Implementing Proposed Components of HIV Grant for Liberia As Sub Recipient - Supported... Tender

Procurement Summary

Country : Liberia

Summary : Implementing Proposed Components of HIV Grant for Liberia As Sub Recipient - Supported by The Global Fund under the Leadership of the Co-Principal Recipient

Deadline : 20 Jul 2018

Other Information

Notice Type : Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 24834905

Document Ref. No. :

Competition : ICB

Financier : Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFFATM)

Purchaser Ownership : -

Tender Value : Refer Document

Purchaser's Detail

Purchaser : POPULATION SERVICES INTERNATIONAL (PSI)
Gardner Street, between 11th & 12th Streets Sinkor, Monrovia, Tel +231 (0) 770761526
Liberia
Email :eoigf@psiliberia.org
URL :https://www.psi.org/

Tender Details

Expression of Interest are invited for Implementing Proposed Components Of HIV Grant for Liberia As Sub Recipient - Supported by The Global Fund under the Leadership of the Co-Principal Recipient.


1. Background of the Expression of Interest (EOI)

Population Services International (PSI) has been retained as the co Principal Recipient (PR) for the NFM phase 2018 to 2020 round of the Global Fund (GF) grant. In this phase, PSI has been specifically entrusted with the task of implementing interventions related to key populations and community-based care and decrease lost to follow up for PLHIV in three focus counties of Montserrado, Margibi and Grand Bassa.

2. Purpose of this call for EOI

Key populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM) and Sex Workers (SW), form part of the most vulnerable populations in the HIV epidemic. Stigma and discrimination, especially in health settings, hinder access to healthcare for key population, making them more vulnerable to HIV and limiting their access to health services. The presence of punitive laws and absence of laws that promote and protect human rights of the most vulnerable further complicate the situation, and limit access to not only healthcare, but also other support and social services. In the previous phase of the current grant, peer education, HIV-testing, Drop-in Centers, support centers, legal services, condom and lubricant distribution, and other similar services were initiated. Under the current GF grant, the package of services to be promoted for SW and MSM will include, but not be limited to, managing Drop in Centers (DIC), support centers, HIV and AIDS education, STI diagnosis and treatment, HIV testing and counseling, consistent condom and lubricant use, HIV treatment, psychosocial support for PLHIV, and legal support. PSI seeks to partner with a Liberian organisation (preferably community-based) as sub recepient (SR) for managing DICs and support centers, and services delivered through them in the counties of Montserrado and Grand Bassa. The services to be provided through the DICs and support centers will include but not be limited to, HIV and AIDS information, HIV testing, STI diagnosis and treatment, referral for HIV treatment, dispensing follow-up treatment where required, psycho-social support, condom and lubricant distribution, safe space and legal support. The partner will be taking over the implementaiton of these services from PSI on an “as-is” basis, hence be willing to work closely with PSI.

3. Scope of Work

SR will implement activities around HIV prevention, care, and treatment, and STI diagnosis and treatment, for MSM and SWs, including:

• Manage two DICs in Montserrado County. The DICs will serve as safe spaces for SW and MSM to receive information, counseling and services around HIV/AIDS and STI prevention and treatment; provide condoms and lubricant, and psycho-social support and legal advice;

be actively involved in HIV testing services and, in some cases, will also be responsible for delivering ART to key populations if required. The agency bidding must be clear that they will be taking over running existing facilities, hence change in location will not be allowed.

• Manage one support center in Grand Bassa County. The support center will be used as a safe space for key populations. The support center is expected to deliver the following services: HIV and AIDS information, awareness of STI signs and symptoms, psycho-social support, HIV screening testing by staff of integrated health facilities and the county health team (CHT), host support groups and similar services. The agency bidding must be clear that they will be taking over running facilities, hence change in location will not be allowed.

• As required, recruit, retain, and train programmatic and support staff to manage and operate the above facilities. Any hiring or change in staff will require approval from PR, and such must be done without compromising/interrupting regular service provision at any of the centers.

• Coordinate with PSI peer educators in the field for increased referrals and better utilization of DIC services.

