Request for Applications from local non-governmental organizations to transfer funds and provide technical support to Municipalities and Rural Municipalities for the implementation of Lymphatic Filariasis Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Issuance Date: Wednesday 22 August 2018 Closing date and time: Friday 14 September 2018, 16:00 PM Submission language: English In September 2011, RTI International was awarded the ENVISION project, an eight-year cooperative agreement funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). ENVISION provides assistance to national neglected tropical disease (NTD) control programs for the integration and scale-up of preventive chemotherapy (PCT) for seven targeted NTDs: lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, three soil-transmitted helminths (roundworm, hookworm, ringworm) and trachoma. RTI is seeking applications from organizations interested in providing the services described in this RFA. Your application must be prepared in accordance with the exhibits listed below and attached. Exhibit Number Title 1 Instructions to Applicant 2 Statement of Work 3 Evaluation Criteria 4 Pricing Information and Cost Application Instructions 5 Organization Information 6 District(s) and municipalities Information 7 Management Systems Questionnaire 8 Anti-Terrorism Certification 9 Instructions for obtaining a DUNS number 10 PLGHA compliance certification • Applicants shall submit an electronic application as email attachments in Microsoft Word (Technical Proposal ) and Excel (Budget and Milestone details) to Sila Gole, Sr. Operation Assistant, at [email protected] no later than 16:00pm (Kathmandu time) on Friday 14 September 2018. A signed and dated hard copy of your application must also be submitted to the RTI ENVISION office, Hall #202, Oasis Complex, Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur, Nepal by Friday 14 September 2018. • Please direct questions to Achut Babu Ojha, Program Manager at [email protected]. All questions received by Thursday 30 August 2018 will be compiled and answers made available to all applicants through a pre-application meeting to be held on Friday 31 August 2018. No phone inquiries will be entertained. • ENVISION will organize a pre-application meeting for intended applicants to provide clarification on the statement of work and RFA requirements. This meeting will provide opportunities for interested applicants to ask questions about the application submission process. RTI will not reimburse applicants for any costs associated with attending or participating in the pre-application meeting. • Organizations interested in joining the pre-application meeting on Friday 31 August 2018 are requested to confirm their participation through email at [email protected] with subject line “Confirmation for pre-application meeting” no later than Wednesday 29 August 2018. Page | 1 • Applications that are not submitted in accordance with the RFA Instructions will be considered non-responsive and will be rejected by RTI. Additional requirements for submitting applications are shown in Exhibit 1, Instructions to Applicant, and Exhibit 4, Pricing Information and Cost Application Instructions. • This solicitation in no way obligates RTI to make an award, nor does it commit RTI to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. Page | 2 Exhibit 1 Instructions to Applicant RTI is seeking qualified organization(s) that will be responsible for completing the activities as described in the Statement of Work (SOW) in Exhibit 2. Type of Award RTI intends to award 38 Fixed Obligation Grants (FOGs). Payments will be made upon achieving stated milestones. No upfront payments will be made on commencement of the grant. There will be a total of four (4) milestones during project implementation, and each payment will be made based on satisfactory completion and acceptance by RTI of the stated deliverable(s) for that milestone. Please note that each deliverable must be reviewed and approved by RTI before payment will be authorized. Eligibility Criteria • Organization legally registered in Nepal. • Have bank account with Standard Chartered Bank Nepal. • Have implemented public health activities at district level and below. • Have experience in managing transfer of funds from center to districts of Provinces 5 and 7. Targeted municipalities and rural municipalities per districts Banke (8): Nepalgunj (HQ), Kohalpur, Rapti Sonari, Baijanath, Khajura, Janaki, Duduwa, Narainapur. Bardiya (8): Gulariya (HQ), Barbardiya, Rajapur, Banshgadhi, Madhuban, Thakurbaba, Badhaiya Taal, Geruwa. Kailali (13): Dhangadhi (HQ), Godawari, Tikapur, Ghodaghodi, Lamkichuwa, Gauriganga, Vajani, Janaki, Kailari, Joshipur, Bardagoriya, Mohanyal, Chure. Kanchanpur (9): Bhimdatta (HQ), Krishnapur, Punarbass, Belauri, Bedkot, Shuklaphant, Mahakali, Laljhandi, Beldandi. Period of Performance The grant will be for the period from the date the grant is signed by both the grantee and RTI to the date of approval of completed work by RTI. The period of performance for this grant is estimated to be 1 December 2018 to 30 April 2019. Application Documents The following materials must be submitted to RTI by the application deadline: 1. An Offer Letter, signed by a duly authorized representative of the Applicant’s organization, presenting the total bid amount. 