72061118R00006-E4H_Solicitation_04262018.pdf

Date Issued: April 26, 2018

Questions due date: May 4, 2018, 2:00 pm Lusaka Time

Closing Date: May 29, 2018, 2:00 pm Lusaka Time

SUBJECT: Request for Proposals (RFP) NO.: 72061118R00006

REFERENCE: USAID/ Evidence for Health Project

Dear Prospective Offeror:

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)/Zambia is seeking proposals from qualified organizations interested in providing the services described in the attached solicitation.

This procurement will be conducted under full and open competition procedures pursuant to

Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), under which any type of organization is eligible to compete.

USAID anticipates award of a single Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Type Completion-Type contract, with a period of performance of five years from the effective date of the award. The authorized geographic code for procurement of goods and services under the award will be 935. The estimated range for this procurement is between $28 to $34 million. The North American

Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this solicitation is 541990 and the small business size standard is $15 million.

USAID encourages participation to the maximum extent possible of small business concerns, small disadvantaged business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in this activity as the prime contractor or as subcontractors.

Please note that USAID intends to conduct oral discussions with offerors whose proposals will make it to the competitive range. Refer to Section L for information regarding proposal requirements and additional information on oral discussions. Failure to comply with the submission date and time may result in a submission being deemed unacceptable, such that it will not be reviewed or evaluated. Faxed proposals are not acceptable, nor will they be reviewed or evaluated. Section M states the criteria by which proposals will be evaluated. Oral explanations or instructions given before award of the Contract will not be binding.

The RFP and any amendments to this solicitation will be issued and posted on the Federal

Business Opportunities (FBO) website at https://www.fbo.gov. It is the Offeror’s responsibility to check the website periodically for official updates and amendments to the solicitation. It is https://www.fbo.gov/

USAID/Evidence for Health Project Solicitation

ACRONYM LIST

CDCS Country Development Cooperation Strategy

CHAI Clinton Health Access Initiative

CHIS Community Health Information System

CP Cooperating Partners COP Community of Practice

DHIS2 District Health Information System 2

DHIO District Health Information Officer

DHS Demographic Health Survey

DMO District Medical Officer

DQA Data Quality Assessment

E4H USAID Evidence for Health

EHT Environmental Health Technician

ELMIS Electronic Logistics Management Information System

EU European Union

GRZ Government of the Republic of Zambia

HFCA Health Facility Catchment Area

HIA Health Information Aggregation

HMIS Health Management Information System

IP Implementing Partner

IR Intermediate Result

JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency

LCMS Living Conditions Monitoring Survey

LOE Level of Effort

MACEPA Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa

MER Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research

MOH Ministry of Health

NASF National AIDS Strategic Framework

NGO Non-Governmental Organization

NMSP National Malaria Strategic Plan

NMEC Zambia National Malaria Elimination Centre

OGAC Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator

PAMO Program for the Advancement of Malaria Outcomes

PEPFAR U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Response

PHD Provincial Health Director PWS Performance Work Statement

RFP Request for Proposals

USAID/SAFE Supporting a AIDS-Free Era

SHIO Senior Health Information Officer

SIDA Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

SMEOR Surveillance, monitoring, evaluation, and operational research

UK United Kingdom

USAID United States Agency for International Development

WHO World Health Organization

PART I—THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SERVICES/PRICES

B.1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is for the Contractor to implement the USAID Evidence for

Health activity/project in accordance with Section C – Description/Statement of Work (SOW).

B.2. CONTRACT TYPE

USAID/Zambia intends to award a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Completion Type contract consistent with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 16.306(d). The contractor will provide the results and outputs in Section C and other requirements of Section F and H in accordance with the performance standards specified herein.

B.3. ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE, AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT

(a) The estimated cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, if any, is TBD. The fixed fee, if any, is TBD. The estimated cost plus fixed fee, if any, is TBD.

(b) Within the estimated cost plus fixed fee specified in paragraph (a) above, the amount currently obligated and available for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred by the

Contractor for performance hereunder is TBD.

(c) Funds obligated are anticipated to be sufficient through TBD.

B.4 CONTRACT BUDGET

(a) The Budget Summary format for the award is as follows:

Cost Category Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Total

Salaries & Wages $

Fringe Benefits $

Consultants $

Travel, Transportation, & Per Diem

Equipment & Supplies $

Subcontracts $

Other Direct Costs $

Indirect Costs $

Fixed Fee $

Total Estimated

Cost Plus Fixed

Fee

(b) The inclusion of any costs in the above cost categories does not obviate the requirement for prior approval by the contracting officer of cost items designated as requiring prior approval by any of the terms and conditions of this contract, including the applicable cost principles (see FAR52.216-07, “Allowable Cost and Payment”); nor does it constitute a determination of allowability by the contracting officer of any item of cost, unless specifically stated elsewhere in this contract. Also, these amounts may not be adjusted without a written modification signed by the contracting officer. The contractor will not bill any amounts against this contract in excess of the amounts specified for each line item.

(c) The contractor agrees to furnish data that the contracting officer may request on costs expended or accrued under this contract in support of the budget information provided herein.

