IHS-SS-24-1494999.pdf

Sources Sought: Home Based STD and Pregnancy Testing Supplies

Sources Sought Number: IHS-SS-24-1494999

This Sources Sought Notice is for informational and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation, an obligation or commitment by the Indian Health Service.

This notice is intended strictly for market research to determine the availability of Indian Small

Businesses Economic Enterprise (ISBEE) or Indian Economic Enterprises (IEE). All responses are accepted for research whether ISBEE or not.

Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. The anticipated applicable NAICS code for this acquisition is 541380 Testing Laboratories and Services. Other relevant NAICS codes will be considered based on responses received.

A. Background/Purpose Objectives:

In the United States, including across Native communities, clinic-based testing for STI/HIV infection is the norm. However, significant barriers to venue-based STI/HIV testing exist for racial/ethnic minorities, including AI/AN, and in particular rural populations. These barriers include inconvenience (time, location, transportation), confidentiality concerns, and fear of social stigmatization. Consequently, in a recent study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health (JHCAIH), only 28.7% of all participants had ever been tested for HIV, and among those tested, only 15.8% had been tested in the past year; this is despite this subgroup being a high priority for annual testing according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Research shows individual decisions around HIV screening behaviors are influenced by the attitudes and behaviors of household members. This may be especially true in Native communities where extended families live together and households are often intergenerational.

The contract aims to help End the HIV Epidemic (EHE) and other syndemics by developing and/or expanding a home-based testing model to AI/AN communities living in all 50 states across the US. Home-based testing should include HIV, viral hepatitis b and c, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and pregnancy.

B. Period of Performance

One (1) 12-month base period, plus four (4) 12-month option periods.

C. Capability Statement/Information:

Interested parties are expected to review this notice to familiarize itself with the requirements of this project. Failure to do so will be at your firm’s own risk. The following information shall be included in the capability statement:

1. A general overview of the respondent’s opinions about the difficulty and/or feasibility of the potential requirement, and any information regarding innovative ideas or concepts.

2. Information in sufficient detail of the respondent’s (a) current capability and capacity to provide deliverable; (b) proof of license ownership or distribution; (c) any relatable experience and past performance; and (d) examples of prior completed Government contracts and other related information.

3. The respondents’ DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, etc.) Pursuant to the North American Industry Classification System

(NAICS) code: 541380 Testing Laboratories and Services, or comparable NAICS.

4. Any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the requirements of the potential acquisition.

5. The capability statement shall not exceed 3 single-sided page (including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc.) presented in single-space and using a 12-point font size minimum, in either Microsoft Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), with 8-1/2 by 11 inch paper size, and 1 inch top, bottom, left and right margins.

6. All proprietary information should be marked as such. Statements should also include an indication of current certified small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferably placed under the eligible small business concern’s name and address).

Responses will be reviewed only by IHS personnel and will be held in a confidential manner.

D. Closing Statement

Point of Contact: Natalie Phillips, Contract Specialist at Natalie.Phillips@IHS.gov. Must include Sources Sought Number IHS-SS-24-1494999 in the Subject Line. The due date for receipt of statements is 02 June, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

This notice is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as obligation on the part of IHS.

IHS does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. As a result of this notice, IHS may issue a Request for Quote (RFQ).

THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against IHS shall arise as a result of a response to this notice or IHS’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement.

Disclaimer and Important Notes. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the mailto:Natalie.Phillips@IHS.gov information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.

After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in

SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response.