Assistive technology framework agreement

Government procurement agency Buying Solutions has announced that it has awarded a new framework agreement for assistive technologies.

The framework agreement covers telecare, telehealth and telecoaching and will run for two years, with the option of two further one year extensions.

Buying Solutions said the agreement has been divided into six lots covering telecare products, telecare services, telehealth products, telehealth services, telecoaching products and services and managed services.

The procurement agency said the agreement would be ready for use from 16 August.

The agreement covers more than 60 suppliers and replaces the four year Telecare National Framework Agreement that was agreed by the NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency.

That agreement ran for four years to 1 June 2010. After its first year in operation, it covered 14 suppliers and had sales of almost £7m.

System C is one of 20 suppliers who have won a place on the framework agreement for managed services. Dr Ian Denley, System C’s chief executive, said the company had beaten off stiff competition for a place on lot six.

He added: “This framework agreement is an important recognition of our capability and experience of providing consultancy services within the fast growing area of telehealth.”

Tunstall Healthcare was one of six suppliers awarded a contract in each of the six lots and Cirrus was among the suppliers awarded a contract in four of the six lots.

Andy Davey, head of Cirrus, said: “Award of the framework agreement will make it much easier for public sector organisations to call on our expertise.

"This ultimately means that people in the UK will now benefit from our leading telecare and telehealth technology, with the reassurance that installations and maintenance will be carried out at the highest level of quality.”

Air Products Healthcare was placed on the framework for telehealth products and telecoaching products and services.

Adam Sullivan, general manager of Air Products Healthcare for UK and Ireland, said Air Products had a track record of delivering personalised respiratory homecare as the largest providers of the NHS Home Oxygen Service.

He added: “We are ideally placed to take this technology and make it usable, accessible and valuable to the NHS.”

Link: A list of all suppliers on the framework is available on Buying Solutions’ website.