Request for Proposal For Consultant Services For Global Health Security And Other Infectious And Vector-Borne Diseases Diagnostic Network And Laboratory Technical Services Support

Request for proposals for Consultant Services for Global Health Security and other Infectious and Vector-Borne Diseases Diagnostic Network and Laboratory Technical Services Support GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY AND OTHER INFECTIOUS AND VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES DIAGNOSTIC NETWORK AND LABORATORY TECHNICAL CONSULTANT ROSTER FHI 360 seeks qualified human and animal diagnostic network and laboratory professionals to provide flexible, on-demand technical assistance to strengthen global health security, infectious and vector-borne disease diagnostic network and laboratory systems under FHI 360 global health programs. FHI 360 supports governments, national public health and veterinary institutions, laboratories, and health programs across approximately 50 countries in Africa, Asia, South America, Central America, the Middle East and Europe. The consultant roster will provide FHI 360 with access to specialized human and animal diagnostic network and laboratory strengthening expertise that can be rapidly mobilized in response to country, regional, and global technical needs. Consultants may support national public health and veterinary diagnostic networks including reference laboratories, regional and subnational laboratories, hospital and clinical laboratories, surveillance laboratory networks, and other institutions responsible for infectious disease detection, confirmation, characterization, reporting, and response. POTENTIAL TECHNICAL AREAS AND ACTIVITIES Under this consultancy, selected individuals may be engaged to perform one or more of the following activities based on their technical expertise and project requirements. 1. Diagnostic Network and Laboratory Systems Assessments and Strengthening Conduct comprehensive assessments of national, reference, regional, provincial, district, and other human and animal laboratories and diagnostic networks, including optimization exercises. Assess diagnostic network and laboratory infrastructure, equipment, workflows, workforce capacity, quality systems, biosafety and biosecurity, specimen management, information systems, supply chains, and diagnostic capacity. Conduct diagnostic network mapping, gap analyses, readiness assessments, root-cause analyses, and capacity assessments. Assess the organization, functionality, governance, coordination, and sustainability of tiered national diagnostic networks. Develop prioritized diagnostic network and laboratory strengthening plans, corrective action plans, investment plans, and implementation roadmaps. 3 Consultant Solicitation September 2026 Support governments and laboratory leadership in defining tiered diagnostic networks, referral functions, testing algorithms, and roles and responsibilities across laboratory systems. Support integration of disease-specific laboratory capacity into broader national human and animal laboratory systems. Support governments and FHI 360 teams in translating assessment findings into practical, costed interventions. Conduct follow-up assessments to evaluate progress and implementation of corrective actions. 2. Diagnostic Network and Laboratory Governance, Policy and Strategic Planning Support development and revision of national diagnostic network and laboratory policies, strategies, strategic plans, regulatory frameworks, and implementation plans. Strengthen governance and coordination of national public health laboratory networks, including both human and animal laboratories. Support development of national laboratory technical working groups, advisory structures, and coordination mechanisms. Assist governments in defining diagnostic network and laboratory priorities, resource requirements, investment needs, and sustainability strategies. Provide technical input into diagnostic network and laboratory financing, resource mobilization, and sustainability planning. 3. Laboratory Diagnostic Capacity and Testing Systems Assess and strengthen diagnostic capacity for priority infectious diseases and public health threats. Support selection, verification, validation, implementation, and quality monitoring of appropriate diagnostic technologies. Provide technical assistance for molecular diagnostics, microscopy, serology, culture, rapid diagnostic testing, sequencing, and other laboratory methodologies, as appropriate to consultant expertise and country needs. Review and strengthen testing algorithms, workflows, referral pathways, result interpretation, and reporting systems. Support introduction and scale-up of new laboratory technologies and diagnostic platforms, including point-of-care tests. Assess testing capacity, throughput, turnaround times, utilization, and laboratory performance. Support development of diagnostic preparedness plans for emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats. 4. Molecular Diagnostics, Genomic Sequencing and Advanced Technologies Assess readiness for introduction or expansion of molecular and genomic laboratory technologies. Provide technical assistance on PCR and other molecular diagnostic systems, as appropriate. Strengthen laboratory workflows, quality assurance, contamination prevention, interpretation, and reporting associated with molecular testing. Support development and strengthening of sequencing and genomic surveillance capacity where relevant to national infectious disease priorities. Strengthen integration of genomic, epidemiological, and routine surveillance information for public health decision-making. Support evaluation and responsible introduction of emerging laboratory technologies and diagnostic innovations. 5. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Testing Assess and strengthen bacteriology, microbiology, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing capacity. Support implementation of standardized laboratory methods, quality assurance, and reporting for AMR surveillance. Strengthen laboratory participation in national AMR surveillance networks. Support development and implementation of EQA, proficiency testing, and quality improvement programs for AMR testing. Improve integration of microbiology and AMR laboratory data with national surveillance and health information systems. Support collaboration among clinical laboratories, reference laboratories, epidemiology programs, infection prevention and control programs, and antimicrobial stewardship initiatives. 6. Laboratory External Quality Assurance (EQA), Quality Management Systems (QMS), ISO Standards and Accreditation Readiness Assess and strengthen laboratory QMS consistent with applicable national and international standards. Provide technical assistance toward implementation of ISO 15189 requirements for human laboratories, ISO 17025 for animal laboratories and other applicable ISO standards. Support laboratories preparing for accreditation, certification, external assessment, or recognition under nationally or internationally recognized frameworks. Conduct baseline assessments, gap analyses, mock audits, internal audits, and readiness assessments. Develop and support implementation of quality improvement and corrective and preventive action (CAPA) plans. Strengthen document control, records management, occurrence management, internal audits, management reviews, equipment management, process improvement, and other QMS components. Support development and implementation of quality manuals, policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), job aids, forms, logs, and quality indicators. Strengthen internal quality control and participation in EQA, proficiency testing, and interlaboratory comparison programs. Mentor laboratory quality officers, managers, and technical staff in continuous quality improvement. 7. Diagnostic Network and Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity Conduct laboratory biosafety and biosecurity assessments at national and subnational levels. 5 Consultant Solicitation September 2026 Support implementation and strengthening of laboratory biosafety and biosecurity programs consistent with applicable national requirements and internationally recognized standards and guidance. Conduct biological risk assessments for laboratory procedures, pathogens, facilities, equipment, specimen handling, storage, transport, and waste management. Support development and implementation of institutional biosafety and biosecurity policies, manuals, SOPs, and risk-management plans. Strengthen systems for access control, inventory management, pathogen accountability, secure storage, transfer, transport, and disposal of biological materials. Assess and strengthen engineering and administrative controls, personal protective equipment practices, biological safety cabinet use, decontamination, sterilization, and laboratory waste management. Support establishment and strengthening of biosafety committees, institutional oversight mechanisms, incident reporting systems, and occupational health programs. Develop and deliver training on biosafety, biosecurity, biological risk management, spill response, exposure management, emergency procedures, and incident investigation. Provide technical assistance to laboratories handling or storing infectious agents requiring enhanced containment or specialized risk-management measures. Conduct containment risk assessments and identify gaps in infrastructure, procedures, equipment, training, and oversight. Support development of containment policies, procedures, inventories, accountability systems, and risk-mitigation plans. Assess facility practices related to specimen and isolate storage, transfer, destruction, decontamination, and documentation. Provide technical assistance on laboratory decommissioning, relocation, renovation, or transition where infectious materials and containment considerations are involved. Support institutional p Tender Link : https://solicitations.fhi360.org/ConsultantSolicitation.aspx