Attachment J.9 Strategic Information Task Order - SOW.doc

This is a draft Task Order Scope of Work, and it is not to be used for bidding Purposes. TO Value: Between $18,000,000 to $23,000,0000, Duration: Five Years

SECTION C - STATEMENT OF WORK

Task Order (TO) Statement of Work: Strategic Information (SI) Support for the USAID Office of Health and HIV (OHH) and Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Program

ACTIVITY PURPOSE

The purpose of this task order is to provide SI services to OHH and the OVC program, which is managed by the Education, Youth, and Child Development (EYCD) office. Specifically, the TO will provide data and other evidence to support OHH and OVC program planning, monitoring, reporting for improved program management. This includes support for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), including both OHH and OVC components, as well as support for non-PEPFAR health programs managed by OHH. The activity is primarily focused on USG requirements for monitoring and reporting on PEPFAR, OVC, and non-PEPFAR health programs and activities. However, given the unique needs of the OVC program for drawing the required data from a still-evolving Child Wellbeing (CWB) Management Information System (MIS), the activity will also support the CWBMIS and related information systems such as the OVC MIS at the Ministry of Gender, Labor, and Social Development (MGLSD).

BACKGROUND

Uganda is a priority country across several global health initiatives, including PEPFAR, the USAID Global TB Strategy (2023-2030), the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), Family Planning 2020, and Preventing Child and Maternal Deaths. These initiatives are managed by OHH through a complex and highly integrated portfolio that includes PEPFAR; TB; malaria; polio; immunization; family planning; maternal, neonatal, and child health; nutrition; water, sanitation, and hygiene; community health; emerging pandemic threats and global health security (GHS); health systems strengthening (HSS); and SI. These all have highly prescribed planning, data collection, extraction, cleaning, analysis, visualization, and reporting requirements.

For PEPFAR, the requirements include providing the evidence base to support the PEPFAR Country Operational Plan (COP), including inputs to a complex target-setting tool; quarterly cleaning of data extracted from national and district level health information systems; quarterly PEPFAR Oversight Accountability and Response Team reviews; quarterly HIV and TB performance reviews with IPs based on extensive data analysis and reporting; monthly HIV/AIDS high frequency reporting (HFR) and quarterly reporting on custom HIV/AIDS indicators to the USAID/Washington Office of HIV and AIDS (OHA); highly technical field monitoring visits to health facilities to review data quality, including Site Improvement Through Monitoring System (SIMS) visits; and quarterly and annual reporting to the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator. Frequent and ad hoc data analysis and visualizations are required to support OHH participation in interagency technical working groups (Prevention, Care and Treatment, Supply Chain, HIV-TB, Human Resources for Health, OVC, and SI), as well as other interagency coordination mechanisms such as the PEPFAR Interagency Technical Team and Executive Council.

The TB team supports the development of the annual Uganda TB Country Roadmap with data analytics, in consultation with the National TB and Leprosy Program and with the participation of national and international partners involved in the continuum of prevention and treatment of TB and TB/HIV. The TB program, also an interagency initiative, uses standardized data collection and performance-based TB indicators that align with Uganda TB Roadmap targets as a basis for quarterly and semi-annual reporting on progress towards achieving targets under the USAID Global TB Strategy 2023-2030.

PMI’s planning, monitoring, and reporting requirements include providing granular program-relevant data and the evidence base for the annual Malaria Operational Plan (MOP). A web-based platform called Malaria Data Integration and Visualization for Eradication (M-DIVE) has analytics tools that facilitate the triangulation and use of relevant datasets, including visualizations of epidemiological, supply chain, entomological, demographic, programmatic, and financial data. Since PMI is an interagency initiative, implementation is done in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Data collection, analysis, and reporting are closely coordinated with the CDC Resident Malaria Advisor, who sits with the USAID malaria team.

USAID/Uganda’s approach to integrated health service delivery across HIV and non-HIV health sectors requires an integrated approach to health systems MEL and SI that goes beyond the requirements for reporting through the Development Information Solution (DIS), which is managed by the Program Office, to provide inputs for the Agency’s Annual Performance Plan and Report (PPR). For example, Government-to-Government (G2G) agreements with regional referral hospitals in USAID-supported districts cover the full spectrum of health service delivery, both PEPFAR and non-PEPFAR. OHH conducts “deep dive” data-driven quarterly PEPFAR, family health (family planning; maternal, neonatal, and child health; nutrition; and water, sanitation, and hygiene), TB, and malaria performance reviews with its IPs; bi-annual GHS reviews; and quarterly COVID indicator reviews. In addition, OHH has adapted the PEPFAR SIMS tool to family health and malaria field visits, often conducted in parallel with PEPFAR SIMS visits. Frequent ad hoc data analysis and visualizations are required to support OHH participation in interagency family health, malaria, TB, and other health-related technical working groups.

