Financial services firm to support the echo africa office in facilitating procurement and the processing of necessary expenditures to support activities in multiple countries across africa, ensuring compliance with local tax laws, and providing fund manag

The University of New Mexico is soliciting a financial services firm to support the ECHO Africa Office in facilitating procurement, processing expenditures, and managing compliance across multiple African countries, with proposals due September 12, 2026. This is a proposed sole-source procurement from Deloitte & Touche LLP.

The University conducted due diligence by engaging five financial services firms—KPMG, Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton, BDO-East Africa, and Deloitte—between May and June 2026. KPMG and Ernst & Young declined to submit proposals. Grant Thornton and BDO submitted proposals but were deemed unable to meet the outlined scope at the level of Deloitte. The scope encompasses fund management, procurement processing, fiduciary controls, and ensuring compliance with local tax laws and donor requirements across Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia. Services support a Gates Foundation-funded initiative to strengthen public health surveillance systems in Africa by establishing seven country-specific Infectious Disease Surveillance virtual communities of practice, with cash-based transactions at the local level for venue fees, catering, equipment, and participant incentives.

The proposed contract value is $380,000 over a two-year term from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. Deloitte & Touche LLP is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and brings 30 years of experience managing over $100 million in donor-funded programs across Africa, an established presence in 12 African countries with licenses in 16 countries, and key personnel including Engagement Partner Bernadette Wahogo (27 years managing multi-country health and development initiatives) and Procurement Expert Rachel Muthoni (15 years of East African procurement experience).