U.S.Agency for International Development, M/OP/A/HRN, Room 7.10-031, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20523

R -- GRANT TO PROVIDE VOLUNTARY STERILIZATION AND RELATED SERVICES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DUE 043098 POC Contact Point: K. Frascella, via internet: KFRascella@usaid.gov, Tel: 202-712-5977, Fax: 202-216-3052 USAID intends to sign a five-year, non-competitive cooperative agreement with AVSC International for a program to provide voluntary sterilization and related services in developing countries. This agreement will support ongoing family planning activities with a primary focus on providing global leadership in voluntary sterilization and other long-term methods (NORPLANT, IUD) as well as hospital and clinic-based family planning services in approximately 40 developing countries and through global leadership activities. AVSC is currently providing financial and/or technical leadership and support to approximately 2,000 service sites which offer voluntary sterilization. The surgical techniques emphasized include: minilaparotomy under local anesthesia and no-scalpel vasectomy. Training and technical assistance in laparoscopic surgery is also done in selected countries. Training in maintenance and repair of laparoscopes is included in programs where laparoscopes are used. Support 155 overseas program and technical staff in: Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cambodia, Colombia (regional), Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya (country and regional), Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Senegal, Thailand (regional), Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine and Uzbekistan (regional for the Central Asian Republics). Global leadership in informed choice in family planning and informed consent for sterilization. Continue initiatives in informed consent and choice in all countries of operation. Monitor and undertake special studies to determine adherence to informed choice and informed consent. Keep host-country policymakers and USAID appraised of all issues and problems related to informed choice and consent. Continue efforts to build sustainable high quality clinical family planning practices at all program-supported service sites. This includes training in and monitoring and supervision of infection prevention, surgical contraception and counseling skills and practices. Continue expansion of the self-assessment and problem-solving tool COPE (Client-Oriented Provider-Efficient) and continue to test and develop other practical quality improvement tools and approaches for clinic-based family planning services (e.g., in-reach, whole-site training, etc.). Evaluate surgical instruments and other operating room equipment for suitability in developing countries and provide specifications to other family planning organizations supported by USAID. Negotiate prices with suppliers for USAID Missions and other cooperating agencies. Norms and Standards. Assist developing counties in establishing norms and clinical standards for permanent and other long-term family planning methods as required and in implementing standards at service delivery sites through monitoring, supervision and training activities. Continue to conduct client studies on utilization and quality of male and female sterilization and other long-term contraceptive methods. Develop and implement strategies for increasing the utilization and quality of no-scalpel vasectomy. Continue to follow global trends in utilization of male and female sterilization. This includes analysis of data obtained through DHS and other studies, mortality and morbidity data. Attend relevant international symposia and conferences such as the International Federation of OB/GYNs, American Public Health Association, NCIH etc. AVSC will present findings from its own research and studies at these conferences. Conduct clinical research for improving clinic-based family planning services, including research on azoospermia. Present data in peer reviewed journals. Post Abortion Care. Continue initiatives designed to reduce mortality and morbidity resulting from incomplete abortions. Activities include training and technical assistance in establishing services for emergency treatment services for incomplete abortion and related complications, post-abortion family planing counseling and care, and establishing links and referrals for reproductive health care services. Continue efforts to promote national and institutional policies that support access to quality family planning services. This includes country-level activities to effect policy changes that reduce barriers for clients' choice of sterilization, and that support new service delivery programs, such as post-abortion care, post-partum services, etc. Establish indicators for monitoring and evaluating quality improvements in surgical contraception. Establish overall indicators for the measuring the programs contribution to USAID's strategic objective #1. All responses must be in writing and must provide a comprehensive description of qualifications. (0079)

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