Consultant Services Proposal (RFP): STRIDES Ethiopia Zonal Polio Surveillance Consultants

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Solicitation Title: STRIDES Ethiopia Zonal Polio Surveillance Consultants

Solicitation Number: FY26-103433-STRIDES-Ethiopia-Consultant-RFP-001

Submit Proposal and Questions to: STRIDESProcurement@fhi360.org

Date of Issue of RFP: Friday, 15 May 2026

Date Questions Due: Tuesday, 19 May 2026, by 5:00 PM EDT

Date FHI 360 Responds to Questions: Friday, 22 May 2026

Date Proposal Due: Wednesday, 27 May 2026, by 11:59 PM EDT

Approximate Date Consultant Contract Issued to Successful Candidate(s): Early June 2026

Contract Term: Estimated June – September 30, 2026. 90 days subject to renewal.

Method of Submittal: Respond via e-mail with the attached documents in MS Word/PDF format. The consultant agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 90 days from the date specified for the receipt of offers, unless another time is specified in the addendum of the RFP.

Background

The STRIDES program (Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems), funded by the U.S. Department of State supports countries to strengthen surveillance systems critical to global health security and polio eradication. As part of its polio portfolio, STRIDES is supporting efforts to improve the quality and performance of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance and environmental surveillance (ES) systems in alignment with Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) standards.

Despite ongoing partner support, persistent gaps remain in AFP case detection, investigation, specimen collection and transport, ES functionality, reporting pathways, and data quality in select geographic areas. A rapid, multi-partner surveillance system assessment is required to identify root causes of underperformance and inform targeted, evidence-based interventions in priority counties. This assessment will directly support STRIDES' objective to strengthen surveillance systems and improve early detection of poliovirus transmission.

Objectives/Purpose of Consultancy

The Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems (STRIDES) Activity is seeking ten (10) zonal polio surveillance consultants to lead polio surveillance activities. The zonal polio surveillance consultants will work under the day-to-day guidance and supervision of the STRIDES Project Director. They will provide technical support to an assigned zone for AFP and environmental surveillance activities, including active case search, supervise reporting sites, support AFP case investigation, strengthen implementation of standard surveillance protocols in coordination with existing surveillance structures, support coordination of any outbreak response activities, and evaluate outbreak response activities. This position is field based, and the officer is expected to work very closely with and support the Zonal Health Department (ZHD), Ethiopia Public Health Institute (EPHI), Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), GPEI partners and woreda health offices.

Scope of Work

The consultant will work under the direction of STRIDES Ethiopia leadership in collaboration with EPHI and GPEI partners to support the following surveillance systems assessment activities:

General

• Provide technical support to the Zonal Health Department (ZHD), Regional Health Authorities, FMOH and EPHI in planning, implementation, supervision and monitoring of AFP and environmental surveillance and outbreak response activities
• Assist in training and building the capacity of zonal, woreda, facility and community-based disease surveillance and response focal persons
• Catalyze and support the rapid and effective implementation of proven strategies to reduce emergence and circulation of poliovirus and other public health events
• Undertake any other related responsibilities as assigned by supervisors

Coordination and Partner Engagement

• Closely collaborate with government counterparts at multiple levels, EPI team and GPEI partners in polio outbreak investigations and other response activities
• Conduct zonal and woreda level surveillance and immunization review meetings with the government and polio partners
• Closely collaborate with government counterparts (national/regional polio Emergency Operation Centers (EOC)) and GPEI partners in identifying, planning and implementing polio outbreak response activities

Surveillance and Case Detection

• Identify and engage special populations including internally displaced populations (IDPs) and establish locally functioning surveillance mechanisms to promptly detect events/outbreaks and monitor trends
• Keep database of health facilities and other potentially active sites for AFP, jointly make active site prioritization, zonal risk assessment for polio and other vaccine preventable diseases, develop and implement risk mitigation activities as part of surveillance enhancement in the outbreak and risk areas
• Make priority-based and well-documented (using mobile/electronic platform) regular active case search and integrated supportive supervision visits to focal sites including IDP camps and conduct AFP investigations and 60-day follow-ups
• Ensure daily, weekly, and monthly surveillance reports are prepared and transmitted to the next higher level

