RFP 27-87787 Statewide Pharmacy Services for the IDOC Attachment F Technical Proposal

The Indiana Department of Correction Health Services Division provides the highest available quality of care to incarcerated individuals. The Physical Health, Behavioral Health and Transitional Health Services provide various pharmacy services within our facilities as well as ensuring medication continuation once released back into the community.

For sections that involve performance measures, the IDOC has the right to add, revise, or delete performance measures and audit tools during the course of the contract.

Instructions: Please provide answers in the shaded areas to all questions. Reference all attachments in the shaded area.

Respondent’s Name:

2.4.1 Scope of Work/General

The Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) is seeking a comprehensive pharmacy vendor that provides end to end pharmacy service delivery to approximately 25,000-28,000 incarcerated individuals over the term of the contract resulting from this RFP. These individuals are incarcerated in eighteen (18) adult correctional facilities and three (3) juvenile correctional facilities located throughout the State of Indiana. A complete list of the IDOC correctional facilities along with the custody level of each facility is included in this RFP as ATTACHMENT A – IDOC Facility Security Levels, ATTACHMENT D- Facility Addresses, and ATTACHMENT E- Facility Bed County

The IDOC is currently in the process of constructing a new correctional facility located in Northwestern Indiana. The new facility is projected to open in 2027.

The Respondent should respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. The response should also include a narrative that supports Respondent’s ability to meet the scope of work by detailing prior experience, clients, and available resources related to the provision of medical services to institutions.

2.4.2 Vendor Responsibilities

The Vendor shall provide end-to-end pharmacy service delivery, beginning with the processing of prescriptions upon receipt of a prescribing provider’s order and continuing through the dispensing of medication at all Department facilities, where licensed nursing staff administer the medications as ordered.

In addition to fulfilling patient-specific prescriptions, the Vendor shall also provide stock medications necessary for clinical care within the 21 Department Facilities to include the inpatient infirmaries.

The scope of end-to-end comprehensive pharmacy service delivery includes but not limited to:

1- Sourcing and purchasing of medications through the states MMCAP program 2- Delivery of prescription and stock medications 3- Packaging and dispensing of medications for patient-specific use 4- Provision of pharmacy advisory and clinical pharmacy services 5- Support and maintenance of IT systems related to pharmacy operations 6- Independent pharmacy audits of 340B program 7- Administration and oversight of pharmacy services; and 8- Implementation, integration, and maintenance of EHR systems

The Respondent shall respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. Please describe the reports your time keeping system is capable of providing.

2.4.3 Cost Savings and Value

The Vendor will engage in a continuous cost-savings partnership with the Department to achieve the best overall value for the state. The Vendor will describe the commitment and demonstrate methods for identifying and implementing cost-containment strategies. The Vendor must also agree to use the state’s approved MMCAP program for obtaining medications. Any medications that are not able to be obtained through the state’s approved MMCAP program shall receive approval from the IDOC Health Services Team. The Vendor shall provide a monthly report with the approved rationale for obtaining medications outside of the MMCAP program.

The Respondent shall respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. Respondent should provide a staffing proposal that provides at a minimum the staffing set forth in the Minimum Staffing Document attached to this RFP as ATTACHMENT B – Staffing Document.

2.4.4 Comprehensive Pharmaceutical Services

The Vendor shall provide a full spectrum of pharmaceutical services, including the ability and willingness to supply and manage. Provide your controlled-substance diversion prevention program, including storage security, access controls, suspicious order monitoring, reconciliation cadence, and incident response.

The Respondent shall respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. Respondent should provide a narrative, along with any supporting documentation, of how it proposes to meet this specification including narrative of how it intends to handle vacancies to comply with the specifications set forth herein.

2.4.5 Drug Acquisition and Pricing

The vendor shall acquire formulary and non-formulary drugs at the lowest possible cost through use of the state’s approved MMCAP program, direct purchasing, group purchasing organizations, or other leveraged procurement methods as available such as 340B Drug pricing programs. Explain how your operations comply with DSCSA (serialization, verification at receipt, suspect/illegitimate product procedures), including system support and turnaround times.

The vendor shall provide unit pricing for the department supplied Formulary and Non-Formulary medications list in attachment B.

The Respondent shall respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. Respondent should provide a narrative, along with any supporting documentation, of how it proposes to meet this specification.

