R -- Temporary Non-PSC Services of a Laboratory Expert on Gonorrhea Testing

This is a combined synopsis-solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The proposed procurement will be conducted under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), FAR Subpart 13.5. This solicitation is being conducted under full and open competition. The following FAR and AIDAR provisions and clauses apply to this solicitation and are incorporated by reference. FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (Oct 2000); FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation Commercial Items (Jan 1999) (see evaluation factors below); FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (July 2002); FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (Feb 2002); FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items (May 2002), and AIDAR 752.7000 Marking (Jan 1993). An offeror should include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with its offer. The United States Agency for International Development, Regional Mission for Central Asia Republics, Almaty (USAID/CAR) solicits proposals from the parties interested in participation in its program - Gonorrhea Susceptibility Testing in Kyrgyzstan. The US Government plans to assist the Government of Kyrgyzstan to establish treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at primary health care level using World Health Organization syndromic management of STI approach in support of its Strategic Objective of increased utilization of quality primary health care for select populations. For this reason USAID anticipates making a single award to a laboratory expert on gonorrhea (GC) testing who will help to select a lab in Bishkek for GC susceptibility testing and sites for specimen collection, determine need for equipment and reagents, train the lab staff, monitor results of training, develop plan for susceptibility testing, establish and implement external proficiency control panels, analyze GC susceptibility data and produce a report on results. Background: A study conducted in 1999 in Bishkek by the French-based organization Medecins Sans Frontiers found that 25% or more GC isolates from the Bishkek area were resistant to all antibiotics but ceftriaxone, cefixime and spectinomycin, all relatively expensive. In order to adequately treat GC using a syndromic approach, it is critical to identify the most appropriate antibiotics to use. In addition, should the resistance patterns have changed in the last few years enabling less costly drugs to be used to treat GC, more patients would have access to treatment. Finally, it has been established that people with untreated STIs are more susceptible to HIV infection, so it is very important that STIs be properly treated and cured. Site Selection: Neither the Government of Kyrgyzstan nor most of its people, at present, have the funds for both GC testing and treatment. Therefore, the syndromic approach to treatment is most practical under current economic conditions. Proper adjustment of the treatment recommendations for the rethral/vaginal discharge component of the syndromic guideline will require periodic surveillance and testing for antibiotic resistance. Such periodic surveillance should be the function of the Sanitary and Epidemiologic Service (SES), rather than a lab in the curative sector. Hence, the US Government would prefer that location of this GC susceptibility testing would be in the SES, if feasible. Objectives: Establish GC susceptibility patterns in Kyrgyzstan which will form the basis for revising the treatment recommendations for the urethral/vaginal discharge component of the Syndromic Management of Sexually Transmitted Diseases guideline to be used nationally. Contractor tasks: The contractor shall make at least three visits to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and may travel to additional sites within Kyrgyzstan to perform the following tasks. Visit 1 tasks: 1. Assess laboratories in Bishkek (at least three) and advise USAID on selection of a lab best suited to provide GC susceptibility testing in Kyrgyzstan. Possible candidates include: a) the Microbiology Department Lab at the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy; b) a Sanitary and Epidemiologic Lab for STI testing; or c) the lab of the Republican Dermato-Venereology Institute. Selection of a lab should be conducted in an open and impartial manner. The expert should prepare a survey form for the assessment, addressing human resources, technical capacity, communications capacity, specimen handling and transport capabilities. Results of this assessment should be discussed with USAID and the final decision will be made in consultation with USAID. 2. Determine the selected lab's training needs in both identification of GC and GC susceptibility testing for the purpose of designing a training course. 3. Advise USAID on the appropriate number of GC susceptibility tests needed and the number and geographic range of locations from which tests must be obtained in order to appropriately revise the treatment recommendations for the urethral/vaginal discharge component of the Syndromic Management of Sexually Transmitted Diseases guideline to be used nationally. Advise USAID on options for obtaining specimens, whether from the curative sector or through periodic surveys, including advantages and disadvantages of these options.4. Identification of sites may require travel to Osh and Djalalabad in South Kyrgyzstan or other locations as needed. 5. Identify sites/sources for specimen collection and any training needs at collection sites to ensure that specimens are successfully collected, isolated, and appropriately transported. 6. Identify 1-2 clinical specialists to be trained for monitoring specimen collection and other quality components. 7. Advise USAID on the number of tests that should be transported out of country for re-testing and the cost of such external testing. 