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS

(a) Pending the establishment of a revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, allowable indirect costs shall be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases pursuant to the contractor’s current executed Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement:

Prime:

Description Rate Base Type Period

% 1/ 1/ 1/

1/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

Subcontractor:

Description Rate Base Type Period

% 1/ 1/ 1/

1/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

NOTE:

(1) Contractors are allowed to recoup indirect costs (OH, G&A, etc.) as other direct costs if it is part of the contractor’s usual accounting procedures, consistent with FAR

31 and the contractor’s NICRA.

(2) Major subcontractors are subcontractors whose proposed costs exceed 20% of the

Offeror’s proposed total cost or perform a key element of the SOW.

(b) The contractor will make no change in its established method of classifying or allocating indirect costs without the prior written approval of the contracting officer.

B.6 COST REIMBURSEMENT

The U.S dollar costs allowable will be limited to reasonable, allocable and necessary costs determined in accordance with FAR 31. Allowable costs will be limited to reasonable, allocable and necessary costs determined in accordance with FAR clause 52.216-7 Allowable Cost and

Payment, FAR clause 52.216-8 Fixed Fee, and AIDAR clause 752.7003, Documentation for

Payment.

B.7 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

The Government will pay the Contractor for performing this contract the fixed fee specified in

Section B.3. The payment of fee will be in accordance with the following fee schedule which is tied to the deliverable schedule as outlined in Section F and provided below:

The following is an illustrative table which will be filled in at time of award:

% of Fixed Fee

Deliverable Yr. 1 Yr. 2 Yr. 3 Yr. 4 Yr. 5 Total

All Key Personnel Furnished 2% 1% 1% 1% 5%

Approved Annual Work-plan 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 10%

DHIS platform strengthened Task 1.3.1

(Objective 1)

6% 6% 6% 18%

HMIS Data Use (Objective 1) 5% 10% 5% 5% 5% 30%

Research institution capacity development plans implemented

Task 2.1.2 (Objective 2)

6% 3% 3% 3% 15%

Expand the Evidence Base for Health

Programming (Objective 3)

3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 15%

Periodic Progress Reports

Annual Progress Reports 1% 1% 1% 1% 4%

Other Reports

Final Activity Report 3% 3%

Total Fixed Fee 29% 19% 14% 14% 24% 100%

Upon successful achievement of the deliverable, the Contractor will provide evidence of its achievement to the Contracting Officer’s Representative and the Contracting Officer. Upon acceptance by USAID and issuance of a written approval by the Contracting Officer, the

Contractor will submit an invoice for the amount associated with the fee.

B.8. MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT

This contract is considered non-severable, and is therefore a multi-year contract as defined in

FAR 17.103. Therefore, this contract is subject to the requirements of FAR 17.106.

Cancellation Dates:

Contract Year Date Amount in %/$

Contract Year 2 TBD 20% or $TBD

Contract Year 3 TBD 14% or $TBD

Contract Year 4 TBD 8% or $TBD

Contract Year 5 TBD 2% or $TBD

Cancellation Ceiling:

This is a CPFF completion-type contract where the contractor is authorized to be reimbursed for all costs which are allowable in accordance with FAR 52.216-7, “Allowable Costs and

Payment.” Therefore, the contractor will not incur any costs which would have been amortized over the life of the contract should the contract be cancelled in accordance with FAR 52.217-2.

Therefore, the cancellation ceiling for each cancellation date is indicated above.

B.9. LABOR

(a) Compensation of personnel under this contract or any resulting subcontracting must be in accordance with AIDAR 752.7007 Personnel compensation (July 2007) , and will be based upon a combination of factors including the Mission’s Local Compensation Plan for the professional category being negotiated and consideration of the individual's education, work experience and recent relevant salary history. Unless otherwise authorized by the

Mission Director or AA having programmatic responsibility, the compensation for CCN and TCN labor must not exceed the Missions’ Local Compensation Plan and must be paid in the currency of the cooperating country.

(b) All locally hired national personnel and other non-U.S. expatriates must be paid in accordance with AIDAR 722.170(a). Third Country Nationals (TCNs) and Cooperating

Country Nationals (CCNs) who are working in the United States or are legal residents of the United States at the time they are hired for a contract, must be extended benefits, and be subject to restrictions on the same basis as U.S. citizens who work in the United States.

(c) The work day and work policies and method of accounting for paid absences including holidays for the contractor and major subcontractors is set forth the contractors policies and procedures which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 Activity Title

The activity title is USAID Evidence for Health.

C.2 Overview

USAID/Zambia intends to 1) Strengthen the national Health Management Information System

(HMIS) owned and managed by the Government of Zambia’s (GRZ) Ministry of Health (MOH),

2) Improve monitoring, evaluation, and research capacities within key government and non-governmental institutions, and 3) Expand the evidence base for existing approaches to health programming in malaria, nutrition, family planning, maternal and child health, and HIV. The activity will support strategic objectives of USAID, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS

Relief (PEPFAR), and the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).

