Consultant – Procurement Study

Statement of Work

Date: 25 March 2021

Project Name: Medicines Technologies and Pharmaceutical Services. MNCH core funded portfolio

Area: Improve subnational procurement for MNCH medicines in Nepal

Title: Consultant – Procurement Study

Estimated Period of Performance: April 15th, 2021 to October 15th, 2021 (Estimated Total LOEs: 50 days)

Background:

Medicines for women’s and children’s health are usually considered essential medicines and, in general, do not benefit from donor procurement, instead governments themselves procure these medicines as part of their procurement of essential medicines. Increasingly countries are devolving responsibility for procurement of medicines for the public sector to local health authorities and so systems need to be in place to assure that medicines procure data subnational level are safe, effective, affordable and quality assured. Nepal is undergoing decentralization and with that, procurement of essential medicines has been devolved to the local government level. However, the procurement is some what fragmented as some essential medicines are procured at the central level, some at the provincial level and some at the local government level and even at the facility level. This fragmented approach with no standardized practices of selection of appropriate procurement sources or how to ensure appropriate prices, does not guarantee good quality, good priced essential medicines that are available in the quantities required.

MTaPS proposes to support the Department of Health Services(DoHS) to develop activities to improve subnational procurement in Nepal

Description of Services to be provided

The consultant will conduct a mapping, using tools developed for the exercise, of the existing subnational procurement standards and practices focusing on procurement regulation, quality assurance mechanisms and standards, and the procurement methods, including, for example, the selection and prequalification of suppliers, the procedures for procurement, the specifications for medical products and the mechanisms for setting prices at provincial and municipal levels. Using key informant interviews or focus group discussions, the consultant will assess the views of the procurement entities to improve the current standards and practices of subnational procurement. 

The consultant will undertake the following activities: 

• Finalize the mapping tools, taking into consideration international standards and best practices
• Conduct a desk review of government laws/policies/directives and guidelines on subnational procurement
• Conduct field-based mapping in one provincial procurement office and in one to two municipalities’ procurement entities
• Develop a technical report of the mapping exercise with key findings and recommendations
• Support the DoHS to organize a virtual workshop with provinces, federal government and other procurement entities to present and discuss the findings of the mapping exercise. This includes but is not limited to planning the workshop, developing agendas, organizing the virtual platform,co-facilitation, etc.
• Present the findings of the mapping as a case study in a dissemination workshop, discuss standards and best practices of subnational procurement, facilitate the discussion on solutions and the scope of improvements in the procurement standards and best practices, and quality assurance by sub-national procurement entities, and facilitate the development of an action plan
• Based on existing documents, prepare together with the DoHSa draft guideline for subnational procurement

Qualification

• The individual should have at least 5 years experience on procurement and supply chain management or related activities
• Should have at least a master’s degree in health-related field preferably a pharmacist
• Should have at least3 years research experience or been involved in at least two research investigations including qualitative and quantitative research in health-related fields. Research and publications in procurement and supply-chain management will be an added advantage
• Should have good knowledge about the current health systems and an under standing of the procurement system and supply chain management in Nepal
• Established relations with the MOH in Nepal
• Demonstrated skills in facilitating and moderating in a work shop setting

The interested candidate possessing above qualification and experiences are requested to apply with the following details at npprocurement@msh.org

• A proposal including detail methodology, budget requirement and payment terms
• An updated CV including three references