The Indian Health Service (IHS) Office of Tribal Self-Governance (OTSG) is accepting applications for Negotiation Cooperative Agreements for the Tribal Self-Governance Program (TSGP). This program is authorized under Title V of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA), 25 U.S.C. 5383(e). This program is described in the Assistance Listings located at beta.sam.gov (formerly known as Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) under 93.444.

The TSGP is more than an IHS program; it is an expression of the Government-to-Government relationship between the United States (U.S.) and Indian Tribes. Through the TSGP, Tribes negotiate with the IHS to assume Programs, Services, Functions, and Activities (PSFAs), or portions thereof, which gives Tribes the authority to manage and tailor health care programs in a manner that best fits the needs of their communities.

Participation in the TSGP affords Tribes the most flexibility to tailor health care PSFAs and is one of three ways that Tribes can choose to obtain health care from the Federal Government for their citizens. Specifically, Tribes can choose to: (1) Receive health care services directly from the IHS; (2) contract with the IHS to administer individual programs and services the IHS would otherwise provide (referred to as Title I Self-Determination Contracting; and (3) compact with the IHS to assume control over health care programs the IHS would otherwise provide (referred to as Title V Self-Governance Compacting or the TSGP). These options are not exclusive and Tribes may choose to combine options based on their individual needs and circumstances.

The TSGP is a tribally-driven initiative and strong Federal-Tribal partnerships are essential to the program's success. The IHS established the OTSG to implement the Tribal Self-Governance authorities under the ISDEAA. The primary OTSG functions are to: (1) Serve as the primary liaison and advocate for Tribes participating in the TSGP; (2) develop, direct, and implement TSGP policies and procedures; (3) provide information and technical assistance to Self-Governance Tribes; and (4) advise the IHS Director on compliance with TSGP policies, regulations, and guidelines. Each IHS Area has an Agency Lead Negotiator (ALN), designated by the IHS Director to act on his or her behalf, who has authority to negotiate Self-Governance Compacts and Funding Agreements (FA). Prospective Tribes interested in participating in the TSGP should contact their respective ALN to begin the Self-Governance planning process. Also, Tribes currently participating in the TSGP, who are interested in expanding existing or adding new PSFAs, should also contact their respective ALN to discuss the best methods for expanding or adding new PSFAs.