Consultant to Conduct a Rapid Needs Assessment Tender - 30774027

Procurement Summary

Country: Albania

Summary: Consultant to Conduct a Rapid Needs Assessment of HIV National Reference Laboratory and 12 Regional Laboratories, and Revise and Update the National Laboratory Protocols and Guidelines

Deadline: 28 Feb 2019

Posting Date: 18 Feb 2019

Other Information

Notice Type: Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 30774027

Document Ref. No.:

Competition: ICB

Financier: United Nations Secretariat

Purchaser Ownership: -

Tender Value: Refer Document

CPV Classification

79600000 - Recruitment services

Purchaser's Detail

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Tender Details

Tenders are invited for Consultant to Conduct a Rapid Needs Assessment of HIV National Reference Laboratory and 12 Regional Laboratories, and Revise and Update the National Laboratory Protocols and Guidelines.
UNICEF works in some of the world-s toughest places, to reach the world-s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, Health and Nutrition
Albania's national response to HIV has been guided by the National Strategy of Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS in Albania (NSPCHA) 2015-2019. Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MOHSP) is the principal recipient of the support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM). Scope of this support is to build health system capacities to contain the HIV epidemic at the current low levels and reduce HIV-related morbidity and mortality in Albania.Following an agreement signed between MOHSP and the UN Agencies, UNICEF will provide support in strengthening procurement and supply management (PSM) within the GF grant to Albania.
The Immunology Laboratory at the Institute of Public Health (IPH) is a reference laboratory for the HIV diagnosis for the whole country. HIV testing in Albania is done both at the public and private sectors. The public sector includes the Institute of Public Health, the laboratory of microbiology at the University Medical Center of Tirana “Mother Theresa”, the voluntary consulting and testing centers (VCTs) of the regional microbiology laboratories and the laboratory of the National Blood Transfusion Center in Tirana. The private sector includes private laboratories, clinics and hospitals. The reference laboratory at the Institute of Public Health has in use protocols of laboratory diagnosis (algorithms of diagnosis). Diagnostic algorithms are adjusted according to the level of testing and the methods of testing. The testing at the VCTs is performed through rapid tests, which are purchased by centers themselves. The test performed at the Reference Laboratory at the Institute of Public Health is ELISA HIV 1&2 Ag/Ab and the confirmatory test is Western blot for HIV 1 and HIV 2. The viral load HIV- RNA for HIV 1 test is performed at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology at the IPH. Based on the protocols of the diagnosis and national laws and regulations in place, the suspects and positive cases from all test sectors (private and public) are obliged to go for follow-up and confirmation at the Reference Laboratory (person himself or serum / plasma).
How can you make a difference?
The main purpose of this consultancy is to assist the National HIV/AIDS Program and the MoHSP in conducting:
§ Rapid needs assessments of HIV National Reference Laboratories and 12 Regional Laboratories;
§ Revision and updating of national laboratory protocols, guidelines and SOP related to HIV/STIs.
The assignment will be conducted by one international consultant in collaboration with UNICEF team, GF PMU and focal points assigned by MOHSP. A national consultant will also be identified by UNICEF and will support the International consultant in this exercise. The international consultant/s will be required to visit Albania as well as work from his/her/their place of residence. The main tasks and deliverables for the consultant as part of this assignment will be:
List of tasks:
§ To conduct a comprehensive assessment with mapping of the existing laboratories to assess current infrastructure and equipment, protocols and SOPs, test kits and reagents, and human resource capacities.
§ To develop a budgeted action plan for strengthening the laboratory infrastructure and services including maintenance and procurement and human resource development.
§ To revise the current national laboratory guidelines, protocols and SOP related to HIV/AIDS.
§ To provide recommendations and support to national partners in developing the updated national laboratory guidelines and protocols related to HIV/AIDS.
§ To work with national consultants in conducting the laboratory assessment, and the revision of guidelines, protocols and SOPs.
§ To prepare and conduct a meeting to present the results and recommendations.
Deliverable 1 - 5 days
§ Desk review and proposed methodology for the assessment
Deliverable 2 - 10 days
§ Undertake a mission in Albania to conduct rapid needs assessment of HIV laboratories.
§ Prepare preliminary report for the HIV laboratory assessment and the review of laboratory guidelines and protocols related to HIV/AIDS.
§ In close collaboration with UNICEF Country Office and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Albania the consultant will prepare and conduct a meeting to present the results and recommendations, to discuss and agree on the next steps and the action plan.
Deliverable 3 - 5 days
The following documents to be delivered at the end of the consultancy
§ The final consultancy report in English with assessment of the HIV laboratories and recommendations as per above objectives.
§ Budgeted action plan for the strengthening of the laboratory services including capacity development component.
§ Recommendations for the updating of the HIV/AIDS laboratory protocols, guidelines, and SOP.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:
§ Advanced university degree in either of the following relevant specializations: biological sciences, molecular biology, biomedical sciences, laboratory medicine, microbiology and biochemistry or in medicine/public health with additional training in pharmacy, clinical biology, or medical laboratory/biology testing or equivalent.
§ At least 5 years of experience in the domain of diagnostics, medical and laboratory; experience in laboratory techniques including knowledge of procedures for molecular diagnostics, microbiological techniques, immunology, virology and blood safety, quality assurance, etc. and knowledge of HIV related diagnostics and HIV laboratory facilities and networks.
§ Demonstrated capacity to conduct work assignments similar to the scope of this TOR.
§ Excellent technical and analytical writing skills.
§ Excellent skills in negotiating and working with people.
§ Fluent in English language.
What to submit:
§ Curriculum Vitae
§ A short concept note specifying the methodology to be used by consultant; how the consultant plans to carry out the work foreseen (max 2-3 pages);
§ Links to previous work related to scope of this TOR
§ Financial proposal - indicating an all-inclusive cost in US$, with a break down into the following categories:
- Daily fee;
- Travel cost (ticket price and per diem) for country mission trips.
The consultant will work from his/her/country of residence and travel to Albania as described above. The exact dates for starting and ending the contract will be negotiated upon awarding the contract. When in Albania, the consultant will be provided with office space and needed equipment as well as transportation to the cites to conduct field visits and interviews.
For every Child, you demonstrate:
UNICEF-s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
View our competency framework athttp://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Advertised: 14 Feb 2019 Central Europe Standard Time

Applications close: 28 Feb 2019 11:55 PM Central Europe Standard Time

Documents

 Tender Notice