SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

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:

621340 Office of Specialty Therapists Size Standard: $12.5 Million

Duration:

One (1) Year with Four (4) Option Years

Work Schedule:

The services shall be scheduled on weekdays, Monday through Friday at the Crow Service Unit, Crow Agency, Montana in accordance with the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS).

Unique Requirements:

Crow / Northern Cheyenne Hospital provides healthcare for the service population on the Crow Indian Reservation, located in southeast Montana.

Services needed include but are not limited to the following:

Provide physical therapy services at the Crow Service Unit according to the draft PWS.

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:

1. Provider Availability and Qualification Verification Background: In prior contracts, the Government experienced significant challenges when contractors proposed specific provider specialties but were unable to furnish qualified candidates meeting the full scope of required credentials and capabilities.

Question: Please describe your process for ensuring that:

• You maintain an active roster of physical therapists with the specific qualifications required under this potential contract.

• All proposed providers possess the full scope of credentials and capabilities specified.

• Candidates can be presented within a reasonable timeframe upon request.

Requested Information:

• Current number of physical therapists in your provider network.

• Breakdown by specific capabilities or subspecialties (if applicable).

• Average timeframe from request to candidate presentation.

• Your quality assurance process for verifying provider credentials and capabilities prior to submission.

2. Provider Roster Transparency

Background: We have received responses from qualified firms that do not include specific information about available physical therapists in their current provider network.

Question: Can you provide information about physical therapists currently available in your network who could potentially support this requirement?

Requested Information:

• Names of available physical therapists (or alternatively, number of available providers if names cannot be shared at this stage)

• Location/geographic distribution of providers

• Specialty certifications, credentials, and training background

• Current availability status

• Any necessary information regarding provider commitment prior to contract award

3. Service Delivery Requirements

Background: Our patient population requires onsite physical therapy services at the Crow / Northern Cheyenne Hospital. To ensure continuity of care, the Crow / Northern Cheyenne Hospital requests the same physical therapist for each year.

Question: Can your firm commit to providing the same physical therapist at our facility on weekdays, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, or as specified in the anticipated requirement?

Requested Information:

• Confirmation of your ability to provide the same physical therapist at the specified schedule.

• Any limitations or constraints on this service delivery.

• Your approach to ensuring consistent on-site provider presence.

• Backup coverage protocols to maintain required in-person staffing levels.

4. Additional Information Please also provide:

• Firm name, address, point of contact, phone number, and email address.

• UEI number.

• Buy Indian Act Indian Economic Enterprise Representation Form (attached) confirming Buy Indian Act eligibility status (Indian Economic Enterprise or Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise).

• Any relevant past performance providing similar oral surgeon services, particularly to IHS facilities or tribal health programs.

• 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: Prudence.Yellowowl@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-75H70926BAO-027. Responses received to this notice will assist in determining the acquisition strategy of the requirement.

mailto:Prudence.Yellowowl@ihs.gov