Medication Management and Disposal

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is soliciting proposals through Request for Proposal 2026000169 for medication collection and disposal services supporting the Colorado Household Medication Take-Back Program across Denver County and Denver City. The program currently operates 174 secure collection receptacles at law enforcement agencies and DEA-registered facilities, including retail pharmacies and hospitals across 61 Colorado counties, and has collected and properly disposed of over 144,000 pounds of unused medications since 2016. The successful contractor will be responsible for installing collection receptacles (18" deep x 20" wide x 48" tall), acquiring deposited medications through common or contract carriers, arranging destruction at permitted disposal facilities within 30 calendar days of acquisition, maintaining monthly reporting, and providing replacement liner bundles to ensure uninterrupted collection activities. Minimum qualifications include DEA-registered reverse distributor status or approved alternative compliance plan, Registered Hazardous Waste Transporter certification with minimum three years' experience, at least three years' experience in medical, pharmaceutical, or hazardous waste disposal, and demonstrated successful management of at least two similar projects within the past three years; all employees must pass criminal background checks and drivers must possess a Commercial Driver's License with hazardous materials endorsement. Required proposal documentation includes a completed signature form, narrative demonstrating minimum requirements, executive summary (4 pages maximum), experience and qualifications section (10 pages maximum), work plan, completed budget template, and two client references. The evaluation committee will assess proposals based on minimum requirements, executive summary quality, experience and qualifications, work plan approach, reasonable pricing relative to scope, and reference verification. Written inquiries are due March 9, 2026 at 2:00 PM MDT, with proposals due March 31, 2026 at 2:00 PM MDT; evaluation is scheduled for the week of April 6, 2026, with an estimated contract effective date of July 1, 2026. Proposals may be submitted electronically through BidNet at www.bidnetdirect.com/cdphe or via hard copy delivery to the CDPHE Purchasing and Contracts Unit at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, Colorado 80246-1530, with electronic submissions recommended at least one hour prior to the deadline.

The solicitation does not identify any set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to specific types of organizations, though all participants in the medication take-back program must comply with federal DEA requirements under 21 CFR sections governing controlled substance handling and physical security controls, as well as OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens standard. The current operations of the Colorado Household Medication Take-Back Program are managed through Contract Number 2022*0297, with the network comprising 174 state-funded collectors categorized as 87 law enforcement agencies (50 percent), 44 retail pharmacies (25 percent), and 43 healthcare facility pharmacies (25 percent) distributed across all Colorado counties; the successful contractor must integrate with this existing infrastructure and collection site network. The initial contract period runs from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, with the potential for up to four additional one-year renewals not to exceed five years total. The CDPHE annual budget for this project is approximately $300,000, with a total five-year budget not expected to exceed $1,500,000 unless additional funding becomes available. The State reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, award to a single vendor or multiple vendors as deemed in the State's best interest, and conduct discussions or request best and final offers during evaluation. Payment to the contractor shall not exceed the Contract Maximum Amount specified for each State Fiscal Year, with invoices payable within 45 days of receipt of accepted work, and all operations must comply with the State of Colorado Personal Services Contract template establishing standard terms regarding insurance obligations, record maintenance, confidentiality requirements, and dispute resolution procedures.