Request for Proposal (RFP)

Background

The Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) Project, funded by the United States Government and implemented by Family Health International (FHI 360), supports the National; Department of Health (NDoH) in strengthening health systems through the provision of technical assistance at both national and sub-national levels.

Between 2022 and 2024, FHI 360, in partnership with World Vision Papua New Guinea, implemented the Diagnostic Network Optimization (DNO) initiative to assess the functionality, accessibility, and efficiency of diagnostic services across the country. The assessment covered 128 laboratories and 613 health facilities across 18 provinces (representing approximately 82% national coverage) and 86 districts. The exercise included analysis of 125 GeneXpert platforms and approximately 49,000 patient records, resulting in the development of evidence-based, costed operational plans and interactive diagnostic network maps.

The findings and recommendations from the DNO assessment have informed several national strategic initiatives, including the development of the National Laboratory Policy and Strategic Plan (2025–2030), as well as the Government of Papua New Guinea's 2024 and 2025 Pandemic Fund applications.

Building on these achievements, the project has transitioned into the EpiC Global Health Security (GHS) Project (2025–2026), which expands the DNO framework beyond human health to incorporate animal and environmental health sectors under the One Health approach. With funding support from the U.S. Department of State, implementation of priority DNO recommendations has been incorporated into the GHS workplan, with targeted implementation in selected provinces across Papua New Guinea.

Scope of Work

To support implementation of the DNO recommendations, the EpiC Global Health Security Project conducted a series of provincial stakeholder consultations, beginning with Morobe Province. A two-day provincial planning workshop brought together District Health Managers, health facility Officers-in-Charge, laboratory personnel, disease control officers, provincial program managers, and technical experts to review the DNO findings and identify priority interventions across the Autonomous Region of Bougainville’s four regions and 13 districts.

The workshop enabled stakeholders to assess existing diagnostic and specimen referral systems, identify operational gaps, and prioritize critical investments required to strengthen laboratory services, diagnostic capacity, outbreak preparedness, and health security systems across the province.

Based on the outcomes of these consultations, priority support areas have been identified, including:

• Laboratory and medical equipment;
• Diagnostic and specimen referral support equipment;
• Electrical and power support systems;
• Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) supplies;
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);
• Cold-chain and specimen transportation equipment;
• Blood sample collection tubes and accessories

FHI 360 hereby invites qualified and experienced vendors to submit bids for the supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, and handover of the equipment and commodities listed within this solicitation. Where applicable, suppliers should also provide operator training, user manuals, warranty coverage, and after-sales technical support.

Bidders may submit proposals for one or more Lots. FHI 360 reserves the right to make partial awards by Lot based on technical compliance, delivery timelines, and cost competitiveness.

The successful bidder(s) shall be responsible for all costs associated with procurement, freight, customs clearance (where applicable), transportation, storage, delivery, installation, commissioning, training, and handover of the equipment to the designated health facilities within the Autonomous Region of Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.

Deliver to Buka, The Health Department of the Autonomous Regions of Bougainville

Delivery Address:

Attention: Mr Alois Pukeinei

The Health Department of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

PO Box 322

Buka

Autonomous Region of Bougainville

Papua New Guinea

For a complete copy of the bid documentation, kindly reach out to the Procurement Team on email: [email protected]