Sources Sought Notice IHS_SS_26_0507.pdf

Sources Sought Notice Pandemic Preparedness Plan Evaluation

Title: Pandemic Preparedness Plan Evaluation Agency: Indian Health Service Issue Date: May 7, 2026 Due Date: May 14, 2026, no later than 5:00pm EST Contacts: Responses must be submitted via email to cynthia.cason@ihs.gov and include

“Pandemic Plan – Your Company Name” in the Subject of the email.

This Sources Sought Notice (SSN) is for market research and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or an obligation or commitment to issue a solicitation by the Indian Health Service (IHS). This SSN seeks capability information from the types of entities listed below to assess their capabilities in fulfilling the requirements set forth. The information from this SSN will be used to determine the appropriate set-aside, if any, in accordance with applicable regulations. The Government encourages eligible entities to respond and identify their capabilities (to be assessed according to the following priority order):

1. Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEE)

2. Indian Economic Enterprises (IEE) in accordance with HHSAR 326.603-1

3. Small business concerns in accordance with FAR 19.502-2 (b)(1) & (2)

Responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether any ISBEE/IEE or small business set-aside is possible based on the Contracting Officer’s reasonable expectation of obtaining offers from two or more relevant concerns that will be competitive in terms of market price, product quality, and delivery capability. An organization that is not considered an ISBEE/IEE firm OR small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. The applicable primary NAICS code for this requirement is 541611

– Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. Generic capability statements are not sufficient and may not be considered when assessing entity capabilities. Please reference the Submission Information further below.

Background and Objectives (see details regarding the scope of work further below) The Indian Health Service (IHS) is a federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services responsible for providing comprehensive health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN).

As the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for AI/AN people, the IHS mission is to raise AI/AN health status to the highest possible level.

Pandemic preparedness and readiness is crucial for ensuring tribal health security, minimizing economic devastation, and saving lives. It ensures that healthcare infrastructure, trained staff, and supply chains are resilient enough to manage crises and provide essential services.

The IHS proposes to improve pandemic readiness through stress-testing the IHS Pandemic Preparedness Plan (written in 2025), by conducting readiness exercises such as table top exercises, and producing an after action report that addresses the current plan’s strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities.

Capability Statement/Submission Information A response to this SSN will be in the form of a capability statement to demonstrate capability and experience in the objectives identified further below. Specifically, please provide the following information below to demonstrate capabilities:

Cover Page Please provide a cover page to include:

1. Company Name

2. Company Designation (ISBEE/IEE/SB)

3. Type of Business – as applicable (e.g. 8(a), Woman Owned Small Business, HUBZone, etc.)

4. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number

5. Point of contact, email address, and phone number

6. Primary NAICS Code(s)

7. Existing federal contracting vehicle(s) numbers, as applicable (e.g. GSA MAS number, NITAAC/CIO SP3, OASIS, Alliant 2, or other Government Wide Agency Contracts, etc.)

8. System for Award Management (SAM) registration status. Note: all respondents must be registered on SAM (https://sam.gov) prior to any potential award.

Executive Summary Provide a high-level overview of your services and include how it will benefit the Indian Health Service.

Technical Objectives Respondents are expected to submit a capability statement detailing and demonstrating their expertise and technical capabilities to meet (as a prime contractor) the objectives outlined further below in this SSN.

Past Performance The Government is particularly interested in vendors with experience supporting federal public health preparedness or similar programs. Please provide any past performance information that demonstrates your capabilities in the relevant technical objectives and magnitude of work (particularly experience with emergency or operational plan evaluation, tabletop facilitation for federal, tribal, or healthcare entities, and preparing after-action reports with recommendations). Please limit to no more than 5 relevant examples

Representation If identifying as an IEE/ISBEE, provide with your response to this notice a completed Indian Economic Enterprise Representation Form (attached)

Other Information (Optional) You may include any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the requirements of the potential acquisition.

Submission Format To assist the Government in an expeditious review of your capabilities, the capability statement should be organized as follows:

Cover page Executive Summary Technical Objectives Past Performance – limit to 5 examples Other Information, as applicable

The tailored capability statement should not exceed 10 pages, excluding past performance information. Font must not be less than 10-point and may be submitted in either Microsoft Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) using a standard 8-1/2 by 11 inch paper size. All proprietary information should be marked as such.

Generic capability statements are not sufficient and will not be considered compliant with the requirements of this notice.

Disclaimer and Important Notes This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract. Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this SSN 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. 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 capabilities 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 Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE). However, responses to this Notice will not be considered adequate responses to any resultant solicitation.

Confidentiality. No 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).

Thank you for your interest in IHS programs.

Scope of Work Objective 1: Discovery phase for the agency-wide plan

a. Conduct web-based discussions with IHS subject matter experts (SMEs) to level-set and understand the history of the current plan, such as: planning assumptions, known unknowns, gaps, and plan strengths. Learn outcomes from previous tabletop exercises.

b. Review 2025 IHS pandemic preparedness plan.

c. Create 1-page discovery summary for IHS leadership and SMEs review.

Objective 2: Evaluate plan

a. Assess preparedness across key areas outlined in the 2025 IHS pandemic plan.

b. Conduct web-based stress tests of plan through simulation exercises (e.g. tabletop exercises) with

SMEs, as appropriate.

c. Identify and document strengths and gaps of current plan; consider current known unknowns and unknown unknowns.

Objective 3: Create after-action report

a. Based on findings during discovery and evaluation, write a comprehensive report that focuses on strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities.

b. Report should follow after-action reporting best practices. Include recommendations for consideration and improvement.

c. Report should include considerations specific to IHS and AI/AN communities.

Objective 4: Disseminate report findings

a. Host a web-based meeting for IHS leadership and SMEs where relevant report information is shared.

b. Track number of attendees, questions, concerns identified, and recommendations for next steps.

c. Share all findings from discovery, evaluation, and final report.

Deliverables

1. Discovery Summary – reference objective 1

2. Plan Stress Tests – reference objective 2

3. Final After Action Report – reference objective 3

4. Final Meeting – reference objective 4

Period and Place of Performance Estimated period of performance: July 2026 – August 2027 The contract will be performed off-site, at contractor’s facility/place of work.

Government Furnished Information and Property The Government will provide access to relevant reporting systems and documentation, access to SMEs and stakeholders, and access to relevant existing reports and data sources.

No Government-Furnished Property (GFP) will be provided under this contract.

Travel No travel is required or included in this contract. Should travel become necessary, it shall be in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations and must be approved in advance by the Contracting Officer and COR before any costs are incurred.

Special Considerations Coordination across multiple organizational levels is critical Sensitivity to data governance and reporting requirements