C.3 Success

Successful implementation will result in a strengthened HMIS system (data collection, analysis, and data use) with policies, and practices at the national level and impact at all levels of project implementation, from the national to the community level.

C.4 Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers quality health information and research to be one of six fundamental building blocks to comprehensive and successful health systems. To meet WHO standards, a quality HMIS ensures the production, analysis, dissemination and use of reliable and timely information of health determinants, health systems performance, and health status. Additionally, institutions that generate, disseminate, and manage health data and research play an important role in building the evidence base for data-driven programming.

USAID Evidence for Health will strengthen overall monitoring, evaluation, and research in

Zambia’s health sector by addressing the following key challenges in HMIS, health research capacity, and the evidence base in health.

The HMIS in Zambia is made up of several electronic data collection and analysis systems that supply data and information for programmatic planning. The District Health Information System

2 (DHIS2) is the backbone of HMIS and gathers aggregate data from health facilities nationwide to provide overarching information on services delivered at the facility, district, provincial and national levels. Other components of the HMIS system include the electronic logistics management system (eLMIS), SmartCare (an electronic medical record system), Human

Resources Information System (HRIS), Integrated Financial Management Information System

(IFMIS), and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Response (IDSR).

C.5 Relationship to Mission Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS)

USAID Evidence for Health will contribute to the achievement of the USAID/Zambia CDCS

2011-2018 by directly strengthening essential health systems as part of Sub-Intermediate Result

(IR) 3.2.2 “Health Systems and Accountability Strengthened.” It will also improve MOH capacity to measure high quality integrated health services (Sub-IR 3.2.1 “Health Service Delivery

Improved”) and utilization of community-based health services (Sub-IR 3.2.3 “Community

Health Practices Improved.”)

C.6 Results Framework

The below Results Framework provides an overall description of the goal, objectives, results, and tasks must be achieved by USAID Evidence for Health below (note that Objective 1 is of highest priority):

Goal: Strengthened national health data and information for improved evidence-based decision making and planning in the Zambian health sector

Objective 1:

High quality, timely, and accessible

HMIS data at the national, provincial, district, facility, and community levels

Objective 2:

Improved monitoring, evaluation, and research capacities within government and key non-government research institutions to support accountability and management for results in the health sector

Objective 3:

Expanded evidence base for improving existing approaches to health programming in malaria, nutrition, family planning, maternal and child health, and HIV

Task 1.1.2: MOH HMIS Strategy developed and adopted

Task 1.1.1: Rapid Assessment of HMIS conducted

Task 2.1.1: Capacity assessments of select research institutions completed

Task 2.1.2: Capacity development plans of select research institutions created and implemented

Task 3.1.1: Operations research, special studies, assessments, and big data analyses conducted or commissioned

Task 3.1.2: USAID/Zambia Health Office and Implementing Partner M&E capacity strengthened

Result 1.1:

Improved HMIS data collection, analysis, dissemination, and use policies and standards of practice developed and implemented at all levels of the health system

Result 2.1:

Capacity of selected research institutions improved

Result 3.1:

Evidence base for health programming generated by USAID implementing partners improved

Task 1.1.3: HMIS community of practice established and maintained

Result 1.2:

Strengthened capacity of health sector staff at the provincial, district, and facility levels to meet the HMIS data collection, analysis, and use standards established by the MOH

Task 1.2.1: Pre-service training curricula on health information data collection developed and adopted

Task 1.2.2: Health sector staff capacity for data collection, analysis, and use built

Result 1.3:

Improved HMIS systems for analyzing and aggregating health data for improved data use at the national, provincial, district, facility, and community levels

Task 1.3.1: HMIS online data platform strengthened

Task 1.3.2: Surveillance and reporting for Malaria enhanced

Task 3.1.3: USAID/Zambia Health Office

Monitoring and Evaluation Division supported

Key Deliverables –

Supporting development of MOH Products

· Master facility list updated and maintained

(including private facilities)

· Standards for interoperable data exchange

· SOPs for MOH staff

· Harmonized and Rationalized indicators

· HIA Form maintenance

· GIS catchment data

Result 3.2:

Research, dissemination, and publication opportunities for Zambian researchers expanded

Task 3.2.1: Biannual national health research symposium facilitated

Task 3.2.2: Research studies generated by Junior Zambian Health researchers to build the evidence base

Task 2.1.3: Research institutions supported through technical assistance, secondments, and consultants

Task 1.3.3: Dashboards and other supplementary tools developed

Task 1.3.4: Interoperability of HMIS strengthened

C.7 Key Stakeholders

The GRZ Seventh National Development Plan and MOH National Health Strategic Plan highlight the importance of timely and accurate data to measure sector achievements. The

MOH e-Health Strategy operationalizes these plans and outlines the structural needs for electronic health systems and the necessity of building interoperability between existing systems. HMIS is a vital component to health sector data collection at all levels, and the contractor will support the MOH vision as outlined in these and other key guiding documents.

