The Indian Health Service (IHS) - Nashville Area Office is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for credentialing and privileging support services to ensure timely and compliant service delivery across multiple IHS and tribal healthcare facilities. The contract aims to centralize support for medical, dental, behavioral health, and allied health providers, reinforcing adherence to necessary accreditation standards such as those from AAAHC and CMS. The contractor must have expertise in diverse provider types and will manage over 30 credentialed providers annually.
The scope includes tasks such as verifying educational and licensing documentation, maintaining records, and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. The contract will be a firm fixed-price arrangement, with a base year and four optional years, beginning approximately on July 1, 2025. In addition, compliance with HIPAA and IHS confidentiality standards is mandated. The RFP specifically targets small businesses, particularly those aligned with Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise criteria. Interested parties must submit their proposals by April 18, 2025. This procurement reflects the IHS's commitment to enhancing healthcare service provision while ensuring operational readiness across the Nashville Area.
The Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services requires compliance with the Buy Indian Act as part of its solicitation process for Indian Economic Enterprises. This document serves as a self-certification form, where Offerors must affirm that they meet the criteria of an "Indian Economic Enterprise" at the offer submission, contract award, and throughout the contract duration. It mandates immediate notification to Contracting Officers if the enterprise’s eligibility changes and emphasizes that any false information can lead to legal penalties under federal law. Offerors must also be registered with the System of Award Management (SAM). The form collects necessary details about the Offeror's ownership, including the name of the 51% owner and tribal affiliations, to validate compliance with Indian ownership requirements stipulated in the Buy Indian Act. It is essential for ensuring lawful bidding practices within federal contract opportunities focused on supporting Native American businesses.
The document outlines a final Q&A concerning RFP 75H71525Q00033 for credentialing and privileging support services by the Indian Health Service (IHS). It clarifies that proposals should consist of a narrative limited to four pages without specific formatting requirements. The evaluation criteria include price, past performance, and technical capability, with past performance and technical capability weighing equally with price. This RFP is for a new service with no incumbent contractor, requiring vendors to demonstrate their technical capability through past relevant experiences. The government emphasizes the importance of experience in credentialing and privileging, referencing the Indian Health Manual's standards for qualifications and processes. The document also confirms that contractor employees may work remotely, and details regarding training for the IHS credentialing systems will be provided. The expected volume of credentialed providers is 30-40 annually, with workload peaks anticipated during re-credentialing cycles. Proposals must include a breakdown of costs, and both fixed pricing and possible annual escalations for option years are encouraged. Ultimately, this RFP aims to find qualified vendors to deliver essential credentialing services while adhering strictly to IHS policies and accreditation standards.