CPF for Tribal Governments

The Capital Projects Fund will deliver $100 million in funding for Tribal governments.

The Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (Capital Projects Fund) will address many challenges laid bare by the pandemic, especially in rural America, Tribal communities, and low- and moderate-income communities, helping to ensure that all communities have access to the high-quality modern infrastructure, including broadband, needed to access critical services.

TREASURY IS CURRENTLY AWARDING TRIBAL GOVERNMENT PROJECTS

Treasury is now reviewing and approving Tribal Government projects. Treasury has already approved a number of Tribal projects, making funds available for eligible investments. Treasury will continue to update this list of Capital Projects Fund Awards for Tribal Governments to share information about the approved projects.

APPLYING FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND

Tribal governments may now request their Capital Projects Fund allocation using the Capital Projects Fund Portal. All applications were due by October 14, 2022.

Tribal governments must complete a simple application to receive CPF funding, including:

  • Basic information to confirm eligibility
  • Funds transfer information
  • Information about the Tribal government’s intended uses of funds

**As of April 4, 2022**, applicants are required to provide a Universal Entity ID (UEID) number when applying for CPF funds, and will no longer need to provide a DUNS number.  Applicants can find their UEID by logging into their SAM.gov profile.  For help, consult the instructions.

Treasury has developed an Application Checklist for Tribal Governments that provides detailed instructions on how to complete the application process.

Treasury has also provided a SAMPLE Capital Projects Fund Application in PDF form so that Tribal Governments can review the application requirements to assist in completing the application. Please note that all application submissions must be completed through the Capital Projects Fund portal, accessible via the “Apply for the Capital Projects Fund” button.

 

ELIGIBLE USES FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND GRANT FUNDING

Eligibility Criteria

The Capital Projects Fund provides Tribal governments with funding to allow recipients to invest in capital assets that meet communities’ critical needs in the short- and long-term, with a key emphasis on making funds available to recipients that wish to invest in broadband infrastructure. For a capital project to be an eligible use of Capital Projects Fund grant funds, it must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. The capital project invests in capital assets designed to directly enable work, education, and health monitoring.
  2. The capital project is designed to address a critical need that resulted from or was made apparent or exacerbated by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
  3. The capital project is designed to address a critical need of the community to be served by it.

Presumptively Eligible Uses

The following are examples of presumptively eligible uses of Capital Projects Fund grant funding by Tribal governments:

  • Purchasing digital connectivity devices, such as desktop computers, laptops, or tablets, to facilitate internet access
  • Purchasing digital connectivity technologies, such as public Wi-Fi, to facilitate internet access
  • Supplementing another federal government broadband program (e.g., Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, or other funds) that meet minimum service standards provided by the Capital Projects Fund Guidance
  • Installing or enhancing broadband infrastructure to serve communities by meeting minimum service standards provided by the Capital Projects Fund Guidance
  • Constructing or improving buildings, such as multi-purpose community centers, that are designed to jointly enable work, education, and health monitoring

Within these categories of eligible uses, Tribal governments have broad flexibility to decide how best to use this funding to meet the needs of their local communities.

Tribal governments will also have the opportunity to propose capital projects for case-by-case review. Treasury will review each proposed capital project against the criteria laid out in the Capital Projects Fund Guidance for Tribal Governments to determine eligibility.

TRIBAL ALLOCATION METHODOLOGY

Treasury developed the Capital Projects Fund Tribal Government Allocation Methodology, which incorporates important feedback that Tribal leaders shared during a Treasury-hosted Tribal consultation in April of 2021. In this consultation, Treasury requested and received input from Tribal leaders regarding the allocation methodology, use of funds, and administrative activities such as reporting and compliance. The summary of the Tribal Consultation can be found here .

Pursuant to the statutory definition of Tribal government, Treasury has calculated the per-Tribe allocation based on the total number of federally recognized Tribal governments and separately listed component bands and reservations. Treasury will allocate Tribal governments and the State of Hawaii approximately $167,504 each under this provision. These allocations are consistent with the dollar limits set in the statute, as each Tribal government will receive not less than $50,000, and the State of Hawaii will receive not less than $50,000 but not more than $200,000 for the exclusive use of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Native Hawaiian Education Programs to assist Native Hawaiians. 

Tribal Payments

Tribal governments must submit an application via the Capital Projects Fund Application Portal to receive funding under the Capital Projects Fund program. Applicants must submit information to verify eligibility and indicate intended use of funds. Tribal governments selecting a presumptively eligible use of funds in their application will have access to their total requested grant amount immediately after executing a Grant Agreement. Tribal governments that propose a use of funds that is not presumptively eligible will have their proposed project information reviewed by Treasury prior to gaining access to funding. Proposed projects may need to be modified by applicants to meet Capital Projects Fund eligibility requirements.

Eligible Tribal governments must submit an application by the deadline to receive allocated funds. Treasury may re-allocate unclaimed funds after the Tribal application deadline. Tribal governments are therefore encouraged to submit applications well in advance of the deadline to allow time for remediation by the deadline, if needed.

The deadline to submit the Capital Projects Fund application was October 14, 2022.

RECIPIENT COMPLIANCE AND REPORTING

Capital Projects Fund recipients are required to meet certain compliance and reporting requirements. Recipient reporting requirements vary by eligible use and project type.

On June 7, 2023, Treasury published revised Capital Projects Fund Compliance and Reporting Guidance for Tribal Entities.

Tribal Entities should consult the Capital Projects Fund Annual Report User Guide for assistance completing the Tribal Annual Report.

Treasury hosted an Annual Report Information Session with step-by-step instructions, which includes a walkthrough of the reporting portal, to assist recipients in their report submission:

RESOURCES For Recipients

Treasury has also provided a SAMPLE Capital Projects Fund Application in PDF form so that Tribal Governments can review the application requirements to assist in completing the application. Please note that all application submissions must be completed through the Capital Projects Fund portal, accessible via the “Apply for the Capital Projects Fund” button.

Application Checklist

Treasury prepared a Capital Projects Fund Tribal Government Application Checklist to assist with completing the application.

Informational Webinar

On October 6, 2021 at 3:00 PM ET, Treasury and NTIA hosted a Capital Projects Fund information session for Tribal governments to provide an overview of the program, review all relevant materials, demonstrate the Capital Projects Fund Application Portal, and answer questions. View the slides from the October 6 webinar.

View the recording of the October 6 Capital Projects Fund information session for Tribal governments.

Environmental Checklist

Treasury has developed a Capital Projects Fund Environmental Checklist that Recipients may use to assist in planning for and carrying out projects funded by the Capital Projects Fund. Please review the checklist for more information. Recipients are not required to submit this checklist to Treasury.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Treasury has published Frequently Asked Questions that Recipients may reference as they move through the Capital Projects Fund grant process. Treasury will update the FAQ document periodically and will publish the most recent version to this website. Additional questions can be submitted to CapitalProjectsFund@treasury.gov.

The FAQ resource was last updated in April 2022.

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