Comprehensive Pharmacy Management Services

The vendor is required to provide pharmaceutical management services will include the overall management of the agency pharmacy including, but not limited to, pharmaceuticals, staffing, management, clinical and research services, and oversight as detailed below.
- Pharmaceuticals
•    Provide all medications, iv solutions, equipment, chemicals and other pharmaceutical preparations, as currently supplied and procured by the department and will retain decision-making authority in wholesaler and buying group alternatives.
•    Supervise and manage the purchasing of all pharmacy supplies and pharmaceuticals.
•    Implement and provide a hospital type, modified unit dose drug distribution system utilizing the medication distribution system decided by the facility.
•    Facility utilizes a cart fill system. 
•    The contractor must initially provide services using a cart-based system with a minimum of 2 cart exchanges per week.
•    Medications not provided in unit dose form from the manufacturer will be put in locally prepared, USP approved, unit dose packaging.
•    Ensure emergency and night drug boxes are in specific locations of the inpatient care areas.
•    Facilities to purchase drugs not included in the formulary that ultimately requires the approval of the facility pharmacy and therapeutics committee.
- Staffing
•    Provide full-time, on-site, coverage by a director of pharmacy who is licensed by the state. 
•    Agreed-upon staffing is three (3) registered pharmacists, including the director of pharmacy.
•    Provide a pharmacy director and pharmacist staff as described above.
•    The right to accept or reject any proposed staffing of personnel as well as the right, if dissatisfied with the performances of any personnel, to require withdrawal of personnel from the pharmacy.
•    Pharmacy or staff pharmacist position due to termination, leave of absence, or paid time-off, the contractor shall provide a qualified, licensed, temporary director or staff pharmacist, as the case may be, until the permanent position is recruited and trained.
- Management
•    The pharmacy for the joint commission reviews, centers for medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) reviews, justice center, office of the state comptroller (OSC), internal management audits, and any other review which is required to maintain legal and regulatory compliance.
•    All medication management standards and pharmacy service conditions are multidisciplinary, the contractor shall work with nursing, physicians, and other hospital departments and staff members that are deemed necessary to ensure compliance of all medication and pharmacy related regulations.
•    Responsible for participating in facility committees, including the pharmacy and therapeutics committee, drug monitoring committee, medical staff executive committee, and other committees or meetings upon request. 
•    Responsibilities for reporting to these committees will include, but not limited to, the following:
o    Adverse drug reaction review
o    Formulary changes
o    FDA drug recalls
o    Missing drug reports
o    Drug and antibiotic utilization review
o    Medication variance reporting
o    Pharmacy department performance improvement indicator
•    The pharmacy director available for meetings sponsored by office and regional pharmacy directors’ meetings as needed and required for efficient and up-to-date operation of the pharmacy within the office system.
•    Participate in providing hospital training programs relative to drug distribution and pharmaceutical care initiatives including error reduction and orientation for new clinical staff.
•    All proper monitoring and evaluation procedures are followed per facility policy and directions of the facility quality management department.
•    Provide regional and national corporate support and oversight of operational systems, clinical, research and regulatory compliance activities, and administrative programs implemented at state.
- Clinical services
•    The individuals supervised by the contractor to provide clinical pharmacy services, including calls to physicians and nursing staff, as necessary, to monitor and alter prescribing.
•    The pharmacist, upon receipt of a written prescription, to review all orders and patient profiles, prior to dispensing, for drug allergies and interactions.
o    Drug – drug
o    Drug – food
o    Drug – disease state
o    Drug dose
o    Drug – allergy
o    Drug incompatibility
•    Any discrepancies must be clarified with the prescribing physician before proceeding to complete the order and preparing the medication for packaging and dispensing.
•    Full chart reviews may be performed by the contractor, as necessary, to provide routine pharmaceutical care and monitor for laboratory tests or drug efficacy, as well as for specific facility-required quality management monitoring.
•    Provide consultation on review of medication storage areas including the nursing stations and the day-treatment center.
•    All policies and procedures as promulgated by the facility pharmacy and therapeutics committee, the facility administration, and office.
•    Involved in maintaining formulary control through the role of the pharmacy director in the pharmacy and therapeutics committee.
- Research services
•    Meet with a principal investigator or designee(s) prior to the commencement of any research protocol to review, among other things, the protocol objectives; medications involved; whether placebo controlled; blinded or open; randomization procedures, if any; costs involved; pharmaceutical source; dispensing particulars and special handling.
•    Prepare a cost estimate for the principal investigator relating to the costs of pharmaceuticals required for the protocol, as well as services provided by the pharmacy. 
•    Prepare timely invoices of pharmacy charges. 
•    Prepare and maintain a study binder for each protocol involving human subjects or a drug approval appendix for animal care and use protocols, order and dispense pharmaceuticals as per protocol, and institute policy. 
•    Prepare a protocol dispensing summary sheet for each protocol that includes minimally, the object of the study, dispensing procedures, alerts, randomization procedures, special handling information, etc. 
•    Prepare and maintain a pharmacy drug accountability record for each protocol regarding inventory, dispensing, and destruction and return of medication if necessary. 
•    Safely manage, control, and monitor the use of investigational medications used in research protocols and conduct periodic site audits as indicated. 
•    Develop and maintain the pharmacy’s research policy and procedure manual. 
•    Develop and maintain procedures for compounding, including procedures for capsulation and liquid transfers. 
•    Collaboration with the department of comparative medicine regarding the use of controlled substances for the department’s research protocols. 
•    Meet with study monitors, sponsors, FDA, and any governmental agency as need regarding research studies and pharmacy operations.

- Contract Period/Term: 5 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: August 7, 2025