MED56–Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor and Specialty Pharmaceuticals: This Statewide Contract covers the procurement of all prescription and over the counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals, related supply items, and equipment through Cardinal Health, the state's sole Prime Vendor. The contract is available to all healthcare settings holding a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) certificate and pharmacy license within Category 1: Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor. Healthcare settings without a pharmacy license may set up an OTC-only account with Cardinal Health.

MED56 includes Category 2: Specialty Pharmaceuticals, allowing Eligible Entities to purchase limited-distribution drugs such as long-acting injectables for opioid use disorder, biologics, oncology medications, and blood products. 

In addition, all influenza and general vaccine products are available under MED56. Follow account setup instructions to access vaccine products or contact the vendor on the Vendor List and Information for new account set-up.

Note: This contract may be used to procure the goods or services described in this user guide at any dollar amount. Any limitations, including for procurements involving construction, are outlined in this Contract User Guide.

For the Master Contract Record, refer to the MED56 Master Blanket Purchase Order (MBPO) with RFR.

Benefits and Cost Savings

Statewide Contracts are an easy way to obtain benefits for your organization by: 

• Leveraging the Commonwealth’s buying power
• Simplifying the solicitation process
• Providing contracting expertise
• Enhancing vendor relationships through proactive management and oversight
• Offering competitive pricing
• Offering Prompt Payment Discounts (PPD), which is a percentage discount given to the buyer if the invoice is paid within a specified time, in accordance with the Commonwealth’s Bill Paying Policy

• Partnering with a pool of qualified and experienced vendors. 
• Accessing a wide range of environmentally preferable products and services.
• Helping with inventory management. Upon request, Cardinal Health loans handheld electronic inventory units, from which Cardinal Health can value and print the inventory.  
  

This contract includes two (2) categories of products listed as follows:

• Category 1: Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor
• Category 2: Specialty Pharmaceuticals
  

The following is a complete list of the types of organizations generally allowed to use the Operational Service Division’s (OSD's) Statewide Contracts (SWCs). Some SWCs may be open to additional organizations, and some are more restricted in usage.

• Cities, towns, districts, counties, and other political subdivisions
• Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches, including all departments and elected offices therein
• Independent public authorities, commissions, and quasi-public agencies
• Local public libraries, public school districts, and charter schools
• Public hospitals owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Public institutions of higher education
• Public purchasing cooperatives
• Non-profit, UFR-certified organizations that are doing business with the Commonwealth
• Other states and territories and their cities, towns, districts, counties, other political subdivisions, and public institutions of higher education without prior approval from the State Purchasing Agent 
• Other entities when designated in writing by the State Purchasing Agent
  

Please note the following:

• The State Office of Pharmacy Services (SOPS) Tewksbury Pharmacy Distribution Center (PDC), the main pharmaceutical purchaser, requires payment within 7 days of the statement date. If an acquisition price is not set, then the price for an item will be capped at the manufacturer's published Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC).
• When a purchaser requests that Cardinal Health order a product it does not carry or list on its online catalog to be drop-shipped directly from a manufacturer to the purchaser, Cardinal Health will not add a percentage to the manufacturer's price. The customer pays the same price Cardinal Health pays the manufacturer. This includes Influenza, COVID and all general vaccine orders.

Note: Product pricing may be found on the vendors’ Master Blanket Purchase Orders (MBPOs). Links to the vendors’ MBPOs are in the vendor information section.

Prior to placing orders, an account must be established with Cardinal Health. The purchase of prescription products is restricted to licensed pharmacies and requires a valid Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) certificate. Delivery of these products must be sent to the address on file for that license and DEA certificate. Certain facilities may secure prescription products from the State Office of Pharmacy Services (SOPS). For non-licensed facilities, a separate OTC-only account is available for over-the-counter products.

Purchases made through this contract will be direct, outright purchases.

