London, UK - May 13, 2008 – Sunquest Information Systems, Inc., a market leader in laboratory information systems, today announced that it has been appointed to the Additional Supply Capability and Capacity (ASCC) Framework for Lot 2: Clinical Information Technology (CIT) Services. Sunquest has signed a framework contract to supply IT products and services for Service Categories 2.13 Diagnostic Systems - Pathology & Laboratory Services and 2.21 Diagnostic Systems - Radiology & Digital Imaging Services.

The ASCC Framework contracts enable the NHS to streamline the procurement of IT systems and services from suppliers who have demonstrated experience in the health sector and can be used to support both National Programme for IT (NPfIT) related work and wider IT related projects.

“Sunquest is extremely pleased to have been appointed to a framework contract under Lot 2 of ASCC, as this will enable NHS organisations to consider Sunquest’s laboratory information systems for their hospitals and laboratories,” said David Allcock, vice president of sales for Sunquest Information Systems (International) Ltd.  “We are committed to developing solutions that improve workflow productivity for our customers, and helping them towards improving patient safety, supporting pathology networks, and integrating systems in primary and secondary care, and effectively utilise the latest technologies for predictive medicine”

The Framework Contracts have been divided into business lots as follows:

Lot 1: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Services – these will support the delivery of existing non- clinical systems or provide new non- clinical systems and services as business requirements emerge.

Lot 2: Clinical Information Technology (CIT) Services – these will support the delivery of existing clinical IT systems and/or provide new clinical IT systems and services as business requirements emerge.

Lot 3: Hardware, Infrastructure and Associated (HIA) Services – the provision of a broad range of HIA technology goods and services and, additionally, specialist consultancy services aligned to other ASCC services.

Lot 4: Testing Environments and Related Services (TERS) – the provision of testing environments and associated facilities.

About Sunquest Information Systems, Inc.
Sunquest Information Systems, Inc., is a global market leader in clinical data management solutions with more than 1,200 hospitals and commercial laboratories using its products worldwide.  The company is dedicated to providing best-of-breed solutions that enable quality patient care, clinical safety, and operational efficiencies.   Its experienced sales and technical service teams deliver 24x7 assistance to customers for their procurement, implementation, and customer care needs.  The Sunquest Laboratory™ system achieved "Best in KLAS" in the Laboratory Segment for 2007, which was its fourth consecutive year, (KLAS Enterprises, LLC, www.healthcomputing.com.)

Sunquest’s professional services division provides a wide array of management and technical tools, including lab redesign and optimization, outreach and lab network program development, and operational business and implementation plans. For more information, call 800-748-0692 or visit: www.sunquestinfo.com.

ASCC Frameworks

The ASCC procurement has established a series of framework contracts to provide NHS Connecting for Health and other publicly funded health organisations with access, via appropriate governance mechanisms, to a broad based supplier community for IT products and services. The framework contracts comprise pre-negotiated terms and conditions.  Following the award of ASCC framework contracts, Procuring Authorities with specific requirements would conduct a Further Competitions Procedure (FCP), engaging suppliers who have been awarded a framework contract in the appropriate Service Category or Categories. It is not intended that any ASCC awarded frameworks will conflict with existing contractual arrangements for the supply of IT products or services to the National Programme for IT in the NHS in England and there are no guarantees of volumes of business for suppliers appointed to the ASCC framework contracts.