SAM #75H70926BAO-072-SS

Procurement of Cisco 8355-G2 Routers (or Equivalent) and Support for Billings Area IHS

The Billings Area Office of the Indian Health Service is seeking vendors to supply and support enterprise-grade network routing equipment for its facilities. - Government Buyer: - Indian Health Service (IHS), Billings Area Office - OEMs and Vendors: - Cisco Systems, Inc. (as the specified OEM for routers and components) - Equivalent products from other manufacturers are acceptable if they meet all technical and support requirements - Products/Services Requested: - Eleven (11) Cisco 8355-G2 routers or equivalent enterprise-grade secure routers - Must support Cisco IOS XE or equivalent routing software - Associated components for each router: - 10GBASE-SR SFP modules (11 units) - 19-inch fixed rack mount kits (11 units) - Power adapter brackets (11 units) - RFID - 1RU modules (11 units) - PIM blanks (11 units) - 110W AC power supplies (22 units; two per router) - AC power cords, Type C5, US/Canada (22 units; two per router) - Software and Licensing: - Cisco OS Essentials - Large, embedded perpetual licenses (11 units) - IOS XE SD-WAN boot-up mode and IOS XE 17.18 or equivalent current manufacturer-supported network OS (11 units) - TE agent for IOS XE on Enterprise Routing for G2 Platforms (11 units) - Network Plug-n-Play Connect for zero-touch deployment (11 units) - Cisco Networking Subscription and Network Product Support, as applicable - Support and Warranty: - 36-month manufacturer-authorized support with next business day hardware replacement (11 units) - Freight insurance and shipping/handling as applicable - Unique/Notable Requirements: - All equipment must be new, genuine, and manufacturer-authorized - Support must be manufacturer-authorized and include next business day replacement - Compliance with Buy Indian Act: preference for Indian Economic Enterprises (IEEs) and Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEEs), with at least 51% of contract earnings and management control held by Indians or Indian Tribes - Delivery required within 30 days after contract award, in a single coordinated shipment unless otherwise approved

Description

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.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

Authorized Network Routing Equipment

NAICS:

334118- Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing

Small Business Size Standard: 1,000

Unique Requirements:

SEE ATTACHMENT:  A05 - SOW Billings Area Router Replacement

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 this requirement.  List of past jobs/contracts of providing this requirement. Demonstrate how your company meets the definition for Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) 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 IEE, 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: Mitzi Horn at mitzi.horn@ihs.gov 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 75H70926BAO-072-SS in the subject line.

Responses received to this notice will assist in determining the acquisition strategy of the requirement.

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