AFRO-NETS> Expression of Interest for Health Systems Resource Centre

[Colin Sullivan <hqmail@nicare.n-i.nhs.uk>]

Expression of Interest for Health Systems Resource Centre
---------------------------------------------------------

Dear Sir / Madam

We are currently drawing up an Expression of Interest for a Health 
Systems Resource Centre funded by the Department for International 
Development. The Resource Centre requires Associate Partners located 
in different regions to assist with projects. The Resource Centre 
will provide short-term consultancies in the development of health 
systems in developing countries.

Nicare is the international health care consultancy department of the 
UK National Health System. We have carried our technical assistance 
projects in over 40 countries around the world, including Zimbabwe 
and Zambia. We would be interested in collaborating with AFRO-NETS on 
this project and would envisage your role as providing short-term 
consultancy across Africa.

I have attached the call for Expressions of Interest for your infor-
mation.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards Colin Sullivan
Director Nicare
mailto:hqmail@nicare.n-i.nhs.uk 

-------------------------------

Health Systems Resource Centre

Quote Ref: GO 01101115/02

Awarding authority: 
Department for International Development
Abercrombie House, Eaglesham Road
East Kilbride G75 8EA, UK
Tel: +44-1355-843-460
Fax: +44-1355-843-499
mailto:s-oraw@dfid.gov.uk. (Steven O'Raw, quoting ref: EOI 01 3239).

Award procedure: Restricted.
Contract type: Service.
CPV: 75211200-0, 72224000-1.
Foreign economic-aid-related services.
Project management Consultancy services.

To support its strategy for improving the health of poor people DFID 
is seeking Expressions of Interest from consortia - to include devel-
oping country institutions from at least three geographical regions - 
to operate a Health Systems Resource Centre (HSRC). The HSRC will 
complement two other resource centres for (i) HIV/AIDS, sexual, re-
productive and maternal health and (ii) communicable diseases and 
child health and will be expected to work effectively with them to 
meet cross-cutting demands. 

The purpose of the HSRC is to 
(i) give developing country partners access to expertise in the de-
velopment of pro-poor health systems, mostly through short-term con-
sultancies; 
(ii) be a focal point for the synthesis and dissemination of knowl-
edge and experience (through a website, help desk, publications and 
networks); 
(iii) provide rapid, high quality policy and strategic development 
expertise and administrative back-up to DFID's Health and Population 
Department. 

The centre will be expected to establish ways of working which maxi-
mise the use and development of institutions and other local sources 
of expertise and to provide a high and increasing proportion of 
short-term consultants from developing countries. There will be a 
contract for core services and a call-down facility for short-term 
assignments (which will not have a financial commitment). The service 
provider will be ineligible to implement work, which it has designed, 
unless this has been commissioned at the outset.

Details of DFID's strategy for improving the health of poor people 
can be found at:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/public/what/what_frame.html

Delivery to: As in the awarding authority.

Obligation to mention the names and qualifications of personnel: Yes.

Number of service providers which will be invited to tender: Between 
5 and 20.

Duration of contract: It is envisaged that the contract will be for a 
period of 3 years commencing early 5/2002. Subject to satisfactory 
performance, there may be the possibility of an extension of a fur-
ther 2 years.

Legal form in case of group bidders: Joint and several liability.

Deadline for receipt of applications: 27.11.2001 (14:00).

Address: As in the awarding authority

Final date for the despatch of invitations to tender: We expect to 
issue the invitations to tender around mid 12/2001.

Qualifications: Statement of the firm's overall turnover and the 
turnover in respect of the goods to which the contract relates for 
the 3 previous financial years.

The Expression of Interest must be in the form of a Capability State-
ment, of not more than four A4 pages, be accompanied by abridged CVs 
of key personnel and show evidence of broad capability, skills and 
experience in the following areas:

i. good understanding of development principles (including the inter-
national development targets) and DFID strategies, with an emphasis 
on positive outcomes for the poor, equity, ownership, sustainability 
and learning. Experience of working with developing country govern-
ments through sector-wide approaches and poverty reduction strate-
gies;

ii. experience, track record and capacity in the field of health sys-
tems in developing and transitional countries; 

iii. knowledge of other organisations involved with health systems in 
OECD and developing countries and access to a broad pool of high-
quality consultants;

iv. three developing country institutions involved in consortia bid 
covering three regions. At least one institution should be from Af-
rica and one from Asia;

v. excellent project management skills, including management of con-
sultants and process-based work, including change processes;

vi. the ability to identify and link closely with relevant research, 
summarise it into practical guidance and support its practical appli-
cation;

vii experience of running a rapid response advisory service;

viii. excellent administrative skills and experience, to include lo-
gistical support to large meetings and website management experience;

ix. staff team and pool consultants include personnel able to commu-
nicate fluently in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese; 

x. arrangements set out to facilitate a way of working with the other 
two resource centres.

Award criteria: Criteria indicated in the invitation to tender.

Other information: Following assessment of the EOIs, DFID will invite 
short listed applicants to submit full technical and commercial pro-
posals. Prices are not required at this stage; however, when re-
quired, prices must be in Sterling and all payments under the con-
tract will be made in Sterling. The contract will be governed by Eng-
lish law. DFID reserves the right to annul the tendering process and 
not to award the contract.

Covered by the GPA agreement: Yes.

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