“Buy Indian Act” Tribal Consultations Scheduled

Tribal consultation meetings on draft regulations to implement the Buy Indian Act (25 U.S.C. 47) have been scheduled for later this month, according to a press release issued on April 16 by Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk.

The Buy Indian Act provides the authority to set aside procurement contracts for qualified Indian-owned businesses. It was first enacted in 1910 to promote the employment of American Indians and the sale of American Indian-made products.

The Indian Affairs Office of Acquisition and Property Management is developing a rule to describe uniform administrative procedures that Indian Affairs will use at all of its locations to encourage procurement relationships with eligible Indian economic enterprises in the execution of the Act.

The consultations, to be conducted by OAPM, will be held in Portland, Ore., on April 26; Rapid City, S.D., on April 28; and Tulsa, Okla., on April 30.

The deadline for written comments is May 15, 2010. They can be sent to OAPM by email, regular mail or overnight carrier.

For more information, go to: http://www.indianaffairs.gov/WhoWeAre/AS-IA/Consultation/index.htm.