Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 1
Request for Expression of Interest
For
Sub-award
In Support Of
Challenge TB Afghanistan Project
USAID Cooperative Agreement No. AID-OAA-A-14-00029
Solicitation Number: RFEOI-CTB-AF16-001
Issuance Date: April 17 2016
Closing Date for Submission of Questions: April 23, 2016
Submit Questions to: [email protected]
Responses to Questions will be emailed to registered applicants on: April 20, 2016
Submit Expressions of Interest to: [email protected]
Closing Date for Submission of Expressions of Interest: April 25 2016
Managed by: Management Sciences for Health
Funded by:
United States Agency for International Development via KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation
Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 2
Table of Contents
1 LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................. 3
2 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 4
3 TWO PHASE APPLICATION PROCESS ................................................................... 4
4 GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPING EXPRESSION OF INTEREST .......... 4
5 OBJECTIVE ................................................................................................................ 5
6 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/SCOPE OF WORK ........................................................ 5
7 GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS .............................................................................................. 6
8 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA .............................................................................................. 6
9 BUDGET AND FUNDING PERIOD ............................................................................ 6
10 EXPRESSION OF INTEREST PAPER SUBMISSION ............................................... 7
11 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ........................................................................................ 7
12 EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORMAT .................................................................... 7
13 BUDGET ..................................................................................................................... 7
14 EVALUATION CRITERIA ........................................................................................... 7
15 APPENDIX A: EXPRESSION OF INTEREST ............................................................ 9
Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 3
1 LIST OF ACRONYMS
1 CTB Challenge TB
2 DOTS Directly Observed Treatment Short-course Strategy
3 DST Drug Sensitivity Testing
4 EOI Expression of Interest
5 IC Infection Control
6 M&E Monitoring and Evaluation
7 MDG Millennium Development Goals
8 MDR-TB Multi drug-resistant TB
9 MSH Management Sciences for Health
10 NGO Non-Government Organization
11 NTP National Tuberculosis Control Program
12 NTRL National TB Reference Laboratory
13 RFA Request for Application
14 RFEOI Request for Expression of Interest
15 SOP Standard Operating Procedures
16 TB Tuberculosis
17 TEP Technical Evaluation Panel
18 TSR Treatment Success Rate
19 USAID United States Agency for International Development
20 USG Unites States Government
21 WHO World Health Organization
Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 4
2 INTRODUCTION
In 2015, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded the Challenge
TB project to the consortium of partners lead by the KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV).
Management Sciences for Health leads the provision of technical assistance to the National TB
Program (NTP) and its NGO partners in Afghanistan. The duration of the Challenge TB project in
Afghanistan is 5 years starting in January 2015 and ending on September 29, 2019.
The Challenge TB project is designed by USAID to help countries to achieve their goals in TB
control, while filling gaps in support of activities that are insufficient or not supported by other
sources.
A major area needing support in Afghanistan is improving tuberculosis (TB) case finding. During
2015 only 62% of all incidence cases (estimated by WHO) were notified to NTP.
The Challenge TB Afghanistan (CTB) project is inviting local NGOs and academic institutions to
apply for sub-awards to develop and implement researches in high risk groups such as TB and
diabetes, TB and mental health. Full details of the intended program are provided in the Program
Description/Scope of Work, Section 4 below.
3 TWO PHASE APPLICATION PROCESS
The process of selecting an organization for sub-award is comprised of two phases. In the first
phase, a request for Expression of Interest (EOI) describing the overall activity that the applicant
proposes to implement, in accordance with the overall objective of increasing TB case finding
outlined in Section 4, will be submitted. The EOI must be prepared in accordance with the
instructions provided in Section 12 using the format given in Appendix A. Each NGO or
academic institutions shall submit only one EOI.
CTB project will evaluate the EOI based on the criteria outlined in Section 14. Only applicants
whose EOI obtained highest scores in the evaluation will be invited to submit full and detailed
applications for funding consideration. Applicants invited to submit full and detailed applications
will be provided with a Request for Applications (RFA) detailing instructions for application.
Issuance of this Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) does not in any way constitute an
award or commitment on the part of the Challenge TB nor does it commit to pay for costs incurred
in the preparation and submission of Expressions of Interest.
