The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Division of Global AIDS Program, International Laboratory Branch, is seeking sources for a, firm fixed price contract, in accordance with FAR 13, using simplified acquisition procedures. The contractor will provide proficiency testing (PT) panels (serum, plasma, whole blood, stained microscopic slides, and swabs) for 30 laboratories in Ethiopia. The testing results from each laboratory are reported back to the PT provider and are frequently compared with those other laboratories. The reported results indicate quality of performance. The PT program is expected to improve the validity of test results and the ability of laboratories within Ethiopia to incorporate testing information that will be useful in the care and treatment of patients. The services will be completed in Ethiopia.

Project Objectives
The goal of the project is to empower groups to become full-service national-scale proficiency testing (PT) providers with the support of national and international stakeholders.

This project will develop a turnkey process by which the Ethiopia Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI) can form a national Proficiency Testing program quickly with minimal physical, staff, and IT infrastructure.

The Contractor performance will include 2 phases
Phase 1: Pilot

• 30 laboratories enrolled for the September/ October 2009 test events
• Contractor Informatics system established
• Provide remote online training to EHNRI staff
• Register all participants in the contractor's Informatics system
• Participants trained and evaluated on the system
• Performance reports provided to all participants

Phase 2: Pilot
• Contractor will implement 40 additional labs in accordance to the activities in Phase 1.

Deliverables

• The contractor will provide proficiency testing (PT) panels (serum, plasma, whole blood, stained microscopic slides, swabs) for 30 laboratories in Ethiopia for integrated disease test monitoring. For instance, serum samples will be used for evaluating chemistry, toxicology and endocrinology, syphilis testing; whole blood for hematology and CD4 testing; and swabs for gonorrhea (Phase 1).
  Contractor will pack and ship (at appropriate temperatures) all PT panels to EHNRI (Phase 1)
  The contractor will procure software, travel to Ethiopia to install and configure all PT subscriptions or entries at EHNRI for use in running and monitoring performance of 30 laboratories (Phase 1) and subsequently for additional 40 labs (phase 2).
  The contractor will train at least 30 participants on informatics system including how to send test panel results to EHNRI serving as a central hub (Phase 1).
  The contractor will assess and demonstrate competency of trained staff. By competency, we mean the ability for trained staff of participants to perform tasks unassisted (Phase 2).
  The contractor will analyze results from all 30 sites with graphic presentations comparing in country laboratories as well as sites from the other members of the consortium for which EHNRI will be enrolled into by vendor (Phase 1). This constitutes analyzing results of more than 85 analytes or indicators per laboratory (~2500 analytes fro 30 labs in phase 1 or 3400 analytes for 40 labs in phase2).
  The contractor will provide proficient testing panels for additional 40 laboratories in the roll out phase (Phase 2).
  The contractor will provide full report for successful implementation emphasizing the ability for EHNIR to independently run this informatics program to support 70 or more labs nationally.