Outbreak Response

• Support outbreak response activities; participate in investigations, household surveys, monitoring supplementary immunization activities (SIA) and routine immunization, and other response activities, and ensuring reports are prepared and transmitted timely
• Support microplanning activities for outbreak response including mapping of special populations (e.g. internally displaced populations (IDPs), urban slums, refusals, nomads), verification, and establish locally functioning strategies to access all target children
• Assist in conducting quality trainings, mobile/electronic based supervision, daily monitoring meetings and sitreps during outbreak responses

Reporting and Documentation

• Assist in the writing and submission of complete technical reports to the National Polio Eradication Program documenting all the processes of outbreak responses, surveillance (active and passive) and other activities undertaken
• Verify, conduct detailed analyses, and facilitate timely submission of epidemiological, surveillance and outbreak response reports to National Polio Eradication Program within the recommended timeframe

Training, Supervision, and Monitoring

• Support supervision, on-the-job training and monitoring of surveillance and response activities ensuring adherence to guidelines, standard case definitions and tools used

Logistics and Supplies

• Support logistics and ensure appropriate surveillance supplies and equipment are available at every level (case definitions, case investigation forms, stool cups/specimen bottles, vaccine carriers, etc.)

General Duties

• Carry out any other assignments assigned by supervisors

Note: Selected contractors will be given a monthly transportation stipend to cover active surveillance activities in targeted zones. A true and accurate accounting of these funds will be required on a monthly basis to reconcile travel related expenses.

Key Activities and Deliverables

#	Key Activity	Deliverable	Estimated Level of Effort (days)
1	Closely collaborate with government counterparts, EPI, and GPEI partners in polio outbreak investigations	Documented participation and technical support provided for polio outbreak investigations, including investigation reports, coordination meeting summaries, and recommendations submitted to EPHI and GPEI partners and relevant authorities	10
2	Identify and engage including internally displaced populations (IDPs) and establish locally functioning polio surveillance mechanisms	Updated database and mapping of special populations and IDP settlements, including established or strengthened community-based polio surveillance mechanisms and focal point networks in targeted high-risk areas as documented by written reports	10
3	Keep database of health facilities and other potentially active sites	Maintained and regularly updated database of health facilities, informal health providers, community reporting sites, and other priority surveillance locations within assigned geographic areas with data and reports sent to government, GPEI, and FHI 360 as part of monthly reporting	2
4	Make priority-based and well-documented (using ODK platform) regular active case search and integrated supportive supervision visits to focal sites including IDP camps	Completed ODK-based active case search and supportive supervision reports, including visit documentation, identified AFP/VPD alerts, corrective actions, and follow-up recommendations for focal sites and IDP camps as documented in written monthly reports	10
5	Ensure daily, weekly, and monthly reports including surveillance, SIA, RI, and other response activity reports are prepared and transmitted to the next higher level	Documented monitoring and support for the availability and distribution of surveillance supplies and equipment, including inventory tracking reports and replenishment requests as needed	10
6	Support logistics and ensure appropriate surveillance supplies and equipment are available at every level	Documented monitoring and support for the availability and distribution of surveillance supplies and equipment, including inventory tracking reports and replenishment requests as needed	10
7	Lead and/or closely collaborate with government counterparts (national/regional polio EOC), EPI and GPEI partners in identifying, planning, and implementing polio outbreak response activities	Coordination and implementation support provided for polio outbreak response activities, including participation in planning meetings, operational plans, deployment schedules, and response monitoring reports	10
8	Update and/or develop macro and micro-plans for vaccination response activities including mapping of special populations and establish locally functioning strategies to access and vaccinate all target children	Updated or newly developed vaccination response macro- and micro-plans, including detailed mapping of special populations and documented strategies to reach underserved and high-risk populations	10
9	Assist to conduct quality trainings, ODK-based supervisions, daily monitoring meetings and sitreps during intra-campaign and post campaign periods	Training reports, supervision findings, daily campaign monitoring summaries, and situation reports (sitreps) documenting implementation progress, challenges, and corrective actions during campaign periods	10
10	Assist in the writing and submission of complete technical report to EPI Team and GPEI Coordinator	Comprehensive technical reports prepared and submitted to EPI teams, and GPEI coordination structures summarizing activities conducted, findings, outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations	1
11	Verify, conduct detailed analyses, and facilitate timely submission of campaign reports to national GPEI coordination office and EPHI within recommended timeframe	Verified and analytically reviewed campaign reports submitted to the national GPEI coordination office and EPHI within established timelines, including data quality assessments and performance analysis summaries	7
	Total Estimated LoE		90 Days

