Updated telecare national framework agreement delivers increased choice and savings

30 March 2007

The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA) has undertaken a comprehensive review of its telecare national framework agreement. From 1 April 2007, the range of products and services will increase enhancing the initial national framework agreement (NFA) offering.

The headline results of the first yearly review are as follows:

• Introduction of 958 new individual equipment lines.
• Introduction of 118 new equipment packages.
• Introduction of 216 new services/service packages.
• Overall product and service offering on the NFA now covers 2,900 individual lines (previously 1,700).
• Based on the price review of existing products/services offered on the NFA, an average saving of 14.1% has been achieved - this is in addition to a saving of 13.9% achieved when the NFA was awarded in June 2006.
• An average saving of 10.7% has been achieved for new products and services introduced to the NFA via the first review.
• Further savings opportunities are also achievable via improved commitment/volume based discount structures proposed within the review and introduced to the NFA.

The new products and prices offered by the framework agreement suppliers will be available from 1 April 2007.

Government strategy to improve telecare infrastructure

The telecare national framework agreement (NFA), launched in June 2006, provides health, local authority and social care organisations across the UK with an EU compliant procurement solution for the procurement of telecare and telehealh equipment and associated services including installation, maintenance, monitoring and response services.

The agreement runs for four years and supports the Department of Health’s vision to develop and mainstream telecare and telehealth in England. It is important that the agreement continues to reflect the products and services available in the wider UK market place to assist public sector organisations with a responsibility for delivering telecare services. To ensure this, NHS PASA will undertake a yearly review of the telecare NFA with its participating suppliers. The first review has been completed.

Purpose of yearly reviews

The yearly review allows participating telecare NFA suppliers to:

• introduce new products/services
• remove products or services
• introduce upgraded versions of equipment
• introduce new sub-contractors, third parties and/or strategic partners to help develop the range of equipment and services available from the NFA
• review pricing and discount structures.

The revised pricing and product/service offering for the telecare NFA will be
available from NHS-eCat from Monday 2 April 2007.

(http://www.pasa.nhs.uk/PASAWeb/NHSprocurement/eProcurement/eCatalog
ues.htm).

NHS PASA will publish an updated information pack and a supporting
supplement outlining the outcomes of the 2007 NFA annual review in mid
April 2007.