diff --git a/.github/workflows/CI-runpod_dep.yml b/.github/workflows/CI-runpod_dep.yml
index e99d828..f77f0c9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/CI-runpod_dep.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/CI-runpod_dep.yml
@@ -9,59 +9,60 @@ on:
 
   workflow_dispatch:
 
+permissions:
+  contents: write
+  pull-requests: write
+
 jobs:
   check_dep:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     name: Check python requirements file and update
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Check for new package version and update
         run: |
-          echo "Fetching the current runpod version from requirements.txt..."
-          
-          # Get current version, allowing both == and ~= in the search pattern
-          current_version=$(grep -oP 'runpod[~=]{1,2}\K[^"]+' ./builder/requirements.txt)
-          echo "Current version: $current_version"
+          echo "Fetching current runpod version from requirements.txt..."
 
-          # Extract major and minor from current version
-          current_major_minor=$(echo $current_version | cut -d. -f1,2)
-          echo "Current major.minor: $current_major_minor"
+          # Match runpod with any version specifier or no specifier at all
+          current_version=$(grep -oP '^runpod([~>=!<]{1,2}\K[\d.]+)?' ./builder/requirements.txt | grep -oP '[\d.]+' || echo "")
+          echo "Current version: ${current_version:-unset}"
 
-          echo "Fetching the latest runpod version from PyPI..."
-          
-          # Get new version from PyPI
-          new_version=$(curl -s https://pypi.org/pypi/runpod/json | jq -r .info.version)
+          echo "Fetching latest runpod version from PyPI..."
+          new_version=$(curl -sf https://pypi.org/pypi/runpod/json | jq -r .info.version)
           echo "NEW_VERSION_ENV=$new_version" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "New version: $new_version"
 
-          # Extract major and minor from new version
-          new_major_minor=$(echo $new_version | cut -d. -f1,2)
-          echo "New major.minor: $new_major_minor"
-
           if [ -z "$new_version" ]; then
-              echo "ERROR: Failed to fetch the new version from PyPI."
-              exit 1
+            echo "ERROR: Failed to fetch new version from PyPI."
+            exit 1
           fi
 
-          # Check if the major or minor version is different
-          if [ "$current_major_minor" = "$new_major_minor" ]; then
-              echo "No update needed. The new version ($new_major_minor) is within the allowed range (~= $current_major_minor)."
+          if [ -z "$current_version" ]; then
+            echo "No version pin found — pinning to $new_version."
+          else
+            current_major_minor=$(echo "$current_version" | cut -d. -f1,2)
+            new_major_minor=$(echo "$new_version" | cut -d. -f1,2)
+            echo "Current major.minor: $current_major_minor  New major.minor: $new_major_minor"
+
+            if [ "$current_major_minor" = "$new_major_minor" ]; then
+              echo "No update needed. New version ($new_version) is within ~= $current_major_minor range."
               exit 0
+            fi
+
+            echo "New major/minor detected ($new_major_minor). Updating requirements.txt..."
           fi
 
-          echo "New major/minor detected ($new_major_minor). Updating requirements.txt..."
-
-          # Update requirements.txt, preserving the existing constraint type (~= or ==)
-          sed -i "s/runpod[~=][^ ]*/runpod~=$new_version/" ./builder/requirements.txt
-          echo "requirements.txt has been updated."
+          # Replace any `runpod`, `runpod==x`, `runpod~=x`, etc. with pinned version
+          sed -i "s|^runpod.*|runpod~=$new_version|" ./builder/requirements.txt
+          echo "requirements.txt updated."
 
       - name: Create Pull Request
-        uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@v3
+        uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@v7
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-          commit-message: Update runpod package version
-          title: Update runpod package version
-          body: The package version has been updated to ${{ env.NEW_VERSION_ENV }}
+          commit-message: "chore: update runpod to ${{ env.NEW_VERSION_ENV }}"
+          title: "chore: update runpod to ${{ env.NEW_VERSION_ENV }}"
+          body: The `runpod` package has been updated to `${{ env.NEW_VERSION_ENV }}`.
           branch: runpod-package-update
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 37a55c9..33e3f20 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 name: Release
 
 on:
+  release:
+    types: [published]
   push:
     tags:
-      - "v[0-9]+.[0-9]+.[0-9]+*" # Trigger on version tags like v1.0.0, v2.1.0, etc.
+      - "v[0-9]+.[0-9]+.[0-9]+*"
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       version:
@@ -53,16 +55,13 @@ jobs:
 
