NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group & NHS Blackburn with Darwen Clinincal Commissioning Group - Dexa Services

NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group are seek interested providers for the provision of Dexa Services in the Pennine Lancashire footprint.

The Commissioner wishes to receive responses to the Invitation to Tender (ITT) from suitably qualified and experienced service providers with the necessary capacity and capability (or a demonstrable ability to provide the necessary capacity and capability) to provide the range of services required.

Current services are approximately valued at £397,000 across the life of a three year contract but commissioners seek financial efficiencies through the tender.

Dual Emission X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scans are widely recognised as an efficient way of measuring bone mineral density (BMD) to predict people who are risk of fragility fractures as a result of osteoporosis or thinning bones. Identifying people who are at risk of fractures allows for appropriate interventions to be made. The scans also provide the ‘Gold Standard’ for diagnosing osteoporosis.

The demand for DEXA scans over the last few years has stabilised, although there is a potential for these to increase slightly as people age and particularly amongst post-menopausal women, and predictions for future populations indicate an ageing population.

The aim is to maintain scanning rates to a level which is in line with recognised good practice for the identification and management of osteoporosis, and able to cater for future demand (e.g. ageing population).

Key objectives of the Pennine Lancashire Procurement are to:

Interested parties should express an interest in the tender through the Bravo Solution e-procurement portal and complete the ITT by 27 May 2016 - https://mlcsu.bravosolution.co.uk/