ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN
MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH
DIRECTORATE OF PROCUREMENT
GRANTS & SERVICES CONTRACT MANAGEMENT UNIT
PARTNERSHIP CONTRACT FOR HEALTH SERVICES (PCH)
(Project ID: PCH-CME-02)
Date: Nov, 06, 2012
Request for Expressions of interest (EOI) for International Competitive Bidding (ICB)
For the Training and Deployment of 208 Community Midwives in 8 provinces
The deadline for submitting an EOI is 15:00 (3:00 pm) Kabul time on 04 Dec 2012
Maternal and child health are the top priorities for the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), due to the fact
that maternal and child mortality rates in Afghanistan are among the highest in the world. One of the
contributing factors for high maternal and child mortality rates is the lack of the skilled female health
workers. USAID is in support of MoPH increasing the number of skilled health providers using a
comprehensive strengthening approach via 24 months of midwifery education, to reduce maternal and
newborn mortality and provide high levels of maternal and new born services at community level.
The MoPH is implementing the Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) and the Essential Package of
Hospital Services (EPHS) all over the country. The Partnership Contract for Health Services (PCH)
program of the Grants and Services Contract Management Unit (GCMU), with funding provided from
USAID, covers BPHS in 13 provinces EPHS in 5 provinces, and Community Midwifery Education (CME)
program in 12 provinces through contracting out to NGOs.
The aforementioned CME program in 12 provinces was integrated under the PCH program in May 2012,
following the signing of IL # 18 between the Ministry of Finance (MoF), MoPH, and USAID, based on
Kabul Conference recommendations. Based on the encouraging results obtained from successful
implementation of CME schools in Afghanistan, the MoPH and USAID decided to further expand the
program to other needed provinces.
As such, the MoPH, in close consultation with its related partners, has conducted a thorough assessment
to identify the needy provinces.
As per the assessment, program expansion for training of 208 additional community midwives in 8
provinces was identified:
The provinces have been categorized in the following lots:
Lot 1: Provinces of Badakhshan and Takhar for two CME schools with 52 trainees
Lot 2: Provinces of Ghazni and Paktika for two CME schools with 52 trainees
Lot 3: Provinces of Kunar and Nuristan for two CME schools with 52 trainees
Lot 4: Provinces of Bamyan and Daikundi for one CME school with 26 trainees
Lot 5: Province of Zabul for one CME school with 26 trainees
The objectives of the assignment are:
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To identify eligible candidates from the communities, as per guidelines
To educate the selected community midwives, as per the standard CME curricula
To deploy them in the same health facilities from where they are selected
Consultant organizations may apply for one or all lots.
The successful consultants will carry out the following activities:
a. Needs Assessment and recruitment of suitable candidates,
b. Training of the candidates,
c. Providing required equipments for the training,
d. Developing plans for deployment of successful community midwife graduates,
e. Assist the accreditation team and adhere to the terms and conditions of the National
Accreditation Board procedures.
The technical materials (curriculum) have already been developed and will be provided by the
MoPH. The training period is 24 months and total project duration will be 28 months, including
3 months preparation and 1 month close-out, starting from the day of signing the contract with
the successful consultant organization.
This request for expression of interest follows the Procurement Law of Afghanistan.
A consultant organization will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the
Procurement Law of Afghanistan.
The Ministry of Public Health hereby invites eligible international/national firms and other
private sector entities/consultants to indicate their interest in providing the above services.
Any organization expressing interest will need to demonstrate significant experience of
implementing similar projects in Afghanistan or similar environments/contexts; in addition, the
experience of consultants in implementation of BPHS and other health training projects will be
considered.
Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform
the services, with experience in Afghanistan or in the other similar contexts, and availability of
appropriate skills among staff, etc.
The main part of the EOI text should provide the information listed below and not exceed five
(5) pages.
1. Name of the organization, with full contact details.
2. Name of the project that you will provide a proposal for if you are short-listed.
3. Organization’s prior experience in implementation of similar services or other quality
trainings in primary health care (short description with the date, duration, location and
amount of funds) in Afghanistan or in similar environments.
4. Any other factor which significantly show organization’s ability/capacity to successfully
perform the assignment.
Other additional brochures or information provided beyond the maximum five pages of
text can be submitted.
EOIs will be evaluated on the quality of responses to the items # 3 and 4 listed above. After
evaluation of the EOIs, the successful organizations will be short–listed for the Request for
Proposal (RFP).
The Expression of Interest must be presented in English. Expressions of interest must be
delivered with a cover sheet by the following means:

Those applicants who can submit the EOI in person (hand-delivery by their staff) are
required to submit a total of six copies (one original and five copies) in a sealed
envelope, along with a soft copy in a labeled CD ROM.

Those applicants who cannot submit the EOI in-person (hand-delivery by their staff) are
required to submit their EOI, along with the scanned copy of the receipt of the courier
by e-mail, and send the 6 hard copies (One original and 5 copies) in a sealed envelope by
International Courier.
The EOI must be submitted within the submission deadline to the below address:
Ministry of Public Health
Grants and Services Contract Management Unit (GCMU)
To the attention of: Ms. Terina Shafie – PCH Contract Assistant
Kabul, Afghanistan.
Subject: Expression of Interest for Implementation of CME program
Email:
To: pch.gcmu@gmail.com
Cc: info.gcmu@moph.gov.af , shafie.gcmu@moph.gov.af,
Deadline for submission of the EOI is 04 December 2012 at 15:00 hrs Kabul time.
Interested Consultancy firms may obtain further information from the contact provided below
from 09:00 to 14:00 hours Kabul time three days before the deadline.
Dr. Ghulam Sarwar Hemati
Head of Grant and Service Contract Management Unit
Ministry of Public Health
E-mail: pch.gcmu@gmail.com
Cc: info.gcmu@moph.gov.af
Website: www.moph.gov.af