BIA’s OIED Native American Business Development Grant (NABDI)

The Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (OIED), through its Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI), is soliciting grant proposals from eligible federally recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations. NABDI award funding will be used to explore business solutions by obtaining technical assistance through the hiring of consultants to perform feasibility studies for those economic development opportunities.  In addition to feasibility studies, NABDI grants may fund business plans for the eligible applicant’s goals for economic opportunity and recovery, such as the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs, through OIED, is soliciting proposals from federally recognized Tribes listed as Indian Entities Recognized by and Eligible to Receive Services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs at 87 FR 4636 (January 28, 2022) and Tribal Organizations eligible for NABDI grants. Indian Tribes are referred to using the term “Tribe” throughout this notice. Tribal Organization is defined by 25 U.S.C. 5304(l). Consultants may include, but are not limited to universities and colleges, private consulting firms, and non-academic non-profit entities. The feasibility studies will help facilitate informed decision-making regarding Tribes’ economic futures. Feasibility studies may concern the viability of an economic development project or business, or the practicality of a technology, that a Tribe may choose to pursue to explore how a current Tribal business or enterprises could recover and adapt to the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. NABDI awards may be used to develop business plans for eligible applicant’s goals for economic opportunity and recovery, such as the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The OIED administers this program through its Division of Economic Development (DED).
The funding periods and amounts referenced in this solicitation are subject to the availability of non-recurring appropriation funds of the BIA budget at the time of award, as well as the Department of the Interior (DOI) and Indian Affairs priorities at the time of the award. Neither DOI nor Indian Affairs will be held responsible for proposal or application preparation costs. Publication of this solicitation does not obligate DOI or Indian Affairs to award any specific grant or to obligate all or any part of available funds. Future funding is subject to the availability of appropriations and cannot be guaranteed. DOI or Indian Affairs may cancel or withdraw this solicitation at any time.