8. Specify type and quantity of additional equipment/reagents, test kits, and other supplies needed to accomplish collection, transport, and testing of specimens and provide this information to USAID so a separate procurement can be initiated. Include in this list any supplies needed if specimens from sites other than Bishkek must be obtained and transported. Off-site tasks: design a training program to meet the needs of the selected lab such that, post-training, the lab can accurately test specimens for GC and test positive specimens for susceptibility to specific antibiotics; prepare materials requiring translation in advance and submit to USAID for translation; design a training program, if needed, for staff at collection sites to ensure specimens are successfully collected, isolated, and appropriately transported; prepare materials requiring translation in advance and submit to USAID for translation. Visit 2 tasks: 1. Provide needed training to selected lab on testing specimens for GC and on GC susceptibility testing, including training on any new equipment, new reagents or test kits, and on transport of specimens should this be necessary. Training should result in X proficiency being achieved by laboratorians in organism identification and susceptibility testing. (The consultant should propose an appropriate proficiency level to indicate training effectiveness, as well as the rationale for selecting the proposed level). 2. Train identified clinical specialists to monitor specimen collection and other quality components. 3. Travel with clinical specialists to collection sites and provide training, as needed, to staff on collection, isolation, and transport of specimens, including training on any new equipment, reagents, test kits, or transport devices. Training should result in X proficiency being achieved by laboratorians in collection, isolation, and transport of specimens. (The consultant should propose an appropriate proficiency level to indicate training effectiveness, as well as the rationale for selecting the proposed level.). 4. Set up a study of GC resistance patterns and assist selected lab and collection sites in implementing this study once x level of proficiency has been achieved. Visit 3 tasks: 1. Monitor lab proficiency on testing specimens for GC and on GC susceptibility testing. 2. Travel to collection sites to supervise clinical specialists in monitoring quality of specimen collection, isolation, and transport.3. Monitor progress of study on resistance patterns. Off-site tasks: send proficiency panel at specific intervals, evaluate results and communicate recommendations for rectifying any identified deficiencies. Consultant to advise on appropriate intervals but at least one or two times per year; once data are available, analyze and prepare report. To accompany reported results of GC sensitivity testing, consultant should submit a methods description and verify data quality. If decision is made by USAID to publish the data, the consultant will be invited to be a co-author and all participating investigators should be credited. The U.S. Government shall provide visa support, hotel reservations, assistance with renting a car, and assistance with arranging translator services. Written and oral translation services will be paid by the consultant and reimbursed by USAID. Should it be necessary to pay 1-2 clinical specialists a consulting fee to monitor specimen collection and other quality components, consultant will pay this fee and receive reimbursement from USAID. Deliverables:Trip 1: Report including lab assessments, training needs of labs identified, identification of collection sites and basis for selection, as well as list of equipment and supplies to be ordered with specifications and quantities needed. Trip 2: Completed training of laboratorians, staff at collection sites, and clinical specialists to provide future monitoring of results after training. Developed plan for study of GC resistance patterns. Provided guidelines to lab including internal quality control checks to assist it in meeting performance testing goals. Trip 3: Report on monitoring proficiency of lab and collection sites. Describe progress of study. Proficiency panel results and recommendations for rectifying any deficiencies. Final. Completed study with methods description and data quality verification.The period of performance will be three to eight months; place of performance: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. USAID intends to obtain these commercial services under one non-personal services, cost-reimbursement type contract. USAID estimates the work can be completed in 45 work days for the contractor, 3 months for a local consultant in Bishkek, 3 months for a local consultant in Osh, 30 days of local interpreter services and 50 pages of translation, all to be supplied by the contractor and included in the cost of a contract. Offers may be evaluated without discussions. So the initial offer must meet the Government requirements. Evaluation factors will be based upon qualification: certified lab technologist; international experience training lab technologist in gonorrhea susceptibility testing; employment by certified reference lab that can provide proficiency panel and retest a sample of specimens for quality purposes; experience in designing studies of gonorrhea antibiotic resistance patterns; experience in applying lab data to develop Syndromic Management of STI guidelines; experience in developing cost-effective equipment and supply recommendations suitable for non-western conditions; Russian language proficiency and experience in Central Asian lab settings preferred but not required. USAID will evaluate the reasonableness of the cost of each acceptable proposal in relation to the qualification. Proposals containing resume stating qualification, trip schedule and detailed costs including travel are due at 10 AM, Almaty time on September 11, 2003. They must be addressed to Patrick Robinson, Contracting Officer, USAID/CAR, 41 Kazybek Bi Street, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Facsimile proposals may be submitted to 7 3272 507635 or 507636. E-mailed quotations may be sent to probinson@usaid.gov. All proposals must be in writing, dated and signed by an authorized representative and reference RFP No. 116-03-016. Questions should be addressed to elebedeva@usaid.gov or 7 3272 507612 X334. Issuance of this combined synopsis does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government, nor does it commit the Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of the proposals. Point of Contact Ekaterina Lebedeva, Procurement Agent, Phone 011-7-3272-507612 ext.334; Fax 011-7-3272-507635/507636, Email elebedeva@usaid.gov - Patrick Robinson, Contracting Officer, Phone 011-7-3272-50-76-12 ext.412; Fax 011-7-3272-507635/507636, Email probinson@usaid.gov