Q -- HRSA 340B Prime Vendor Agreement

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) intends to solicit proposals with the intent of signing an agreement with an organization having the capability to develop, maintain, and coordinate a prime vendor program in accordance with Section 340B of the Public Health Service Act, Public Law 102-585, - Limitation on Prices of Drugs Purchased by Covered Entities. Section 340B provides that drug manufacturers who sign a Pharmaceutical Pricing Agreement, as the manufacturers are required to do by Section 1927 (a) of the Social Security Act, with the Secretary of Health and Human Services agree to charge a price for covered outpatient drugs to covered entities that will not exceed the amount determined under a statutory formula (ceiling price). Section 340B also mandates the establishment of a prime vendor program. Consistent with this mandate, HRSA has developed a program which consists of both price negotiation and drug distribution for covered entities that elect to participate in the prime vendor program (member entities). The offer that submits a technically-acceptable responsive proposal that offers the best value to member entities will be selected as the Prime Vendor. The Prime Vendor shall operate as an independent entity and not as an agent of the Government. No Federal funds will be awarded to the Prime Vendor under this Agreement. The Prime Vendor shall provide, directly or by subcontract, all drug/pharmaceutical items authorized under Section 340B for distribution to all member entities. The Prime Vendor has the option to offer other catalog items, as appropriate. In addition, the Prime Vendor shall negotiate sub-ceiling prices for the benefit of the member entities. HRSA reserves the right not to award an Agreement if it is determined that no organization meets the technical and business criteria enumerated in the HRSA Request for Agreement. A Request for Agreement HRSA 232-BPHC-AG-01(4)FM is anticipated to be released within 60 days from release of this notice. Offerors will have sixty days from release of the Request for Agreement to submit their proposal. The solicitation will be available at this web site (www.fbo.gov) as an attachment to this announcement. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor this site for amendments to this solicitation.