ISBEE/IEE Set Aside Compute Servers and Network Switches

This combined synopsis/solicitation (Solicitation Number 75H70926BAO-069-RFQ) is issued by the Indian Health Service (IHS) Billings Area Office as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for the Billings Area Server Refresh. Set aside 100% for Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE) small businesses, the procurement seeks brand name or equal commercial server products to replace area-wide servers. The requirement is divided into two primary configurations: • CLIN 001: Configuration 1 – Minimum 50 TB Usable, 4 Compute Servers (Quantity: 3) • CLIN 002: Configuration 2 – Minimum 30 TB Usable, 3 Compute Servers (Quantity: 3) Only brand-new equipment with original manufacturer warranties is acceptable; gray market and counterfeit parts are strictly prohibited. Additionally, all IT systems must comply with federal IPv6 standards. Delivery to the Billings, MT facility is required within 60 days of contract award. Award will be made to the responsible offeror providing the "Best Value to the Government" based on three evaluation factors: Technical Capabilities (10-page limit), Past Performance, and Price. Combined non-price factors are significantly more important than price. Questions regarding this solicitation must be submitted via email to Vincent.Hansen@ihs.gov by August 24, 2026, at 1:00 pm MDT. Final quotes, which must remain valid for 90 days, must be submitted to the same email address no later than September 11, 2026, at 1:00 pm MDT. Offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM).

This document provides official answers to vendor questions regarding Request for Quotes (RFQ) 75H70926BAO-069-RFQ for the Billings Area Server Refresh, a 100% Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE) set-aside procurement. Key clarifications provided by the government include: - **Subcontractor Evaluation:** The government may consider the technical capabilities and past performance of first-tier subcontractors, evaluated in the context of their proposed roles, provided the RFQ does not explicitly require the prime contractor to possess those specific qualifications. - **Subcontracting Limitations:** Under HHSAR 352.226-6 and FAR 52.219-14, the 50-percent supply limitation does not apply to nonmanufacturer/reseller commercial IT equipment acquisitions. Payments to non-IEE authorized IT distributors do not count against this limitation. - **Performance Period:** The applicable delivery and performance period is confirmed to be 60 days post-award, resolving a discrepancy in the Statement of Work (SOW). - **Server Configurations:** Detailed technical specifications are clarified for the 25GbE and 10GbE adapter connections required for Configuration 1 (four servers) and Configuration 2 (three servers). - **Nonmanufacturer Rule & Brand Name:** No Small Business Administration (SBA) Nonmanufacturer Rule waiver has been obtained. However, because the RFQ is issued on a "brand name or equal" basis, offerors may propose equivalent products meeting the specified physical and functional characteristics.

This document is an Indian Health Service (IHS) Buy Indian Act Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) Representation Form, associated with Request for Quotation (RFQ) number 75H70926BAO-069-RFQ for the Billings Area Office Compute Server Refresh, dated August 17, 2026. The purpose of this form is to allow offerors to self-certify that they meet the regulatory definition of an IEE under the Buy Indian Act (25 U.S.C. 47) and HHSAR 326.601. To qualify, the enterprise must maintain its IEE eligibility during three critical phases: at the time of the offer, at contract award, and throughout the entire duration of contract performance. Contractors must provide immediate written notification to the Contracting Officer if their eligibility status changes. The form notes that Contracting Officers may request supporting documentation to verify eligibility before awarding set-aside or sole-source contracts, and awards are subject to protest. Additionally, successful offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). To complete the representation, the offeror must indicate whether they meet the definition of an IEE with Indian ownership. The form requires the signature and printed name of the certifying official, the name of the 51% owner, the name of the federally recognized tribal entity, the business name, and the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) SAM number. Submitting false or misleading information to secure an award is a violation of federal law and is punishable under 18 U.S.C. 1001, 18 U.S.C. 287, and 31 U.S.C. 3729 to 3731.

This Statement of Work (SOW) outlines the requirements for procuring and delivering brand-name or equivalent IT equipment to support the Billings Area Indian Health Service (IHS) Server Refresh project in Billings, Montana. The Contractor must supply new, genuine, and manufacturer-authorized hardware, software licenses, and support services. The procurement is divided into two primary configurations, with the government requiring three complete instances of each: * **Configuration 1 (3 instances):** Each instance must feature at least four compute servers and a minimum of 50 TB of usable storage capacity. * **Configuration 2 (3 instances):** Each instance must feature at least three compute servers and a minimum of 30 TB of usable storage capacity. Both configurations require 1U data center switches, high-availability all-flash storage arrays using NVMe SSD media, operating systems, management software, redundant power supplies, and associated cabling. Equivalent storage systems must be enterprise-grade and cannot rely on hybrid, HDD, SAS, SATA, or logical data-reduction technologies to meet the usable capacity and performance requirements. The Contractor must deliver all equipment, documentation, and warranty entitlements in a single coordinated shipment to the Billings Area Office within 60 calendar days of the contract award. The period of performance is 30 calendar days after award. No installation, configuration, or on-site technical support is included, and the Contractor will not have access to government information systems or sensitive data. All deliverables must comply with Section 508 accessibility standards.