Native American Affairs Program

Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program

Providing Technical Assistance to Federally Recognized Indian Tribes

Featured Resources:
Technical Assistance Program
Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs)
     Current Year NOFOs
     Prior Year NOFOs and Successful Proposals Approved for Funding
     How to Apply to NOFOs and Background Information


Reclamation has various programs which provide technical assistance to a broad range of entities, such as the Drought Assistance, Wetlands, and Water Recycling Programs.  Indian Tribes are eligible for most of these programs and, through them, much assistance has been provided to Tribes.  One program is available only to federally recognized Indian Tribes—the Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program (TAP).

Reclamation's Native American Affairs TAP provides technical assistance to assist Indian Tribes to develop, manage, and protect their water and related resources.  The program has supported a broad range of activities in each year since its inception in the early 1990s.  Such activities have included water needs assessments, improved water management studies, water quality data collection and assessments, and water measurement studies.  Total annual funding for the Native American Affairs TAP ranges between $2 and $3 million.

Work under the Native American Affairs TAP may be carried out in different ways.  Sometimes the work is performed by Reclamation under cooperative working relationships with Indian Tribes, which provide the Tribes with opportunities to benefit from Reclamation's technical expertise and resources.  Other times, the work is carried out by Indian Tribes under Public Law 93-638.  Alternatively, assistance may be provided in the form of training to enhance Tribal members’ knowledge and expertise in the use, protection, and development of water resources.  Work may also be carried out in partnership with other governmental or non-governmental entities, thereby enabling assistance provided to Tribes with greater efficiency.

While program direction and leadership for the Native American Affairs TAP is provided by Reclamation's Native American and International Affairs Office (NAIAO) within the Commissioner’s Office, the program is implemented through Regional and Area Offices.  Area Office Program Coordinators work with their Regional Program Managers and Indian Tribes to develop project proposals, which are submitted for consideration for funding.  Budgetary constraints limit the number of projects which can be funded each year.



Note:  Each technical assistance activity considered for the Native American Affairs TAP must satisfy "Program Criteria." Those criteria can be found and are listed in each Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Prior Year NOFOs and Successful Proposals Approved for Funding

Note:  Each technical assistance activity considered for the Native American Affairs TAP must satisfy "Program Criteria." Those criteria can be found and are listed in each Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

How to Apply to NOFOs and Background Information

Applying for Bureau of Reclamation Funding Opportunities (Video and PDF Slides):

                                                                   Webinar Slides (Adobe PDF; 9.2 MB)

Last Updated: 12/20/24