NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: IHS Credentialing Bridge

This synopsis is hereby issued in accordance with FAR Part 5.203 and FAR 13 in response to the mandatory requirement for a 15-day notification. The purpose of this synopsis is to announce the Indian Health Service’s (IHS) intent to negotiate a Firm Fixed Price sole source contract with Applied Statistics & Management, Inc. located at 92592-8277 for the continuation of services for access to software and related applications, necessary to ensure safe, quality care to IHS’s American Indian/Alaska Native Patients.

The current contract was issued in 2017 to provide for standardization of IHS credentialing and privileging services utilizing the ASM software awarded. Competitive replacement action was previously anticipated without the initial need for a bridge. However, during the development process, the IHS determined that support services element should be federalized.  Extended discussions occurred to determine what elements should be handled by federal personnel.  In October, failures in the existing software approach caused a revaluation of the implementation strategy, considering whether the current approach of an on-premises installation is sustainable as the market has shifted to a web services business model; pursuing a FEDRAMP approved web services vendor or continue with the on-premises service model and assessing whether the IHS OIT is able to service a FEDRAMP implementation or whether an on premises version is the best approach. Following internal discussion, it has been determined that an on premise approach will minimize cost and risk to the IHS. Due to this determination, additional time is required to allow for revision to the acquisition strategy, and allow for a competitive follow on.

This bridge will provide access to the following for a six (6) month period.

• MD-Staff (web based credentialing), inclusive of E>priv, Pronto (electronic survey, hospital, and peer reference verification), Web Crawler for primary sources verifications, and MD-Staff App.
• MD-App.
• Virtual Committee, inclusive of MD-Query.
• Operations and Maintenance Support.
• Project Management necessary to oversee the operations and maintenance support efforts.

The above are the minimal services necessary to maintain critical services to IHS.      

Only one (1) source Applied Statistics & Management, Inc. is capable of fulfilling the Government’s requirement during the extended period. Applied Statistics & Management, Inc. is the only source of providing the software currently in use. A change to this this software will require knowledge transfer, data conversion, and a re-training of hundreds of IHS staff located throughout the United States and the additional time granted through this bridge will help minimize risk during this potential process.

The total estimated cost of this service is $73,500.00

THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS, however, interested firms may submit a capability statement in response to the above requirement with pricing information by March 1st, 2023@ 4:00 PM Eastern Time to Christopher McGucken, Contracting Officer, Phone: (202) 677-5373, Email: Christopher.McGucken@ihs.gov. A determination not to open competition based responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.