Chapter 5 – Administrative

5.6.5 Pharmaceutical Acquisitions

• Policy

  • California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) participates in the Statewide Pharmaceutical Program, also referred to as the Prescription Drug Bulk Purchasing Program, established by Government Code sections 14977-14982, and administered by the Department of General Services (DGS).

• Applicability

  • This policy applies to all CCHCS staff involved with acquisitions of pharmaceutical products.

• Procedure

  • Pharmaceutical acquisitions shall be made utilizing pre-existing sources and other acquisition processes according to the following guidelines:

  • Prescription bulk pharmaceuticals shall be purchased using the mandatory Pharmaceutical Wholesaler statewide contract.

  • Pharmaceutical products not available through the Pharmaceutical Wholesaler statewide contract shall be purchased using mandatory DGS contracts, when available.

  • Pharmaceutical products not included in a DGS contract may be obtained by following standard acquisition procedures (Refer to the CCHCS Acquisitions Customer Guide).

  • For pharmaceutical acquisition requests that meet blanket purchase order requirements as specified in the CCHCS Acquisitions Customer Guide, Section 3.4, the procedures contained within the guide shall be followed.  Otherwise, pharmaceutical acquisitions shall follow standard procedures as found in the Acquisitions Customer Guide.

• References

  • Government Code, Title 2, Division 3, Part 5.5, Chapter 12, Purchase of Prescriptions Drugs for Government Agencies, Sections 14977-14982

  • Public Contract Code, Division 2, Part 2, Chapter 2, State Acquisitions of Goods and Services, Section 10290

  • Department of General Services, State Contracting Manual, Volume 2

• Revision History

  • Effective: 08/2016
    Reviewed: 05/10/2023
    Revised: 06/09/2025