Request for Expression of Interest For Sub-award In ... · Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 3 1 LIST OF ACRONYMS 1 CTB Challenge TB 2 DOTS Directly Observed Treatment

Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 1

Request for Expression of Interest

For

Sub-award

In Support Of

Challenge TB Afghanistan Project

USAID Cooperative Agreement No. AID-OAA-A-14-00029

Solicitation Number: RFEOI-CTB-AF16-001

Issuance Date: April 17 2016

Closing Date for Submission of Questions: April 23, 2016

Submit Questions to: [email protected]

Responses to Questions will be emailed to registered applicants on: April 20, 2016

Submit Expressions of Interest to: [email protected]

Closing Date for Submission of Expressions of Interest: April 25 2016

Managed by: Management Sciences for Health

Funded by:

United States Agency for International Development via KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation

mailto:[email protected]



Table of Contents

1 LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................. 3

2 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 4

3 TWO PHASE APPLICATION PROCESS ................................................................... 4

4 GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPING EXPRESSION OF INTEREST .......... 4

5 OBJECTIVE ................................................................................................................ 5

6 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/SCOPE OF WORK ........................................................ 5

7 GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS .............................................................................................. 6

8 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA .............................................................................................. 6

9 BUDGET AND FUNDING PERIOD ............................................................................ 6

10 EXPRESSION OF INTEREST PAPER SUBMISSION ............................................... 7

11 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ........................................................................................ 7

12 EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORMAT .................................................................... 7

13 BUDGET ..................................................................................................................... 7

14 EVALUATION CRITERIA ........................................................................................... 7

15 APPENDIX A: EXPRESSION OF INTEREST ............................................................ 9


1 LIST OF ACRONYMS

1 CTB Challenge TB

2 DOTS Directly Observed Treatment Short-course Strategy

3 DST Drug Sensitivity Testing

4 EOI Expression of Interest

5 IC Infection Control

6 M&E Monitoring and Evaluation

7 MDG Millennium Development Goals

8 MDR-TB Multi drug-resistant TB

9 MSH Management Sciences for Health

10 NGO Non-Government Organization

11 NTP National Tuberculosis Control Program

12 NTRL National TB Reference Laboratory

13 RFA Request for Application

14 RFEOI Request for Expression of Interest

15 SOP Standard Operating Procedures

16 TB Tuberculosis

17 TEP Technical Evaluation Panel

18 TSR Treatment Success Rate

19 USAID United States Agency for International Development

20 USG Unites States Government

21 WHO World Health Organization


2 INTRODUCTION

In 2015, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded the Challenge

TB project to the consortium of partners lead by the KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV).

Management Sciences for Health leads the provision of technical assistance to the National TB

Program (NTP) and its NGO partners in Afghanistan. The duration of the Challenge TB project in

Afghanistan is 5 years starting in January 2015 and ending on September 29, 2019.

The Challenge TB project is designed by USAID to help countries to achieve their goals in TB

control, while filling gaps in support of activities that are insufficient or not supported by other

sources.

A major area needing support in Afghanistan is improving tuberculosis (TB) case finding. During

2015 only 62% of all incidence cases (estimated by WHO) were notified to NTP.

The Challenge TB Afghanistan (CTB) project is inviting local NGOs and academic institutions to

apply for sub-awards to develop and implement researches in high risk groups such as TB and

diabetes, TB and mental health. Full details of the intended program are provided in the Program

Description/Scope of Work, Section 4 below.

3 TWO PHASE APPLICATION PROCESS

The process of selecting an organization for sub-award is comprised of two phases. In the first

phase, a request for Expression of Interest (EOI) describing the overall activity that the applicant

proposes to implement, in accordance with the overall objective of increasing TB case finding

outlined in Section 4, will be submitted. The EOI must be prepared in accordance with the

instructions provided in Section 12 using the format given in Appendix A. Each NGO or

academic institutions shall submit only one EOI.

CTB project will evaluate the EOI based on the criteria outlined in Section 14. Only applicants

whose EOI obtained highest scores in the evaluation will be invited to submit full and detailed

applications for funding consideration. Applicants invited to submit full and detailed applications

will be provided with a Request for Applications (RFA) detailing instructions for application.

