HHS SSJ

Sole Source Justification (SSJ)

RFO - FAR 12.102(b) & 12.201-1

1. Acquisition Title: IHS Produce Prescription Pilot Program Support Contract (P4) Division: IHS HQ/OCPS/Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention (DDTP) Contracting Activity: Division of Acquisition Policy, Natasha Bitsoi, Contracting Officer Author: Stacy Hammer, National Nutrition Consultant and Boone Denny, Management Analyst,

CORIII

Basis for approval: Individual
2. Nature and/or Description of the Action being Approved: OCPS/ DDTP requests a sole source firm-fixed-price contract with the Center for Nutrition and Health Impact(CHN) Nebraska for a new requirement to support IHS’ Produce Prescription Pilot Program (P4). The Government projects award for September 25, 2026 using X-year funds. Contractor: The Center for Nutrition and Health Impact Nebraska Performance
Dates/Duration
Unit
Multiplier Total
Period
Price/CLIN
Base Period

12 months

$596,200.00
$596,200.00

3. Description of Supplies and/or Services:

Produce prescription programs have been shown to increase access to nutritious foods in communities at risk for food insecurity. These programs help meet the needs of individuals and families experiencing food insecurity and diet-related health problems by making fruit and vegetables more readily available to communities in need. American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people are disproportionately impacted by food insecurity when compared to non-Native people. They are also more likely to live in areas with low or no access to fresh foods than any other racial or ethnic group. About one in four Native people experience food insecurity, compared to one in nine Americans overall. The higher rates of food insecurity amongst AI/AN people are worsened by water insecurity, loss of land, forced relocation, and environmental pollution, all of which have negatively impacted traditional healthy food practices.
To support Secretary Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) goal of Putting Real Food Back on the American Table, IHS began implementing a pilot produce prescription program in 2023 entitled “Produce Prescription Pilot Program (P4).” The aim of P4 is to demonstrate and evaluate the impact of produce prescription programs on AI/AN people and their families. More specifically, the overall goal is to improve health care outcomes by reducing food insecurity and improving overall dietary health by increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, and traditional foods. In the initial pilot program, IHS awarded $2.5M in grant funding across five grantees with