Request for Proposal (RFP)

RFP Number: LHSSBD-008/2021
Issuance Date: September 24, 2021
Deadline for Offer: October 10, 2021
Title of the Assignment: Request for proposal (RFP) for Consultancy services to support GoB to develop a mechanism and incorporating a precondition for data management (transfer) by the urban private and NGO health facilities to government DHIS-2 system
Level: Senior
Funded by: United States Agency for International Development
Contract No.: 7200AA18D00023/7200AA19F00014; Local Health System Sustainability Activity
Implemented by: Abt Associates, Inc.
For: Local Health System Sustainability Project-(LHSS) Bangladesh
Address: Concord Bilkis Tower (2nd Floor),40/6, North Avenue (Madani Road), Gulshan-2, Dhaka-1212

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Abt Associates is a mission-driven global leader in research, evaluation, and program implementation in the fields of international development, health, and social and environmental policy. Known for its rigorous approach to solving complex challenges, Abt is regularly ranked as one of the top 20 global research firms and one of the top 40 international development innovators. The company has multiple offices in the U.S. and program offices in more than 40 countries. Serving both the public and private sectors, Abt supports participatory governance processes that empower citizens and promote accountability and transparency across sectors. Our impact is felt in responsive and inclusive institutions, empowered communities, equitable access to public services, improved mobilization and management of financial resources, and enhanced enabling environments for economic growth and opportunity.

Program background:

The LHSS Project is USAID’s flagship initiative in integrated health systems strengthening, intending to help low- and middle-income countries transition to sustainable, self-financed health systems as a means to support universal health coverage. The project will support country-level efforts to reduce financial barriers to health care, ensure equitable access to essential health services for all people, and improve the quality of health care. Equally important, it will equip host countries to sustain progress after the project ends. It will do so by ensuring that local institutions and organizations have the technical capacity and expertise to independently design, implement, and manage continued health system strengthening activities.
USAID Bangladesh is supporting the Government of Bangladesh in its efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030. Bangladesh has directed attention toward improving coverage, efficiency, and quality of essential health care services, with a particular focus on improved governance, stewardship, health financing, monitoring, and community engagement in urban areas. It will be critical to achieving UHC without the GOB strengthens its capacity and commitment to financing the self-reliance of the health sector.
LHSS’s work will span three key objectives:
Objective 1: Improved governance in financial management and health service delivery
Objective 2: Models for financial protection (FP) and service delivery (SD) tested and scaled
Objective 3: Increased private sector investment for health

Scope of work

As part of Objective 1, the purpose of this assignment is to advocate to include data reporting to government HIS as a prerequisite to issue or renew licensing or registration for private health facilities. The consultant will work under the guidance and supervision of the Urban Health Technical Advisor.  The consultant will be required to provide technical assistance to related project activities wherever necessary and needed. Specific tasks are listed below.

Private and NGO health facilities represent a major source of ambulatory care in urban areas in Bangladesh. However, with some notable exceptions (such as for the Expanded Programme on Immunization), Private and NGO facilities are not submitting the health service utilization data to the government. There is a gap in urban health system and regulatory mechanisms for collecting routine health data from private sector.  The National Urban Health Strategy (2020) outlines the need for NGO and private sector facilities to report regularly into government information systems to build a robust evidence base for decision-making and to measure the performance of the entire urban health system (para 7).  Integrated/compiled national data is needed for the projection of public health interventions including early warning, planning, resource allocation and monitoring of quality of healthcare. In consultation with stakeholders, LHSS has determined that establishing the legal basis for NGO and private facilities will be required to report data into the government information system as a prerequisite to issue or renew licensing or registration is the first step in this process.

Task 1:  Review of the current situation of legal and technical aspects for health care data collection from private and NGO health facilities. The consultant will conduct a feasibility study with situation analysis national HMIS and legal aspects of licensing requirements for establishing a health facility (NGO or Private sector).  He / She will review requirements in other countries for comparative analysis, as applicable, to provide further information. Based on the situation consultant will submit a roadmap of the

Task 2:  Work closely with MOHFW (Director Hospital, Director-MIS, and MoLGRDC to develop roadmap involving activities of technical Independent platform) and legal aspects. The consultant will work with the appropriate partners like (but not limited to) USAID D4I (where applicable) who supports MOHFW on MIS and individual patient data tracking systems to advocate for the revision of licensing and/or registration rules.
Task 3: Explore feasibility of making precondition regarding of Private/NGO/LGI data transfer to national portal.  The consultant will conduct a feasibility study on legal aspects and suggested to for modifications. In this connection, consultant will lead a sensitizing workshop with the MOHFW, MOLGRDC, LGIs private sector and other key stakeholders to review and solicit feedback on suggested modifications.
Task 4: Support GOB to identify key health data elements for private and NGO sector. The consultant will work closely with DGHS MIS and other relevant stakeholders to assess the need of the essential data elements which is critical to measure the performance of health service in Bangladesh. Based on the need assessment, the consultant will work with DGHS MIS to propose a single dataset for collecting data regularly from NGO and private sector.

