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NATIONAL AGENCY FOR THE CONTROL OF AIDS (NACA)

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: ENGAGEMENT OF A SERVICE PROVIDER TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON INTEGRATED LABORATORY NETWORK OPTIMIZATION AND GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS IN NIGERIA

Background

Laboratories are a critical component of healthcare systems that directly impact the quality of health service delivery. The ability to make decisions quickly and accurately in healthcare delivery depends on laboratory systems’ functionality. They also form the backbone of disease surveillance and public health response to outbreaks and epidemics. Nigeria faces a significant challenge in ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare services, particularly in terms of diagnostic capabilities. Limited access to essential diagnostic tests hinders timely and accurate diagnosis, leading to delayed treatment, increased morbidity and mortality, and unnecessary healthcare costs.The Medical Laboratory Services Division (MLSD), located in the Department of Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health, coordinates laboratory services as well as the implementation of policies and strategic interventions aimed at strengthening the country’s laboratory system, among other mandates. The National Medical Laboratory Services Policy (NMLSP) outlines a comprehensive approach to address the challenges of managing medical laboratory services in Nigeria. The policy establishes a functional organizational structure at both the Federal and State Ministries of Health. The government, non-government organizations, and the private sector support the provision of medical laboratory services. Services provided cut across diagnostic, public health, teaching, and research activities. Nigeria organizes its healthcare delivery across three tiers: primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of care. In the public health space, laboratory support activities are fragmented across vertical disease programmes, with very poor coordination of activities.

The MLSD has been working to strengthen the country’s laboratory systems in recent years, with support from the Global Fund and other partners. However, Nigeria’s medical laboratory governance structure faces several challenges, such as suboptimal coordination and collaboration among different stakeholders in the medical laboratory sector, inadequate funding for medical laboratories, inadequate infrastructure and equipment, and poor quality control and assurance in medical laboratories. These issues have led to several challenges, including inaccurate and unreliable test results, delays in test delivery, and risks to patient safety. To address some of these challenges, the MLSD under the Global Fund GC7 has been funded to strengthen laboratory health systems through integrated Diagnostic Network Optimization (DNO).

To this end, there is a need to engage a Service Provider to provide technical assistance (TA) to FMOH-MLSD for the strengthening and integration of laboratory systems across disease programs in Nigeria towards the achievement of a Diagnostics Network Optimization.

COLLECTION OF REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) DOCUMENT

The scope of work is provided in the Standard bidding document as provided in the link below,

https://naca.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SBD-Service-provider-MLSD-and-FMOH-clean-copy.pdf

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

a)    Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with the inclusion of Articles of Association (forms CAC2 and CAC7);

b)    Evidence of Company’s Income Tax Clearance Certificate for the last three (3) years (2021,2022 & 2023) valid till 31^st December 2024;

c)     Evidence of current Pension Compliance Certificate valid till 31^st December 2024;

d)    Evidence of current Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31^st December 2024;

e)    Evidence of current Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31^st December 2024;

f)     Copy of Audited Company Accounts for the immediate past three years (2021, 2022 & 2023) duly stamped and signed by certified Auditor;

g)            Bank Reference letter or Letter of good-standing from bank addressed to NACA (Within the period of the Advert)

h)    Sworn Affidavit disclosing whether or not any officer of NACA or Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) is a former or present Director, Shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and to confirm that all information presented in its bids are true and correct in all particulars and;

–       that the company is not in receivership or any form of insolvency/bankruptcy, nor debarment and that the company nor any of the Director(s) of the company has been convicted of any financial crime;

i)             Company’s Profile and organizational structure with the full name of the organization and contact person, postal address, telephone/fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. Within the period of the Advert)

j)     Verifiable documentary evidence of at least three (3) similar jobs executed in the last Five (5) years including Letters of Awards and Job Completion Certificates;

k)    All documents for submission must be transmitted with a Covering/Forwarding letter under the Company/Firms Letter Head Paper bearing amongst others, the Registration Number (CAC), Contact Address, Telephone Number (Preferable GSM No.), and e-mail address. The Letterhead Paper must bear the Names and Nationalities of the Directors of the Company at the bottom of the page, duly signed by the authorized officer of the firm. It is very important to note that only the requested documents are expected for vendors to submit. Failure to submit a cover letter will lead to disqualification

SUBMISSION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS

Prospective consulting firms are to submit two (2) hard copies (one original & another copy) of the requested documents and financial bid. Thereafter, the Tenderer shall enclose the original in one (1) envelope and all the copy of the Tender in another envelope, duly marking the envelopes as “THE ENGAGEMENT OF A SERVICE PROVIDER TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON INTEGRATED LABORATORY NETWORK OPTIMIZATION AND GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS IN NIGERIA” and “FINANCIAL.” The two (2) envelopes shall then be enclosed and sealed in one (1) single outer envelope after registration using the NACA bid register.  Vendors are expected to register their submission into the bid register and place their submission in the assigned Bid Box at the front of the reception of the Agency. Vendors are kindly requested to submit soft copy of their Technical & financial proposal in a secured flash

a.    Prospective bidders can submit their documents as a Joint Venture with relevant documents provided in line with the requirements stated in the SBD.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

The deadline for the submission of Tender should not be later than 12 noon of 13^th August 2024. Clarification can be obtained at the Office of the Head of Procurement, Ground Floor, NACA main building, 3 Ziguinchor Street. Wuse Zone 4. Abuja. The bids will be opened immediately after close of submission.

ADDRESS FOR INFORMATION AND SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Attention:

Head Procurement

National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) 

Ground Floor Room 1.08

No. 3 Zinguinchor Street, Beside AEDC Office, Wuse zone 4, Abuja

Notes/Disclaimer

i.    Late submissions will not be accepted.

ii.  NACA shall verify any or all documents and claims made by applicants and will disqualify   consultants with falsified documents and claims.

iii. If it is determined that submitted documents and claims have been falsified, the consultant may face prosecution in a court of Law.

ii.   NACA shall not be held responsible for any disqualified proposal as a result of any omission or deletion relating to the submission guidelines.

iii.  This advertisement shall not be construe a contract to any Consultant, nor shall it entitle any Consultant submitting documents to claim any indemnity from NACA.

iv.  NACA is not bound to shortlist any Consultant, and reserves the right to annul the bidding process at any time without incurring any liabilities or providing reason.

Signed

Management.