Client Technological Engagement (CTE) with Tribal Partners
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), under the Department of Health and Human Services, has issued a Sources Sought Notice for Client Technological Engagement (CTE) with Tribal Partners. This notice, a repost of a previous SSN, is for market research and planning purposes only, seeking information from potential vendors capable of providing patient-level and system-level CTE platforms. The goal is to assess capabilities and determine appropriate acquisition methods, including potential set-asides. Responses are due by April 20, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST.
Scope of Work
IHS is seeking commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) CTE platforms with specific capabilities:
- Patient-level CTE Platform: A mobile-first SaaS application for self-directed and co-managed workflows, featuring journal, motivation, activity, and contact tools, an administrative portal, and robust API capabilities. Unique aspects include non-commercialized architecture, Tribal-guided traditional medicine aesthetics, multi-entity configuration, and support for employability pathways and crisis navigation.
- System-level CTE Platform: Requires secure authentication, deep content crawling, relevance filtering, role-based access, aggregated dashboards, and secure knowledge indexing across Tribal systems. Unique capabilities include a centralized knowledge clearinghouse, Tribal-guided traditional medicine aesthetics, document ingestion/tagging, federated search, national-level aggregated reporting, and Tribal language options.
- Technical & Compliance: Platforms must comply with the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Privacy Act of 1974, OMB Circular No. A-130, FISMA, NIST SP 800-53, HIPAA, and Section 508 / WCAG 2.0 AA. Nationwide deployment across all IHS facilities must be supported.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Sources Sought / Market Research
- Set-Aside: Responses are prioritized for Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEE), then Indian Economic Enterprises (IEE), and finally small businesses. Organizations not meeting these criteria should not respond.
- Response Due: April 20, 2026, 5:00 PM EST
- Published: April 16, 2026
Submission & Evaluation
Capability statements (maximum 10 pages, excluding Past Performance) should address:
- Technical Capability: Existing solutions and implementation approach.
- Relevant Experience: Federal healthcare clients, solution operational time, enterprise-wide experience.
- Security & Compliance: Adherence to FISMA/NIST, HIPAA, and Section 508.
- Commercial Availability: Confirmation and pricing structure. A cover page is mandatory, including company details (name, designation, UEI, POC, business type, NAICS, federal contracting vehicles, SAM status). Past Performance information is also requested. Generic capability statements are insufficient.
Additional Notes
This is solely for market research; it is not a solicitation or a commitment to issue one. No classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included. Responses will not be returned, and no payment will be made for information provided.