Period of Performance

June 2026 to September 30, 2026. 90 days subject to renewal.

Location and Travel Requirements

Travel to health facilities required.

Location: Afar, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Oromia, Somali and South Ethiopia.

#	Region	Zone
1	Afar	Zone 6
2	Amhara	West Gondar Zone
3	Amhara	South Wollo Zone, Dessie Town, Combolcha Town
4	Benishangul-Gumuz	Kemashi Zone
5	Gambella	Newer and Itang Zones
6	Oromia	North Showa Zone of Oromia
7	Oromia	Borena, East Borena
8	Oromia	West Wolega
9	Somali	Dawa Zone
10	South Ethiopia	South Omo and South Ari Zones

Qualifications

The consultant must meet the following minimum eligibility requirements:

• Medical Doctor (MD) from a well-recognized university of medical science or college, or BSc degree in public health or nursing from a well-recognized university or college

Specific Experience

• Demonstrated experience supporting AFP surveillance, environmental surveillance, or integrated disease surveillance systems, preferably aligned with Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) standards
• Familiarity with surveillance data systems, reporting pathways, and sample collection and transport processes, including reverse cold chain considerations
• Minimum of 5 years working in the field of clinical or nursing, disease surveillance, and immunization
• Direct experience in polio surveillance and polio preventive and outbreak response vaccination campaigns; experience working with WHO, other UN agencies, and other international organizations

Preferred Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualifications in epidemiology, field epidemiology, public health, pediatrics, or any of the related health science specialties
• Prior experience working with or alongside GPEI partners, Ministries of Health, or U.S. Government-funded programs
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate findings into practical, actionable recommendations
• Residency in the targeted or adjacent zones where polio disease surveillance activities will take place strongly preferred

Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to produce high-quality technical reports
• Knowing local languages of the assigned region is an added advantage

How to Apply

Evaluation Criteria

• Award will be based upon best value (a combination of qualifications and proposed daily rate)
• Payment will be based upon Level of Effort (LOE) with reimbursement for approved related budgeted expenses
• Applicants are also welcome to submit their CV into FHI 360's global consultant database for future consideration outside of this RFP: Consult@FHI360

Required Documentation

• Completed USAID 1420 Biodata Form
• CV with country experience listed and updated to no less than 3 months prior to submission of proposal
• Cover letter shall summarize the consultant's qualifications and explain why they should be added to the pool as well as rate of pay
• Written response addressing the needs listed in the SOW

FHI 360 Disclaimers

• FHI 360 may perform a background check on any selected consultant candidates
• FHI 360 may cancel the solicitation and not award
• FHI 360 may reject any or all responses received
• Issuance of the solicitation does not constitute an award commitment by FHI 360
• FHI 360 reserves the right to disqualify any offer based on failure of the offeror to follow solicitation instructions
• FHI 360 will not compensate any offeror for responding to solicitation
• FHI 360 reserves the right to issue award based on initial evaluation of offers without further discussion
• FHI 360 may choose to award only part of the activities in the solicitation, or issue multiple awards based on the solicitation activities
• FHI 360 reserves the right to waive minor proposal deficiencies that can be corrected prior to award determination to promote competition

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