A Tribe that meets the applicable thresholds under 2 CFR 200.501 must undertake an annual audit pursuant to the regulations set forth in 2 CFR part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, except to the extent that part 200 exempts a Tribe from complying with the audit requirements.

A Tribe must submit any required audits to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse pursuant to the Office of Management and Budget procedures and provide prompt notice to the Department it has done so.

The agency or entity undertaking the examination or audit will be responsible for all costs associated with an audit or examination of Tribal records. A Tribe is responsible for making records available during regular business hours, and may prevent removal of the records from Tribal offices. If an agency or entity undertaking the examination or audit requests that the Tribe make copies of records for its use, the Tribe must do so, but may charge the examining agency reasonable per-page fees for photocopying or scanning of documents and records.

(a) Disallowance of costs. Any claim by the Federal Government against a Tribe relating to funds included in a funding agreement based on any audit conducted pursuant to this part is subject to 25 U.S.C. 5325(f).

(1) Any right of action or other remedy (other than those relating to a criminal offense) relating to any disallowance of costs is barred unless the Department provides notice of such a disallowance within 365 days from receiving any required annual audit report. The notice must set forth the Tribe's appeal and hearing rights in accordance with §§ 29.912 through 29.923.

(2) To calculate the 365-day period, an audit report is deemed received by the Department on the date of electronic submission to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. The Department has 60 days after receiving the audit report to give notice to the Tribe of its determination to reject an audit report as insufficient due to non-compliance with the applicable provisions of 2 CFR part 200 or any applicable statute.

(b) Criminal penalties. Any person, officer, director, agent, employee, or person otherwise connected with a recipient of a contract, subcontract, grant, or sub-grant under a compact or funding agreement who embezzles, willfully misapplies, steals, or obtains by fraud any of the money, funds, assets, or property provided to the recipient will be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both. If the amount of funds in question does not exceed $100, then the fine will be no more than $1,000 and imprisonment not more than 1 year, or both.

(a) A Tribe must apply the applicable cost principles of the Office of Management and Budget's Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, 2 CFR part 200, except as modified by:

(1) 25 U.S.C. 5325(k), which sets forth certain categories of allowable uses of funds that a Tribe may include in a funding agreement provided that such use supports implementation of a PSFA;

(2) Other provisions of Federal law; or

(3) Any subsequent exemptions granted by the Office of Management and Budget.

(b) The Department may not require a Tribe to apply other audit or accounting standards.

(a) Generally. To ensure the proper expenditure and accounting of Federal funds, a Tribe carrying out a compact and funding agreement must develop, implement, and maintain financial management systems that meet the financial standards and minimum requirements set forth in §§ 29.506 and 29.507, unless the Department waives, in whole or in part, one or more of the standards.

(b) Applicability to Tribal contractors. A Tribe may require that its contractors comply with some or all of the standards and requirements in §§ 29.506 and 29.507 when the Tribe retains contractors to assist in carrying out the requirements of a funding agreement.

(c) Evaluation. When required under 2 CFR part 200, an independent auditor retained by a Tribe must evaluate the financial management systems of the Tribe through an annual audit report in accordance with the Single Agency Audit Act, 31 U.S.C. 7501-7506.

The following standards apply to a Tribe's financial management systems when carrying out a compact and funding agreement:

(a) The system must expend and account for funds included in a funding agreement in accordance with:

(1) The compact and funding agreement;

(2) All statutory requirements applicable to the funding source; and

(3) Applicable provisions of 2 CFR part 200.

(b) The fiscal control and accounting procedures of a Tribe's financial management system must be sufficient to:

(1) Permit the preparation of reports required by applicable Federal law, the compact, funding agreement, and this part; and

(2) Permit the tracing of program or project funds to a level of expenditure adequate to establish that the funds have not been used in violation of any restrictions or prohibitions contained in any statute or provision of 2 CFR part 200 that applies to the funds included in the compact and funding agreement.

