Sources Sought.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information for market research purposes only.

1. General Information

Notice Type Sources Sought / Request for Information (RFI)

Title F5 BIG-IP Enterprise Licensing, Platform Refresh, Maintenance and Technical

Support

Issuing Agency U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Indian Health Service

(IHS), Headquarters, Office oflnformation Technology (OIT)

Proposed NAICS Code 541519 -Other Computer Related Services (subject to Contracting Officer validation)

Proposed PSC Code

Anticipated Period of

Performance

Response Due Date

Response Format

7G21-IT and Telecom -Network: Digital Network Products (subject to

Contracting Officer validation)

Base: 12/15/2026-12/14/2027; Option Year 1: 12/15/2027-12/14/2028; Option

Year 2: 12/15/2028 -12/14/2029

October 16, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

Electronic submission via email (see Section 7)

2. Purpose of this Notice

The Indian Health Service (IHS) is conducting market research in accordance with FAR Part 10 and HHSAR Subpart 326.71 (Acquisitions Under the Buy Indian Act), as revised by HHSAR Class

Deviation 2026-25 (effective October 1, 2026), to identify qualified sources capable of furnishing the brand-name FS Networks, Inc. ("FS") products, licensing, and support described below. This notice is specifically intended to determine whether there is a reasonable expectation of receiving two or more competitive offers from Indian Economic Enterprises (IEEs) and/or Indian Small

Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEEs), as those terms are defined at HHSAR 326. 7101, prior to IHS determining its final competition and acquisition strategy.

IHS encourages responses from all interested and capable sources, including IEEs, ISBEEs, and other small and large businesses, so that the Government can assess the full range of market capability. However, responses specifically addressing IEE/IS BEE status are of particular interest for this market research effort.

3. Background

IHS currently operates an FS BIG-IP/Local Traffic Manager (LTM) enterprise platform supporting network and application services at its Headquarters Data Centers in Albuquerque, NM, and

Rockville, MD. The current FS support contract (IHS Order 75H70424F80005, via NASA SEWP) expires December 14, 2026. The renewal requirement must begin December 15, 2026, with no lapse in FS licensing, entitlement, or manufacturer support.

The requirement transitions IHS from a hardware warranty/support model to FS's current

Enterprise Licensing Agreement (ELA)/flexible-consumption configuration ("Option 3"), while retaining the existing FS BIG-IP/LTM platform. This is a brand-name FS requirement based on

IHS's existing investment in FS-specific infrastructure, staff training, application configuration, and security validation. IHS personnel will perform all physical installation; no contractor access to IHS systems, networks, or data is anticipated under the base requirement.

4. Description of Requirement (Summary)

The requirement includes, at minimum, the following FS product/service categories under the approved Option 3 configuration:

• FS BIG-IP hardware appliances (r5920-DF and r5900 series, or current FS-approved successor models)

• Associated software schedules and licensing for the above hardware

• FIPS 140 Ready licensing (perpetual)

• Required connectivity/power field-upgrade components (SFP+ fiber connectors, AC power supplies)

• FS Enterprise Licensing Agreement (ELA) Annual Billing and Software ELA Annual Billing

• FS Premium First Line Support by U.S. Nationals in the United States, for the full period of performance

• Electronic delivery of all license keys, entitlements, and registration/support documentation, with IHS established as the Government end-user of record

A full technical requirements schedule will be provided in the resulting solicitation. Respondents do not need a finalized quote to respond to this notice; a general capability statement is sufficient.

5. Specific Questions for Respondents

All respondents are asked to address the following:

1. Business size/socioeconomic status. Identify your current small business size status under

NAICS 541519, and all applicable socioeconomic certifications (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB).

2. Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) / Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE) status. State whether your firm qualifies as an IEE or ISBEE as defined at HHSAR 326.7101

(generally: not less than 51 % combined ownership by one or more Indians, Indian Tribes, or

Alaska Native Corporations as defined under ANCSA; management and daily operations controlled by one or more Indians; and Indians/Indian Tribes receiving at least a majority of the earnings from the contract). If so, identify the Indian Tribe(s) or Alaska Native

Corporation (s) of ownership. As required by HHSAR 352.226-76(b ), respondents claiming

IEE or ISBEE status must complete and submit the IHS Indian Economic Enterprise

Representation form along with their response to this notice. The form is available at www.lHS.gov/DAP.

3. FS authorization. Confirm whether your firm is a current F5-authorized reseller/partner capable of providing the F5 ELA/flexible-consumption ("Option 3") licensing model, including Enterprise Licensing Agreement and Software ELA annual billing components, for a U.S. federal government end user.

4. Contract vehicle access. Identify which of the following contract vehicles your firm holds and could use to fulfill this requirement: NASA SEWP V/VI, NIH NITAAC ( CIO-SP3/CIO

SP4/CIO-CS), GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), or other relevant GWAC/IDIQ.

5. Capability and past performance. Briefly describe your firm's experience providing F5 BIG

IP hardware, ELA/software licensing, and Premium First Line Support to federal government customers, including any relevant past performance references ( contract number, agency, dollar value, period of performance).

6. Lead time. Provide your firm's estimated ability to deliver the described configuration and activate F5 support coverage with an effective start date of December 15, 2026, with no lapse in coverage.

6. Disclaimer

This Sources Sought Notice is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. It shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation, award any contract, or otherwise pay for the information requested. Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The

Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in responding to this notice; all costs associated with responding to this notice will be solely at the responding party's expense.

Not responding to this notice does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on SAM.gov, and it is the responsibility of interested parties to monitor that site for additional information.

The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). Information received will be used to determine the appropriate acquisition strategy, including whether this requirement will be set aside under the Buy Indian

Act (HHSAR Subpart 326.6/326.71), competed as a small business set-aside, or competed on an unrestricted basis among authorized FS resellers.

Responses marked "proprietary" will be handled accordingly; however, respondents are advised to clearly mark any information considered proprietary or business-sensitive.

7. Submission Instructions

Interested parties should submit responses electronically no later than s:oo PM ET on October

16,2026to:

Contracting Officer: Jesse Weidow Email: jesse.weidow@hhs.gQ.Y

Responses should be submitted in PDF or Microsoft Word format, not to exceed 10 pages, and should reference "FS BIG-IP ELA Sources Sought - IHS HQ/OIT" in the subject line.

Questions regarding this notice may be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer at the email address above. Verbal inquiries will not be accepted.

This notice is issued under the authority of FAR Part 10 (Market Research) and HHSAR Subpart

326.71 (Acquisitions Under the Buy Indian Act), as revised by HHSAR Class Deviation 2026-25

( effective October 1, 2026).