USAID – Extension of Request For Expression Of Interest For National Integrated Specimen Referral Network (NISRN) Transportation Services In Nigeria
USAID
FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
GLOBAL HEALTH SUPPLY CHAIN PROGRAM
PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY MANAGEMENT
EXTENSION OF REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
NATIONAL INTEGRATED SPECIMEN REFERRAL NETWORK (NISRN) TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
IN NIGERIA
1.0 BACKGROUND
USAID awarded the Global Health Supply Chain Program- Procurement and Supply
Management project (GHSC- PSM) to Chemonics International Inc., a parent
company of SAII” Associates Ltd/Gte, as the lead contractor. The project
provides direct procurement and supply chain management support to the
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the President’s Malaria
Initiative (PMI), Population and Reproductive Health, and Maternal and Child
Health. The overarching goal of this global project is to ensure uninterrupted
supplies of health commodities in support of United States Government
(USG)-funded public health initiatives around the world, including Nigeria.
GHSC-PSM endeavours to supply lifesaving pharmaceutical and medical supplies
and simultaneously build the capacity of government organizations and agencies,
as well as health care facilities. SAII Associates Ltd/Gte is implementing
GHSC-PSM in Nigeria.
Chemonics also seeks to partner with transporters who would like to develop the skills to transport temperature and time-sensitive specimen, with the capacity to achieve industry-standard performance indicators for shipping and delivery accuracy, and the ability to scale its operational capacity to meet the growing needs of the national integrated sample referral network throughout Nigeria.
The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and the various state governments are responsible for providing high quality diagnostic and treatment services throughout the health systems in Nigeria. A key part of achieving this goal is ensuring the optimal operating capacity of various and strategically placed diagnostic equipment across health facilities in the country. Poor testing referral systems for laboratory diagnosis of clients’ clinical samples have prevented full optimization of laboratory diagnostic equipment use, and the prompt management of infectious diseases. The transportation of clinical samples in an integrated manner is a major challenge in Nigeria.
An integrated sample transfer network is currently being implemented
in Nigeria using third party logistics (3Pls) service providers to collect and
deliver diagnostic clinical samples from health facilities to various testing
laboratories across the country, and to collect results from testing
laboratories and return to health facilities. The clinical samples include
dried blood spot (DBS) for Early Infant Infection of HIV diagnosis, whole
blood/plasma for viral load and or CD4; whereas TB samples utilize Sputum, and
malaria clinical samples utilize whole Wood or slides for microscopy and
detection as well as the speciation of malaria parasites. The integrity of
samples for diagnostic tests must be adequately maintained through proper
sample collection, labelling, picking packaging, transportation, and storage in
temperature-controlled environments to ensure quality and acceptable results
are generated and reported.
This system has been successfully implemented leading to short turn-around
times for results delivery and/ subsequently resulting in timely initiation of
treatment for clients. GHSC-PSM is scaling up the implementation of the sample
referral system across all the health facilities and disease area testing
centers in the FCT. The system/include collection, packaging, transportation
and storage practices.
The use of this integrated sample transportation and results
delivery model created opportunities to leverage the HIV and TB ample
transportation networks, thereby reducing cost and logistics burden. It also
boosted equipment utilization and optimization in a coordinated manner. It is
envisioned that the GHSC-PSM project will continue to carry out the integrated
referral transportation system and will expand the network to cover other
disease areas
Please Note: That this is NOT a request for Proposals. GHSC-PSM is seeking to
identify and pre-select organizations to receive the RFP based on the criteria
outlined below
2.0 Purpose
The purpose of the EOI is to identify interested transporters who would like to
work with GHSC-PSM to provide temperature and time-sensitive specimen
transportation services. This includes the handling, transportation and
delivery of temperature-sensitive biohazard clinical samples and return of
reports to designated facilities serviced by a network of medical laboratory
testing sites.
The selected subcontractor (s) will implement and follow World Health
Organization (WHO) good distribution practices relevant to handling and
transportation of such clinical samples as well as Guidance on regulations for
the Transport of Infectious Substances 2017-2018 (WHO/WHE/CPI/2017.8). In
coordination with GHSC-PSM in Nigeria, the selected subcontractor(s) will build
national capacity infrastructure by contributing to the establishment of a
sustainable outsourced model for the integrated sample referral network, in
accordance to policy guidelines as stipulated in the National Medical
Laboratory Strategic Plan (2015-2019), existing national policies relating to
specimen transport and all requisite policy documents, and SOPs and guidelines
relates to the National Integrated Sample Referral Network (NISRN).
3.0 Prequalification Criteria
Organizations interested in receiving a copy of the RFP shall submit the
following documents and information outlined below. GHSC-PSM will select
pre-qualified vendors based on the documentation submitted who will be invited
to take part in training sessions (pre-offeror’s conference) where they will be
instructed on the requirements of the scope of work, the cost implications and
guidance on how they could become eligible offerors when an RFP is released.
|
S/N |
Requested Documentation |
|
1 |
Summary profile of organization, including the type of organization (e.g. non-governmental), public ownership, contact person and details, (one page). |
|
2 |
Summary of current key high-level employees, and a concise resume of employees with proven competency level to manage a similar transportation services |
|
3 |
Organization summary description of past performance/technical expertise and experience of at least one –two years providing transportation and distribution services. |
|
4 |
Detailed proof (pictures, vehicle registration numbers etc.) of ownership or documented evidence of access to appropriate, well-covered vehicles suitable for the distribution of cold chain delivery services outlined above or proof of being able to obtain such vehicles within 30 days upon award. |
|
5 |
Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) that relevant to management transportation of goods, SOPs can include but not limited to:· Guidelines for temperature control during storage and transportation· Guidelines for security of samples during picking, packing transportation and storage· SOP for Vehicle Maintenance |
|
6 |
Proof of business registration in Nigeria, and relevant license with regulatory organizations for staff. |
|
7 |
Last one-two year(s) (depends on years of existence) audited financial statements. |
4.0 Procurement steps:
|
S/N |
Activity |
Proposed Dates |
|
1 |
Issuance of EOI |
5 August 2019 |
|
2 |
Final date to express interest (EOI) |
19 August, 2019 |
|
3 |
Evaluation of EOI |
23 August, 2019 |
|
4 |
REF release date |
26 August, 2019 |
|
5 |
Final date for questions about RFP |
6 September, 2019 |
|
6 |
RFP Pre-Offeror Conference (Audio/written) |
16 September, 2019 |
|
7 |
Answers to Questions (in writing) |
20 September, 2019 |
|
8 |
Final date for Submission of proposals |
30 September, 2019 |
|
9 |
Evaluation of proposals/Negotiations |
23 October, 2019 |
|
10 |
Estimated date for Award of subcontracts |
31 October, 2019 |
5.0 Contact Information
Please submit expression of interest no later than 19 August, 2019.
Email to PSMNigeriaTLPQuotes@ghsc-psm.org
The EOI Must Align with Requested document.
Please note: This is not a request for proposals (RFP). Responses to this call
for expressions of interest are not binding on GHSC-PSM and to issue a
solicitation, nor does it commit GHSC-PSM to pay any cost incurred in the
preparation and submission of comments or EOI. Should GHSC-PSM issue an RFP,
only organizations that meet the criteria outlined above and as presented in
responses to this EOI will be considered.