Strengthening Health Systems — Tuberculosis Epidemiology & Intervention Research Unit, South Africa

GENERAL PROCUREMENT NOTICE SOUTH AFRICA COUNTRY: South Africa PROJECT: Regional Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing in Strengthening Health Systems SECTOR: Tuberculosis Epidemiology & Intervention Research Unit GRANT NO.: TF097304 PROJECT ID NO.: P116692 The South African Medical Research Council has applied for financing in the amount of US$ 546,250.00 equivalent from the Institutional Development Fund (IDF) and administered by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) toward the cost of the Regional Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing in Strengthening Health Systems, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments for goods, works, related services and consulting services to be procured under thisproject.

The project will include the following components: COMPONENT 1: Capacity Development for Quality Assured Diagnostic Services This component aims to establish regional capacity for the performance of quality assured laboratory diagnostic services using tuberculosiscontrol as the main entry point. Specific objectives would include: (i) providing staff training for national reference laboratories to assist them to develop their capacities to provide quality assured TB diagnostic services and to work effectively in a network of laboratories;and (ii) facilitating the transfer of experiences, knowledge, and best practices across countries.

COMPONENT 2: Improving Capacity for Operational Research This component aims to strengthen capacity in the sub-region with a particular focus on the design and implementation of an operational research agenda related to TB diagnostic capacities. The MRC would assistin this process by facilitating the transfer of knowledge and expertise and by promoting collaborative arrangements with regional researchers. This would be accomplished by: (i) assisting with the identification of a regional research agenda to address key gaps in knowledge related to diagnosis and management of co-infected individuals; and (ii) identifying, supporting and overseeing regional institutions which would develop and carry out the research.

COMPONENT 3: Capacity Development for Strategic Planning The strategic planning component will support the establishment of a regional forum for raising the profile of communicable diseases, usingTB control as the main entry point. To this end, the objectives are to: (i) build capacity of regional leaders to address cross border public health issues; (ii) build a strategic vision at the technical levelon the main elements of a coordinated approach with an initial focus on multi-drug resistant tuberculosis; and (iii) share knowledge and good practices in mounting joint activities.

Please note that there will be no contracts for Goods and/or Works that will be procured under ICB procedures Consulting Services will be selected in accordance with the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by the World Bank Borrowers dated May 2004, revised October 2006 and May 2010. Procurement of contracts financed by the World Bank will be conducted through the procedures as specified in the World Bank's guidelines: Procurement under IBRD loans and IDA Credits dated May 2004, revisedOctober 2006 and May 2010, and is open to all eligible bidders as defined in the guidelines.

Specific Procurement Notices for contracts to be bid under the World Bank's International Competitive Bidding (ICB) procedures and for contracts for consultancy services will be announced, as they become available, in UN Development Business and dgMarket and in local newspapers. Interested parties who wish to receive a copy of advertisement, or those requiring additional information, should contact the address immediately below: Dr Martie van der Walt The South African Medical Research Council Tuberculosis Epidemiology & Intervention Research Unit Private Bag X385, Pretoria 0001, South Africa 1 Soutpansberg Road, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa Tel: +27 (0)12 339-8550 Fax: +27(0)12 325-5970 vdwalt@mrc.ac.za