ISBEE or IEE Authorized Distributor for F5 BIG-IP Enterprise Licensing, Maintenance and Technical Support

Federal · Department of Health and Human Services · Indian Health ServiceDue Friday, October 16, 2026

Client: Department of Health and Human Services · Indian Health Service
RFP Number: —
Posted: 10/11/2026
Category: US Federal
Budget: —
NAICS: 541519
Set-aside: Buy Indian Set-Aside (specific to Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Services)
Contact: Jesse Weidow
Email: jesse.weidow@hhs.gov

Description

AI Generated

The Indian Health Service (IHS) seeks market research to identify qualified sources capable of furnishing brand-name F5 Networks, Inc. products, licensing, and support. The requested scope includes transitioning IHS to F5's Enterprise Licensing Agreement flexible-consumption configuration, providing required field-upgrade components, delivering electronic license keys, and maintaining continuous F5 support. IHS will perform all physical installation, and contractor access to systems, networks, or data is not anticipated under the base requirement. IHS encourages responses from all capable sources, specifically aiming to determine if two or more Indian Economic Enterprises (IEEs) or Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEEs) can submit competitive offers. Small and large businesses may also respond. Interested parties must submit electronic responses in PDF or Microsoft Word format, capped at 10 pages, via email by October 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. Respondents claiming IEE or ISBEE status must complete and submit the IHS Indian Economic Enterprise Representation form. The anticipated period of performance consists of a one-year base period from December 15, 2026, to December 14, 2027, plus two one-year option periods extending through December 14, 2029. The document details no budget figures or evaluation scoring criteria.

Key solicitation details

AI-extracted from Sources Sought.pdf. Confirm against the original documents before bidding.

The Indian Health Service is conducting market research to identify qualified sources capable of furnishing brand-name FS Networks products, licensing, and support. The requirement transitions IHS to an Enterprise Licensing Agreement model for its existing platform. Interested and capable sources, including IEEs and ISBEEs, are encouraged to submit capability statements.

Issued by: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Indian Health Service (IHS), Headquarters, Office of Information Technology (OIT)
Response Due Date: October 16, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
How to submit: Electronic submission via email
Submission details: Submit responses in PDF or Microsoft Word format, not to exceed 10 pages, referencing FS BIG-IP ELA Sources Sought - IHS HQ/OIT in the subject line.
Contract term: Base: 12/15/2026-12/14/2027; Option Year 1: 12/15/2027-12/14/2028; Option Year 2: 12/15/2028 -12/14/2029
Place of performance: Headquarters Data Centers in Albuquerque, NM, and Rockville, MD
Funding: Buy Indian Act (HHSAR Subpart 326.71)

Scope of work

FS BIG-IP hardware appliances (r5920-DF and r5900 series, or current FS-approved successor models)
Associated software schedules and licensing for hardware
FIPS 140 Ready licensing (perpetual)
Required connectivity/power field-upgrade components
FS Enterprise Licensing Agreement (ELA) Annual Billing and Software ELA Annual Billing
FS Premium First Line Support by U.S. Nationals in the United States
Electronic delivery of license keys, entitlements, and registration/support documentation

Minimum qualifications

Current F5-authorized reseller/partner capable of providing the F5 ELA/flexible-consumption (Option 3) licensing model for a U.S. federal government end user

Documents to include with the bid

General capability statement
IHS Indian Economic Enterprise Representation form (if claiming IEE or ISBEE status)

Official SAM.gov notice

Solicitation number: SS-REQT-IHS-2026-00335
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Buying office: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA) › Program Support Center ACQ MGMT SVC
Notice type: Sources Sought
Responses due: Oct 16, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
Posted on SAM.gov: Oct 9, 2026
NAICS: 541519 · Other Computer Related Services
Product/service code: 7G21
Set-aside: Buy Indian Set-Aside (specific to Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Services)
Place of performance: Rockville, VA
Contracting contact: Jesse Weidow
jesse.weidow@hhs.gov

Read the official notice description

See attachment. The Indian Health Service (IHS) is conducting market research in accordance with FAR Part 10 and HHSAR Subpart 326.71 (Acquisitions Under the Buy Indian Act), as revised by HHSAR Class Deviation 2026-25 (effective October 1, 2026), to identify qualified sources capable of furnishing the brand-name FS Networks, Inc. ("FS") products, licensing, and support described below. This notice is specifically intended to determine whether there is a reasonable expectation of receiving two or more competitive offers from Indian Economic Enterprises (IEEs) and/or Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEEs), as those terms are defined at HHSAR 326. 7101, prior to IHS determining its final competition and acquisition strategy. IHS currently operates an FS BIG-IP/Local Traffic Manager (LTM) enterprise platform supporting network and application services at its Headquarters Data Centers in Albuquerque, NM, and Rockville, MD. The current FS support contract (IHS Order 75H70424F80005, via NASA SEWP) expires December 14, 2026. The renewal requirement must begin December 15, 2026, with no lapse in FS licensing, entitlement, or manufacturer support. The requirement transitions IHS from a hardware warranty/support model to FS's current Enterprise Licensing Agreement (ELA)/flexible-consumption configuration ("Option 3"), while retaining the existing FS BIG-IP/LTM platform. This is a brand-name FS requirement based on IHS's existing investment in FS-specific infrastructure, staff training, application configuration, and security validation. IHS personnel will perform all physical installation; no contractor access to IHS systems, networks, or data is anticipated under the base requirement.

Source: SAM.gov contract opportunities data (U.S. federal public data).

Incumbent

No incumbent history found for this requirement. The notice does not cite a current contract, and no earlier award from this buying office matches it.

Market context

Awards in the same category (Other Computer Related Services). This is not this requirement's award history.

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Source: USAspending.gov federal award data (U.S. federal public data). A contract is called the incumbent only when the notice or its documents cite it by number.

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1 available fileDocuments checked Oct 11, 2026

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