| Terms of Reference for Consultancy to Develop a Regional Mobile Phone and Web Based Electronic Reporting System for Laboratory and Surveillance Data |
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Terms of Reference East, Central and Southern African Health Community (ECSA-HC), Secretariat
INTRODUCTIONThe East African Community is collaborating with the EAC Partner States, the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community Secretariat (ECSA-HC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) in the implementation of the World Bank supported "East Africa Public Health Laboratory Network Project (EAPHLNP)" which will also contribute to the strengthening of the "East African Integrated Disease Surveillance Network (EAIDSNet). The main objective of the EAPHLNP is to establish a network of efficient, high quality, accessible public health laboratories for the diagnosis and surveillance of Tuberculosis (TB) and other communicable diseases. Specifically, the project will complement ongoing regional and global initiatives to improve Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) country systems which will enhance the availability of quality information by: (i) reinforcing laboratory networking and district capacity (particularly those in border areas) to report, investigate, and adequately respond to disease outbreaks; and (iii) strengthening communications and data sharing to respond rapidly to outbreaks. The East Central and Southern Africa Health Community in collaboration with EAC and the East African Partner States intends to establish an electronic reporting for disease surveillance and laboratory information in the region. The ECSA-HC therefore is seeking a qualified consultant firm to develop the system that interoperates with the existing EAC member states laboratory and surveillance information systems. BACKGROUNDA mobile phone web based disease surveillance system is a system that employs the use of cellular phones on-site by health workers to report data and send it to a central data-base which can be accessed via the internet on an access controlled and pass-word enabled website by different users for data analysis and as evidence base for proper response (prevention and control measures). Data can be presented on standard template, as weekly report, maps, and even exported for analysis elsewhere; other features of the system are automated response (via SMS or email), automatic outbreak detection, graphical representation and baseline trends analysis. Low-end phones can use SMS reporting while Java enabled phones can download forms. The East African Partner States are at different stages of implementation of electronic reporting of laboratory and surveillance data. Some countries are in the pilot stage while others are in the process in rolling out countrywide. In addition the countries are using different input platforms, which include sms, interactive voice, electronic downloadable forms etc. OBJECTIVE:Design, develop and deploy a regional e-reporting system, which will be interoperable with EAC member states information systems. SCOPE:Put in place a web based systems to capture, manage and monitor trends for laboratory and surveillance information needs among member states. The consultancy firm will provide its proposed implementation plan. The open source standards platform is preferred. At all times, any documentation and source code shall be property of the client. PROFILE:
TASKS:
APPROACH/ METHODOLOGY: Outsource a registered firm to do the e-reporting consultancy. The consultancy firm shall conduct a document and electronic systems review among member states and establish inception report to be submitted to ECSA secretariat for approval. Upon approval of the inception report, the consultancy firm will initiate systems development and produce a prototype to be presented to member states for review. The approved prototype will now under go final development, deployment, capacity building and put in place a systems commissioning plan. The plan will give guidance to systems user manual, standards operating procedures, maintenance strategy. The consultant will be expected to surrender all the source codes for the developed system to ECSA-HC. DELIVERABLES:
TIMELINES:All tasks as mentioned in tasks section including systems design, development and implementation shall be accomplished within a period of four (4) months upon signing of contract. RESPONSE TO CALL FOR PROPOSALInterested consultancy firms must include in their application the following: 1. Technical Proposal not exceeding 6 pages on:
2. Financial proposal not exceeding 1 page Consultant's daily rate in US$ or equivalent in local currency; the consultancy is expected to be completed within 60 consultancy days. 3. Organizational and Personnel Capacity Statement
SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALInterested and qualified consultancy firms should submit their application to: The Director General DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION 29 August 2012 EVALUATION AND AWARD OF CONSULTANCYECSA Health Community will evaluate the proposals and award the contract based on technical and financial feasibility. ECSA reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal received without offering an explanation and is not bound to accept the lowest or the highest bidder.
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