National Consultant for the finalization and preparation of the terms of reference of electronic integrated Disease surveillance system (EIDSS)

Background

In April 2021 UNDP has signed an agreement with Ministry of Health of Ukraine for technical assistance to address the effects of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. One of the activities is COVID-19 case and contact tracing IT solution.

This IT solution shall be developed based on existing Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System (EIDSS), which, is a software system designed to enhance the monitoring and prevention of human and animal diseases. Key modules of the system include vector surveillance module, laboratory module, outbreak module, administration module, and analysis, visualization and reporting (AVR) with geographic information system (GIS) capabilities.

EIDSS manages case data, case study, data aggregation with appropriate sample and case-related laboratory data. The system collects and disseminates data, reports events in real time, provides access to personal computers, websites and mobile devices, which allows you to securely connect the various levels and ministries of the national network of disease surveillance. EIDSS is configured for each country to store relevant content: a list of diseases, specific reports, forms of investigation of specific diseases and more.

In April 2020, EIDSS was adopted as the main tool for collecting and analyzing virus data SARS-CoV-2.

In the process of using the system during 2020-2021, system errors were observed that prevent the correct analysis and visualization of data, namely:

1. Incorrect GIS display of the AVR module

2. Incorrect delimitation of the rights of users of the AVR module and the possibility of uploading data.

3. Problem with displaying and tracking contact persons.

In order to eliminate these shortcomings of the system, UNDP is seeking the services of the National consultant, who will develop the terms of reference for the upgrade of the electronic integrated Disease surveillance system (EIDSS).

Duties and Responsibilities

2. MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The main purpose of this task is to compile a detailed TOR to improve the AVR module for further correct display of diseases on the map and upload data to sections and to the level of district sites (you may find a sample of TOR by the link). Creating an algorithm for displaying contact patients and tracking them.

 

3. DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES / SCOPE OF WORK

The Consultant will:

- develop a detailed TOR for the EIDSS system that will take into account the following:

• The AVR module's TOR should contain the task of improving the display of geodata, which will include the following refinements:

• gradient fill on the selected indicator (data format - numerical);
• ability to plot points on the map, data format - latitude and longitude.
• adding multiple layers to the map.
• editing layer properties (transparency, color gamut, legend, data captions, etc.);
• in the gradient fill - automatic and manual calculation of percentiles (step);
• display in the web version is similar to the desktop version.
• adding a layer with buffer zones in the form of a circle or along the borders of the region.

• The AVR module's TOR must contain requirements for the developer to strictly differentiate rights and review according to the rights settings when creating a report in the AVR, which will be used together, configured data rights. When compiling a national report containing personal data of patients or contact persons, users of one region can see personal data of persons registered only by institutions of the region and persons entered by institutions of other regions, but who work in one of the territorial variables, place of infection, etc. ) belong to the specified area. The provisions of legislation on personal data protection shall be strictly adhered to in the upgraded IT solution.

• Development of an algorithm for tracking and transmitting data on contact persons with confirmed cases of COVID-19, the data of which were entered into the EIDSS. The tracking algorithm should include the function of uploading to the AVR and detailed filtering on contact persons.

• Work in close cooperation with the responsible specialists of the Center for Public Health of Ukraine during the preparation of the TOR.

 

4. DELIVERABLES

Deliverable #	Task description	Deadline
1	The detailed technical requirements for the display of GIS data was developed in accordance with the requests of the responsible specialists of PHC	2 weeks
2	The detailed technical requirements for the development of user access rights to the AVR module is designed in accordance with the specified parameters of the system administrator.	3 weeks
3	The detailed technical requirements of the algorithm for human contact data is developed according to the requests of the responsible specialists of the PHC	3 weeks
4	TOR that includes all technical requirements indicated in Deliverables 1-3 finalized and approved by PHC and UNDP

 

5. COPIRIGHT

The results must be presented in Ukrainian. Ownership, copyright and all other rights of any nature to any material created in accordance with the provisions of this TOR will be the sole responsibility of UNDP.