2.4.6 Clinical Pharmacy and Cost-Containment Strategies

The Vendor shall:

· employ clinical-pharmacy practices and prescription-monitoring programs to promote therapeutic effectiveness and cost efficiency

· Use of the state’s approved MMCAP program

· identify and implement strategies addressing high-cost therapeutic classes, including but not limited to:

· Biologics/Biosimilars

· GLP-1 agents

· Hemophilia treatments

· Oncology medications

· HIV medications

· LAI’s (MAT, Mental Health, Physical Health etc)

· Other specialty drugs

The Respondent shall respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. Respondent should also include with its proposal a proposed staffing plan for the services utilizing the “full time equivalent” or “FTE” methodology.

2.4.7 Formulary Management and Committee Participation

The Vendor shall support the Department in formulary management and participate and present during the quarterly Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics (P&T Committee) Meetings.

The Vendor shall demonstrate how they will assist in the following functions:

1- Routine formulary monitoring and review

a. The formulary list will be comprehensive for both adults and juveniles 2- Projecting and updating the IDOC Health Services team of drug shortages and backorders 3- Updating the nonformulary medications lists

a. The nonformulary list will be comprehensive for both adults and juveniles 4- Eliminating duplicative products

a. Managing and auditing duplicative medications for same diagnosis

b. Managing and auditing polypharmacy for physical and mental health 5- Identifying cost-effective therapeutic alternative.

The Respondent shall respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. Respondent should provide a narrative, along with any supporting documentation, of how it proposes to meet this specification.

2.4.8 Service Delivery and Shipping Timeframes

The Vendor shall demonstrate the ability to provide timely delivery of all pharmaceuticals and supplies to prevent lapses in patient treatment. Vendor shall outline a plan for backup medication accrual through courier services or a plan to use local pharmacies when applicable.

The Vendor should describe service and shipping timeframes for the following:

1- Routine orders 2- Stat Orders 3- Specialty medications 4- Emergency deliveries including weekends 5- Daily cut-off times for order processing 6- Seven day per week service delivery

The Respondent shall respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. The Respondent shall respond and describe the ways in which it will ensure a stable and effective workforce to service the needs of this proposal, such a description should address items including, but not limited to, Salary, Benefits, PTO, Vacation time, Flexible Work Schedules, Continuing Education, Work/Life Balance initiatives and other benefits offered to retain staff. Respondent must include a list of the minimum salaries and benefits it will pay for the professional medical positions listed herein for staff providing services under this contract.

2.4.9 Packaging Options

The Indiana Department of Correction primarily receives medications in blister pack cards of a 30-day supply. The Indiana Department of Correction seeks alternative packaging and innovative ideas to cut down on nursing staff time and reducing employee-based medications errors. The vendor shall explain alternative ways for packaging medications that reduce cost associated with nursing staff time spent preparing medications, reduce costs associated with packaging, and ways to reduce human caused errors. The Indiana Department of Correction is open to the following but not limited to:

1- Blister cards 2- Multidose prepackaged bags 3- Single dose packaging 4- Unit dose packaging for stock medications 5- Injectables 6- Packaging for refrigerated and frozen items

The Respondent shall respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. Respondent should provide a narrative, along with any supporting documentation, of how it proposes to meet this specification.

2.4.10 Medication Returns and Credits

The vendor shall demonstrate how they will accept returned, unused medications, and provide full or partial credit to the Indiana Department of Correction in accordance with applicable regulations and best practices.

The Respondent shall respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. Respondent should provide a narrative, along with any supporting documentation, of how it proposes to meet this specification.

2.4.11 Invoicing and Reimbursement

The vendor shall submit timely, accurate, and verifiable invoices for reimbursement of pharmacy services and products.

Invoices shall be billed monthly to reflect charges, credits, refunds, and reflect cost-savings initiatives.

The Respondent shall respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. Respondent should provide a narrative, along with any supporting documentation, of how it proposes to meet this specification. Please describe your program to manage quality of care by using clinical quality metrics.

2.4.12 Fee Structure and Cost Transparency

The Vendor will thoroughly describe the proposed fee structure, ensuring that the vendor is not incentivized to dispense higher-cost medications. The vendor shall include details on:

1- Fee per packaging type 2- Automatic generic substitutions 3- Replacements 4- Returns 5- Charges for prescription profiling 6- Rebates 7- Credits 8- Administration fees 9- Dispensing fees

The Respondent shall respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. Respondent should provide a narrative, along with any supporting documentation, of how it proposes to meet this specification.

