3650--763-26-2-228-0242 -Lancaster CMOP Low to Medium Volume TCA and Sorting Loops Project (VA-26-00039446)

PART I: BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION: LOCATION: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Dallas Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) located at 2962 South Longhorn Drive, Lancaster, TX 75134-2118. BACKGROUND: The Dallas (Lancaster) CMOP operates a high-volume, automated prescription fulfillment environment that supports more than 112 million prescriptions annually. The Dallas CMOP is one of seven CMOP facilities located across the United States. This VA program provides prescription fulfillment and mailing for Veteran patients. Advanced automation and equipment schemes are used in this highly automated environment to fulfill prescription orders from Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) throughout the country, with the potential for future growth based upon agreements with other Federal agencies. The total production goals currently are 90,000 prescriptions per day consistently with additional growth anticipated. In the current CMOP automated production system, the Pharmacy Operating System (POS) searches for oldest orders first in a shared directory and sends that data to the Unit of Use Automation (UUA) for dispensing. The POS will track using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers and directs the tote to the Labeling Area and then Pharmacy Verification which then will travel to the packing stations to be packaged and mailed to the patients. The Tablet and Capsule Automation (TCA), a NEW TCA AREA, uses Ethernet connectivity for communications with the POS system software to download patient orders oldest work first, to dispense pharmaceuticals. New TCA area will send an order verified message back to the POS after order has been completed for further routing. Conveyance start-up, routing and tracking are managed through the current production POS software. Background procedures continuously run on a server pulling data from the VA Central Database (CDB) and creating a data file. Induction software utilizes that data file to process orders. The VA CDB and local servers populate the non-automated work areas of the Dallas CMOP with orders to be filled. DEFINITIONS: Ancillary Support Systems – Supporting subsystems, equipment, or infrastructure required to enable, sustain, or enhance the operation of the primary TCA system. These systems do not perform the main dispensing or automation functions but are necessary for safe, efficient, and reliable system performance. API - Application Programming Interfaces. ATD - Automated Tablet Dispensers. This refers to high-speed TCA. Automated TCA Database Structure – Database tables and electronic data format in a Microsoft Structured Query Language (SQL). Server database structure that provides for a two-way data exchange between VA patient orders, the TCA equipment, and the Central Database (CDB). Backordered Prescription – A prescription for an out-of-stock item that is unavailable for fulfillment through the TCA. Bottle – Refers to the physical container into which solid dosage forms are dispensed. Bulk location – area in which all items that are contained on pallets will be stored. This will be 15 – 20 days of inventory. Canister – A sealable container for tablet or capsule storage and delivery of product to a dispenser, conforming to United States Pharmacopeia-National Formulary (USP-NF) 621 standards for storage of pharmaceuticals, and protected with a fail-safe and tamper evident interlock system. Central Database (CDB) – A Microsoft Structured Query Language (MSSQL) database consisting of all VA CMOP prescription data details required for prescription fulfillment. The CDB resides in Tucson, AZ. CO - Contracting Officer Consumable – Parts or materials that are expected to be used up, depleted, or worn out during normal operation of the equipment and require routine replacement. Consumables typically have a short service life, are not repairable, and are intended to be replenished regularly to maintain system performance. COR – Contracting Officer Representative Costs – The expenses associated with providing the supplies, services, materials, labor, equipment, or resources required to fulfill the contract. Costs may include direct expenses (such as labor, parts, and materials) and indirect expenses (such as overhead or administrative effort) when applicable to contract performance. All costs must comply with the pricing structure, terms, and limitations defined in the contract. De-pucker – An automated process used to remove a vial from a transport puck when the system uses a puck-based transport. Dispense - An automated process designed to accurately deliver the product. For the TCA Equipment, the dispenser will accurately count tablets or capsules prior to dispensing. For the Unit of Use Automation (UUA) it will dispense pre-packaged unit-of-issue product. Ergonomic Design – Consideration of the interactions between humans and the TCA equipment plus Tote conveyor that are designed to maximize user interaction with assigned task and system performance while minimizing potential of repetitive strain injuries and inefficient motion. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – The federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services, responsible for protecting and promoting public health. Fulfillment – The complete process from receipt of patient prescription order through processing and packaging. Go-live - Final Acceptance Item – A Legend or Non-Legend drug or other product for fulfillment. IPD – Independent Pill Dispensers. Lock-out/tag-out (LOTO) - Safety procedure used in industrial and maintenance environments to ensure that machines and equipment are properly shut off, isolated from energy sources, and cannot be started up again until maintenance or repair work is completed. Medication Guides – printed information that may be associated with a specific produ…