Protest Against Solicitation Cancellation and Proposed Award Under the Buy Indian Act

The protester objected to the cancellation of a solicitation and the proposed award of a contract under the Buy Indian Act. The agency subsequently determined that the award could be made under the Indian Self-Determination Act. The proposed award of the school design contract to the Indian school board under the Indian Self-Determination Act was not objectionable, provided the requirements of the act and its regulations were satisfied. The act provided contracting authority covering a broad range of Indian programs independent of contracting laws and regulations ordinarily applicable to the agency, including the Brooks Bill architect-engineer selection procedure. Therefore, the protest by an architectural firm competing in a Brook Bill procurement initiated prior to the school board's application for the contract under the Indian Self-Determination Act was denied.