Post Amendment One to revise the Performance Work Statement - Schedule - changed from "as-needed" to "Full-Time". Response due date remains the same. No other questions will be received following the posting of this amendment one. Thank you.
Sources Sought: One (1) Registered Pharmacist Services on an as-needed basis for the Lower Brule Health Center, Lower Brule, South Dakota.
Sources Sought Notice Number: SS-26-IHS-1523286
This Sources Sought Notice is for informational and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation, an obligation or commitment by the Indian Health Service.
This notice is intended strictly for market research to determine the availability of Indian Small Businesses Economic Enterprises (ISBEE) and Indian Economic Enterprises.
Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. The anticipated applicable NAICS code for this acquisition is 561320 – Temporary Help Services.
1.0 BACKGROUND
The Indian Health Service (IHS) an agency within the Department of Health & Human Services is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Indian Health Service provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to 567 federally recognized tribes, in 35 states. The Indian Health Service Headquarters is located in Rockville, MD and then divided into twelve physical areas: Alaska, Albuquerque, Bemidji, Billings, California, Great Plains, Nashville, Navajo, Oklahoma, Phoenix, Portland and Tucson.
The Great Plains Area Office (GPAO) works in conjunction with its 19 Indian Health Service Units and Tribal Managed Service Units to provide health care to approximately 122,000 Native American located in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa. The Area Office’s service units include seven hospitals, eight health centers, and several smaller health stations and satellite clinics.
Our facility, the Lower Brule Service Unit, falls under the GPAO. The mission of the Lower Brule Indian Health Center is to provide the best possible healthcare services to the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe and all other qualified Native Americans. To meet this mission, the Lower Brule Indian Health Center has identified a need for an all-inclusive, non-personal health service contract for a Registered Pharmacist.
2.0 OBJECTIVE
To maintain the highest quality of healthcare and pharmacy services to the people we serve, the Lower Brule Service Unit requires pharmacy services support during leave and/or training of the staff and Chief Pharmacist. The care provided by the Contractor through its employees shall be as comprehensive as the Indian Health Service (IHS) supplied facilities, equipment, and support services permit. The Contractor shall furnish the necessary personnel to provide Registered Pharmacist(s) recruitment, credentialing, and placement services to the Lower Brule Service Unit in the Great Plains Area of the Indian Health Service.
3.0 SCOPE
The Contractor shall furnish a Registered Pharmacist to provide, support, and maintain pharmaceutical services to patients at the Lower Brule Indian Health Service, as requested by the Chief Pharmacist or their designated representative, for the term of this contract. The contract pharmacist(s) shall perform pharmacy services compatible with the facilities operation, capacity and equipment of the Lower Brule Indian Health Service. Contract pharmacists shall cover the range of pharmacy services typically provided in a rural civilian practice of similar size. Contract performance shall be according to the requirements contained in this Performance Work Statement.
All contract pharmacist(s) shall be required to participate in a clinic-based quality improvement program that is consistent with current Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) requirements for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of quality and appropriateness of care; and serve as a member of a health care team providing care on a regular basis.
The main duties of the contract pharmacist(s) will be checking prescriptions for accuracy before dispensing them to the patient and counseling the patients, but must also be knowledgeable in the following pharmacy functions:
• The contract pharmacist(s) shall be able to read medication orders from the prescriptions and process prescription orders in the Electronic Health Record (EHR), and check for completeness, appropriateness, and allergies. The contract pharmacist(s) shall ensure that all medications that are prescribed are on the Lower Brule Service Unit formulary. The contract pharmacist(s) shall check for any drug-drug and drug-food interactions. The contract pharmacist(s) shall provide instructions to all prescribing practitioners as to substitutions of medications as applicable and answer any medical questions pertaining to medications and patient care.
• The contract pharmacist(s) must be able to work independently and may also be required to work as the sole pharmacist on certain occasions when the permanent staff is attending meetings, completing administration assignments, or on leave.
• In the clinic area, the contract pharmacist(s) must be able to enter the prescriptions using the computer software system. The computer software will provide a label and medication information sheet for each prescription. The contract pharmacist(s) must be able to accurately fill the prescription, attach the prescription and auxiliary labels to the bottle, and dispense the medications. The contract pharmacist(s) shall appropriately counsel the patients on their medications.
• The contract pharmacist(s) shall determine appropriateness of the medications. When a medication order is incomplete or inappropriate, a medication the patient is allergic to, or for non-formulary medication(s), the contract pharmacist(s) must then clarify the order with the prescriber before filling the medications. The contract pharmacist(s) shall review all medication orders for drug-drug and food-drug interactions; and access renal function. All medications that need to be adjusted or changed shall be brought to the attention of the prescriber.
