IHSOKC2026-01 Sources Sought Notice.docx

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) 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). Instructions for submission are outlined below.

Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEEs) and other small business are highly encouraged to respond to this notice. However, firms should understand that generic capability statements are not sufficient for effective evaluation of their capacity and capability to perform the work required. Responses must directly demonstrate the company’s capability, experience, and ability to manufacture hearing aids. As well as wireless systems, earmolds and simple remotes, and hearing aid chargers, prescription hearing aids, THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT LOOKING FOR A RESELLER OR PASS THROUGH, RATHER ACTUAL MANUFACTURES.

(1) All hearing aids shall be fully programmable.

(2) Minimum shade/color availability shall be:

i. Dark brown, medium brown, and beige/light skin tone colors

ii. Highly Contrasting colors (for example: black and white, black/light grey) for a matching set of hearing aids for use with the dual sensory population.

(3) Sixteen (16) or more channels

(4) Three or more programs

(5) Adaptive directional microphone technology, unless not technologically feasible due to the size of the instrument

(6) Adaptive signal processing.

(7) Noise reduction strategies for steady state and transient noise.

(8) Wireless programmability, unless not technologically feasible due to the size of the instrument

(9) Programs accessible by the user.

(10) Active feedback suppression.

(11) Data logging.

(12) Wireless communication between hearing aids, of a binaural set, unless not technologically feasible due to the size of the instrument

(13) Average total harmonic distortion (THD) calculated by averaging the values measured at 500 Hz, 800 Hz, and 1600 Hz according to the procedures specified in American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Acoustical Society of America (ASA) S3.22-2014 shall be less than 5%.

(14) Equivalent input noise level measured according to the procedures specified in ANSI/ASA S3.22-2014 shall not exceed 29 dB. For power and super-power instruments, the equivalent input noise level measured according to these procedures shall not exceed 32 dB.

(15) Contractors shall have a range of hearing aids in each group appropriate for mild, moderate, and severe hearing losses. See definition list for definitions of mild, moderate, and severe.

(16) Contractors shall have a minimum of one (1) model in each group which has a matrix at or above an MPO of 125 dB SPL and maximum gain of 60 dB SPL.

The Government requests interested parties submit a written response to this notice, which includes:

a. Company Name.

b. Company Socioeconomic Status.

c. Company System for Award Management (SAM) Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number.

d. Company point of contact, mailing address, and telephone number(s), and website address

e. Name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a company point of contact who has the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with government representatives.

f. DUNS Number:

g. Cage Code:

h. Tax ID

i. Date submitted.

j. Applicable company GSA Schedule number or other available procurement vehicle.

k. Company’s System for Award Management (SAM) registration status. All respondents must register on the SAM located at http://www.sam.gov/.

l. Submit Indian Health Service Buy Indian Act Indian Economic Enterprise Representation Form (attached)

Disclaimer and Important Notes. This notice does not obligate the Government to award contract. Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this sources sought synopsis is strictly voluntary. Responses will not be returned. No entitlements to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges to the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses, or the Government's use of such information 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 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 on a government GPE. 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. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

How to respond: Please include the notice IHS XXXXXX Project Name in the subject line. Responses must be submitted via email to the Contract Specialist, First Name Last Name at FirstName.LastName@ihs.gov no later than 2:00 PM PST on January 5, 2023.

Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. The maximum number of pages for this submission is five (5) pages.