To meet the standards set forth in § 29.506, a Tribe's financial management system must include the following minimum requirements:

(a) Financial reports. The financial management system must provide for accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of activities carried out by a Tribe under a compact and funding agreement;

(b) Accounting records. The financial management system must maintain records sufficiently detailed to identify the source and application of funds transferred to a Tribe in a funding agreement. The system must contain sufficient information to identify awards, obligations and unobligated balances, assets, liabilities, outlays, or expenditures and income;

(c) Internal controls. The financial management system must maintain effective control and accountability for all funds included in a funding agreement and for all Federal real property, personal property, and other assets furnished for use by a Tribe under its compact and funding agreement;

(d) Budget controls. The financial management system must permit the comparison of actual expenditures or outlays with the amounts budgeted by a Tribe for each funding agreement;

(e) Allowable costs. The financial management system must be sufficient to determine that the expenditure of funds is reasonable, allowable, and allocable based upon the terms of the compact and funding agreement and applicable provisions of 2 CFR part 200;

(f) Source documentation. The financial management system must contain accounting records that are supported by source documentation, such as canceled checks, paid bills, payroll records, time and attendance records, contract award documents, purchase orders, and other primary records that support expenditures; and

(g) Cash management. The financial management system must provide for accurate, current, and complete disclosure of cash revenues disbursements, cash-on-hand balances, and obligations by source and application for a Tribe so that complete and accurate cash transactions may be prepared by the Tribe.

(a) Each contract carried out using funds included in a funding agreement must, at a minimum:

(1) Be in writing;

(2) Identify the interested parties, their respective roles and responsibilities, and the purposes of the contract;

(3) State the work to be performed under the contract;

(4) State the process for making any claim, the payments to be made, and the terms of the contract; and

(5) State that it is subject to 25 U.S.C. 5307(b) consistent with § 29.524.

(b) A Tribe that chooses to use a procurement method that is not provided for in its established procurement management standards in the delivery of a Tribal transportation project must submit the request to deviate from these standards to the Department for review and approval in accordance with § 29.515. The deviation request must specify the procurement method that the Tribe proposes to use and the project to which such method will be applied.

(a) Property management system. A Tribe must maintain a property management system to account for all property acquired with funds included in a funding agreement, acquired with Federal funds awarded by the Department or the Department of the Interior, or obtained as excess or surplus Federal property to be used for activities under the Program. The property management system must address the use, care, maintenance, and disposition of such property as follows:

(1) Where title vests in the Tribe, in accordance with Tribal law and procedures; or

(2) In the case of a consortium, according to the internal property procedures of the consortium.

(b) Transit asset management. In addition to the property management system and standards in this section, property acquired with transit funds (chapter 53 of title 49 of the U.S. Code) is subject to the property management requirements set forth in 49 U.S.C. 5326 concerning the transit asset management plan, performance targets, and reports.

(c) Tracking requirements under a property management system. The property management system of a Tribe relating to property used under the Program must track:

(1) Personal property and rolling stock with an acquisition value in excess of $5,000 per item;

(2) Sensitive personal property, which is all personal property that is subject to theft and pilferage, as defined by the Tribe; and

(3) Real property.

(d) Records. The property management system must maintain records that accurately describe the property, including any serial number, vehicle identification number, or other identification number. These records should contain current information such as the source, titleholder, acquisition date, acquisition cost, share of Federal participation in the cost, location, use and current condition of the property, and the date of disposal and sale price, if any.

(e) Internal controls. The property management system must maintain effective internal controls that include, at a minimum, procedures for a Tribe to:

(1) Conduct periodic, physical inventories at least once every 2 years and reconcile such inventories with the Tribal internal property and accounting records;

(2) Prevent loss or damage to property; and

(3) Ensure that property is used by the Tribe to carry out activities under a funding agreement until the Tribe declares the property excess to the needs of the PSFAs carried out by the Tribe under the funding agreement, consistent with the property management system of the Tribe.

(f) Maintenance requirements. Required maintenance includes the performance of actions necessary to keep the property in good working condition, the procedures recommended by equipment manufacturers, and steps necessary to protect the interests of the Department and the Tribe in any express warranties or guarantees covering the property.

