the interview and/or selection of the Osage Tribal Education Committee.

(4) Selection of committee members. Upon completion of the interview, the arbitration agency shall recommend a reasonable number of applicants or nominees from which the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs shall select five Osage persons to serve on the Osage Tribal Education Committee. The Assistant Secretary shall also appoint two Bureau persons to the committee and shall notify all persons of their selection or appointment, and, shall also notify all applicants and nominees of the final selection. Thereafter, the Bureau shall arrange for the committee to begin assumption of duties and responsibilities.

(5) Committee vacancies. Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner described by this section for the selection of committee members. The period of time for receiving applications shall not exceed 30 days with the expiration date to be announced by the Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary may appoint an individual to serve for a temporary period of time until vacancy is filled. However, such appointment shall not exceed 45 days.

§ 112a.6 Duties and responsibilities of the education committee.

(a) In order to (1) provide maximal use of the limited funds, (2) accommodate the anticipated large number of applications, and, (3) insure prompt, efficient, and fair treatment of all applications, a sound and equitable system for administering the program is imperative. In this regard, therefore, and consistent with the policy of Indian self-determination, the Osage Tribal Education Committee shall develop an overall plan, including a systematic, sequential process for selecting awardees which avoids a "first come, first serve" method; and, instead, insures that all applications received prior to the specified closing date, shall be ranked simultaneously to enable equal competition for funds by all applicants.

(b) The procedure shall provide that (1) no funds shall be awarded until all applications have been ranked; and, (2) applications shall not be ranked

until all have been rated against the point system.

(c) Specifically, the overall plan shall include:

(1) Procedures for receiving and reviewing applications. Such procedures shall set out the following:

(i) Beginning and closing dates for accepting applications;

(ii) Office and address from which application forms may be obtained;

(iii) Address to which applications are to be submitted; and any special method by which they are to be submitted, i.e., certified, registered, or regular mail;

(iv) Date by which all applicants shall have been notified by the committee of the decision relative to their application;

(v) Process by which applications shall be reviewed for completeness; and, how additional information shall be requested and received.

(2) A point system for rating and ranking applications. (i) The point system is, perhaps, the most important part of the overall plan as required by this section. It shall serve as the standard basis for rating and ranking each and all applications for financial assistance under this part, in an identical, objective manner. The point system shall set out specific conditions, or criteria, appropriate to an application for financial assistance, for which a specified number of points shall be awarded to those applications meeting the condition or conditions. For example, an applicant's scholastic achievement or grade average for the preceding semester could be one condition for which points would be awarded. In this regard, it could be determined that 5 points would be awarded an applicant who maintains a 2 grade point average. Each application shall be evaluated against the conditions specified by the point system to determing (A) which, if any, of the conditions applicant has met; (B) the total point value of the application, as derived from the conditions applicant has met; and (C) the value of each application in relationship to all applications, for ranking purposes. A fair point value of each condition set out

by the point system shall be determined by the education committee.

(ii) In addition to those conditions for which the Osage Tribal Education Committee determines points are to be awarded, the point system shall include provisions whereby points shall also be awarded to those applications, wherein the applicant:

(A) Meets a specified Osage blood quantum as determined and established by the Osage Tribal Education Committee. The specified quantum shall be considered only for the purposes of the point system, and, shall not, in any way, affect or determine eligibility, as any person who meets the requirements of § 112a.4 is eligible to make application for aid under this part.

(B) Establishes that financial assistance is necessary, and that without such assistance the applicant's educational or career objectives would not be attainable. The financial information required shall be established by the Osage Tribal Education Committee.

(C) Provides evidence that other available financial resources have been applied for, and indicates whether or not such application(s) has been approved, and, if so, the amount approved; or, otherwise indicate the status of such application(s). The financial resources information required shall be determined by the Osage Tribal Education Committee. The number of points to be awarded for each of the foregoing conditions shall be determined by the Osage Tribal Education Committee. After all applications have been rated according to the point system, they shall be ranked according to the total number of points awarded. Applications receiving the greatest number of points shall be first in line to receive financial aid as provided by this part. The point system shall specify whether applications are to be rated upon their receipt; at periodic intervals, or, after the specified closing date for receiving applications.

or, whether the amount is to be based upon the applicant's established individual need; and, a formula for affixing amounts.

