Grant to Implement HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment Activities for Key Populations, Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) in Anambra State of Nigeria.

1. Background

Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi) is a local non-governmental organization incorporated in Nigeria in 2009 with its headquarters in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. It was established with a mission to promote socioeconomic development by supporting a broad range of global health intervention including, education, research, and economic initiatives in Nigeria.

Government of Nigeria (GoN) has received funds for Global Fund Grant Cycle 7 (GC-7) called the Global Fund Nigeria TB/HIV Reach and Impact Project (N-THRIP) with the Institute for Human Virology (IHVN) selected as the Principal Recipient (PR) of the funds. AHNI was selected as one of the Sub-Recipient (SR) of these funds and will continue to implement an end-to-end treatment program in Anambra State.

Through the N-THRIP project, GF has committed funding to support and expand key population (KP) programming in Anambra State, Nigeria. The goal of N-THRIP KP program is to promote the acceleration of high-quality HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support services for KPs. The Project will extend the ability for local KP-led and KP friendly trusted and competent community-based organizations (KP-CBOs) to contribute to scale-up of differentiated HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services for Key Populations. The funding will scale up innovative, evidence-based strategies to achieve epidemic control for KPs while supporting greater involvement of KP-led and KP-friendly local organizations at the community and state level.

AHNI 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 Community based organizations (CBOs) to join the N-THRIP project in providing tailored HIV services programming for MSM for about three-year period beginning April 1, 2024 to October 31, 2026. Through this competitive process, AHNI intends to select and provide funding and technical assistance to Community Based Organizations which meet the required qualifications to provide services for MSM.

1. Scope

Goal and Objectives

The objectives of engaging the Community based Organizations are:

1.To provide comprehensive community-based HIV Service Package including prevention, care, treatment, and support, including community initiation of ARVs, referrals and linkages to treatment services in the One-Stop-Shop, Drop In Centers and KP friendly health facilities.

2.To Support community and institutional system strengthening through the identification and capacity building of Key Population-Led community-based organizations for effective programming

3.To provide enabling/legal environment for Key Population Programming through promotion of human right, access to justice, legal aid services and reduction of stigma and discrimination

1. Roles and Responsibilities / Scope of Work
2. Human Resource

Identify and recruit competent key staff for the implementation of the program deliverables (Program Officer, Finance Officer and M&E officer), and community adhoc staff to support service delivery (case managers, community facilitators, outreach workers)

• Community HIV prevention and Linkage (1^st 95 target)

       The CBOs among others is expected to implement the following activities:

• Conduct periodic Micro KP size estimation (MSM) to Map and identify KP hotspots and Implement evidence based comprehensive programs to increase HIV case finding among

    MSM

• Implement and provide comprehensive HIV prevention packages in line with GON Prevention

guidelines including PrEP

• Mobilize MSM for the conduct of targeted mobile HIV testing services!
• Conduct HIV Testing Services (HTS) including partner notification services, HIVST, risk profile-based testing services, linkage (via patient navigation) to ART for those testing positive, and other testing modalities applicable to MSM case finding.
• Coordinate the promotion, provision and distribution of male and female condoms and water-based lubricants.
• Mobilize eligible MSM community members to access PrEP in the community as well as referral to established OSS sites in Anambra State using set criteria.
• Implement community based STI screening, prevention, and Management for MSM.
• Refer and link all newly identified HIV positive MSM KPs to the cART  OSS, Drop in centre and KP friendly Health Facilities.

• Treatment, Care, support, and retention (2^nd 95 Target)
• Initiate on ARVs/Link all identified positives among the MSM KPs to cART/OSS, DICs and KP friendly health facilities.

• Provision/referrals for clinical services including STI screening, treatment and
• other sexual reproductive health services.
• Work with treatment facilities and establishments (One Stop Shops and/or cART teams) to initiate same day, same site commencement of Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) for positive MSM KPs through accompanied referral and monitor adherence.
• Provide Community based PMTCT services/referral to a facility
• Provide community-based TB/HIV services and referral to DOT Clinics
• Viral Suppression (3^RD 95 Target)
• Provide adherence support for HIV-positive MSM KPs; follow up and report on retention in care as well as viral load suppression.
• Hold monthly support group meetings for identified PLHIVs on the program
• Provide community based viral load services (Sample collection, packaging, and transport) to an OSS/PCR Laboratory
• Community Systems strengthening and Monitoring
• Establishing a community advisory/support team (members will include police, Justice, SA, SASCP, KP leaders and other relevant stakeholders).

