DEADLINE: 24TH JANUARY, 2023
MALARIA CONSORTIUM NIGERIA
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR THE PROVISION OF LABORATORY MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF MOSQUITOES.
REF NO: MC-NG-ABJ-2023-001-MOLECULAR ANALYSIS
SPECIFICATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS
MALARIA CONSORTIUM
Malaria Consortium is one of the world’s leading non-profit organisations dedicated to the comprehensive control of malaria and other communicable diseases in Africa and Southeast Asia. Malaria Consortium works with communities, government and non-government agencies, academic institutions, and local and international organisations, to ensure good evidence supports delivery of effective services, providing technical support for monitoring and evaluation of programmes and activities for evidence-based decision-making and strategic planning. The organisation works to improve not only the health of the individual, but also the capacity of national health systems, which helps relieve poverty and support improved economic prosperity.
Malaria Consortium is committed to obtaining a fair value for services received with a competitive price and timely delivery of the right quantities at the right quality.
Administrative information
(1) It is the intent of this RFP to engage a molecular laboratory that will carry out molecular analyses of dry Anopheles mosquitoes collected during entomological studies conducted in selected sites in Anambra and Ondo states.
(2) This RFP includes:
(i) The RFP document
(ii) The Bidder Response Document (BRD)
(3) Vendors shall submit offers electronically to tenders@malariaconsortium.org and in the subject field of the email reference the following: MC-NG-ABJ-2023-001-MOLECULAR ANALYSIS.
(4) Bids must be received by 24th January 2023 at 17:00 (5pm) WAT. Bids submitted after the deadline will NOT be accepted.
(5) Questions must be sent by email to tenders@malariaconsortium.org with the following bid reference in the subject: ‘MC-NG-ABJ-2023-001-MOLECULAR ANALYSIS – Question’. All questions must be sent in latest by 16th January 2023 at 17:00 (5pm) WAT.
(6) Malaria Consortium shall notify the winning bidders in writing. Malaria Consortium is under no responsibility to release the identity or contract terms of the winning vendor.
(7) Malaria Consortium reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, and to accept the bid deemed to be in the best interest of Malaria Consortium and is not bound to accept the lowest priced bid submitted.
(8) Malaria Consortium reserves the right to award contracts to multiple vendors if deemed to be in its best interest.
(9) The award criteria shall be based on the proposal’s overall response and “value for money” while taking into consideration donor and internal requirements and regulations. The award will be determined by a committee of Malaria Consortium employees.
(10) The successful vendor shall receive a contract and deliver within the agreed duration after issuance of purchase order(s), and this contract can be extended upon agreement by both parties
(11) The language for communications and required documents will be in English.
Technical Requirements & Specifications
Specific activities to be carried out
(1) Molecular identification of An. gambiae complex species
(2) Detection of Plasmodium infection in mosquitoes collected using CDC light traps
(3) Genotyping of resistance mutations, including Vgsc L1014F, Vgsc L1014S, and Ace-1 G119S
(4) Submit all laboratory analysis data to Malaria Consortium via agreed channels and in agreed formats.
(5) Submit a report describing chemical analysis methods used (materials, test conditions, procedures), summaries of results, any limitations or challenges, and recommendations.
Expected Deliverables and Timelines
(1) Molecular identification of An. gambiae complex species and An. funestus complex species (minimum of 4,000 samples)
(2) Detection of Plasmodium infection in mosquitoes samples from CDC light trap collections ( 8 An. gambiae s.l., 6 An. funestus s.l. and 10 An. ziemanni)
(3) Genotyping of resistance mutations, including Vgsc L1014F, Vgsc L1014S, and Ace-1 G119S (up to 2,000 An. gambiae s.l. samples)
Progress reporting/updates
(1) In the course of rendering these laboratory services, the vendor may be contacted or invited by Malaria Consortium’s Project Technical Team to discuss progress of activities, deliverables and timelines as related to this assignment.
Required Procedures
DNA extraction
(1) Genomic DNA of individual samples should be extracted using an appropriate method, which should be specified in the quote. The extracted DNA should be used for all molecular analysis activities described below. For all assays, appropriate positive and negative controls should be run
Molecular identification of Anopheles gambiae complex
(2) Two methods should be used for species identification: (a) Scott et al.’s cocktail PCR method, including a universal primer and specific primers for An. gambiae s.s., An. arabiensis and An. melas, and (b) the SINE PCR2 which separates An. coluzzii and An. gambiae.
Genotyping of resistance mutations
(3) Knockdown resistance mutations (Vgsc L1014F and L1014S, formerly known as kdr West and East, respectively3,4 should be genotyped using TaqMan quantitative PCR genotyping assays5. In addition, the Ace-1 G119S TaqMan assay6 should be performed.
Molecular detection of Plasmodium species
(4) The TaqMan assay should be used to detect Plasmodium species7. Alternatively, the method developed by Snounou et al.8 could be used. Molecular detection of Plasmodium species is required only in mosquitoes collected using CDC light traps. The method to be used should be specified in the quote.
