The applicant must be a federally recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribe or tribal organization.  Tribes and tribal organizations may apply individually, as a consortia, or in partnership with an urban Indian organization. These entities are defined as follows:

• Indian Tribe, as defined at 25 U.S.C. § 1603(14) is any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or group or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) [43 U.S.C.A. § 1601 et seq.], which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
• Tribal Organization, as defined at 25 U.S.C. § 1603(26) is the recognized governing body of any Indian tribe; any legally established organization of Indians which is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or which is democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to be served by such organization and which includes the maximum participation of Indians in all phases of its activities.  Provided that in any case where a contract is let or grant made to an organization to perform services benefiting more than one Indian tribe, the approval of each such Indian tribe shall be a prerequisite to the letting or making of such contract or grant.
• Urban Indian Organization, as defined at 25 U.S.C. § 1603(29), operating pursuant to a contract or grant with the Indian Health Service is a nonprofit corporate body situated in an urban center, governed by an urban Indian controlled board of directors, and providing for the maximum participation of all interested Indian groups and individuals, which body is capable of legally cooperating with other public and private entities for the purpose of performing the activities described in [25 U.S.C § 1653(a)].

A consortia of tribes or tribal organizations are eligible to apply, but each participating entity must indicate its approval.  A single tribe in the consortium must be the legal applicant, the recipient of the award, and the entity legally responsible for satisfying the grant requirements.