Project Information

Bid Title

RFP 138 Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital Pharmaceutical Services

Issuing Agency

State of Vermont

Location

Vermont

Published Date

Apr 24, 2026

Closing Date

Jun 4, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

TITLE	QUESTIONS DUE	ANSWERS POSTED	DUE DATE	NO POSTING AFTER
RFP 138 Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital Pharmaceutical Services	05/14/2026 04:00PM		06/04/2026 04:00PM

Attachment Preview

Department of Mental Health

166 Horseshoe Drive | Waterbury VT 05671-20110

802-241-0090 phone |802-241-0100 fax

SEALED BID

Request For Proposal

RFP 138 Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital Pharmaceutical Services

ISSUE DATE

QUESTIONS DUE

RFP RESPONSES DUE BY

April 23, 2026

May 14, 2026 – 4:00 PM (EST)

June 4, 2026 – 4:00 PM (EST)

Please be advised that all notifications, releases, and addendums associated with this

RFP will be posted at:

Public Solicitations: Vermont Buys

DMH Careers and Opportunities

And

Vermont Business Registry and Bid System - Home

STATE CONTACT:

E-MAIL :

Jennifer Rowell

AHS.DMHSubmissions@vermont.gov

The state will make no attempt to contact interested parties with updated information. It is the responsibility of

each bidder to periodically check the above webpage for any and all notifications, releases and addendums

associated with this RFP.

If you speak a language not listed on the website below or require additional help, we offer free language

assistance services. The State of Vermont contracts with several Translation Services organizations, and you can

visit this page for more information Language Access | Department of Mental Health.

If you require assistance with technology, access, or have other issues with being able to complete your proposal,

reach out to the single point of contact.

1

1. OVERVIEW:

1.1. SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Through this Request for Proposal (RFP) the

Department of Mental Health (DMH, hereinafter the “State”) is seeking to establish

contracts with one or more companies that can provide Pharmaceutical Services to the

Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital.

1.1.1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION: The Vermont Agency of Human Services

(AHS) strives to improve the conditions and well-being of Vermonters by ensuring

all Vermonters have the opportunity to thrive in inclusive, equitable, and resilient

communities. The scope of AHS is profound. Through its six departments, twelve

district offices, and a network of community partners and providers, it is responsible

for the implementation and delivery of all human service programs within the state.

Each department has a distinct area of focus and responsibility and contributes to

the creation and sustenance of an entire system of human service supports.

The Department of Mental Health (DMH) resides under AHS and has the same

critical mission in mind. DMH promotes mental health as a vital part of overall well-

being by advancing prevention, early intervention, and recovery-focused care. Our

vision is that mental health serves as a cornerstone of health in Vermont, where

inclusive communities respond with compassion and respect, enabling all

Vermonters to thrive and participate fully in their lives. This work is guided by our

core values of compassion, equity, integrity, collaboration, and accountability.

The Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital (VPCH) resides under DMH and is dedicated

to improving the health and well-being of one of Vermont’s most vulnerable

populations.  Offering a state-of-the-art facility designed to promote and enhance

recovery, the 25-bed, acute care hospital offers patient areas designed for comfort,

dignity, and safety. Our mission is to provide excellent care and treatment in a

recovery-oriented, safe and respectful environment which promotes empowerment,

hope and quality of life for the individuals we serve. Our vision is to be a center for

excellence in the provision of mental health treatment and recovery as well as a site

for education and collaboration with the community and the individuals we serve.

VPCH respects individuals and their life goals and empathizes with the challenges of

achieving empowerment even in an involuntary setting. We encourage individual

rights and responsibilities toward the attainment of personal goals and actively

partners in their achievements.  We believe in the individual’s ability to recover from

life crises.

1.2. CONTRACT PERIOD: Contracts arising from this RFP will be for a period of three

years with an option to renew for up to two years. The State anticipates the start date

for such contract(s) will be in November, 2026.

1.3. SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT: All communications concerning this RFP are to be

addressed in writing to the State Contact listed on the front page of this RFP. Actual or

attempted contact with any other individual from the State concerning this RFP is strictly

prohibited and may result in disqualification.

1.4. QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD: Any bidder requiring clarification of any section of

this RFP or wishing to comment on any requirement of the RFP must submit specific

questions in VT Buys no later than the deadline for questions indicated on the first page

Revised: February 13, 2026

Page 2 of 13

of this RFP. If a bidder is experiencing system issues and cannot submit a question in

VT Buys, questions should be e-mailed to the single point of contact on the front page

of this RFP.

Questions or comments not submitted on or before the last day of the question period

are thereafter waived. At the close of the question period a copy of all questions or

comments and the State's responses will be posted through an addendum to this

solicitation in VTBuys and also posted on the DMH website on the Funding

Opportunities tab (Funding Opportunities | Department of Mental Health). Every effort

will be made to post this information as soon as possible after the question period ends,

contingent on the number and complexity of the questions. All information provided by

vendors during this process will be public and bidders shall not provide confidential

information.

