Expression of Interest (EOI) at the Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi)

Posted by Future on Wed 17th Nov, 2021 - nigeriantenders.com

Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi) invites reputable and interested consultants to indicate interest by submitting EOI documents for the following works:

Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi) is a local non-governmental organization incorporated in Nigeria in 2009 with registration number CAC/No/33391 and headquarters in Nigeria’s federal capital territory, Abuja. It was established with a mission to promote socioeconomic development by supporting a broad range of global health interventions, education, research and economic initiatives in Nigeria.

Applications are invited for:

Title: Expression of Interest (EOI) for Organizations Programming for Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in Taraba State Only

Preamble

National Aligned HIV/AIDS Initiative (NAHI) is a three-year, Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi)Project, Funded by FHI360, with support from the Global Fund (FG), with a period of performance from January,2021 to December, 2023. FHI 360 is the Principal Recipient of the NAHI project with Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNI), as a sub-recipient.

Through the NAHI project, GF has committed funding to support and expand key population (KP) programming for Female Sex Work (FSW) in Taraba State of Nigeria. The goal of NAHI KP program is to promote the acceleration of high-quality HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support services for KPs. The Project will extend the ability for local KP-led, trusted and competent community-based organizations (K-CBOs) to contribute to AHNi’s KP scale-up of differentiated HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services.

The funding will scale up innovative, evidence-based strategies to achieve epidemic control for Female Sex Workers while supporting greater involvement of KP-led and KP-focused local organizations at the community and national level. FHI360 will work closely with Global Fund, Country Coordinating Mechanism, (CCM), National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA,) Sub-recipients and KP-led and KP-focused local organizations to introduce new strategies that address barriers for KPs accessing these services. This KP group will be prioritized under this award: female sex workers (FSWs).

AHNi recognizes that KP-led and KP-competent local organizations working around HIV/AIDS are critical to the epidemic response in Nigeria. This announcement is a call for expressions of interest (EOI) for Nigerian Community based organizations (CBOs) to join the NAHI project in providing tailored HIV services programming for KPs for up to a two-year period beginning January 2, 2022. Through this competitive process, FHI 360/AHNi intends to select and provide funding and technical assistance to Nigerian FSWs-CBOs that meet the required criteria’s.

Scope of Work

To provide family based comprehensive community-based HIV Service Package including prevention, care, treatment, and support, including community initiation of ARVs, referrals and linkages to treatment services in the One-Stop-Shop.
To Support community and institutional system strengthening through the identification and capacity building of Key Population-Led community-based organizations for effective programming.
To provide enabling/legal environment for Key Population Programming through promotion of human right, access to justice, legal aid services and reduction of stigma and discrimination.

Roles and Responsibilities / Scope of Work

Human Resource:
- Identify and recruit competent key staff for the implementation of the program deliverables (Program Officers, Finance Officer, M&E officer, and other field staff)
Community HIV prevention and Linkage (1st 90 GON target) The CBOs among others is expected to implement the following activities:
- Conduct periodic Micro KP size estimation to Map and identify KP hotspots and Implement evidence based comprehensive programs to increase HIV case finding among key and vulnerable populations.
- Implement comprehensive HIV prevention packages in line with GON Prevention guidelines including PrEP
- Mobilize KPs for the conduct of targeted mobile HIV testing services
- Conduct HIV Testing Services (HTS) including partner notification services, HIVST, risk profile-based testing services, linkage (via patient navigation) to ART for those testing positive, and other testing modalities applicable to KP case finding.
- Coordinate the promotion, provision and distribution of male and female condoms and water-based lubricants
- Mobilize eligible community members to access PrEP in the community as well as referral to established OSS sites in the implementing states, using set criteria.
- Implement community based STI screening, prevention, and Management for KP members
- Implement Community based PMTCT services and referrals
- Refer and link all newly identified HIV positive KPs to the CART and OSS.
Treatment, Care, support, and retention (2nd 90 GON Target):
- Initiate on ARVs/Link all identified positives in the community to CART/OSS.
- Provision/referrals for clinical services including STI screening, treatment and other sexual reproductive health services.
- Work with treatment facilities and establishments (One Stop Shops and/or cART teams) to initiate same day, same site commencement of Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) for positive KPs through accompanied referral and monitor adherence
- Provide Community based PMTCT services/referral to a facility
- Provide community-based TB/HIV services and referral to DOT Clinics
Viral Suppression (3RD 90% GON Target):
- Provide adherence support for HIV-positive KPs; follow up and report on retention in care as well as viral load suppression.
- Hold monthly support group meetings for identified PLHIVs on the program
- Provide community based viral load services (Sample collection, packaging, and transport) to an OSS/PCR Laboratory
Community Systems strengthening and Monitoring:
- Establishing a community advisory/support team (members will include police, Justice, SA, SASCP, KP leaders and other relevant stakeholders).
- Selected community led Organizations will work in collaboration with identified human rights lawyers and law enforcement agents who will work with community paralegals to provide human rights educations; monitor, document and report human rights violations targeting key populations.
- Engage the services of a Counsellor to provide psychosocial support to community members on Gender Based Violence (GBV), Mental Health and other related issues.
- Provide support to Community Facilitators, Outreach Workers (ORWs) and Case managers to ensure quality of data and participate in quarterly data quality assurance meetings.
- Provide regular feedback to community members and participate in engagement with stakeholders
- Mobilize KP for quarterly community town hall / internal stakeholder meetings; also harmonize issues to be discussed during these meetings
- Working with the OSS team, KP secretariat and State government to effectively deliver on all the objectives.

