15 Dec 2009 07:00
Embargoed: 0700hrs,15 December 2009
Akers Biosciences Inc.
("ABI" or the "Company")
ABI Obtains United States Government Service Administration (GSA) Schedule Contract
Akers Biosciences, Inc (AIM:AKR), a leading designer and manufacturer of rapid diagnostic screening and testing products, has obtained a United States Government Service Administration (GSA) Schedule contract (the "Contract"). The Contract, number GS-07F-0140W, applies to a variety of the Company's single-use assays including the PIFA® Heparin/PF4 Rapid Assay, BreathScan® breath alcohol detectors and the custom BreathScan® keychain unit which is currently in use by the US Military as part of their Personally Owned Vehicle (POV) Safety Program.
ABI's inclusion as a GSA vendor provides the Company with broader access to government customers as the GSA Schedule is one of the most widely accepted contract vehicles available to procurement officers at the federal, state, and local level. These qualified buyers can now contract directly with ABI for the Company's various rapid, disposable testing solutions thus streamlining the purchasing process.
To support its selling efforts in the government market segment, ABI intends to launch a marketing initiative in 2010 to raise awareness of its products and their availability through the GSA program. The GSA award provides ABI with a five-year contract listing of the prices the federal government has agreed to pay for the Company's varied product portfolio. The Contract may be renewed for three further five-year periods resulting in a 20-year contract if all renewals are executed.
Thomas A. Nicolette, President and Chief Executive of ABI, commented:
"We are pleased to have been awarded a GSA contract as it will afford us with an opportunity to increase our customer base in the government sector. Existing and new customers will be able to expedite future purchases through the simplified GSA ordering process, and ABI will have expanded access to government agencies' budgets as they tend to designate separate funding for GSA and non-GSA procurement."
Enquiries:
Thomas A. Nicolette
President and CEO
Tel. +1 856 848 8698
Ben Simons
M: Communications
Tel. +44 (0)20 7920 2340
Alasdair Younie/Ben Wells
Arbuthnot Securities Limited
Tel. +44 (0)20 7012 2000
About Akers Biosciences
Akers Biosciences, Inc. develops, manufactures, and supplies rapid, point of care screening and testing products designed to bring healthcare information both rapidly and directly to the consumer or healthcare provider. The Company has advanced the science of diagnostics while responding to major shifts in healthcare through the development of several proprietary platform technologies. The company's state-of-the-art rapid diagnostic assays can be performed virtually anywhere in minutes when time is of the essence. ABI has aligned with major healthcare companies and high volume medical products distributors to maximize product offerings, and to be a major worldwide competitor in diagnostics. Additional information on the Company and it products can be found at www.akersbiosciences.com.