(1) Scott, J. A. et al. Am J Trop Med 49, 520-529 (1993).
(2) Santolamazza, F. et al. Malar J 7, 163 (2008).
(3) Martinez-Torres, D. et al. Insect Mol. Biol. 7, 179-184 (1998).
(4)Ranson, H. et al. Insect Mol. Biol. 9, 491-497 (2000).
(5) Bass, C. et al. Malar. J. 6 (2007).
(6)Bass, C., et al. Pest. Biochem. Physiol. 96, 80-85 (2010).
(7) Bass, C. et al. Malar J 7, 177 (2008).
(8)Snounou, G. et al. Mol Biochem Parasitol 61, 315-320 (1993).
Specification of Molecular Laboratory
(1) Presence of appropriate conventional/sine PCR machine and the necessary primers for identification of An. gambiae and An. funestus complex species, insecticide resistance markers, and detection of Plasmodium sporozoites in mosquitoes
(2) Demonstrated evidence of doing the same work in the past one year, namely molecular identification of An. gambiae complex species and An. funestus complex species, genotyping of insecticide resistance mutations using TaqMan assays, and molecular detection of Plasmodium species in mosquitoes.
(3) A minimum of three years’ experience in molecular analysis of mosquito samples.
(4) Evidence of mosquito molecular analysis work carried out at the laboratory has been published in a peer-reviewed international journal.
OTHER TERMS
Payment Terms
(1) Malaria Consortium will make payment within 30 days after presentation of certificate of completion note and invoice signed by both parties, outlining any deductions for loss, damage, or late delivery.
(2) All payments shall be made in Nigerian Naira by bank transfer within 30 days of receipt of valid documentation
(3) Payment will be net of tax deduction in accordance with Nigeria tax Laws. Malaria Consortium is VAT exempted but it is mandated to make tax deduction and remit same to relevant tax authority in Nigeria. All vendors are subject to withholding tax deductions.
(4) Please note that the award will be made based on the lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) basis. Bidders are to bid for the costs of conducting the chemical analysis based on the specifications outlined in this RFP.
(5) All bid validity shall be for a minimum of 90 days.
REQUIRED CRITERIA
RFP Selection Criteria
(1) To be considered eligible for evaluation, the organization must have agreed to be compliant to Malaria Consortium’s Policies. Any bid not meeting the preselection criteria listed below will not be considered for evaluation.
Mandatory Criteria (non-adherence disqualifies a bid from further consideration) Completed MC Bidder Response Document (BRD) submitted Signature to confirm compliance with Malaria Consortium’s Policies within BRD Copy of business registration documents (proof of legal operation in the country of registration) Evidence of tax payment from 2019 to 2021 Evidence of a recent award for molecular identification of An. gambiae complex species, genotyping of insecticide resistance mutations using TaqMan assays, and molecular detection of Plasmodium species in mosquitoes (P.O or Contract) Pricing Proposal, including a full cost breakdown, based on the details provided in this RFP Submitted in the BRD
RFP Evaluation Criteria
(2) Proposals will be evaluated based on clarity and completeness of presentation.
(a) Award will be made per line item based on the technically acceptable proposal with the lowest evaluated price.
(b) Bidders who satisfactorily meet the preliminary and mandatory requirements set out in this request for proposal will be required to submit sample of tools. Note- Vendors are to bear the cost of printing these samples.
Description (Technical & Financial proposal) Scoring in percentage Total Score in percentage Technical Proposal Bidders range and depth of experience with delivering molecular analyses of dry Anopheles mosquitoes (Question 1 in BRD) 20 60 1. Evidence of molecular analyses of dry Anopheles mosquitoes carried out within the past 5 years, attaching evidence of the purchase order (PO)/contracts (Minimum of two POs/Contracts). 20 2. Evidence of number of papers published in international peer reviewed journals based on molecular analyses of dry Anopheles mosquitoes 20 Financial Capacity and Competitiveness 3. Pricing proposal with total cost estimate for the services, with cost breakdown within the bidder response document 20 20 4. Lead time for data and reports 20 20 Total Technical & Financial Proposal 100
Section 3 – Declaration by the Bidder:
We, the Bidder, hereby confirm compliance with:
- Malaria Consortium Terms and Conditions of Purchase
- Malaria Consortium’s Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption policy
- Malaria Consortium’s Anti-Bribery Policy
- Malaria Consortium’s Safeguarding Policy
Note: The terms and conditions and policies can be found at the end of the RFP document.
We also confirm that Malaria Consortium may in its consideration of our offer, and subsequently, rely on the information provided in this document.
I (Name) ________________________________ (Title)_______________________am authorized to represent the above-detailed company and to enter into business commitments on its behalf. Company ……………………………………………………………………………
Date ……………………………………………………………………..
