Supply of Prescribed Wheelchairs and Postural Support Surfaces

The Rehabilitation Engineering Clinic (REC) of the Health Technology Management Unit is responsible for the specification, purchase, quality assurance, delivery, fitting and adaptation of prescribed wheelchairs. The chairs are required to assist in the rehabilitation of patients in East Metropolitan Health Service (EMHS) and South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) (specifically Fiona Stanley Hospital) hospitals and to provide the equipment necessary to ensure an effective discharge from hospital into the community.

A prescribed wheelchair differs from a non-prescribed wheelchair as it is customised to the user’s needs, and includes pressure management and postural support, to maximise functional capability and comfort. A prescribed wheelchair utilises adjustable and swappable components to ensure a suitable configuration can be developed for the individual's requirements.

It is proposed that the following broad product categories targeted to adults only will be covered by the resultant contract.

Category 1

• Powered wheelchairs
• Manual and Power Assisted wheelchairs

Category 2

• Wheelchairs parts and accessories

Category 3

Postural Support Surfaces

• Wheelchair cushions
• Backrests

A panel of contractors will be appointed to each category. It is anticipated that award will be to a single supplier or multiple suppliers for individual line items within each category and/or subcategory as appropriate in order to adequately account for clinical end user requirements and ensure continuity of supply.