For the last twenty years, a government agency, Cook County has awarded their Pharmaceutical Distribution contract to only one vendor, AmerisourceBergen (AB).  AB is a pharmaceutical wholesale distributor and Fortune 500 company that currently has an annual revenue of approximately $167.9 billion.

Cook County, not only awarded AB a contract for a period of five years to distribute pharmaceutical products to their health care facilities, but granted them a 12.68% contract waiver as well. The initial contract goal of 17.5% was to be utilized by providing business opportunities for Cook County certified Minority Business Enterprise/Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) businesses.  However, AB only fulfilled approximately 4.82% of the contract goal by utilizing non-pharmaceutical MBE/WBE businesses, i.e., janitorial services, pest control and snow removal companies, just to name a few.

My name is Dr. Helen A. Randolph, president of 3 R Health Care Products (3 R). 3 R is a Black and female-owned small business, and the only one certified with this government agency, Cook County as a MBE/WBE pharmaceutical wholesale distributor business. I was raised by a single parent, lived in public housing and worked my way through pharmacy school.  I was told the odds were stacked against me and the chances of becoming a pharmacist was impossible.  In spite of what I was told, and the obstacles that stood in my way, I was able to succeed. I not only became a pharmacist and received my doctorate degree, but became an entrepreneur as well.

I am now faced with another obstacle.  For 14 years, my company, 3 R has been denied the opportunity to participate on this Cook County contract.  This government agency continues to favor this LARGE business, AB. 3 R has the necessary resources and experience as a pharmaceutical wholesale distributor just like AB, but on a smaller scale.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! We would like for the County to adhere to their contract by not honoring AB a waiver, and allow 3 R the opportunity to participate on this contract.