Request for LOI: Governors Immunization Leadership Challenge

Transcription

1 Request for LOI: Governors Immunization Leadership Challenge LOI Number: SOL Open Date: April 13, 2012 Closing Date: Extended to July 13, 2012 (was June 29, 2012) Background: Bill Gates, co chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, announced a new initiative for Nigeria s Executive Governors challenging them to deliver a dramatic improvement in polio and routine immunization by the end of The program, initiated together with the Nigeria Governors Forum, will award a project in one state per geopolitical zone with the best performance in 11 defined indicators with a $500,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support their top health priorities. A $500,000 grant will also be awarded to a project in the most improved state based on the same indicators. The awards are to be presented early 2013, with grants defined and given after that point. Nigeria's leaders are critical to making Nigeria polio free and their renewed confirmation last week of the Abuja Commitments will make an important difference," said Mr. Gates. As Nigeria s partner, the Gates Foundation is committed to doing what we can to support their efforts to end this terrible, but preventable, disease. Nigeria s polio eradication program is at a crossroads according to the 21 st Expert Review Committee (March 2011). Despite unprecedented progress from when new cases declined by 98%, from 798 to 21, there was a resurgence of polio in In 2011 Nigeria recorded 62 wild poliovirus (WPVs) cases in 8 states and as of 23 March 2012, there have been reported 14 cases in 8 states thus far in WPVs from Nigeria were linked to the large outbreak in Chad and to new cases in Mali and Niger. Quarterly reports of adherence to the Abuja Commitments show that Governors commitment decreased dramatically in the first half of 2011 and that polio cases are generally occurring in the northern states suffering the lowest commitment. A Governors Immunization Leadership Challenge will focus Governors attention to polio and immunization issues and help to catalyze the leadership actions required. Specifically, it would: Motivate Governors to focus beyond awareness promotion to actual implementation of the Abuja Commitments and contribute to improved polio activities Enhance focus on routine immunization particularly in polio free states where routine immunization (RI) will help maintain polio free status Leverage additional investment and commitment to Millennium Development Goal (MDG) health related projects benefitting underserved communities The goal of this Request for Letter of Inquiry (LOI) is to identify an on ground partner to receive and administer the awarded grants in the winning states, referred to as the implementing partner throughout this document. Page 1 of 5

2 Basis for Grant: This project will require the implementing partner to work closely with Nigeria Governor s Forum and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with support from National Primary Healthcare Development Agency of Nigeria (NPHDA) and polio partners. The implementing partner would administer state projects, likely through a combination of working on projects which fall within the organization s relevant experience and helping other implementing partners through sub grant funding, as necessary. This process is to be conducted in close cooperation with the states against the health priorities identified by the state government, and the implementing partner would manage the 6 or 7 projects. These projects would need to be coordinated with other development partners and early consultation with these partners may yield gaps that could be filled, or strengths to build upon. Examples of Award grant projects are: Refurbishment of the State cold chain equipment Supplies of mama kits for midwives Matching operations costs to reach remote, minority and nomadic populations with primary health care (PHC) services including immunization plus days (IPDs) and RI outreach (ideally linked with assured salary/incentives for health workers) Refurbishment and operations costs for PHC facilities in remote populations Community engagement/education project to help increase understanding of and build demand for Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI)/ RI/ and maternal health services (including with Traditional and religious leaders) local government area (LGA) Chairmen/ministry primary health care leadership and management training Bore holes for remote/ underserved areas (note the issue of bore holes for clean water is extremely pressing for many settlements in northern Nigeria and is often the source of politically motivated vaccine rejection) Innovative uses of Short Message Service (SMS), Global Positioning System (GPS) or other mobile health (mhealth) applications to improve public health outcomes Estimated Budget: Sub Awards $3,500,000 Travel / Staff Costs / Logistics $1,000,000 Subtotal $4,500,000 Indirect Costs (as applicable) 15% Possible Indirect Cost Total $675,000 Estimated Project Total $5,175,000 Response Instructions: This RFLOI/RFP will use a mandatory two step application process. Step One requires the submission of the LOI. After evaluation of all LOIs received, the Foundation will contact those applicants who are most competitive, and invite them to complete Step Two the submission of a full proposal. Please adhere to the following when responding to this RFLOI Please respond using the RFLOI template found at mmunization leadership challengeloi.aspx. Applications received that are not on this template may not be considered for review. Page 2 of 5

