Non-Imaging Vibration Controlled Ultrasound System

This framework starts on 11 July 2025, runs for 17 months and ends on 30 November 2026. There is an option to extend for an additional 12 months.

This is a direct award to one supplier offering an innovative product – FibroScan, a non-imaging vibration controlled ultrasound system.

How to purchase from the framework

This is a direct framework agreement. To order products:

• Customers will need to obtain a quotation through our Category team to benefit from National Framework Agreement Pricing. Please quote the framework reference number when contacting your preferred supplier to ensure the correct pricing and compliance.
• Our Category team will then provide you with a Unique Reference Number (URN). This URN must be detailed on your purchase order to order the required equipment.

Contact Details

When purchasing from this framework you may be able to take advantage of additional savings opportunities through:

• Point of Sale maintenance discounts
• Multi-Trust Aggregation Spend
• Volume banding and commitment deals
• Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Capital Fund promotions.

See our Useful Links section to find out more about these opportunities.

Sustainability, net zero and social value are important elements in how NHS Supply Chain build our framework offering through the procurement process, tendering, supplier award and contract management. There are five mandatory requirements for suppliers to address supporting compliance with relevant PPNs and NHS England policy.

• Carbon Reduction Plan (PPN 006)
• Evergreen Assessment
• Modern Slavery Assessment (PPN 009)
• Social Value (PPN 002)
• NHS England Net Zero Supplier Roadmap and Horizon Scanning

Awarded suppliers meet the current milestones on the net zero roadmap and have awareness and understanding of future milestones.

Clinicians can see evidence-based recommendations on Fibroscan for assessing liver fibrosis and cirrhosis outside secondary and specialist care in NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) Guidelines DG48.
See our Useful Links section to read the DG48 full recommendations.

There is one supplier on this direct award:

• Echosens

Areas covered

• Non-Imaging Vibration-Controlled Ultrasound Systems
• Options and accessories

About the product

• Measures liver stiffness to quantify fibrosis and cirrhosis.
• Measures fatty liver to quantify steatosis non-invasively.
• Takes measurements using Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE) technology. VCTE measures the speed of a shear wave across the liver to derive a liver stiffness measurement which can be a marker of hepatic fibrosis.
• Can be used by any clinical practitioner rather than just trained sonographers.

Choice

• Leading suppliers on contract – providing enhanced range and value from a single source.

More savings

• Pay less – with NHS Supply Chain you have a wider range of product options so you can select the ones that are fit for purpose and value for money.
• Leave your tendering to us – spend less time and money on tendering and let our procurement specialists undertake it on your behalf.
• Back office savings – the efficiency of our service, ranging from e-ordering to consolidated deliveries, enables significant back office savings.

More value

• An integrated approach – the financial benefits of NHS Supply Chain go beyond just product prices. Our approach is an integrated one that reduces cost throughout the supply chain, from raw materials to global logistics, resulting in a much lower total cost.
• Purchasing through our route – when there are changes in the market, we can help minimise the impact of price rises and give support with cost saving initiatives.

Our knowledge and expertise

• Dedicated Acute team and Out of Hospital Care team – your day to day contact for all queries. They will help you identify savings opportunities, solve any issues on your behalf and ensure high service levels are always met.
• NHS Supply Chain Buyers – procurement specialists in their product fields who can give expert advice on new and alternative products.
• Implementation Team – experts in helping you set up the new processes and training required when introducing new products.
• Customer Services Team – with the daily support provided by our dedicated and knowledgeable advisors and service managers you know you are in safe hands.
• Customer Assurance – providing customers with the confidence and assurance of products using a process of clinical evaluation and engagement with clinical users. This ensures all products are clinically assured by the CaPA process, supported by engagement with customers.

Peace of mind

• Dependable deliveries – having access to the know-how and resources of one of the world’s largest logistics companies means we can offer unrivalled dependability and responsiveness when it comes to our delivery services.
• Framework agreement – awarded in accordance with UK procurement legislation.
• Sustainability – Sustainable procurement is embedded into our category management processes to ensure that our suppliers meet requirements for carbon reduction plans, evergreen assessment, modern slavery, social value and NHS England net zero supplier roadmap. Additionally, our logistics partner is certified ISO14001.