Pharmacy Modernization - Medication Dispensing Units - All 5 sites

The California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for a Pharmacy Modernization project targeting pharmacy operations across five state hospitals: Atascadero, Coalinga, Metro-Los Angeles, Napa, and Patton. The procurement seeks comprehensive pharmacy equipment, inventory management solutions, and system integration services to replace the current predominantly manual pharmacy environment. Vendors are expected to provide an enterprise-level pharmacy operations solution involving 187 medication dispensing units with capabilities for inventory management, medication repackaging, dispensing equipment, secure controlled medication management, and patient billing functionalities. The RFI targets pharmacy operations vendors, system integrators, and companies offering standalone or comprehensive pharmacy operational components. Critical requirements include compliance with State Board of Pharmacy California Law, US Department of Justice regulations, California Department of Public Health standards, and Title 22 Requirements. Key dates for this RFI include the release on August 12, 2025, with vendor questions due by August 25, 2025, and complete RFI responses required by September 8, 2025.

The RFI does not specify specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations, though vendors must demonstrate robust capabilities in pharmacy technology solutions. Respondents must provide comprehensive security features including data protection, user access controls, encryption, and compliance with HIPAA, FIPS 140-2, and other applicable security standards. While no specific budget range is disclosed, the project's scope across five state hospitals suggests a substantial investment in pharmacy modernization infrastructure. The document explicitly states that no purchase orders or contracts will be executed based on this RFI, indicating it is purely a market research and information-gathering exercise. Potential vendors should be prepared to demonstrate advanced technological capabilities, regulatory compliance, and integrated solutions that can transform the current manual pharmacy operations into a modern, efficient, and secure system. The project's complexity suggests that prime contractors with extensive healthcare technology and pharmacy management experience will be most competitive.