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Request for Applications to Serve as Local Implementing Partner for a Performance Evaluation of HIV Prevention Services for Most-at-risk Populations (MARP) in Ghana

MEASURE Evaluation seeks a research organization to serve as our local partner for the purpose of conducting a performance evaluation of HIV prevention services for key populations in Ghana, specifically for men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSW). The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to determine the organization best suited to play this role. The successful applicant will demonstrate the superior technical, logistical, and organizational capacity needed to effectively carry out such a role and be able to provide that at a competitive cost.

Introduction

The MEASURE Evaluation project (http://www.cpc.unc.edu/measure) is a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded cooperative agreement headquartered at the Carolina Population Center of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). MEASURE Evaluation seeks to strengthen monitoring and evaluation functions and systems and build individual, organizational and national capacity to assess the effectiveness of public health interventions. MEASURE Evaluation is implemented by UNC-CH in partnership with The Futures Group International, ICF International, John Snow, Inc., Management Sciences for Health, and Tulane University.

MEASURE Evaluation seeks a research organization to serve as our local partner for the purpose of conducting a performance evaluation of HIV prevention services for key populations in Ghana, specifically for men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSW). The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to determine the organization best suited to play this role. The successful applicant will demonstrate the superior technical, logistical, and organizational capacity needed to effectively carry out such a role and be able to provide that at a competitive cost.

Background and Rationale

This research aims to conduct a performance evaluation of Ghana’s national HIV prevention program for most-at-risk populations, specifically FSW and MSM. The program targeting these populations was chosen as a priority for evaluation because the HIV epidemic in Ghana is heavily concentrated in populations with high risk sexual behaviours such as FSW and MSM. In response to the concentrated nature of the epidemic, the Ghana National Strategic Plan for HIV (NSP) 2011-2015 prioritizes HIV infection prevention among most-at-risk-populations (MARP). The national goal is to reach 80% of all identified at-risk groups by 2015 with evidence-based prevention, protection, treatment, care and support services. 

To achieve the goals and objectives outlined in the NSP, the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) with assistance from the MARP technical working group (TWG) has developed a NSP for MARP 2011-2015 and an MARP Operational Plan Framework 2011-2013. These documents define four separate MARP groups; specify goals, indicators, and targets; define strategic objectives and a comprehensive framework of HIV prevention services and activities; outline a monitoring and evaluation plan; and define roles and responsibilities. 

With the NSP for MARP 2011-2015, it is a priority of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) to understand how the current response is working, whether the program is on track to meet the national goal, the quality of care it is providing, whether programs need to be adjusted, and any constraints or facilitating factors in program implementation. 

The performance evaluation will provide information to the GAC and other partners on the level of coverage, quality, and uptake of program interventions targeting FSW and MSM and whether the real-world implementation of the program is keeping Ghana on track to meet their target of reaching 80% of all MARP groups by 2015 to reduce new HIV infections - within these populations. This research will also benefit the international public health community by helping to build the evidence base for effective programming targeting most-at-risk populations with HIV prevention services.

Specific Aim and Study Objectives

The key aim of this performance evaluation is to determine whether and to what extent current program activities and interventions are being carried out with sufficient quality, coverage and uptake to achieve the intended targeted outcome of providing prevention, protection, treatment, care and support services to 80% of MSM and FSW in Ghana by 2015.

To achieve this aim, the research has the following objectives:

  1. To describe how services are being delivered; to measure the quality of those services; and to understand the acceptability and accessibility of those services to clients and staff 
  2. To understand barriers and facilitators to accessing health services for MSM and FSW as well as the larger structural influences such as stigma and discrimination on health-seeking behavior. 
  3. To assess whether organizations have program standard operating procedures, functional supervision mechanisms, functional monitoring and reporting systems, and to assess organizational administration, management, and planning capacity 
  4. To document efforts to increase stakeholder and organizational coordination and to address social, cultural, religious, political, and legal barriers to HIV prevention efforts among FSW and MSM

These four objectives are intentionally aligned to the strategic objectives defined in the National Strategic Plan for MARP.

