Sources Sought.pdf

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) 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.

DEFINITIONS

INDIAN ECONOMIC ENTERPRISE (IEE):

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.”

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:

562211 – Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal

PSC:

6505 – Drugs and Biologicals

Size Standard: $47.0 Million

Duration:

Base Year plus Four Option Years

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES:

The contractor shall provide all labor, equipment, materials, packaging, transportation, and documentation necessary to perform on-site pharmaceutical reverse distribution services at designated Billings Area IHS pharmacy locations. Services include but are not limited to: On-site inventory of expired and soon-to-expire medications; secure handling and segregation of controlled and non-controlled substances;

packaging, transportation, and return of eligible pharmaceuticals; processing of manufacturer or wholesaler credits, when applicable. The Contractor shall comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, including but not limited to: Indian Health Service (IHS) Manual, Section 3-7.6C – Disposal of Medication; DEA regulations governing reverse distribution; Controlled

Substances Act (21 U.S.C. §§ 801-971); 21 CFR Parts 1300-1321. The Pharmacy Department is unable to return medications to the wholesaler within six (6) months of their expiration date. All controlled substances must be returned through a reverse distributor registered with the Drug Enforcement

Administration (DEA). The contractor shall ensure that the return, disposal, and documentation are conducted in compliance with Indian Health Service (IHS) and Federal policy requirements. All services shall be performed in accordance with the attached Statement of Work (SOW), which provides detailed specifications, performance standards and additional requirements.

USPHS SERVICE LOCATIONS:

Blackfeet Service Unit, 760 Hospital Drive, Browning, MT 59417

Blackfeet Service Unit, Heart Butte Health Station, 81 Disney Street, Heart Butte, MT 59448

Crow Service Unit, Crow/Northern Cheyenne Hospital, 10111 South 7650 East, Crow Agency, MT 59023

Crow Service Unit, Lodge Grass Health Clinic, 418 Harding Avenue, Lodge Grass, MT 59050

Crow Service Unit, Pryor Health Station, 2 Pryor Gap Road, Pryor, MT 59066

Fort Belknap Service Unit, Fort Belknap Hospital, 670 Agency Main Street, Harlem, MT 59527

Fort Peck Service Unit, Verne E. Gibbs Health Center, 108 H Street E, Poplar, MT 59256

Fort Peck Service Unit, Chief Redstone Clinic, 550 6TH Avenue North, Wolf Point, MT 59201

Northern Cheyenne Service Unit, 420 N. Cheyenne Avenue, Lame Deer, MT 59044

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 shall include, but not limited to the following:

• Contractor shall be registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

• List of past jobs/contracts of providing reverse distribution service 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

If you are interested in this contracting opportunity, please respond by email to:

Teri.Kittson@ihs.gov no later than June 8, 2026 @ 3:00 pm (MST). Submit the 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_055. Responses received to this notice will assist in determining the acquisition strategy of the requirement.

mailto:Teri.Kittson@ihs.gov