 This contract provides for the following methods of purchase:

• Quote Solicitation: Buyers may solicit quotes from multiple vendors (refer to the Vendor List and Information), award vendors, and place orders through COMMBUYS. A solicitation-enabled contract allows the buyer to solicit quotes from vendors who have Master Blanket Purchase Orders (MBPOs) or Statewide Contracts in COMMBUYS. The buyers may create a solicitation-enabled bid using a release requisition, converting the requisition to a bid, and then requesting quotes from eligible vendors.

Refer to the How to Request Quotes from Vendors on Statewide Contracts job aid for more details.

• G2B Punchout: Buyers may purchase directly from the vendor’s eCommerce site using the Government to Business (G2B) functionality in COMMBUYS. Refer to the Vendor List and Information for G2B Punchout-enabled vendors. A COMMBUYS punchout provides the ability to purchase directly from the website of certain sellers (vendors). Buyers can “punch out” to a seller’s online shopping website to search for and choose the desired items. Once the items are selected and checked out, the system transfers these items to COMMBUYS to complete a release requisition.

Refer to the How to Purchase from a COMMBUYS G2B Punchout job aid for more details.

• Direct Purchase of Fixed Price Items on COMMBUYS: Used for products and services with fixed pricing and is viewable in vendor catalogs or price files. Refer to the Vendor List and Information for a list of eligible vendors. The buyer can submit a request for goods and services from a Statewide Contract (SWC) or a Designated SWC. This option is for users with Basic Purchaser or Department Access privileges in COMMBUYS. Once the requisition is approved, a Purchase Order (PO) is generated and can be sent to the vendor.

Refer to the How to Make a Statewide Contract Purchase in COMMBUYS job aid for more details. 

• Direct Purchase of Non-Fixed Price Item ($0 Line Item) on Vendor’s MBPO: Applicable to products and services that may require customized quoting. Review the Vendor List and Information for a list of eligible vendors. The buyer can create a Release Requisition in COMMBUYS, submit the requisition for approval in COMMBUYS, and then send the vendor a Release Purchase Order.

Refer to the How to Make a Statewide Contract Purchase in COMMBUYS job aid for more details.

• Document Items in COMMBUYS That Have Already Been Purchased: This contract enables buyers to retroactively record a previously made contract purchase within the COMMBUYS system. This is done through a Request for Payment Authorization (RPA) Release Requisition, which also allows Massachusetts Management Accounting and Reporting System (MOSAIC) users to easily keep track of spending.

For a description on how to complete this purchase in COMMBUYS, refer to the How To Record a Contract Purchase Previously Made (RPA Release) job aid

Note: MOSAIC and COMMBUYS do not interface. Payment request and invoice must be reported in both MOSAIC and COMMBUYS.

COMMBUYS is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' e-procurement platform, serving as a central marketplace for state agencies and other Eligible Entities to procure goods and services, connecting government buyers and businesses. It aims to streamline the purchasing process, ensuring transparency and efficiency in the procurement process.

For Executive Agencies, COMMBUYS is required. Per 801 CMR 21.00, Executive Agencies must use established Statewide Contracts (SWCs) for the purchase of products and services. To set up a COMMBUYS buyer account or to update an existing agency account, the buyers must contact the COMMBUYS Help Desk at: 888-627-8283 or OSDhelpdesk@mass.gov.

While COMMBUYS use is not mandated for Non-Executive Agencies and other Eligible Entities, it is highly recommended to streamline the procurement process and assist buyers in making informed purchasing choices. Eligible entities should follow their internal guidelines for COMMBUYS use.

Buyers can view contract documents on COMMBUYS without requiring a COMMBUYS account or logging in.  
To find contract documents in COMMBUYS, follow these steps:

1. On the COMMBUYS home page, enter MED56 in the search tool and select Blankets from the drop-down list.
2. Select the Search icon. The related Master Blanket Purchase Orders (MBPOs) information opens in a table format. 
3. To view the associated contract documents, under the Blanket # column, select the applicable Purchase Order (PO) link. MBPO opens for the selected PO and the attachments can be found in the Agency Attachments or Vendor Attachments section. 

