Outpatient Nursing Assistant Service – Jicarilla Service Unit, ISBEE Set-aside

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation (RFQ No. 7571PS26Q00024) for non-personal healthcare services. The Indian Health Service (IHS) is seeking quotes for four (4) Outpatient Nursing Assistants to provide services at the Jicarilla Service Unit in Dulce, New Mexico. This acquisition is set-aside exclusively for Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEE).

• Provide four (4) Outpatient Nursing Assistants.

• Services include primary and urgent care, dental services, optometry, lab services, radiology, and public health nursing.

• Nursing Assistants must maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

• Duties include clerical and administrative support, patient intake, vital signs, EHR documentation, medical terminology proficiency, therapeutic patient care (e.g., administering oxygen, wound care, immunization records), patient chaperoning, and maintaining examination rooms.

• Personnel must meet minimum qualifications: current Nursing Assistant certification and demonstrated relevant education, training, and experience.

• Contractor personnel must comply with all Federal, State, Local, Tribal, and IHS laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Specific health requirements include documentation of immunity/vaccination for vaccine-preventable diseases (e.g., MMR, Hepatitis B, Influenza, COVID-19) and tuberculosis screening.

• Mandatory training includes Protecting Children From Sexual Abuse, Trauma-Informed Care, Information System Security Awareness, and Fraud, Waste, and Abuse.

• Contract Type: Single Firm-Fixed-Price contract.

• Period of Performance (POP): One base year (07/01/2026 – 06/30/2027) and four (4) one-year option periods (07/01/2027 – 06/30/2031).

• Estimated Level of Effort: 2,080 hours per year (40 hours per week).

• Payment: Based on actual hours worked at the quoted fully burdened hourly rate.

• The hourly rate is all-inclusive.

• Quotes are to be organized into three volumes: Technical Capability, Past Performance, and Price.

• Evaluation Factors (in order of importance): Technical Capability, Past Performance, and Price.

• Technical Capability will assess qualifications of proposed personnel, understanding of the IHS clinical environment, and staffing plan.

• Past Performance will evaluate recency, relevance, quality, timeliness, and reliability of previous work.

• Price will be evaluated for reasonableness, completeness, and consistency.

• Award will be made to the responsible quoter whose quotation is most advantageous to the Government.

• The Government may award without discussions.

• Offer Due Date/Local Time: 1700 ET.

• This acquisition is a Total Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE) Set-Aside. Only quotes from ISBEE vendors will be considered.

• NAICS Code: 621399 with a small business size standard of $10.0M.

• Fingerprinting and background investigations are required for all contractor personnel prior to services commencement.

• Medical liability insurance is required ($1,000,000 per occurrence).

• Invoices must be submitted electronically via the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).

• A completed Form W-9 is required.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) clause required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. It outlines the terms and conditions under which a "Business Associate" (identified as Contractor, also known as Cameron and Company) must handle Protected Health Information (PHI) when performing services for the "Covered Entity" (the Indian Health Service - IHS).

• Definitions: Clarifies terms such as "Agreement," "Business Associate," "Covered Entity," "Designated Record Set," "Individual," "Privacy Rule," "Protected Health Information," "Required by Law," and "Secretary."
• Privacy Rule Compliance: Mandates that the Business Associate comply with HIPAA's Privacy Rule and ensure its agents, employees, and subcontractors also comply.
• Permitted Uses and Disclosures: Specifies how PHI may be used or disclosed by the Business Associate, generally requiring authorization or falling under specific exceptions like treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
• Safeguards: Requires the implementation of procedural, physical, and electronic safeguards to protect PHI, limiting use and disclosure to the minimum necessary.
• Reporting: Mandates prompt reporting of any known uses or disclosures of PHI not in accordance with the agreement or applicable law.
• Records Access: Outlines requirements for IHS access to PHI records maintained by the Business Associate and for individual access to their PHI.
• Termination: Details conditions for termination due to material breach and requirements for the return or destruction of PHI upon contract termination.

