How to bid on the Lancaster CMOP Low to Medium Volume TCA and Sorting Loops Project (VA)

What the VA is buying and why it matters

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to acquire and install a low- to medium-volume tablet and capsule automation (TCA) system. This project also involves redesigning the loop sortation system at its Dallas Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) in Lancaster, Texas.

The work includes the design, furnishing, installation, integration, testing, and commissioning of the new TCA system. It also covers the redesign and replacement of existing loop sortation hardware and controls to manage pucks from both the new and existing high-volume TCA equipment. The selected vendor will also provide system integration with existing pharmacy operating systems, CMOP production systems, and national CMOP data infrastructure. This includes audit trail, messaging, and reporting capabilities. The contract will also require commissioning, functional testing, integration testing, and support for acceptance testing to ensure performance requirements are met. Finally, the vendor will provide drawings, technical documentation, training for staff, warranty, and long-term sustainment support.

Key dates and what happens at the deadline

This is a pre-solicitation notice, meaning the formal Request for Proposals (RFP) is expected to be posted around June 24, 2026. The estimated proposal due date, or closing date, is on or about August 7, 2026, at 4:00 PM ET. The exact due date and time will be specified in the official solicitation.

An optional site visit at the Dallas CMOP is anticipated around July 7, 2026. Details for this visit, including the final date, time, location, attendance limits, and registration instructions, will be provided in the solicitation. Offerors will be responsible for all costs associated with attending the site visit.

Once the solicitation is issued, all proposals must be submitted by the deadline. Late submissions are generally not considered. It is crucial to monitor the Contract Opportunities portal on SAM.gov for the official solicitation and any amendments.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is suitable for firms with expertise in designing, furnishing, installing, and integrating automated pharmacy systems, specifically tablet and capsule automation. Experience with loop sortation systems and integration with existing pharmacy operating systems and data infrastructure is also essential.

The acquisition will be conducted under full and open competition, meaning any qualified business can bid. The NAICS Code for this acquisition is 332999, All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing. This indicates a need for manufacturers or integrators capable of delivering complex fabricated metal products as part of the automation and sortation systems.

How to respond to this solicitation

The official solicitation and any amendments will be available only electronically via the Contract Opportunities portal on SAM.gov. To access the opportunity, you will need to click the “View original source” link. If the first click takes you to the portal’s homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid.

You may need a free account on the portal to view documents, though for many bids, this is not required. It is your responsibility to regularly check SAM.gov for the solicitation, any amendments, and other related information. No paper copies will be issued, and telephone requests will not be accepted. This pre-solicitation notice does not require a response, and vendors are not requested to submit proposals, capability statements, or questions at this time. Questions will only be accepted after the solicitation is issued and must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer as instructed in the RFP.

Practical tips for preparing a competitive response

Given the technical nature of this project, focus on demonstrating your firm's specific experience with similar automation and sortation systems. Highlight past projects where you successfully integrated complex equipment with existing operational systems, especially in a pharmacy or medical logistics environment. Provide concrete examples of your capabilities in design, installation, testing, and commissioning.

Pay close attention to the anticipated requirements for throughput, reject rate, accuracy, and reliability. Your proposal should clearly outline how your proposed solution will meet or exceed these performance metrics. Detail your approach to training operations, maintenance, and IT staff, and describe your long-term sustainment support plans. If you plan to attend the optional site visit, use it to gain a deeper understanding of the existing infrastructure and potential integration challenges, which can inform a more tailored and competitive proposal.