BFSU POSTAGE FUNDING
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
This is a Sources Sought notice issued by the Billings Area Indian Health Service under the Department of Health and Human Services to identify qualified Indian Economic Enterprises (IEEs) and Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEIs) capable of providing postage funding services for the Blackfeet Service Unit. The requirement, categorized under NAICS code 491110 with a $9 million size standard, involves pre-paying and managing USPS postage through Pitney Bowes meters to support critical mail operations including medical records, billing statements, and test results, all of which must comply with HIPAA’s 30-day access rule and USPS regulations. The work is performed at Mailroom 105A in Browning, Montana, and the contract structure includes a twelve-month base period beginning July 27, 2026, with four additional twelve-month option periods extending through July 26, 2031, contingent on funding availability. The acquisition is subject to the Buy Indian Act, requiring a mandatory preference for IEEs defined as businesses with at least 51% ownership by Indians, federally recognized tribes, or Alaska Native Corporations, where these entities collectively receive at least 51% of the contract earnings and maintain control over daily operations. Respondents must submit a capability statement and the completed Buy Indian Act Indian Economic Enterprise Representation Form, clearly demonstrating their compliance with IEE criteria, including ownership structure, earnings distribution, and management control by Native individuals. Responses must also include relevant experience in supporting healthcare facility operations, despite the mismatched reference to food service in the instructions, and must be submitted by email to Shannon Connelly no later than July 7, 2026, with the Sources Sought ID 75H70926BAO_061 included in the subject line to assist the government in developing its acquisition strategy.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Browning, MT, 59417, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Response Deadline
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
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: 491110 – Postage Services Size Standard: $9.0 million
Duration: One (1) Year with Four (4) Option Years
Project Title: BFSU Postage Funding.
Background/Purpose::
The Blackfeet Service Unit (BFSU) requests immediate postage funding for our outgoing mailroom operations, which process a high volume of outgoing mail daily. The BFSU continues to process these volumes of critical patient communications, including e.g., test results, billing statements, and medical records. Adequate postage is essential to maintaining both our regulatory compliance and our standard of patient care.
Scope::
Applying postage funding by loading postage onto the PB meter to cover mailing costs.
Tasks::
Fund Postage by Phone or Reserve Account, pre-paying for United States Postal Service (USPS) postage through Pitney Bowes (PBI) to ensure funds are transferred to USPS:
1. PO Processing: Action the PO by logging the funding amount to the BFSU’s specific Postage.
2. Fund Transfer to USPS: Route the funds directly to the USPS to load postage evidence.
3. Meter Credit Update: Confirm and notify BFSU that the postage balance is updated and ready to be downloaded directly into PB Postage Meter via a network or analog connection.
4. Record Keeping: Track postage deposits, advances, and usage in compliance with USPS Code of Federal Regulations.
Place of Performance::
Mailroom 105A, PHS Browning Hospital, Blackfeet Service Unit, 760 Hospital Circle, Browning MT 59417.
Period of Performance::
Shall include a twelve (12) month base year and four twelve (12) month option periods. Option periods are contingent on funding availability.
Base Year 07/27/2026 – 07/26/2027
Option Yr 1 07/27/2027 – 07/26/2028
Option Yr 2 07/27/2028 – 07/26/2029
Option Yr 3 07/27/2029 – 07/26/2030
Option Yr 4 07/27/2030 – 07/26/2031
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 routine food service delivery and customizable menus to healthcare facilities
• List of past jobs/contracts of providing routine food service delivery and customizable menus 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:
Interested parties capable of performing the required services may submit a response via email to: Shannon.Connelly@ihs.gov no later than 7 days from the date of the sources sought announcement.
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_061. Responses received to this notice will assist in determining the acquisition strategy of the requirement.