The National AIDS Strategic Framework (NASF) and the National Malaria Strategic Plan

(NMSP) note the need to strengthen information systems for better quality and timely reporting of infections through establishing a robust surveillance, monitoring and evaluation

(SM&E) framework, which will allow for greater HIV epidemic control and malaria elimination.

Donor-funded HMIS activities must be deeply and fundamentally coordinated across the GRZ and other donors. The contractor will work hand-in-hand with GRZ and donor activities funded by the USG, the EU, SIDA, JICA, MACEPA, CHAI, and others to ensure the efficient and effective use of donor resources and the interoperability of HMIS electronic systems. The

Contractor must be strategically positioned to meet the needs of GRZ, USAID, PEPFAR, and other relevant partners who support strengthened national health data systems.

The following list provides key stakeholders and their respective roles and responsibilities with regard to the USAID Evidence for Health activity.

Stakeholder Role

Ministry of Health

(MOH)

The MOH holds the mandate for policy formation and guidance;

monitoring and evaluation; donor coordination; provision of technical guidance to the local authority (as part of the devolution of Zambia’s health system); provision of standards in construction and renovation of health infrastructure and in-service training of health workers.

While the contractor is ultimately responsible to USAID, the activity will work closely with MOH personnel at multiple levels. The MOH will play the central leadership role in the technical direction of the strengthening of the national HMIS system.

MOH Directorate of

Policy and Planning

MOH counterpart to this activity

MOH Provincial

Health Offices

MOH counterpart to this activity

MOH District

Health Offices

MOH counterpart to this activity

MOH Health

Facilities

MOH counterpart to this activity

NGOs working at These include organizations providing support to data collection and the national, provincial, district, and facility level use at various levels of the MOH structure.

Cooperating

Partners

These include donors providing funding to support the Zambian national HMIS system under pooled funds or common arrangements as well as those providing independent financial support aligned with

GRZ policy and vision.

Governmental and

Non-Governmental

Research

Institutions

These institutions may be public, private, and/or affiliated with

Zambian universities. Institutions will be selected by the contractor to receive organizational support to strengthen Zambian research.

C.8 Guiding Principles

National health data strengthening is critically reliant on coordination across the full spectrum of stakeholders, and thus this award will follow five guiding principles to position it for success:

1) Support a set of strategic priorities that align with the objectives and priorities of the

Seventh National Development Plan, the National Health Strategic Plan and relevant MOH and GRZ policies on research, e-Health systems and e-Governance.

2) Support the institutionalization of performance-based management and reporting through the utilization of HMIS data for performance monitoring at all levels.

3) Place strong emphasis on coordination of efforts and activities across the MOH, CPs, and health implementers for greater efficiency and continuity of investments.

4) Include a balance of national-level strategic support and implementation support at the provincial, district, facility, and community level to capitalize on existing opportunities and ongoing activities of other partners.

5) Proactively draw on the good practice and success from other countries as a regular practice through the life of the award.

C.9 Scope

This activity will have strong national-level presence to support the achievement of the three objectives while also demonstrating impact at selected provincial-, district-, facility-, and community-levels.

Copperbelt Lusaka Northwestern Eastern

Provincial X X X X

District X X X X

Facility NA X X X

Community NA NA NA X (malaria-specific)

While the Contractor will prioritize facilities within each district that are in greatest need of assistance, and provide direct support to selected facilities that encompass 75 percent of key service delivery (ART, RMNCH, and malaria) in Lusaka, Northwestern, and Eastern provinces to reach adequate coverage of facility support. The geographic focus was prioritized based upon the presence of other key donors and implementing partners, thus coordination with other implementing partners at these levels is critical to efficient and effective implementation.

OBJECTIVE 1: HIGH QUALITY, TIMELY, AND ACCESSIBLE HMIS DATA

Improve the quality, timeliness, and accessibility of HMIS data at the national, provincial, district, facility, and community levels.

RESULT 1.1: Improved HMIS data collection, analysis, dissemination, and use policies and standards of practice developed and implemented at all levels of the health system.

TASK 1.1.1 Rapid Assessment of HMIS

Conduct a rapid assessment of the HMIS, including key issues and challenges in the implementation of the DHIS2 and other relevant systems that builds upon previous HMIS assessments. The assessment will address the following: data collection, completeness, analysis, and use across all levels. The Contractor will develop actionable, impactful recommendations and support the MOH in adopting the resulting recommendations. To be completed in partnership with the MOH Directorate of Policy and Planning.

TASK 1.1.2 Ministry of Health HMIS Strategy

Facilitate the development of an actionable and Ministry-owned HMIS Strategy that builds off previously conducted assessments (refer to attachments J.2, J.3, J.4 and J.5) and defines the strategic direction, priorities, action plan, associated budget, monitoring and evaluation plan, and roles and responsibilities of key personnel and organizations for HMIS implementation. This

Ministry-wide HMIS Strategy will align with the National Health Strategic Plan and the eHealth

Strategy. To be completed in partnership with the MOH Directorate of Policy and Planning and other relevant departments.