(ii) The process and date by which applicants shall be notified as to whether or not they are to receive an award, and, how awards are to be announced or published.

(iii) Determinations as to whether payment of awards are to be made directly to the student, or to the educational institution which the respective applicant shall be attending. In addition, the education committee shall:

(A) Establish the time and place for convening regular committee meetings; conditions and procedures for convening special meetings; and, the procedures for notifying members of both regular and special meetings.

(B) Establish a procedure for the selection/election of a committee chairman and other officers considered appropriate.

(C) Develop a standard application form.

(D) Prepare an official document which sets out the overall plan established by the committee in compliance with the provisions of this part for submission to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs for approval. (E) Notify Osage people, through appropriate media, of the procedures, processes, etc., set out by the overall plan for administering the $1 million fund within a reasonable time after these regulations become final.

the

(F) Any other responsibilities necessary and/or appropriate to effective performance of committee tasks.

Inasmuch as the overall plan encompasses the full amount of operating procedures, requirements, etc., to be used in administering the fund, the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs' approval of such plan shall be required. Any revisions of the approved overall plan shall require strong justification, and, shall also require approval of the Assistant Secretary for

(i) Determinations as to whether awards are to be for a fixed amount,

plan shall be printed in its entirety and made available to persons requesting applications; and, upon request, to

the interview and/or selection of the Osage Tribal Education Committee.

(4) Selection of committee members. Upon completion of the interview, the arbitration agency shall recommend a reasonable number of applicants or nominees from which the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs shall select five Osage persons to serve on the Osage Tribal Education Committee. The Assistant Secretary shall also appoint two Bureau persons to the committee and shall notify all persons of their selection or appointment, and, shall also notify all applicants and nominees of the final selection. Thereafter, the Bureau shall arrange for the committee to begin assumption of duties and responsibilities.

The

(5) Committee vacancies. Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner described by this section for the selection of committee members. period of time for receiving applications shall not exceed 30 days with the expiration date to be announced by the Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary may appoint an individual to serve for a temporary period of time until vacancy is filled. However, such appointment shall not exceed 45 days.

§ 112a.6 Duties and responsibilities of the education committee.

(a) In order to (1) provide maximal use of the limited funds, (2) accommodate the anticipated large number of applications, and, (3) insure prompt, efficient, and fair treatment of all applications, a sound and equitable system for administering the program is imperative. In this regard, therefore, and consistent with the policy of Indian self-determination, the Osage Tribal Education Committee shall develop an overall plan, including a systematic, sequential process for selecting awardees which avoids a "first come, first serve" method; and, instead, insures that all applications received prior to the specified closing date, shall be ranked simultaneously to enable equal competition for funds by all applicants.

(b) The procedure shall provide that (1) no funds shall be awarded until all applications have been ranked; and, (2) applications shall not be ranked

until all have been rated against the point system.

(c) Specifically, the overall plan shall include:

(1) Procedures for receiving and reviewing applications. Such procedures shall set out the following:

(i) Beginning and closing dates for accepting applications;

(ii) Office and address from which application forms may be obtained;

(iii) Address to which applications are to be submitted; and any special method by which they are to be submitted, i.e., certified, registered, or regular mail;

(iv) Date by which all applicants shall have been notified by the committee of the decision relative to their application;

(v) Process by which applications shall be reviewed for completeness; and, how additional information shall be requested and received.

(2) A point system for rating and ranking applications. (i) The point system is, perhaps, the most important part of the overall plan as required by this section. It shall serve as the standard basis for rating and ranking each and all applications for financial assistance under this part, in an identical, objective manner. The point system shall set out specific conditions, or criteria, appropriate to an application for financial assistance, for which a specified number of points shall be awarded to those applications meeting the condition or conditions. For example, an applicant's scholastic achievement or grade average for the preceding semester could be one condition for which points would be awarded. In this regard, it could be determined that 5 points would be awarded an applicant who maintains a 2 grade point average. Each application shall be evaluated against the conditions specified by the point system to determing (A) which, if any, of the conditions applicant has met; (B) the total point value of the application, as derived from the conditions applicant has met; and (C) the value of each application in relationship to all applications, for ranking purposes. A fair point value of each condition set out

by the point system shall be determined by the education committee.

