Request for Proposal (RFP): Consultancy to support laboratory Activities (2016/HTM/HIV/006)

The WHO programme on HIV is located in the HIV, TB and Malaria Cluster (HTM). The HIV and Hepatitis programme is guided by the Global Health Strategies for HIV and Hepatitis 2016-21. The new strategies are submitted to the Executive Board and World Assembly in respectively January and May 2016 for approval.  The goal of the Secretariat’s draft strategy on HIV and Viral Hepatitis is to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030, within the context of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. Furthermore, it is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: its focus is on ensuring financial security and health equity through its commitment to universal health coverage.

                                                                           

Within the HIV Department, the consultant will work with the Treatment and Care (TAC) Unit.

 

An individual consultant is sought for this RFP.  The initial consultancy is for 10 months (20 days per month). The place of performance of the work under the contract shall be Geneva (Switzerland). Any duty travel will be paid by WHO, based on WHO rates and Subsistence allowances. Travel costs and per diem should not be included in the proposal.

 

Main Tasks:

Under the direction of the TAC coordinator and in close coordination with the responsible staff for the UNITAID HIV diagnostics portfolio, the laboratory consultant will undertake the following tasks:

 

Task 1    Collect global, regional and country evidence and best practices in the area of HIV and hepatitis diagnostics to support scale up of treatment and care, identify research gaps, and determine priority issues for scaling up of diagnostics in line with the 2015 WHO guidelines on Treatment and considering key contextual factors (including epidemics settings, existing diagnostic capacity; cost and cost-effectiveness; and feasibility and impact. As part of this work, the consultant will analyse the field implementation issues from the UNITAID supported diagnostics projects.

 

Deliverables and timelines:

1.1           Inventory table of evidence gathered (Months 1-2)

1.2           Analysis and draft report (Months 3-4)

1.3           Conduct two VL and POCT quality assurance regional consultations to support scale up (with CDC, USAID and PEPFAR) (Months 4 and 10)

 

Task 2   Propose the development and mechanism to maintain a network of HIV diagnostic experts to support WHO’s normative work in this area.

 

Deliverables and timelines:

2.1           Internal and external experts identified, mechanisms proposed and planned, and meeting/teleconferences organised and reports done (Months 3-8)

 

Task 3    Draft and/or update operational technical guidance on HIV diagnostics, treatment response and drug toxicity monitoring tools following the above findings and the WHO 2015 ARV guidelines. Specifically, the consultant will support the coordination of the development of (i) operational guidance on the implementation of lab based and POC, VL and EID platforms and (ii) a policy brief on joint scale-up of integrated diagnostic platforms (GeneXpert and Omni) for TB diagnosis, early infant diagnosis and viral load measurement.

 

Deliverables and timelines:

3.1           Operational guidance on the implementation of lab based and POC, VL and EID platforms (Month 5)

3.2           Policy brief on joint scale-up of integrated diagnostic platforms (Month 8)

 

Task 4    Support the Department of Diagnostics and Laboratory Technologies on their technical monitoring leadership in the prequalification of new diagnostics, treatment response and drug toxicity products.

 

Deliverables and timelines:

4.1           Technical support ongoing provided and report delivered (Month 9)

 

Task 5    Provide guidance on priority HIV and hepatitis diagnostics needs for low- and middle-income settings with a view to informing priorities for WHO prequalification (PQ) and disseminating results of PQ guidance.

 

Deliverables and timelines:

5.1           List of priority products produced and dissemination prepared and supported (Month 6)

 

Task 6    Develop draft programmatic guidance for countries on the strategic positioning of PoC technologies (With HIV RNA PCR (viral load) and Early Infant Diagnosis as a priority) at different levels of the health systems.

 

Deliverables and timelines:

6.1           Draft programmatic guidance for countries finalised and disseminated for review (Month 7)

6.2           Final draft programmatic guidance incorporating the comments of reviewers (Month 8)

 

Task 7    Provide technical assistance to at least 3 priority countries for the introduction of new point-of-care (POC) technologies.

 

Deliverables and timelines:

7.1           3 mission reports submitted and approved (Month 10)

 

Upon successful completion of the consultancy for 10 months (20 days per month), the consultancy may be prolonged against a new ToR as agreed upon by both parties following the conditions in the first part of the assignment (but with a new revised terms of reference and fees adjusted based on annual inflation) and pending on the availability of resources and performance.

 

Key requirements for this consultancy:

Academic qualifications:

Essential: Masters in laboratory medicine or Medical degree with specialization in laboratory medicine.

Desirable: Master in public health (MPH) or epidemiology

 

Work experience:

Essential: At least seven years’ experience, in a national and international context, in  the area of HIV laboratory medicine, including expertise in working in resource-limited settings. Three years’ experience in the development of strategies and guidance for HIV diagnostics and laboratory quality assurance and support. Two years’ experience in providing technical assistance to HIV national programmes in limited resource countries.

 

Desirable: Familiarity and experience with the WHO, preferably at country level. Familiarity and experience with the development and promotion of HIV diagnostic norms and tools.

 

Submission of proposals:

No later than 8 April 2016, 12:00 (CET), the bidder shall complete and return by either email or hard copy to WHO (only when this step is completed the bidder is regarded as a prospective bidder):

                                                       

a)      “2016HTMHIV006_3_RFP Confidentiality Undertaking (TAC_ LAB)” form completed/signed.

b)      “2016HTMHIV006_4_RFP Acknowledgement Form (TAC_ LAB)” form completed/signed as confirmation of the bidder's intention to submit a bona fide proposal and designate its representative to whom communications may be directed, including any addenda.

 

No later than 22 April 2016, 12:00 (CET), the bidder shall complete and return by either email or hard copy to WHO:

                                                                                                                  

c)      Covering letter signed by the bidder.

d)      Proposal (including, but not restricted to, technical and financial documents).

e)      “2016HTMHIV006_5_ RFP Acceptance Form (TAC _ LAB)” form completed/signed.

f)       “2016HTMHIV006_6_RFP Completeness Form (TAC _ LAB)” form completed/signed.

 

A prospective bidder requiring any clarification on technical, contractual or commercial matters may notify WHO via email at the following address no later than 8 April 2016, 12:00 CET.

 

• Email for submissions of forms and/or proposal: pdifin@who.int (use subject: Bid Ref 2016HTMHIV006)
• Mailing address for submission of proposal:

 

World Health Organization

­­­­Mr. Jerome Peron

HQ/HIV, PDI/FIN, D45034

Bid Ref: 2016HTMHIV006

20, Avenue Appia

CH-1211 Geneva 27