Tribal Self-Governance Negotiation Cooperative Agreement Program | HHS 2024 IHS TSGN 0001

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2024 IHS TSGN 0001

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 real, practical costs of getting ready for and participating in Tribal Self-Governance Program (TSGP) negotiations. These negotiations are the pathway for a Tribe to enter the TSGP for the first time or to expand an existing self-governance arrangement. Because each Tribe has different health system needs, governance structures, and priorities, the program recognizes that negotiations are not a one-size-fits-all exercise. The funding is meant to support the planning, coordination, information gathering, and other preparatory work that helps a Tribe engage effectively in a process that is described as Tribally driven, detailed, and continuously evolving.

At the center of the opportunity is the idea that self-governance negotiations are collaborative and are meant to respect the government-to-government relationship between each Tribe and the United States. Negotiations are conducted with active participation from both Tribal and federal representatives, including the IHS Office of Tribal Self-Governance (OTSG). The goal is to give Tribes the ability to set their own priorities as they assume responsibility for specific IHS Programs, Services, Functions, and Activities (PSFAs). In practical terms, that means the negotiations focus on which health-related functions the Tribe will take on, how those functions will be carried out, and how funding and responsibilities will be structured so the Tribe can operate programs in a way that reflects local needs and plans.

The main outputs of the negotiation process are two implementation documents that a Tribe must have in place to participate in the TSGP: a Compact and a Funding Agreement (FA). The Compact lays out the broad, overarching terms of the 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 more operational and specific. It spells out how long the agreement will last (annual or multi-year), identifies the PSFAs (or portions of them) that the Tribe will assume, states the funding amount tied to that assumption of responsibility, and includes any terms required by federal law plus additional terms both parties agree to. Once signed by both the Tribe and the federal government, these documents become legally binding and enforceable, and the Tribe can request renegotiation of either document later if circumstances or priorities change.

Eligibility is limited to entities tied directly to Tribal governance and authorized Tribal organizations. Applicants must be 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 notice pointing to appropriations law provisions that maintain those restrictions. In addition, the applicant must have an official request to participate in self-governance that is made by resolution or another formal action of the governing body of each Tribe to be served, consistent with 25 U.S.C. 5383(c)(1)(B). The applicant must also be able to show financial stability and financial management capability for three consecutive fiscal years prior to submitting the application, consistent with 25 U.S.C. 5383(c)(1)(C), reflecting the expectation that a Tribe taking on PSFAs can manage federal health program funds responsibly.

Key administrative details include the official opportunity title and number, which are Tribal Self-Governance Negotiation Cooperative Agreement Program (HHS-2024-IHS-TSGN-0001). The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning IHS expects substantial involvement with the recipient during the project rather than a hands-off grant. The activity category is health, the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number is 93.444, and the eligible applicant categories are federally recognized Tribal governments and other Native American Tribal organizations. The posted closing date for applications was February 20, 2024. IHS anticipated making about five awards, with an award ceiling of $84,000 per award. The opportunity was created on December 5, 2023.

• 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 2023-12-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-20. (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 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).

Apply for HHS 2024 IHS TSGN 0001

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