REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS By Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, Inc. Closing Date: January 03, 2009
1. PURPOSE The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, a global corporate leader in philanthropy, is committed to help reduce health disparities around the world. It aims to do that by strengthening the capacity of professional and lay health care workers, integrating medical care and community-based supportive services, and mobilizing patients and communities to fight disease through education and awareness. Since 2002, the Foundation has supported hepatitis-related efforts in Asia with programs aimed at Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) that initially focused on prevention of mother-to-child HBV transmission as well as HBV immunization promotion in China. In 2006, the Foundation expanded those efforts to broader support for hepatitis B/C awareness, prevention and education as well as mainstreaming and integration of HBV/HCV interventions and health education in public health programs. Today, under Delivering Hope ™ – Hepatitis Awareness, Prevention and Care, the Foundation’s priority hepatitis programs encompass: • Capacity building to increase HBV/HCV prevention and management skills by targeting health care professionals and lay health workers; • Providing basic facts, information and education to dispel stigma and create general awareness; • Developing best practices for prevention and management of HBV/HCV to inform public health policy; • Increasing the profile of HBV and HCV as a serious medical condition and public health priority by mainstreaming it with other relevant priority health and social issues. To date the Foundation, through its Delivering Hope program, has supported projects in China, India and Japan that primarily focus on hepatitis B. This Request for Proposals will focus on prevention, health education and mitigation of HCV infection, targeting patients, their families and health providers in Thailand, Taiwan, China and India. The Foundation will award a total of $1,400,000 over two years to support programs that address and/or improve prevention, disease education, care and support among groups most at risk of HCV infection. Of particular interest are operational research and interventions addressing HCV in a) health care settings (health care practitioners and high-risk patients, including those requiring blood transfusion or dialysis or those in long-term institutional care); and b) in the community (training non-specialist health care professionals and lay or rural health care practitioners about harm reduction and counseling and support of anti-HCV and chronic HC patients.) 2. BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus infection is a public health problem throughout the world. According to WHO, approximately 170 million people worldwide are chronically infected with HCV, with 3-4 million new HCV cases each year globally. China leads prevalence rates with an estimated 39 million people who are chronically infected (an estimated 3% of its total population). About 2.2% (19 million people) of the Indian population are reported anti-HCV positive cases, especially in that country’s northeastern border states. The major routes for HCV transmission in Asia during the past few decades have been through administration of therapeutic blood products and injecting drug use, similar to the pattern observed in other parts of the world. However, such well known parenteral routes of transmission account for between 30-60% of anti-HCV positive cases, depending on the geographic area. In addition, other possible routes of HCV transmission include medical intervention, tattooing, acupuncture, accidental needle sticks and household contacts. Although screening of blood donors for anti-HCV and improvements in infection control have significantly decreased the exposure to HCV, it is believed that HCV is still spreading in some areas of Asia, especially as a result of a lack of universal screening of donated blood, injecting drug usage or traditional practices (such as acupuncture,
folk remedies and Suidama). Medical treatment under suboptimal hygienic conditions or tattooing, also can result in blood contamination. The delivery of health care also has the potential to transmit HBV and HCV both to health care workers and their patients. Outbreaks of HBV and HCV infection have occurred in outpatient settings, hemodialysis units, longterm care facilities and hospitals, primarily as a result of unsafe injection practices — reuse of needles, needle stick injuries and non-disposable syringes — and other lapses in infection control. Primary prevention activities can reduce or eliminate potential risk for HCV transmission from a) blood, blood components and plasma derivatives; and b) exposures to blood in health care as well as other settings (i.e., tattooing and body piercing). Key interventions for preventing additional HCV infections in Asia may include implementing effective and safe methods more widely to interrupt transmission routes, such as blood donor screening for anti-HCV, sterilization of surgical instruments, using disposable medical instruments, especially needles and syringes, and avoiding personal grooming aid sharing. Unlike hepatitis B and HIV, HCV is a curable disease. Therefore, there is a critical need to provide care and support to those infected. But because there is no immunization against HCV, there is also a need to identify persons at risk but not yet infected with HCV, in order to provide counseling on how to reduce their risk of becoming infected. 3. THE PROGRAM Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Delivering Hope program is issuing this Request for Proposals to support efforts to add to an already substantial body of knowledge regarding prevention and control of hepatitis C virus. Through this RFP, the Foundation program will support proposals for disease awareness and prevention as well as education and support of HCV-infected individuals, their families and affected health care providers. Five grants will be made in the following manner: • One grant in Taiwan valued at $250,000 for a two-year project • One grant in Thailand valued at $250,000 for a two-year project • One grant in China valued at $250,000 for a two-year project • One grant for India valued at $250,000 for a two-year project
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• One multi-country grant (Thailand, Taiwan, China and/or India) valued at $400,000 for a two-year project. Those interested in developing multi-country proposals should choose two or more of the countries listed here. It is important that submitted proposals DO NOT exceed the budget limit. 3.1 Projects should prioritize HCV and/or HCV and related diseases/co-infections and focus on one or several of the following approaches: • Operational research/improvement of the quality of screening/testing as well as the practice of blood transfusion and on initiatives aimed at risk-reduction counseling and services for populations most at risk; • Implementation and maintenance of infection-control practices within health care facilities and services, including appropriate sterilization of medical and dental equipment; • Promotion of behavior change among the general public and health care workers to reduce overuse of injections and to use safe injection practices; especially the development and/or support of innovative outreach models for identification, counseling and testing of populations at risk; • Education and training of non-specialist and community-based health care providers regarding detection, care and management of infected persons; • Research into and/or evaluation of the effectiveness of prevention activities, including the development of improved prevention methods and determining risk factors for infection and/or disease transmission patterns in priority settings. 3.2 Target beneficiaries should include but not be limited to: • Groups most at risk in health care settings (health care practitioners and high-risk patients – including those receiving blood transfusions) • Community-based lay and rural health workers • Geographies and communities disproportionately affected by HCV or other types of hepatitis. 3.3 Priority will be given to: • Projects designed with the rigor required of a demonstration project that can develop new data and learnings; • Projects that have near-term measurable outcomes; • Projects that demonstrate a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to building upon an existing body of knowledge, identifying critical gaps and communicating and disseminating this new information.