2.4.13 Operational Capacity and Miscellaneous Requirement

The Vendor shall demonstrate their capability to process 1.3 million or more prescriptions annually. The vendor shall demonstrate the ability to maintain contingency and backup pharmacy operations to ensure continuity of care during weather events, system outages, or other emergencies. The vendor shall demonstrate ability to provide release medications with short notice or provide backup options to bridge that gap.

The vendor shall describe the process for refilling medications. The Indiana Department of Correction prefers that automatic refill processes not be used. The Vendor shall also recognize that the Indiana Department of Correction maintains a non-formulary medication request process that is managed in the EHR. The vendor shall demonstrate their level of understanding and provide an explanation on how they will honor and implement this process in their workflow.

The vendor shall ensure auditable and readily retrievable records related to pharmacy-based errors. They shall also maintain a documented accuracy/error rate consistent with industry standards.

The Vendor shall uphold cleanliness, licensure, and DEA registration for all pharmacy locations.

The vendor shall disclose any prior compliance or regulatory issues involving pharmacy licensure or DEA registration.

The Respondent should respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. Respondent should provide a narrative, along with any supporting documentation, of how it proposes to meet this specification. Please describe your chronic disease management process with emphasis on case management. Also please indicate the degree in which clinical pharmacists participate in chronic disease management

2.4.14 Minimum Requirement

The Vendor shall at a minimum meet the following requirements:

1- Staffing and operations

a. Maintain a sufficient number of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and administrative staff to ensure uninterrupted operations all at IDOC facilities.

b. Ensure that all staff hold valid and current professional licenses and certifications as required by IC 25-26 et al., and the Indiana State Board of Pharmacy

c. Designate a primary point of contact who shall be responsible for all pharmacy operations, compliance, and reporting under this contract (Pharmacist)

d. Designate a primary point of contact for clinical and operational support

e. Provide 24/7 operational support for critical functions 2- Prescription Processing and Dispensing

a. Process, package, and dispense prescriptions accurately and in accordance with federal and state regulations

b. Maintain systems that are capable of processing 1.3million or more prescriptions annually.

c. Use barcoding, automated verification, or other technology-based safeguards to ensure accuracy and traceability

d. Deliver medications to all 21 IDOC facilities within IDOC approved turnaround times as outlined in Health Care Services Directive 2.15 A/Y, “Medication Management”

e. Provide unit-dose, blister cards, or patient specific pre-packaged dose bags.

3- Inventory and Stock Medication Management

a. Maintain an adequate and secure inventory of formulary and non-formulary drugs to include controlled substances, vaccines, IV fluids, and necessary supplies.

b. Implement a replenishment system for clinic stock medications

c. Implement a replenishment system for provider stock medications

d. Ensure all storage and handling meet DEA and FDA standards and maintain environmental controls for temperature-controlled medications

e. Establish Procedures for medication returns, credits, and waste management 4- Information Technology and System Integration

a. Implement and maintain a pharmacy management system compatible with the IDOC’s EHR and health-operations platforms.

b. Support data exchange through secure, HIPAA-compliant interfaces.

c. Provide system access, user training, and reporting tools that enable IDOC oversight of inventory, dispensing, and cost metrics.

d. Ensure 99.9% system uptime with robust data-backup, disaster-recovery, and business-continuity capabilities.

5- Clinical and Advisory Services

a. Provide comprehensive clinical-pharmacy services, including drug-utilization review, therapeutic substitution recommendations, and pharmacokinetic dosing support.

b. Participate and present during the IDOC’s Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee quarterly

c. Support prescribers with evidence-based therapeutic guidance, cost-effective alternatives, and formulary-adherence strategies.

d. Provide consultative support for specialized therapeutic areas such as biologics, oncology, GLP-1 agents, LAIs and hemophilia.

6- Quality Assurance and Compliance

a. Maintain a documented Quality Assurance Program addressing accuracy, timeliness, inventory control, and regulatory compliance.

b. Conduct regular internal audits and make results available to the Department upon request.

c. Maintain written policies for controlled-substance handling, clinic stock, and provider stock handling and 340B program compliance

d. Ensure full compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, including DEA, FDA, HIPAA, and Indiana Department of Health requirements.

7- Independent 340B Oversight and Compliance Monitoring

a. Complete yearly 340B mock audits on site at chosen facilities

b. Complete yearly 340B mock desk audits

c. Complete mock audits of IDOC 340B policies and procedures

8- Training and Support

a. Provide initial and ongoing training for Department medical and administrative staff on pharmacy systems, medication handling, formulary procedures, and reporting tools.

b. Ensure accessible technical and clinical support during standard and after-hours operations, including weekends and holidays.