(ii) In addition to those conditions for which the Osage Tribal Education Committee determines points are to be awarded, the point system shall include provisions whereby points shall also be awarded to those applications, wherein the applicant:

(A) Meets a specified Osage blood quantum as determined and established by the Osage Tribal Education Committee. The specified quantum shall be considered only for the purposes of the point system, and, shall not, in any way, affect or determine eligibility, as any person who meets the requirements of § 112a.4 is eligible to make application for aid under this part.

(B) Establishes that financial assistance is necessary, and that without such assistance the applicant's educational or career objectives would not be attainable. The financial information required shall be established by the Osage Tribal Education Committee.

(C) Provides evidence that other available financial resources have been applied for, and indicates whether or not such application(s) has been approved, and, if so, the amount approved; or, otherwise indicate the status of such application(s). The financial resources information required shall be determined by the Osage Tribal Education Committee. The number of points to be awarded for each of the foregoing conditions shall be determined by the Osage Tribal Education Committee. After all applications have been rated according to the point system, they shall be ranked according to the total number of points awarded. Applications receiving the greatest number of points shall be first in line to receive financial aid as provided by this part. The point system shall specify whether applications are to be rated upon their receipt; at periodic intervals, or, after the specified closing date for receiving applications.

(3) Procedures for awarding funds. This shall include:

(i) Determinations as to whether awards are to be for a fixed amount,

or, whether the amount is to be based upon the applicant's established individual need; and, a formula for affixing amounts.

(ii) The process and date by which applicants shall be notified as to whether or not they are to receive an award, and, how awards are to be announced or published.

(iii) Determinations as to whether payment of awards are to be made directly to the student, or to the educational institution which the respective applicant shall be attending. In addition, the education committee shall:

(A) Establish the time and place for convening regular committee meetings; conditions and procedures for convening special meetings; and, the procedures for notifying members of both regular and special meetings.

(B) Establish a procedure for the selection/election of a committee chairman and other officers considered appropriate.

(C) Develop a standard application form.

(D) Prepare an official document which sets out the overall plan established by the committee in compliance with the provisions of this part for submission to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs for approval.

(E) Notify the Osage people, through appropriate media, of the procedures, processes, etc., set out by the overall plan for administering the $1 million fund within a reasonable time after these regulations become final.

(F) Any other responsibilities necessary and/or appropriate to effective performance of committee tasks./

Inasmuch as the overall plan encompasses the full amount of operating procedures, requirements, etc., to be used in administering the fund, the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs' approval of such plan shall be required. Any revisions of the approved overall plan shall require strong justification, and, shall also require approval of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. The approved overall plan shall be printed in its entirety and made available to persons requesting applications; and, upon request, to

persons eligible for aid under this part.

§ 112a.7 Other socioeconomic programs.

(a) Applications for financial assistance for socioeconomic programs shall be in the form of a narrative proposal which provides a full description of the proposed program.

The narrative shall include (1) program objectives; (2) methods for attaining objectives; (3) staff requirements, i.e., number and qualifications; and, (4) program budget.

(b) Applications for socioeconomic program funding shall be considered only if the Osage Tribe is not eligible for participation in other programs which have the same objectives as those proposed by the application.

(c) The Osage Tribal Education Committee shall establish a procedure for considering such applications.

(d) The Osage Tribal Education Committee shall establish a maximum percentage to be used for funding socioeconomic programs. Such percentage shall not exceed 15 percent of the total funds available during any given year.

(e) Applications approved by the Osage Tribal Education Committee shall also require the approval of the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs.

§ 112a.8 Use of funds for committee administrative costs.

(a) A reasonable portion of funds available for expenditure may be used by the Osage Tribal Education Committee in the performance of their duties and responsibilities.

(b) The committee shall prepare and submit for the Assistant Secretary's approval, a budget for each calendar year. The budget may, at the discre