Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity Innovation Associates, Inc.

Innovation Associates is the only vendor who can perform maintenance on its Innovation Pharmacy Workflow and Automation System, iA NEXiA, software and ensure the installed systems’ performance and cybersecurity accreditation is maintained. Innovation is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and only source for the maintenance services required on the iA NEXiA units because they are the OEM with the sole proprietary license for the operating software. The iA NEXiA, formally known as PharmAssist, is an automated medication dispensing system for oral and solid medications with linked and computerized quality assurance software. The iA NEXiA system is integrated with the Composite Health Care System (CHCS) using digital imagery and bar code technology incorporated into the entirely paperless prescription filling process. The linked quality assurance software with digital images of prescriptions provides a significant safety measure by verifying accuracy for all prescriptions filled at various CHCS-hosted pharmacy sites against the original scanned hard copy prescription. The annual maintenance coverage provided by Innovation consists of equipment repair and software updates. Repairs include annual preventative maintenance (PM) and minor equipment adjustments due to wear and tear. Software updates can include but are not limited to updated drug lists and cyber security changes. The required software updates are proprietary to Innovation. Repairs of the iA NEXiA equipment often require interaction with the iA NEXiA proprietary operating software. Innovation Associates, is the sole manufacturer of the iA NEXiA and are capable of maintaining all system information security certifications, testing and on-going Information Assurance (IA), including security updates and patches. Accordingly, only Innovation Associates can maintain the Authority to Operate and the critical security status of the iA NEXiA systems on an on­going basis under yearly maintenance programs. Security updates and patches must be thoroughly tested by the manufacturer prior to being applied to their system; therefore, only Innovation Associates can provide maintenance for their manufactured equipment.