FHI360 CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (EOI)
Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (Epic) is a five-year, global project funded by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with a period of performance from April 15, 2019 to April 14, 2024. EpiC is led by FHI 360with core partners Population Services International, Palladium Group, Right to Care, and Gobee Group; and resource partners Africa Capacity Alliance, Aurun Institute, Enda Sante. Thai Red Cross, University of the West lndies, VHS-YRG Care, Dimagi, Johns Hopkins University Key Populations Program, John Snow Inc., MTV International and World Vision.
Through the Key Populations Investment Fund (KPIF), PEPFAR has committed funding to expand key population (KP) programming in Bayelsa and Niger States in Nigeria. The goal of KPIF is to promote the acceleration of high-quality HIV prevention and treatment services for KPs. The KPIF will extend the ability for local KP-led, trusted and competent implementing partners (IPs) to contribute to PEPFAR’s KP scale-up of differentiated HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services. The funding will scale up innovative, evidence-based strategies to achieve epidemic control for KPs while supporting greater involvement of KP-led and KP- focused local organizations at the community and national level. EpiC/Nigeria will work closely with USAID/Nigeria, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and KP-led and KP- focused local organizations to introduce new strategies that address barriers for KPs accessing these services.
EpiC recognizes that KP-led and KP-competent local organizations working in HIV/AIDS are critical to the epidemic response in Nigeria. This announcement is a call for expressions of Interest (EOI) for Nigerian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to join the EpiC/Nigeria project in providing tailored HIV services programming for KPs for up to a two-year period beginning October 1, 2019. Through this competitive process, EpiC/Nigeria Intends to select and provide funding and technical assistance to Nigerian NGOs which meet the required qualifications.
B. SCOPE OF WORK
The goal of EpiC/Nigeria is to achieve and maintain epidemic control through strategic technical assistance to improve HIV prevention, case finding, care, and treatment programming. While several investments have been made by PEPFAR in KP programming in Nigeria, these efforts have not been across all the states. Niger and Bayelsa states have been fully covered. Additionally, alt studies and surveys related to size estimates were conducted outside these two states. Because of the proximity of the two states to other states with high HIV prevalence, even among the general population, programming for KPs in the two states becomes very essential.
EpiC/Nigeria designed to break through these remaining, persistent barriers to the 95-95-95 goals and promote self-reliant management of national HIV programs. EpiC/Nigeria has two objectives, which focus on filling existing HIV prevention, case finding, and treatment gaps, and on building long-term sustainability to attain and maintain epidemic control:
Objective 1: Scale up evidence-based direct service interventions via One Stop Shops to reads epidemic control amongst KPs in Bayelsa and Niger states.
Objective 2: Support KP-competent and specific HIV information, service referrals and retention/adherence support via a nationwide HIV/AIDs Hotline
C. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND SELECTION
To respond to this EOI, an organization must meet all of the following minimum eligibility criteria:
(i) Must be locally registered as an NGO in Nigeria, whether faith-based, community-based or a national NGO.
(ii) Must have demonstrated experience in implementing services (biomedical behavioural, and/or structural interventions related to HIV) among any or all of the following KP groups: FSWs, MSM, PWID, TG or prison inmates.
(iii) Must have current presence/activities in either Niger State or Bayelsa State.
(iv) Must disclose any conflict of interest: The applicant’s relationships, associations, activities, and interests should not create a conflict of interest that could prevent full impartiality in Implementation of the grant activities.
(v) Must have or be in the processing of obtaining a DUNS number (https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform).
(vi) Must be able to comply with all USG regulations as per https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/303mab
Due Dates and Bidder’s Questions
EOIs are due on by 5 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Thursday, August 22, 2019.
FHI360 will accept requests for clarification on this call for EOIs. Please submit question by email at the following address: EpiC-KPIF@360.org. Please reference “EpiC Nigeria Call for EOIs-Clarification Questions” in the subject line of the email.
Questions must be received by 5:00 pm EST on Monday, August 12, 2019.
Responses to questions will be shared by Thursday, August 15, 2019.
For full detail and further guidance on this EOI please send email to EpiCng@fhi360.org
