Olin E. Teague Veterans' Center (90C), Chief Logistics Management Service, 1901 South First St., Temple, TX 76504

65 -- ROBOTIC RX CENTRALIZED DRUG DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM SOL 674-23-98 POC Robert L. Stringer 254-771-4568 Department of Veterans Affairs. The Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS), Temple, Texas intends to negotiate a sole source Commercial Item Acquisition with McKesson Automated Healthcare, Inc., for a Robot-Rx Automated Pharmacy Centralized Robotic Drug Distribution System. The Robot-Rx uses 100% robotics and bar coding and is designed to be a centralized drug distribution system that automates the storage, retrieval, dispensing, returning, restocking and crediting of bar coded unit dose inpatient medications. It is designed to dispense 6,685 unit doses per day, utilizing bar code technology to eliminate manual dispensing errors, retrieval of medications in bar coded packages at a central location for distribution to CTVHCS remote locations, scanning patient identification bar codes and each patient dose that is returned daily. The acquisitions costs include interface and site preparation, installation, rental, hardware maintenance, software support and upgrades, envelope system, and initial operating supplies. A determination by the Government not to compete this procurement is based on lack of response to a earlier Sources Sought Announcement and Market Survey that verified that the Robot-Rx System is a sole source item. Any subsequent information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determing whether to conduct a competitive procurement. This decision is solely within the discretion of the Government. Sole source acquisition document will be issued on March 16, 1998. SIC Code: 3559. Contact: Robert L. Stringer, Contract Specialist (90C), Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, 1901 South 1st Street, Temple, Texas 76504. (0072)

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