National Consultants to Provide Technical Support to the NTP to Conduct Centralized Procurement of 1st line TB Drugs using SHI Fund

Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) Vietnam

TWO NATIONAL CONSULTANTS

To provide technical support to the NTP to conduct centralized procurement
of 1st line TB drugs using the SHI fund

I. BACKGROUND OF THE ASSIGNMENT

1. Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) Vietnam Activity

The global USAID LHSS project helps low- and middle-income countries transition to sustainable, self-funded health finance systems that support high-performing overall health systems. The LHSS activity in Vietnam will work with the Government of Vietnam (GVN) to advance greater local ownership of HIV and TB prevention and control. Led by Abt Associates, the four-year activity will support Vietnam in increasing its domestic financing for HIV and TB services in the context of declining donor funding, in using government resources more efficiently, and in assuming local ownership of HIV and TB prevention and control activities. Specific objectives are: (1) Support the GVN to strengthen its public financial management systems for public sector health and find greater efficiencies in social health insurance (SHI), (2) Increase and improve the efficiency of domestic financing of HIV prevention and treatment services; (3) Strengthen the capacity of Vietnam's supply chain management system; and (4) Integrate TB services into SHI.

2. Context of this assignment

As the 1st line TB drugs will be transitioned from the government budget to be covered under the Social Health Insurance (SHI) from 2022, the National Lung hospital, which implements the NTP, has been assigned by the MOH leadership to conduct the centralized procurement of TB drugs using SHI funding.

As the hospital will conduct the procurement of this type for the first time and having human resource and time constraints, they need assistance in understanding the procurement policies, development of a procurement plan, navigation through the government procedures to get the procurement plan approved and carrying out the procurement in time for the provision of SHI-covered TB drugs from early 2022. Requested by the NTP, it is the intention of the LHSS to mobilize two national consultants to support the NTP on the procurement.

In this context, LHSS Vietnam seeks two national consultants to provide technical support to the NTP to conduct centralized procurement of 1st line TB drugs using the SHI fund.

II.  TASK AND DELIVERABLES

1. Tasks:

1.1 Tasks for consultant 1: The consultant will take an advising role.

• Study current government regulations on centralized procurement of drugs using the SHI fund and provide policy explanation to the NTP.
• Guide the NTP through the development of a procurement plan in line with standards regulated by the government.
• Guide the NTP through the process of selecting bidders to supply TB drugs and development of the frame agreement with the suppliers.

1.2 Tasks for consultant 2: The consultant will take a coordination role.

• Work with consultant 1 to support the NTP in the finalization of the procurement plan.
• Engage with MOH Department of Planning and Finance and other departments such as Drug Administration of Vietnam, Department of Health Insurance to facilitate the process of appraisal and approval for the bidder selection plan.
• Support the NTP in the process of selecting bidders and other related documentation.
• Work with consultant 1 to support the NTP in preparation of the frame agreement with the suppliers. 

2. Deliverables: Monthly progress update (short report) on the task implementation to the NTP and LHSS.

III. LOCATION AND TIMING

The work will be carried out in Hanoi.

The assignment is planned for the period from June through September 30^th, 2021, with estimated 30 working days for each consultant. Extension of the assignment to beyond September is subjected to USAID funding to LHSS year 2.

IV. REQUIREMENTS

1. Qualification requirements

1.1. Consultant 1:

• Graduate degree pharmacy, health science, public health, or relevant disciplines.
• Good understanding of the government policies on public procurement and bidding.
• At least 10 years of experience with national management of public procurement of health, medical, pharmaceutical products, and medicines.
• Demonstrate ability to work effectively with government agencies.
• Language requirement: Vietnamese. The ability to speak and write in English would be an advantage.

1.2. Consultant 2:

• Graduate degree pharmacy, health science, public health, or relevant disciplines.
• Understanding of the government policies on public procurement and bidding.
• 3 – 5 years of experience in implementation of public procurement of medicine, medical commodities, familiarity with MOH procurement procedure is an asset.
• Demonstrate ability to work effectively with government agencies.
• Language requirement: Vietnamese. The ability to speak and write in English would be an advantage.

2. Equipment

The consultants use his/her computer and equipment as necessary to carry out the work.

Note:   With respect to any reports, data, or information produced by the Consultant in the course of performing tasks under this work order, Abt Associates shall have unlimited rights to use, disclose, reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, perform publicly and display publicly, in any manner and for any purpose, and to have or permit others to do so.  The Consultant will fully disclose, deliver, and transfer to Abt Associates and the Consultant irrevocably assigns to Abt Associates its entire right, title, and interest in and to any and all ideas, methods, inventions, devices, and improvements, originating, conceived, acquired, or developed by the Consultant, either solely or jointly with others, in connections with this Consulting Agreement.  The provisions of this paragraph shall survive expiration or termination of this Consulting Agreement.

To apply, please send your application documents to the following email: [email protected]

Deadline: 31^st May 2021

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.