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from Malaria Consortium
BACKGROUND:
Malaria Consortium is an international organisation working primarily in Africa and Asia on communicable
disease control. Working closely with Ministries of Health (MoH), academic institutions and a range of partners, Malaria Consortium is involved in all aspects of malaria control from policy and strategy development to implementation, monitoring and evaluation and operational research. Malaria Consortium also works on the control of other communicable diseases, including tuberculosis, diarrhoea and neglected tropical diseases. Malaria Consortium International’s office is in London, UK and the Africa Regional Office is in Kampala, Uganda.
PROJECT BRIEF AND BACKGROUND:
Malaria Consortium with other partners has been awarded a grant from UNITAID to create a private sector market for quality-assured rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in malaria endemic countries. Of the five African countries selected for implementation; Malaria Consortium will be implementing in Uganda and Nigeria through an indirect approach to marketing using the 4 “Ps” approach and involves supporting manufacturers in different service delivery areas thereby stimulating the market.
During the 3 year timeline, the programme aims to increase access and create demand for quality-assured malaria RDTs, improve malaria case management and promote the importance of parasite-based diagnosis among private providers and consumers.
Malaria case management has lagged behind the scale-up and increased access to prevention measures. According to the WHO 2009 Malaria Report, less than 15% of children under five in malaria endemic countries were treated with effective antimalarial drugs – artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs). As ACT availability and uptake has proceeded to increase worldwide, through mechanisms such as the Affordable Medicine Facility-malaria (AMFm) initiative, the issue of ACT overtreatment due to presumptive treatment is now a rising concern. Overtreatment poses a significant problem, not just because of the mistreatment of other life threatening febrile illnesses, but because it also exposes artemisinin to increased risk of resistance development and wastes scarce resources. In light of this, WHO has recommended that parasitological diagnosis—RDTs or microscopy—be compulsory for all cases of suspected malaria illness, before prescribing appropriate treatment. The Global Malaria Action Plan targets the achievement of universal coverage by the end of 2015, with 100% of suspected cases receiving a malaria diagnostic test.
The advent of the single-use RDT for malaria, that can detect Plasmodium antigens in a drop of finger pricked blood, has allowed diagnostic services to be taken from the laboratory setting to periphery where laboratory infrastructure, electricity and personnel with training may be absent. When used correctly, quality-assured RDTs have been shown to be cost-effective, 98% reliable and easy to use by non-laboratory staff. RDTs are therefore a practical option to increase access to parasite-based diagnosis and the implementation of WHO recommendations.
A significant portion of patients (40-60%) in many malaria endemic countries seek care and treatment for febrile illnesses from private sector providers, such as regulated health facilities, pharmacies and other retail outlets. Currently only 4-10% of all febrile illnesses accessing the private sector receive a diagnostic test. The success of the new diagnostic strategies, therefore depends on the increased availability and appropriate use of quality-assured RDTs in the private sector—the reliability of supply chains, the affordability of RDTs, the reliability and accuracy of the tests at the point of use, the acceptability of test results by providers and clients, as well as their willingness to adhere to them.
To achieve this, Malaria Consortium will be engaging manufacturers to provide an “enhanced RDT” commodity that is similar to the marketing strategy of product/service of bundling. The manufacturer will be requested to offer, as part of the negotiated agreement, the costs the single unit/small volume boxes of RDTs, medical detailing/training, product literature and marketing, product performance monitoring and waste management services. The negotiated cost will include a direct subsidy to the manufacturer. The direct subsidy will be provided initially for a set quantity of RDTs with the intention that this subsidy is passed down to the provider and ultimately the consumer. In addition, manufacturers will pass the provision of agreed upon services to in-country importers and suppliers as well as retailers. With this approach manufacturers and their distributors will engage providers for training and consequently provide supervision to those selling their products and adherence to test results. Payment of the subsidy will be in installments dependent on deliverables. All manufacturers that have met the country’s selection criteria and have the FIND/WHO Product list will be invited to submit a proposal. A total of 3 – 5 manufacturers will be accepted to be part of the programme. At all points, MC will provide technical assistance, assure quality services and monitoring but MC will not interfere with the routine activities along the distribution chain for medical products. Provision will be made for materials and services that are part of the innovations involved in incentivizing retailers and encouraging adherence to test results. At the same time, MC and partners will work with the regulatory authorities, professional associations and the National Malaria Control Programme to provide a framework for use of medical devices in the private sector and support the implementation of critical inspection/supervisory activities.
