RFP to Carry Out Operational Research for Project – Roping Informal Private Providers for Enhanced TB Detection (RIPEND)

RFP to Carry Out Operational Research for Project – Roping Informal Private Providers for Enhanced TB Detection (RIPEND)

About the Organization:

TB Alert India (TBAI) is a not-for-profit organization working with a vision to make India free from TB. TBAI is sister concern of TB Alert - UK. All of our projects at TBAI aim to work in partnership with the India’s National Tuberculosis Elimination Program and work in coordination with all stakeholders like local communities, private health care providers including both formal and informal providers and people with TB infected and affected and communities in fight against TTB.

About the Project:

TBAI is implementing a project titled “Roping Informal Private Providers for Enhanced TB Detection (RIPEND)”, supported by Stop TB Partnership under Wave 6 scale-up grant. This project implementation was started from Sep 2018 in 8 TUs from 4 districts of Telangana, and now from Jan 2020 onward, project has been scaled up to another 10 TUs from 5 districts in Telangana. In total, project envisages enrolling and engaging more than 1500 informal providers in the intervention area and train them on TB case identification and project tools and IT platform, {Henceforth, these informal providers are called RHCPs (Rural Health Care Providers), also called RMPs (Rural Medical Practitioners)}. Main objective of the project is to screen and enroll Persons with TB Symptoms (PTS) through project’s IT platform (a mobile application) for TB testing. RHCPs those do not have smart mobile phones will use the hard copy referral forms to refer PTS for testing. Each enrolled PTS will be further counselled on TB test and encouraged by project staff via phone calls and home visits, to undergo diagnostic tests for TB as per national testing algorithm. These tests include Chest radiography, Sputum Spear Microscopy, GenXpert) and the patients found TB positive will be initiated on TB treatment at nearby public/private facilities based on the patient willingness.

Background:

TBAI is seeking an application from research organizations/independent consultant or firm to take operational research studies during the period from Apr –Dec 2020. Project has mandate to take up four (4) operational research studies and following are the details:

• Developing and testing training tools to engage informal providers (RHCPs) in TB prevention, care and support services (Identification of PTS and referring them for TB test at NTEP facilities).
• Assess the key barriers for improving the chest radiography testing of PTS identified by the Informal providers, studying the acceptability and feasibility of implementing a ‘Sampark dhatha’ (a transport facilitator) for enhancing the uptake of chest radiography testing services.
• Assess the yield of TB case detection among the household contacts and also among neighborhood contacts through active surveillance
• A mixed methods study to assess the barriers to access TB care facilities among female presumptive TB cases

Scope of Work: 

• Study questions need to be formulated observing the implementation and progress of the project in line with the project objectives specified.
• Desk review, including a review of key project documents, and work closely with the project team, develop concept notes detailing research design, methodologies and required tools.
• Taking approval from research ethics committee for carrying out the proposed ORs
• Carry out In-depth Interviews and Focus Group Discussion, stake-holders consultations and patient interactions as part of the proposed studies.
• Data collection, entry, data cleaning, analysis and generating the report
• Share the draft reports to TBAI for review, and incorporate the feedback given by TBAI in the report.
• Support in disseminating the OR study findings

Expected outcomes / deliverables:

• OR tools and protocols/documents detailing methodology
• Screened data and analysis (data file)
• A detailed individual OR reports and a complied report of all four ORs
• Dissemination of the findings at various platforms

Research Ethics and Confidentiality:

Standard research protocols are to be followed for the study and the patient’s information and other details cannot be disclosed or shared with anybody. There should not be any breach of confidentiality. The data collected should be used solely for research purposes only (fabrication and misuse of data will not be encouraged). During data analysis, a unique ID will be created for each respondent so that all information collected remains confidential. During data collection, no identifiers of the respondent will be collected. Patient consent will be taken using an appropriate tool and this tool is to be translated into Telugu.

Qualification and Experience required:

The consultant / consultancy firm should have the following:

• Independent consultant or team leader (to be involved in the assignment) of the consulting firm should have Post-graduation in medicine, with proven experience of not less than 10 years in public health and minimum 5 years in Tuberculosis in specific.
• Understanding of the National TB Program and private health sector (preferability with informal providers) is essential. 
• Proven experience of undertaking, managing and leading operational research studies (more specific to TB) and disseminating the findings is essential.
• Extensive experience of developing and using both qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods including participatory methodologies is needed.
• Skills in analyzing and synthesizing complex information and developing the OR reports is mandatory.
• Sound English writing skills as evidenced by published or circulated documents (examples should be provided in the EoI). Knowledge of the local language (Telugu) is desirable.
• A demonstrated ability to communicate and build strong relationships with stakeholders including the communities, government representatives and NGO staff and volunteers

Timeframe: All four ORs are to be completed by Dec 2020.

Proposal Submission Procedures and Timelines:

Interested firms / consultants are required to send the Technical and Financial proposals to tbaiadmin@tbalertindia.org. Please mention “Request for Application for RIPEND project. The applicant should submit the technical and finance proposal separately

The Technical proposal should consist the following:

• A letter of interest for undertaking the study
• Name, address and contact details of the Consultant/Firm
• Profile of the organization/individual proving their ability to undertake the work
• Past experience in documentation and a perspective on research in the area of health
• Experience of doing OR studies
• Profiles and CVs of key research personnel to be involved in the study
• Detailed outline of how you would conduct the studies including the methods and type of tools that would be used to collect the information.
• Gantt chart: Estimated timeline to execute four ORs, detailing number of working days to be spent on each activity (which should tie in with your Financial Proposal)
• Examples of previous written works written in English including a copy of a previous evaluation reports undertaken by the applicant (included in print or link to web version).
• Names and contact details of three professional referees

Financial Proposal should include:

• A detailed cost estimate with all the necessary assumptions for executing this assignment
• This cost estimate should include all personnel fees and also a breakdown of expected logistical expenses (travel, accommodation, per diem, telecommunications expenses etc.)
• Other terms and conditions if any

Deadline: 10 Mar 2020