• Ensure that condom and lubricant co-packs are delivered to beneficiaries through the DICs

• Generate demand for HIV and STI services among key populations, using a variety of interpersonal communication (IPC) methods, including small group sessions with peer educators, telephone, SMS, Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, etc.;

• Coordinate with local police so that access to services by key populations is unhindered;

• Coordinate with county health teams to ensure that as demand is generated, the services to key populations are available in government health facilities, and that there are no stockouts of medicines;

• Submit timely and high-quality data and reports to PSI and other stakeholders.

• The SR will work with PR on a limited zero cash policy basis.

Currently, it is envisaged that SR will start its implementation early 2019 and end in December 2020.

4. Application eligibility criteria

To be considered for award as an SR, the selected organization must:

i. Submit a completed application by the due date, including a fully completed cover page.

ii. The SR must be compliant with local laws and have the license to operate under relevant laws of Liberia and be able to work throughout the country; and

iii. The applicant must be a Liberian CBO (International NGOs are not eligible) and should have at least two of its board members from key populations or be living with HIV. If this is not the case at the time of bidding, if selected, a suitable condition precedent may be set to ensure this.

iv. The organization must submit documented evidence of experience of working with key populations using rights based approaches including bio medical approaches.

The organization will be assessed on the following broad criteria. Specific questions/information requested can be found in the attached EOI application template (Annex 1). The selected organization will have:

i. A minimum three years of working experience in Liberia and minimum three years of experience working on HIV and AIDS and key population issues in Liberia;

ii. A demonstrated background and experience of working with key populations, especially MSM and SW;

iii. Background of advocacy for marginalized populations and/or key populations;

iv. A track record of influencing human rights agenda for Liberia;

v. Track record of working with local stakeholders like county health teams, police and other such authorities;

vi. Willingness to work with PR on stringent program and financial norms of Global Fund and PSI

vii. Be committed to a rights-based approach for key populations and their empowerment
to head the program themselves in future.
viii. An excellent track record of program and financial management; and
ix. Adequate skills (personnel) and systems to gather and process data from various
agencies and flow the same to the PR.
Note: The sub award/grant funding cannot be used to support individuals, stand-alone conferences,
businesses, scholarships, fundraising events, university-based research, micro-credit programs,
trade unions or trade union federations, construction of roads, bridges, buildings, wells, or activities
directly or indirectly intended to support candidates for political office.
5. Instructions for applicants
a. Application Deadline: no later than 5 PM GMT on 20 July 2018.
b. Preparing the Application: Interested organizations should prepare the EOI application
according to the guidance provided in the Call for EOI and in the EOI Application template
(Annex 1). Note that the applicant must complete all components of the EOI Application
template; incomplete applications will not be considered and will automatically be
disqualified.
c. Submitting the Application: The EOI application must be addressed to “Country
Representative, PSI/Liberia” and e-mailed to eoigf@psiliberia.org, titled “EOI for SR”. If
sending scanned documents - (i) ensure that each e-mail is below 5 MB, (ii)
mention clearly how many e-mails are being sent in the first e-mail, (iii) number the
e-mails accordingly, and (iv) ensure all the scanned supporting documents are of
good quality and readable.
d. Clarifications to queries: Any clarifications and questions on the instructions or template
should be directed to the same e-mail ID of eoigf@psiliberia.org. PSI/Liberia will provide
clarifications only until July 13, 2018.
e. Estimated timeframe for selection of shortlisted applicants: PSI/Liberia anticipates
announcing prequalified applicants by third week of 1st week of August 2018, and
shortlisted candidates by not later than 3rd week of August 2018.
6. Final Selection of the SR
Eligible applications will be evaluated and scored in accordance with stated criteria. Based on the
results, PSI will shortlist final SR candidate organizations, and will then conduct in-depth, on site
assessment of only the short-listed applicants (anticipated for the second half of September 2018).
SRs will be assessed on programmatic, financial, operational, and overall management capabilities.
The final SR recommendations will be presented to LCM and Global Fund for approval.

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