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| 15.875 ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORIES |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| OFFICE OF INSULAR AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| The Guam Organic Act, 64 Stat. 384, 48 U.S.C. 1421 et. seq., Act of February 20, 1929, 48 U.S.C. 1661; Executive Order 10264; Public Law 83-517, 48 U.S.C. et. seq.; Public Law 94-241, Public Law 104-134, Public Law 108-188. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To promote greater self-sufficiency through the social, economic, and political development of the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants (Discretionary). |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Financial assistance is limited to the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as well as to organizations whose missions directly benefit these four territories. A notable exception is Compact Impact aid to Hawaii which is mandated by Public Law 108-188. Grant funds are provided for capital improvements, government operations, and technical assistance activities. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Eligible applicants are the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as organizations whose missions directly benefit these four territories. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Beneficiaries are the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| Costs will be determined in accordance with 43 CFR Part 12 Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments." Section 12.62, identifies Federal cost principles for determining allowable costs. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| None. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102, OMB Circular No. A-110, and E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| Applications for technical assistance grants may be submitted at any time. Directed assistance application procedures, which make up the majority of the Office of Insular Affairs' (OIA) financial assistance, vary depending on the purpose of the funding. For capital improvement funds, call letters are sent out annually requesting spending plans from the 4 U.S. territories while government operations awards are made automatically once the funds are appropriated by the U.S. Congress. Direct payments are provided in accordance with laws and reports for Virgin Islands Rum Excise Tax advances and Guam Section 30 Income Tax Collection advances. |
| Award Procedure |
| A grant award is made to each territorial government entity in the specific amounts and for the specific purposes set forth in the annual Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation Act signed by the President. |
| Deadlines |
| None. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| None. |
| Appeals |
| None. |
| Renewals |
| None. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| There are no formula requirements. The majority of OIA's financial assistance programs do not have a matching requirement. The two exceptions are the American Samoa Operations and Maintenance Set-Aside Program, which has a 50% local match requirement, and OIA's Operations and Maintenance Improvement Program (OMIP). However, OMIP match requirements are left to the discretion of the grant manager and may be waived should the application warrant it. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| The period of performance for OIA grants is dependent on the activity to be funded and is specified in the grant terms and conditions. Payments are generally made through wire transfer arrangements. |
| Reports |
| Reports that are required by 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments," must be submitted on a timely basis as specified in the grant terms and conditions. Final reports are due within 90 days of grant completion or termination. |
| Audits |
| In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular A-133, (Revised, June 27, 2003) "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular A-133. Grants are also subject to inspection and audit by Interior's Office of the Inspector General, OIA staff, or any other authorized representative of the Federal government. |
| Records |
| Record retention requirements are the same as those contained in 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments." |
| Account Identification |
| Account Identification: 14-0412-0-1-806; 14-0414-0-1-806. |
| Obligations |
| FY 07 $225,892,000; FY 08 est. $223,475,000; and FY 09 est. $209,621,000. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| OIA financial assistance awards range from a few thousand dollars to tens of millions. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| OIA financial assistance has enabled the U.S. territories to develop economically, socially, and politically thereby fostering their self-sufficiency. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| None. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| None. |
| Headquarters Office |
| The Budget and Grants Management Division or the Technical Assistance Division, Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20240. Telephone: (202) 208-6971 and Fax: (202) 208-7585. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www/doi.gov/oia |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| None. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Operational support to the American Samoa Government and grants for the construction of basic infrastructure including roads, water systems, power, sewer, schools, and hospitals. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| The following consideration will be used in determining projects to be funded: (1) Directed appropriations, (2) Availability of funds; and (3) Relevance to program priorities. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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