ISBEE/IEE Sources Sought for Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Replacement
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The Indian Health Service is seeking to identify qualified Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises and Indian Economic Enterprises capable of providing Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) replacement services under a potential acquisition governed by the Buy Indian Act. This sources sought notice is not a solicitation but a preliminary effort to gauge market capability and inform procurement strategy. To qualify, vendors must meet the federal definition of an Indian Economic Enterprise, which requires at least 51% ownership by Indians, federally recognized tribes, or Alaska Native Corporations; at least 51% of contract earnings to flow to these entities; and daily management and operations to be controlled by one or more Indians. Responses must include detailed capability statements demonstrating relevant experience, past performance on similar projects, and explicit proof of compliance with each IEE criteria, including earnings distribution and operational control, whether through prime performance or subcontracting arrangements. Subcontractor partnerships must clearly show how the combined entities meet the 51% earnings threshold and management requirements. The requirement falls under NAICS code 335999 with a small business size standard of 600 employees, and performance is expected in Billings, Montana. Interested parties must submit their responses by the deadline through email to Vincent Hansen at Vincent.Hansen@ihs.gov, including the Buy Indian Act Indian Economic Enterprise Representation Form and referencing the sources sought ID 75H70926BAO-070-SS in the subject line. Generic submissions will not suffice; detailed, specific evidence of capability and compliance is required to be considered a qualified source. This effort supports the HHS/IHS mandate to prioritize Indian Economic Enterprises whenever permissible under the Buy Indian Act and aims to ensure that any resulting contract directly benefits Indian communities through economic opportunity and sustained tribal control.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Billings, MT, 59101, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Response Deadline
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
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
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Replacement
NAICS:
335999 - All Other Miscellaneous Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing
Small Business Size Standard: 600
Unique Requirements:
SEE ATTACHMENT: A05 - SOW BAO UPS Replacement
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 this requirement.
- List of past jobs/contracts of providing this requirement.
- 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: Vincent Hansen at Vincent.Hansen@ihs.gov no later than 15 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 75H70926BAO-070-SS in the subject line.
Responses received to this notice will assist in determining the acquisition strategy of the requirement.