Request for Application (RFA) for Service Delivery at Centre for the Clinical Care and Clinical Research (CCCRN)

The Center for Clinical Care and Clinical Research is an indigenous, non-profit organization that promotes best practices in health care delivery, medical training and research using locally adapted models of health systems strengthening. CCCRN has established a formidable presence in Nigeria. With the headquarters in Federal Capital Territory and field offices in its operational states, CCCRN built a vast network of health and allied professional staff, partners and collaborators.

Applications are invited for:

Title: Request for Application (RFA) for Service Delivery

Locations: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo and Lagos States
Project: Transforming Health and Resilience for Individuals Through Vibrant
Empowerment (THRIVE) Project

Background

• The USAID- funded Transforming Health and Resilience of Individuals Through Vibrant Empowerment  (THRIVE), is a five-year cooperative agreement that contributes to achieving sustained epidemic control  by improving the health and well-being of children living with HIV and reducing the risk of HIV infection  among vulnerable children, adolescents, young people, and their caregivers.
• The activity will provide essential and life-saving services that serve to build resilience and mitigate the multiple, layered vulnerabilities faced by these sub-populations.
• The activity will also contribute to closing gaps in Nigeria’s pediatric care and treatment cascade, supporting children and adolescents living with HIV  (C/ALHIV) and HIV positive caregivers to access continuous treatment, improve their quality of life, remain on HIV treatment, and reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
• THRIVE is USAID/Nigeria’s mechanism for implementing PEPFAR-funded programs for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and its delivery arm for community-focused, sustainable health services, with targeted interventions to address some social determinants of health outcomes among beneficiary households and their communities.
• THRIVE will build on previous USAID investments in improving the health, protection, and prospects of vulnerable children, emphasizing the urgency of caregivers, communities, and local authorities to sustainably mobilize resources and practice optimal nurturing care.
• The THRIVE project will continue to contribute to achieving the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS’ (UNAIDS) 95-95-95 global target with particular focus on children ensuring that 95% of people with HIV are diagnosed, out of which 95% of them are placed on lifesaving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95% of these achieve HIV viral suppression towards ending HIV as an epidemic by 2030.
• This request for application from Centre for Clinical Care and Clinical Research (CCCRN) is exclusively for the USAID-funded Transforming Health and Resilience of Individuals Through Vibrant Empowerment (THRIVE) in five (5) southern states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo and Lagos states.
• THRIVE project shall at this time, provide a streamlined, targeted and integrated community-based package of services that is considered essential and lifesaving, directly contributing to Pediatric HIV response in these states. 

A 5-year target adjusted for incidence and graduation, comprising of children and
Adolescents living with HIV (CALHIV) and HIV-exposed infants (HEIs) are presented in the table below:

• The project is implemented through a case management system that will focus on the enrolment of children and households infected and affected by HIV, who will be provided with comprehensive services based on their needs so that they can build resilience against vulnerabilities and at graduation, demonstrate measurable and sustainable self-reliance.
• THRIVE aligns with national priorities by closing paediatric HIV treatment gaps, strengthening partnerships, and building capacity among program partners and the social workforce.
• It continues the proven OVC programming model, directly addressing vulnerabilities across the Healthy domain, while indirectly contributing to achieving objectives across the Stable, Safe, and Schooled domains.
• Each result area comprises of a set of intermediate results, with associated outcomes, of improved household access to basic health and social services, improved community capacity to influence, prevent and resolve harmful community practices, improved state and local capacity to effectively coordinate, monitor and mobilize resources for OVC, and increased Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention, case- finding, retention and viral load suppression.
• The project targets progressively graduating an average of 20% of all the enrolled children following their attainment of the graduation benchmarks and transitioning annually until September 2028 when a holistic evaluation will be carried out on all beneficiary households in preparation for project closure
  in September 2029.
• Project interventions are evidence-based, culturally responsive, age-appropriate, integrated, and designed to foster resilience.
• The THRIVE project was designed to build strong integration between social and HIV services so that a continuum of care is provided for Children and Adolescents living with HIV, TB infected or TB-HIV co-infected children, HIV Exposed Infants and first time HIV positive mothers
  aged 20 to 34 who continue to contribute the highest to HEIs and new pediatric HIV infection in Nigeria.
• Although there are four (4) Result Areas of interest in the initial phase, the priority shall be the first two, outlined clearly in the designated table on page 4.

