RFI- Mental Health and Psychosocial support.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

The United States Agency for International Development Mission in Ethiopia (USAID/Ethiopia) is in the process of gathering information and conducting market research to support an anticipated activity design for a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Program in Ethiopia.

This request for information (RFI) intends to offer the opportunity for interested individuals and organizations to provide recommendations on approaches to providing culturally and contextually appropriate duty of care, employee wellbeing, and/or Mental Health and Psycho Social services (MHPSS) to USAID/Ethiopia staff and its implementing partners.

USAID is seeking responses to the questions of this RFI outlined below, USAID is not seeking technical or cost applications / proposals at this time. Responses to this RFI are voluntary. Respondents are free to address any or all of the below items, as well as provide additional information that they think is relevant. USAID will not pay respondents for any information provided in response to this RFI. Any future solicitations of funding opportunities related to duty of care will be announced on the Federal Business Opportunities website at www.sam.gov or at www.grants.gov at a later date.

INFORMATION REQUESTED

All entities are strongly encouraged to provide information and comments by the closing date and time noted above. Responses are limited to 10 pages in length.

1. What is the average rate (may be expressed as a range) for individual therapy sessions by licensed counselors in Ethiopia? What is the average length of an individual session?

2. What is the average rate (may be expressed as a range) for family therapy sessions by licensed counselors in Ethiopia?

3. What is the average rate (may be expressed as a range) for facilitating “critical incident” group therapy? Utilizing the U.S. Military and Navy Medicine definition: “ A critical incident is defined as: events outside the normal experience that pose actual or perceived threats of injury or exposure to death that can overwhelm both an individual's and organization's coping resources.” Examples of critical incidents may include: natural disasters, acts of terrorism, acts of violence, war and civil unrest, kidnappings, loss of life while performing work duties, or other major traumatic event.

4. What is the average rate (may be expressed as a range) for facilitating a psychoeducation workshop in Addis Ababa or other major Ethiopian city?

5. Besides costs for individual or group therapy sessions, what are the ongoing operational expenses for therapists and/or mental health service providers in Ethiopia?

6. What therapeutic approach and/or modality would be most effective following a critical incident in the Ethiopian context and why?

7. What common standards and/or ethical guidelines exist when practicing mental health counseling in Ethiopia?

8. What psychotherapy approaches and modalities are currently being practiced in Ethiopia?

9. What is the prevalence of trauma in the Ethiopian context? How is this typically defined and measured?

10. According to Ethiopian law, what courses of action exist for mental health professionals according to Ethiopian law when a client expresses intent to harm themselves?

11. What incidents warrant breaking confidentiality in a therapeutic relationship in the Ethiopian context? What considerations exist in the context of confidentiality and Ethiopian law?

12. How do extension services, psychiatry and/or other specialized mental health referrals function in the Ethiopian context?

13. What intervention options are available when a client reports suicidal ideation with or without an active plan in Ethiopia?

14. What is an ideal caseload for a clinician providing individual and group sessions in Ethiopia?

15. What processes need to be put in place to ensure that the privacy and confidentiality of a client is not violated in a therapeutic relationship in the Ethiopian context?

16. In the Ethiopian context, how can confidentiality and privacy be preserved in situations where it is likely that a client and a therapist will come in contact outside of counseling?

17. What are the consequences for violating patient confidentiality with respect to Ethiopian mental health licensing and credentialing?

18. How is the confidentiality of patient health information reflected and/or protected in Ethiopian law? What enforcement mechanisms exist to ensure such protections?

19. What types of Mental Health and Psycho-social Support (MHPSS) programs currently exist in Ethiopia? What are some common MHPSS programs and where are they implemented?

20. What capacity building and/or technical assistance needs exist among MHPSS service providers in Ethiopia?

21. What mental health service providers exist outside Addis Ababa? If yes, in what regions are they located and what kinds of mental health services do they provide?

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING RESPONSES:

All comments and recommendations must be submitted electronically with the title “72066325RFI00001 Duty of Care” to ethiopia.oaa@usaid.gov with a copy to Ms. Deborah Rakowski, Contracting/Agreement Officer at drakowski@usaid.gov. Responses to this RFI will be accepted through the date and time indicated above.

Responses to this RFI are voluntary and respondents are welcome to address any or all of the questions listed above as well as provide any additional relevant information. You will only receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response, but will not receive individualized feedback on any suggestions. No basis for the claims against the U.S. Government shall arise as a result of a response to this request for information or from the Government’s use of such information. Specific questions about this RFI should be directed only to the email addresses identified above.

The submitted response should include:

Reference number: RFI No.

[Date] Name/Email Affiliation/Organization Address

Attachments: Respondents may attach any documents that support your comments to the above questions. Respondents may also include self/organization information including past experiences working on this subject area, experience working with other stakeholders, or capacity information.

This RFI is issued solely for information-gathering and planning purposes. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a Request for Application (RFA) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the United States Government (USG) to issue any solicitation or Notice of Funding Opportunity, award a contract or assistance agreement on the basis of this RFI, or pay for any information voluntarily submitted as a result of this request. Responses to this RFI must not be portrayed as proposals and will not be accepted by the USG to form a binding agreement.

Thank you for your assistance and interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely, /s/

Deborah Rakowski Contracting and Agreement Officer

[END OF REQUEST FOR INFORMATION]

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