This approach will allow manufacturer to forge strong relationships with governments and other national stakeholders; engage in social responsibility programs; harness valuable technical skills in the production of communication materials; and delivery of capacity building. In the long-term, as manufacturers are seen as providers of quality commodities and services, they will gain increased market share and profit, not just in the market for RDTs, but other diagnostic tools and medicines. This intervention will also foster their greater engagement in assuring smoother delivery of their product to the field.
PRIMARY ROLE:
The procurement agent will support Malaria Consortium with the process of selecting supplier manufacturers to provide the ‘enhanced malaria RDT bundle’ (RDT and various services) via selected competitive but restricted tendering and with the legal contracting of the selected manufacturers.
ENGAGEMENT OBJECTIVES:
- To provide a clear and accurate set of tender documents to Malaria Consortium to provide to a selected number of suppliers/manufacturers.
- To select the most suitable 3 to 5 suppliers/manufacturers to provide the ‘enhanced RDT bundle’ to each country based on fair and transparent selection criteria.
- To advise Malaria Consortium on legally contracting the selected manufacturers to provide the ‘enhanced RDT bundle’ subsidy in each country.
ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES:
- To draft the tender documents for Malaria Consortium for the competitive restricted tender by suppliers/manufacturers to provide the ‘enhanced RDT bundle’ subsidy in Nigeria and Uganda.
- To advise Malaria Consortium on the weighted criteria for evaluation of the proposals received in response to the request of tenders.
- To advise Malaria Consortium on the most suitable 3 to 5 suppliers/manufacturers in each country based on their submitted proposal and agreed weighted criteria for evaluation.
- To draft the legal contracts between Malaria Consortium and the suppliers/manufacturers of the ‘enhanced RDT bundle’ that will provide the legal guarantee that the suppliers/manufacturers will deliver all elements of the ‘enhanced RDT bundle’.
ENGAGEMENT OUTPUTS:
- A draft tender document for the competitive restricted tender by suppliers/manufacturers to provide the ‘enhanced RDT bundle’ in Nigeria and Uganda to be provided to Malaria Consortium within 2 weeks of contractually committing to this procurement agent engagement.
- A draft weighted set of criteria for the evaluation of proposals received in response to the invitation to tender to be provided to Malaria Consortium prior to the deadline for submission of proposals.
- A completed scoring matrix with explanations evaluating each proposal received based on the agreed weighted criteria for evaluation to be provided to Malaria Consortium within 1 week of the deadline for submission of proposals.
- Draft legal contracts between Malaria Consortium and the suppliers/manufacturers of the ‘enhanced RDT bundle’ to be provided to Malaria Consortium within 1 week of confirmation of the selected suppliers/manufacturers.
POSSIBLE FOLLOW ON ENGAGEMENT:
Although currently not included in the activities and outputs of this terms of reference, there will be a separate follow on engagement in 2014 to support Malaria Consortium with the review of performance and delivery of the selected supplier manufacturers contracted to provide the ‘enhanced RDT bundle’. This review will be required before the possible renewal of the supplier manufacturers contracts to provide additional ‘enhanced RDT bundle’ units. The selection of the Procurement Agent for the follow on engagement will depend on the performance of the selected procurement agent with this initial engagement.
How to apply:
SELECTION CRITERIA:
Procurement agents that meet the minimum selection criteria listed below are requested to submit a written proposal including a fixed fee cost proposal addressed to the Africa Operations Manager. Submissions may be received via email or sealed envelope at the Malaria Consortium Kampala office: Email: afro.ops@malariaconsortium.org Address: Malaria Consortium, Plot 25, Upper Naguru East Road, Naguru, PO. Box 8045, Kampala, Uganda.
The deadline for proposal submissions is 17.00 EAT on Tuesday 4th June 2013. Proposals received after this time will not be considered.
The procurement agent that demonstrates the best ability to deliver the outputs to the highest quality standard, in the time-frame given, for the most reasonable fixed cost will be selected.
The selection criteria
will include but are not limited to:
- Clear evidence of relevant past experience to demonstrate the ability to deliver the outputs. This includes the experience of the individual(s) that will be assigned to the engagement.
- Demonstrated international presence.
- Demonstrated experience working with health commodities.
- Demonstrated knowledge of different African regulatory frameworks especially Uganda and Nigeria.
- Demonstrated knowledge of international NGO donors.
- A proposed fixed cost charging structure per output.
- Availability for immediate commencement of activities after being contracted.
- Clear explanation of the proposed communication method to link with the Malaria Consortium project team based in Kampala, Uganda.
http://reliefweb.int/job/579930/terms-reference-procurement-agency-engagementhttp://reliefweb.int/job/579930/terms-reference-procurement-agency-engagement
