Oral Health Educator-Concepts Courses/Mentoring

This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified sources that are: Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEEs) and other than small Indian Economic Enterprises (IEEs); and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code, 611430, for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition set-aside.

BACKGROUND

The Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The provision of health services to members of federally recognized tribes grew out of the special government-to-government relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes. This relationship, established in 1787, is based on Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, and has been given form and substance by numerous treaties, laws, Supreme Court decisions, and Executive Orders. The IHS is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people and its goal is to raise their health status to the highest possible level. The IHS provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for American Indians and Alaska Natives who are members of 566 federally recognized Tribes across the U.S.

The IHS Division of Oral Health operates a Continuing Dental Education (CDE) Program to improve the delivery and quality of oral health care provided in IHS, Tribal, and IHS-funded Urban (I/T/U) dental programs throughout the country.  The CDE program consists of over 300 in-person, webinar-based, and online-based courses resulting in almost 30,000 participant hours each fiscal year. Courses are taught by subject matter experts in the areas of general dentistry, each dental specialty, and in the provision of dental services in a public health environment.

RESPONSE INFORMATION

THE CAPABILITLY STATEMENT MUST CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE THE FIRM’S CAPABILITY AND EXPERIENCE AS A RESTORATIVE EXPANDED FUNCTION DENTAL ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS; KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN AN IHS, TRIBAL; AND BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE IHS CONTINUING DENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.

In order to respond to this notice, interested firms should address the depth and breadth of professional and technical capabilities, and must be able to clearly convey their experience

and/or ability to perform in the following areas, which are identified as core services. It is to be noted that capability statements are not sufficient for effective evaluation of their capacity and capability to perform the work required. Responders SHALL address each of the following for their submission to be considered a response to this notice:

• Contractor’s capability to plan and execute curriculum of the Area Dental Officer Concepts I Course, Concepts in Dental Clinic Management I Course, and the Concepts in Dental Clinic Management III Course
• Contractor’s past performance information that is relevant to knowledge of dental clinic operations in an IHS and Tribal setting and use of restorative expanded function dental assistants.  
• Contractor’s methodology to encourage and achieve engagement of providers throughout the project period.
• Brief overview of contractor and/or contractor staff qualifications/certifications.

INSTRUCTIONS TO INDUSTRY

Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEEs) and other than small Indian Economic Enterprises (IEEs) are highly encouraged to respond to this notice. However, firms should understand that generic capability statements are not sufficient for effective evaluation of their capacity and capability to perform the work required. Responses must directly demonstrate the company’s capability, experience, and ability to effectively and efficiently perform the objectives described above.

The Government requests interested parties submit a written response to this notice, which includes:

a. Company Name.

b. Company DUNS number.

c. Company point of contact, mailing address, and telephone number(s), and website address

d. Name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a company point of contact who has the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with government representatives.

e. Date submitted.

f. Applicable company GSA Schedule number or other available procurement vehicle.

g. Company’s System for Award Management (SAM) registration status. All respondents must register on the SAM located at http://www.sam.gov/.

Disclaimer and Important Notes. This notice does not obligate the Government to award contract. Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this sources sought synopsis 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 or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. 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 qualifications 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 government GPE. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality. No proprietary, 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). Responses must be submitted via email, no later than 4:30 pm EST on November 02, 2020.  No questions will be accepted.

Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. The maximum number of pages for this submission is eight (8) pages. Interested parties shall submit their response to this notice to the individuals listed below in order to be considered compliant.

Primary POC:

Javier Medina-Velazquez

Contract Specialist

Email: javier.medina-velazquez@ihs.gov

Secondary POC:

Paul Premoe

Contracting Officer

Email: paul.premoe@ihs.gov