The Challenge Initiative (TCI)- Request For Proposals Procurement Of Commodities For The Challenge Initiative Nigeria

DEADLINE: 14TH FEBRUARY, 2025
THE CHALLENGE INITIATIVE (TCI)
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCUREMENT OF COMMODITIES FOR THE CHALLENGE INITIATIVE NIGERIA

The Johns Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programs (JHUCCP), Baltimore, USA, the implementer of The Challenge Initiative NextGen Project (TCI) Nigeria Hub under the auspices of the Johns Hopkins Public Health in Nigeria Initiative (JHPHINI) based in Abuja has received funding to implement Family Planning/Reproductive Health interventions in Nigeria from 2021 to 2025. This project works with the Federal and State Ministries of Health in 22 states and spans each of the major geographical zones in the country.

The Challenge Initiative supports the Government of Nigeria in strengthening its family planning (FP) program. This includes ensuring consistent availability of a wide range of FP commodities (method mix) to meet the population’s diverse needs.

PURPOSE AND SPECIFICATIONS
This Request for Proposals (RFP) aims to secure a qualified supplier to procure and deliver a comprehensive range of high-quality family planning (FP) commodities to Lagos State. Nigeria. This initiative will support the Project’s efforts to strengthen the Lagos State family planning program by ensuring access to a diverse method mix of commodities for the population as a stop-gap measure

The awarded supplier must provide a complete selection of FP commodities, as Annex A outlines. This list aligns with the Lagos State FP guidelines to guarantee a method mix catering to various needs and preferences

All supplied FP commodities must be:

• Registered with Nigeria’s regulatory body (NAFDAC)
• Of the highest quality and meets international manufacturing standards
• Commodities must have an expiry date of one year beyond the delivery date and be accompanied by proper batch number documentation.
• Not be from the federal Government inventory.
• Properly and neatly packaged, commodities that don’t meet this criterion will not be accepted at the point of delivery.

The supplier:

• Must ensure timely and efficient delivery of the commodities to Lagos State according to a pre-agreed schedule.
• Is responsible for providing clear and comprehensive documentation for all deliveries, including:
• An itemized list of delivered commodities.
• Corresponding expiry dates and batch numbers
• Delivery receipts
• The ability to provide post-procurement FP training support to the State is not required but will be considered favorably.
• Must agree to supply all the commodities before payment; commodities must be certified by a team comprising Lagos State and TCI Nigeria officials to conform with the required specifications before payment.

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
All proposals must contain the following information.

Eligibility Documentation
All bidders must show their eligibility to participate in this procurement by providing copies of the following documents.

• Legal Certificate of Incorporation in Nigeria, Tax Identification Certification. Company Profile with verifiable business address, valid email with telephone numbers, and point of contact for the organization.

Technical Proposal
The proposal must demonstrate the bidder’s ability to fulfil all requirements of this RFP and meet the purpose and specifications as stated herein. It must also contain the following specific information:

• A detailed logistics plan outlining the transportation process and demonstrating the capacity to maintain proper storage facilities that comply with all relevant Nigerian regulations for FP commodities.
• Detailed quality assurance procedures for handling commodities to ensure their efficacy and prevent damage.
• Demonstrated experience providing similar procurement and delivery of commodities for organizations in Nigeria, including three references, which must clearly state the type of work performed, company name, address, contact, email, and phone number for the reference; and
• The ability to provide post-procurement FP training support to the State, if available.

Financial Proposal
The bidder must include a financial proposal outlining the costs of fulfilling the RFP’s requirements.

Please state your payment terms in the financial proposal. TCI requires full payment after receipt of goods/services, when all invoices have been received, and when goods/services are satisfactorily certified.

TCI is VAT-exempt, so please do not include VAT when quoting. Also, note that TCI will deduct withholding tax at the applicable rate and remit it to FIRS.

PROPOSAL EVALUATION
Responses will be evaluated using the following criteria:

1. Capability: evaluation of the vendor’s technical proposal showing the vendor’s. ability to supply and deliver commodities by the requirements outlined in this RFP

2. Demonstrated experience providing similar services to reputable organizations in Nigeria. Consideration will be given to experience with international organizations in the development sector

3. Evaluation of financial proposal
a. The financial proposal will be evaluated for realism, reasonableness, allowability, allocability, and cost-effectiveness. Bids that have reasonable expenses will be more favourably considered. The completeness of the bids will also be considered.

b. Only the financial proposals from those deemed technically qualified bidders will be considered.

Submission Process

Issuance Date: January 31, 2025.

Closing Date and Time for Bids Submission: Friday, February 14th, 2025, 4:00 pm West African Central Time

The Proposal should be addressed to:
Project Director, TCI Nigeria
RE: Procurement of Commodities for TCI Nigeria
Abuja, Nigeria.

Contact: Send proposals to: ngtei-procurement@jh.edu

Required Application Format: To facilitate the competitive review of the proposals, all documents should be sent as a single PDF file. Submissions must not exceed 20 pages and should capture all requirements. Any bids received without following the submission instructions will be disqualified. Only shortlisted vendors will be contacted for further discussions.

Note
TCI reserves the right to consider any quotations received before the end of the deadline. Any deviation from the specifications contained in the RFQ will lead to the vendor’s DISQUALIFICATION.

An award will be given to the responsible applicant (s) whose application(s) best meets the requirements of this RFP and the selection criteria contained herein. The Issuance of this RFP does not constitute an award commitment by JHUCCP or its funding agency. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further discussions.

Applications are submitted at the applicant’s risk, and all preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense. Applicants must provide all required information in their applications or may be deemed non-responsive.

IHU reserves the right (but is not under obligation) to enter discussions with one or more applicants to obtain clarifications, additional details, or refinements in the application. Oral discussions may be conducted.

JHU reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted and to award either the entire scope of work to one applicant or partial scope of work to more than one applicant by, for example, focal state or other relevant criteria.

ANNEX A