If applicable, to find vendor-specific documents, view the links to the individual vendor MBPOs on the Vendor Information page, and follow these steps:

1. On the Vendor Information page, select the applicable Purchase Order (PO) link. The Master Blanket Purchase Order (MBPO) opens for the selected PO.
2. If applicable, on the MBPO, scroll down to the Vendor Attachments section to find the vendor-specific documents.
3. To view, select the desired document link.

Please refer to the following guidelines:

• Executive Departments must use diverse and small businesses to the extent possible based on contract terms, Supplier Diversity Office (SDO), and departmental policies, laws, and regulations.
• The Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) applies to small procurements ($250,000 or below annually), while the Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) applies to large procurements (over $250,000 annually). Executive Departments must consider these requirements when soliciting quotes or issuing Statements of Work (SOWs).
• Operational Services Division (OSD) provides a list of SDO businesses through the Statewide Contract Index. Refer to the Programs (SDP and SBPP) tab on the index (scroll to view the tab).

• In cases where all other factors are equal, and particularly when adhering to a best value approach, the department will favor the vendor with stronger SDP commitment.
• For more information, refer to Best Value Evaluation of SDP Plan Forms: A Guide for Strategic Sourcing Teams.
• Vendor SDP commitment percentages may be found on the Vendor List table.

• If available, departments must notify at least two certified small businesses capable of providing the product or service. Bids received from SBPP-participating small businesses must be evaluated, and if one meets the department’s best value criteria, the contract must be awarded to that vendor.
• For more information, refer to Best Value Evaluation of Responses to Small Procurements: A Guide for Strategic Sourcing Teams.
• Vendor SBPP Certification status can be found on the Vendor List table.

All deliveries containing prescription drugs must be made directly to the Pharmacy. No delivery fuel or other surcharges will be assessed to the Commonwealth. Please refer to the following guidelines:

• State Office of Pharmacy Services (SOPS) Pharmacy Distribution Center (PDC): The SOPS PDC in Tewksbury, MA has specific delivery requirements that are different from other locations purchasing from this contract. To receive same-day delivery at the PDC, orders must be placed before the 11:00 a.m. cutoff time. All same-day deliveries are scheduled to arrive by 2:00 p.m. Orders placed before 8 p.m. will be delivered to the PDC between 7 and 8 a.m. the following day. All deliveries will be Monday through Friday at the PDC except for major holidays when Cardinal Health is closed.
• Other Sites: For next-day delivery, orders must be placed by 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please note that delivery is not available on major holidays when Cardinal Health is closed. In this case, the delivery will be made on the next business day. Deliveries will be made before 10 a.m.
• Drop-Ship:
  • When a buyer orders a product that Cardinal Health routinely carries or has in their online catalog, and it is drop-shipped directly from the manufacturer to the buyer, Cardinal Health will apply the standard price percentage for that product to the order. The purchaser must give permission for routine drop-ships.
  • When a buyer requests that Cardinal Health order a product it does not carry or list in its online catalog to be drop-shipped directly from the manufacturer to the purchaser, Cardinal Health’s percentage will be zero percent (0%). This means the purchaser would pay Cardinal Health the same price the manufacturer charged Cardinal Health.
• Drop-Ship for Department of Public Health (DPH) Tuberculosis (TB) Control Program: Cardinal Health will provide requested drop-shipments to the DPH TB Control Program's clinics and depots.
• Emergency Delivery: Cardinal Health will provide emergency delivery. Before shipping, Cardinal Health will notify the purchaser of the actual delivery charges, which will be added to the Net Price. 
• Minimum Order for Free Delivery: For any order of $250 or more, delivery is free. The buyer has the option of approving a delivery charge of up to $50 for orders under $250.
• Pharmaceutical Expiration Date: Cardinal will not deliver pharmaceuticals with an expiration date of less than six (6) months without permission from the buyer's chief pharmacist or a designated representative. 
• Sealable Plastic Totes: Cardinal will primarily ship orders in sealable plastic totes that will be picked up by Cardinal and reused for future deliveries. 
• Adhesive Barcode Labels: Cardinal will provide adhesive shelf barcode labels that have the SKU and description of the drug with each order, or when requested by Purchasing Entities.
• Returns: For items ordered or shipped in error, the Commonwealth can receive full credit by notifying Cardinal within 7 calendar days of delivery. The item must be in its original, unopened, and saleable packaging. Cardinal will cover all shipping and restocking costs and will arrange for pickup within 3 calendar days of the request. The State Board of Pharmacy Services may establish additional agreements for drug returns.
  