To ensure you receive modifications to the RFEOI, send an email to [email protected]
requesting that your organization be put on the distribution list.
4 GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPING EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Applicants shall consider the following guidelines for developing the EOI:
The EOI should address parts of or the entire objective mentioned under Section 5,
Objective.
Proposed activities described in the EOI should be for a defined geographic area, or
specified institutions, health care facilities or defined target group(s)
Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 5
The EOI should be tailored to address existing diabetes centers and mental health centers
and health facilities and needs specific to the proposed geographic area (Kabul, Mazar,
Herat, Nangerhar and Kandahar), specified institutions, etc. for implementation;
Applicants can receive funding for similar activities from other donors. However,
proposed activities must not be duplication of activities that are covered or planned under
the other funding source, and the applicant must make clear how the different funding
sources will be used for distinct objectives or distinct geographic areas.
5 OBJECTIVE
CTB project plans to issue sub-awards to support the following area:
Develop and implement methodologies to enhance case findings among high risk
groups of diabetic and mental health patients
The high risk groups may include diabetics and patients with mental disorders.
6 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/SCOPE OF WORK
Develop and implement methodologies to increase case finding among high risk
groups
Applicants should specify the geographical area where intensified case finding will be
implemented and by which method(s). Or e.g. in case of TB case finding and treatment
among TB among diabetics and patients with mental health disorders, the target
institutions/ specialized clinics, and the method that shall be used.
Applicants should design (a) feasible strategy (ies), applicable to the situation in
Afghanistan, for screening the target population(s). In addition, applicants should include
the expected case finding among the target group(s) and their treatment.
Illustrative activities to consider:
Design a strategy of case finding such as examination and referral systems to the
diagnostic health facilities
Train health workers in diabetic and mental health clinics on TB sign and symptoms to
screen all diabetic and mentally disorder patients and provision of treatment to these
patients
Train health workers in diabetics clinics to screen for TB sign and symptoms
Create a sample referral mechanism to laboratory sites
Monitor the performance of the screening, recording and reporting, referrals and follow up
examinations
Take chest X-ray of all presumptive TB patients among diabetics and mentally disordered
patients
Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 6
Transport sputum on daily basis from screening sites to diagnostic sites
Submit biweekly report to CTB/MSH on the progress and challenges in implementations
Complete the data entry, keep back up and submit the back-end on monthly basis to CTB
Deliverables and Responsibilities:
An assessment report on the reach and effectiveness of the current TB care services
among selected high risk groups in target geographical and populations areas
A quarterly technical report focused on detailed description of achievements,
challenges and action taken to increase
A final report of recommendations on optimal approaches for case finding among
selected high risk groups and lesson learnt
Expected Result
TB case detection increased in high risk groups
TB diagnosis quality assurance in the target geographical and population
areas improved
Key illustrative indicators
Number of individuals screened for TB in each high risk group
Number of individuals diagnosed with TB in each high risk group
7 GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS
Applicants should outline the geographic focus of the activities, including a description
of how overlap with existing activities will be avoided. The geographic scope of the
application should also relate to the calculation of predicted case yield, as described
above.
8 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The applicant submitting the EOI should meet the following criteria:
Be a legally registered non-governmental organization under the laws of Afghanistan
Have demonstrated experience in implementing TB, Diabetes and Mental health or other
community-based health programs
Have demonstrated capacity to manage sub-contract funds;
Have demonstrated presence in the proposed geographic area
Possess audited financial statement (preferred)
Research and capacity in implementation research
9 BUDGET AND FUNDING PERIOD
Subject to the availability of funds and technical evaluation outcomes, CTB project intends to
award up to three (3) sub-awards to local Afghan NGOs, with a total of funding for the period of
activities, across all sub-awardees, not to exceed $25,000 (and possibly less). Funding amount for
Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 7
each sub award will be commensurate with the proposed geographic area, population coverage,
and outcomes in terms of case finding and management.
Funding Period: The funding period of the sub awards is five months (May 1, 2016 – September
30, 2016). Applicants shall submit EOI for the initial five month period only.
10 EXPRESSION OF INTEREST PAPER SUBMISSION
Date of submission - April 25 2016.
11 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Questions are due on April 18, 2016 at the following email address: [email protected] .
Responses will be provided by April 20, 2016.