TASK 1.1.3 HMIS Community of Practice

Establish a community of practice of relevant Cooperating Partners to improve coordination of donor support and donor engagement with the GRZ with regard to HMIS. The community of practice will meet regularly (estimated monthly) in consultation with USAID to ensure that donor support to HMIS is coordinated, collaborative, and executed efficiently.

TASK 1.1.4 National Level HMIS Capacity

Improve capacity of key staff across directorates of the MOH and other critical GRZ entities such as NMEC to understand, analyze, and use HMIS data. The capacity building support provided will be based on the results of the rapid assessment (task 1.1.1) as well as from discussions with targeted directorates.

RESULT 1.2: Strengthened capacity of health sector staff at the provincial, district, and facility levels to meet the HMIS data collection, analysis, and use standards established by the MOH.

TASK 1.2.1 Pre-Service Training Curriculum

Develop a pre-service training curriculum on health information data collection for facility-level health professionals and support the adoption and roll-out of the curriculum through the delivery of a ‘training the trainers’ module and to ensure sufficient academic teaching staff are able to deliver the HMIS module to student health professionals. To be completed in partnership with the National Council of Medicine, National Nursing Council, Council for the

Professions Allied to Medicine, Schools of Medicine, and other relevant professional accrediting bodies for health professionals.

TASK 1.2.2 Health Sector Staff Capacity

Through provision of sustained, on-the-job mentorship, build capacity of current MOH staff in

HMIS management including data collection, analysis, and use. The Contractor will utilize an

MOH-standardized approach and support tools and work will be done in partnership with

MOH staff at the national, provincial, district, and facility levels and other donor-funded implementing partners working at these levels.

Targeted staff will include the following:

Copperbelt Lusaka Northwestern Eastern

Provincial PHIOs, PHDs PHIOs, PHDs PHIOs, PHDs PHIOs, PHDs

District DHIOs, EHTs, DMOs

DHIOs, EHTs, DMOs

DHIOs, EHTs, DMOs

DHIOs, EHTs, DMOs

Facility DECs, clinicians working with

HIA process

DECs, clinicians working with

HIA process

DECs, clinicians working with

HIA process

DECs, clinicians working with

HIA process

Community N/A N/A N/A Malaria CHIS*

*may change

RESULT 1.3: Improved HMIS systems for analyzing and aggregating health data for improved data use at the national, provincial, district, facility, and community levels

TASK 1.3.1 HMIS data platform strengthened

Ensure the DHIS2 online platform is fully functioning across the spectrum, from data generation at the community and facility level up through the district, province, and central levels. Platform strengthening will include routine system upgrades and maintenance including assisting the

MOH with the standardization of collection, routine cleaning of indicators within the DHIS2 platform, and linking HMIS data to vital statistics and population estimates in DHIS2. This work will include any GRZ relevant staff involved in MOH HMIS activities.

TASK 1.3.2 Enhanced Surveillance and Reporting for Malaria As the GRZ and partners implement Zambia's National Strategy for Malaria Elimination, the country will depend on reliable data on malaria case incidence at national, provincial, district, and health facility catchment area levels. The Contractor will provide technical assistance under the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) to strengthen national-level malaria monitoring and evaluation activities. This will include HMIS strengthening for improved malaria data capture and timely, user-friendly malaria data analysis; and providing technical assistance to enhance standardization and reporting of national, facility, and community-level data. Complementary activities will include coordinating at the national-level with malaria control partners such as PATH, Global Fund, CHAZ, etc. for their malaria M&E activities, supporting national M&E technical working group meetings. Depending on future PMI funding and local needs for technical assistance, the Contractor may also be required to strengthen malaria surveillance and reporting at the sub-national level. For example, the Contractor may be required by PMI to support reactive case detection and community surveillance in selected districts which have been targeted for malaria elimination.

TASK 1.3.3 Dashboards and Other Supplementary Tools developed

Develop and roll-out custom dashboards and other supplementary tools to routinely pull and visualize data from the HMIS and the CHIS (task 1.3.2) for use by health professionals at the national, provincial, district, and facility-level. The tools developed will simplify, synthesize, and aggregate HMIS data for expanded use by health practitioners and clinicians. Tools will include quarterly reports of malaria indicators and other key programmatic indicators at the national, provincial, district, and sub-district levels. No additional software will be developed, and dashboards and tools will be open source.

TASK 1.3.4 Interoperability of HMIS strengthened

Provide technical assistance to support the MOH strategy to interoperate DHIS2 with other existing stand-alone component systems of HMIS, in line with existing priorities of the e-Health

Strategy, and other guiding frameworks such as SMART Zambia. Support MOH in defining standards of interoperability and data exchange of the various systems that contribute to the six component pillars of the health sector.

OBJECTIVE 2: CAPACITATED ZAMBIAN RESEARCH COMMUNITY

Improve monitoring, evaluation, and research (MER) capacities within government partners and key non-governmental research institutions to support accountability and management for results in the health sector.

