Section 1.0 – Overview and Procedures

1.1.     Request for Proposals – Service Notice

1.1.1.        Nutrition International (NI), a non-profit agency dedicated to eliminating vitamin and mineral deficiencies worldwide, invites proposals from competent agencies for Rapid assessment of needs and potential methods for efficient capsule distribution according to micro plans in three districts of Pakistan.

1.2.     Background

1.2.1.        Vitamin A deficiency remains a major public health concern in Pakistan. The National Nutrition Survey (NNS) 2018 showed that 51.5% of children age 6-59 months were found vitamin A deficient, of which 12.1% were severely deficient and 39.4% were mildly deficient.

1.2.2.        Vitamin A Supplementation (VAS) has been implemented in Pakistan since 1997 as a critical child survival intervention for children aged 6–59 months. Vitamin A plays an essential role in strengthening immunity, supporting healthy growth and vision, and reducing the severity and risk of infections such as diarrhoea, measles, pneumonia, and other respiratory infections. Regular supplementation contributes to reducing child morbidity and mortality.

1.2.3.        Vitamin A supplementation is currently delivered twice a year to children aged 6–59 months across Pakistan, primarily through the National Immunization Days (NIDs) conducted for polio eradication. The Vitamin A dose is administered alongside the polio vaccination by trained frontline workers, using the polio campaign platform and field workforce to reach children in communities, including hard-to-reach and underserved areas. As a result, VAS delivery is integrated into the existing polio campaign infrastructure, enabling the programme to leverage established systems and a broad frontline workforce to reach children nationwide.

1.2.4.        Despite the successful nationwide implementation of Vitamin A Supplementation alongside Polio NIDs, limited evidence is available on three specific aspects of current practice: the field-level transferring  of capsules into plastic zipper pouches, which does not follow global best practice and may pose risks to capsule quality, accountability, and cost; the extent to which capsule allocation and distribution align with district and team-wise microplans; and how capsules are tracked and accounted for following campaign completion.

1.2.5.        The rapid assessment is therefore needed to examine these three areas of the supply system, to identify operational gaps, bottlenecks, good practices, and opportunities for improvement. The findings will support evidence-based  decisions on whether and how to revise the current repackaging practice, strengthen microplan alignment, and improve post-campaign capsule tracking and accountability.

1.2.6.        The objectives of the rapid assessment are:

1.2.6.1.        To document current field-level practices for distribution of vitamin A capsules (VAC) from bottles into plastic zipper pouches for frontline workers during Polio NIDs;

1.2.6.2.        To identify feasible alternative methods aligned with global best practice;

1.2.6.3.        To assess the extent to which VAC allocation and distribution aligns with district and team-level microplans;

1.2.6.4.        To determine the disposition of VAC following campaign completion (unused, excess, or damaged capsules), including whether and how these are tracked and reconciled; and

1.2.6.5.        To develop practical, actionable recommendations addressing the repackaging practice, microplan alignment, and post-campaign capsule tracking.

1.2.7.        This Request for Proposals (RFP) and particularly the Guidelines for Preparing Proposals that follow, are designed to help Respondents to produce proposals that are acceptable to the NI, and to ensure that all proposals are given equal consideration. It is essential, therefore, that Respondents provide the complete information that is requested, and in the formats and on the terms specified.

DETAILED RFP ATTACHED