Contracting Officer (90C), Department of Veterans Affairs, North Texas Health Care System, 4500 South Lancaster Road, Dallas, TX 75216

65 -- ROBOTIC CENTRALIZED DRUG DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM POC Adam Dearing, (214) 302-7520 The VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, Texas, intends to negotiate a sole source commercial item acquisition with McKesson Automated Healthcare 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. The unit is designed to retrieve medications in bar coded packages at a central location for distribution to VA North Texas Health Care System remote locations, scanning patient identification bar codes and each patient does that is returned daily. The system includes 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 earlier sources sought announcement and market surveys that verify the Robot-Rx system is a sole source item. Any subsequent information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. This decision is solely within the descretion of the Government. Sole source acquisition document will be issued o/a July 6, 1998. See Note 22. (0173)

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