Funding Availability

AHNi in the NAHI project will implement program accountability systems and performance-based funding mechanism. Continuous funding will depend on satisfactory performance towards achieving the grant targets and available obligated funding by the donor.

Anticipated Period of Performance:

The anticipated period of performance for NAHI grant is up to three years from January 2, 2022 to September 30, 2023. This call for EOIs, is seeking applications covering the three years Period.

Eligibility Criteria & Selection

To respond to this EOI, an organization must meet all the following minimum eligibility criteria:

Must be locally registered as an NGO in Nigeria, whether faith-based, community-based or a national NGO.
Must have demonstrated experience in implementing services (biomedical, behavioral, and/or structural interventions related to HIV) among this KP groups: FSWs,
Must have current presence/activities in Taraba States.
Must disclose any conflict of interest: The applicant’s relationships, associations, activities, and interests should not create a conflict of interest that could prevent full impartiality in implementation of the grant activities.
Any organization that does not meet these minimum eligibility criteria will not be considered.
Must register and/or show identification with either the state or national KP secretariat.
Applications will undergo a preliminary review for completeness and responsiveness. Incomplete applications, applications judged to be unresponsive to the EOI, and applications submitted after the due date and time will be considered ineligible and will NOT be considered for an award.

Note: Interested NGOs may express their interest as a single NGO or as a “consortium.” Consortium's should select partners to complement the organizational strengths in providing a comprehensive cascade of HIV services to FSWs, in Taraba States. Consortium's are when NGOs and/or community-based organizations (CBOs) team up with other organizations based on their areas of collective strength. If other NGOs are being brought into the consortium, then the strengths of each consortium member need to be detailed in the application. The lead for the consortium should be the lead applicant and as such will assume the overall financial and technical responsibility for any funds received as well as all risk for the funds that are sub-granted to other NGOs in the consortium.

Application Closing Date

30th November, 2021.

Submission of Documents

All applications should be sent via email to: GF_Advert@ahnigeria.org

Note

Questions on this Call for EOIs may be submitted to: GF_Advert@ahnigeria.org by 5 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on November 22, 2021. AHNI will respond by November 26, 2021.
Applications must be submitted via the above email to be considered. Microsoft Word, Excel (for the budget) and Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files are all acceptable. Please do not include attachments over 15 MB.
In the subject line of the email, please indicate AHNi EOI – [insert name of your organization or consortium]”. Only one application may be submitted per organization or consortium.
Following the EOI review process AHNi may contact applicants with questions to clarify aspects of their applications. For full detail of this advert, go to AHNi website: www.ahnigeria.org

Application Instructions

Applications should be no longer than 7 pages, excluding the budget and appendices, and include the following information:
Organizational Background (2 pages maximum)
The applicant should briefly detail the following information in the organizational background section. This information can be presented in a table format if needed.
If applying as a consortium, this information should be provided for the lead applicant/lead consortium member (clearly indicated) as well as each additional member organization in the consortium.
Name of the organization.
Contact person and full address (physical, postal, telephone and email).
Type of organization (NGO, CBO, or faith-based organization). Indicate if it is a membership organization.
Current geographical coverage (states, local government areas, wards, communities/hotspots).
Organizational vision, mission, goal, and objectives.
A list of current and recently-completed HIV/AIDS projects. Please include for each project the technical and geographic areas of focus, the groups served, and numbers reached. Please emphasize any work that you have done related to KP groups and prison inmates; HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment activities; human rights; stigma and discrimination; increasing health service access; gender; and gender-based violence.
Sources and funding levels for the last three years. Indicate if the sources are private/foundation or government (Global Fund, US, Nigeria, other).
Organizational structure and staffing/membership level.

