Request for Proposal (RFP):Legal consultancy on healthcare facility-related laws

Request for Proposal (RFP)

Legal consultancy on healthcare facility-related laws for EpiC-supported Key Populations-Led Health Service clinics delivering HIV/STI and other HIV adjacent services

Job Details:

• Position: Legal consultant.
• Period of Performance: February 2024 to September 2024

Background and rationale:

The USAID Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) Project managed by FHI 360 is a global project with specific scopes of work in multiple countries. In Thailand, EpiC focuses on interventions to reduce HIV transmission among men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM), male sex workers (MSW), and transgender women (TGW) populations and to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Thailand.

Under the project, EpiC Thailand implements the Key Population-Led Health Services (KPLHS) align with the National AIDS Strategy, focusing on the Reach-Recruit-Test-Treat-Prevent-Retain (RRTTPR) cascade to reduce new HIV infections and achieve “undetectable equals untransmittable” (U=U) status. Civil society organizations (CSOs) have been instrumental since 2015, developing client-centered, stigma-free KPLHS tailored to community needs. These services, delivered by community members in collaboration with the public health sector, bridge healthcare gaps and offer alternative options for those with limited access. KPLHS providers receive systematic training, mentoring, coaching, and certification to deliver comprehensive HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) services across the RRTTPR service cascade and extend their services to other adjacent services, for instance, gender-affirming hormone therapy, mental health support, legal aid, and harm reduction services, per the needs of their clients. Furthermore, KPLHS clinics are the largest PrEP distributing unit in Thailand by tackling unique challenges faced by key populations through a collaborative model, involving government support and telemedicine.

Top of Form

An outstanding question concerns the ability of a KPLHS, in collaboration with a government or private hospital, to maintain a stock of medication for immediate dispensing. To address this uncertainty comprehensively, it becomes essential for key healthcare authorities such as the National Health Security Office (NHSO), the Department of Disease Control, and the Department of Health Service Support to issue detailed guidelines. These guidelines should explicitly underscore the integral role of KPLHS within Thailand’s public health system and clarify that PrEP dispensation and prescription are competently carried out by healthcare professionals from the government, private, and civil society sectors, while assuring adherence to quality control standards.

The consultant will provide counsel on related legal issues pertaining to healthcare service provision for the implementation of KPLHS, including service locations and medication stock.

Purpose:

1. To review and consolidate challenges of CSOs delivering HIV and other chronic diseases; and
2. To review and suggest changes to current laws or regulations or the creation of new policies to enable CSOs to function as a distinct health facility within Thailand’s healthcare system for HIV and other chronic diseases under the supervision of health professionals using telemedicine prescriptions.

Deliverables:

1. Review and develop a consolidated report pertaining to (1) opportunities and challenges of CSOs to be a part of gap-filler in community health, specifically on HIV and other health issues, (2) restrictions and threats from existing health regulations related to healthcare facilities, health care professional and new health facility establishment, and (3) recommendations addressing restrictions, challenges and threats related to regulations and law for CSO to deliver HIV and other adjacent diseases aligned; and
2. Develop an action plan and/or a road map to amend any relevant regulations, laws, guidelines, and policies pertaining to the item listed in the first deliverable.

Vendor Qualifications:

• Have at least five (5) years of experience in consultancy services related to healthcare facility registration in Thailand.
• Have an expertise in public health-related law and ministerial regulations in Thailand.
• Have experiences in working with community-based organizations, government healthcare facilities, and private clinics.
• Have knowledge related to social development, HIV/AIDS, and other health related issues.

The vender must include the following components:

• Company profile or past portfolio
• Quotation including budget breakdown of labor, and all relevant activities costs.
• Implementation plan, payment condition, and other necessary information.

Evaluation

• Proposed Approach: 40%
• Total cost: 30%
• Relevant experience: 30%

Reserved Rights

All RFP responses become the property of FHI 360, who reserves the right in its sole discretion to:

• Disqualify any offer based on offeror failure to follow solicitation instructions.
• Reserve the right to award based on the initial evaluation of offers without discussion.
• FHI 360 will not compensate vendors for preparation of their response to this RFP.
• Issuance of this RFP is not a guarantee that FHI 360 will award a purchase order.

Disclaimers

The vender to be selected to perform this work is subject to all the terms and conditions set forth at this web location[https://www.fhi360.org/partner-us/business-opportunities]. Consultant/ Supplier’s delivery of products, performance of services, or issuance of invoices in connection with this purchase order/consultant agreement establishes Consultant/Supplier’s agreement to the Terms, including, the safeguarding policy [ https://www.fhi360.org/about-us/compliance-office