Sources Sought
BFSU Electricity Services
Department of Health and Human Services · Indian Health Service
AI summaryThe Indian Health Service (IHS), Billings Area, wants to find businesses that could supply electric utility services to the Blackfeet Service Unit, its Government quarters and the Heart Butte Clinic in Montana. This is a sources sought notice, not a request for offers, and it uses the Buy Indian Act, which gives preference to Indian Economic Enterprises (IEE). The service is one base year from January 1, 2027 plus four option years; the response due date is November 5, 2026, 5:00 PM Mountain. More in the summary
Market research, not a bid. Replying is free and tells Indian Health Service who could do this work. Send a short reply to the contracting contact; no price is needed. See the contact
AI summary Beta
The Indian Health Service (IHS), Billings Area, wants to find businesses that could supply electric utility services to the Blackfeet Service Unit, its Government quarters and the Heart Butte Clinic in Montana. This is a sources sought notice, not a request for offers, and it uses the Buy Indian Act, which gives preference to Indian Economic Enterprises (IEE). The service is one base year from January 1, 2027 plus four option years; the response due date is November 5, 2026, 5:00 PM Mountain.
Who can bid
- Indian Economic Enterprise: at least 51% owned by Indians, federally recognized Indian Tribes or Alaska Native Corporations
- The Indian owners must receive at least 51% of the earnings from the contract
- Management and daily operations controlled by one or more individuals who are Indians
How to submit: Email to Shannon.Connelly@ihs.gov; including the Sources Sought ID 75H70927BAO_002 in the subject line is recommended. What to include is under Full summary below. Check the solicitation's instructions on SAM.gov.
Things to watch
From the version posted Oct 21, 2026.
- Serious: Buy Indian set-aside. IHS gives preference to Indian Economic Enterprises, which must be Indian-owned and controlled and receive at least 51% of the earnings; the notice also invites any other capable vendor to respond.
- Worth checking: Capability list asks about food service, not electricity. The requested experience is in food service delivery for healthcare facilities, which does not match the electric utility requirement; ask the contact what to submit.
- Worth checking: Earnings share must be shown. With a subcontractor, the response must show the Indian prime keeps at least 51% of the earnings; leaving this out could exclude the firm.
Read from the notice text only.
Full summary
What they want
- Electric utility services for the Blackfeet Service Unit, 760 Hospital Circle, Browning, MT 59417
- Electric utility services for the Government quarters at 760 Hospital Circle, Browning, MT 59417
- Electric utility services for the Heart Butte Clinic, 17 Hospital Road, Heart Butte, MT 59448
- Continuous power for life-saving equipment, sterile environments and 24/7 patient care
- Period of performance
- Base year January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2027 plus four 12-month option years through December 31, 2031; options depend on funding
- Place of performance
- Blackfeet Service Unit and Government quarters, 760 Hospital Circle, Browning, MT 59417; Heart Butte Clinic, 17 Hospital Road, Heart Butte, MT 59448
- Estimated value
- Not stated
- Offers due
- November 5, 2026, 5:00 PM Mountain
- How to submit
- Email to Shannon.Connelly@ihs.gov; including the Sources Sought ID 75H70927BAO_002 in the subject line is recommended
What to include when you submit
- Send a capability statement that shows your capability, experience and ability to provide the services, not a generic statement
- Include the Buy Indian Act Indian Economic Enterprise Representation Form (attached to the notice)
- Show how your company meets the Indian Economic Enterprise definition and will receive at least 51% of the earnings from the contract
- If you partner with a subcontractor, show how together you will receive a combined 51% of the earnings (similarly situated entity) or how you alone will receive 51% (not similarly situated)
- Show how management and daily operations will be controlled by one or more individuals who are Indians
Not in the notice text
- How the acquisition will be run (contract type, set-aside decision, schedule) is not stated; responses will help set the strategy.
- Details of the electric service, such as usage, rates and the current provider, are not stated.
- The Buy Indian Act Indian Economic Enterprise Representation Form is an attachment and was not read.
Eligibility and how to respond
- Set aside for a group of businesses: check the notice for who can bid.
- To respond, send a short reply to the contracting contact near the top of this page. No price is needed.
Notice details
- Posted
- Oct 21, 2026
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Office
- Billings Area Indian Health SVC, MT
- Product/service code
- S112 · Utilities – Electric
- Business type
- Energy, fuel & utilities (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 221122)
- Related notices
Other notices that name this solicitation, or that this one names.
- Sources Sought: ISBEE/IEE Capability for Non-Personal Healthcare Services – Dental Oral Surgeon Staffing Services, Blackfeet Service Unit, Blackfeet Community Hospital, Browning, MT · 75H70927BAO-006-SSPosted earlier Oct 20, 2026 · Due Nov 3, 2026
- Physician, APP, and Allied Health Professional Staffing Services / Multiple-Award IDIQ / IEE Set-Aside / IHS Billings Area · 75H70927BAO-005-RFPPosted earlier Oct 14, 2026 · Due Oct 29, 2026
- Attachments
Past awards and competition
Who has won work like this before, the likely incumbent, and what similar contracts paid, from USAspending.gov.
Before you respond
Terms on this notice: Sources sought notice, Set-aside
Full notice text from SAM.gov
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