9- Performance Reporting

a. Submit timely and accurate invoices and financial documentation as required in this RFP.

b. Provide periodic performance reports detailing dispensing accuracy, turnaround times, cost-savings initiatives, and compliance metrics.

c. Participate in regular performance-review meetings with the IDOC to discuss operational improvements and cost-containment opportunities.

10- Facility Standards

a. Operate all pharmacy facilities in compliance with applicable health, safety, and cleanliness standards.

b. Maintain current pharmacy licensure and DEA registration and immediately report any compliance actions or violations.

The Respondent should respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. Respondent should provide a narrative, along with any supporting documentation, of how it proposes to meet this specification.

2.4.22 Deliverables and Reporting Requirements

The Vendor shall provide all deliverables and reports required under this Contract in a complete, accurate, and timely manner. All documentation shall be submitted in electronic format unless otherwise specified or requested by the Department. Reports shall be reviewed and approved by the Contract Manager prior to acceptance.

Deliverables shall, at a minimum, include the following:

1. Implementation Plan as described in section 2.4.49

a. The vendor shall describe a detailed plan for implementation of this contract

b. Comprehensive implementation plan shall be submitted within 30 days of contract award date and shall include:

i. Timelines, milestones, staffing assignments and allocations, system integrations, site readiness steps, and risk mitigation measures.

c. The vendor shall not commence full operations until the department has reviewed and approved the implementation plan in writing.

2. Transition Plan

a. The vendor shall submit a detailed transition plan outlining the orderly transfer of pharmacy operations, records, and inventory from the current pharmacy service provider.

b. The transition plan shall identify all key activities, responsible parties, and timelines to ensure continuity of care without disruption of services of day 1 of contract initiation.

3. Routine Operational Reports

a. The Vendor shall provide the following reports to the IDOC:

i. Monthly prescription activity report

ii. Monthly MMCAP exceptions (meds ordered outside of MMCAP with explanation and approval from IDOC)

iii. Monthly prescriptions processed, filled, and shipped

1. Turnaround times, accuracy/error rate

iv. Monthly inventory report

1. Levels, stock utilization, shortages, backorders, expiration management.

2. Formulary Compliance Report

v. Quarterly Reports

1. Prescribing trends, non-formulary usage, recommended substitutions

2. Cost savings and utilization report

3. Polypharmacy reports by discipline (Physical Health, MH Health)

4. Duplicate therapy

5. Cost- containment initiatives, savings achieved, utilization trends by drug class

6. Quality assurance report

7. Internal audit findings, corrective action plans, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.

8. Compliance documentation, auditing outcomes

9. Performance measure reviews

10. 340B Program

11. Other reports as defined and requested

4. Incident and Exception Reporting

a. Report all critical incidents, medication errors, shipment delays, system outages, or data breaches immediately but no later than within twenty-four hours of discovery.

b. Written incidents shall include a description of the event, root-cause analysis, corrective action plans, and future risk mitigation efforts.

5. Ad Hoc and Special Reports

a. The Department may request additional reports for audits, legislative inquiries, emergency events, or executive review.

b. The Vendor shall provide such reports within five (5) business days of the Department’s written request, unless otherwise specified.

6. Performance Review and Meetings

a. Participate in scheduled performance review meetings with the IDOC Health Services Team to review key performance indicators, cost trends, and operational improvements.

b. At a minimum, these meetings shall occur quarterly, with additional meetings at the Department’s discretion.

c. Prepare and distribute a written summary of each meeting within five (5) Business Days following the review.

d. Monthly the vendor shall prepare a written executive summary to highlight monthly information.

The Respondent should respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. Respondent should provide a narrative, along with any supporting documentation, of how it proposes to meet this specification.

2.4.28 Performance Measures and IDOC Audits

The vendor shall perform all services in accordance with industry’s best practices, applicable federal and state laws, and IDOC policies, procedure, and health service directives. The vendor’s performance will be continuously monitored and evaluated by the IDOC quality assurance managers through regularly scheduled and adhoc audits, review of performance measures, reports, quarterly contract pharmacy audits, and internal audits.

The Vendor shall be responsible for all costs associated with IDOC contract monitoring including the salary, benefits, and travel of all IDOC Health Services Division staff. Vendor(s) submitting proposals for comprehensive pharmaceutical services must include the cost associated with contract monitoring. The IDOC requires reimbursement by the vendor for contract monitoring/administration to be $421,000 per year. Such reimbursement shall be by credit memo.