Technical Proposal (5 pages maximum):

Applicants should detail the following in the technical proposal:
- B.1 Technical Approach and Key Activities
- In this section applicants should describe in further detail the specific activities which they will conduct and the proposed approaches to ensure their success for the two-year period of January 2, 2022 to September 30, 2023. Please take note of the following when developing this section:
- While all approaches and activities proposed should fall within the parameters of the AHNI project objectives, applicants are encouraged to propose additional activities and innovative strategies not specifically mentioned in this Call for EOIs which may also address the objectives.
- Applicants are not expected to address every activity under each objective in the SOW. Rather, applicants should focus on those activities and approaches which are most appropriate or applicable considering their current reach, mission, and capacity.
- Applicants are expected to implement in Taraba states.
- Applicants are to reach all KP groups (FSW, and prison inmates) targeted by this program.
- Duri ng the EOI process, AHNi will be responsible for coordinating between applicants to ensure that all the key activities, KPs and geographies are covered.

Applicants should organize this section as follows:

Describe the population groups the Applicant’s program intends to target (FSW and prison inmates) and provide a rationale for selection.
List the proposed geographic regions with Taraba state (Local Government Authorities, wards, communities and/or hotspots) with a rationale for why they were selected. Please note that AHNI will determine the final geographic areas depending on highest burden and other factors.
Describe the overall technical approach to conducting activities, including what strategies the Applicant will utilize to ensure success. Where applicable, clearly indicate how strategies will differ based on the population or geographic region.
List and describe activities according to the objectives. (Keep in mind applicants are not required to address both objectives and all activities within a specific objective. Applicants are free to target focus on a sub-set of activities.)
List key stakeholders and service providers that the Applicant might collaborate with when conducting the activities (e.g. SACAs, clinics, prisons, etc.).
Provide the timeline for when each activity will be implemented.
Applicants are free to present the information above in narrative or table format.

Management Approach and Institutional Capabilities - Applicants should include the following in this section:

A description of the management structure that will ensure the successful implementation of the project.
Detail on how the applicant can rapidly start-up and launch their proposed activities.
A description of the staffing structure that will support these activities, including the specific duties for each staff.
Please include the CVs for senior technical staff who will work on this project as annex.

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan:

Applicants should include the following in this section:
- A description of how the applicant’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system will respond to the technical approach.
- A description of how the applicant will use M&E data for continual project improvement.
- Information on the applicant’s current capacity to collect and analyze data; and monitor and evaluate project performance.
- A list of tools that are currently used for M&E.
illustrative Budget (no page limit):
- Applicants should prepare and submit a proposed budget in accordance with their proposed interventions for the period of January 2, 2022 to September 30, 2023. Budgets should consider the anticipated available funding levels stated under Section III, Funding Availability, above.
- Applicants must submit the budget using the Excel format attached.
- Annexes (no page limit)
- The following annexes should be submitted with the application:
  - CVs for senior staff who will work on the project.
  - Certificate of Registration or Incorporation Papers
  - Aud ited Financial Statements, if available (if no recent audit has been conducted, a revenue and expense statement and balance sheet for previous financial year must be attached)

Disclaimers

Applicants will not be reimbursed for the cost incurred in preparation and submission of an application. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense.
AHNI may cancel EOI and not award.
AHNI may reject any or all responses received.
Issuance of EOI does not constitute award commitment by AHNI.
AHNI reserves the right to disqualify any offer based on applicant’s failure to follow EOI instructions
AHNI will not reimburse applicants for costs incurred in preparation and submission of an application.
AHNI reserves the right to independently negotiate with any applicant, or to issue award based on initial evaluation of offers without further discussion.
AHNI may choose to award only part of the activities in the EOI, or issue multiple awards based on the solicitation activities.
AHNI reserves the right to check an applicant’s donor references; and
AHNI reserves the right to waive minor application deficiencies that can be corrected prior to award determination to promote competition.