(g) Disposition of personal property acquired under a funding agreement. Prior to disposition of any personal property acquired under a funding agreement, including rolling stock, a Tribe must report to the Self-Governance Official in writing on the property's status (e.g., worn out, lost, stolen, damaged beyond repair, or no longer needed to carry out activities under a funding agreement). The Department will provide disposition instructions in accordance with 2 CFR 200.313. A Tribe may retain, sell, or otherwise dispose of personal property with a current per unit fair market value of $5,000 or less with no further obligation to the Department.

(h) Disposition of real property acquired under a funding agreement. Prior to disposition of any real property acquired under a funding agreement, a Tribe must report to the Self-Governance Official, who will ensure the Department provides disposition instructions in accordance with 2 CFR 200.311.

A Tribe must maintain records and provide Federal agency access to those records as provided in 25 U.S.C. 5386(d) and the statutory requirements of the funds included in a funding agreement.

(a) Except to the extent that a Tribe specifies otherwise in its compact or funding agreement, the records of the Tribe retained by the Tribe will not be considered Federal records for purposes of chapter 5 of title 5 of the U.S. Code.

(b) Tribal records submitted to the Department are considered Federal records for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Federal Privacy Act. If a Tribe provides information to the Department that the Tribe considers to be trade secret, or confidential commercial or financial information, the Tribe must identify it as such. The Department will not disclose the information to the public, except to the extent required by law. In the event the Department receives a FOIA request for such information, the Department will follow the procedures described in its FOIA regulations at 49 CFR part 7.

After 30 days advance written notice from the Department, a Tribe must provide the Department with reasonable access to such records to enable the Department to meet its minimum legal recordkeeping system and audit requirements.

A Tribe must keep books, documents, papers, and records of funding, grants, and State-provided funds for 3 years from the date of submission of the Single Audit Act audit report and provide the Department or the Comptroller General access to such records for audit and examination related to compacts, funding agreements, grants, contracts, subcontracts, sub-grants, or other arrangements under the Program.

When procuring property or services with funds included in a funding agreement, a Tribe must have standards that conform to the procurement standards in this subpart. If a Tribe relies upon procurement standards different than those described in § 29.515, it must identify the standards it will use in in the initial negotiation of a funding agreement or as a waiver request to an existing funding agreement. The Tribe must submit the request to the Department in accordance with § 29.534.

A Tribe must follow the minimum procurement standards set forth in this section when procuring property or services with funds included in a funding agreement.

(a) Minimum procurement standards. (1) A Tribe must ensure that its vendors and contractors perform in accordance with the terms, conditions, and specifications of their contracts or purchase agreements or orders.

(2) A Tribe must maintain written standards of conduct governing the performance of its employees who award and administer contracts paid for using funds included in a funding agreement.

(i) An employee, officer, elected official, or agent of a Tribe must not participate in the selection, award, or administration of a procurement supported by Federal funds if a conflict of interest, real or apparent, as defined in the conflict of interest policies of the Tribe, would be involved.

(ii) Employees, officers, elected officials, or agents of a Tribe, or of a subcontractor of the Tribe, must not solicit or accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors, potential contractors, or parties to sub-agreements, except that the Tribe may exempt a financial interest that is not substantial or a gift that is an unsolicited item of nominal value.

(iii) The standards must also provide for penalties, sanctions, or other disciplinary actions for violations of the procurement standards.

(3) A Tribe must review proposed procurements to avoid buying unnecessary or duplicative items and ensure the reasonableness of the price. The Tribe should consider consolidating or separating out procurement to obtain more economical purchases. Tribes are encouraged to realize economies of scale in the procurement of goods, services, and supplies under this part, including the negotiation of cooperative agreements with other public authorities. Where appropriate, the Tribe must compare leasing and purchasing alternatives to determine which is more economical.

(4) A Tribe must conduct all major procurement transactions that exceed the simplified acquisition threshold set forth in 2 CFR 200.88 by providing full and open competition to the extent necessary to assure efficient expenditure of contract funds and to the extent feasible in the local area.

(i) Consistent with 2 CFR 200.88, a Tribe may develop its own definition for a simplified acquisition threshold.

