Opportunity Overview
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service, Albuquerque Area Indian Health Service has an open Sources Sought notice, SS_OPERATOR_CERT_TRAINING_OEHE, for Operator Certification Exam Preparation Training. The notice is market research to determine whether an Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE) set-aside or, if needed, a total small-business set-aside can support the requirement. It is not a formal solicitation, request for proposals, or award.
Response Deadline
Responses are due October 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time (MDT). The official SAM.gov notice controls all response requirements and any subsequent changes.
Applicant-Relevant Value and Cost Share
No contract ceiling or estimated award value is stated in the public Sources Sought materials reviewed by Atlas. Match or cost share is not applicable because this is federal procurement market research, not a grant. The notice does not promise reimbursement for costs incurred in preparing a response.
Eligibility and Set-Aside
IHS is assessing capable Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises and the potential for a total small-business set-aside. Respondents must identify business size and socioeconomic status, maintain applicable SAM.gov registration, complete the IHS IEE Representation Form when applicable, and be able to perform as an EPA-recognized operator certification body. EPA identifies the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona and United South and Eastern Tribes as approved tribal drinking-water operator certification providers, in addition to state-approved programs and EPA’s national tribal program; each organization would still need to determine whether it can satisfy this procurement’s complete business and performance requirements.
Scope
The contemplated work includes certification-exam preparation training for water distribution Levels I-IV, water treatment Levels I-IV, wastewater collections Levels I-IV, wastewater treatment Levels I-IV, and utility management. The provider must support virtual, blended, and in-person training and exam sessions; use current ABC and ITCA Federal Register exams; issue and maintain operator-in-training, new, renewal, and reciprocal certifications; and operate a Section 508-compliant public website for training schedules, applications, and resources.
IHS anticipates approximately 100-200 certification applications annually and 8-15 trainings annually, generally serving 25-30 operators per training. Performance is expected primarily in rural locations throughout the continental United States and Alaska, with virtual delivery when requested.
Response Requirements and Attachments
Respondents should provide company name and SAM/UEI information; business size and socioeconomic status; the completed IHS IEE Representation Form identifying whether the firm meets the IEE definition; a capability statement, brochure and/or relevant past-performance information; answers to the notice’s market-research questions; and any proposed alternate NAICS code with rationale if applicable. The public notice includes two attachments: Operator Certification SOW_v1.docx and IHS IEE Representation Form_Jan 2022_508 Compliant.pdf.
Contact
The primary contracting contact is Stephanie Begay, Albuquerque Area Indian Health Service. Respondents should use the contact information and submission instructions shown in the official SAM.gov notice.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 42/100. This is useful early-stage federal market intelligence with a clear future procurement pathway, but it is only a Sources Sought notice and requires highly specialized operator-certification authority and delivery infrastructure.
N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. The requirement concerns water/wastewater operator certification, training, testing, and credential administration. There is no legitimate remote physical-examination use case, so Atlas will not force N9+ into the opportunity.
Direct-vendor disposition: No Bid. Dr. Miltie/QC Healthcare has not been verified as an EPA-recognized operator certification body, ISBEE, or provider of the required national water/wastewater certification and testing infrastructure. No direct response should be advanced unless those requirements can be legitimately documented.
Official Source and Amendments
SAM.gov opportunity SS_OPERATOR_CERT_TRAINING_OEHE
Atlas verified the notice as posted and updated September 9, 2026. No later amendment was identified in the current public notice history as of September 11, 2026. Respondents should re-check SAM.gov before acting.