Laundry Services - Crow Service Unit

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:

812320 - Drycleaning and Laundry Services (except Coin-Operated)
Size Standard:  $8 Million

Duration:

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

Work Schedule:

Laundry services to be provided twice a week for drop off and pick up.

Place of Performance:

Crow/Northern Cheyenne Indian Health Service

1 Hospital Way

Crow Agency, Montana, 59022

Unique Requirements:

Standards as established by the American Institute of Laundering; Occupational Safety and Health Administration; and Federal, Tribal, State and local regulatory guidance and ordinances.

Background/Purpose:

Laundering Services are required for The Crow/Northern Cheyenne Indian Health Service (Crow Service Unit) located in Crow Agency, Montana.   The CSU processes an average of 4,084 pounds of soiled linen a month, with an approximate volume of 49,000 pounds of soiled linen a year. This amount fluctuates depending on patient admissions at the 24 bed health facility. Entry mats/dust control mats will also be laundered. It is estimated that 240 mats will be laundered annually.

Services needed include but are not limited to the following:

1. 1. Special controls shall be used in the transportation of linen to ensure delivery of contamination- free linen to the hospital and storage areas.
   2. Laundry carts for transportation between the hospital and the laundry shall be provided by the contractor.  All carts used for pickup and delivery of linen to the hospital shall be cleaned with a germicide prior to transporting clean linen. Separate containers shall be used for transporting clean and soiled linen within the contractor’s facility. 
   3. All linen and garments shall be inspected by the Contractor at the laundry site; the linen shall be dry, free from spots, stains, holes, rips, lint, hair and other foreign matter.  Any items delivered as clean, which are found to be unserviceable shall be returned to the contractor.
   4. Inspection of delivery items shall be made the Housekeeping Linen Department upon each delivery.
   5. The Vendor shall ensure the Crow Service Unit laundry is returned and not mixed with other facilities laundry.

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:

• Number of years of experience in providing laundry services for a Hospital facility.
• List of past jobs/contracts of providing laundry services for a Hospital facility.
• 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

Interested parties capable of performing the required services may submit a response via email to: Tanya.azure@ihs.gov no later than December 27, 2025.

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: 75H70926BAO_017SS. Responses received to this notice will assist in determining the acquisition strategy of the requirement.