(ii) To the greatest extent feasible, a Tribe must apply to any procurement award the Indian preference requirements for wages and grants contained in 25 U.S.C. 5307(b).

(5) A Tribe must make procurement awards only to responsible entities with the ability to perform successfully under the terms and conditions of the proposed procurement. In making this judgment, the Tribe will consider such matters as the contractor's integrity, its compliance with public policy, its record of past performance, and its financial and technical resources.

(6) A Tribe must maintain records on the significant history of all major procurement transactions. These records must include, but are not limited to, the rationale for the method of procurement, the selection of contract type, the contract selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price.

(7) A Tribe is solely responsible, using good administrative practice and sound business judgment, for processing and settling all contractual and administrative issues arising out of a procurement. These issues include, but are not limited to, source evaluation, protests, disputes, and claims.

(i) The settlement of any protest, dispute, or claim will not relieve the Tribe of any obligations under a funding agreement.

(ii) Violations of law must be referred to the Tribal or Federal authority having proper jurisdiction.

(b) Conflicts of interest. A Tribe participating in the program must ensure that internal measures and controls are in place to address conflicts of interest in the administration of compacts and funding agreements.

A Tribe's contractors or subcontractors are responsible for complying with Federal laws and regulations. Contracts between a Tribe and its contractors should inform contractors that the contract is carried out using funds included in a funding agreement, and that the contractors and its subcontractors are responsible for identifying and ensuring compliance with applicable Federal laws and regulations. The Department and the Tribe may, through negotiation, identify all or a portion of such requirements in the funding agreement and, if so identified, these requirements should be identified in the contracts the Tribe awards using funds included in a funding agreement.

A Tribe and its employees may use Federal supply sources (including lodging, airline, interagency motor pool vehicles, and other means of transportation) in the performance of a compact and funding agreement to the same extent as if the Tribe were a Federal agency. The Department will assist the Tribes, to the extent feasible, to resolve any barriers to full implementation.

(a) A Tribe must provide reports mandated by statute associated with the funds included in the funding agreement. In accordance with § 29.307, the funding agreement will list these reporting requirements. The Tribe will cooperate with the Department to assist the Department in complying with its statutory reporting requirements. No additional reporting will be required of the Tribe.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, if the Tribe includes funds for a discretionary or competitive grant in a funding agreement, the Department and the Tribe will negotiate the appropriate reporting requirements to include in the funding agreement.

At the request of a Tribe, the Department will permit the Tribe to use and maintain existing facilities, equipment therein or appertaining thereto, and other personal property, if applicable, owned by the Government within the Department's jurisdiction, subject to terms and conditions agreed to by the Department and the Tribe. The requested facilities, equipment, or property must be used to carry out the Tribe's PSFAs under the compact and funding agreement. Such facilities, equipment, or other personal property will be eligible for replacement, maintenance, and improvement using funds included in a funding agreement, or the Tribe may expend its own funds. The Department does not have any additional funding sources for replacement, maintenance, or improvement of such facilities, equipment, other personal property. The Department will exercise discretion in a way that gives the maximum effect to the request of the Tribe to use such facilities, equipment, or property.

A Tribe may acquire any surplus or excess property for use in the performance of the compact and funding agreement consistent with the procedures established by the General Services Administration. The Tribe must notify the Self-Governance Official of the surplus or excess property it proposes to acquire and the purpose for which it will be used in the performance of the compact or funding agreement. If the Department participates in the acquisition by the Tribe of any excess or surplus Federal property, the Department will expeditiously process the request and assist the Tribe in its acquisition to the extent feasible and exercise discretion in a way that gives maximum effect to the Tribe's request for donation of the excess or surplus Federal property. When the Department's participation is required, the Department should expeditiously request acquisition of the property from the General Services Administration or the holding agency, as appropriate, by submitting the necessary documentation prior to the expiration of any “freeze” placed on the property by the Tribe or the Department on the Tribe's behalf. The Tribe must take title to any property acquired pursuant to this section. Such surplus or excess property will be eligible for replacement, maintenance, and improvement using funds included in a funding agreement, or the Tribe may expend its own funds. The Department does not have any additional funding sources for replacement, maintenance, or improvement of such surplus or excess property.