• The contract pharmacist(s) shall interact with other medical professionals within the clinic in order to solve problems that occur in the ordering and delivery of medications.
• The contract pharmacist(s) shall keep complete records as far as controlled medications.
The Contractor and/or the contract pharmacist(s) shall immediately advise the Chief Pharmacist or their designated representative of any problem(s) encountered or which may be encountered in connection with meeting the needs and concerns of patients. The contract pharmacist(s) shall notify the Chief of Pharmacy or their designated representative immediately when he/she is unable to perform due to illness or family emergency, i.e., death, etc.
When the Chief Pharmacist is absent, the contract pharmacist(s) shall follow the delegation of authority posted in the pharmacy and perform duties as assigned by the Chief Pharmacist's designee.
4.0 CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS/PERSONNEL QUALITIFICATIONS
Contract Registered Pharmacist Qualifications
The Contract Registered Pharmacist(s) shall:
• Be a graduate of a school of pharmacy approved by a state-accrediting agency.
• Possess a current, active, unrestricted license from any of the 50 US states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia.
• Maintain continuing education/certification, and have a current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Have a minimum of 2 years of experience as a pharmacist within the past 36 months, and must meet all background investigation requirements.
• Not have any work or health restrictions that interfere with the performance of pharmacy services.
• Speak, understand, read, and write English fluently and communicate with sufficient clarity to be understood by Lower Brule Service Unit personnel and the Native American community.
• Possess sufficient initiative, interpersonal relationship skills, and social sensitivity such that he/she can relate constructively to patients from Native American communities.
• Maintain standards of personal hygiene and grooming such that his/her image as a Registered Pharmacist is compatible with the expectations of the Great Plains Area Indian Health Service clinical staff and the Native American community.
Contractor Technical Requirements
The Contractor shall possess the following:
• Ability to provide pharmacist(s) in a timely manner who can provide on-site pharmaceutical services to beneficiary patients of all ages that present for care to the LBHC.
• Ability to assist with completion of background investigation paperwork for the Contract Registered Pharmacist(s) in a timely manner prior to assignment.
• Ability to provide Contract Registered Pharmacist(s) who can interact with patients and clinical staff in a customer friendly and culturally sensitive manner.
• Ability to provide Contract Registered Pharmacist(s) who possess Electronic Health Record Experience.
Special Contractor Responsibilities
The Contractor shall be responsible to ensure that the Contract Registered Pharmacist(s) providing services under this contract is fully trained and completely competent to perform the required work.
The Contractor shall be required to maintain records that document competence and performance level of Contractor employees working under this contract in accordance with AAAHC and other regulatory body requirements.
The Lower Brule Service Unit's Chief Pharmacist, or their designated representative, shall monitor the contract pharmacist's work to ensure contract compliance and not withstanding other contract requirements, upon request of the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall remove the contract pharmacist(s) who does not comply with orientation requirements, meet competency requirements, or complete the assignments for the contract work being performed under this Performance Work Statement. If removed, the Contractor shall immediately provide another qualified, contract pharmacist who will meet these requirements and complete the assignments listed within this Performance Work Statement. The Contractor's failure to submit successful applicants shall not excuse nonperformance of contract requirements.
The contractor must perform the required work, in accordance with AAAHC or other regulatory body standards. The contractor is required to develop and maintain the following documents for each Contract employee working on the contract : credentials and qualifications for the job, a competence assessment checklist (an assessment of knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors required to perform a job correctly and skillfully, including knowledge and skills required to provide care for certain patient populations, as appropriate); a current performance evaluation supporting the ability of the contract employee to successfully perform the work required in this solicitation; and listing of relevant continuing education for the last two years. The Contractor shall maintain and provide copies of these records upon request.
Verification of Licensure
To ensure that the contract Registered Pharmacist(s) providing services under this contract is properly licensed and that the Lower Brule Service Unit is aware of any disciplinary actions taken against such pharmacist, the Contractor shall:
• Provide a copy of licensure ensuring that each pharmacist placed at the Lower Brule Service Unit holds a current, active pharmacy license that is in good standing.
• Inform IHS of the status of all licenses for each Registered Pharmacist(s) providing services under this contract at the Lower Brule Service Unit.
• Provide all information regarding performance and disciplinary actions that is collected on the pharmacist placed under this contract to the Service Unit's Chief Pharmacist.
