EMERGENCY NOTICE: FY26 IVHC Pharmacy Services

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs is procuring emergency pharmacy services for the Illinois Veterans Home Chicago (IVHC) through an expedited procurement process necessitated by the expiration of the facility's previous pharmacy contract on September 23, 2025. This emergency purchase solicitation seeks a qualified pharmacy services vendor to provide comprehensive pharmaceutical support including medication dispensing, intravenous (IV) solutions, qualified pharmacy staff with a licensed pharmacist available on a 24-hour on-call basis, monthly chart reviews for compliance documentation, HIPAA-compliant fax machines, lockable medication carts, and convenience boxes containing medical supplies, house stock medications, over-the-counter medications, and IV supply and hydration kits. The contract period runs from March 23, 2026, through June 20, 2026, with the expectation that services will transition to a new competitively awarded vendor upon finalization of a standard procurement process. The emergency authorization was granted on March 24, 2026, by the Agency Procurement Officer to ensure continuity of critical pharmaceutical services affecting the health and safety of veterans. The procurement emphasizes the vendor's ability to deliver medications six days per week and maintain reliable service delivery to support the facility's operational needs.

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs made documented efforts to include Business Enterprise Program (BEP) certified vendors by issuing Requests for Quotes to four BEP vendors—A Safe Haven LLC, Anuco RX, PharmaScript Inc., and 3 R Health Care Products—on March 23, 2026; however, none of these vendors submitted responsive proposals. Omnicare of Northern Illinois, operating as JHC Acquisition, LLC d/b/a Omnicare of Northern Illinois, was selected as the sole vendor based on its status as the only respondent to the original solicitation (Bid B-1569) and its demonstrated five-year track record of reliable service delivery to the facility. The estimated expenditure for this emergency purchase is $150,000 in State Appropriated Funds. No existing State contract was identified that could adequately meet the facility's specific pharmaceutical service requirements, and no alternative infrastructure or technology integration requirements are specified in the procurement documents.