RESULT 2.1: Capacity of selected research institutions improved

TASK 2.1.1 Research Institutions Capacity Assessments

Conduct a rapid qualitative assessment of selected research institutions and selected research departments of the MOH on the gaps in capacity across the research design, execution, and publication processes. Capacity assessments must be completed in partnership with MOH

Directorate of Public Health, MOH Research Unit, and Zambian research institutions such as the Central Statistics Office, University of Zambia, and private universities in Zambia.

TASK 2.1.2 Research Institutions Capacity Development Plans

Create and implement capacity development plans in selected research institutions, based upon findings from Task 2.1.1. To be completed in partnership with MOH Directorate of Public

Health, MOH Research Unit, and Zambian research institutions such as the Central Statistics

Office, University of Zambia, and private Universities in Zambia.

TASK 2.1.3 Zambian Research Institutions Support

Build capacity at the institutional level to improve recruitment, productivity, and perform management of human resources and research activities at select Zambian research institutions.

Types of support provided will include technical assistance and consultant support.

OBJECTIVE 3: EXPANDING THE EVIDENCE BASE FOR HEALTH

Expanded evidence base for improving existing approaches to health programming in HIV, nutrition, family planning, maternal and child health, and malaria.

RESULT 3.1: Evidence base for health programming generated by USAID implementing partners improved

TASK 3.1.1 Operations Research, Special Studies, Assessments, and Big Data Analyses

Conduct or commission operations research, special studies, and assessments of technical areas and/or health systems for full investigation of specific topics based on the interests of USAID.

The disseminated findings of these tasks will inform USAID’s understanding of social phenomena, innovations in health as they pertain to activity implementation, and specific barriers to desired results. The work will be structured as standard performance or impact evaluations, special studies connecting large datasets (e.g., LCMS, DHS, Census, DHIS, and other sources) using big data analysis, economic analyses, qualitative assessments, or other social science methods. The studies will focus on specific health areas and topics to be determined by USAID. USAID Evidence for Health will conduct these studies and widely disseminate findings.

TASK 3.1.2 USAID/Zambia Health Office and Implementing Partner M&E Capacity

Provide technical assistance to the USAID/Zambia Health Office and implementing partners in key monitoring, evaluation, and research practices. The use of activity-level economic data to improve activity implementation and overall results is an area that requires significant capacitation among both USAID staff and implementing partners, and assistance will include economic data used to calculate unit expenditures for results. Provide technical assistance to implementing partners in the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation plans, performance monitoring plans, and implementing partner-led studies, research, and assessments.

TASK 3.1.3 USAID/Zambia Health Office Monitoring and Evaluation Division Support

Execute discrete, short-term (quarterly) M&E activities to support the goals and objectives of the USAID/Zambia Health Office and Monitoring and Evaluation Division such as 1) Routine data quality assessments (DQAs) at the facility and district levels on key health indicators; 2)

Support the execution of Site Improvement through Monitoring System (SIMS) visits; and/or 3)

Analysis of USAID/Zambia activity monitoring and evaluation data.

RESULT 3.2: Research and publication opportunities for Zambian researchers expanded

TASK 3.2.1 Biannual National Health Research Symposium

Facilitate an MOH-led biannual national health research symposium to promote Zambian-led health research and Zambian practitioners and increase opportunities for dissemination of research and M&E findings. The symposium will create visibility and promote the utilization of current research evidence and findings among health sector policy makers, program leads, senior managers, decision makers, and practitioners. To be completed in partnership with the MOH Directorate of Public Health Research Unit and Zambian Research Community.

TASK 3.2.2 Research Studies Generated by Junior Zambian Health Researchers to Build the

Evidence Base

Strengthen the evidence base in malaria, nutrition, family planning, maternal and child health and

HIV through the procurement of relevant, high-quality research studies produced by junior

Zambia researchers.

C.10 Sustainability

Ultimately, the Zambian government, USAID and cooperating partners want to see local actors strengthened for better coordination, planning, project implementation, accountability, and learning in the GRZ line ministries responsible for health. This will ensure better-trained and better-resourced field staff within the health sector that are able to improve the quality, timeliness, accessibility, and use of health data.

The sustainability of this activity will be demonstrated through positive change in the 1) quality, timeliness, accessibility, and use of national, provincial, district, facility, and community data, 2) monitoring, evaluation, and research capacities, and quantity and quality of research generated and published by Zambian researchers and research institutions, and 3) quantity and quality of operations research studies, special studies, and evaluations completed by the contractor to expand the evidence base for future health programming (HIV, malaria, nutrition, family planning, and maternal and child health.)

C.11 Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptive Management

The USAID Evidence for Health activity will generate knowledge and learning by participating in learning events such as portfolio reviews and stocktaking exercises. Common practices for achieving the tenets of collaboration, learning, and adaptive management include but are not limited to:

Strategic internal and external collaboration:

● Involvement and participation in strategic information technical working groups, such as the M&E technical working group coordinated by the Ministry of Health

● Engage and collaborate with other US government funded activities providing support or capacity building services to the National HMIS

● Participate in data harmonization events arranged by USAID or by the Ministry of

Health or other government entities.

Continuous Learning:

● Participate in portfolio reviews as required

● Participate in learning summits, partner meetings, meetings with government, and/or other donors, integrated site visits, etc.

