A Medical Device Daily

Stentor (Brisbane, California), which focuses on the distribution, management and storage of digital medical images, said that it has been awarded a General Services Administration (GSA) contract with the federal government. The contract enables U.S. federal agencies, as well as state and local government agencies, to purchase Stentor's iSite PACS (picture archive and communications system) at pre-negotiated rates.

The GSA is one of three federal central management agencies that provide policy leadership and expertly managed space, supplies, services and solutions, it says, "to enable federal employees to accomplish their missions." The GSA provides government agencies with a list of pre-approved and qualified vendors that can do work for the federal government.

As an approved PACS supplier, Stentor can sell its iSite PACS to federal government customers through December 2009.

"We hope that our solution can assist government hospitals and clinics to increase productivity and efficiency as well as reduce costs," said Victoria Hibbits, vice president of national accounts at Stentor.

Single-use device (SUD) reprocessor Alliance Medical (Phoenix) reported that group purchasing organization (GPO) Premier Purchasing Partners (San Diego) has granted it a three-year contract to offer its SUD reprocessing services to Premier's hospital members.

Alliance said it "employs clinically trained and experienced" service technicians and account executives who utilize its "clinically focused, three-phased client support program, Assessment, Implementation and Management, to set up and manage the most efficient and effective SUD reprocessing program." It said the savings healthcare facilities achieve can be used for patient services, new medical technology and nursing salaries, and leading to improved patient care.

• Diversa (San Diego) said it has been awarded two biodefense contracts totaling $4.8 million from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The first contract, of $2.5 million, will support the second year of Diversa's program for Rapid Antibody-Based Biological Countermeasures (RAbBC). The second contract, of $2.3 million, will provide funding for the second year of the company's program for Enzyme-Based Active Decontamination of chemical and biological agents (EBAD).

Funding for the EBAD program is provided via the Chemical and Biological Defense Initiative Fund (CBDIF). The Joint Science and Technology Office (JSTO) for Chemical and Biological Defense (CBD) manages all chemical and biological science and technology development programs associated with the DoD Chemical and Biological Defense Program.

• Diagnostix (Warrendale, Pennsylvania) President Mary Beth Lang reported that the data-driven savings provider has entered a five-year agreement with LRGHealthcare (LRGH; Laconia, New Hampshire) to implement its proprietary AccuPrice daily price auditing program at LRGH facilities.

The announcement was made on the heels of Diagnostix introducing a new data-driven savings solutions platform. Diagnostix is a wholly owned subsidiary of GPO Amerinet (St. Louis). LRGH also signed a five-year contract with Amerinet for other supply chain management services.

"Diagnostix's unique and innovative data management and technology focused programs were a driving force in our decision to move forward with the relationship," said Glen Richardson, LRGH director of materials management. "[T]he Diagnostix team presented us with programs and services that we believed could help us deliver long-term cost savings."

Diagnostix develops programs intended to help hospital facilities produce up to 10% savings in supply costs.