A Tribe must use any property acquired under this section in a manner consistent with the justification submitted at acquisition. The Tribe should notify the Self-Governance Official whenever use of the property changes significantly and upon disposal or sale.

If a compact or funding agreement (or portion thereof) is retroceded, reassumed, terminated, or expires, the Tribe retains title to the property purchased with funds under any compact and funding agreement or excess or surplus Federal property donated under the Program if it is valued at $5,000 or less. If the value of the property is over $5,000 at the time of retrocession, withdrawal, or reassumption, title to such property may revert to the Department at the Department's discretion.

Upon the written request of a Tribe, and to the extent feasible, the Department will provide technical assistance, including periodic program reviews, to assist a Tribe improve its performance in carrying out the Program.

Wage and labor standards of the Davis-Bacon Act do not apply to employees of a Tribe. However, Davis-Bacon wage rates apply to all Tribal contractors and subcontractors.

To the greatest extent feasible, any contract, subcontract, grant, or sub-grant under a compact and funding agreement must give preference for employment and training, and the award of subcontracts and sub-grants, to Indians, Indian organizations, and Indian-owned economic enterprises, as defined in 25 U.S.C. 1452.

To the extent provided in applicable Federal law, Tribal law governs Indian preference policies in the performance of a compact and funding agreement. When a compact or funding agreement is intended to benefit one Tribe, the Tribal employment or contract preference laws adopted by such Tribe will govern with respect to the administration of the compact and funding agreement.

(a) The Department must meet the requirements of applicable Federal environmental and cultural resource laws, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act, for a proposed project under the Program.

(b) The Secretary has delegated environmental and cultural resource compliance responsibilities to the Operating Administrations, as appropriate. As such, an Operating Administration will serve as the lead agency responsible for final review and approval of environmental documents, and any associated environmental determinations and findings for a proposed project under the Program. The Secretary, as delegated to the Operating Administrations, is also responsible for making determinations and issuing approvals in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 138 and 49 U.S.C. 303 (Section 4(f)), as applicable. Tribes may consult with the Self-Governance Official to determine which Operating Administration should serve as the lead agency.

(c) If the Department is conducting the environmental review process for a proposed project under the Program, the Tribe must assist the Department to satisfy the requirements of applicable Federal environmental and cultural resource laws.

(d) A Tribe may manage or conduct the environmental review process for a proposed project under the Program and may prepare drafts of the appropriate environmental review documents for submission to the Department.

(1) A Tribe may follow its own environmental review procedures if the procedures and documentation also satisfy the Federal environmental review requirements applicable to the project. A Tribe should work with the Operating Administration serving as lead agency to ensure the Tribal process will satisfy all applicable Federal environmental review requirements.

(2) The Operating Administration serving as lead agency must determine that the Tribe's process and documentation satisfy the applicable Federal environmental review requirements.

(e) As resources permit and at the request of a Tribe, the Department will provide advice and technical assistance to the Tribe to assist in the management of the Federal environmental review process and preparation of environmental documents.

(f) Unless prohibited by law, a Tribe may use funds included in a funding agreement to pay for environmental review activities.

(a) Section 314 of Public Law 101-512 and 25 U.S.C. 5396(a) incorporated by 23 U.S.C. 207(l)(8) make the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), 28 U.S.C. 1346(b), 2401, 2671-2680, applicable to a Tribe carrying out a compact and funding agreement.

(b) Contractors, subcontractors, or sub-recipients of a Tribe are not subject to the terms and conditions of the FTCA. The Tribe may use the regulations set forth in 25 CFR part 900, subpart M, as guidance on the Tribe's rights and responsibilities under the FTCA. Accordingly, the Tribe must include, in any contract entered into with funds provided under a compact and funding agreement, a requirement that contractors, sub-contractors, or sub-recipients maintain applicable insurance coverage, such as workers compensation, auto, and general liability insurance, consistent with statutory minimums and local industry standards.

(a) Immediately after receiving a claim or a summons and complaint filed under the FTCA, the Tribe must notify the Self-Governance Official at [email protected] or use any other method that provides receipt.