           # Determine version based on trigger type
           if [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "workflow_dispatch" ]]; then
-            # Manual trigger: use input version
             VERSION="${{ github.event.inputs.version }}"
-            echo "RELEASE_VERSION=${VERSION}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-            echo "IS_MANUAL_RELEASE=true" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          elif [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "release" ]]; then
+            VERSION="${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}"
           else
-            # Tag trigger: use tag name (remove refs/tags/ prefix)
             VERSION=${GITHUB_REF#refs/tags/}
-            echo "RELEASE_VERSION=${VERSION}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-            echo "IS_MANUAL_RELEASE=false" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           fi
+          echo "RELEASE_VERSION=${VERSION}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
 
       - name: Build and push the images to Docker Hub
         uses: docker/bake-action@v2
@@ -76,11 +75,45 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Release Summary
         run: |
-          echo "🚀 Release completed!"
+          echo "Release completed!"
           echo "Version: ${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}"
           echo "Docker Image: ${{ env.DOCKERHUB_REPO }}/${{ env.DOCKERHUB_IMG }}:${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}"
-          if [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "workflow_dispatch" ]]; then
-            echo "Trigger: Manual workflow dispatch"
-          else
-            echo "Trigger: GitHub release (tag: ${{ github.ref_name }})"
+
+      - name: Fetch Release Notes
+        run: |
+          RESPONSE=$(curl -sf \
+            -H "Authorization: token ${{ github.token }}" \
+            "https://api.github.com/repos/${{ github.repository }}/releases/tags/${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}" 2>/dev/null) || true
+          if [[ -n "$RESPONSE" ]]; then
+            NOTES=$(echo "$RESPONSE" | jq -r '.body // empty')
           fi
+          printf '%s' "${NOTES:-No release notes available.}" > /tmp/release_notes.txt
+
+      - name: Notify Slack
+        run: |
+          jq -n \
+            --arg version "${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}" \
+            --arg docker "${{ env.DOCKERHUB_REPO }}/${{ env.DOCKERHUB_IMG }}:${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}" \
+            --rawfile notes /tmp/release_notes.txt \
+            --arg url "https://github.com/${{ github.repository }}/releases/tag/${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}" \
+            '{
+              text: (":rocket: New :runpod-new-whiteonpurple: Runpod worker-vllm release: *" + $version + "*"),
+              blocks: [
+                {
+                  type: "section",
+                  text: {
+                    type: "mrkdwn",
+                    text: (":banana-dance: *New Release — worker-vllm " + $version + "*\n*Docker:* `" + $docker + "`\n<" + $url + "|View release on GitHub>")
+                  }
+                },
+                {
+                  type: "section",
+                  text: {
+                    type: "mrkdwn",
+                    text: ("*Release Notes:*\n" + $notes)
+                  }
+                }
+              ]
+            }' | curl -sf -X POST "${{ secrets.SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL }}" \
+              -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+              -d @-
diff --git a/.github/workflows/slack-pr-issue-notify.yml b/.github/workflows/slack-pr-issue-notify.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..539f5df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/slack-pr-issue-notify.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+name: Slack PR Notifications
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    types: [opened]
+  issues:
+    types: [opened]
+
+permissions:
+    contents: read
+   
+jobs:
+  notify:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Notify Slack - New PR
+        if: github.event_name == 'pull_request'
+        run: |
+          curl -sf -X POST "${{ secrets.SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL }}" \
+            -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+            -d '{
+              "text": ":rocket: New PR in worker-vllm: *${{ github.event.pull_request.title }}*",
+              "blocks": [
+                {
+                  "type": "section",
+                  "text": {
+                    "type": "mrkdwn",
+                    "text": ":rocket: *New Pull Request — worker-vllm*\n*<${{ github.event.pull_request.html_url }}|${{ github.event.pull_request.title }}>*\nOpened by *${{ github.event.pull_request.user.login }}*"
+                  }
+                },
+                {
+                  "type": "context",
+                  "elements": [
+                    {
+                      "type": "mrkdwn",
+                      "text": "${{ github.event.pull_request.base.ref }} ← ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}"
+                    }
+                  ]
+                }
+              ]
+            }'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/slack-vllm-monitor.yml b/.github/workflows/slack-vllm-monitor.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2a57b47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/slack-vllm-monitor.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+name: Monitor vLLM Releases
+
+on:
+  schedule:
+    - cron: '0 0 * * *' # Every day at midnight
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+
+permissions:
+    contents: read
+   
+jobs:
+  check-vllm-release:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Restore last known vLLM tag
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
+        with:
+          path: .vllm-last-tag
+          key: vllm-tag-${{ github.run_id }}
+          restore-keys: vllm-tag-
+
+      - name: Get latest vLLM release
+        id: vllm
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          response=$(curl -sf https://api.github.com/repos/vllm-project/vllm/releases/latest \
+            -H "Authorization: Bearer $GH_TOKEN")
+          echo "tag=$(echo "$response" | jq -r '.tag_name')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          echo "url=$(echo "$response" | jq -r '.html_url')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          echo "name=$(echo "$response" | jq -r '.name')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+
+      - name: Check if new release
+        id: check
+        run: |
+          last=$(cat .vllm-last-tag 2>/dev/null || echo "")
+          current="${{ steps.vllm.outputs.tag }}"
+          echo "Last: $last  Current: $current"
+          if [ -n "$current" ] && [ "$last" != "$current" ]; then
+            echo "is_new=true" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          else
+            echo "is_new=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          fi
+
+      - name: Notify Slack
+        if: steps.check.outputs.is_new == 'true'
+        run: |
+          curl -sf -X POST "${{ secrets.SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL }}" \
+            -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+            -d '{
+              "text": ":rocket: New vLLM release: *${{ steps.vllm.outputs.tag }}*",
+              "blocks": [
+                {
+                  "type": "section",
+                  "text": {
+                    "type": "mrkdwn",
+                    "text": ":rocket: *New vLLM Release: ${{ steps.vllm.outputs.tag }}*\n<${{ steps.vllm.outputs.url }}|View on GitHub>"
+                  }
+                }
+              ]
+            }'
+
+      - name: Save new tag
+        if: steps.check.outputs.is_new == 'true'
+        run: echo "${{ steps.vllm.outputs.tag }}" > .vllm-last-tag
+
+      - name: Update cache
+        if: steps.check.outputs.is_new == 'true'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@v4
+        with:
+          path: .vllm-last-tag
+          key: vllm-tag-${{ steps.vllm.outputs.tag }}
diff --git a/.runpod/README.md b/.runpod/README.md
index bdc1878..3c80029 100644
--- a/.runpod/README.md
+++ b/.runpod/README.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ Run LLMs using [vLLM](https://docs.vllm.ai) with an OpenAI-compatible API
 
