The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP)

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), Public Law 117-2, provided additional funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. It included $450 million for the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) program, $280 million for the Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) program, and $10 million to provide technical assistance for these specific programs.

Please visit the ONAP-ARP 2021 website on Codetalk for specific program details, guidance, and resources.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136, provided funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. It included $200 million for the IHBG program and $100 million for the ICDBG program.

Please visit the ONAP-CARES Act website for specific program details, guidance and resources.

Many Tribes have completed their CARES and ARP project(s), while others may require additional time to finish their project(s) and close the grant(s).

Closed Grants

Your CARES/ARP grant is considered closed if your Tribe has completed the project(s) as planned, submitted closeout documents to the Area ONAP and received confirmation from the Area ONAP that states the grant is closed. Please contact your Area ONAP if you need help with this process.

Active Grants

CARES/ARP grants are considered active until closed by ONAP or the grant period expires, whichever comes first.  We realize unforeseen circumstances may impact and delay project completion.  If you are confronting issues and experiencing delays with project completion ir grant close-out, you may consider researching best practices from other Tribes, accessing available training or requesting technical assistance. See the below section labled "Training and Resources".  

Amending your Indian Housing Plan (IHP)

If your planned project(s) has changed (e.g., you are unable to start or complete the planned activities, the scope has changed, or you need more time), please remember that you might need to amend your Indian Housing Plan. Please reach out to your Area ONAP for guidance. Amendments can be submitted to your Area ONAP at any time, but they should be submitted prior to the end of the period of performance.

Training and Technical Assistance (TA)

• IHBG-APR Training
  • IHBG-ARP Training Slides
  • Abbreviated IHP/APR Guidance
• ONAP Training and TA: Please contact your Grants Management (GM) Specialist.
• Direct Training: Please complete the request form on ONAP’s Training website on Codetalk.
• National Training: Please monitor ONAP’s Calendar of Events and Training Opportunities website on Codetalk.
• 2CFR Part 200: New changes provide increased threshold amounts under 2 CFR 200, specifically the de minimis for procurement. You can learn more at: 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Guidance 

Examples of Potentially Useful Training and TA

• Force Account(s) Training: Provides an overview and guidance you might find helpful when developing and managing force account labor teams for construction, rehabilitation, and infrastructure projects. Contact your Grants Management (GM) Specialist.
• Request for Proposal (RFP) Procurement Training and Technical Assistance: This might be helpful for improving your procurement process and, more specifically, RFP writing.
• Longer Development Technical Assistance Engagements: This may be helpful to achieving development projects by providing an extended TA assignment, even throughout the entire development process. 
• Resiliency Tool Kits and Best Practices: Can offer insight to navigating project planning and development.

Resources

Notices

• Notice PIH 2020-06: IHBG-CARES Implementation Notice
• Notice PIH 2020-11: ICDBG-CARES Implementation Notice
• Notice PIH 2021-11: IHBG-ARP Implementation Notice
• Notice PIH 2021-14: COVID-19 Regulatory and Statutory Waivers
• Notice PIH 2021-22: ICDBG-ARP Implementation Notice
• Notice PIH 2022-12: Process for Amending ICDBG-CARES/ARP Grants

Please keep in mind that CARES Act and ARP funds are only available for a limited time. If you do not spend them before the dates cited below, they will expire and no longer be available for your use.

• CARES Act: September 30, 2029
• ARP: September 30, 2030