Historique

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT PROCUREMENT NOTICE  
Country:  South Sudan
Description of the assignment:  1x Laboratory Mentor for Virology
1x Laboratory Mentor for Bacteriology
(International Consultancies   - 2 positions)
Project name:  Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Collaborative Programme in Southern
Period of assignment/services (if applicable):  14th August to 30th September 2011 (contract to be extended up to 31 March 2012 depending on performance)
Proposal should be submitted at the following address;
Shahzad Khan Bangash
Procurement Specialist
Procurement Unit
UNDP Office Compound
Juba - Southern Sudan
or by email to;
bids.juba@undp.org
 no later than 10th August 2011 by 11.00 AM
Marked with: “Proposal for Clinical Mentors for HIV and TB/HIV”. Your package should contain two envelopes: one marked “Technical Proposal” and containing your PII and CV as described below in Section 4 and second envelop your “Financial Proposal”.
Any request for clarification on TORs must be sent in writing by email to the Project Manager on Karin.nasheya@undp.org.  She will respond in writing by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.

1. BACKGROUND
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was created to dramatically increase resources to fight three of the world’s most devastating diseases, and to direct those resources to areas of greatest need. Since the Global Fund was founded in 2002, it has changed the way the world is working to defeat the three diseases. The Global Fund has supported large scale prevention, treatment and care programmes against the three diseases. The Global Fund attracts, manages and disburses resources in a public-private partnership that will make sustainable and significant contribution to the reduction of mortality and morbidity caused by the three major diseases and contributing to the achievement of millennium development goals. To date, 3 million people are receiving antiretroviral treatment, 7.7 million new cases of infectious tuberculosis detected and treated, and 160 million insecticide-treated nets were distributed to protect families from transmission
UNDP is a key partner to the Global Fund and is the UN Agency assuming the role of Principal Recipient (PR) of Global Fund grants in South Sudan. As PR for the Global Fund grants, assisting the country to meet its main goals in reducing mortality and morbidity from HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, UNDP South Sudan is responsible for the financial and programmatic management of the Global Fund grants as well as for the procurement of health and non health products. In all areas of implementation, it provides capacity development services to relevant national institutions, Sub-Recipients (SRs) and implementing partners. Currently, UNDP as PR bears full responsibility for the operational and financial management of six grants: Round 2 Malaria, Round 2 Tuberculosis, Round 7 Tuberculosis, Round 4 HIV/AIDS, Round 5 TB/HIV, and Round 9 HSS. UNDP South Sudan is currently managing the Global Fund funded portfolio of USD124,214,079 for all six grants.
UNDP South Sudan is therefore planning to recruit two (2) Laboratory Mentors to support the Public Health Laboratory in the start up of the Virology and Bacteriology (including TB Culture) Laboratories.
The Round 5 TB/HIV grant aims at establishing mechanisms for collaboration between TB and HIV/AIDS programmes, decreasing the burden of TB in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), and decreasing the burden of HIV/AIDS in TB patients. The key components of the project include the establishment of TB/HIV joint Technical Coordinating Units in the MoH-GoSS, organize national level TB/HIV planning meetings to review and evaluate progress, establish an Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) Unit, monitoring and evaluation of collaborative TB/HIV activities, increased TB case findings among PLWHA, provision of treatment for latent TB infection for HIV positive patients, and the provision of infection control services in health care settings and or congregate settings. The project started on 1 October 2006 and shall end on 30 September 2011.
The Round 4 HIV/AIDS grant aims to strengthen a coordinated South Sudan response to HIV/AIDS by building capacity at the GoSS, State and County levels, and supporting the scale up of comprehensive HIV/AIDS services (BCC/IEC, programmes for specific groups, VCT, ART, OIs, PMTCT, STIs case management, Blood Safety and Universal Precautions, and Surveillance). The project started on 1 August 2006 and will end on 31 July 2011.