• Selected community led Organizations will work in collaboration with identified human rights lawyers and law enforcement agents who will work with community paralegals to provide human rights educations; monitor, document and report human rights violations targeting MSM key populations.
• Provide support to Community Facilitators, Outreach Workers (ORWs) and Case managers to ensure quality of data and participate in quarterly data quality assurance meetings.
• Provide regular feedback to MSM community members and participate in engagement with stakeholders.
• Mobilize KP for quarterly community town hall / internal stakeholder meetings; also harmonize issues to be discussed during these meetings.
• Working with the OSS team, KP secretariat and State government to effectively deliver on all the objectives.

 Anticipated Period of Performance

The anticipated period of performance for N-THRIP grant is from April 1, 2024, to October 31, 2026. 

IV. Eligibility Criteria & Selection

To respond to this EOI, an MSM organization must meet all the following minimum eligibility criteria:

• Must be locally registered as an NGO in Nigeria, whether faith-based, community-based or a national NGO.
• Must have demonstrated experience in implementing services (biomedical, behavioral, and/or structural interventions related to HIV) among MSM KP group.
• Must have current presence/activities in Anambra State.
• 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.
• Must register and/or show identification with the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA) and State based KP Secretariate.
• Applications will undergo a preliminary review for completeness and responsiveness. Incomplete applications, applications judged to be unresponsive to the EOI, and applications submitted after the due date and time will be considered ineligible and will NOT be considered for an award.
• Any organization that does not meet these minimum eligibility criteria will not be considered.
• Note: Interested MSM NGOs may express their interest as a single NGO or as a “consortium.” Consortiums should select partners to complement the organizational strengths in providing a comprehensive cascade of HIV services to MSM in Anambra. Consortiums are when NGOs and/or community-based organizations (CBOs) team up with other organizations based on their areas of collective strength. If other NGOs are being brought into the consortium, then the strengths of each consortium member need to be detailed in the application. The lead for the consortium should be the lead applicant and as such will assume the overall financial and technical responsibility for any funds received as well as all risk for the funds that are sub-granted to other NGOs in the consortium.

V. Application Instructions

• Applications should be no longer than 7 pages, excluding the budget and appendices, and include the following information:
• A. Organizational Background (2 pages maximum)
• The applicant should briefly detail the following information in the organizational background section. This information can be presented in a table format if needed.
• If applying as a consortium, this information should be provided for the lead applicant/lead consortium member (clearly indicated) as well as each additional member organization in the consortium.
• Name of the organization.
• Contact person and full address (physical, postal, telephone and email).
• Type of organization (NGO, CBO, or faith-based organization). Indicate if it is a membership organization.
• Current geographical coverage (states, local government areas, wards, communities/hotspots).
• Organizational vision, mission, goal, and objectives.
• A list of current and recently completed HIV/AIDS projects. Please include for each project the technical and geographic areas of focus, the groups served, and numbers reached. Please emphasize any work that you have done related to MSM KP groups; HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment activities; human rights; stigma and discrimination; increasing health service access; gender; and gender-based violence.
• Sources and funding levels for the last three years. Indicate if the sources are private/foundation or government (Global Fund, US, Nigeria, other).
• Organizational structure and staffing/membership level.

1. Technical Proposal (5 pages maximum)

Applicants should detail the following in the technical proposal:

• B.1 Technical Approach and Key Activities In this section applicants should describe in further detail the specific activities which they will conduct and the proposed approaches to ensure their success for the period of April 1, 2024, to October 31, 2026. Please take note of the following when developing this section:
• While all approaches and activities proposed should fall within the parameters of the N-THRIP project objectives, applicants are encouraged to propose additional activities and innovative strategies not specifically mentioned in this Call for EOI which may also address the scope of work and expected deliverables.
• Applicants are not expected to address every activity under each objective in the SOW. Rather, applicants should focus on those activities and approaches which are most appropriate or applicable considering their current reach, mission, and capacity.
• Applicants are expected to implement in Anambra state.
• Applicants are to reach only MSM by this program.
• During the EOI process, AHNi will be responsible for coordinating between applicants to ensure that all the key activities, KPs and geographies are covered.