Compliance with Performance Measures

The Vendor’s performance will be evaluated on a facility and statewide level and measured against the Performance Measures attached as ATTACHMENT C – Performance Measures to this RFP.

The Vendor shall be required to reimburse the IDOC for additional action, oversight, and review expended by the IDOC in responding administratively to the Vendor’s failure to meet the Performance Measures. The method of determining the reimbursement due is more fully set forth in ATTACHMENT C– Performance Measures.

On a quarterly basis, the Health Services Vendor will be provided with a summary of all quality assurance activities completed during that Quarter. Any audit under 90% found at a facility will require the Health Services Vendor to reimburse the Department for additional action, oversight and review expended by the Department in responding administratively to the deficiency. The minimum cost to the Department of such additional action, oversight and review shall be $5,000 per audit under 90% at each facility. Each audit under 90% found during an audit shall be subject to this reimbursement. This reimbursement shall be paid as a credit on the next invoice to the Department after notification.

Respondent should include an affirmative statement that it will comply with this specification if awarded a contract pursuant to this RFP. Additionally, Respondent should explain how it will meet the additional staffing and treatment requirements set forth in this specification.

2.4.38 Financial Management

The Vendor shall maintain all fiscal records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Vendor shall maintain accurate control of payments, perform internal audits, and process provider payments, refund checks, adjustments and recoupments.

IDOC and its duly authorized representatives shall have access to such fiscal records and other books, documents, papers, plans, and writings of the Vendor that are pertinent to this contract to perform examinations and audits and make excerpts and transcripts.

The Vendor shall retain and keep accessible all such fiscal records, books, documents, papers, plans, and writings for a minimum of five (5) years, or such longer period as may be required by applicable law. Fiscal records shall include, but are not limited to, all records necessary to verify the amount paid for any and all claims.

The Respondent should respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification. Respondent should provide a narrative, along with any supporting documentation, of how it proposes to meet this specification.

2.4.44 IDOC Provided Administrative Equipment and Services

The IDOC will provide the Vendor with office space, pharmacy storage rooms, medication administration areas, and utilities. The IDOC shall provide a sufficient number of security staff to maintain safety and security in all health services areas and for off-site supervision and transportation of incarcerated individuals for health services. The IDOC shall provide housekeeping and cleaning supplies, laundry services, and janitorial services.

The IDOC will provide and maintain all facility computers and monitors for the EMR but will require the Vendor to reimburse it for all costs associated with maintaining and upgrading these computers. The IDOC refers to these costs as the “seat charge”. The Vendor shall make this reimbursement by credit memo with the actual amount based on the number of computers it uses for the previous month. The specifications as to what the IDOC will provide and what the Vendor will be responsible for is set forth below. The Respondent should indicate in its proposals that it agrees to be responsible for such reimbursement.

· The IDOC will provide all computer equipment (one computer, one monitor, keyboard, & mouse per user – i.e., 24-hour shifts – 3 users only one computer or 3 users day shift only –total of 3 computers), etc. Vendor should indicate in its proposal the number of computers it will need for both its staffing and for its pharmaceutical services for onsite pharmacy vendor staff.

· The Vendor will be required to reimburse the IDOC its SEAT charge, or maintenance, cost for all computers at the current rate, which is currently $87.77, plus $51.95 for security support based on FY27 rates. This rate is evaluated and published by the Indiana Office of Technology (IOT) every fiscal year beginning July 1st. Any rate changes (increase or decrease) will be applied for the calendar year.

· All computers, multi-function copiers, and other miscellaneous equipment to be utilized under the Contract will be provided by IDOC and remain the property of the IDOC/State of Indiana. Miscellaneous equipment will be identified in the inventory listing the Vendor will supply.

· All Vendor’s staff must complete electronic training and acceptation of The Indiana Office of Technology’s Information Resources Use Agreement for use of state computers and technology equipment (http://www.in.gov/iot/IRUA.htm) Vendor’s staff will also be subject to all applicable IT related policies/procedures of the IDOC, including but not limited to internet and file sharing access.

· The Vendor must communicate in writing to the Executive Director of Healthcare Operations the exact access requirements for IDOC applications/systems/programs, to include timely notification when staff are no longer employed by the vendor so account access can be disabled.

· The Vendor must communicate in advance and in writing any wiring or infrastructure changes that will be needed to accommodate its computer locations. Once physical areas are identified on the floor plan and set up, any reason to relocate must be requested in writing from the Vendor to the Warden’s office for review. No action can be taken on relocation without final approval from IDOC Central Office.

