(1) A protester may appeal a protest decision to the department in the same manner a protest may be appealed to the board under Part 17, Procurement Appeals Board.
(2) In conducting an appeal under Subsection (1), the executive director has the same powers and authority as the chair of the board and the appointing officer in an appeal conducted under Part 17, Procurement Appeals Board, including the power to appoint a procurement appeals panel to conduct a review of a claim in the appeal.