  • Deliverables:

The assignment is a level of effort (LOE) based contract which means that the Consultant is required to document time spent for each activity and based on that complete the log-sheet to indicate the number of days/times required for each activity. However, key deliverables of the assignment would include:

  • An Inception Report with situation analysis, roadmap, detailed work plans and process
  • A feasibility study report on reviewing of existing licensing procedures and comments thereon
  • Consultation workshop with private sector facilities/networks (agenda, participant list, workshop notes)
  • Compilation of relevant resource materials like the summary of licensing review, key consultations, meeting minutes, etc.
  • Report on revised licensing criteria/rule.
  • Implementation guideline coping with the existing system
  • A draft dataset for private and NGO facilities with essential health indicators
  • A user manual on proposed data set and data entry mechanism
  • Period of Performance expected Level of Effort (LOE), reporting, and travel:

Period of Performance and LOE: The consultant’s period of performance will be from presumed Nov 1, 2021 to 31 January 2021 (or 30 days since the day of joining spread over the three months) This assignment is an LOE based consultancy which meant that the consultant will be required to complete timesheet/log-sheet to indicate time and activity he/she has worked and spent. The payment then will be compensated based on that LOE and the agreed daily rate. However, the total number of days needed for this assignment should not exceed 30 days. The tenure may be adjusted (reduced/extended) as per the progress and cooperation from the government. 

Reporting To: The consultant will directly report to the CoP.  The second level report is T. A Robin, MEL Advisor. Urban Health Technical Advisor will support to organize consultative meetings with Director Hospital and Director MIS, DGHS and other data-relevant institutes and organizations.

Travel:  Pending COVID-19 restrictions, the consultant will be required to travel within Bangladesh outside of Dhaka.  Expenses incurred during the travels will be borne as per the existing Abt policy.

  • Qualifications and Requirements

To perform the job well, the consultant will be required to have, but not limited to, the following qualifications:

  • A Bangladeshi national, and due to COVID-19 travel requirements, the persons must be the one who currently resides in the country.
  • Consultant should submit their brief technical proposal, financial proposal with justification of previous consultancy rate (if available or did the job of consultancy), updated VAT registration certificate (BIN) (applicable as per turnover of payment rate)
  • If no experience of consultancy before, then the consultancy fee will be adjusted according to the existing/last served position and previous experiences
  • Retired or ex government high officials with experience on urban health will get the preference.
  • Prior experience working in the MOHFW or MOLGRD or both at a senior level or working with senior MOHFW officials
  • Master’s Degree (minimum), in law, Public Health, Management, Medicine, Health Administration, Law or another relevant field.   Experience in law/public health law will be an additional asset.
  • Eight to ten years of relevant professional experience in managing progressively complex health programs.  Experience in working in USAID programs is preferred (but not mandatory).
  • Government HIS/DHIS-2 experience, understanding of licensing of private sector facilities, experience with NGO / Private sector health facilities
  • Proven track record of working effectively with government counterparts at various levels in Bangladesh. 
  • Demonstrated leadership and management skills and ability to lead and motivate multidisciplinary teams.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with USAID, ministry officials, and other development partners and a proven track record of interacting with other projects, high-level host country governments, and international agencies.
  • A proven, successful record of achieving results.  Ability to sustain the key roles and responsibilities largely independently and requires the initiative to ensure work is progressing.
  • Fluency in English and Bengali is required.
  • Possessing presentation skills
  • Must have TAX (TIN) & VAT (BIN) registration certificate.

Offer Deadline and Protocol: To apply, submit your CV and an application letter/email message that provides details of your relevant qualifications to LHSS_Bangladesh@abtassoc.com by 10 October , 2021. Please specify for Consultancy services to develop a mechanism for data management (transfer) by the urban private and NGO health facilities to government DHIS-2 system” in the email subject line.
Technical Queries: For technical queries, interested applicants may contact: Name of the Person: Dr. Md Saidur Rahman, Chief of Party, LHSS-Bangladesh Email; Md_Rahman@abtassoc.com and T.A Robin MEL Advisor, and Abu Sufian, Urban Health Technical Advisor, email: abu_sufian@abtassoc.comor

  • Terms and Conditions: This is a request for proposals only. Issuance of this RFP does not in any way obligate Abt Associates or the Project to make payment for costs incurred by potential offerors in the preparation and submission of an offer/proposal. This solicitation is subject to Abt Associates' standard terms and conditions. Please note the following terms and conditions will apply:
  • Abt Associates' standard payment terms are for contracted days after receipt, acceptance of any deliverables, and Invoice from the Consultant. Payment will generally be made from Abt's office in Dhaka, Bangladesh via check or electronic transfer. However, the consultant may propose their payment schedule in their proposal. Source VAT and Tax should be deducted as per Government revenue policy from Payment. VAT Exemption Coupons will be issued to the Consultant in line with VAT upon submission of Mushok-6.3 (if Applicable) with the invoice.  Payment will only be issued to the entity submitting the offer/proposal in response to this RFP, payment will not be issued to a third party.