12 EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORMAT
The EOI should be prepared using the template given in Annex A. The EOI shall be in English.
Applicants are requested to use A4 size paper, with single space, 11 point font Times New Roman.
The EOI should not exceed four (4) pages excluding the cover page. The EOI has the following
sections:
a. Applicant Information (cover page)
b. Problem statement
c. Technical Approach and proposed key activities on how screen for TB in one or more of
the high risk groups
d. Expected Results during five month period
e. Management and Administrative capabilities
g. Summary Budget
NOTE: EOIs that do not follow these instructions will not be evaluated.
13 BUDGET
Applicant should submit a summary budget for five months only for the period of May 1, 2016 –
September 30, 2016. The summary budget should include major cost line items such as personnel,
travel, training, and program activities. The proposed costs will be reviewed for cost realism to
evaluate the relationship between the proposed costs and proposed program and results. All
proposed costs in the budget should be indicated in Afghan currency.
14 EVALUATION CRITERIA
CTB project will establish a Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) to review and evaluate all EOI
Papers received before the deadline. The TEP will evaluate EOI using the following criteria:
Criteria Points
Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 8
Technical Approach including understanding of the problem,
clarity in performance gap analysis, soundness of proposed
strategies and activities 50
Expected Results – clarity in identifying key outcomes of the
proposed intervention 25
Management and Administrative Capabilities 25
TOTAL 100
The NGOs or academic institutions who have been selected to submit a full proposal based on
their EOI will be notified on or around April 25, 2016.
Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 9
15 APPENDIX A: EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Challenge TB Project
Applicant Information
Name of Applicant Organization
Name and title of contact person
Mailing Address
Telephone (including mobile)
Email address
Proposed Geographic Areas for activities
under this EOI (district, city corporation
areas)
Total Target Population covered under this
EOI
Name of the NGOs currently implementing
TB programs in the proposed geographic area
NGO Registration Number of applicant
Proposed Total Budget for five months Afghan currency (Afghani):
Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 10
Section 1: Problem Statement
1.1 Problem Statement
Identify proposed geographic area and target beneficiary; describe current performance gaps against expected levels
in the proposed geographic area)
Section 2: Technical Approach
2.1 Objective 1:
Please briefly describe the major activities that you propose to achieve Objective 1. Describe your strategy to
implement the proposed activities at the household, community and facility levels (diabetes and mental health
facilities). Describe any previous experience that the NGO has implementing this or a similar approach, and any
quantitative evidence that would support the NGO’s ability to achieve the results described in Section 3 below ,and
the costs required to reach similar targets previously (i.e., value for money).
Applicants should carefully read and follow the instructions as they respond to each section. Response
to each section should not exceed the space provided in the box under each section.
Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 11
2.2 Objective 2:
Please briefly describe the major activities that you propose to achieve Objective 2. Describe your strategy to
implement the proposed activities at the household, community and facility levels. Describe any previous experience
that the NGO has implementing this or a similar approach, and any quantitative evidence that would support the
NGO’s ability to achieve the results described in Section 3 below (e.g., previous yield in 1 district = 63 new cases in a
year; expansion to 2 districts should yield 126 new cases), and the costs required to reach similar targets previously
(i.e., value for money).
Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 12
2.3 Section 3: Expected Results
Please indicate targets against indicators applicable to your proposed program. The proposed targets shall
include only additional cases/results to be achieved through your proposed program. Exclude results currently
being achieved through the Global Fund and other support. Objective Five
months
target
Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 13
Section 4: Management and Administrative Capabilities
Describe technical and administrative experience and capabilities, including:
List of current or past TB, diabetes or mental health or other community-based programs that you have
implemented including brief project description, location, duration, budget, and donor agency; Brief description of Project and Location Duration
Budget (Afghani)
Donor Agency
Challenge TB Afghanistan Project; Request for EOI 14
Section 5: Summary Budget
The budget should include cost line items e.g., personnel, travel, training, and program activities. NGOs should focus
resources on project implementation rather than salaries, equipment and supplies. A more detailed budget will be
required in the second step of the application process, if the initial EOI is successful.
Line Item Total Budget
Salaries and fringe benefits
Travel and per diem
Training and Orientation
Supplies and equipment
Other direct costs (program costs)
Total