· VPN requests will only be accepted from Vendor contact designee and shall include justification for non-facility access requirement. IDOC has the right to deny any VPN request deemed not essential. The Vendor is to provide IDOC a complete inventory of computers/laptops/monitors it is using by make, model, IOT tag number, and username upon request.

· Additional charges to be reimbursed by Vendor include VPN or email charges, Server access and Server storage overage, and charges to maintain disaster recovery capability (http://www.in.gov/iot/2336.htm)

The Vendor shall provide ongoing system maintenance throughout the contract term, including application and security patching, hardware/software updates (and certification, if needed), customer service assistance and technical support. This support includes the EHR/EDR system and any equipment/hardware used at facilities to access the system (e.g., desktops, laptops, tablets).

1. Support Plan: The Vendor shall provide and maintain a support plan (to be agreed upon prior to go-live) that includes, at a minimum: System Overview; support procedures for system issues & maintenance; communication matrix & escalation procedures; support roles matrix; equipment repair and warranties (if any); data administration; interface administration; configuration and change management; business continuity; disease recovery procedures; and all system user guides/documentation reflecting the current application state.

2. Hours of Support: The Vendor shall ensure support for the EHR/EDR system is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. ET, excluding states holidays, beginning with the first implementation (including pilot) through the remainder of the contract term. The vendor shall also maintain a software support contract with EHR/EDR software vendor for at least the same hours.

3. Ticketing & Response: The Vendor shall classify and respond to support tickets by impact (e.g., critical, urgent, routine). The Vendor shall implement all software updates, service packs, new releases and new versions as requested by the department at no additional charge.

The Respondent should respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification.

2.4.46 Confidentiality – Trade Secrets

Any contract resulting from this RFP will be considered public record and subject to disclosure to the public. If the state receives a public records request that relates to information or documents in the possession of the state related to the Vendor’s (or any Subcontractor’s) intellectual property, trade secrets, or other proprietary rights, the state shall promptly forward such request to the Vendor for response. The Vendor shall designate in writing which of those documents, if any, the Vendor considers confidential information or otherwise excepted from public disclosure requirements and state with specificity of the factual or legal basis for objecting to the disclosure of such documents. The Vendor agrees and acknowledges that only information falling within a specific exemption permitted under IC 5-14-3-4 shall be designated as confidential. The Vendor shall mark each page of a document considered to be confidential information as “Confidential” or a similar designation. The state shall promptly review the basis for the Vendor’s claim of confidentiality, and shall not disclose the documents subject to The Vendor’s claim if the state concurs with such claim, provided that if the State determines that its obligation under public access law requires such disclosure, the State shall promptly notify the Vendor of such determination and will not make such disclosure if the Vendor (or a Subcontractor) obtains, prior to the expiration of the applicable timeframe to respond to such request, either an opinion from the Indiana Public Access Counselor that such disclosure is not required or a protective order or other relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Indiana preventing such disclosure.

The Respondent should respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification.

2.4.48 Media Releases

The Vendor or Vendor’s personnel shall not issue press or media releases regarding the program, the IDOC or the contract, except through the designated staff in the IDOC Commissioner’s office.

2.4.49 Implementation

The IDOC is currently under contract for all its health services (comprehensive) from a single Vendor, under a contract that expires after March 31, 2027.

The Vendor must have all pharmaceutical services in place at the start of the new medical contract. The contract resulting from this RFP shall state in its proposal how this will be accomplished through a written implementation plan. The implementation plan should indicate how the Respondent will ensure an orderly and efficient start up and transition from the current Vendor. Considering the rapid implementation required, the Respondent must include in its implementation plan the following sections:

· Key steps

· Project Manager

· Training Plan

· Communications Plan

· Testing

· Timeframes

· Target Dates

· Responsible Parties

· Status

· Comment Section

The Respondent should respond to this specification with a statement that it agrees to meet and comply with the specification.

The Respondent should additionally provide a narrative describing how it will meet this specification and include an implementation schedule that indicates how Respondent will ramp up and implement services to coincide with the expiration date of the current contract. If Respondent, cannot meet such implementation date, it should indicate the next best date when services can be implemented, along with a proposed schedule for full implementation.

Can the respondent provide translation services and if so, what translation services (ie: languages, sign etc.) do you provide?

RFP 25-83594 Technical Proposal, Page 21 of 83