HHS IHS - Water and Wastewater O&M Training Services - MRAS

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the General Services Administration (GSA), is conducting market research to support the Indian Health Service (IHS) in its mission to provide essential water, sewer, and solid waste facilities for Native American communities. This initiative is authorized under Public Law 86-121, empowering IHS to design, construct, and improve sanitation facilities on or near Indian Reservations. The Environmental Health Support Center (EHSC) coordinates training efforts nationally for the Office of Environmental Health and Engineering (OEHE), facilitating collaboration with all twelve Indian Health Service Areas as well as other governmental and private institutions.

The primary objective of this solicitation is to secure vendors capable of delivering comprehensive training programs focused on the operation and maintenance of tribally owned utility systems. These programs are intended for both tribal utility staff and IHS personnel across the lower 48 States and Alaska. The scope of work involves hands-on training in various aspects of water, wastewater, and solid waste management systems commonly operated by tribes. This includes understanding complex systems such as gravity sewers, lift stations, sand filters, sequencing batch reactors, groundwater wells, surface water treatment methods like disinfection and filtration, as well as solid waste management strategies including transfer stations and curbside pickup programs.

Vendors are expected to offer both off-the-shelf solutions as well as customized training tailored to specific needs. Instructor qualifications are a crucial factor in vendor selection; instructors should possess at least five years' experience in relevant fields with a preference for those holding operator certification levels 2 or higher. Additionally, experience in adult education techniques is essential to ensure effective knowledge transfer during training sessions. Vendors must demonstrate their ability to develop detailed course proposals that include objectives, agendas, instructor credentials, cost breakdowns for course delivery components such as preparation time and travel expenses.

Upon identification of specific training needs by IHS, vendors will be required to submit detailed proposals outlining their approach to delivering these educational services. Proposals must comply with existing GSA contract terms regarding cost limitations for salaries and travel expenses. Successful proposals will lead to work being ordered via BPA Calls at a single unit price per execution.