Purpose for Funding

• To this end, THRIVE is seeking community-based organizations (CSOs) who are based in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, or Lagos States with requisite experience to deliver quality lifesaving services to the OVC priority sub-population in 86 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
• Issuance of this RFA does not constitute an award or a commitment on the part of CCCRN to pay for costs incurred in the submission of an application. In addition, this RFA is not intended to replace any current or future funding agreements of organizations with CCCRN, USAID, or with any government department.
• Instructions: The whole concept note should not be more than 10 slides, not counting the cover slide.

Sub-Award Program Requirements
CSOs applying for the sub-award should demonstrate capacity and understanding of the context in implementing across these project service areas. CSOs are expected to develop innovative, effective, and sustainable interventions that demonstrate cost efficiency in identified thematic areas and results.

CLHIV are found, enrolled in treatment, and provided with adherence support services
Activities under this intermediate result will strengthen the program’s capacity to:

• Support case finding in the pediatric and adolescent populations, and
• Find and enroll all CLHIV in the geographies where the program is being implemented.
• These efforts will contribute directly to ramping up diagnosis, enrollment in, and adherence to ART of CLHIV and HIV positive caregivers, closing gaps in the pediatric treatment cascade, and reducing the risk of HIV transmission.
• Achieving this result will require close coordination with care and treatment partners and the health facilities they support, joint planning of case finding efforts, and the appropriate capacity development and equipping of the OVC program’s social workforce.

Illustrative Activities:

• Set up enrolment committees at the community level, including care outlets, health facilities, and coordinate the enrolment of households with C/ALHIV
• Equip the social workforce with SOPs, tools, and training to screen, identify, and enroll households with C/ALHIV
• Set up adherence support groups for C/ALHIV and equip the social workforce to facilitate these groups
• Set up parenting groups to mentor and support caregivers of C/ALHIV

Other sub-populations of children at high risk of HIV infection are identified and
enrolled in the OVC program or linked to services:

• Activities under this intermediate result will strengthen the program’s capacity to find children at highest risk of HIV infection are risk-assed and linked to HIV testing and enrolment of those testing HIV positive.
• Note that ONLY the HIV exposed infants (HEI) sub-type are to be enrolled into the OVC program without a positive HIV result.
• Proposed strategies will also establish surveillance mechanisms to detect new pregnancies among already known HIV positive woman for enrolment into THRIVE.
• These efforts will maximize the THRIVE Activity’s prevention contribution to HIV epidemic control by ensuring the optimization of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) cascade to reduce HIV seroconversion among these infants by a significant percentage year on year.
• Achieving this result will require soliciting meaningful participation from community leadership and continuous advocacies to influence and modify sociocultural factors that affect the uptake of perinatal services within the communities, especially for first-time mothers with unknown HIV status while harnessing methodologies that effectively sustain community structures that drive demand and uptake.

Illustrative Activities:

• Set up PMTCT committees at local level that include community leadership and local CSOs surveillance teams to coordinate effective identification and referrals of pregnant and breastfeeding women for PMTCT uptake.
• Develop an effective strategy and tools for identifying and enrolling HEIs.
• Equip the social workforce with SOPs, tools, and training to identify, and screen children at highest risk of HIV, providing Same-Day linkage to ART and OVC program for those testing HIV Positive.
• Set up procedures for identifying and immediately linking survivors of abuse to violence response and counseling.

Households are food secure and economically stable:

• The complex interconnection between adequate nutrition and good treatment outcomes is well established for both CALHIV and HEI infants.
• Activities under this intermediate result will offer an integrated Nutrition strategy that enables caregivers to meet the nutritional needs of their households through integrated nutrition response for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition among children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women, in addition to identifying and linking those requiring emergency nutritional support for the required care.

