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:
424410 – General Line Grocery Merchant Wholesale
Size Standard: 250 employees
Duration:
Base Year with Four (4) Option Years
Work Schedule:
The Contract shall provide weekly deliveries of food supplies to Food Service Department, Blackfeet Service Unit (BFSU), 760 Hospital Circle, Browning Montana 59417.
Unique Requirements:
Fulfill orders placed by the BFSU for items listed, but not limited to, the attached Excel spreadsheet in a timely manner during the period of performance. The Government is obligated only to the extent of authorized purchases actually made under this Purchase Order. The frequency of orders is anticipated to be four (4) or five (5) times per month.
Blackfeet Service Unit (BFSU) is a 24-bed hospital, which provides healthcare for the service population on the Blackfeet Reservation, located in Browning. Montana. BFSU provides meals for patient care, which requires food, dietary and kitchen supplies on a regular basis. The BFSU requires routine, weekly delivery of food and supplies.
Services needed include but are not limited to the following:
- Provide seven (7) days of weekly cycle menu (3 meals per day with an evening snack) to include: nutrient evaluation for the meals & snacks. The supplies will be delivered weekly to the Blackfeet Service Unit, PHS Indian Hospital, 760 Hospital Circle, Browning, Montana 59417. Delivery is FOB Destination. Supplies are used for the food service department for inpatient meals. The Government requests a quantity discount for any items that are ordered through the contract.
- Provide necessary foods to comply with physician ordered diets for patients.
- This purchase order will “Not to Exceed” in an amount established at the time of award.
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 routine food service delivery and customizable menus to healthcare facilities
- List of past jobs/contracts of providing routine food service delivery and customizable menus to healthcare facilities
- 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: Shannon.Connelly@ihs.gov no later than 15 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-BFSU-24-.020 Responses received to this notice will assist in determining the acquisition strategy of the requirement.
