After Hour Medication Order Verification

Location:	Iowa
Posted:	Apr 8, 2026
Due:	May 26, 2026
Agency:	State Government of Iowa
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	D - Automatic Data Processing and Telecommunication Services
Solicitation No:	SOPSCHK27004
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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SOPSCHK27004

REQUEST FOR BID (RFB)

After Hour Medication Order Verification

SOPSCHK27004

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Katelyn Meyers

1251 W Cedar Loop

Cherokee, IA 51012

Phone: (712) 225-6950

katelyn.meyers@hhs.iowa.gov

SOPSCHK27004

After Hour Medication Order Verification

RFB Purpose.

The purpose of this solicitation is to solicit bids from qualified service providers to provide remote

medication order verification services for the pharmacy at the Cherokee Mental Health Institute (CMHI)

and Civil Commitment Unit for Sexual Offenders (CCUSO) after Normal Business Hours, Holidays, and

Weekends.

Duration of Contract.

The Agency anticipates executing a contract that will have an initial 1-year contract term with the ability

to extend the contract for 5 additional 1-year terms. The Agency will have the sole discretion to extend

the contract.

Bidder Eligibility Requirements.

The Agency will only consider bids from pharmacists with an active license registered with the Iowa

Board of Pharmacy.

Procurement Timetable

There are no exceptions to any deadlines for the Bidder; however, the Agency reserves the right to

change the dates. Times provided are in Central Time.

Event

Agency Issues RFB Notice to Targeted Small Business Website (48

hours):

Agency Issues RFB to Bid Opportunities Website

Bidder Letter of Intent to Bid Due By

Bidder Written Questions Due By

Agency Responses to Questions Issued By

Bidder Proposals and any Amendments to Proposals Due By

Agency Announces Apparent Successful Bidder/Notice of Intent to

Award

Contract Negotiations and Execution of the Contract Completed

Date

April 6, 2026

April 8, 2026

April 20, 2026

2:00 p.m.

May 4, 2026

2:00 p.m.

May 11, 2026

May 26, 2026

3:30 p.m.

June 9, 2026

June 30, 2026

Anticipated Start Date for the Provision of Services

July 1, 2026

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SOPSCHK27004

After Hour Medication Order Verification

Section 1 Background and Scope of Work

1.1 Background.

The Agency's Cherokee Mental Health Institute (CMHI) in Cherokee, Iowa is a state-operated acute

psychiatric hospital in the Division of State-Operated Specialty Care serving persons with mental illness

including specialized treatment and security for adults ordered by the court into the custody of the state

for the purposes of competency restoration, adults who have been acquitted of a crime by reason of

insanity, and similarly situated adults at a mental health institute. The Facility is accredited by The Joint

Commission, certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and licensed by the

Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) to provide acute specialty hospital

care.

CMHI is a thirty-six (36) bed psychiatric hospital with inpatient programs for adult psychiatric and

forensic patients serving the entire state of Iowa. Many of our patients are suffering from severe and

persistent mental illnesses which respond, in most cases, to psychotropic medications. Every patient

has an individualized treatment plan that includes assessment and therapy from an array of

professional specialties. This Facility is staffed to provide continuous around-the-clock support to

patients.

The Civil Commitment Unit for Sexual Offenders (CCUSO) program was created by the 1998 Sexually

Violent Predators Act of Iowa to provide secure, inpatient treatment for sexual offenders who are

believed to be a high risk for sexually re-offending. Inpatient treatment is indefinite, with length of

treatment dependent upon the time required for each individual to complete the criteria for

advancement through the five (5) treatment phases.

The CCUSO program provides a secure, long-term, and highly structured setting to treat sexually

violent predators (SVP) who have served their prison terms, but who, in a separate civil trial, have been

found likely to commit further violent sexual offenses. Each patient receives an annual evaluation

completed and submitted to the court; each patient receives an individual Master Treatment Plan that is

updated annually, as well as Action Plans, which are completed every 90 days to assess treatment

progress.

The CCUSO program currently serves approximately 200 patients, of which 90% are inpatient.

The pharmacy located within the facility serves both the CMHI and CCUSO programs. The Agency

does not currently contract for this service. Any services provided under an agreement resulting from

this RFB will be intended to serve both the CMHI and CCUSO facilities. The anticipated monthly

volume of After-Hour medication orders requiring verification is 500.

1.2 RFB General Definitions.

When appearing as capitalized terms in this RFB, including attachments, the following quoted terms

(and the plural thereof, when appropriate) have the meanings set forth in this section.

“Agency” means the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

“Bid Proposal” or “Proposal” means the Bidder’s proposal submitted in response to the RFB.

“Bidder” means the entity that submits a Bid Proposal in response to this RFB.

“Contractor” means the Bidder who enters into a Contract as a result of this Solicitation.

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SOPSCHK27004

After Hour Medication Order Verification

“Deliverables” means all of the services, goods, products, work, work product, data (including data

collected on behalf of the Agency), items, materials and property to be created, developed, produced,

delivered, performed, or provided by or on behalf of, or made available through, the Contractor (or any

agent, contractor or subcontractor of the Contractor) in connection with any contract resulting from this

RFB.

