Real-Time Assessment of UNICEF’s support to the COVID-19 vaccine roll out and immunization programme strengthening in the Latin America and the Caribbean region

1. Background 1.1 UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. 1.1. Utilizing COVID-19 vaccine roll out to strengthen health systems in LAC Equitable and fair access to vaccines is an essential contribution to ending the COVID-19 pandemic, while routine immunization programmes are key to prevent outbreaks of other diseases. Through the COVAX Facility # a joint initiative by Gavi, WHO, CEPI and UNICEF, # UNICEF works with manufacturers and partners on the procurement of COVID-19 vaccine doses, as well as freight, logistics and storage. While the PAHO Revolving Fund leads vaccine procurement for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), UNICEF supports vaccine roll out through a large spectrum of activities, ranging from cold and supply chain strengthening, logistics, digital health and innovation to risk communication and community engagement. UNICEF#s specific actions vary from country to country, depending on government needs, UNICEF in-country capacity, and the presence and role of other actors. As of mid-September 2021, all countries in the region have introduced COVID-19 vaccines. However, large across and in-country disparities and inequities exist in regard to availability and access to the#19 vaccines. While some countries in LAC have already vaccinated more than 72% of their population and have expanded services to children, others have not even covered 0.1% of their population.i Containment measures and fear of infection have limited access to and use of health services during the pandemic, including primary health care and preventative services like immunization, antenatal check-ups and growth monitoring.ii This has had and continues to have immediate and long-term impacts on maternal and child health and wellbeing. Already prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, health indicators of children, adolescents and women in the region showed large inequities, related to unequal access to and quality of services.iii Immunization coverage in LAC was already declining. In 2019, 2 out of 10.3 million children under one year of age were not fully vaccinated with DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) and the regional DTP3 coverage 2 was 81%.iv DTP3 coverage has further dropped to 77% in 2020.v A total of 1.4 million children had not received any DTP vaccine dose (#zero dose children#). COVID-19 vaccine delivery is a potential entry point and opportunity to improve overall health outcomes, considering intermediary planning objectives on quality, equity, efficiency, accountability, sustainability and resilience. vi Through an approach of health systems strengthening (HSS), immunization outcomes specially for underserved populations can be enhanced, and missed opportunities be maximized through Primary Health Care (PHC) platforms. At the same time, there is a risk that COVID-19 vaccinations compete with routine immunization, by absorbing scarce human and supply resources. Against this backdrop, UNICEF aims to make sure that routine immunization is not jeopardized by COVID-19 vaccination and that instead, UNICEF can capitalize on the COVID-19 vaccine roll out to support countries in making investments for the future by strengthening health systems, _________________________________________________________________________________________ REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR SERVICES Page 5 of 27 LRPS-2021-9171807 _________________________________________________________________________________________ with emphasis on primary health care and immunization programmes. It is envisaged that COVID-19 vaccines will be mainstreamed into government immunization systems. 1.2. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES Assessment purpose UNICEF#s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (LACRO) will conduct a real-time assessment (RTA) of UNICEF#s role in rolling out COVID-19 vaccine in LAC, including how this has been, or is able to, contribute to the overall immunization programme, PHC and health systems strengthening. In particular, the assessment aims to show how COVID-19 vaccine roll out has contributed to strengthening routine immunization services. As part of the continuous-learning assessment approaches, this RTA shall commence in Q4 of 2021, while vaccine roll out is still ongoing. It was deliberately termed #assessment# (not an evaluation) and designed to be a reasonably light process that regions could adapt to suit their own needs. The purpose of the RTA is to inform a forward-looking reflection on the implementation of the national and regional office response to COVID-19 vaccine introduction. It will include an assessment of both the Regional Office#s and COs# comparative advantage in the roll out of COVID-19 vaccination, and how this has been leveraged to strengthen routine immunization services and primary health care in LAC, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. Also, the RTA will assess the effectiveness, coherence and equity of the LACRO and CO support to the roll out of COVID-19 vaccinations. The RTA aims to assess the quality of the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccination in the region, while also providing early insights on the outcomes achieved. Findings will be consolidated across countries and at the regional level, with a view to identify trends and generate cross-country learning and timely actions to strengthen the ongoing response. With improved response implementation as its main purpose, the real-time assessment will contribute to annual reporting as well as the 2021 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal (HAC) on the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT-A. The findings from the assessment will contribute to the ongoing support to the roll out of COVID-19 vaccinations. In addition, it will provide medium- and longer-term recommendations to strategically position UNICEF in routine immunization and the health sector. As the assessment is forward looking, its evidence-based findings and recommendations will inform UNICEF#s LACRO and COs crisis response 2021 and 2022 strategic and operational priorities, and strengthen its partnerships with governments and other both in fast-changing contexts as well as towards the establishment of a more sustainable response to the Covid=19 vaccine roll out. 2. Solicitation 2.1 The purpose of this Request for Proposals for Services "RFPS" is to invite proposals for Real-Time Assessment of UNICEF#s support to the COVID-19 vaccine roll out and immunization programme strengthening in the Latin America and the Caribbean region as fully detailed in the Terms of Reference attached at Annex B. 2.2 This RFPS document is comprised of the following: - This document - The UNICEF General Terms and Conditions of Contract Services which are attached as Annex A to this document _________________________________________________________________________________________ REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR SERVICES Page 6 of 27 LRPS-2021-9171807 _________________________________________________________________________________________ - The full Terms of Reference at Annex B - MDM Vendor Template ANNEX C - Online registration to UNGM -United Nations Global Market # link: https://www.ungm.org/Account/Registration - e-submitions instruction to bidder 2.3 This RFPS is an invitation to treat and shall not be construed as an offer capable of being accepted or as creating any contractual, other legal or restitutionary rights. No binding contract, including a process contract or other understanding or arrangement, will exist between the Proposer and UNICEF and nothing in or in connection with this RFPS shall give rise to any liability on the part of UNICEF unless and until a contract is signed by UNICEF and the successful Proposer. PART II - PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PROCESS 1. Proposal Submission Schedule CONTRACTUAL PROCESS The schedule of the contractual process is as follows: ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE: 1.Publish RFP date: 19.11.2021 2.Questions and Answer if necessary: Until November 24th, 2021 before 23:59 (Panama Time) 3.Consolidates Q & A posted in UNGM: November 25 th 2021. 4.Deadline for Proposals: December 03rd, 2021 before 23:59 (Panama Time) 5.Proposals Review: December 06th #09th, 2021. approximately 1.1 Acknowledgement of receipt of RFPS. Proposers are requested to inform UNICEF as soon as possible send it through the UNGM platform, see attached e-submision instruction to bidders. And if you prefer you can also send by EMAIL to at lacro-ops@unicef.org that they have received this RFPS . IMPORTANT: PROPOSALS ARE NOT TO BE SENT TO THE INDIVIDUAL STATED ABOVE - ANY PROPOSALS SENT TO THE ABOVE-NAMED INDIVIDUAL WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. 1.2 Questions from Proposers. Proposers are required to submit any questions in respect of this RFPS send it through the UNGM platform, see attached e-submision instruction to bidders. And if you prefer you can also send by EMAIL: LACRO-OPS@UNICEF.ORG The deadline for receipt of any questions is November 24,2021, before 23:59 PANAMA TIME. IMPORTANT: PROPOSALS ARE NOT TO BE SENT TO THE INDIVIDUAL STATED ABOVE - ANY PROPOSALS SENT TO THE ABOVE-NAMED INDIVIDUAL WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.