Adaptive Management:

● Based on learning generated from various processes including evaluations and assessments, activity implementation should adapt to extant context within the confines of contractual agreement and/or instructions received from USAID Washington.

Additional information on collaboration, learning, and adaptive management can be found in

Attachment J.1. References.

C.12 Gender Considerations

Gender refers to the economic, social, political, and cultural attributes and opportunities associated with being male or female. A gender perspective is a theoretical and methodological approach that permits us to recognize and analyze identities, viewpoints, and relations. In many contexts, women, men, girls, and boys have different needs and face different social, economic, and cultural barriers that can affect their ability to access and benefit from services and programs equitably.

Collecting and analyzing sex-disaggregated data is an important part of every gender analysis.

Without sex-disaggregated data, vital information is missed about the existing differences and gaps between girls, boys, women, and men, and important opportunities to adapt programs to meet their unique needs to improve outcomes can be overlooked. It is critical for HMIS to accurately disaggregate data by sex and develop gender-sensitive indicators, to view men’s and women’s access to, utilization of, and retention in services separately and to identify and address any issues one group is facing which causes them to be less likely to access or benefit from services.

Therefore, for all of its approaches including capacity-building efforts for GRZ entities and research institutions, gender considerations will be made to ensure the perspectives of women, men, girls, and boys are considered when increasing the evidence base for health in Zambia.

C.13 Environmental Compliance

(a) Categorical Exclusions

A categorical exclusion from further environmental examination are recommended for this award and for the following classes of activities except to the extent that the activities directly affect the environment (such as construction of facilities). According to the

Integrated Health IEE, Categorical Exclusions are recommended for:

i. Activities involving education, training, technical assistance or training programs;

ii. Activities involving controlled experimentation exclusively for the purpose of research and field evaluation and carefully monitored;

iii. Activities involving analyses, studies, academic or research workshops and meetings;

iv. Activities involving document and information transfers; and

v. Studies, projects or programs intended to develop the capability of recipient countries and organizations to engage in development planning.

However, there are qualifiers associated with these categorical exclusions, e.g., if any topic associated with these activities is one that inherently affects the environment, such as training in

HIV/AIDS testing that involves use and disposal of medical waste, or training related to malaria prevention then such training will include information on how to minimize and/or mitigate these impacts. The contractor will be subject to the terms and condition for Environmental

Compliance as defined in Section H.

(b) Climate change considerations

The main activities proposed under this award (studies, capacity building) are at low climate risk to climate change.

[END OF SECTION C]

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1. MARKING

AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING. (JAN 1993) provides:

(a) It is USAID policy that USAID-financed commodities and shipping containers, and project construction sites and other project locations be suitably marked with the USAID emblem. Shipping containers are also to be marked with the last five digits of the USAID financing document number. As a general rule, marking is not required for raw materials shipped in bulk (such as coal, grain, etc.), or for semi-finished products which are not packaged.

(b) Specific guidance on marking requirements must be obtained prior to procurement of commodities to be shipped, and as early as possible for project construction sites and other project locations. This guidance will be provided through the Contracting Officer’s

Representative (COR) indicated on this contract, or by the Mission Director in the

Cooperating Country to which commodities are being shipped, or in which the project site is located.

(c) Authority to waive marking requirements is vested with the Regional Assistant

Administrators, and with Mission Directors.

(d) A copy of any specific marking instructions or waivers from marking requirements is to be sent to the Contracting Officer; the original must be retained by the Contractor.

D.2. BRANDING AND MARKING POLICY

The contractor must comply with the requirements of the policy directives and required procedures outlined in USAID Automated Directive System (ADS) 320.3.2 “Branding and

Marking in USAID Direct Contracting” (version from January 2, 2015) at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/320.pdf; and USAID "Graphic

Standards Manual" available at www.usaid.gov/branding, or any successor branding policy.

USAID policy is to require exclusive branding and marking in USAID direct acquisitions.

“Exclusive Branding” means that the project is positioned as USAID’s, as showcased by the project name (e.g., the USAID Evidence for Health Project). “Exclusive marking” means contractors may only mark USAID-funded programs, projects, activities, public communications, and commodities with the USAID Standard Graphic Identity and, where applicable, the host-country government or ministry symbol or logo.

Prime and sub-contractors corporate identities or logos must not be used on USAID-funded program and communications materials in accordance with USAID policy. Under some circumstances, co-branding may apply, in which case USAID will provide guidance prior to acceptance of the Branding and Marking Plan.

D.3. BRANDING STRATEGY

(a) This activity will be branded and marked in accordance with Automated Directives System

(ADS) 320 requirements. The contractor must prepare a Branding Implementation Plan

(BIP) and Marking Plan (MP) to address the Branding Strategy. This is to ensure that the successful contractor’s Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan under this contract https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/320.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/320.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/320.pdf http://www.usaid.gov/branding are in compliance with the “USAID Graphics Standard Manual” available at http://www.usaid.gov/branding and any successor branding policy.

