RFP Provision of Internet Connection Infrastructure to MoHCW/HIS 82 sites

Availability of timely quality health data is critical for planning, implementation and monitoring of health programs in any country. Timelines and completeness of reports on key health indicators have been very low in Zimbabwe and a major concern to policy makers at the Ministry Of Health and Child Welfare in view of its negative impact on timely decision making. Many of the communication needs at district and provincial levels to facilitate timely submission of reports are unfulfilled because of poor fixed telephone line network and unavailability of internet connections. An assessment conducted by Research Triangle Institute International (RTI) and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2010 on the state of Zimbabwe’s Health Information Department(s) system and its capacity revealed that only 36% of districts have access to email intermittently to transmit data. 

As part of the continued effort of the MOHCW to strengthen the health information system, a number of interventions are being pursued from different fronts, in collaboration with donors, including the GFATM and CDC/RTI. The District Health Information System (DHIS) was adopted in the country and rolled out to all districts in 2010. The UNDP as part of the GFATM grant delivered 1,200 cell phones with the ability to capture and transmit weekly surveillance data using FRONTLINE software, for distribution to all the rural health facilities in Zimbabwe.

The MOHCW, with support from UNDP and GFTAM commissioned a study in 2011 to assess the specific internet connectivity and needs of 82 MOHCW sites, comprising district and provincial offices and hospitals in order to strengthen internet connectivity and to help improve timely transmission of data. The assessment identified broadband technology options that are available and can be installed at each of the 82 sites.

The Country’s Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) endorsed the findings and recommendations of the assessment for inclusion in the Global Fund Round 8 Phase II Grants in the country, which has been approved by the GFATM. The MOHCW, through UNDP, is seeking the services of competent Vendor/Vendors to undertake the installation and connection of internet services to the 82 sites as per the recommendations of the assessment.

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this tender is to contract team of vendor(s)/several Vendor (s) to implement the recommendations of the Internet Connectivity Infrastructure  Assessment Report conducted in September/October 2011 on 82 (Eighty-Two) sites at district, provinces and hospitals across Zimbabwe and ensuring that all the sites have functional internet connectivity

1)      RFP for Provision of Internet Connection Infrastructure (82 MOHCW HIS sites).  Details of the requirement described in Part 2 of this RFP, Part 3 - Terms of Reference (TOR).

2)      MOHCW InternetNeeds (Tender-part condensed) “UNDP-GFATM-MOHCW/HIS Report of the Assessment-Internet Connection Infrastructure to 82 MOHCW Health Centres- 2011”

3)      Appendix 5.2 List of Requested Sites with Coordinates