Sources Sought Notice for Operation and Management Training for the AAIHS/OEHE

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, contract award, and the full contract performance period. Any changes in eligibility must be immediately reported.
• Required Information: The form requires the Offeror to provide:
  • Name of Federally Recognized Tribal Entity (if applicable)
  • Name of the 51% owner of the Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) Firm
  • Business Name
  • DUNS Number
  • Certifying Signature and Print Name
• Legal Consequences: False or misleading information is a violation of law, punishable under 18 U.S.C. 1001, and false claims are subject to penalties under 31 U.S.C. 3729-3731 and 18 U.S.C. 287.
• Additional Requirements: Individual Contracting Officers may require documentation of eligibility, and successful offerors must be registered with the System of Award Management (SAM).

This form is critical for bidders seeking to participate in opportunities designated for Indian Economic Enterprises under the Buy Indian Act. Bidders must accurately complete and submit this form to self-certify their eligibility. Failure to meet the definition or provide accurate information can lead to disqualification or penalties. It also highlights potential requirements for documentation and SAM registration.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To provide hands-on water, wastewater, and solid waste operations training for tribal utility and Indian Health Service (IHS) staff in the lower 48 States and Alaska. The training should support the operation of typical tribally owned utility systems.

• The vendor must have an existing catalog of "off-the-shelf" or minimally modifiable training courses for water, wastewater, and solid waste operations.

• Courses can be web-facilitated, in-person, or newly developed upon request.

• In-person training must be highly interactive, with at least 33% kinesthetic (hands-on) exercises.

• Preferred delivery is in-person followed by instructor-led live virtual sessions.

• Virtual training platforms must support up to 250 simultaneous participants and include features like screen sharing, polling, and chat.

• On-demand training requires an LMS capable of supporting administrators and up to 100 simultaneous users.

• The IHS owns content and materials for certain government-owned trainings (e.g., Pumps for Operators, Basic Electrical Controls, Wastewater Collections) which the vendor may be asked to update and execute.

• New course development may be required to meet emerging tribal utility operational needs.

• Off-the-Shelf Training Approval: Course manual and content must be submitted for review prior to IHS inclusion. Positive outcome: Course included in offerings. Negative: Course not accepted.

• Course Development: Draft materials submitted as per proposal, revised within 10 days of comments, and final documents submitted after revisions. Positive: Documented past performance exceeding standard. Negative: Documented past performance below standard.

• Training Delivery (up to 35 attendees): Minimum submission of Draft Agenda, Final Agenda (2 weeks prior), Pre-Course review form (2 weeks prior), Reference material (at class), Class evaluations, certificates, and closeout documentation (within 2 weeks of training or with invoice).

• Training needs vary annually based on requests from 12 IHS Areas.

• Approximately 15-20 face-to-face trainings provided annually.

• Locations are generally non-negotiable and selected by the IHS.

• Training can be located anywhere in the continental United States and Alaska.

• Instructor Qualifications: Minimum of 5 years' experience in water, wastewater, and/or solid waste operations in communities of 15-2500 connections. Operator certification levels 2+ is a plus. Minimum 5 years' experience in related training/support to tribal or rural communities. Evidence of adult education competencies.

• Proposal Requirements (for BPA Calls): Course name, dates, locations, delivery approach, objectives, agenda, instructor names/resumes, cost breakdown (preparation, instruction, travel, materials), and development cost breakdown if applicable.

• Cost: Proposal costs for salaries and travel may not exceed GSA contract rates.

• Training Manuals: Spiral bound, including agenda, instructor bios, contact info, slides, exercises, and reference material. Shipping of thick manuals may be required.

• Training Equipment: EHSC owns equipment for government-owned classes; vendor will be granted access for familiarization.

• Software: Delivered files must conform to Section 508 accessibility requirements (MS Word, JPG, Adobe Acrobat, Office 2013+).

• Ownership: Vendor develops course for IHS ownership. IHS has unrestricted rights. Vendor may not offer these trainings without express written permission after contract completion.