 

6. MONITORING/REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Work-progress reporting/monitoring meetings will be held with the Consultant on a regular basis. UNDP will be the final authority to control the quality and evaluate the work. No reports or documents should be published or distributed to the third parties without prior approval of the UNDP.  The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Programme Specialist. The consultant will interact with Project Associate and CO staff to receive any clarifications and guidance that may be needed. He/she will also receive all necessary informational and logistical support from UNDP Country Office and the Project. On a day-to-day basis, consultant’s work will be supervised by the Chief Technical Advisor.

The satisfactory completion of each of the deliverables shall be subject to endorsement of the chief Technical Advisor and Programme Specialist.

The Consultant will duly inform UNDP of any problems, issues or delays arising in the course of implementation of assignment and take necessary steps to address them.

All reports and results are to be submitted to the UNDP in electronic form (*.docx, *.xlsx, *.pptx, and *.pdf or other formats accepted by UNDP).

 

7. PROPOSED PAYMENT METHOD

Payments will be made in 3 tranches according to the following payment schedule:

• upon satisfactory submission of deliverable #1 – 20%
• upon satisfactory submission of deliverable #2 – 40%
• upon satisfactory submission of deliverable #3-4 – 40%

 

8. MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

The consultant shall be responsible for managing the process of the work implementation, its resources, logistics and expenditures related to the tasks in a timely and accurate manner. The consultant will be reporting to Health Programme Specialist with cross-functional reporting responsibilities to Chief Technical Advisor.

Competencies

• Demonstrate/safeguard ethics and integrity.  
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
• Self-development, initiative-taking.
• Act as a team player.
• Encourage and participate in open communication in the team, communicate effectively.
• Create synergies through self-control.
• Manage conflict.
• Informed and transparent decision-making

Required Skills and Experience

9. EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

Minimum qualification and experience:

Education:

• Higher technical education

Experience:

• Knowledge of programming languages such as C #, ASP.NET Framework
• Experience with IIS 8.0 and MSSQL databases
• Experience in developing technical tasks for information systems
• The experience of creating converters from Excel to databases will be considered an advantage.
• Proficiency in Ukrainian and / or Russian, working knowledge of English

 

10. DOCUMENTS WHICH MUST BE SUBMITTED WHEN SUBMITTING PROPOSALS.

Applicants must provide the following documents:

obligatory
	Letter of interest / proposal that explains why the applicant considers himself / herself the most suitable for the job, with links to at least 2 online maps with filters
	Private summary in P11 form, including information on past experience in similar projects / assignments and contact details for reviewers.
	financial proposal

11. EVALUATION

• University degree in IT, mathematics or other relevant filed (Bachelor`s - 10 points, Master`s - 12 points)
• Knowledge of programming languages such as C #, ASP.NET Framework - 15 points
• Experience with IIS 8.0 and MSSQL databases - 1 year -10 points, 2 years and more - 15 pts
• Experience in developing technical requirements/terms of reference for information systems (2 examples of such TORs- 10 points, 3 examples of such TORs and more - 15 points)
• The experience of creating converters from Excel to databases will be considered an asset - 7 points
• Proficiency in Ukrainian and / or Russian, working knowledge of English - 4 points, proficiency knowledge of Ukrainian and / or Russian and English - 6 points.

 

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract must be made to the incumbent operator whose proposal has been evaluated and defined as:

a) sensitive / appropriate / acceptable, and

b) scored the highest cumulative score from a predetermined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the request.

* Weight of technical criteria: 70%

* Weight of financial criteria: 30%

Only candidates who have scored at least 70% of the maximum available technical score (49 points) will be considered for financial evaluation.

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial offer is assigned to the offer with the lowest price and is equal to 30. All other price offers will be evaluated, and points will be assigned to them according to the following formula:

30 points [maximum number of points available for the financial part] x [lowest of all estimated offered prices among the respective offers] / [estimated price].

The proposal that received the total cumulative highest score after adding the points of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered the most suitable proposal and will receive a contract.

Travel

In the event of an unforeseen trip, the payment of travel expenses, including tickets, accommodation and terminal expenses, must be agreed between the relevant business unit and the Consultant prior to the trip and will be reimbursed. As a general rule, UNDP should not accept travel expenses in excess of the cost of an economy class ticket. If an independent consultant wants to travel to a higher class, he must use his own resources.