December 18, 2024

To ensure that Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding appropriated to Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is obligated for intended purposes, the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs has directed BIA and the Office of Self Governance (OSG) to work with Tribal Nations and Tribal organizations to execute funding agreement documents to formally obligate such funding prior to January 19, 2025. A formal obligation of funds will preserve them from being rescinded from availability.

If your Tribal Nation or Tribal organization has received an award notice for BIL or IRA funding for Tribal Climate Resilience, Electrification, Fire, or Transportation, please have your designated Tribal contact work quickly with your assigned OSG compact negotiator or BIA grant manager to complete BIL/IRA funding documents. This may include amendments to the funding agreement and construction addenda.

Construction addenda include a project scope of work and budget as approved by the respective federal program. Your cooperation to help preserve and utilize Indian Affairs’ BIL and IRA funding is appreciated.

For more information, please contact Leigh Mitchell, USET SPF Senior Policy Analyst, at lmitchell@usetinc.org.

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Established in 1969, the United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. (USET) is a non-profit, inter-Tribal organization serving thirty-three (33) federally recognized Tribal Nations from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. USET is dedicated to enhancing the development of Tribal Nations, improving the capabilities of Tribal governments, and improving the quality of life for Indian people through a variety of technical and supportive programmatic services.

Established in 2014, the USET Sovereignty Protection Fund (USET SPF) is a non-profit, inter-Tribal organization advocating on behalf of thirty-three (33) federally recognized Tribal Nations from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. USET SPF is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and advancing the inherent sovereign rights and authorities of Tribal Nations and in assisting its membership in dealing effectively with public policy issues.