Request for Expression of Interest for Prequalification of Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic Food (RUTF)
The purpose of this REOI is to assess readiness of the existing and possible new RUTF suppliers to produce RUTF compliant to the UNICEF specification based on CXG 95-2022 (Guidelines for Ready-to Use Therapeutic Food), by the end of 2023. Manufacturers with products evaluated as acceptable in this REOI will be eligible for long term awards (LTA) starting January 2024.
1. Background
Globally, at least 13.6 million children under the age of 5 suffer from severe wasting[1]. WHO recommends that all children aged 6 months to 59 months with severe wasting and/or nutritional edema, also referred to as severe acute malnutrition (SAM), without medical complications are treated with ready to use therapeutic foods (RUTF) [2]. RUTF is a fortified high energy food and is one of the critical life changing innovation products that has increased the efficiency and effectiveness of therapeutic care of children with severe wasting. Over the last four years, UNICEF provided life-saving therapeutic feeding to 3.5 million
children with severe wasting and procured an average of 49 000 metric tons (MT) of RUTF[3].
At the 45th session of Codex Alimentarius Commission on 21 November 2022, the Codex Guideline for Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) was adopted. Previously, there was no internationally accepted standard for RUTF and CXG 95-2022 complements existing WHO guidelines for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition.
The Codex guideline defines RUTF as a food for special medical purposes (FSMP) and sets out the rules for food safety and requirements for nutritional composition. The RUTF Codex guideline is developed based on UNICEF’s existing RUTF specification, as well as recommendations taken from FAO and WHO texts that outline the nutritional needs of children with malnutrition. Since 2016 the industry have been informed of the upcoming changes to the product requirements as a result of the development of the RUTF guideline.
There are some specific formulation changes because of the Codex Guideline adoption that are now required in RUTF procured by UNICEF. This guideline establishes that a protein quality score (using the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) greater than 0.9 is mandatory. The guideline states that a PDCAAS value of 0.9 or more ‘can be achieved’ by including a minimum of 50% of protein from dairy sources, in addition to proteins from seeds, cereals and legumes. The guideline also permits the addition of amino acids, to reach the desired level of PDCAAS. The n-3 & n-6 fatty acid requirement was also adjusted to better support the child’s cognitive development. The maximum levels of vitamin A, vitamin D, potassium, magnesium and calcium were slightly increased to allow for raw material and processing variability during manufacture. The development of the guideline is a critical step in enabling governments to regulate the quality and safety of RUTF during its production and distribution.
Sustainable Procurement practices integrate requirements, specifications, and criteria that are compatible and in favour of the protection of the environment, the social progress and in support of economic development. These practices seek resource efficiency, improve the quality of products and services, and ultimately optimize costs (HLCM Procurement Network). Sustainable Procurement is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (goals 12 and 12.7), and it also contributes to the achievement of all SDGs. This procurement opportunity is considered sustainable as it incorporates at least three sustainability considerations, in accordance with the HLCM Procurement Network's Sustainable Procurement Working Group - Sustainability Indicators Framework. To learn more about which considerations are included in this procurement opportunity, please see below for a specific description. For more information, contact the procurement official or author of this procurement opportunity.
The tender contains sustainability considerations for preventing or minimizing damage associated with climate change.
Examples:
Energy efficiency, greenhouse gas reporting and emission offsetting.
The tender contains sustainability considerations addressing gender equality and women's empowerment.
Examples:
Gender mainstreaming, targeted employment of women, promotion of women-owned businesses.
The tender contains sustainability considerations related to human rights, fundamental principles and rights at work, occupational health and safety, fairly traded goods, targeted employment of people with disabilities, etc.
The tender contains sustainability considerations regarding local MSMEs, local communities or disadvantaged groups.
Examples:
Reserved labour opportunities for local communities, use of local materials, reserved procurements for local companies
The tender contains sustainability considerations for the prevention of polluting emissions to air, solid waste to land and discharges to water.
Examples:
EMS, waste management and wastewater management.
The tender contains sustainability considerations promoting sustainability through the entire supply chain.
Examples:
Sustainability requirements for tier 2 suppliers, identification and approval of subcontractors.
The tender contains sustainability considerations promoting the sustainable use of resources.
Examples:
Energy-saving measures, recycling, take-back programmes and responsible end-of-life management
The tender contains sustainability considerations promoting vendors' participation to the UN Global Compact.