Buy Indian Act Consultation Set for Today in Billings

Native News Network Staff in Native Briefs. Discussion »

Buy Indian Act

BILLINGS, MONTANA – The second consultation on the Buy Indian Act will be held Wednesday, August 15. The Buy Indian Act provides the Bureau of Indian Affairs with the authority to set-aside procurement contracts for qualified Indian-owned businesses.

This proposed rule describes uniform administrative procedures that Indian Affairs will use in all of its locations to encourage procurement of goods and services from eligible Indian economic enterprises, as authorized by the Buy Indian Act.

This rule has been in development for decades.

The Bureau Indian Affairs proposed this rule in the Federal Register on several prior occasions, but never succeeded in publishing a final rule. In 2010, Indian Affairs distributed a new draft of the rule and held three consultation sessions in preparation for the updated proposed rule.

The current proposed rule incorporates much of the previous consultations. Indian Affairs is committed to finalizing the rule by the end of the calendar year and is seeking written comments on this proposed rule to consultation@bia.gov by September 17 and/or hopes tribal representatives can attend one of the consultation sessions.

WHAT:
Buy Indian Rule Consultations

WHO:
Tribal Leaders from the Northwest Region and other regions
Dion Killsback, Counselor to the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs, Department of Interior
Regina Gilbert, Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action, Department of Interior

WHEN:
Wednesday, August 15
8:00am - 12:00 pm

WHERE:
Holiday Inn Grand
5500 Midland Road
Billings, Montana 59101

posted August 15, 2012 7:00 am edt