REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) #MAL-122019-EMR Connectivity Solutions for 752 PEPFAR Supported MOH Clinics ELIZABETH GLASER PEDIATRIC AIDS FOUNDATION (EGPAF) NED BANK House, City Centre, P.O. Box 2543, Lilongwe, Malawi FIRM DEADLINE: Friday, 17 January 2020 at 11am INTRODUCTION Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (“EGPAF” or “Foundation”), a non-profit organization, is a world leader in the fight to eliminate pediatric AIDS. Our mission is to prevent pediatric HIV infection and to eliminate pediatric AIDS through research, advocacy, and prevention and treatment programs. For more information, please visit http://www.pedaids.org. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT | SCOPE OF WORK | EXPECTED DELIVERABLES EGPAF seeks to contract with a reputable Vendor to immediately meet our current connectivity needs (with the possibility of fulfilling future needs as they arise) in support of an ambitious national Electronic Medical Records (EMR) initiative. It is anticipated that the selected Vendor can assess our requirements, develop a comprehensive and effective solution to implement at all 752 PEPFAR-supported MOH Clinics throughout Malawi (see Attachment 1), and eventually implement and install, in coordination with the necessary Foundation staff, all necessary infrastructure at each site to reflect its proposed solution(s). More specifically, the selected Contractor is expected to offer a fast and affordable Carrier Backbone network services to cover 752 clinics across the 28 Districts in Malawi to support regular and incremental data transmission from the Clinics/health facilities to a Central Data Repository hosted at the Ministry of Health. The winning Contractor will be responsible for installation of last mile connection to connect each health facility to the backbone network, including configuring Point-to-Point connections between the health facility and the Central Data Repository. Given the size and ambitious scope of this endeavor, there is potential for a long-term partnership to develop depending on the availability of future funding opportunities supporting our project. In recognition of this, EGPAF seeks a partner who can and will meet the following goals: Have capacity to lease network infrastructure and provide proof of capacity to connect all 752 clinics; a list of Clinics with GPS points is provided as Attachment 1 to this solicitation. Offer competitive lease pricing and unique services, speeds, and network performance significantly matching international standards. For example, providing hundreds of megabits or gigabit speeds in the core backbone carrier, providing symmetrical services, providing services that continue operating when commercial power fails, providing stringent service level agreements, and providing direct connectivity between locations with OSI Layer 2 flexibility for our network team to have full control of the virtual network created. Possesses a full understanding of the network infrastructure leasing business model (e.g. subscription-based model). Respond to the needs for large and small Health Facilities connected to the Backbone network. Applicants should include in its proposal details of those sites where infrastructure is already available and where installations will be required and timelines to activate the sites. Supports unfettered access: The leased network will deliver an unfettered data offering that does not impose caps or usage limits on one use of data over another (i.e. does not limit streaming or upload and download). All application services (data, voice, and video) are equally able to transmit their services. Vendors need to indicate electricity requirements for equipment and if power back up will be included with the equipment. Vendors are required to provide the ability to monitor connectivity efficiencies and down time remotely and ensure monitoring of last mile packet latency. Preferred Business Model: Our preferred business model is one in which the EGPAF and the selected Contractor will design and construct virtual networks with last mile connections using the Partner's network infrastructure throughout the entirety of the 741 sites. EGPAF will lease access to the partner's infrastructure to create a backbone network across the country. In this model, the Contractor will also be responsible for the network electronics required for last mile connectivity, backup power services for the installed infrastructure, and monitoring and maintenance of the last mile network infrastructure. Network Design and Construction Parameters: The winning vendor must include the following deliverables in the Phase I Network Design and Specification work product: The locations are required sites to be included in the network design and route plan. The list of sites may expand at the discretion of EGPAF after consultation with the selected Network Partner. The Design must include recommendation(s) for location and placement of the headend along with detailed specifications and equipment required for connectivity to Spread Networks Backbone (or alternate backbone network provider of equal performance and latency). The Design must also specify all necessary communications and integration equipment. Final determination of the network route will be made by EGPAF after reviewing submitted proposals and discussions with the Network Partner. In addition to the required sites, the Network Partner or vendor will be requested to engage in some long- term planning discussions with EGPAF representatives to assist in assessing future network alternative deployments. The final deliverable for Phase I will not incorporate the design or engineering for the future network alternatives but will assist the EGPAF and Network Partner/vendor in understanding how to position the current network design to accommodate future expansion. The Vendor will evaluate the existing site-by-site local networks and provide recommendations for how best to integrate or replace the current networks in order to allow connectivity to the backbone. This analysis will include review and evaluation of existing technology, topology, communications equipment, ongoing support costs, and capital cost and outage history. The Vendor must produce comprehensive computerized design maps, detailed CAD drawings and any necessary construction drawings for the network routes, including location and specification of any communications equipment necessary to meet the performance standards of a fully functional backbone carrier network. Standard of Services: All Services to be provided by Contractor shall be performed with promptness and diligence in a professional manner and at a level of proficiency to be expected of a Contractor with the background and experience that the Contractor has represented in its bid. EGPAF shall provide such access to its information, property, and personnel as may be reasonably required in order to permit the Contractor to perform the Services. Operational Capabilities: EGPAF now invites eligible vendors/firms to submit competitive proposals for the applicable deliverables described above. Failure to provide a solution or quote for any of the items or meet the minimum required specifications as listed may disqualify a bidder from selection. The Foundation currently has an immediate need for the initial scope described in this RFP; however, it is anticipated that the Foundation may need to expand the eventual agreed-upon solution to additional sites RFP #MAL-122019-EMR | Page 2 of 8 throughout Malawi in the future, but the exact needs cannot be determined at this time and are contingent on the availability of future funding. In recognition of this, a Firm Fixed Price Contract with Option Rates will result from this solicitation (but is subject to change depending on the selected Contractor and proposed solution). After the initial contract assignment is satisfactorily implemented, the Foundation may, at its discretion, exercise its option in order for the Contractor to provide its solution at additional sites at a fixed option rate proposed by the selected vendor in response to this RFP and captured in the terms of the initial Contract. EVALUATION CRITERIA AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS The Foundation will accept bids from the qualified vendor(s) that offer the BEST VALUE to the Foundation (i.e. the vendor that provides the most economically advantageous goods and/or services to the Foundation and meets the minimum required specifications stated in this solicitation). All proposals will be evaluated against the below Evaluation Criteria. Each proposal should contain the items listed in the Submission Requirements column in the following chart. Please submit your Submission Requirements in the order they appear below in order to assist the Foundation is conducting a comprehensive and transparent evaluation selection. CRITERIA SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS WEIGHT Detailed narrative description of methodology and the possible services and exercises provided. The Vendor will provide a Service Offering recommendation, profile, and overview for the proposed backbone carrier network. This should include a detailed and comprehensive overview of the service offering to be made available to EGPAF. 1) Technical & This discussion should include the types of equipment and services needed initially management 20% to complete the scope as well as those that may be offered in the future in order approach to make the solution sustainable in the long-term. Provide a capacity plan that estimates initial capacity by service offering