• Applicants should organize this section as follows:
• Describe the KP group (MSM) the CBO intends to target.
•  List the proposed geographic regions with Anambra State (Local Government Authorities, wards, communities and/or hotspots) with a rationale for why they were selected. Please note that AHNi will determine the final geographic areas depending on highest burden and other factors.
•  Describe the overall technical approach to conducting activities, including what strategies the Applicant will utilize to ensure success. Where applicable, clearly indicate how strategies will differ based on the population or geographic region.
•  List and describe activities according to the objectives. (Keep in mind applicants are not required to address both objectives and all activities within a specific objective. Applicants are free to target focus on a sub-set of activities.)
•  List key stakeholders and service providers that the Applicant might collaborate with when conducting the activities (e.g., SACAs, clinics etc.).
•  Provide the responsible persons and timeline for when each activity will be implemented.
• Applicants are free to present the information above in narrative or table format.

C. Management Approach and Institutional Capabilities

Applicants should include the following in this section:

• A description of the management structure that will ensure the successful implementation of the project.
• Detail on how the applicant can rapidly start-up and launch their proposed activities.
• A description of the staffing structure that will support these activities, including the specific duties for each staff.
• Please include the CVs for senior staff who will work on this project as annex.

 Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

Applicants should include the following in this section:

• A description of how the applicant’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system will respond to the technical approach.
• A description of how the applicant will use M&E data for continual project improvement.
• Information on the applicant’s current capacity to collect and analyze data; and monitor and evaluate project performance.
•  A list of tools that are currently used for M&E.

D. Illustrative Budget (no page limit)

Applicants should prepare and submit a proposed budget in accordance with their proposed interventions for April 1, 2024 to October 31, 2026. Budgets should consider the anticipated available funding levels stated under Section III, Funding Availability, above.

Applicants must submit the budget using the Excel format.

 Annexes (no page limit)

The following annexes should be submitted with the application:

1. CVs for senior staff who will work on the project.

2. Certificate of Registration or Incorporation Papers

3. Audited Financial Statements, if available (if no recent audit has been conducted, a revenue and expense statement and balance sheet for previous financial year must be attached)

VII. Application Submission Process and Timeline

Questions on this Call for EOIs may be submitted to GF_Advert@ahnigeria.org by 5 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) by March 1, 2024. AHNI will respond by March 5, 2024.

Completed application packages are due to AHNi by 5:00 pm EST on March 13, 2024. Applications must be submitted by email to GF_Advert@ahnigeria.org  to be considered. Microsoft Word, Excel (for the budget) and Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files are all acceptable. Please do not include attachments over 15 MB.

In the subject line of the email, please indicate AHNi EOI – [insert name of your organization or consortium]”. Only one application may be submitted per organization or consortium.

Following the EOI review process AHNi may contact applicants with questions to clarify aspects of their applications.

DISCLAIMERS

• Applicants will not be reimbursed for the cost incurred in preparation and submission of an application. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense.
  • AHNi may cancel EOI and not award.
  • AHNi may reject any or all responses received.
  • Issuance of EOI does not constitute award commitment by AHNi.
  • AHNi reserves the right to disqualify any offer based on applicant’s failure to follow EOI  instructions
  • AHNi will not reimburse applicants for costs incurred in preparation and submission of an application.
  • AHNi reserves the right to independently negotiate with any applicant, or to issue award based on initial evaluation of offers without further discussion.
  • AHNi may choose to award only part of the activities in the EOI, or issue multiple awards based on the solicitation activities.
  • AHNi  reserves the right to check an applicant’s donor references; and
  • AHNi reserves the right to waive minor application deficiencies that can be corrected prior to award determination to promote competition.

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST NOT AN OFFER

This call for EOI represents only a definition of requirements. It is merely an invitation for submission of applications and does not legally obligate AHNi to accept any of the submitted applications in whole or in part, nor is AHNi obligated to select the lowest priced application. AHNi  has no contractual obligations with any applicants based upon issuance of this call for EOI. It is not an offer to contract. Only the execution of a written award shall obligate AHNi, in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in such award.

