Sources Sought - Audiologist Services
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The U.S. Indian Health Service is issuing a Sources Sought notice to identify qualified Indian Economic Enterprises and Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises capable of providing audiologist services under NAICS code 621340, with a small business size standard of $12.5 million. This notice is not a solicitation for proposals but is intended to gauge industry capability and inform future acquisition strategies under the Buy Indian Act, which mandates preference for Indian Economic Enterprises when authorized and practicable. To qualify as an Indian Economic Enterprise, a business must be at least 51% owned by Indians, federally recognized tribes, or Alaska Native Corporations; those owners must receive at least 51% of the contract’s earnings; and daily management and operations must be controlled by one or more individuals who are Indians. Responses must include detailed capability statements demonstrating relevant experience, past performance, ownership and earnings structure, and control by Indian individuals, along with the mandatory Buy Indian Act Representation Form. Interested parties must submit their responses via email to Mitzi Horn at mitzi.horn@ihs.gov no later than 10 days from the posting date. Submissions must specifically address each required element, including exact years of experience, a list of prior contracts, how the 51% earnings requirement is met, and how management control is exercised by Indians, whether through a prime contract alone or in partnership with a subcontractor. Failure to fully address these criteria may disqualify a firm from being considered a capable source. The performance location for this requirement is Crow Agency, Montana, and responses should reference sources sought ID 75H70926BAO-075 in the subject line. The notice emphasizes that generic submissions will not suffice and encourages only those entities that can clearly and substantively demonstrate conformity to the Buy Indian Act’s stringent criteria to respond.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Crow Agency, MT, 59022, 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
Audiologist Services
NAICS:
621340 – Offices of Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapists, and Audiologist
Small Business Size Standard: $12.5 mil
Unique Requirements:
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: Mitzi Horn at mitzi.horn@ihs.gov no later than 10 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-075-SS in the subject line.
Responses received to this notice will assist in determining the acquisition strategy of the requirement.