Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs

The Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs is a civilian sub-agency within DOE that funds energy projects and policy initiatives serving American Indian tribes and Alaska Native communities.

The Office has awarded 18 federal contracts totaling $4.9 million in combined potential value since 2015, with $3.7 million obligated. Recent contract activity runs at one to two awards per year; 2021 saw one award, 2022 and 2023 each saw two, 2024 saw two, and 2025 recorded one award through August. Among recent prime contractors, Politico, LLC holds three awards ($406 thousand combined potential value), followed by National Conference of State Legislatures ($1.3 million on one award) and Tekpro Support Services, LLC ($1 million on one award). Competitive concentration is fragmented, with the top five primes covering 57 percent of combined potential value over the last five years and twelve distinct primes awarded across the portfolio. Eighty-three percent of awards carry no set-aside designation; the remainder split between small-business set-asides (11 percent) and 8(a) sole-source awards (6 percent).

The Office has obligated $189.1 million in federal grant dollars across 159 awards to American Indian tribes and Alaska Native communities since 2008, with total project value (federal plus non-federal share) reaching $329.8 million. Grant activity has been uneven: seven awards in 2023, twenty-three in 2024, seven in 2025, two in 2026, and one recorded grant award most recently dated in 2027. All awards are structured as Project Grants. Among recent recipients, the Barona Group of the Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians of the Barona Reservation dominates with three awards totaling $14 million in federal dollars obligated. The North West Arctic Borough, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative Inc., Cocopah Indian Tribe, and Hopi Utilities Corporation round out the top five by federal dollars. Recipient concentration is highly fragmented, with the top five recipients accounting for 18 percent of federal dollars obligated and 110 distinct recipients across the portfolio lifetime. The Office distributes awards directly to federally recognized tribes, tribal enterprises, and rural Alaska utilities serving Native communities.