Opinion ID: 1250307
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Whether the Miller Act is Applicable.

Text: Bank argues that the Miller Act (40 U.S.C. §§ 270a-270d) confers exclusive jurisdiction upon the United States District Court in all cases brought by suppliers or laborers under bonds or letters of credit required by the Act. They are correct. That section provides in salient part: Before any contract, exceeding $25,000 in amount, for the constructionor public work of the United States is awarded to any person such person shall furnish to the United States the following bonds.... (Emphasis supplied.) However, 25 U.S.C. § 450j provides in part: Contracts with tribal organizations ... shall be in accordance with all Federal contracting laws and regulations except... and need not conform with the provisions of sections 270a and 270d of Title 40. .... (Emphasis supplied.) Reading the foregoing congressional acts, together with the appropriate and binding regulations found at 41 CFR §§ 3-4.6001, 3-4.6008, 1-10.201, and 1-10.204-2, it becomes clear that the entire federal scheme removes contracts with tribes from the Miller Act irrespective of the fact that the money source is federal funds. This action fails to come within the realm of a Miller Act bond for additional reasons. Under § 270a, contractors are required to furnish bonds to the United States. Here, the letters of credit were furnished by the subcontractor (Cho-Mid), to the Yankton Sioux Tribe, not the United States. Hence, the requirements for a Miller Act bond are lacking. In light of the above analysis, the trial court properly held that it had jurisdiction to hear and determine this matter. United States ex rel. Hillsdale Rock Co. v. Cortelyou & Cole, Inc., 581 F.2d 239 (9th Cir.1978); Fidelity & Deposit Company of Maryland v. Harris, 360 F.2d 402 (9th Cir.1966); United States ex rel. Miller v. Mattingly Bridge Co., 344 F.Supp. 459 (W.D.Ky.1972); and United States ex rel. West Pacific Sales Co. v. Harder Industrial Contractors, Inc., 225 F.Supp. 699 (D.Or.1963).