SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE
This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. Pursuant to 48 CFR Part 326, Subpart 326.603-3 and IHM 5.5-6, Indian Health Service must use the negotiation authority of the Buy Indian Act, 25 U.S.C. 47, to give preference to Indian Economic Enterprises (IEE) whenever the use of that authority is authorized and practicable.
The Government is seeking to identify Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEEs), Indian Economic Enterprises (IEE), and any other category of vendor capable of performing the below Indian Health Services (IHS) requirement. Any vendor responding to this notice should submit their capability statement as well as the Buy Indian Act Indian Economic Enterprise Representation Form (attached).
Consistent with the revised Buy Indian Act, HHS/IHS adopted the definition of an Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) set forth in 48 CFR 1480.201. This definition includes the following requirement, amongst others: “the Indians or Indian Tribes must, together, receive at least a majority of the earnings from the contract.”.
Instructions for submission are outlined further below.
DEFINITIONS
INDIAN ECONOMIC ENTERPRISE (IEE):
Any business activity owned by one or more Indians, Federally Recognized Indian Tribes, or Alaska Native Corporations provided that:
- The combined Indian, Federally Recognized Indian Tribe or Alaska Native Corporation ownership of the enterprise constitutes not less than 51%;
- The Indian, Federal Recognized Indian Tribes, or Alaska Native Corporations must, together, receive at least 51% of the earnings from the contract; and
- The management and daily business operations must be controlled by one or more individuals who are Indians.
DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT
NAICS:
541380 – Testing Laboratories
Size Standard: $19.0 Million
Duration:
One (1) Year with Four (4) Option Years
Services needed include but are not limited to the following:
Crow Service Unit (CSU) is a PHS Indian Health Center that provides healthcare service to the Crow Indian Reservation, located in southeastern Montana. CSU consists of three (3) clinics, one in Crow Agency, MT, one in Pryor, MT, and one in Lodge Grass, MT. Each clinic has a clinical laboratory. The laboratories perform diagnostic testing of patient specimens as part of an overall assessment of patient health and affects clinical decisions for patient care. The laboratories require accreditation by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as it demonstrates compliance with CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments) regulatory standards. This is required so the laboratories can accept human samples for diagnostic testing. Proficiency testing is needed to monitor the quality and accuracy of diagnostic testing at each site.
Provide proficiency tests, continuing education, and competency assessment. The Contractor shall furnish all the necessary services and material required to provide the proficiency tests.
The Contractor shall provide services for the following:
- Crow / Northern Cheyenne Hospital Laboratory, Crow Agency, MT
- Pryor Clinic Health Station Laboratory, Pryor, MT
- Lodge Grass Clinic Laboratory, Lodge Grass, MT
Requirements include:
- Products for Proficiency Tests
- Technical telephone consulting available to Crow Service Unit Laboratory staff during normal business hours;
- Provide CSU Staff with participant summaries, notification of proficiency tests results to CMS.
- Access to competency program.
INSTRUCTIONS TO INDUSTRY
ISBEEs are highly encouraged to respond to this notice. However, firms must also understand that generic capability statements are not sufficient for effective evaluation of their capacity and capability to perform the work required. To be considered a capable source, responses must directly demonstrate the company’s capability, experience, and ability to provide services as shown below.
Your response must include but is not limited to the following:
- Number of years of experience in providing Services.
- List of past jobs/contracts of providing Services.
- Demonstrate how your company meets the definition for Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) in consideration to this requirement.
- Demonstrate how your company will receive at least 51% of the earnings from the awarded contract.
- If identifying a partnership with a subcontractor that is a similarly situated entity, demonstrate how together with the subcontractor you will receive a combined 51% of the earnings from the contract.
- If identifying a partnership with a subcontractor that is NOT a similarly situated entity, demonstrate how you will receive 51% of the earnings from the contract.
- Demonstrate how the prime IEE, or together with the subcontractor, will conduct management and daily operations to be controlled by one or more individuals who are Indians.
Failure to address these items in your capability statement could exclude your firm from being determined a capable IEE/ISBEE source.
SUBMISSION
Interested parties capable of performing the required services may submit a response via email to: johnna.pryor@ihs.gov no later than 7 days from the date of the sources sought announcement.
Interested parties shall submit their capability response as instructed above and include a copy of the Buy Indian Act Indian Economic Enterprise Representation Form. It is recommended to include the sources sought ID in the subject line.
Sources Sought ID: SS-75H709-CR24Q-001. Responses received to this notice will assist in determining the acquisition strategy of the requirement.