All grantees will be expected to document outcomes and significant milestones at the end of each year and to provide a publishable report at the conclusion of the grant period. This report should become an important addition to the growing body of knowledge in the field of hepatitis prevention, care and support. The communication and dissemination of these reports should be part of the plan although there are instances where it can be planned in conjunction with the Foundation. 4. ELIGIBILITY Universities, health centers and established nonprofit and non-governmental organizations working at the national, local and regional level are eligible to apply for support under this RFP. Partnerships that add value to proposed interventions are particularly encouraged. Institutions selected, especially the lead organization, must have a proven track record for implementing successful community-based and/or health-related programs, and must have demonstrated the capacity to make innovative recommendations that can inform health policy and future strategies for prevention and improving support and care for those impacted by HCV or HBV. The grant selection process is highly competitive; therefore applicants must present a compelling, well-documented case for support. In general, the quality and potential impact of the proposed intervention will be the principal factors used in assessing each proposal. 5. GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS 5.1 Proposals must be submitted in English (maximum of 12 pages) and should cover: • Short situation analysis • Background on the geographic areas/beneficiaries • Goals and objectives • Project scope and approach/methodology • Activities and time frame • Collaborating partners, if relevant, and specific roles and responsibilities for each partner • Expected project outcomes • Monitoring and evaluation. All successful organizations will be expected to submit periodic reports as well as mid-term and final reports. • Communication and dissemination of outcomes. All successful organizations will be expected to produce a publishable report at the end of the project.
5.2 Budget (one page proposal must be within specified budget – see Point 3. THE PROGRAM) 5.2.1 The budget must: • be linked to activities • be in local currency but must provide an annual equivalent in US dollars • be broken down into annual budget and where possible, to indicate unit costs • include any matching funds if available. 5.2.2 Use of Grant Funds Grant funds may be used for: • project salaries • data analysis • communications and publications • project-related travel • direct project costs • indirect costs (up to 10% of project salaries) • In the case of cross-continental collaborations, 75% of the funds should be spent in the identified benefiting country. 5.2.3 Grant funds may not be used for: • capital support for construction, renovation or purchase of buildings • major equipment purchases • clinical or supply purchases not crucial to implementation of the project • debt reduction • development (fundraising) projects. 5.3 Your organization’s profile and capability statement (not more than six pages) Provide an overview of your organization and its collaborating partners highlighting: • Legal status/governance structure • Legal ability to receive funding from an international (USA) funder • Experience and expertise in projects similar to the one proposed • Resources to be dedicated to the project (human resources – full time, part time and volunteers; office and workspace, equipment, infrastructure, etc.)
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6. SELECTION CRITERIA Proposals will be judged and scored according to each of the following criteria: 1. The overall quality of the proposal and the degree to which it demonstrates a thorough understanding of related comprehensive HCV prevention and control initiatives and builds upon their strengths. 2. A clear intervention and program design based on evidence from past efforts in the field. High priority will be given to interventions with an operational research design. 3. The significance of the expected outcomes and nearterm impact of the project, the feasibility of achieving the goals and objectives specified in the proposal and the ability to assess and measure them at the end of the grant. 4. The institution’s commitment, prior accomplishments and evidence of its unique role in addressing issues related to hepatitis and/or priority most-at-risk groups. 5. Demonstrated leadership and commitment from the head of the institution and other departments within the institution involved in the projects and its sustainability. 6. The quality, experience and appropriateness of the project staff and the reasonableness of the proposed budget. The review panel reserves the right to award grants to proposals that best meet criteria regardless of country of origin.
7. WHERE TO SEND YOUR PROPOSAL The closing date for submission of proposals is Saturday, January 3, 2009. Proposals received after this date will not be eligible for review. We will only accept proposals in electronic format. Proposals should be submitted in English via email to phangisile.mtshali@bms.com Proposals on CD’s can also be sent via mail or courier to: Phangisile Mtshali Director, Corporate Philanthropy Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation 47 Van Buuren Road Bedfordview 2007 SOUTH AFRICA Inquiries should be directed to phangisile.mtshali@bms.com. For more information visit our website at www.bms.com/foundation 8. TIMETABLE October 31, 2008 January 03, 2009 January 05 - 23, 2009 Open Request for Proposals Submission of proposals Review of proposals by Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation review panel Response to applicants Awarding of grants
January 25-30, 2009 February 2009
The mission of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation is to help reduce health disparities by strengthening health care worker capacity, integrating medical care and community-based supportive services, and mobilizing communities in the fight against serious disease.
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