: Clearinghouse Services for the Indian Health Service (IHS) Cheyenne River Health Center, Eagle Butte, SD.
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is conducting a Sources Sought for Clearinghouse Services for the Cheyenne River Health Center in Eagle Butte, SD. This market research aims to identify qualified Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE), Indian Small Businesses Economic Enterprise (ISBEE), or Other Small Businesses capable of providing secure data exchange and claims processing. Capability statements are due February 16, 2026.
Opportunity Details
This is a Sources Sought notice for informational and planning purposes only, not a solicitation. The Government will use responses to determine the appropriate acquisition method and potential set-aside. The anticipated NAICS code is 518210 - Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services, but other relevant NAICS will be considered. An anticipated Firm Fixed Price purchase order is planned.
Scope of Work
The Cheyenne River Health Center requires a secure exchange data software solution for:
- Connectivity: Medicare DDE/FISS, automated claims status reporting.
- Eligibility Verification: Third-party payers (Medicaid, Medicare), including coverage dates and search capabilities for unknown insurance (anticipated 1000 searches/month).
- Claims Processing: Validation, approval, and processing of third-party medical claims (professional and facility) for Medicare, Medicaid, VA, and Commercial Payers (anticipated 2,500 submissions/month).
- Claim Types: Emergency, Inpatient, Outpatient, and Specialty Clinics, with solicited and unsolicited claims status (anticipated 1000 status checks/month).
- Technical Requirements: Rigorous claims rules, custom business rules, self-monitoring usage, training, and support. The service shall not require local software installation, must utilize SFTP, support EDI transactions and interactive Telnet, and allow unlimited, workstation-independent users. It must comply with HIPAA and a Business Associate Agreement.
- Contractor Responsibilities: End-to-end communication testing, implementation, daily operations, routine technical support, maintenance notifications (2 days prior), disruption notifications, customer support (phone/email), secure internet-based connectivity to fiscal intermediaries, unlimited DDE online Medicare claims status/corrections, secure data exchange for claims, reports/acknowledgements (997/999, 276/277), electronic claims acceptance from RPMS, single secure location for electronic claims (including VA), real-time/batch eligibility verification, knowledgeable support personnel, toll-free support (7:00 am - 7:00 pm MST, M-F), and a two-hour minimum response time.
- Performance Standards: Claims submission within one business day, electronic transmission, routine editing procedures, correction of rejected claims (excluding format issues), electronic correction/resubmission, rejected claims report within 4 hours, productivity/submission reports within 24 hours.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Sources Sought (anticipated Firm Fixed Price purchase order)
- Set-Aside: Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) Set-Aside (or ISBEE/Other Small Business)
- Anticipated Period of Performance: Base Year: April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027, plus four option years.
- Place of Performance: Cheyenne River Health Center, Eagle Butte, SD.
- Response Due: February 16, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time.
- Published: February 6, 2026.
Submission Requirements
Interested parties must submit a capability statement (not exceeding 10 single-sided pages, 12-point font) including:
- Overview of opinions on requirement difficulty/feasibility and innovative ideas.
- Current capability/capacity, prior similar events, organizational experience, management capability, and examples of prior Government contracts.
- DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and business size/type (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone).
- Indication of current certified small business status on the first page.
Contact Information
Point of Contact: Velvett Cummins, Contract Specialist, at Velvett.cummins@ihs.gov. Include "Sources Sought Number IHS1523988" in the subject line.