 [![RunPod](https://api.runpod.io/badge/runpod-workers/worker-vllm)](https://www.runpod.io/console/hub/runpod-workers/worker-vllm)
 
-Current vLLM version: [0.19.1](https://github.com/vllm-project/vllm/releases/tag/v0.16.0)
+Current vLLM version: [0.19.1](https://github.com/vllm-project/vllm/releases/tag/v0.19.1)
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 136f099..7d18213 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ Deploy OpenAI-Compatible Blazing-Fast LLM Endpoints powered by the [vLLM](https:
 
 ![vLLM worker banner](https://image.runpod.ai/preview/vllm/vllm-banner.png)
 
-Current vLLM version: [0.19.1](https://github.com/vllm-project/vllm/releases/tag/v0.16.0)
+Current vLLM version: [0.19.1](https://github.com/vllm-project/vllm/releases/tag/v0.19.1)
+
 
 > Check out our Load Balancer implementation here: [vLLM Load Balancer](https://github.com/runpod-workers/vllm-loadbalancer-ep)
 
diff --git a/builder/requirements.txt b/builder/requirements.txt
index c7bc129..f3ad976 100644
--- a/builder/requirements.txt
+++ b/builder/requirements.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ray
 pandas
 pyarrow
-runpod
+runpod==1.9.0
 huggingface-hub
 lmcache==0.4.2
 packaging>=24.2