Total Family Health Organisation Opportunity For Consultancy - Emergency Contraceptive Research

Job Description

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) NO.   : TFHO/RFP/RME/ 002/18

TO PROVIDE                                    : Emergency Contraceptive Research 

ISSUE DATE                                    :  November 5 ,2018

LAST DATE FOR RECEIPT OF CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS BY TFHO      :      November 8,2018           

LAST DATE FOR RESPONSES BY TFHO    :      November 9,2018

RFP CLOSING DATE AND PLACE           :           November 12, 2018 ,

TFHO. No 20 Dzorwulu Crescent-Accra

All bidders should contact procurement@tfhoghana.org for bidding instruction and procedures

PROPOSALS MAY BE DELIVERED BY EMAIL or by Hand delivery to the front office of Total Family Health Organisation, No 20 Dzorwulu Crescent

(USE RFP NO. as subject line)            : TFHO/RFP/RME/ 002/18                                                                    

RFP No. TFHO/RFP/RME/002/18

Section                           Title            

COVER PAGE 

CONTENTS

PART I                            BIDDING INSTRUCTIONS AND PROCEDURES

                                        Contact procurement@tfhoghana.org details

PART 2                           TERMS OF REFERENCE

PART I: BIDDING INSTRUCTIONS AND PROCEDURES

1.0 Introduction

Total Family Health Organisation (TFHO) is a non-governmental private, non-profit organization whose purpose is to contribute, in collaboration with local and foreign partner in health and development, in the conception and implementation of strategies that aim at improving the health and wellbeing of the Ghanaian population.

2.0  Information

This Part I, Bidding Instructions and Procedures, will not form part of any resulting award or contract.  It is intended solely for the information of prospective Suppliers.

3.0  Clarifications

Inquiries concerning this RFP must be submitted in writing, to be received by the date shown on the Cover Page.  Such inquiries shall be sent by email, directed to

Attention: Andrew Quaye

Email:  procurement@tfhoghana.org

TFHO may not consider or respond to questions that are received after the closing date for clarification stated above.

A.  Technical Proposal

Your proposal should provide basic information about your Company and relevant service offerings. It should have a section addressing each of the following areas:

1. Company Profile
2. Approach
3. Responsiveness to the Scope of Work
4. References

B.  Financial Proposal

Bidders pricing should be based on fixed fee basis and are encouraged to respond with their best possible price for good, as there may not be an opportunity to submit revised

PART 2: RFP TERMS OF REFERENCE

The request for research services will include but not limited to the following:

Emergency Contraceptive Research 

The rationale for the assignment

Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) are the only contraceptive method available to women and girls that provide a second chance to prevent unintended pregnancy after method failure, rape, or failure to use a method.  Despite this unique position in the method mix, in the majority of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, ECPs are an option that remains underutilized, misunderstood and unavailable at a price most women and girls can afford.

Misconceptions about ECPs abound. Many people do not understand how ECPs work (i.e. by preventing ovulation) and confuse it with an abortion drug, despite the fact that ECPs cannot harm an established pregnancy. 

According to a research conducted in 2015 by the International Consortium for Emergency Contraception (ICEC); it shows that ECPs pills are extremely safe, even when taken repeatedly contrary to the assumption that ECPs can only be used once in a cycle. The World Health Organization in 2015 classified repeated ECPs pill use as Level 1 in their Medical Eligibility Criteria (Level 1 indicates “a condition for which there is no restriction for the use of the contraceptive method”). Some women - especially young women and women who have frequent sex – choose to use ECPs as their regular form of contraception, often taking it several times a month. This option may be more expensive and less effective than other methods such as an IUD or oral contraceptive pill, yet for women whose sexual relationships are sporadic, a long-term contraceptive method may not be desired.

Increasingly, more studies have shown that women would be interested in using repeat ECPs as a primary method of contraception or already are (ICEC 2017).

Objective

The overall objective of this study is to gain a greater understanding of the consumer journey in the use of ECPs , what drives and motivates both users and non-users, and how to position ECPs in the market to increase access to this method.

Specific Objectives

Key learning objectives of the assignment are to help find out;

• How are consumers currently using ECPs? What are the barriers and motivators to using ECPs?
• What are the key attitudes towards ECP use (and repeat ECP use) among consumers, pharmacists, and key stakeholders?
• How do we best position ECPs in the market? Is there an opportunity to position ECPs as an ‘on-demand’ method?
• How do we best communicate the benefits of ECPs?
• How do we effectively link ECP users to voluntary on-going contraception (where relevant)?
• How might fertility awareness education fit within an ECP communication strategy?

Respective research Consultants who have the capacity to conduct these studies should register their interest. Consultants are to submit a copy of company profile demonstrating their capabilities and track records. Prospective Consultants will indicate their technical capabilities to execute the research.

Shortlisted Consultants will receive a more detailed brief /TOR to enable them to customise their proposals and re-submit

Required Skills or Experience

Consultant should have minimum 3 years working experience in conducting similar research