To: Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Grant Colfax, Health Services Director
Report Title: Contract #76-613-6 with Cardinal Health Pharmacy Services, LLC
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director, or designee, to execute on behalf of the County Contract #76-613-6 with Cardinal Health Pharmacy Services, LLC, a limited liability company, in an amount not to exceed $270,000, to provide pharmacy review and physician medication order services for the Martinez Detention Facility, for the period from May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2028.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This Contract will result in contractual service expenditures of up to $270,000 over a two-year period and will be funded 100% by County General Funds.
BACKGROUND:
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) has an obligation to provide review of physician medication order services from Martinez Detention Facility Physicians and provide clinical support to Detention Facility staff to ensure inmates receive required medications while incarcerated. Contractor has been providing pharmacy review and order entry at CCRMC since May 1, 2018. Contractor is a wholesaler for medications from where the Pharmacy Department purchases the bulk of medications used for patient care at CCRMC, Contra Costa Health Centers and the Martinez Detention Facility. They have qualified, licensed pharmacists who take prescription order verification after hours and answer nursing and provider questions if needed. Their staff ensures optimal turnaround times on emergencies and urgent medication orders.
This Contract is entered into under and subject to the following legal authorities: California Government Code §§ 26227 and 31000. This Contract was approved by the Public Works Department’s Purchasing Division on February 23, 2026 as a sole-source. CCRMC’s Quality Management, Utilization Management and Contract Monitor Staff meet on a regular basis to ensure monitoring and performance measures in the Contract are upheld. The Department has met its labor obligations by meeting and conferring with the Union.
On May 21, 2024, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract #76-613-4 with Cardinal Health Pharmacy Services, LLC, in an amount not to exceed $200,000, to provide remote entry of physician medication order services for Martinez Detention Facility for the period May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2026.
On March 11, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract Amendment Agreement #76-613-5 with Cardinal Health Pharmacy Services, LLC, effective March 1, 2025, to increase the payment limit by $70,000, to a new amount not to exceed $270,000 for the provision of additional physician medication order services for the Martinez Detention Facility with no change in the original term of May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2026.
Approval of Contract #76-613-6 will allow the Contractor to continue providing remote entry of physician medication order services through April 30, 2028. This Contract contains a mutual indemnification provision requiring the Parties to indemnify and hold harmless the other for claims arising out of the sole willful misconduct or negligence in the performance of the Agreement.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this Contract is not approved, patients requiring after-hours medication orders at Martinez Detention Facility will not have access to Contractor’s services.