Facilities Management

The Branch of Facility Management provides technical services, related to facility management for all of Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) locations, including Bureau Operated Schools (BOS), and Tribally Controlled Schools (TCS). The BFM team provides support and guidance to ensure a safe and reliable infrastructure, including school buildings, athletic playgrounds, utility systems, administration offices. The BFM provides technical assistance and guidance on the following:

  • Facility System Management: Staff assist with Minor Improvement & Repair, Facility Improvement & Repair, Deferred Maintenance, Quarters Improvement & Repair, Abatement Plans with Schools to address deficiencies, Maximo to process work orders in timely manner.
  • Technical Support: Provide technical guidance and support related to facilities, including developing scope of work and estimates. Providing support to school facility staff to address maintenance and operation of school facilities,  including emergency repairs for facilities.
  • Training: Provide training on facilities issues, including maintenance and operations, safety awareness, etc.
  • Coordination with other stakeholders: Provide coordination and facilitation with other stakeholders like the Division of Facilities Management and Construction (DFMC), BIA and schools on facilities issue such as space expansion request, design, and construction.

Point of Contact:

David Wohlers 
Supervisory Facility Operations Specialist
Branch of Facilities Management
david.wohlers@bie.edu 

Branch of Safety Management

The Branch of Safety Management provides technical services related to the safety and health of all Bureau of Indian Education locations, including Tribally Controlled Schools (TCS) and Bureau Operated Schools (BOS). This includes the responsibility for employee safety, visitor safety, and, most importantly, the safety of the students entrusted to our care. The functions of the Branch of Safety Management include:

  • Hazard identification: This is achieved through onsite inspections, accident investigations, national trend analysis, and working relationships with key leaders at all levels within BIE.
  • Training: Safety awareness is the cornerstone of achieving participation in safety program management. Through training, Safety Management intends to emphasize the personal worth of safety to every individual throughout BIE.
  • Technical Support: Safety Management responds to requests from the field regarding predictable and unpredictable safety events. Safety Management helps to identify best practices and participates in developing local safety programs.
  • Accident/Incident prevention: Safety Management works with schools to ensure that they are aware of protective measures to avoid accidents and incidents in the workplace. Safety Management identifies sources for materials to improve prevention measures at BIE locations. Safety Management also provides recommendations on emerging technology in the safety field.

Please take a moment to complete our Branch of Safety Management Customer Satisfaction Survey. Your feedback is important! Thank you!
You can also report safety concerns at any BIE facility by emailing reportsafety@bie.edu. 

Program Documents

BIE Safety Office Org Chart and Contacts

IA - O&M Certificate of Occupancy Guidance

Safety and Occupational Health Trainings Schedule - FY 2025 (235 KB)

Memo-Commitment to BIE Schools-Healthy and Safe Environments(5/3/2018)

Memo to School Administrators re Safety Bulletin Board(5/3/2018), attachments listed below:

School Inspections

2023

Fourth Quarter

Third Quarter

2020

Fourth Quarter

Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) School Inspections for Fiscal Year 2019

These reports respond to the following language in the H. Rept. 115-765 - Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Appropriations Bill, 2019 which states:

Executive Direction and Administrative Services. The recommendation includes $224,880,000 for Executive Direction and Administrative Services. The following programs are funded at the requested levels: Assistant Secretary Support; Executive Direction, (Central); Executive Direction (Regional); Administrative Services (Central); Administrative Services (Regional); and Rentals. Indian Affairs is directed to complete annual health and safety inspections of all BIE system facilities, and to publish quarterly updates on the status of such inspections.

2019

Helpful Links:

EPA Healthy Schools  
https://www.epa.gov/schools

FEMA Multihazard Emergency Planning for Schools Toolkit  
https://training.fema.gov/programs/emischool/el361toolkit/start.htm