Medication Management and Disposal

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is soliciting proposals through RFP 2026000169 for Medication Management and Disposal services to operate the Colorado Household Medication Take-Back Program across 62 of Colorado's 64 counties. The contractor will be responsible for installing and maintaining 174 secure collection receptacles at law enforcement agencies and DEA-registered facilities, acquiring and transporting deposited medications via common or contract carrier, arranging destruction at permitted disposal facilities within 30 calendar days of acquisition, providing ongoing supplies and replacement liner bundles to collection sites, and maintaining secure storage and chain-of-custody documentation to prevent diversion of controlled substances. Deliverables include collection receptacles measuring 18 inches deep by 20 inches wide by 48 inches tall, two bundle sizes (16x16x24" and 20x14x20") with inner liners, outer shipping containers, security seals, delivery manifests, and pre-paid shipping labels, written confirmation of installation within ten business days, and monthly reports and invoices submitted within ten business days of month-end. Key qualifications include DEA registration as a reverse distributor, hazardous waste transporter registration with minimum three years' experience, three years of experience in medical, pharmaceutical, or hazardous waste disposal, successful management of two similar projects within the past three years, and criminal background checks for all employees with medication access. The evaluation committee will assess proposals based on minimum requirements compliance, executive summary quality (4 pages maximum), experience and qualifications documentation (10 pages maximum), work plan approach, budget reasonableness, and client references. The written inquiry deadline was March 9, 2026, with a proposal submission deadline of March 31, 2026 at 2:00 PM MDT, with award anticipated by April 6, 2026 and a contract effective date of July 1, 2026. Proposals may be submitted electronically through the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System (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.

No specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise restrictions are identified in the solicitation documents. The current vendor is Trilogy MedWaste, which has been providing services including bundle supply at $150 per collection site; however, the solicitation is open to all qualified contractors meeting the minimum requirements. Existing collection receptacles will remain in place, and new vendors are not required to replace them, though replacement bundles must meet the specific size requirements of current receptacles. The program currently collects approximately 70,000 pounds or more of medication annually, with an average weight of 37 pounds per liner and an estimated 11 liners used per site annually, plus 2-4 additional bundles per site for take-back events if implemented. The annual project budget is approximately $300,000, with a five-year total budget not expected to exceed $1,500,000 unless additional funding becomes available. The initial contract period runs from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, with optional renewal for up to four additional one-year periods for a maximum contract term of five years. Award will be made to a single offeror unless the State determines multiple vendor awards are in its best interest, and the State reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.