Illustrative activities:

• Promote appropriate Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MICYN).
• Implement an integrated WASH and Nutrition program to address and prevent malnutrition by improving hygiene practices, reducing the risk of diarrheal diseases, and ensuring access to clean and safe water and sanitation.
• Implement social behavior change communication (SBCC) to support the prevention of malnutrition, as well as the promotion and maintenance of good nutrition
• Enhance the capacity of health systems to deliver effective nutrition services at all levels, including outreach programs.

Project Sub-Award Coverage: 

• Applicants are required to apply for only one Lot.
• Preference will be given to those applying for locations where they have current or previous work experience.
• To qualify, applicants must have at least two years of experience in the selected location or a similar or comparable terrain or environment.

Details of award for the first year of implementation, distributed by state, zone, LGA, CALHIV target, and funding limits are provided in a table in the attached PDF document below.

Additional notes:

• The CSO project office charged to this sub-award must be located within the operational area of the Lot bided for.
• CCCRN will not cover rental or operational costs for any CSO offices outside the approved project location based on the preferred Lot.
• For Lots that require a liaison office, CSOs should only budget for a single office space incorporating the cost of renting the liaison office, with the understanding that a limited number of project staff will operate from this base to serve all areas within the Lot’s coverage.
• Applicants must clearly indicate the Lot Number in both the application title and the email subject line.
• Applications that do not properly include the Lot Number will be disqualified.
• The total budget must not exceed the designated funding limit for the selected Lot. Indirect costs— including personnel, office supplies, and administrative expenses—must be kept within 35% of the total funding limit.

Key Personnel Requirements

• Key Personnel are individuals considered essential to the successful implementation of the activity.
• Selected applicants must identify up to five (5) Key Personnel positions. For each position, the applicant must provide:
  • A description of the roles and responsibilities
  • The minimum qualifications required
  • The CV of the proposed candidate (to be included in the annex).
• Key Personnel must possess the relevant skills and experience necessary to carry out the
• objectives and methodology outlined in the Program Description.
• Applicants are also encouraged to specify the level of effort (LOE) for each proposed staff member and include any applicable cost-share contributions.
• Please note: CCCRN/THRIVE will not be responsible for any costs incurred in the recruitment, retention, or engagement of personnel prior to the formal signing of a sub award agreement with successful applicants.

Application Deadline

• 27th June, 2025, no later than 16:00 hrs (4:00 PM)
• Late applications will not be accepted
• Bidder`s Conference (Blended): 19th June, 2025.
• Deadline for Receipt of Questions: June 23, 2025 
• Closing time for Phase 1 Submission: 4:00 pm Nigerian Time.

Application Structure
Applicants must submit two separate documents:
Technical Application:

• Focused exclusively on the technical approach to project implementation.
• Should address program objectives, methodology, sustainability strategy, gender and inclusion considerations, and monitoring and evaluation plans.

Business (Cost) Application:

• Must provide detailed cost information, including budget breakdowns, cost assumptions, risk considerations, cost-share contributions (if any), and budget notes.
• Include unlocked Excel spreadsheets for all budget schedules.

Cover Page Requirements (for both submissions)
Each application must include a cover page with the following information:

• Organization name
• Name and contact information of authorized contact person(s)
• Signature of authorized representative
• Program name and RFA number
• List of proposed sub-recipients or partners (clearly identifying any local entities). 

Submission Guidelines
All applications must:

• Be submitted via email to: cccrngrants@cccr-nigeria.org by the deadline indicated in the RFA or invitation.
• Be written in English, using 12-point Times New Roman font with standard formatting.
• Respect page limits and formatting requirements:
• Technical content must be submitted in editable and searchable Word or PDF format.
• Cost schedules must be submitted in unlocked and editable Excel format.
• Include properly authorized signatures, with all edits initialed, and evidence of the signatory’s authority to act on behalf of the applicant.

Important Notes

• Failure to comply with any of the above requirements may result in disqualification or a reduced evaluation score.
• CCCRN will initiate cost negotiations following submission, which may include clarifications or revisions to the cost proposal.

Minimum Eligibilty
Eligible Recipients:
To be considered for this award, applicants must meet all the eligibility requirements listed below. Applications that do not fully comply with these criteria may be disqualified from further consideration:

Legal Status and Registration:

• Must be a local/indigenous non-governmental organization (NGO) formally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for at least five (5) years.
• Acceptable registration types include Incorporated Trusteeship or Limited by Guarantee.
• Applicants must submit scanned copies of: CAC certificate, Certified copy of the organization’s constitution or memorandum, and articles of association.