DISCUSSIONS AND AWARD

AHNi reserves the right to seek clarifications, enter discussions or negotiations, or to make award on initial submissions without discussions or negotiations of any kind. AHNi reserves the right to exclude any applicant from further consideration at any  time, including after discussions or negotiations have been entered.

FALSE STATEMENTS IN OFFER

Applicants must provide full, accurate and complete information as required by this call for EOI and its attachments. At any time that AHNi determines that an applicant has provided false statements in the EOI, AHNi may reject the EOI without further consideration. The English language version of this call for EOI and any resulting award shall govern, and all notices pursuant to the provisions of this call for EOI and any resulting award shall be in English.

OFFER VERIFICATION

AHNi may contact applicants to confirm contact person, address, bid amount and to confirm that the bid was submitted for this call for EOI.

RESERVED RIGHTS

• All call for EOI responses become the property of AHNi reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any offer based on applicant failure to follow solicitation instructions

• AHNi reserves the right to waive any deviations by applicants from the requirements of this call for EOI that in AHNi opinion are considered not to be material defects requiring rejection or disqualification; or where such a waiver will promote increased competition

• Extend the time for submission of all call for EOI responses after notification to all applicants

• Terminate or modify the call for EOI process at any time and re-issue the call for EOI to whomever AHNi deems appropriate

• AHNi reserves the right to issue an award based on the initial evaluation of offers without discussion

• Award only part of the activities in the call for EOI or issue multiple awards based on call for EOI activities.

• AHNi reserves the right to request audited financial statements from the selected applicant(s).

• At the conclusion of the evaluation process, any selected organization will be required to complete a Financial Pre-Award Assessment in order for AHNi to ascertain that the organization has the capacity to perform successfully under the terms and conditions of the proposed grant. As part of the Pre-Award Assessment process the firm will also be requested to submit their incorporated papers, certificate of registration and/or Tax ID number (TIN), audit reports and/or financial statements. Applicants may be asked to submit additional documentation to illustrate that the organization has the financial capacity to implement the grant. Site visits may be conducted by AHNi staff to evaluate the organization in these areas.

CERTIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT PRICE DETERMINATION

(a) The applicant certifies that–

1) The prices in this EOI have been arrived at independently, without, for the purpose of restricting competition, any consultation, communication, or agreement with any other applicant, including but not limited to subsidiaries or other entities in which applicant has any ownership or other interests, or any competitor relating to (i) those prices, (ii) the intention to submit an offer, or (iii) the methods or factors used to calculate the prices offered; 2) The prices in this application have not been and will not be knowingly disclosed by the applicant, directly or indirectly, to any other applicant, including but not limited to subsidiaries or other entities in which applicant has any ownership or other interests, or any competitor before bid opening (in the case of a sealed bid solicitation) or contract award (in the case of a negotiated or competitive call for EOI) unless otherwise required by law; and

3) No attempt has been made or will be made by the applicant to induce any other concern or individual to submit or not to apply for the purpose of restricting competition or influencing the competitive environment.

(b) Each signature on the application (if any) is a certification by the signatory that the signatory–

1)   Is the person in the applicant’s organization responsible for determining the prices being offered in this application, and that the signatory has not participated and will not participate in any action contrary to subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) above; or

2)      Has been authorized, in writing, to act as agent for the principals of the applicant in certifying that those principals have not participated, and will not participate in any action contrary to subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) above;

3)     As an authorized agent, does certify that the principals of the applicant have not participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) above;

4)   As an agent, has not personally participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) above.

(c)   Applicant understands and agrees that —

1) violation of this certification will result in immediate disqualification from this call for EOI without recourse and may result in disqualification from future solicitations; and

2) discovery of any violation after award to the applicant will result in the termination of the award for default.

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FIRM GUARANTEE

All information submitted in connection with this call for EOI will be valid for three (3) months from the call for EOI due date. This includes, but is not limited to, cost, pricing, terms and conditions, service levels, and all other information. If your firm is awarded a grant, all information in the call for EOI and negotiation process is contractually binding.

WITHDRAWALS OF EXPRESSIONS OF INTERESTS

Applicants may withdraw EOIs by written notice via email received at any time before award. EOIs may be withdrawn in person by an applicant or his/her authorized representative if the representative’s identity is made known and the representative signs a receipt for the proposal before award.