USAID Family Health and Nutrition Activity   2

The purpose of amendment no. 2 is to respond to the requiremensts of the Foreign Assistance Waiver for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Section 889 on the use of covered telecommunications equipment.

The USAID Family Health and Nutrition activity will provide complementary technical assistance to a basket fund ( Sida Grant ) supported by USAID and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The goal of this new activity is to strengthen the capacity of the Zambian public health system to sustainably deliver reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAH&N) services through improved service-delivery capacity, strengthened health management and financial systems, and improved engagement of communities in health. The Family Health and Nutrition Activity will work in tandem with the Sida Grant to strengthen health services through the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) led RMNCAH&N Continuum of Care Program (hereafter referred to as the RMNCAH&N Program).

Zambia has achieved significant advances in the past decade in improving overall health status and in protecting vulnerable groups. Zambia's recently released 2018 Demographic and Health Survey Key Indicators Report shows the rates of infant, child, and maternal mortality have all been reduced to less than 40 percent of what they were in 2002, yet remain unacceptably high, and reflect challenges in the overall health sector.

The core focus of this activity is to build the capacity of the GRZ, communities, and local partners to implement high-quality, accessible health care. In addition to improving high-quality health care service delivery, the activity will strengthen the self-sufficiency of the health system through building improved public financial management, health management information systems, performance management, and community engagement for better accountability. USAID is building resilience and advancing Zambia on the path to self-reliance by strengthening not just the ability to provide health care but improving the capacity of the health system to plan strategically through analyzing data to identify gaps, planning priority activities, and budgeting appropriately and efficiently.

Successful implementation will result in a strengthened Zambian public health system that is better able to deliver quality reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health and nutrition services in select provinces. This success will be measured by contribution to reduction of the Maternal Mortality Ratio from 252/100,000 to 100/100,000 live births and under five mortality rates from 75/1000 to 35/1000 over the life of the program in line with the Zambia National Health Strategic Plan 2017-2021: ()http://dspace.unza.zm/handle/123456789/5113)

USAID anticipates the award of a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Completion-Type contract, for a maximum five (5) year period of performance as a result of this RFP. USAID anticipates that the total estimated cost will range in the amount of $25 - $35 million. Although a range is provided, this does not mean that Offerors should necessarily strive to meet the maximum amount estimated. Offerors must propose realistic and reasonable costs for the work described in their proposals. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this solicitation is 541990. The authorized geographic code for the prime contractor of this procurement is 935.