FY26 International SLMTA Consultant Services for Laboratory Training, Mentorship, and Accreditation Support

Request for Proposal (RFP)
Solicitation Title: FY26 International SLMTA Consultant Services for
Laboratory Training, Mentorship, and Accreditation
Support
Solicitation Number: FY26-AO-BN 26-092
Submit Questions and Proposal to: Benin.Achat@fhi360.org
Date of Issue of RFP: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Date Questions from Supplier Due: Tuesday, 29 September 2026
Date Answers due from FHI 360: Thursday, 1 October 2026
Date Proposal Due: Tuesday, 6 October 2026 by 11:59 p.m. (Cotonou
time)
Approximate Timeframe Consultant Mid-October 2026
Agreement Issued to Successful Candidate(s):
Method of Submittal:
Respond via e-mail with attached document in MS Word / pdf format. Pricing should be provided in
Excel format unless otherwise specified.
Quote Validity:
The Consultant agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 90 days from the date specified for the
receipt of offers unless another time is specified in the addendum of the RFP.
Attachments to this RFP:
* Appendix No. 1: Terms of Reference
* Appendix No. 2: Sample Bid Letter
* Appendix No. 3: Bill of Unit Prices Framework
* Appendix No. 4: Proforma Invoice Template
FY26-AO-BN26-092 International Consulting Team for SLMTA
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Background
FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to sustainably improving the lives of
the communities it serves by providing integrated solutions that are tailored to local needs and led by
local people. We implement HIV/AIDS and global health security (GHS) projects through the Meeting
Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) project in Benin. In support of GHS activities in Benin,
FHI 360 intends to engage a team of three (3) international consultants to conduct Strengthening
Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) activities.
Scope of Work
The planned scope of work for the team of three (3) consultants includes conducting a hands-on training
mission on the SLMTA modules, strengthening national mentors and auditors, and providing on-site
mentoring for the implementation of the SLMTA modules in ten (10) laboratories involved in the capacity-
building process for accreditation to international standards. It is anticipated the consultant agreement
will be awarded around October 15, 2026, and the consultant team should arrive in Cotonou, Benin by
October 29, 2026, ahead of the assignment starting on October 30, 2026. The in-country assignment will
last 25 days and is expected to take place from the end of October through early December 2026. The
details of the assignment, as well as the main qualification criteria and requirements, are set forth in this
Request for Proposals. Please note that first SLMTA mission will be followed by a second mission after two
months approximately, and potentially a third mission (to be confirmed). Stepwise Laboratory
Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) audit of laboratories is included from the second
mission.
Location of Work:
The work will take place partly in Cotonou, and partly in other cities of Benin where seven (7) of the ten
(10) laboratories are located. The training on SLMTA 1 module (five (5) days), and the capacity
improvement of mentors/auditors (ten (10) days) will take place in Cotonou. The on-site mentoring of the
laboratories for SLMTA implementation, that will last seven (7) days (not including in-country travel time),
will take place in Cotonou for the three (3) laboratories located in Cotonou, and in other cities where the
other seven (7) laboratories are located, and will involve each of the three (3) international consultants in
different laboratories to support national mentors/auditors for the SLMTA implementation in the
laboratories.
Travel:
For the consultancy, travel in needed to Cotonou. In-country travel from Cotonou to other cities of Benin,
where seven (7) of the ten (10) laboratories are located, is also needed for the on-site SLMTA
implementation phase. The consultant team is expected to arrive in Cotonou on October 29, 2026. The
in-country assignment will take place from October 30t through December 2, 2026 (with return from
Cotonou on December 3, 2026).
FY26-AO-BN26-092 International Consulting Team for SLMTA
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Timetable and Address for Submission
Proposals in response to this call for proposals must be compiled into a single file containing all three (3)
documents (please see the list of required documentation below) and submitted via email to
Benin.Achat@fhi360.org no later than October 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (Cotonou time). The subject line
of the submission email must read as follows: "FY26-AO-BN26-092_Company Name." Proposals
received after this date will not be accepted.
Qualifications: Please see required qualifications listed in the Evaluation Criteria tables under Section
2a. and Section 2b., on page 3, below.
Evaluation Criteria: Participation in the competitive selection process is open on equal terms to all
consulting teams that meet the required criteria and are available during the mission period. Proposals
will be evaluated in accordance with the following five criteria:
1. Administrative Evaluation: This will be based on documents A through C of the administrative file.
The absence or invalidity of any of these documents will not automatically result in the rejection of
the bid; however, the bidder selected to execute the contract must submit all of these up-to-date
documents prior to notification;
2. Technical evaluation: This will be conducted in two (2) sub-steps as follows:
a) Verification of pre-qualification criteria in accordance with the table below:
No. Criteria Assessment
Be a certified SLMTA trainer (from a recognized organization such as ASLM,
1 etc.)-proof provided by submitting the certificate-valid for each team Eliminatory
member
Be a certified SLIPTA auditor (from a recognized organization such as ASLM,
2 Eliminatory
etc.-proof by submitting a certificate-valid for each team member)
Hold an ISO 15189:2022 training certificate (from a recognized organization
3 such as ASLM, etc..)-proof by submitting the certificate-valid for each team Eliminatory
member
Have a perfect command of the French language (evidence of education or
4 Eliminatory
work experience in a French-speaking country)-valid for each team member
Note: Only bidders who meet all criteria will be considered for the next stage of the process.