“Invoice” means a Contractor’s claim for payment. At the Agency’s discretion, claims may be

submitted on an original invoice from the Contractor or may be submitted on a claim form accepted by

the Agency, such as a General Accounting Expenditure (GAX) form.

Definitions Specific to this RFB.

When appearing as capitalized terms in this RFB, including attachments, the following quoted terms

(and the plural thereof, when appropriate) have the meanings set forth in this section.

“After Hours” means coverage from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. on the following day, Monday through

Friday.

“Normal Business Hours” means 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding State-

Paid Holidays.

“State-Paid Holiday” means coverage from 4:30 p.m. on the day preceding the holiday through 8:00

a.m. on the day following the holiday on specified State Holidays as listed at https://das.iowa.gov/state-

employees/state-accounting/centralized-payroll/state-holidays.

“Weekend” means coverage from 4:30 p.m. Friday through 8:00 a.m. on the following Monday.

1.3 Scope of Work.

1.3.1 Deliverables.

The Contractor shall provide the following:

1. The Contractor shall provide order verification coverage After Hours, Weekends, and on State-

Paid Holidays year-round unless otherwise directed by the Agency with notice of at least one (1)

week.

2. Coverage of Normal Business Hours may be requested by the Agency.

3. Any pharmacist performing services as part of this agreement must be licensed in the State of

Iowa.

4. The Contractor shall, during periods of coverage, have a licensed pharmacist available to

provide consultation to CMHI and CCUSO employees, answering questions and making

recommendations as needed.

1.3.2 Performance Measures.

1. The Contractor shall maintain an average turnaround verification time of sixty (60) minutes or

less for 90% of orders.

2. The Contractor shall maintain an accuracy rate of 98% or higher.

3. The Contractor shall be responsive to consultation within sixty (60) minutes for at least 90% of

requests.

4. The Contractor shall maintain licensure with the Board of Pharmacy for 100% of contract period.

1.3.3 Agency Responsibilities.

The Agency shall provide the Contractor with a maximum of two (2) secured laptop computers, login

credentials, and access to all applications necessary to perform the services outlined in this RFB. The

Contractor shall use the provided equipment solely for the purpose of fulfilling contractual obligations.

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SOPSCHK27004

After Hour Medication Order Verification

Upon conclusion of services, the Contractor shall return the laptop computer and any other Agency-

issued equipment in good working condition.

1.3.4 Contract Payment Methodology.

The Contractor shall be paid at a specified rate per order verified. If the contractor fails to meet the

established performance measures, the Agency reserves the right to apply a five percent (5%)

deduction to the Contractor's invoice for the affected billing period.

Section 2 Basic Information About the RFB Process

2.1 Issuing Officer.

The Issuing Officer is the sole point of contact regarding the RFB from the date of issuance until

selection of the successful Bidder. The Issuing Officer for this RFB is:

Katelyn Meyers

1251 W Cedar Loop

Cherokee, IA 51012

Phone: (712) 225-6950

katelyn.meyers@hhs.iowa.gov

2.2 Restriction on Bidder Communication.

From the issue date of this RFB until announcement of the successful Bidder, the Issuing Officer is the

point of contact regarding the RFB. There may be no communication regarding this RFB with any State

employee other than the Issuing Officer, except at the direction of the Issuing Officer or as otherwise

noted in the RFB. This section shall not be construed as restricting communications related to the

administration of any contract currently in effect between a Contractor and the Agency.

The Issuing Officer will respond only to questions regarding the procurement process. Questions

pertaining to the interpretation of this RFB may be submitted in accordance with the Questions,

Requests for Clarification, and Suggested Changes section of this RFB.

2.3 Downloading the RFB from the Internet.

The RFB and any related documents such as amendments or attachments (collectively the “RFB”), and

responses to questions will be posted at the State of Iowa’s website for bid opportunities:

http://bidopportunities.iowa.gov/. Check this website periodically for any amendments to this RFB. The

posted version of the RFB is the official version. The Agency will only be bound by the official version

of the RFB document(s). Bidders should ensure that any downloaded documents are in fact the most

up to date and are unchanged from the official version.

2.4 Reserved. (Online Resources)

2.5 Intent to Bid.

The Agency requests that Bidders provide their intent to bid by email to the Issuing Officer by the date

and time in the Procurement Timetable. The Bidder may wish to request confirmation of receipt of the

email from the Issuing Officer to ensure delivery. Do not submit letters of intent by mail, shipping

service, or hand delivery. The intent to bid should include the Bidder's name, contact person, mailing

address, email address, telephone number, and a statement of intent to submit a bid in response to this

RFB. Though it is not mandatory that the Agency receive an intent to bid, the Agency will only respond

to questions about the RFB that have been submitted by Bidders who have expressed their intent to

bid. The Agency may cancel an RFB for lack of interest based on the number of letters of intent to bid

received.

2.6 Reserved. (Bidders’ Conference)

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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.