CHANGES TO THIS RFP: Any modifications to this RFP will be made in VT Buys by

the State through the issuance of an Addendum to this RFP as well as posted on the

DMH website and the Vermont Business Registry. Modifications from any other source

are not to be considered.

1.5. SOURCE OF FUNDS: The Department anticipates using a combination of state and

federal funds or the resulting contract(s). The Department may choose to modify the

source of funding contingent upon the availability of funds at the time of award. Any

selected Vendor will be subject to the requirements in the Assistance Listing Number

(ALN) #93.778, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare

and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Please note that when procurements are supported by federal funds, SOV business

users must take affirmative steps that include at least the following Socioeconomic

affirmative steps per 2 C.F.R. § 200.321:

1. Placing qualified small and minority businesses and women’s business enterprises

on solicitation lists;

2. Assuring that small and minority businesses and women’s business enterprises are

solicited whenever they are potential sources;

3. Dividing total requirements, when economically feasible, into smaller tasks or

quantities to permit maximum participation by small and minority businesses, and

women’s business enterprises;

4. Establishing delivery schedules, where the requirement permits, which encourage

participation by small and minority businesses, and women’s business enterprises;

5. Using the services and assistance, as appropriate, of such organizations as the

Small Business Administration and the Minority Business Development Agency of

the Department of Commerce; and

6. Requiring the prime/general contractor, if subcontracts are to be let, to take the

same affirmative steps as listed in numbers 1 through 5.

Revised: February 13, 2026

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This project is being funded in whole or in part using federal monies. If a bidder requires

assistance in preparing their proposal or needs guidance on socioeconomic certifications,

the bidder may contact the VT APEX Accelerator. The APEX Accelerator specializes in

helping small businesses navigate the documentation associated with State and Federal

procurement. Their website is: http://apex.vermont.gov

2. DETAILED REQUIREMENTS/DESIRED OUTCOMES:

2.1. The State of Vermont is interested in obtaining bids to meet the following business

need(s): Provide pharmaceutical services to the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital.

2.2. The State of Vermont seeks to achieve the following Business Values:

2.2.1. Compliance: The new solution meets a previously unmet State or Federal

compliance requirement.

2.2.2. Customer Service: The new solution meets the needs of the individuals we serve

and supports clinical staff.

2.3 Scope of Work & Expected Activities

Respondents will address each of the following:

2.3.1 Pharmacy Operations

2.3.1.1 The contractor must ensure full compliance with all applicable

regulatory and accreditation bodies, including:

2.3.1.1.1 Vermont Board of Pharmacy

2.3.1.1.2 Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

2.3.1.1.3 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

2.3.1.1.4 The Joint Commission

2.3.1.1.5 Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA)

2.3.1.2

The contractor must provide Clinical Licensed Pharmacists and

Licensed Pharmacy Technician to be on site at the hospital during

normal business hours.

2.3.1.3

The contractor must collaborate with contracted vendors for supply

management, equipment use, and medication validation outside

regular business hours.

2.3.2 Distributive Functions

The contractor will be responsible for:

Revised: February 13, 2026

Page 4 of 13

2.3.2.1

Procuring, repackaging, dispensing, ordering, distributing, and properly

storing and disposing of all medications, including NIOSH-listed and

hazardous drugs

2.3.2.2

Collecting patient-specific information necessary to verify medication

orders from VPCH’s Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE)

system to ensure safe medication delivery

2.3.2.3 Maintaining all documentation required by regulatory agencies

2.3.2.4 Managing inventory effectively, incorporating cost considerations

where appropriate

2.3.2.5 Overseeing automated dispensing machines (ADMs), including

maintenance, monitoring functionality, and restocking as needed

2.3.3 Clinical Functions

The contractor will:

2.3.3.1

Actively participate in patient care, including admission and discharge

medication reviews, and document all clinical activities in the electronic

health record (EHR)

2.3.3.2 Attend interdisciplinary treatment team meetings and patient rounds

2.3.3.3 Participate in clinical leadership and medication management

meetings

2.3.3.4 Ensure clinical pharmacists are highly knowledgeable in the patient

population and demonstrate leadership in pharmaceutical care

2.3.3.5 Provide medication management support within the EHR and assist

medical staff as needed

2.3.4 Quality Improvement

The contractor will:

2.3.4.1 Lead and participate in performance improvement initiatives as

required by regulatory agencies

2.3.4.2 Collaborate with leadership to monitor and improve medication-related

patient safety

2.3.4.3 Monitor adherence to protocols for high-risk or specialty medications

and report findings to medical staff

2.3.5 Leadership Functions

The contractor will:

2.3.5.1 Chair the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee

Revised: February 13, 2026

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Commodity Codes

• NAICS 325412Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing

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