Bidders must understand that if this opportunity involves handling Protected Health Information (PHI) on behalf of the Indian Health Service, they will be required to enter into and comply with this Business Associate Agreement. This document details the strict requirements for safeguarding sensitive health information, including limitations on use and disclosure, reporting obligations, and security measures. Failure to comply can result in breach and termination. Bidders should review these obligations carefully to assess their capability and willingness to meet these stringent HIPAA requirements.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is the "Indian Health Service Buy Indian Act Indian Economic Enterprise Representation Form." It serves as a self-certification for offerors to confirm they meet the definition of an "Indian Economic Enterprise" as required by the Buy Indian Act. This form is to be submitted in response to a Sources Sought Notice, Request for Information (RFI), or Solicitation.

• Self-Certification: Offerors must certify whether they meet the definition of an "Indian Economic Enterprise" with "Indian Ownership" under the Buy Indian Act.
• Eligibility Period: The enterprise must meet the definition throughout the offer period, at the time of contract award, and during the full contract performance period. Notification is required if eligibility is lost.
• Required Information: Fields include:
  • Name of Federally Recognized Tribal Entity
  • Name of the 51% owner of IEE Firm
  • Business Name
  • DUNS Number
  • Certifying Signature
  • Print Name
• Legal Consequences: False or misleading information is punishable under U.S. law.

This form is critical for bidders responding to opportunities that include the Buy Indian Act preference. Bidders must accurately complete this form to self-certify their eligibility. Failure to meet the definition or provide accurate information can lead to disqualification or penalties. Offerors may also need to be registered in the System of Award Management (SAM).

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Wage Determination issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division, under the Service Contract Act. It establishes minimum wage rates and fringe benefits for various occupations in specific geographic areas. For this opportunity, the relevant area is New Mexico Counties of Cibola, Colfax, McKinley, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, and Taos.

• Lists specific occupation codes and titles.
• Provides the minimum hourly wage rate for each occupation.
• References "Fringe Benefits Required Follow the Occupational Listing" which are detailed later in the document.
• Includes notes on Executive Orders (EO) 13706 and 13658 regarding paid sick leave and minimum wage rates for federal contractors.
• Details Health & Welfare benefits, Vacation, and Holidays.
• Outlines specific requirements for Computer Employees, Hazardous Pay Differential, and Uniform Allowance.
• Provides a process for requesting additional classifications and wage rates (Conformance Process) if an occupation is not listed.

Bidders must use this wage determination to ensure that all laborers and mechanics employed on the contract are paid at least the minimum wage rates and receive the specified fringe benefits. This is a mandatory requirement for compliance with the Service Contract Act. Failure to adhere to these rates can result in penalties. Bidders should carefully review the listed occupations and their corresponding rates to accurately estimate labor costs for their proposals.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a fillable table intended for bidders to provide pricing for Nursing Assistant (NA) services under RFQ No. 7571PS26Q00024. It outlines the contract structure and estimated effort for pricing.

• Contract Period: Includes a base year (07/01/2026 – 06/30/2027) and four option years.
• Pricing Structure: Requires bidders to quote an hourly rate for 4 NAs, with an estimated 2,080 hours per year per NA.
• Total Amount: Bidders must calculate and provide the total amount per year and a grand total for the base year plus all option years.
• Notes:
  • Total estimated effort is 2,080 hours per year per NA (40 hours/week).
  • Payment is based on actual hours worked at the quoted fully burdened hourly rate.
  • The hourly rate must be all-inclusive (labor, fringe, overhead, G&A, travel, per diem, lodging, taxes).
  • The total contract value is the maximum payable amount.
  • Performance start date is contingent on background investigations.
  • Quotes can be submitted in the bidder's own format.

This table is crucial for bidders to understand the pricing structure and estimated effort required for providing Nursing Assistant services. Bidders must complete this table or a similar format with their proposed hourly rates and total costs to be considered for the contract. The "fully burdened hourly rate" requirement emphasizes the need to include all associated costs in the quote.