Deliverables and Scope of Work 

The local implementing partner will spearhead the collection of information needed to address the four study objectives described above. This will include the following data collection activities:

  • Service Provision Type of Assessment of Sampled Service Delivery Points (n<40) 
  • Survey interviews with sample of MARP HIV prevention service clients (n≈600)
  • Survey interviews with sample of MARP HIV prevention peer educators (n≈175)
  • Qualitative interviews/focus group discussions with MARP HIV prevention service clients (approximately 8-10 focus group discussions)
  • Organizational Capacity Assessment of MARP HIV prevention service implementation partners (n<40)
  • Key informant interviews with critical stakeholders and decision-makers in the area of HIV prevention programming for MARP (approximately 20 interviews)

The sampling frame is to include the universe of HIV prevention service implementers, peer educators, and service delivery points serving MSM and FSW in Ghana.

Competitive applications will describe previous successful research experience with vulnerable populations, demonstrate sensitivity towards the MARP groups as part of the proposed scope of work, explain mechanisms by which they protect vulnerable groups during research, demonstrate experience conducting ethically responsible researched governed by IRBs, and describing working relationships with the Ghana AIDS Commission and other relevant partners. 

The anticipated deliverables required of the local research partner for this study will include:

  • Oversee application for ethical review to local IRB and secure local permissions for data collection
  • Oversee logistics for and participate in pilot testing of data collection instruments
  • Recruitment and training of qualified research assistants as data collectors and supervisors
  • Translation and transcription of all data collection forms and interviews to and from English as needed
  • Programming of data entry screens
  • Data collection, data handling, data entry and data cleaning
  • Weekly field and progress reports regarding data collection, data handling, and data entry
  • Timely secure and (where applicable) encrypted transmission of all datasets and data collection forms
  • Immediate notifications of any and all protocol violations
  • Oversee logistics for organizing preliminary dissemination meeting with key stakeholders in Accra

Timeframe and Budget

The data collected under this SOW will be collected on behalf of MEASURE Evaluation and its sponsor, USAID, and no ownership rights to the data will vest with the sub-recipient. All data collected will be transferred to Measure Evaluation at UNC for secure data storage and analysis. If the subrecipient is interested in conducting data analysis and publication, the terms of the data sharing and publication between MEASURE Evaluation and the subrecipient will be expressed in a written agreement as part of the subaward.

The period of performance for this sub-agreement will be 8 months with an anticipated start date of January 2012. 

All data collection, data entry, data cleaning, preliminary data analysis, and a preliminary summary report must be completed by May 31, 2013. A maximum of $110,000 USD is available for this cost reimbursement sub-award, however, the financial competitiveness of proposals will be an important consideration in selecting the local implementing partner. At the same time, cost overruns cannot be covered in subsequent increases in sub-agreement amounts. We therefore recommend that applicants budget realistically, but with economy. The budget should be broken down by line item.  It should include a minimum of personnel, travel, and other direct costs. It is suggested to include the CV for the Principal Investigator and any other key personnel. For travel, include the name or title of the person who will travel and the purpose of each proposed trip.

Proposal Sections

Each proposal shall contain the following sections: 

  1. A Proposal Cover Sheet that clearly identifies the proposal as responding to this RFA in its title and states the vendor’s address, phone numbers, and URL. There should also be a contact person listed for purposes related to this procurement.
  2. A Proposed Scope of Work that responds to each of the items listed under the Scope of Work, including a description of experience working with vulnerable groups and specific proposals for working with FSW and MSM in conducting this particular study.
  3. A detailed Timeline that lays out all the project activities and tasks with projected completion dates for each activity and task.
  4. A detailed Budget and Budget Narrative broken down by line item.
  5. Appendix with CVs of proposed key project staff and letters of support.

Questions

Questions will be accepted via email at measure_rfp@unc.edu through close of business on Friday, November 2, 2012. Answers will be provided via email to each declared/intended bidder by close of business November 6, 2012. A list of all questions and answers will be posted at http://www.cpc.unc.edu/measure/about/contracting-with-us.

Deadline

Proposals must be submitted electronically and received by close of business on Friday, November 9th, 2012 to be considered. Proposals should be emailed to beth_sutherland@unc.edu

 

MEASURE Evaluation is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through cooperative agreement GHA-A-00-08-00003-00. Views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States government.