Additional Information

This call for EOI represents only a definition of requirements. It is merely an invitation for submission of applications and does not legally obligate AHNI to accept any of the submitted applications in whole or in part, nor is AHNI obligated to select the lowest priced application. AHNI has no contractual obligations with any applicants based upon issuance of this call for EOI. It is not an offer to contract. Only the execution of a written award shall obligate AHNI, in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in such award.
AHNI reserves the right to seek clarifications, enter discussions or negotiations, or to make award on initial submissions without discussions or negotiations of any kind. AHNI reserves the right to exclude any applicant from further consideration at any time, including after discussions or negotiations have been entered.
Applicants must provide full, accurate and complete information as required by this call for EOI and its attachments. At any time that AHNI determines that an applicant has provided false statements in the EOI, AHNI may reject the EOI without further consideration. The English language version of this call for EOI and any resulting award shall govern, and all notices pursuant to the provisions of this call for EOI and any resulting award shall be in English.
AHNI may contact applicants to confirm contact person, address, bid amount and to confirm that the bid was submitted for this call for EOI.
All information submitted in connection with this call for EOI will be valid for three (3) months from the call for EOI due date. This includes, but is not limited to, cost, pricing, terms and conditions, service levels, and all other information. If your firm is awarded a grant, all information in the call for EOI and negotiation process is contractually binding.
Applicants may withdraw EOIs by written notice via email received at any time before award. EOIs may be withdrawn in person by an applicant or his/her authorized representative if the representative’s identity is made known and the representative signs a receipt for the proposal before award.

Reserved Rights

All call for EOI responses become the property of AHNI reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any offer based on applicant failure to follow solicitation instructions
AHNI reserves the right to waive any deviations by applicants from the requirements of this call for EOI that in AHNI opinion are considered not to be material defects requiring rejection or disqualification; or where such a waiver will promote increased competition
Extend the time for submission of all call for EOI responses after notification to all applicants
Terminate or modify the call for EOI process at any time and re-issue the call for EOI to whomever AHNI deems appropriate
AHNI reserves the right to issue an award based on the initial evaluation of offers without discussion
Award only part of the activities in the call for EOI or issue multiple awards based on call for EOI activities.
AHNI reserves the right to request audited financial statements from the selected applicant(s).
At the conclusion of the evaluation process, any selected organization will be required to complete a Financial Pre-Award Assessment in order for AHNI to ascertain that the organization has the capacity to perform successfully under the terms and conditions of the proposed grant. As part of the Pre-Award Assessment process the firm will also be requested to submit their incorporated papers, certificate of registration and/or Tax ID number (TIN), audit reports and/or financial statements. Applicants may be asked to submit additional documentation to illustrate that the organization has the financial capacity to implement the grant. Site visits may be conducted by AHNI staff to evaluate the organization in these areas.

Certification of Independent Price Determination

The applicant certifies that:
- The prices in this EOI have been arrived at independently, without, for the purpose of restricting competition, any consultation, communication, or agreement with any other applicant, including but not limited to subsidiaries or other entities in which applicant has any ownership or other interests, or any competitor relating to (i) those prices, (ii) the intention to submit an offer, or (iii) the methods or factors used to calculate the prices offered
- The prices in this application have not been and will not be knowingly disclosed by the applicant, directly or indirectly, to any other applicant, including but not limited to subsidiaries or other entities in which applicant has any ownership or other interests, or any competitor before bid opening (in the case of a sealed bid solicitation) or contract award (in the case of a negotiated or competitive call for EOI) unless otherwise required by law; and
- No attempt has been made or will be made by the applicant to induce any other concern or individual to submit or not to apply for the purpose of restricting competition or influencing the competitive environment.
Each signature on the application (if any) is a certification by the signatory that the signatory:
- Is the person in the applicant’s organization responsible for determining the prices being offered in this application, and that the signatory has not participated and will not participate in any action contrary to subparagraph's (a)(1) through (a)(3) above; or
- Has been authorized, in writing, to act as agent for the principals of the applicant in certifying that those principals have not participated, and will not participate in any action contrary to subparagraph's (a)(1) through (a)(3) above;
- As an authorized agent, does certify that the principals of the applicant have not participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to subparagraph's (a)(1) through (a)(3) above;
- As an agent, has not personally participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to subparagraph's (a)(1) through (a)(3) above.
Applicant understands and agrees that:
- Violation of this certification will result in immediate disqualification from this call for EOI without recourse and may result in disqualification from future solicitations; and
- Discovery of any violation after award to the applicant will result in the termination of the award for default.