(b) The Contractor must develop a Branding Implementation and Marking Plan (BIMP) for the contract to describe how program deliverables will be branded. The BIMP shall implement

USAID’s branding strategy as follows:

Project Name: “USAID Evidence for Health”

Branding: The branding shall incorporate the message that the assistance is “From the

American People and by USAID.”

Level of Visibility: High. USAID identity must be prominently displayed in the following:

commodities or equipment, printed, audio, or electronic public communications;

studies, reports, publications, websites, and all promotional and informational products;

and at all events.

Organizations to be acknowledged: With concurrence from the USAID/Zambia’s

Development, Outreach, and Communications publications and other equipment may be co-branded with the Zambian Government’s logo.

The Marking Plan may include requests for exceptions to marking requirements for programmatic reasons, to be approved by the Contracting Officer. Waivers, as defined by ADS

320, may be necessary for compelling political, safety or security concerns, or if the marking will have an adverse effect in the host country. Marking and attribution for physical structures may need to be visible as soon as work commences. Contract deliverables to be marked with the

USAID identity must follow design guidance for color, type, and layout in the Graphic Standards

Manual, available at www.usaid.gov/branding, and all successor branding policies (if any).

D.4. BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION AND MARKING PLAN

The branding and marking plan submitted by the apparent successful offeror will be incorporated to the contract award.

D.5. SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE OUTREACH

Social media is often part of an integrated communications campaign. It should always be used to communicate directly with stakeholders or beneficiaries in host countries. It should never be used to promote a program or contractor. Social media channels may be approved as part of a project’s marking plan in consultation with the CO, COR, and DOC team. To avoid confusion with official USAID social media channels, the USAID logo should not be used as a profile picture. A photo reflective of the project should be used as a profile picture.

A USAID-branded photo should be displayed as the banner photo, and acknowledgement of

USAID support should appear in the “Profile” or “About” section. For more information, please refer to the USAID Graphic Standards Manual and Partner Co-Branding Guide.

[END OF SECTION D]

http://www.usaid.gov/branding

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1. NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE

The following contract clauses pertinent to this section are hereby incorporated by reference

(by Citation Number, Title, and Date) in accordance with the clause at FAR "52.252-2

CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE" in Section I of this contract. Full text of the

FAR clauses is available at https://www.acquisition.gov/far/ and full text of the AIDAR clauses is available at http://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar .

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (48 CFR Chapter 1)

NUMBER TITLE DATE

52.246-5 Inspection of Services—Cost-Reimbursement APR 1984

E.2. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

USAID inspection and acceptance of services, reports and other required deliverables or outputs shall take place at:

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Subdivision 694/Stand 100 Ibex Hill Road

PO Box 320373

Lusaka, Zambia – 10101 or at any other location where the services are performed and reports and deliverables or outputs are produced or submitted. The Contracting Officer, unless delegated to the

Contracting Officer Representative (COR) has the authority to inspect and accept all services, reports and required deliverables or outputs.

E.3. RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL

In accordance with the clauses of this contract entitled “Inspection of Services – Cost

Reimbursement” (FAR 52.246-5), inspection of results or other deliverables required by the contract will be made by the cognizant COR. Acceptance of goods/services and reports or other deliverables by the cognizant COR must form the basis for payments to the contractor, and will form the basis of the contractor’s permanent performance record with regard to this contract.

[END OF SECTION E]

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/ http://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1. NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE

The following contract clauses pertinent to this section are hereby incorporated by reference

(by Citation Number, Title, and Date) in accordance with the clause at FAR "52.252-2

CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE" in Section I of this contract. Full text of the

FAR clauses is available at https://www.acquisition.gov/far/ and full text of the AIDAR clauses is available at http://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar.

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (48 CFR CHAPTER 1)

NUMBER TITLE DATE

52.242-15 Stop-Work Order AUG 1989

52.242-15 Stop-Work Order Alternate I APR 1984

F.2. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The place of performance for this award is Zambia

F.3. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for this contract is five (5) years from the effective date of this contract.

F.4. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

USAID will evaluate the Contractor’s performance in accordance with FAR 42.15, corresponding USAID procedures, and the Contractor’s overall performance towards achievement of objectives in Section C, adherence to the annual work plan, reporting against its

Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP), and quality of reports described in

Section F below. USAID will evaluate the Contractor’s performance annually for the period of the contract in accordance with the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System

(CPARS). The Contracting Officer (CO) and the COR will jointly conduct the evaluation of the

Contractor’s overall performance. This evaluation will form the basis of the Contractor’s permanent performance record under this contract.

F.5. KEY PERSONNEL

a) The contractor must furnish the following individuals deemed key personnel for the performance of this contract:

No Position Name of Individual

1 Chief of Party TBD

2 Senior HMIS Advisor TBD

3 Senior Advisor Knowledge Management, Data

Demand and Use (KM/DDU)

TBD

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/ http://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar

4 Senior Advisor Research and Evaluation TBD

b) The key personnel identified above are considered essential to the work being performed under this contract.

c) The failure to provide the key personnel designated above…