Fully dependent on imports, Lao PDR faced serious shortages and price fluctuations of medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic highlighted the critical need for quality control of these products in the market, to an extent that this need is one of the challenges for sustainable socio-economic development in Laos. Hence, the Government of Lao PDR aspires to promote high-quality local production of PPE and to improve the quality of the items available in the market. 

Indeed, the quality of imported and domestically produced medical devices and supplies in the market varies currently significantly due to the limited regulation and surveillance capacity. The government acknowledges the need to enhance its regulatory capacity by developing PPE Manufacture Establishment Guidelines, National Medical Device Registration Regulations, and PPE Inspection Guidelines and tools. 

In this context, the “CHINA-UNDP Triangular Cooperation Response to COVID-19 in the Asia and the Pacific Region” project is an UNDP-supported project aiming to develop the capacity of a state-owned factory for the first large-scale domestic production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) through material and technical support. The project also aims at establishing a quality management system through the development of standards and guidelines, as well as developing the capacity of the Government. 

The five outputs of the project are :

Output 1: Local PPE quality management system is enhanced

Output 2: Local PPE production capacity is enhanced

Output 3: PPE quality surveillance capacity is strengthened at the national and provincial levels

Output 4: Market access and management system for PPE products are strengthened

Output 5: Communication and project management of the project at the national level

OBJECTIVE

The project’s objective is to strengthen the COVID-19 preparedness, response and recovery capacities at the Asia-Pacific regional level, focusing on four countries (Bangladesh, Maldives, Lao PDR and Pakistan) with the aim to minimize and address the regression of SDG attainment and to enhance these countries’  socio-economic development.  In Laos, the objective of this project is to enhance local PPE production and supply capacity and to ensure the quality of PPE for COVID-19 and other future pandemics.  

To achieve the overall objective of the project, under Output 3, the National Center for Food and Drug Analysis, Ministry of Health of Lao PDR (hereinafter referred to as NCFDA) plans to conduct a training of trainers (TOT) on the general requirements for surgical face mask and alcohol hand gel testing, in order to build up capacity of PPE testing in central level and strengthen to provincial level across the country in the future. In this context, UNDP Lao PDR is seeking an experienced expert to assist NCFDA on the TOT on general requirements for surgical face mask and alcohol hand gel testing

SCOPE OF WORK

The successful applicant will work on the country-level Output 3 and will be responsible for the following:

1. Identify the capacity gaps in terms of surgical face mask and alcohol hand gel testing of NCFDA
2. Provide the training on general requirements for surgical face mask and alcohol hand gel testing for NCFDA
3. Produce a report on the training outcome documenting the strengths and weakness of NCFDA in order to strengthen the capacity of surgical face mask and alcohol hand gel testing

Deliverables and Schedule

• Site visit – identify the capacity gaps in terms of surgical face mask and alcohol hand gel testing of NCFDA (2 working days, 8-9 July 2023) 

          1) Site visit at the NCFDA and discussion with key staff

          2) Provide a concept note and agenda of the TOT on the general requirements for surgical face mask and alcohol hand gel testing

• Conduct a TOT on the general requirements for surgical face mask and alcohol hand gel testing and ISO 17025 to NCFDA (5 working days, 10-14 July 2023)

          1) Three-day (3 days) training on general requirements for surgical face mask and alcohol hand gel testing (Lecture)

          2) Two-day (2 days) training on-site for face mask and alcohol hand gel testing (Practical)

• Production of a report on the training outcome, documenting the strengths and weakness of NCFDA and further capacity building approaches (mission report), and Discussion (0.5 day online meeting) to present the report and finalize below outputs (3 working days, 27-31 July 2023) : 

           1) Integrate NCFDA’s inputs on the local context. 

           2) Standard Operating Procedure on Face mask and alcohol hand gel testing 

           3) Method and validation guide for surgical face mask and alcohol hand gel testing

• Proven record in writing research papers, policy analysis and recommendations, reports, and publication 

• A master degree in chemistry, microbiology, medical laboratory technology, medical laboratory science, pharmacy, toxicology or related field. PhD is preferred 
• At least 5 years of experience working as a technical expert in a laboratory providing quality assurance services in all aspects of medical device testing.
• At least 5 years of consulting experience in  medical device testing.
• Extensive experience and training in medical device testing and ISO 17025. 
• Previous work experience in facilitation of training of trainers. 
• Previous work experience in Southeast Asia.

Criteria for Evaluation of Proposal

Offers will be evaluated according to the cumulative analysis of the Technical and Financial Scoring method – where the technical proposal will be weighted at 60% and the Financial proposal will weigh at 40% of the total scoring. Only candidates obtaining a minimum Technical score of 42 points would be considered for a further Financial Evaluation.

The applicant receiving the Highest Combined Technical and Financial Score and meeting other minimum requirements in the Procurement Notice will be awarded the contract.

Please find the TOR details here  TOR_049_2023

Please apply through this link Procurement | United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)

or  Jobs | United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)