Department of Veterans Affairs, National Acquisition Center, P.O. Box 76, Bldg. 37, Hines, IL 60141-0076

65 -- SOURCES SOUGHT FOR AUTOMATED PHARMACEUTICAL DISPENSING SYSTEMS SOL 90N-P2 Autodispensing System DUE 030199 POC Patricia P. McKay (708) 786-5251 SOURCES SOUGHT -- The VA National Acquisition Center (NAC) is conducting market research into the availability of automated pharmaceutical dispensing systems. The intent is to provide adequate medication dispensing support on-site to prevent the need for patients to visit VA outpatient or private sector pharmacies. The system may be used in outpatient settings without a staff pharmacist. The system must be able to fit easily within an office setting. Vendors are encouraged to submit descriptions of equipment which will perform the following desired functions: 1. Bi-directional interface to the VistA automated clinical records system and Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) to provide streamlined processing from initial ordering through delivery of medication to the patient. The VA wishes to avoid intermediate or redundant processing through a proprietary software environment. The system should accept input from VistA that includes new, renewal, or refill prescriptions via manual data entry, bar code reader, or through use of smart-card technology. The system must return information on the filled prescription to VistA. The system must allow input from multiple sites within the clinic setting. 2. Dispense commercially prepared and prepacked items, generally a ten-day supply of medication. For some medications, such as antibiotics, the system would be expected to dispense the total quantity. A limited formulary would be used, estimated at 60 drugs. The system must meet temperature storage standards and maintain good accountability. 3. Perform quality assurance through barcode verification to ensure that the drug requested is the drug dispensed. 4. Print prescription labels in accordance with VA requirements, and for standard-size vials, automatically affix label to the container. The system must utilize industry standard and commonly utilized bar-coded labels and containers. 5. Provide patient educational information, including a picture of the medication and its identifying marks, touch-screen educational programming, interactive question and answer queues, and documentation of such activities in the patient's clinical record in VistA. As an example, the system would show a patient a video on proper use of an inhaler, and the system would delay dispensing the prescribed inhaler until the patient passes a test on the video's content. 6. Determine frequency of dispensing and automatically re-order pharmaceutical stocks. As an option, the VA may wish to include controlled substances in the drug formulary. Please describe any additional security measures that would be required, and an estimate of additional cost. As an alternative to purchasing equipment, the VA is highly interested in a service arrangement wherein the vendor owns, stocks, and maintains the system described above and is paid a fee for prescriptions filled. The VA wil consider alternate methods of auto-dispensing medications other than those described herein. Interested vendors are asked to submit a condensed narrative description of proposed equipment or services, including any published descriptive literature, and pricing estimates. Vendors should indicate whether the equipment is available through rental, lease, or purchase. For service arrangements, the vendor should describe its restocking policies and the usual period of service. Information is due to the contracting officer by March 1, 1999. Posted 01/28/99 (W-SN292353). (0028)

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