The OVC program aims to improve health, education, protection, and socio-economic outcomes among children living with and affected by HIV, their caregivers, and families. USAID is the OVC lead within the PEPFAR interagency and works closely with MGLSD. The data required for PEPFAR OVC monitoring and reporting is drawn from the national database and the OVC MIS, which is transitioning to the CWBMIS in accordance with Uganda’s National Child Policy 2020. Other critical PEPFAR OVC indicators are drawn from the HIV-based Real-time Integrated Database (HIBRID) system. OVC currently obtains additional data on in-country OVC custom indicators reported on by clinical partners from the PEPFAR in-country reporting system managed by CDC’s monitoring and evaluation technical support mechanism. However, these custom indicators have been included in Uganda’s Health Management Information System (HMIS) tools currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and stakeholders, and upon MOH’s approval these will be part of the District Health Information System (DHIS-2). OHH coordinates closely with EYCD, primarily through PEPFAR interagency coordination structures.

C.3 ACTIVITY OBJECTIVES

Objective 3.1: Produce Quality and Timely Data for PEPFAR, OVC, and Non-PEPFAR Health Program Planning, Monitoring, and Reporting.

Result 3.1.1: Quality data produced in a timely manner for planning, monitoring, and reporting on USAID PEPFAR and OVC programs and activities.

Result 3.1.2: Quality data produced in a timely manner for planning, monitoring, and reporting on non-PEPFAR health programs and activities managed by OHH.

Result 3.3.3: Increased understanding by USAID-supported districts and health facilities (including community health facilities) of USG data and reporting requirements.

Description/Activities:

The Contractor shall:

Extract, mine, process, and compile data from the DHIS-2 data warehouse and web portal (operated by the MOH/Division of Health Information) and other data streams to comply with USG PEPFAR Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER) requirements for USAID-supported regions, districts, and health facilities. Other sources of data may include HMIS; the Uganda Electronic Medical Records system; HIBRID; and the PEPFAR Data for Accountability, Transparency, and Impact Monitoring (DATIM) system. Specifically, provide clean and appropriately disaggregated data that comply with PEPFAR COP and monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reporting requirements within timelines stipulated in the annual work plan.

Extract, mine, process, and compile data from the DHIS-2 data warehouse and web portal and other data streams to meet non-PEPFAR health program planning, monitoring, and reporting needs, including the MOP and the TB Uganda Roadmap, and the PPR. Other sources of data may include HMIS, Uganda’s TB and Leprosy electronic case-based surveillance system, logistics management information systems, and M-DIVE. Specifically, provide clean and appropriately disaggregated data that comply with PPR; MOP; Uganda TB Roadmap; and other monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reporting requirements within timelines stipulated in the annual work plan.

Extract, clean, process, and compile OVC data from the CWBMIS, as well as from other sources such as the Uganda Child Helpline - 116, to meet OVC planning, monitoring, and reporting needs. Specifically, provide clean and appropriately disaggregated data that comply with PEPFAR MER; COP planning; and monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reporting requirements within timelines stipulated in the annual work plan.

Support local-level data cleaning in USAID-supported districts and health facilities (including community health facilities), as well as in “non-USAID regions” where PMI operates. This may include training USAID IPs (especially local partners) on core PEPFAR and OVC indicators and reporting systems to ensure that indicators, data sources, and reporting requirements are well understood.

Support OHH in managing and tracking community health monitoring and reporting systems in USAID-supported districts, as well as in “non-USAID regions” where PMI operates.

Respond to specific ad hoc data calls from OHH and the OVC team, including reporting/data needs arising out of “surge” activities.

Objective 3.2: Conduct Data Analyses for PEPFAR, OVC, and Non-PEPFAR Health Program Planning, Monitoring, and Reporting.

Result 3.2.1: Quality data analyses and visualizations produced in a timely manner for planning, monitoring, and reporting on USAID PEPFAR, OVC, and non-PEPFAR health programs and activities.

Result 3.2.2: Relevant data extracted from national surveys to support analytics for USAID-funded PEPFAR, OVC, and non-PEPFAR health programs.

Description/Activities:

Support OHH and the OVC team with customized data analytic products, technical briefs, fact sheets, and visualizations for program design, reporting, and program management and oversight.

Generate dashboards, infographics, animations, and other visual displays of information to communicate complex data relationships and data-driven insights in a way that is easy for users of USAID-funded PEPFAR, OVC, family health, malaria, and other health program data to understand.

Support OHH and OVC IPs in preparing data analysis and visualizations for quarterly IP-level deep-dive technical performance reviews. These performance reviews are in addition to and separate from those conducted by the Program Office as part of the Agency’s Program Cycle performance management reviews.

Share relevant periodic reports and other analytic products with OHH and OVC IPs to enhance program performance.

Review existing program dashboards and triangulate data for quality reporting.

Collaborate with OHH teams to identify and execute innovations in health data analytics.

Objective 3.3: Conduct Special Studies and Analyses of Interest to USAID.

Result 3.3.1: Special studies and assessments conducted to support USAID-funded PEPFAR, OVC, and non-PEPFAR health program management and reporting.

Result 3.3.2: Targeted assessments and studies conducted to support OHH/OVC program management.

Description/Activities:

Conduct studies, assessments, primary data collection, modeling, or other data acquisition and analysis activities to fill gaps between OHH technical reporting needs and data available through national systems or other secondary data sources.

