RFI_2.pdf

Request for Information Potable Water for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

Purpose This is a Request for Information (RFI) to evaluate and consider all commercial methods of delivering potable water to federally recognized tribes. A federally recognized tribe is an American Indian or Alaska Native tribal entity that is recognized as having a government-to-government relationship with the United States, with the responsibilities, powers, limitations, and obligations attached to that designation, and is eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Furthermore, federally recognized tribes are recognized as possessing certain inherent rights of self-government (i.e., tribal sovereignty) and are entitled to receive certain federal benefits, services, and protections because of their special relationship with the United States. At present, there are 574 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages.

Background The American Rescue Plan, signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021, invests $1.75 billion in American Indian and Alaska Native government programs administered under the oversight of the Department of the Interior’s Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs (AS-IA). The American Rescue Plan (ARP) makes changes to laws and provides emergency supplemental funding to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The American Rescue Plan authorizes $900 million in funding for AS-IA and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to support a wide range of COVID-19 response activities, including $20 million to provide and deliver potable water to all Federally recognized Native American tribes.

This notice shall not be construed as a formal solicitation or an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. In addition, it does not guarantee that a subsequent solicitation will be issued. Costs associated with any submission shall not be reimbursed by the Government. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT SEEKING PROPOSALS AND WILL NOT

ACCEPT UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS.

Respondents are directed to provide the following information:

1. Commercial methodologies for delivery of potable water, to include packaging of all available sizes, from small plastic bottles to large tanker trucks.

2. Commercial methodologies for the mitigation of potential environmental impact with regards to plastic bottling as a means of packaging and delivery. This may include alternative methods of potable water delivery that may mitigate the environmental impact of plastic bottling.

3. A standard capability statement and company information, including DUNS, CAGE, and socioeconomic status. This shall include a statement asserting whether the company qualifies as a manufacturer of bottled water under NAICS 312112, Bottled Water Manufacturing with a size standard of 1,000 employees.

Respondents will not be notified of the results of this RFI, and no technical questions will be answered.

Please address all responses electronically via email no later than 2:00 PM EST on 5/14/2021 to the Acquisition Program Manager, Adam Lowery, at adam.lowery@bia.gov. Information resulting from this posting may be utilized by the Government in the preparation and issuance of a subsequent solicitation, without attribution to any responding source.