(b) The Tribe, through a designated tort claims liaison assigned by the Tribe, must assist the Department in preparing a comprehensive and factually based report, which will inform the Department's report to the U.S. Department of Justice.

(c) The Tribe's designated tort claims liaison must immediately provide the following significant details of the event and include, as appropriate and to the extent within their knowledge, possession, or control:

(1) The date, time, and exact place of the accident or incident;

(2) A concise and complete statement of the circumstances of the accident or incident;

(3) The names and addresses of Tribal or Federal employees involved as participants or witnesses;

(4) The names and addresses of all other eyewitnesses;

(5) An accurate description of all Federal, Tribal, and privately owned property involved, and the nature and amount of damage, if any;

(6) A statement as to whether any person involved was cited for violating a Federal, State, or Tribal law, ordinance, or regulation;

(7) The Tribe's determination as to whether any of its employees (including Federal employees assigned to the Tribe) involved in the incident giving rise to the tort claim were acting within the scope of their employment in carrying out the funding agreement at the time the incident occurred;

(8) Copies of all relevant documentation, including available police reports, statements of witnesses, newspaper accounts, weather reports, plats, and photographs of the site or damaged property, that may be necessary or useful for the Department to determine the claim; and

(9) Insurance coverage information, copies of medical bills, and relevant employment records.

(d) The Tribe must cooperate with and provide all necessary assistance to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department's attorneys assigned to defend the tort claim including case preparation, discovery, and trial.

(e) If requested by the Department, the Tribe must make an assignment and subrogation of all the Tribe's rights and claims (except those against the Federal Government) arising out of a tort claim against the Tribe.

(f) If requested by the Department, the Tribe must authorize representatives of the Department to settle or defend any claim and to represent the Tribe in or take charge of any action. If the Federal Government undertakes the settlement or defense of any claim or action, the Tribe must provide all reasonable additional assistance in reaching a settlement or asserting a defense.

Terms about FTCA coverage are optional in a compact or funding agreement, and the FTCA applies even if terms regarding FTCA are not included in a compact or funding agreement.

Subject to FTCA limitations, the FTCA covers employees of the Tribe who are not paid from compact and funding agreement funds as long as the services out of which the claim arose were performed in carrying out a compact and funding agreement.

Any aggrieved person may assert claims for alleged torts arising from activities performed in carrying out compacts and funding agreements.

The year the funding was provided has no effect on the application of the FTCA.

(a) A Tribe may request a waiver of a regulation in this part with respect to a compact or funding agreement. The Tribe must submit the request in writing to the Self-Governance Official to [email protected] or use any other method that provides receipt, at the following address: Self-Governance Official, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary [INSERT MAIL CODE], 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. The request must be marked with the words “REQUEST TO WAIVE REGULATIONS” on the first page of the request and on the envelope enclosing the request (or in the subject line if by electronic mail). The request must identify the regulation subject to the waiver request, the language the Tribe seeks to waive, and the basis for the request.

(b) Within 10 days of receipt of the waiver request, the Self-Governance Official will send the Tribe an acknowledgement of the waiver request, together with a date-stamped cover sheet that indicates the date on which the Department received the waiver request.

(c) No later than 90 days after the date of receipt of a written request under paragraph (a) of this section, the Department must approve or deny the request in writing. If the application for a waiver is denied, the Department must provide the Tribe with the reasons for the denial as part of the written response.

(d) The Department will consider the following factors in making its decision on a waiver request:

(1) Whether the waiver is contrary to Federal law;

(2) The extent to which the waiver provides flexibility to facilitate the implementation of the Program at the Tribal level consistent with the principles of self-governance;

(3) The extent to which the Tribe will benefit from the waiver; and

(4) Whether the waiver is consistent with Federal transportation policy.

(e) If the Department does not approve or deny a request submitted under paragraph (a) of this section on or before the last day of the 90-day period, the request will be deemed approved by operation of law.

(f) A decision by the Department on a waiver request is a final agency action subject to judicial review under the Administrative Procedure Act.