tribal Organization" as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304(l), or an "Inter-Tribal Consortium" as defined at 42 CFR 137.10. Tribes that are prohibited from contracting under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) are not eligible, with the prohibition tied to appropriations law language cited in the notice (including provisions from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, as amended, and subsequent continuing and consolidated appropriations measures). Beyond entity type, applicants must also meet two additional statutory readiness requirements tied to self-governance participation: the Tribe (or each Tribe to be served, if applicable) must formally request participation through a resolution or other official action by its governing body, and the applicant must demonstrate financial stability and financial management capability for three consecutive fiscal years prior to submitting the application.

Key administrative details included in the listing are: the opportunity number is HS-U153I-24-002, the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, the activity category is health, and the CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 93.444. The agency anticipates making three awards, with an award ceiling of $84,000. The original application closing date was June 12, 2024, and the opportunity was created on March 27, 2024. Eligible applicant categories are listed as Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), consistent with the statutory definitions referenced in the eligibility section.

• The Indian Health Service in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tribal Self-Governance Negotiation Cooperative Agreement Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.444.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $84,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).

Apply for HS U153I 24 002

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