Sources Sought: ISBEE/IEE Capability for Non-Personal Healthcare Services – Dental Oral Surgeon Staffing Services, Blackfeet Service Unit, Blackfeet Community Hospital, Browning, MT

This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations.

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 Service (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.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

NAICS Code: 621210

Small Business Size Standard: $9 million in average annual receipts

Estimated Period of Performance: Base Period of twelve months, with four (4) twelve month options for up to sixty months.

Estimated Value: The estimated value of this requirement, if all four option periods are exercised, is approximately $750,000 over the five-year period of performance, based on preliminary Government estimates. This estimate is provided for informational purposes only and is subject to change.

1. Purpose of Notice

This Sources Sought Notice is issued in accordance with the Buy Indian Act, 25 U.S.C. § 47, and its implementing regulations, to conduct market research and determine the availability and interest of qualified Indian Economic Enterprises (IEEs) and Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEEs) capable of providing the supplies/services described below.

This notice is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. The Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this notice. Submission of information does not guarantee that a solicitation for this requirement will be issued, nor does it obligate the Government to award any resulting contract.

At this stage, no resume/CV, nor any credentialing documentation (e.g., state license, DEA registration, board certification, malpractice history, or privileging records) for proposed personnel is required with your response to this Sources Sought Notice. At the Sources Sought stage, the Government is assessing general firm capability, experience, and interest — not evaluating specific personnel. Personnel qualification requirements, if any, will be addressed in a future solicitation, should one be issued. This Sources Sought Notice does not commit the Government to any particular acquisition strategy.

2. Background / Requirement Description

The Billings Area Indian Health Service (BAIHS), Blackfeet Service Unit (BFSU), provides comprehensive healthcare services to American Indian and Alaska Native beneficiaries residing on and near the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Browning, Montana. The Blackfeet Community Hospital requires continued access to dental oral and maxillofacial surgery services to meet the clinical needs of its patient population.

A draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) is attached to this notice. The draft PWS includes provisions describing personnel qualification, credentialing, and documentation requirements (see PWS Sections 1 and 7) that will apply at the time of contract award. These provisions are included for informational purposes only, to familiarize prospective sources with anticipated post-award requirements. No resume, curriculum vitae, or candidate-specific credentialing documentation (e.g., state license, DEA registration, board certification, malpractice history, or privileging records) is required as part of a response to this Sources Sought Notice. At this stage, the Government is assessing general firm capability, experience, and interest in accordance with Section 5 of this notice, not evaluating specific personnel.

3. Anticipated Acquisition Strategy

This requirement is subject to the Buy Indian Act order of precedence set forth at HHSAR 326.603-1. Respondents are requested to identify their status as an Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) or Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE), if applicable. If the Government determines after market research that there is no reasonable expectation of obtaining two or more competitive offers from ISBEE/IEE concerns, the Contracting Officer may proceed under the deviation process at HHSAR 326.603-3.

4. Indian Economic Enterprise / Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise Requirements

To be considered an IEE or ISBEE for purposes of this notice, an entity must meet the applicable definitions and ownership/control requirements set forth at 25 U.S.C. § 47 and HHSAR 326.601, including but not limited to:

• 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.

Respondents claiming IEE or ISBEE status should identify their status clearly in their response and be prepared to provide supporting documentation upon request.

5. Information Requested

Interested and qualified sources, particularly IEEs and ISBEEs, are requested to submit the following information:

• Company Information: Name, address, point of contact, phone number, email address, and UEI (Unique Entity Identifier).
• Business Status: Indicate whether your firm qualifies as an IEE, ISBEE, or other small business concern, and identify the specific socioeconomic certifications held (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB), if any.
• Capability Statement: A narrative not to exceed ten pages describing your firm's experience performing work of the same or similar scope, complexity and clinical setting as described in the Performance Work Statement (PWS), including at least two relevant past or current contracts, with the following for each: contract number, customer, dollar value, period of performance, and brief description of work performed.
• Bonding/Licensing (if applicable): Evidence of any required licenses, certifications, or bonding capacity relevant to the requirement.
• Teaming/Subcontracting: If your firm intends to team with or subcontract to another entity to meet the requirement, identify the proposed teaming partner(s) and the anticipated division of work.
• Statement of Interest: A brief statement confirming your firm's interest in and capability to compete for this requirement if a solicitation is issued.

6. Instructions for Submission

Questions shall be submitted electronically to Prudence.YellowOwl@ihs.gov no later than 12noon Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Answers will be posted to sam.gov no later than Thursday October 29, 2026. 

Responses shall be submitted electronically to Prudence.YellowOwl@ihs.gov by 12:30 PM Mountain Time, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, limited to 10 pages (PDF, 12-point font), and must include a completed Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) representation form; responses missing the IEE form may not be considered.

Responses will not be returned and will not be publicly posted. All information marked as proprietary or confidential will be treated accordingly to the extent permitted by law.

7. Disclaimer

This Sources Sought Notice is for market research purposes only and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or to award a contract. No entitlement to compensation shall arise as a result of a firm's submission of information in response to this notice or the Government's use of that information. Firms responding to this notice are solely responsible for all costs associated with their response.

The Government reserves the right to consider a non-IEE/ISBEE small business or full-and-open acquisition strategy if market research indicates an insufficient number of interested and qualified IEEs/ISBEEs exist to reasonably expect competition.