b) Detailed Technical Evaluation: This will be conducted based on the rubric below
FY26-AO-BN26-092 International Consulting Team for SLMTA
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No. Criteria Score
1 Approach to carrying out the assignment 20 points
1.1 Understanding of the assignment 5 points
1.2 Relevance of the methodological approach 10 points
Implementation timeline (consistent with the methodology and within a
1.3 5 points
reasonable timeframe)
2 Qualifications of the consulting team 50 points
University degree (Master's or higher) in medical biology, laboratory sciences, or
2.1 6 points
a related field
2.2 At least 10 years of relevant experience in a medical laboratory 9 points
Proven experience in: laboratory QMS, capacity building for laboratory staff,
SLIPTA mentors and auditors on SLMTA modules, supporting laboratories in the
2.3 9 points
practical implementation of SLMTA modules, and capacity building for the ISO
15189 accreditation program
Proven experience of at least 5 years as an SLMTA trainer, in capacity building,
2.4 and in supporting laboratories with the practical implementation of SLMTA 9 points
modules
2.5 At least 5 years of prior experience as an international SLMTA consultant 6 points
2.6 Proven experience of at least 5 years as a trainer for SLIPTA mentors and auditors 3 points
Experience as an SLMTA trainer and in supporting laboratory staff in West African
2.7 3 points
countries with the practical implementation of SLMTA
Experience collaborating with international NGOs funded by the United States
2.8 3 points
Government
2.9 Knowledge of English 2 points
TOTAL 70 points
Note: The minimum technical score required to advance to the next stage is 49 out of 70 points
3. Financial Evaluation: This will consider all bids selected during the technical evaluation stage and will
consist of verifying the presence and validity of documents I, K, and L, as well as correcting any
calculation errors.
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a) The financial score (NF) will then be determined using the formula below:
Lowest Amount
NF = x 30
Proposed Amount
b) Overall Evaluation: This will consist of determining the overall score (NG), which will be
calculated by adding the financial score (NF) and the timeliness score (ND). This step will be
accompanied by a ranking of the proposals based on the overall scores obtained.
4. After analyzing and evaluating the bids, the committee will award the contract to the bidder with the
highest overall score (OS). The bid evaluation committee may negotiate unit costs deemed
unreasonable. If the committee is not satisfied, it reserves the right to enter into discussions with the
next bidder.
5. FHI 360 reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal or to cancel the process without incurring
any liability whatsoever toward the bidders. Any award notification is contingent upon verification
that the bidder is not subject to exclusion by the USG or the United Nations.
Required Documentation: Proposals must include the following components:
Interested candidates may prepare and submit their best proposal, consisting of three (3) documents
labeled "Administrative File," "Technical Proposal," and "Financial Proposal," respectively, composed as
follows:
1. Administrative Package
a. A collaboration agreement signed by all three (3) proposed consultant team
members, confirming their availability during the assignment, and commitment to
work together to successfully complete the assignment if selected.
b. Confirm that each proposed individual who will travel internationally under this
assignment currently holds a valid passport. For each traveler, provide the
passport's issuing country and expiration date. Do not submit a copy of the passport
with the proposal. The selected provider may be required to provide a copy of the
passport biographical page after selection if necessary to support visa processing,
travel arrangements, identity verification, or other applicable administrative
requirements. Failure to demonstrate that proposed travelers meet applicable
passport and travel-document requirements may result in the proposal being
determined non-responsive.
2. Technical Proposal
a. A presentation note outlining the team's understanding of the assignment, along with
any suggestions and proposals (maximum 3 pages);
b. The methodology for carrying out the assignment, outlining the various stages and
the tools/approach to be used, results/deliverables, etc. (maximum 15 pages)
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c. A detailed timeline for the assignment, from the signing of the contract to the delivery
of the final deliverable.
d. A list of the proposed experts, specifying their roles (position) within the team;
e. The resumes of the proposed experts, highlighting their key qualifications and
experience relevant to the scope and nature of the assignment;
f. Evidence of qualifications (degrees, certificates, certificates of satisfactory
performance, etc.)
g. Any documents or information deemed relevant for assessing the team's ability to
properly carry out the project.
3. Financial Proposal
a. The signed and dated letter of submission (see template in Appendix No. 2);
b. The unit price schedule (see template in Appendix No. 3);
c. The pro forma invoice (see template in Appendix No. 4).
FHI 360 Disclaimers
* FHI 360 may perform a background check on any selected Consultant candidates.
* FHI 360 may cancel the solicitation and not award
* FHI 360 may reject any or all responses received
* Issuance of the solicitation does not constitute an award commitment by FHI 360
* FHI 360 reserves the right to disqualify any offer based on failure of the offeror to follow solicitation
instructions
* FHI 360 will not compensate any offeror for responding to solicitation
* FHI 360 reserves the right to issue award based on initial evaluation of offers without further
discussion
* FHI 360 may choose to award only part of the activities in the solicitation, or issue multiple awards
based on the solicitation activities
* FHI 360 reserves the right to waive minor proposal deficiencies that can be corrected prior to award
determination to promote competition
* FHI 360's supplier terms and conditions can be found here while our consultant terms and
conditions can be found here
FY26-AO-BN26-092 International Consulting Team for SLMTA
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