Vendors on this contract may be required to provide products or services in cases of statewide emergencies. The 801 CMR 21.05(3) defines emergency for procurement purposes. Visit the Emergency Response Supplies, Services and Equipment Contact Information for Statewide Contracts list for emergency services related to this contract.

Also, please refer to the following table emergency contact information for the staff at Cardinal Health in Peabody, MA:

Vendors' performance is measured by several factors, including the following:

• Buyers provide actionable feedback on vendors for this contract to optimize performance through the Procurated platform. On the Procurated website, click "Search for a Massachusetts Vendor to Review", then search for the vendor by name and select them from the list. Once you enter your professional email address, you will be forwarded to the review screen.
• Buyers are encouraged to reach out to the Category Manager(s) (Sonia Castro or Tina Sang) if vendors are not meeting their contractual obligations and buyers may be surveyed for vendor performance feedback.
• Vendors will be evaluated on their current performance and may be asked to work with the Commonwealth toward improvement.
• Vendors must meet all contractual requirements throughout the life of the contract, including requirements for timely and accurate report submission, to remain in good standing under the contract.
  

For general procurement guidelines and best practices, follow these recommendations:

• Buyers should inform vendors to reference Statewide Contract MED56 on all quotes and invoices.
• No prepayment should be made for products not yet delivered or services not yet rendered.
• No sales tax should be applied to invoices.
• No fees or surcharges (including travel, fuel, delivery) should be applied to invoices.
• Special order fees must be agreed upon by both parties upfront.
• Payments for products or services provided must be paid within 45 days per Massachusetts Bill Payment Policy, or sooner if applying Prompt Payment Discount.
• Buyers are not required to sign additional agreements with vendors that conflict with the Request for Response (RFR) Terms and Conditions. Contact the Category Manager(s) (Sonia Castro or Tina Sang) for guidance. 
• Vendors must notify buyers of product substitutions.

To add a product or service to the list of eligible products or services sold under this contract, buyers must contact their Category Manager(s) (Sonia Castro or Tina Sang) for approval. The new product or service requested must comply with the established specifications and scope of the contract.

Buyers should request products that are environmentally preferable for the following: 

• Lab supplies: has received the ACT label, a third-party verified label that focuses on consumables, chemicals, and equipment.  
• Lab equipment: choose Energy Star registered options.  
• Choose refrigeration with climate-friendly refrigeration options. 
  

Learn More

Explore the Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP) Procurement Program and discover detailed guidance in the EPP Products and Services Guide.

When placing orders with a vendor, MOSAIC users must reference the contract ID number MED56* in the Agreement ID field in MOSAIC for encumbrances related to purchases from Statewide Contracts. Please address all inquiries regarding MOSAIC technical support and job aids by emailing the Comptroller Help Desk or by calling 617-973-2468. 

*The asterisk is required when referencing the contract in the Massachusetts Management Accounting Reporting System (MOSAIC).

51000000 : Drugs and Pharmaceutical Products
42000000 : Medical Equipment and Accessories and Supplies
42192600 : Medication dispensing and measuring devices and supplies
42192602 : Medication / pill dispensers
42192404 : Medical carts or accessories

Purchasing Contacts

Purchases can be made through the State Office of Pharmacy Services(SOPS), which accepts purchasing requests and payments, and forwards shipments to the location designated by the purchasing organization.

Email purchasing requests to Scott Brody, Elizabeth Landers, and Dolores OGrady. Include a copy of the approved Massachusetts Controlled Substances Registration (MCSR) form.

Other SOPS information sources: Alkiviadis Nacopoulos and Donald Rogers.

Vendors will be able to provide the requested service(s) throughout the the entire State of Massachusetts as detailed in the Map of Massachusetts Counties in the Massachusetts Maps web page..