3 All questions on the template must be answered in order for an applicant to be considered for this RFLOI. All applicants must detail how they will respond to the stated objectives of the project. All communication relating to the RFLOI, with the exception of communications outlined in the RFLOI Delivery Instructions section below, including questions and clarifications, should be submitted via to Applicants, or their representatives, may not contact anyone else within the Foundation regarding this RFLOI. Any violation of this requirement may result in disqualification from the selection process. Questions submitted by any responder and associated responses will be distributed to all applicants. Evaluation Criteria: 1. Presence in Nigeria (55%) a. Proven track record implementing large scale public health projects in Nigeria (25%) b. Relationships with Nigerian non profit and NGOs (15%) c. A functioning Nigeria office (10%) d. Able to operate in all Nigerian states (5%) 2. Experience of the Proposed Team: (15%) a. Experience of leadership and staff assigned to the project (5%) b. Grant making and managing experience (5%) c. Knowledge of MDGs successfully implemented projects (5%) 3. Proposal Quality and Strength of Project Management Plan (30%) a. Overall quality of proposal for both managing the projects and supporting the states with identifying and shaping requirement to inform grant development Foundation Contact: NigeriaImmunizationChallenge@gatesfoundation.org Timetable: Event Timeframe Questions regarding RFLOI sent to Monday, May 7, 2012 NigeriaImmunizationChallenge@gatesfoundation.org Posting of all relevant questions and answers Monday, May 14, 2012 Response Due for Letters of Inquiry Thursday, May 24, 2012 RFLOI Closed Friday, June 29, :00 am PST Selection of Consultants Invited to Submit Full Proposal Tuesday, July 10, 2012 Submission of Proposals Thursday, August 9, 2012 Project Start Date November 2012 Appendix: Award Details and Objectives The award will support winning governors priority initiatives in public health, such as malaria and tuberculosis, improving immunization, HIV prevention and treatment, or safe drinking water and hygiene promotion. In addition to the grant, those governors who achieve the goals will receive special recognition from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for their contribution to the elimination of polio and improving immunization coverage. Page 3 of 5

4 Award Principles: Impartiality: States win the award if they are the highest performer for their geopolitical zone against the indicators below as judged by an independent expert panel Needs based award flexibility: Winning states would select the project(s) the award would fund, within the envelope of health related MDGs (1, 4, 5, 6 and 7, below) 1) Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 4) Reduce child mortality 5) Improve maternal health 6) Combat HIV / AIDS, malaria and other diseases 7) Ensure environmental sustainability Co financing and state ownership: states are encouraged to co fund the award project, demonstrating ownership over the outcomes Sample Indicators The highest performing state per geopolitical zone will win the award. Further, one state would be eligible for most improved, based on a scoring system to measure the improvement. Indicator Targets 1 Process: Adherence to State and LGA level Abuja Commitments Personal involvement of HE Governor in public event in support of Polio e.g. meeting with key stakeholders, flag off ceremonies. 2. At least one meeting between Governor (or his representative) with LGA chairmen to discuss priority actions to improve PEI/RI each quarter 3. At least one meeting between Governor (or his rep) with traditional leaders to review their involvement in PEI/RI each quarter 4 At least one meeting of State Task Force or similar high level oversight committee established by Governor to oversee PEI/RI activities each quarter. 5 Proportion of LGAs where daily IPDs review meeting chaired by high level LGA official i.e. LGA chairman or LGA HOD/PHC Dept A perfect score of 5 points each quarter under review (4 for the State Indicators, and 1 for meeting the LGA level as described below) 1 point is earned for every quarter where >80% of LGAS meet indicator. 6 Process: RI Monthly evidence of state funding for RI 1 point/month; total 12 7 Monthly evidence of discussions on routine 1 point/month; total 12 immunization in State Task Force meetings 8 Outcome % of Missed Children during SIA 1 point <10% every SIA 9 Outcome % of LGAS with >10% Missed Children during SIA 1 point <10% every SIA 10 Outcome Doses in non polio APF cases 1 point >90% 3 or more by end of each quarter 11 Outcome % Improvement in DTP3 coverage Achieve the improvement in DTP3 coverage by end of the review period (10%) Page 4 of 5

5 System to win Most improved is Abuja Commitment Plus: S/N Goal Indicators Baseline Scoring 1. Improved Immunization coverage OPV Status of Non polio AFP cases: >3 doses Data set from 1 st week June +1pt point for each 5% increase over 70% for total of 6 1 pt for each 3% decrease 2. % of LGAs <10% missed children Data from June IPDS +1 pt for each % point over 90% for a total of 10/year 1 pt for each % point under 90% The Awards would include the following: A BMGF sub grant (issued from the selected grantee through this RFP process) to benefit one state per geopolitical zone who achieves the most points in the award period, to support priority areas related to health related MDGs (1,4,5,6,7) in coordination with the state. Ideal emphasis on cofinancing a project with the state in underserved areas. Examples of award projects would be coldchain rehabilitation particularly in LGAs with identified problems; Primary Health Care (PHC) facility rehabilitation; routine immunization outreach sessions or water/sanitation related projects including digging and maintenance of bore holes. o Amount: Award $500,000 to the highest performing state per geopolitical zone. This amount is substantial enough to be motivating and, with co financing, can contribute significant funding to health related MDG projects. 1 Award for most improved in order to motivate those states which currently will not be able to show as strong performance as other states in their geopolitical zone, but require urgent effort to stop transmission of polio, 1 prize of $500,000 should be awarded for most improved state, using additional criteria. Page 5 of 5