Issuance of this Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) does not in any way constitute an

award or commitment on the part of the Challenge TB nor does it commit to pay for costs incurred

in the preparation and submission of Expressions of Interest.

To ensure you receive modifications to the RFEOI, send an email to [email protected]

requesting that your organization be put on the distribution list.

4 GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPING EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Applicants shall consider the following guidelines for developing the EOI:

The EOI should address parts of or the entire objective mentioned under Section 5,

Objective.

Proposed activities described in the EOI should be for a defined geographic area, or

specified institutions, health care facilities or defined target group(s)



The EOI should be tailored to address existing diabetes centers and mental health centers

and health facilities and needs specific to the proposed geographic area (Kabul, Mazar,

Herat, Nangerhar and Kandahar), specified institutions, etc. for implementation;

Applicants can receive funding for similar activities from other donors. However,

proposed activities must not be duplication of activities that are covered or planned under

the other funding source, and the applicant must make clear how the different funding

sources will be used for distinct objectives or distinct geographic areas.

5 OBJECTIVE

CTB project plans to issue sub-awards to support the following area:

Develop and implement methodologies to enhance case findings among high risk

groups of diabetic and mental health patients

The high risk groups may include diabetics and patients with mental disorders.

6 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/SCOPE OF WORK

Develop and implement methodologies to increase case finding among high risk

groups

Applicants should specify the geographical area where intensified case finding will be

implemented and by which method(s). Or e.g. in case of TB case finding and treatment

among TB among diabetics and patients with mental health disorders, the target

institutions/ specialized clinics, and the method that shall be used.

Applicants should design (a) feasible strategy (ies), applicable to the situation in

Afghanistan, for screening the target population(s). In addition, applicants should include

the expected case finding among the target group(s) and their treatment.

Illustrative activities to consider:

Design a strategy of case finding such as examination and referral systems to the

diagnostic health facilities

Train health workers in diabetic and mental health clinics on TB sign and symptoms to

screen all diabetic and mentally disorder patients and provision of treatment to these

patients

Train health workers in diabetics clinics to screen for TB sign and symptoms

Create a sample referral mechanism to laboratory sites

Monitor the performance of the screening, recording and reporting, referrals and follow up

examinations

Take chest X-ray of all presumptive TB patients among diabetics and mentally disordered

patients


Transport sputum on daily basis from screening sites to diagnostic sites

Submit biweekly report to CTB/MSH on the progress and challenges in implementations

Complete the data entry, keep back up and submit the back-end on monthly basis to CTB

Deliverables and Responsibilities:

An assessment report on the reach and effectiveness of the current TB care services

among selected high risk groups in target geographical and populations areas

A quarterly technical report focused on detailed description of achievements,

challenges and action taken to increase

A final report of recommendations on optimal approaches for case finding among

selected high risk groups and lesson learnt

Expected Result

TB case detection increased in high risk groups

TB diagnosis quality assurance in the target geographical and population

areas improved

Key illustrative indicators

Number of individuals screened for TB in each high risk group

Number of individuals diagnosed with TB in each high risk group

7 GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS

Applicants should outline the geographic focus of the activities, including a description

of how overlap with existing activities will be avoided. The geographic scope of the

application should also relate to the calculation of predicted case yield, as described

above.

8 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The applicant submitting the EOI should meet the following criteria:

Be a legally registered non-governmental organization under the laws of Afghanistan

Have demonstrated experience in implementing TB, Diabetes and Mental health or other

community-based health programs

Have demonstrated capacity to manage sub-contract funds;

Have demonstrated presence in the proposed geographic area

Possess audited financial statement (preferred)

Research and capacity in implementation research

9 BUDGET AND FUNDING PERIOD

Subject to the availability of funds and technical evaluation outcomes, CTB project intends to

award up to three (3) sub-awards to local Afghan NGOs, with a total of funding for the period of

activities, across all sub-awardees, not to exceed $25,000 (and possibly less). Funding amount for


each sub award will be commensurate with the proposed geographic area, population coverage,

and outcomes in terms of case finding and management.

Funding Period: The funding period of the sub awards is five months (May 1, 2016 – September

30, 2016). Applicants shall submit EOI for the initial five month period only.

10 EXPRESSION OF INTEREST PAPER SUBMISSION

Date of submission - April 25 2016.

