Request for Consultant Services

Research Coordinator, USAID’s Strengthening Multisectoral Nutrition Programming through Implementation Science Activity (MSNP)

Solicitation # MSNP-SEP19-01
Project code # 102335 / 1167.0001

Date of Issuance Sep/01/2019, 7:00 AM (GMT+6)
Due Date for Application Sep/19/2019, 6:00 PM (GMT+6)
Expected Period of Performance October 15, 2019 – April 30, 2020
Place of Performance Dhaka, Bangladesh; with potential field visits to union, upazila and district levels of Chuadanga, Jashore, Jhenaidah, Kushtia, Barishal, Perojpur
Total No. of Days Up to 6 months (5 days a week) totaling up to 130 days

BACKGROUND

FHI 360 is an international non-profit working to improve the health and well-being of people in the United States and around the world. The organization works with governments and civil society organizations to create jobs, educate children, provide lifesaving health care and bring about positive social change. FHI 360 does this by using research and evidence to design and deliver programs that change behaviors, increase access to services and improve lives. A staff of more than 4,000 professionals works in more than 60 countries around the world. Their diverse technical expertise and deep understanding of local conditions provide a 360-degree perspective that allows the team to develop customized responses to the toughest human development challenges.

Implemented by FHI 360, “USAID’s Strengthening Multisectoral Nutrition Programming through Implementation Science Activity” (MSNP), henceforth referred to as “the Project” in this document, is a five-year nutrition research project designed to improve nutrition policy making and implementation in Bangladesh based on locally generated evidence. With the leadership of FHI 360, the project will be implemented in six districts (Chuadanga, Jashore, Jhenaidah, Kushtia, Barishal, Perojpur) of Khulna and Barishal divisions by a coalition of national and international organizations.

OBJECTIVE

Family Health International (FHI 360) seeks to hire a Research Coordinator for the MSNP to assist with and coordinate the qualitative research, process documentation, and research utilization documentation activities. The Coordinator will work closely with the Research Director (approximately 80% level of effort [LoE]) and the Research Utilization (RU) and GoB Relations Advisor (approximately 20% LoE) for the mentioned activities, as per Research Protocols and the Research Utilization Plan.

SCOPE OF WORK AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TASKS TO BE PERFORMED

The Coordinator will be expected to travel to the union, upazila, and district levels of project areas in Chuadanga, Jashore, Jhenaidah, Kushtia, Barishal, Perojpur, as required by the project, approximately 10-15% of time. S/he is required to attend all training events organized by the MSNP, related to her/his job. The Coordinator will work on the following activities:

Anticipated due date for SET Task
#		 Task description Deliverable sets Expected LOE (days)
Nov. 30, 2019 1 Support qualitative research: Assist in recruiting the Qualitative Data Collectors (QDCs), transcribers, translators Brief email summary of recruitment efforts 5
Mar. 31, 2020 2 Support process documentation: Prepare two quarterly plans/rosters for process documentation (PD) activities for the periods Jan-Mar 2020 and Apr-Jun 2020 Two quarterly plans/rosters
(1st due on Dec 31, 2019 and 2nd due on Mar 31, 2020)		 6
Mar. 31, 2020 3 Support research utilization: Organize two Technical Advisory Committee meetings in Dec. 2019 and Mar. 2020 Brief email report summarizing work performed for each meeting 4
Mar. 31, 2020 4 Support research utilization:  Assist in policy mapping activities Draft activity report (due by the end of task) 5
Apr. 30, 2020 5 Support qualitative research: Assign data collection activities to the Qualitative Data Collectors according to the research protocol; monitor qualitative data collection activities; support management of qualitative data, transcription, and translation; ensure quality of data collection, transcription, and translation Monthly progress reports (due by the final day of each month) 47
Apr. 30, 2020 6 Support process documentation: Prepare monthly summary of PD reports Monthly summaries (due by the final day of each month) 6
Apr. 30, 2020 7 Support process documentation: Coordinate with the Technical Coordinators (TCs) on PD data collection; support PD data management; support translation of PD reports submitted by the TCs as needed Monthly progress reports (due by the final day of each month) 40
Apr. 30, 2020 8 Support research utilization: Organize two training events Brief email report summarizing work performed for each event 4
Apr. 30, 2020 9 Support research utilization:  Assist in preparing monitoring reports on sub-national multisectoral platform Draft activity report (due by the end of task). Two reports summarizing work performed (first due Dec. 31, 2019 and second due Apr. 30, 2020) 5
Apr. 30, 2020 10 Support research utilization: Familiarize with the FHI 360 RU Framework and contribute to the RU activities accordingly; assist in developing nutrition repository; coordinate and communicate with the stakeholders as required Brief email summary describing support provided 8
TOTAL expected LOE 130 days

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

  • MPH or MSc in relevant discipline
  • Demonstrate experience in qualitative and quantitative research management
  • Familiarity with mixed methods research, with a good understanding of qualitative research methods
  • Demonstrate good verbal and writing skills in both Bangla and English
  • At least 3-5 years of experience in relevant field
  • Demonstrated familiarity with Bangladesh nutrition and health sector

APPLICATION GUIDELINE

Interested candidates meeting or exceeding the above-mentioned criteria are encouraged to apply by emailing the following to NNahar@fhi360.org :

Consultancy applications are due NO LATER THAN Sep/19/2019, 6:00 PM (GMT+6).

AWARD TYPE & SELECTION CRITERIA

All applications received by the stated due date will be evaluated and ranked according to the following selection criteria:

Criterion

Weight

Technical qualifications: Demonstrated alignment with “required skills and qualifications”
referenced above

60%

Past performance and related experience: Demonstrated understanding of the Bangladesh nutrition and health sector

20%

Viability and cost: Reasonableness of daily rate (based on employment and salary history)

20%

DELIVERABLES, TECHNICAL OVERSIGHT, AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

  • Payment will be based on level of effort with reimbursement for allowable and pre-approved expenses such as travel.
  • FHI 360 may procure travel arrangement on the consultant’s behalf as appropriate
  • Deliverables will be submitted to the MSNP Research Director, and Research Utilization and GoB Relations Advisor, as appropriate
  • Consultant may invoice every 30 days
  • Payment will be made based on level of effort upon receipt of consultant service log, invoice and deliverables approved by Chief of Party or Technical Monitor

DISCLAIMERS AND FHI 360 PROTECTION CLAUSES

  • FHI 360 may cancel the solicitation and not award
  • FHI 360 may reject any or all responses received
  • Issuance of the solicitation does not constitute an award commitment by FHI 360
  • FHI 360 reserves the right to disqualify any offer based on failure of the offeror to follow solicitation instructions
  • FHI 360 will not compensate any offeror for responding to solicitation
  • FHI 360 reserves the right to issue award based on initial evaluation of offers without further discussion
  • FHI 360 may choose to award only part of the activities in the solicitation, or issue multiple awards based on the solicitation activities
  • FHI 360 reserves the right to waive minor proposal deficiencies that can be corrected prior to award determination to promote competition
  • FHI 360 will be contacting each offeror to confirm contact person, address and that bid was submitted for this solicitation