McKesson Sues Cook County Over Lost Contract
According to the Daily Herald McKesson filed suit against Cook County on Thursday over a $276.5M contract (No 05-15-623H2). The suit claims that even though McKesson Pharmaceuticals had offered the lowest bid three times in a row, it lost for a disputable technicality while AmerisourceBergen was allowed to amend or clarify its bid and eventually won though its bid was higher. McKesson held the contract since 2001 after it won through an RFP process. Details about that $217M deal can be found in this November 2001 report from the county’s Committee on Finance. The contract was later extended through 2005. DMS Pharmaceutical Group had filed a complaint in January 2002 alleging that the County violated state law and its own competitive bidding ordinance by using requests for information (RFI) and requests for proposals (RFP) to award the contract, but the courts ruled in favor of the county.
The facilities covered by the county’s contracting include Stroger Hospital, Oak Forest Hospital, Provident Hospital, Cermak Health Services, the Ambulatory and Community Health Network of Cook County, the C.O.R.E. Center and the Cook County department of health. Chinta Strausberg, Director of Communications for Cook County Board President John H. Stroger, Jr., said the office cannot comment on pending litigation.
Related entry: Siemens And Employees Indicted On Federal Charges (radiology equipment at Stroger Hospital)
June 23, 2006 Related topics: Legal & legislative, Contract Awards, Pharmaceuticals