Working through android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES blocking releases

I'm receiving an issue with a previous release on Google Play

android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES

I'm seeing the following message in Google Play

Request install packages permission
error - Not started - Your app isn't compliant
A permission that allows your app to install packages. If your app doesn't need access to this permission, you must remove it from your app.

To check the offending release go to App bundle explorer, and view each of the active releases.

In my situation, I'm seeing three active releases.  Select the arrow of the corresponding release.  Now check the permissions 

As noted in the above table, the only reference to android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES, is release 8.aab (1.05).  This release was used for testing and not public application across the Google Play Store.

I need to change that Active status to Inactive so the error can be removed.  As this error is blocking any uploads and releases inside the Play Store.

Change to manifest

Location: ./android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml

In the current Android release I needed to update the manifest file (AndroidManifest.xml) with the following

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.{package-name}.app">
    <application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
        android:supportsRtl="true"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme">

        <activity
          android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden|keyboard|screenSize|locale|smallestScreenSize|screenLayout|uiMode"
            android:name="com.{package-name}.app.MainActivity"
            android:label="@string/title_activity_main"
            android:theme="@style/AppTheme.NoActionBarLaunch"
            android:launchMode="singleTask"
            android:exported="true">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>
        <provider
            android:name="androidx.core.content.FileProvider"
            android:authorities="${applicationId}.fileprovider"
            android:exported="false"
            android:grantUriPermissions="true">
            <meta-data
                android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
                android:resource="@xml/file_paths"></meta-data>
        </provider>
    </application>
    <!-- Permissions -->
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
</manifest>

Forcing to be android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES removed by adding the following lines

xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"

... and ...

<uses-permission 
        android:name="android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES" 
        tools:node="remove" />

Full copy of the AndroidManifest.xml with the changes applied

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.{package-name}.app"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools">

    <application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
        android:supportsRtl="true"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme">

        <activity
            android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden|keyboard|screenSize|locale|smallestScreenSize|screenLayout|uiMode"
            android:name="com.safsappfrdc.app.MainActivity"
            android:label="@string/title_activity_main"
            android:theme="@style/AppTheme.NoActionBarLaunch"
            android:launchMode="singleTask"
            android:exported="true">

            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>

        </activity>

        <provider
            android:name="androidx.core.content.FileProvider"
            android:authorities="${applicationId}.fileprovider"
            android:exported="false"
            android:grantUriPermissions="true">
            <meta-data
                android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
                android:resource="@xml/file_paths"></meta-data>
        </provider>
    </application>

    <!-- Permissions -->

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
    <uses-permission 
        android:name="android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES" 
        tools:node="remove" />
</manifest>