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Title 25 — IndiansRelease 119-73

§5389 Construction projects

Title 25 › Chapter CHAPTER 46— - INDIAN SELF-DETERMINATION AND EDUCATION ASSISTANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - TRIBAL SELF-GOVERNANCE—INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE › § 5389

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Lets tribal governments that take part in tribal self‑governance run their own construction projects if they agree to take on the federal environmental duties that would normally fall to the Secretary under NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), division A of subtitle III of title 54, and related laws. To do this, the tribe must pass a resolution naming a certifying officer to act like the federal responsible official and must accept federal court authority to enforce those environmental duties. Project plans are negotiated under section 5324(m) and added to funding agreements. The tribe and the Secretary must pick building codes and engineering standards that match national norms. The tribe is responsible for finishing the project as agreed. Money for these projects comes as annual advance payments (with semiannual payments if the tribe chooses). Payment amounts follow agreed schedules and past spending, and the Secretary must include contingency funds with each advance; the tribe manages those contingency funds. The Secretary gets at least one chance to approve key plans or big changes before construction. The tribe must give progress and financial reports at least every six months, and the Secretary can visit the site on that schedule or another agreed schedule. Workers hired by contractors (not including tribes or tribal organizations) must be paid the prevailing wages set under sections 3141–3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40, with the Secretary of Labor keeping the usual authority (Reorganization Plan No. 14 of 1950 and section 3145 of title 40). Federal procurement rules in division B of subtitle I of title 41, the Federal Acquisition Regulations, and similar laws do not apply unless the tribe agrees, except for sections 1123, 2303, 2304, and 2313 of subtitle I of title 41.

Full Legal Text

Title 25, §5389

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Indian tribes participating in tribal self-governance may carry out construction projects under this subchapter if they elect to assume all Federal responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), division A of subtitle III of title 54, and related provisions of law that would apply if the Secretary were to undertake a construction project, by adopting a resolution—
(1)designating a certifying officer to represent the Indian tribe and to assume the status of a responsible Federal official under such laws; and
(2)accepting the jurisdiction of the Federal court for the purpose of enforcement of the responsibilities of the responsible Federal official under such environmental laws.
(b)Construction project proposals shall be negotiated pursuant to the statutory process in section 5324(m) of this title and resulting construction project agreements shall be incorporated into funding agreements as addenda.
(c)The Indian tribe and the Secretary shall agree upon and specify appropriate building codes and architectural and engineering standards (including health and safety) which shall be in conformity with nationally recognized standards for comparable projects.
(d)The Indian tribe shall assume responsibility for the successful completion of the construction project in accordance with the negotiated construction project agreement.
(e)Funding for construction projects carried out under this subchapter shall be included in funding agreements as annual advance payments, with semiannual payments at the option of the Indian tribe. Annual advance and semiannual payment amounts shall be determined based on mutually agreeable project schedules reflecting work to be accomplished within the advance payment period, work accomplished and funds expended in previous payment periods, and the total prior payments. The Secretary shall include associated project contingency funds with each advance payment installment. The Indian tribe shall be responsible for the management of the contingency funds included in funding agreements.
(f)The Secretary shall have at least one opportunity to approve project planning and design documents prepared by the Indian tribe in advance of construction of the facilities specified in the scope of work for each negotiated construction project agreement or amendment thereof which results in a significant change in the original scope of work. The Indian tribe shall provide the Secretary with project progress and financial reports not less than semiannually. The Secretary may conduct onsite project oversight visits semiannually or on an alternate schedule agreed to by the Secretary and the Indian tribe.
(g)All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors and subcontractors (excluding tribes and tribal organizations) in the construction, alteration, or repair, including painting or decorating of a building or other facilities in connection with construction projects funded by the United States under this chapter shall be paid wages at not less than those prevailing wages on similar construction in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with section 3141–3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40. With respect to construction alteration, or repair work to which section 3141–3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40 are applicable under this section, the Secretary of Labor shall have the authority and functions set forth in the Reorganization Plan numbered 14, of 1950, and section 3145 of title 40.
(h)Unless otherwise agreed to by the Indian tribe, no provision of division B (except section 1123, 2303, 2304, and 2313) of subtitle I of title 41, the Federal Acquisition Regulations issued pursuant thereto, or any other law or regulation pertaining to Federal procurement (including Executive orders) shall apply to any construction project conducted under this subchapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 91–190, Jan. 1, 1970, 83 Stat. 852, which is classified generally to chapter 55 (§ 4321 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 4321 of Title 42 and Tables. This chapter, referred to in subsec. (g), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 93–638, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2203, known as the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 5301 of this title and Tables. Reorganization Plan numbered 14, of 1950, referred to in subsec. (g), is set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 458aaa–8 of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section. In subsec. (g), “section 3141–3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40” substituted for “the Davis-Bacon Act of
March 3, 1931 (46 Stat. 1494)”, “section 3141–3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40 are” substituted for “the Act of
March 3, 1931, is”, and “section 3145 of title 40” substituted for “section 2 of the Act of
June 13, 1934 (48 Stat. 948)” on authority of Pub. L. 107–217, § 5(c), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1303, the first section of which enacted Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works. In subsec. (h), “division B (except section 1123, 2303, 2304, and 2313) of subtitle I of title 41” substituted for “the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act” on authority of Pub. L. 111–350, § 6(c), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3854, which Act enacted Title 41, Public Contracts.

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–287, which directed substitution of “division A of subtitle III of title 54” for “the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470et seq.)”, was executed by making the substitution for “the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.)” in introductory provisions to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

25 U.S.C. § 5389

Title 25 — Indians

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73