The Buy Indian Act provides Indian Affairs with the authority to set aside procurement contracts for qualified Indian-owned businesses, known as “Indian Economic Enterprises.” Regulations implementing the Act have been in place for more than five years. In that time, several revisions have been identified that would better allow Indian Affairs to realize the full potential of the Buy Indian Act.
The draft revisions would eliminate barriers to Indian Economic Enterprises from competing on certain construction contracts, expand Indian Economic Enterprises’ ability to subcontract construction work consistent with other socio-economic set-aside programs, and give greater preference to Indian Economic Enterprises when a deviation from the Buy Indian Act is necessary, among other updates.

The full text of the draft rule and a summary oft he changes are available .

• Thursday, June 17, 2021 ,1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern Register

If you would like to provide written comments on this draft rule, please email them to consultation@bia.gov by 11 :59 ET on June 25, 2021.

If you have questions, or need additional information, please contact Mr. Christopher Bell, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization at (202) 208-3458 or christopher_bell@ios.doi.gov, or Ms. Elizabeth Appel, with the Indian Affairs Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action at (202) 273-4680 or Elizabeth.appel@bia.gov.