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.

Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEE):

Any business activity the meets the IEE requirements as well as small business size standards.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

NAICS:

621512 - Diagnostic Imaging Centers - $19.0 M Small Business Size Standard

Duration:

One (1) Year with Four (4) Option Years

SCOPE: The purpose of the contract is to provide mobile professional mammography examination services including screenings exams, diagnostics exams, ultra-sonography and bone density scans and diagnostic interpretation services using digital radiographic imaging techniques to improve the quality and timeliness of interpretations for diagnoses and treatment of patients presenting at the Blackfeet Community Hospital (BCH) for health care. The services affect a broad range of patients and impacts the attending physician/providers ability to provide direct patient care.

APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS:  Accreditation from the American College of Radiology (ACR).  Certification from Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). And meet MSQA standards. Annual Physicist Report. Registry from AART for technologist.

TASKS: The Contractor shall provide non-personal healthcare services. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing all equipment and services required for the performance of breast examinations, collection, storage and transmission of images, diagnostic interpretations, professional judgement and diagnosis for specific medical treatment. The Contractor shall maintain medical liability insurance, which is not less than the amount normally prevailing within the local community for the medical specialties concerned. The Contractor shall ensure that any subcontracts for the provision of services covered contains the requirement of the clause at 52-237-7, including the maintenance of medical liability insurance.

1. The Contractor shall provide mobile digital mammography exam services and diagnostic interpretation services as ordered by the attending physician or BCH.
2. The Contractor shall provide mobile exams to include mammogram screenings, 3D Mammography, breast ultra-sonography, DEXA (dual x-ray absorptiometry)-scans, and further advanced diagnostic mammography imaging as required based on screening results.
3. The Contractor shall perform all exams using appropriate equipment with electronic capabilities for diagnostic interpretations to be completed electronically. All exams and diagnostic interpretations shall be digitized utilizing the existing Radiographic and Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) network and computerized system in place at BCH. All patient exams shall be entered into the electronic health record (EHR) and the Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS) system of the IHS.
4. The Contractor shall provide the mobile mammography coach with all equipment tools, incidentals, connection capability requirements to perform services safely in accordance with JCAHO, FDA and CMS guidelines.
5. The Contractor shall provide a full clinic day of eight (8) hours for each visit. Visits may be canceled by the BCH due to inclement weather which will be rescheduled as per agreement with the Contractor.
6. The Contractor shall provide all required QA/QS licenses, certificates and/or any reporting requirements. The Contractor shall provide certified technicians and qualified radiologists to perform all exams and interpretations.
7. The Contractor shall be responsible for all patient screening exams, diagnostic exams and all associated services including imaging techniques, positioning, and quality of exam imaging transmitted for interpretations.
8. The Contractor shall ensure consultations provided by offsite radiologists are conducted under the general direction of the physician in charge, clinical director or provider ordering the procedure/image.
9. The Contractor shall adhere to all current guidelines and regulations within DHHS, PHS, IHS, and BCH’s Medical Staff regulations, procedures and by-laws. The Contractor personnel performing services shall abide by JCAHO, CMS, FDA and HIPAA regulations and shall comply with all JCAHO, FDA and BCH safety procedures and infection control policies.
10. The Contractor personnel shall perform all patient care services within accepted professional standards and demonstrate cultural sensitivity.

DELIVERABLES AND DELIVERY SCHEDULE: The Contractor shall provide mobile unit mammography services from 8:00am to 4:00pm on a bi-weekly schedule.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:         

Blackfeet Community Hospital, 760 Hospital Drive, Browning, MT 59417

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED EQUIPMENT AND INFORMATION:  The BCH will assist with scheduling. The BCH will provide a level parking area for the mobile coach to park, free of snow and debris.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS:

1. The Contractor shall sign a data exchange agreement with the IHS and establish a virtual private network (VPN) for use in the performance of this contract.
2. The BCH will provide a minimum of 100mbps connectivity to the contractor over VPN.
3. The Contractor shall utilize and comply with the IHS Health Level Seven (HL7) standards of operation.

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 Mobile Mammography Services.
• List of past jobs/contracts of providing routine Mobile Mammography Services.
• Demonstrate how your company meets the definition for ISBEE 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 ISBEE, 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: Johnna Spotted at [email protected] 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 in the subject line.

Sources Sought ID: SS-75H709-BF24Q-002. Responses received to this notice will assist in determining the acquisition strategy of the requirement.