Terms of Reference for Consultant

Mapping potential institutes and contents for integrating technology (3D module and Virtual reality) intended to enhance the learning process of allied healthcare professional.

A. Background

Swisscontact, Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation, is headquartered in Zurich and was founded in 1959 by Swiss private sector and academia for sustainable development cooperation.  Swisscontact promotes economic, social and ecological development by supporting people to successfully integrate into local commercial life. We create opportunities for people to improve their living conditions as a result of their own efforts. The focus of our systemic interventions in the private sector is the strengthening of local and global value chains. Through its projects, Swisscontact enables access to professional training, promotes local entrepreneurship, creates access to local financial service providers and supports the efficient use of resources with the goal of successfully promoting employment and income generation.

As an initiative to support Bangladesh in reaching the target of ensuring quality healthcare services at rural level communities, Swisscontact, in association with Novartis, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Julius Baer Foundation, is implementing the ASTHA (Achieving Sustainability Towards Healthcare Access) project. The project facilitates the development and integration of Community Paramedic services in rural Bangladesh. Its focus to increase healthcare outreach in the rural inaccessible pocket areas, with special attention to Maternal and Child Health (MCH), Family Planning (FP) and Basic Primary Healthcare Services.

‘Community Paramedic’ is a two-year full-time course, designed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) where students acquire and develop skills on Maternal and Child Health, Reproductive Health, Family Planning and Primary Healthcare services. Currently 23 training institutes are offering this training who are affiliated with the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council (BNMC) are conducting this course to develop trained Community Paramedics for rural communities of Bangladesh.  After completion of 2 years’ training, students must sit for a final exam organized by BNMC and BNMC also provides practice registration among qualified Community Paramedics. Qualified Community Paramedics are eligible to do self-practice at the grassroots.  

ASTHA is currently in its Phase II (January 2019 to December 2022) which will emphasise on business viability of Community Paramedic Training Institutes (CPTIs) and Community Paramedics (CPs) and on acquiring important partnerships for nationwide scaling up and sustainability. The project operates in seven districts, namely, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Barguna, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Nilphamari and Patuakhali.

The project is working in the following strategic areas: 

• Strengthening CP Programme 
• Enhancing the capacity and service provision of CPs
• Sensitising and involving public and private scale agents to promote CP service nationwide
• Creating mass awareness about CP profession and quality CP services

As a part of improving teaching methods and materials, the project has been working on transforming and modernising the learning experiences. With the continuation of this effort, the project has introduced in the beginning of 2020 two 3D models through Virtual Reality (VR) headsets for chapters on Reproductive and Respiratory systems with the technological support of Auleek Limited. This initiative is the first of its kind in primary healthcare education in Bangladesh and it has made learning more interactive and fun for students. Since these are expensive, therefore, it is very tough for the limited institutes (23) to purchase the required 3D modules. Therefore, the project aims to explore allied institutes who can utilise the common module by purchasing it collectively. Considering above, the project is looking for a consultant who will help the project in exploring and making linkage with the potential institutes.

B. Objective

The objective of the contract is to identify and establishing linkages with potential clients who will be interested to buy 3D model contents to as teaching materials to enhance the quality of training and learning process and to select contents that can be commonly used for all allied healthcare professionals.

Scope & Activities

I. Scope of the Work

The scope of work under the cooperation agreement would be introducing 3D models through Virtual Reality (VR) headsets for the allied healthcare training course e.g. Community Paramedic course, Nursing, Midwifery, MATS etc.  

II. Role & Tasks of the Service Provider

The consultant has to -

• Select potential clients
• Select contents suitable for 3D modelling and common for different allied healthcare professional courses
• Sensitise and establish linkages with clients

C. Duration of the contract

April 2020 - July 2020

D. Deliverables

The consultant has to provide the following deliverables by the due dates as specified:

E. Qualifications of the Consultant:

• Mandatory to be a medical graduate
• A clear understanding of technology
• Experience in teaching allied health professionals is an asset

F. Required Documents

All bidding consultants are required to submit the following:

• A technical proposal (Maximum 10 pages) showing understanding of the assignment, qualifications against the task, timeline (activity plan) etc.
• A separate financial proposal
• A summary of relevant services (if any) provided during the last 3 years;
• Submission of detailed CVs;
• It is mandatory for the bidders to submit documentary evidence demonstrating their legal, taxation and financial status. This includes:
  • Tax identification number (TIN);
  • VAT registration number (if applicable);
  • A certificate of incorporation (if applicable);
  • Trade license (if applicable);
  • NGO bureau registration (if applicable);
  • Joint stock registration certificate (if applicable)
  • Proof of a segregated account (providing the name and address of such account);
  • A signed statement testifying that all information contained within the proposal is correct and true.

G. Submission Details

The potential consultant is to submit the technical and financial proposals and other necessary documents by Apr 15, 2020 to the address mentioned below:

bd.procurement@swisscontact.org

For more information please e-mail: tamiz.mullick@swisscontact.org
N.B.: Swisscontact reserves the right to reject or cancel any offer