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:
812332 – Industrial Launderers
Size Standard: 38.5 million employees
Duration:
One Base (1) Year with Four (4) Option Years
Work Schedule:
BFSU business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. The Contractor’s schedule shall be coordinated with Service Unit Staff to ensure sufficient inventory. Pickup and delivery twice a week is typical, however it may occur three (3) times a week depending on BFSU patient count.
Period of Performance:
Date of service for the purchase order will be 01/01/2025 to 12/31/2025, with four (4) option years.
If the Government exercises the options pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (MAR 2000) the period of performance shall be extended in accordance with the following schedule:
Year Option Period
Option Year One (1) 01/1/2026 – 12/31/2026
Option Year Two (2) 01/1/2027 – 12/31/2027
Option Year Three (3) 01/1/2028 – 12/31/2028
Option Year Four (4) 01/1/2029 – 12/31/2029
Scope of Work:
The contractor shall furnish the facility everything required to perform this contract. The contractor shall provide all empty carts, bags, transportation, etc. requested by the housekeeping department. Empty carts shall be left at the location during pickup of dirty linens for the next scheduled pickup. Contractor furnished items will always remain the property of the contractor and the bags will not be used for any other purpose other than laundry and linen services. All laundry and dry cleaning delivered under this contract shall be transported in clean closed vehicles provided by the contractor. Clean and soiled laundry shall be transported separately, and the vehicle must remain clean in order to avoid cross contamination. Containers that are used to transport linen must be clean and are to have a clean plastic liner, and the liner is to be enclosed.
- Pickup: the contractor will pick up the soiled articles in the designated area and the dental department at the BFSU. Rugs will be picked up and delivered to the same location within the BFSU and Heart Butte Clinic. The facility shall provide personnel to assist in checking laundry in and out of the hospital.
- Delivery: the contractor shall weigh bulk linen prior to delivery. For line items the contractor shall record the weighted amount delivered on the delivery ticket and the Government representative shall verify this amount. The contractor shall deliver the cleaned linen to the housekeeping and dental departments. Rugs will be picked up and returned to same area.
- Cleaned laundry items will be returned in the same quantity and type to the same location where they were picked up.
- Articles will be returned to the central pickup point clean, and dry, free of lint, odor, spots and stains in accordance with standard commercial practices. Linen items will be pressed and free of lint and wrinkles.
- Returns: the contractor may be required to re-perform laundry services that are determined to be unacceptable at no additional cost to the government.
- The IHS hospital will be responsible for the in-house collection of soiled linen and distribution of clean linen. The contractor will distribute articles to the location where they were received.
- Unserviceable items: Unserviceable items shall be returned to the pickup/delivery point from which the contractor received them. Determination of unserviceable items will be made by the IHS hospital. All unserviceable articles shall be returned in a separate bundle, clearly identified as unserviceable by the contractor to the pickup location after laundering.
- State or local department of Health requirements: Compliance with any certification or labeling requirements from state or local department of health regulated is the responsibility of the contractor. Reference: “Guidelines for healthcare linen services-1994” by JCAHO and ‘Guidelines for Laundry’ in health care facility” by OSHA.
- The contractor will process all linen in such a way to maximize the cleaning effect while maximizing the loss of tensile strength and whiteness of the linen items. The contractor shall do routine testing to ensure property chemistry of maximum cleaning strength and minimal loss of whiteness. The contractor will sort all laundry prior to washing to ensure that the specific and appropriate washing formula for the soil encountered is used.
- The contractor shall return to the IHS hospital clean linen sorted by type (sheets, towels, blankets, etc.) ironed and folded as appropriated.
- Dry Cleaning: cleaning of articles by immersion in dry cleaning solvents and use of mechanical action. Dry cleaning may include pre-spotting and use of soaps and synthetic detergents as required removing soil and stain.
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-25-013. Responses received to this notice will assist in determining the acquisition strategy of the requirement.
