Chinle IHS Posts Shredding Services Request, Local Firms Asked to Respond

The Indian Health Service posted a sources sought procurement notice for shredding services at the Chinle facility on November 14, 2025, according to a HigherGov listing. Identified as Sources Sought TB26 002, the notice named Chinle, Arizona as the place of performance and requested industry responses and contact information for the IHS Chinle contracting staff. The HigherGov posting showed a submission due date of November 21, 2025 and listed Tanya Begay and Nora Nutlouis as primary contacts for questions.

The posting invited local contractors and businesses that provide secure document destruction and shredding to respond to the solicitation, signaling an opening for small, local service providers to compete for federal work at the Chinle health facility. Responses were requested within one week of the posting, a short window that emphasized prompt engagement by interested vendors. Because the notice was a sources sought action, it was designed to gauge industry capacity and interest rather than to award a contract immediately.

For Apache County businesses, the notice represented a tangible procurement opportunity tied directly to clinic operations. Secure shredding supports routine records management and compliance at the health facility, and federal work can provide steady revenue for small service providers, logistical work for local staff, and potential for future contracting relationships. The Chinle facility is part of the Indian Health Service network, and contracts for operational services such as document destruction are one of the ways local firms can link to federal supply chains.

The procurement notice also illustrates common federal acquisition practice, where agencies first assess the market through sources sought notices to shape formal solicitations. The presence of named contracting contacts allowed vendors to seek clarifications about requirements and submission instructions. Local firms that submitted responses to the November 21 deadline positioned themselves to be considered if the IHS issues a formal solicitation or subsequent procurement action.

Looking ahead, successful engagement by Apache County shredding and document management businesses could translate into recurring service agreements, especially if the clinic adopts standing arrangements for routine destruction of sensitive records. The notice underscores the practical intersection of federal procurement, local small business opportunity, and clinic compliance needs in Chinle. Contractors with secure handling and disposal capabilities who are not yet registered with federal vendor systems may want to track future IHS solicitations and maintain current contact with Chinle contracting staff for upcoming opportunities.