Devoirs et responsabilités

2. SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ANALYTICAL WORK
As PR for the Round 4 HIV/AIDS and Round 5 TB/HIV grants, UNDP is working with the MoH GoSS and other partners in the strengthening of laboratory services. To accomplish this task, UNDP is looking for two (2) dynamic and driven individuals to fill the positions of Laboratory Mentors. The two Laboratory Mentors will be based in the National Public Health Laboratory, Virology Department and TB laboratory and will be reporting to the Global Fund Programme in UNDP.
Key areas of mentorship include setting up Virology laboratory; Molecular Biology Laboratory; and Bacteriology (TB Culture & DST) laboratory, and training the laboratory staff on the use of modern equipments for these departments, (e.g. ELISA, PCR, L J, etc.).  For detailed information, please refer to Annex 1- Terms of Reference.
ANNEX 1
TERMS OF REFERENCES (TOR)
Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Ministry of Health, Directorate for Diagnostics, WHO, UNDP TB/HIV Project Manager and M&E Specialist, the Laboratory Mentors will provide direct technical support to national and state, laboratory facilities within South Sudan.
Specifically, he/she will:
  • Assist in setting up the departments of Virology, Molecular Biology, and TB Culture & DST
  • Provide laboratory mentoring to laboratory analytic and diagnostic teams
  • Provide laboratory advice and assistance in initiating and improving ongoing laboratory diagnostics.
  • Lead the establishment of activities in the cited departments, set-up of specimen flow patterns, creation of Standard Operating Procedures and TORs for laboratory and managerial staff in the laboratory facility
  • Assist the departments  to improve specimen records, monthly, and quarterly reports
  • Assist Laboratories to improve the test kits consumption, requisition report, and the overall commodity supply management system
  • Support the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) in the optimal use of available resources including equipments and diagnostic materials.
  • Improve referral linkages among the laboratory services in South Sudan.
  • Develop necessary tools to conduct the laboratory mentorship
  • Conduct quality assurance program for comprehensive laboratory service.
  • Give expert technical support in planning and implementing integrated and comprehensive laboratory  M&E system to rollout the M&E function throughout the country
  • Review laboratory and M&E training tools for the laboratory training at all levels in the country
  • Facilitate routine data collection system in the laboratories
  • Perform any other duties as required
Methodology: the consultants will work closely with all partners working in laboratory settings in South Sudan.  They will be posted to the NPHL and may pay field site visits across the 10 States of South Sudan for specific periods of time and are expected to collaborate positively with partners in the field and government counterparts.
ANNEX - 2
INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Deliverables/Outputs
  • Report on the establishment and functionality of the new Departments of Virology, Molecular Biology and TB Culture & DST
  • Clinical mentorship tools/materials and as well as reports on clinical mentorship provided to Laboratory analytic and diagnostic teams   
  • Reports on the advice and assistance to laboratories in initiating and improving ongoing laboratory diagnostics
  • Train laboratory staff to improve specimen records, monthly, and quarterly reports in the three laboratories and produce a report
  • Establish, train and report on a system to improve the test kits consumption, requisition reports, and the overall commodity supply management system in the three laboratories
  • Train National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) staff and provide mentorship to optimally use available resources including equipments and diagnostic materials
  •  Improve and report on referral linkages among the laboratory services in South Sudan,  and update and roll out the document on referral linkages
  • Develop the necessary tools to conduct the laboratory mentorship
  • Establish, operationalise and report on the quality assurance program for comprehensive laboratory service
  • Plan, implement and report on the integrated and comprehensive laboratory M&E system to rollout the M&E function throughout the country
  • Review, update and rollout laboratory and M&E training tools for the laboratory training at all levels in the country
  • Strengthen and report on the routine data collection system in the laboratories and ensure it is functional
 

Compétences

III. Competencies:
Professionalism:

  • Demonstrated ability in managing laboratory mentorship programmes in post conflict environments
  • A solid experience in managing laboratory mentorship in  resource limited or in a post conflict environment 
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to maintain flexibility in working hours
    Planning and Organizing:
  • Demonstrated effective organizational skills and ability to handle work in an efficient and timely manner
  • Demonstrated ability to coordinate tasks to meet deadlines; strong organizational skills; ability to follow up on comprehensive laboratory interventions simultaneously.
    Teamwork:
  • Good interpersonal skills; ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with counterparts
    Communication:
  • Ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively orally

Qualifications et expériences requises

3. REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS  
I. Academic Qualifications:
  • Basic Degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences; Master Degree or PHD in Microbiology/Virology
  • Medical Doctor with a specialty in Microbiology/Virology
  • Clinical or Research laboratory experience in Virology/Microbiology is required
    II. Years of experience:
  • Minimum of 5 years experience in Laboratory practice in Microbiology/Virology
  • Laboratory mentorship experience in previous assignment more importantly she/he has been involved in the laboratory services or in establishing a clinical/research laboratory/department.  
  • At least 2 years of multi-country experience in setting up laboratory mentorship programs.
  • Excellent understanding of the WHO/AFRO Accreditation Scheme
  • Experience in laboratory bench work is preferred
  • Good team work manner and strong interpersonal skills
  • Teaching or training experience is preferred
  • Experience in communicating with government and other high-level officials strongly preferred
4. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
1. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references
2. A complete Personal History Form  (P11), which can be downloaded from the following link; http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc
5. FINANCIAL PROPOSAL
Contracts based on daily fee
Contracts based on daily fee - Payments shall be made to the Individual Consultant based on the number of days worked at the agreed daily fee.
The financial proposal should specify the daily fee, which includes all other costs like airfare, per diems, etc. For evaluation purpose, the financial offer should provide breakdown of all costs. While preparing your proposal, kindly note that the standard for air travel authorized by UNDP for individual subscribers is economy class
Travel;
All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.
In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.
6. EVALUATION
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the methodology: Lowest price and technically compliant offer.
The award of a contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as both:
a) Responsive/compliant/acceptable (fully meeting the ToR)
b) Offering the lowest price/cost
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% of required total points under technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
 
Criteria 
Weight: 100%
Max. Point: 10
Criteria A
Relevant educational background
Weight; 50% 
Max Point: 5
 
Criteria B
Practical experience relevant to the announced TOR  
Weight: 30% 
Max. Point: 3
 
Criteria C
A solid experience in managing laboratory mentorship in a  laboratory settings having low professional experience staff or in a post conflict environment   
Weight: 20%
Max Point: 2