• Certify that all information on the contract Registered Pharmacist(s) has been reviewed and verified by the Contractor. This certification must include a statement that the Contractor has found no reason to reject the pharmacist application.
5.0 TYPE OF ORDER
The award for this service will be a Non-Personal Health Care Service, Commercial Item, Labor Hour Purchase Order to provide Pharmacist Services.
6.0 ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE
Period of Performance: Date of award through July 4, 2026.
7.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE
Lower Brule Service Unit, Indian Health Service, 601 Gall Street, Lower Brule, South Dakota.
8.0 REPORT(S)/DELIVERABLES AND DELIVERY SCHEDULE
Evaluation and Performance Requirements
The Contractor shall allow the Government to evaluate the quality of professional and administrative services provided with the technical requirements of this contract. This assessment will include observations of the work system, methods and execution. Examples of monitoring methods include, but are not limited to: appropriateness of candidate placement (e.g., number or removals, number of early terminations of assignments due to personality conflict, poor work habits, inadequate skills for the assignment, unprofessional or discourteous behavior). An assessment spreadsheet with these methods will be monitored by the Pharmacy Supervisor and the Contracting Officers’ Representative (COR). The Contract Pharmacist’s performance will be monitored through peer review/competency, identifying deficiencies in the quality of services performed before the level of performance becomes unacceptable. These evaluations may be used as a record of contract performance history for the purpose of evaluation in other competitive or non-competitive acquisitions.
All services rendered shall be in accordance within the Contract Pharmacist’s professional training and experience, and with current standard medical practices to assure quality care. The Contract Pharmacist(s) must perform at a level that is satisfactory and in accordance to all applicable laws, policies, rules, regulations, and within the Performance Work Statement.
Performance Surveillance Plan
Performance surveillance monitors will be established to comply with regulatory guidelines and to monitor contract performance. The performance surveillance plan has been developed to outline the Indian Health Service’s general plan in providing effective and systematic surveillance and reporting of all aspects of contract performance. This plan recognizes the responsibility of the Contractor to carry out its own quality control obligations in the performance of this contract.
Surveillance will be accomplished through review of the Contractor’s performance against requirements listed in the work statement and performance standards listed in this plan. Performance-based incentives are consistent with the intent and purpose of the contract.
Upon completion of the contract, the Government will complete and keep on record the Contractor’s performance evaluation form based on the following objectives. See attached Performance Work Statement.
9.0 PAYMENT
The contractor shall submit a weekly invoice for services that are mutually agreed upon by the contractor and the COR, or the designated representative. Invoices shall be made weekly through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP.gov) with a copy to Michelle Chmela (COR), or her designee.
10.0 Capability Statement/Information:
Interested parties are expected to review this notice and attached performance work statement to familiarize itself with the requirements of this project. Failure to do so will be at your firm’s own risk. The following information shall be included in the capability statement:
1. A general overview of the respondent’s opinions about the difficulty and/or feasibility of the potential requirement, and any information regarding innovative ideas or concepts.
2. Information in sufficient detail of the respondent’s (a) current capability and capacity to perform the work; (b) prior completed events of similar nature/size; (c) organizational experience and management capability; and (d) examples of prior completed Government contracts and other related information.
3. The respondents’ UEI number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, etc.) Pursuant to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code: 325120 – Industrial Gas Manufacturing.
4. Any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the requirements of the potential acquisition.
5. The capability statement shall not exceed 10 single-sided pages (including all attachments, resumes, etc.) presented in single-space and using a 12-point font size minimum, in either Microsoft Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), with 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper size, and 1 inch top, bottom, left and right margins.
6. All proprietary information should be marked as such. Statements should also include an indication of current certified small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferably placed under the eligible small business concern’s name and address). Responses will be reviewed only by IHS personnel and will be held in a confidential manner.
11.0 Closing Statement
Point of Contact: Wenda Wright, Contract Specialist, at wenda.wright@ihs.gov
Submission Instructions:
Interested parties shall submit capability via email to Wenda Wright, Contract Specialist, at wenda.wright@ihs.gov. Must include Sources Sought Number SS-26-IHS1522988 in the Subject line. The due date for receipt of statements is February 2, 2026, 12:00 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST).
All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered.
This notice is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of IHS.
IHS does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. As a result of this notice, IHS may issue a Request for Quote (RFQ).
THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against IHS shall arise as a result of a response to this notice or IHS’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement.
Disclaimer and Important Notes. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.
Confidentiality. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response.