11 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Questions are due on April 18, 2016 at the following email address: [email protected] .

Responses will be provided by April 20, 2016.

12 EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORMAT

The EOI should be prepared using the template given in Annex A. The EOI shall be in English.

Applicants are requested to use A4 size paper, with single space, 11 point font Times New Roman.

The EOI should not exceed four (4) pages excluding the cover page. The EOI has the following

sections:

a. Applicant Information (cover page)

b. Problem statement

c. Technical Approach and proposed key activities on how screen for TB in one or more of

the high risk groups

d. Expected Results during five month period

e. Management and Administrative capabilities

g. Summary Budget

NOTE: EOIs that do not follow these instructions will not be evaluated.

13 BUDGET

Applicant should submit a summary budget for five months only for the period of May 1, 2016 –

September 30, 2016. The summary budget should include major cost line items such as personnel,

travel, training, and program activities. The proposed costs will be reviewed for cost realism to

evaluate the relationship between the proposed costs and proposed program and results. All

proposed costs in the budget should be indicated in Afghan currency.

14 EVALUATION CRITERIA

CTB project will establish a Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) to review and evaluate all EOI

Papers received before the deadline. The TEP will evaluate EOI using the following criteria:

Criteria Points



Technical Approach including understanding of the problem,

clarity in performance gap analysis, soundness of proposed

strategies and activities 50

Expected Results – clarity in identifying key outcomes of the

proposed intervention 25

Management and Administrative Capabilities 25

TOTAL 100

The NGOs or academic institutions who have been selected to submit a full proposal based on

their EOI will be notified on or around April 25, 2016.


15 APPENDIX A: EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Challenge TB Project

Applicant Information

Name of Applicant Organization

Name and title of contact person

Mailing Address

Telephone (including mobile)

Email address

Proposed Geographic Areas for activities

under this EOI (district, city corporation

areas)

Total Target Population covered under this

EOI

Name of the NGOs currently implementing

TB programs in the proposed geographic area

NGO Registration Number of applicant

Proposed Total Budget for five months Afghan currency (Afghani):


Section 1: Problem Statement

1.1 Problem Statement

Identify proposed geographic area and target beneficiary; describe current performance gaps against expected levels

in the proposed geographic area)

Section 2: Technical Approach

2.1 Objective 1:

Please briefly describe the major activities that you propose to achieve Objective 1. Describe your strategy to

implement the proposed activities at the household, community and facility levels (diabetes and mental health

facilities). Describe any previous experience that the NGO has implementing this or a similar approach, and any

quantitative evidence that would support the NGO’s ability to achieve the results described in Section 3 below ,and

the costs required to reach similar targets previously (i.e., value for money).

Applicants should carefully read and follow the instructions as they respond to each section. Response

to each section should not exceed the space provided in the box under each section.


2.2 Objective 2:

Please briefly describe the major activities that you propose to achieve Objective 2. Describe your strategy to

implement the proposed activities at the household, community and facility levels. Describe any previous experience

that the NGO has implementing this or a similar approach, and any quantitative evidence that would support the

NGO’s ability to achieve the results described in Section 3 below (e.g., previous yield in 1 district = 63 new cases in a

year; expansion to 2 districts should yield 126 new cases), and the costs required to reach similar targets previously

(i.e., value for money).


2.3 Section 3: Expected Results

Please indicate targets against indicators applicable to your proposed program. The proposed targets shall

include only additional cases/results to be achieved through your proposed program. Exclude results currently

being achieved through the Global Fund and other support. Objective Five

months

target


Section 4: Management and Administrative Capabilities

Describe technical and administrative experience and capabilities, including:

List of current or past TB, diabetes or mental health or other community-based programs that you have

implemented including brief project description, location, duration, budget, and donor agency; Brief description of Project and Location Duration

Budget (Afghani)

Donor Agency


Section 5: Summary Budget

The budget should include cost line items e.g., personnel, travel, training, and program activities. NGOs should focus

resources on project implementation rather than salaries, equipment and supplies. A more detailed budget will be

required in the second step of the application process, if the initial EOI is successful.

Line Item Total Budget

Salaries and fringe benefits

Travel and per diem

Training and Orientation

Supplies and equipment

Other direct costs (program costs)

Total

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