Conduct studies, assessments, primary data collection, modeling, or other data acquisition and analysis activities to monitor special population groups: HIV-positive children; adolescents, girls, and young women; OVC; and key populations (people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, transgender people, female sex workers, and people in prison and other closed settings).

Participate in the design and implementation of research activities and short studies that are of particular interest for USAID program management (CDC leads on research and surveillance in the interagency PEPFAR space).

Analyze health impact assessment data to identify “leaks” in the HIV intervention cascade in USAID-supported districts. This involves performing further analysis of the UPHIA, integrated biobehavioral surveys for key populations, “Recency” HIV case-based surveillance data, and other relevant data sets to produce analytical reports on gaps in the HIV intervention cascade.

Conduct analysis for monitoring USAID HIV interventions in the continuum of response. This involves selected evidence-based, highly effective interventions – such as prevention of mother-to-child transmission, antiretroviral therapy, and voluntary male medical circumcision – organized along an HIV cascade of services that recognizes the fundamental importance of HIV testing and counseling as the entry point to HIV care and treatment. Essential in the continuum of response are integrated services within the HIV care environment, including TB, HIV, cervical cancer screening and treatment, food and nutrition, and family planning. In addition, mitigation of the social and economic consequences of the epidemic is included in the continuum of response. Such mitigation outcomes support treatment goals and recognize that HIV is not solely a clinical event in the lives of people; it is also a social and emotional event. Mitigation outcomes are addressed primarily through OVC programs. Gender must also be considered throughout the continuum of response as a cross-cutting issue.

Conduct targeted assessments and root cause analysis to understand barriers to health care and service quality, access, utilization, and retention.

Objective 3.4: Conduct Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) and OVC Service Quality Assessments (SQAs).

Result 3.4.1: DQAs of interest to OHH completed.

Result 3.4.2: Interagency DQAs and OVC SQAs supported. Result 3.4.3: MOH-Led National Level DQAs supported.

Description/Activities:

Conduct PEPFAR/OVC DQAs that are of particular OHH/OVC interest in USAID-supported districts and health facilities.

Lead interagency OVC SQAs. This includes developing SQA protocols and data collection tools; training SQA teams; supporting SQA field work logistically and technically; analyzing, reporting on, and disseminating SQA findings; and conducting SQA follow-up visits to assess whether SQA remedial actions have been undertaken by IPs.

Participate in national level DQAs led by MOH.

Verify the achievement of quarterly G2G milestones for HIV, family health (family planning; maternal, neonatal, and child health; nutrition; and water, sanitation, and hygiene), and malaria in regional referral hospitals in USAID-supported districts.

Facilitate the logistics for clinical or health systems experts to join USAID in quarterly SIMS and other program review visits to health facilities and community sites and coordinate the development of a framework for integration of SIMS data or excerpts into the national Health Facility Assessment process.

Provide data to monitor the performance and impact of health services provision in USAID-supported districts, as well as in non-USAID regions where PMI operates, using survey methodologies such as Performance Monitoring for Action and Lot Quality Assurance Sampling. Develop and execute a plan to train monitoring and evaluation staff of new IPs to support district data use and implementation of the findings.

Objective 3.5: Support the CWBMIS and Related OVC Information Systems.

Result 3.5.1: Implementation of the MGLSD roadmap for harmonization/integration of MIS for care and protection of children supported.

Result 3.5.2: Integration of OVC MIS into Government of Uganda (GOU) systems supported. Result 3.5.3: CWMBIS data capture tools printed and distributed.

Description/Activities:

Support the MGLSD to improve CWBMIS governance, data management, analysis, use, access, and data security.

Support the MGLSD to review and update standard operating procedures for the CWBMIS.

Co-create and Implement a transition plan to hand over the management of the CWBMIS and related systems to MGLSD.

Support PEPFAR to incorporate a window on the CWBMIS that will accommodate the ever-changing PEPFAR OVC indicators.

Support the design and pilot testing of the single registry for social protection.

Collaborate with GOU/NITA to ensure smooth integration of the OVC MIS into GOU systems.

Support limited printing of CWBMIS data capture tools and collaborate with MGLSD to ensure the tools are distributed appropriately.

Objective 3.6: Improve OVCMIS in Selected OVC Districts.

Result 3.6.1: OVCMIS improved and effectively utilized in priority OVC districts. Description/Activities:

Improve data governance at the district level, including in USAID, CDC, and Department of Defense/Walter Reed OVC districts.

Support probation officers in OVC districts to analyze district OVC data, monitor key trends, and make evidence-based decisions.

Objective 3.7: Provide SI-Related Technical Assistance to OHH and the OVC Team Result 3.7.1: Respond to special requests from OHH/SI for technical support Description/Activities:

On an as-needed basis, and on a quarterly schedule agreed through the annual work planning process, the Contractor shall perform various technical duties for OHH that are directly related to data processing and analysis, data visualization and presentations, reviewing study/research proposals, monitoring field activities, and providing targeted SI Support to OHH IPs (particularly local partners).