NBCSP - Supply and Pathology Analysis of Immunochemical Faecal Occult Blood Test Supplies and Services

The Program is the national screening program implemented in 2006 by the Australian Government.The goal of the Program is to reduce the morbidity and mortality from bowel cancer by actively recruiting and screening the target population for early detection of cancer and pre-cancerous conditions.The Program invites eligible people by mail to complete a free iFOBT in their own home and mail it to the Program’s Pathology Laboratory for analysis.

In the 2014 Budget, the Australian Government announced additional funding of
$95.9 million over four (4) years to accelerate the expansion of the Program so that eligible people between the ages of 50-74 are invited to screen every two (2) years (biennially) by 2020. The Program currently uses two (2) million iFOBTs (each using two samples) per annum.With the accelerated expansion of the Program, it is estimated that four (4) million iFOBTs per annum, from
1 January 2018, will be required.

Program participation is expected to steadily increase which will increase demand for Pathology Analysis of Completed IFOBTs.An end to end quality management of the Pathology Service from the Program’s perspective is essential.Therefore the Department needs to source an iFOBT and quality Pathology Service through a competitive open market tender process to support the accelerated expansion of the Program.