Organizational Focus:

• Must be a non-profit organization.
• Must have a mission aligned with the goals of this program, focusing on orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) or similar thematic areas.

Experience and Geographic Relevance:

• Must have a proven track record of successful implementation of OVC-related programs, specifically in the THRIVE project States.
• Must have been actively operating in the HIV/OVC sector for at least three (3) consecutive years in either of the THRIVE project States.
• Must have at least two (2) consecutive years of programmatic experience specifically related to OVC programming in the interest state.

Financial and Operational Capacity:

• Organizations with audited financial statements will have an added advantage.
• Must provide a letter of reference from the organization’s current operating bank, confirming an active account, dated no later than (September 2024).
• Must have the minimum necessary equipment in place to implement the project (e.g., computers, projectors, generators, etc.).
• Must be willing to operate under a performance-based financing model, using the Cost Reimbursable (CR) mechanism.

Previous Funding and Institutional References:

• Must have previously received funding from USAID, PEPFAR-funded partners, or other reputable donors.
• Must provide at least two (2) references from prior USAID or OVC-related projects or donors.
• CCCRN will not issue reference letters to current awardees.
• However, mention of an existing sub-award and description of achievement on such projects are allowed.
• Must give consent for CCCRN to contact listed references directly.

Governmental Recognition and Compliance:

• Must have up-to-date registration with the relevant State Ministry/Ministries maintained for at least two (2) consecutive years.

Commitment to Program Standards and Participation

• Must be directly responsible for project preparation and implementation, not acting as an intermediary or consultant.
• Must be willing to comply with all technical and financial reporting requirements, including documentation, communication strategies, and capacity development activities.
• Must be willing to participate in any assessments, trainings, workshops, or related activities identified by CCCRN to support project implementation and organizational capacity strengthening.

Other Requirements:
Must meet all submission guidelines and eligibility documentation requirements as
specified in this RFA.

Application and submission information 
Application Submission Guidelines:

• Applicants are required to submit their applications in both electronic and hard copy formats. Failure to comply with these submission requirements may result in disqualification.

Format and Content Requirements
Electronic Copies
Must be submitted in Microsoft Office-compatible formats:

• Word for the technical application
• Excel for the cost/budget application
• Scanned PDF submissions or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Send electronic copies via email to: cccrngrants@cccr-nigeria.org and cc to: cccrngrant@gmail.com using the Name of the CBO, State, and Lot Number as the subject of the mail. 

Note: CCCRN will only review applications that are submitted in both hard copy and electronic
formats.

Hard Copies
Must include:

• Three (3) printed hard copies of the Technical Application
• One (1) USB flash drive containing the electronic version

Must be submitted in sealed envelopes, clearly labelled on the front of each envelope with:
Name of the Organization
State
Lot Number
Clearly indicate either: “Technical Application” or “Cost Application”
Submit hard copies via courier or hand delivery to the CCCRN address specified in the RFA.

Technical Application Specifications

• Must be typed, using Times New Roman, 12-point font, with one-inch margins on A4-size paper
• Maximum length: 15 pages, excluding cover page and appendices
• Must follow the structure and content guidelines outlined in the RFA.

Cost Application Guidelines:

• The Cost Application is to be submitted under separate cover from the technical application.
• Grants will be issued up to a limit of as specified in section IV for each LOT per year.
• Grant agreements will be reviewed annually subject to project performance and availability of funds.

Submission Notes:

• All documents must be included as separate attachments in the submission package
• Ensure that attachments are clearly labelled and in editable, searchable formats (Word, Excel, or PDF)
• Missing or poorly labelled attachments may result in delays or disqualification
• Applicants should attach supporting documents that include CVs of key staff, certificate of incorporation, most recent audit report, letters of support, evidence of UEI number registration, registration with State Ministry of Women Affairs and State Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.
• Other essential documents are the budget, budget narratives, detailed workplan with timelines, M&E Plan and 2 reference letters from previous funders within the last 1-2 years.

Note: For full details of this RFA: CLICK HERE