Sole Source Intent Notice for On-Site Academic Simulation Training

The Great Plains Area Indian Health Service hereby submits a notice of intent to award a sole source, Firm Fixed-Price, Non-Personal Healthcare Service contract for on-site academic Simulation Training for Doctors, Nurses, Health Technicians, Paramedics/EMT’s and Pharmacists for ICAHN School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. a large business. The period of performance will be for one (1) year after award at Cheyenne River Health Center (EBH) and Pine Ridge IHS Hospital (PRH).

The acquisition is to provide Simulation-based training for medical procedures and team-based practice in caring for critically ill patients in an ED setting. Two-day training to include Doctors, Nurses, Health Techs, Paramedics/EMTs and Pharmacist to include multiple ED procedures such as lumbar punctures, catheter placement, ultrasound guided IV placement, child birth and the care of women giving childbirth, and other procedures to be determined by ED director.

Training will be on-site training and as needed by teleconference/video prior to on-site training. The group of physicians will perform on-site simulation training to Emergency Department staff, to provide the services much needed by the EBH and PRH for training requirements in the ED setting, and to provide and focus on quality care in Emergency care.

Due to surge in COVID and hiring of new individuals in all areas of departments, its good practice to keep up with competency skills and emphasize on provider skills. EBH and PRH are in remote areas of South Dakota where there are limited resources available for up keep of technical work skills. Plus, there is a critical lack of obstetricians at the EBH and the PRH whereas there is an emergent need for simulation training in child birth and the care of a woman giving birth, at these remote locations.

ICAHN School of Medicine at Mount Sinai also serves in the capacity of providing continuing medical education (CME) to our permanent medial staff. The unique on-site academic training helps the medical staff maintain their competency and learn about new and developing areas of their field while working in the remote and urban areas on the reservation.

This sole source contracting action is pursuing a waiver from placing an order on a competitive basis pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements and is based on the market research that was conducted and resulted in no vendors. There is no evidence of capabilities with respect to simulation education and no apparent experience in an emergency department environment.

In addition, our contract requires clinically based simulations that will be led by physician educations nor evidence that vendors demonstrate experience staffing ED physician educations. The total estimated value is less than $25,000.00. Responses to this notice must demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government, would not be cost or time prohibitive, and would not hinder the mission objective of our agency standardization.

The determination not to compete this proposed contract action is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered for the purposes of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred by responding to this notice. This is NOT a request for quotes or proposals.

Questions or comments to this Notice of Intent should be directed to Ursula Maslonka, Contract Specialist at Ursula.Maslonka@ihs.gov via e-mail only (phone calls/voice mail messages regarding questions will not be accepted and will not receive a response). Please indicate in the subject of your email: Notice of Intent Question Submission – IHS1487419, ICAHN School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.