2. The Technical Application as described in Exhibit 3. 3. The Cost Application (budget) as described in Exhibit 4, along with documentation of proposed costs. 4. The Organization Information as provided in Exhibit 5. 5. District, Municipalities and Rural Municipalities applicants plan to implement activities in as provided in Exhibit 6. 6. A current Management Systems Questionnaire, including supporting documentation, as provided in Exhibit 7. 7. The Anti-Terrorism Certification, signed by a duly authorized representative of the Applicant’s organization, as provided in Exhibit 8. 8. The PLGHA signed certificate, as provided in Exhibit 10 Page | 3 All electronic files should be in Microsoft Word or Excel format (font size 12pt, Times New Roman). Page | 4 Exhibit 2 Statement of Work ENVISION is an eight-year program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that aims to assist national programs to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The program supports the control and elimination of seven targeted NTDs, specifically lymphatic filariasis (LF), onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, three types of soil-transmitted helminths (STH; roundworm, hookworm, whipworm), and trachoma. ENVISION aims to contribute towards the global goal of reducing the harmful effects of targeted NTDs so that they are no longer considered a public health problem. ENVISION’s overall strategy in Nepal is to support the national program to reach its goals for elimination of LF and control of STH. To achieve these objectives, ENVISION focuses on reaching the following intermediate results: IR1: Increased MDA coverage among at-risk populations in endemic communities IR2: Improved evidence base for action to control and eliminate targeted NTDs IR3: Strengthened environment for implementation of national integrated NTD control and elimination programs ENVISION is implemented by RTI International in partnership with CBM International, The Carter Center, Fred Hollows Foundation, Helen Keller International, IMA World Health, Light for the World, Sight Savers International, and World Vision. ENVISION’s implementation period runs from September 30, 2011 to September 29, 2019. Background Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a public health problem in Nepal and is a major cause of morbidity, primarily through lymphoedema of legs and hydrocele. It impedes socioeconomic development in many endemic areas of the country. Infection is transmitted by the mosquito vector, Culex quinquefasciatus. Based on baseline mapping data, 63 of Nepal’s 77 districts are endemic for LF, putting approximately 25 million people at risk of infection. In 2002, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) of the Ministry of Health and Population formulated a National Plan of Action (2003-2014) for elimination of LF in Nepal. It was updated with National Guidelines and the Tentative Plan of Action for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in Nepal (2015-2020). The national target is the elimination of LF as a public health problem by the year 2020 by reducing the level of disease to a point where transmission no longer occurs. This is in line with the international World Health Organization-endorsed targets. The program aims to achieve this target primarily through the mass distribution of Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC) and Albendazole to at-risk populations in all endemic districts. The campaign targets the whole community except for children less than two years, pregnant women, and very sick people. Albendazole is donated by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline GSK) through the World Health Organization’s global donation mechanism. DEC is purchased locally by the Government of Nepal. Following at least five rounds of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) with high treatment coverage, the program has been able to stop MDA in 38 districts where transmission assessment surveys have found transmission to be interrupted. Nepal hopes to stop MDA by 2019 in an additional 10 districts which passed Pre-TAS surveys in 2018. Therefore, in 2019, MDA for LF will be conducted in the remaining 15 districts by municipalities and rural municipalities. These municipalities will conduct a series