REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST: RETHINK HIV GRAND CHALLENGE Terms f Reference The United States Agency fr Internatinal Develpment (USAID) and the Natinal AIDS Cntrl Organizatin (NACO) have launched RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge. Expressins f Interest are invited frm ptential innvatrs t prvide grund-breaking technlgical slutins that can cntribute t expanding the reach f the Natinal AIDS Cntrl Prgram (NACP) t hidden and unreached ppulatins wh are at-risk f HIV and AIDS s that they can be linked t HIV preventin, care and treatment services in India. All Expressins f Interest fr RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge grant will need t be submitted thrugh the nline applicatin platfrm (www.rethinkhiv.in). Please refer t the fllwing guidance while filling up yur Expressin f Interest. NOTE: Only shrtlisted applicants will be asked t prvide a detailed technical prpsal, estimated itemized budget and budget narrative. 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. RETHINK HIV GRAND CHALLENGE USAID in cllabratin with the NACO and FHI 360 thrugh RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge wish t demnstrate ut-f-the bx slutins t strengthen the natinal respnse and t cntribute t achieving the 90-90-90 1 targets fr India by 2020. The mst prmising slutin, if fund successful, will be taken t-scale. 1.2. TYPES OF AWARDS Thrugh RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge, we are prviding funding in tw phases: Phase 1 - Seed Funds: Grand Challenge will prvide seed funds t up t five innvatins fr a perid f six mnths fr pilting and testing validity f the innvatin. The ttal amunt available fr all the selected innvatrs (up t five) wuld be USD $250,000. Phase 2 - Transitin t Scale Funds up t USD $250,000 will be prvided t the mst prmising slutin(s) that is identified in the seed funding stage t develp, refine, and rigrusly test the impact f innvative slutin. Transitin t scale funds are subject t extensin f the LINKAGES prject. Wh and What will we fund? We slicit expressin f interests frm agencies / NGOs / fr-prfit rganizatins / individuals t prvide an innvative, grund-breaking technlgical slutin t reach ppulatins present in virtual space wh are at-risk f HIV infectin, with preventin, care, testing and fllw up services. Ptential applicatins can be: A unique innvative technlgical slutin t increase awareness and drive behaviral 1 Diagnse 90% f HIV-infected individuals, place 90% f these individuals n ART, and achieve viral suppressin amng 90% f thse receiving treatment 1
changes amng hard t reach ppulatin, indulging in behavir that makes them vulnerable t HIV infectin An innvatin that manages virtual media cmmunity r app (annymus r therwise) fr reaching hidden ppulatin with mechanisms t access and cnnect with HIV preventin, care and supprt services An innvatin that reduces the wrklad f last man n the grund by streamlining the prcess f nbarding and registratin f grups vulnerable t HIV infectin using IVR, SMS, Web, Tab, App channels, etc. Wh and What will we NOT fund? RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge will NOT be able t fund the fllwing Nt fr prfit rganizatins withut FCRA Gvernment entities Innvative slutins that require lnger than six mnths t demnstrate results Further, the belw scenaris are nt likely t be funded Innvatins which require larger systems restructuring Innvatins with nn-measurable utcmes and where end-pint cannt be defined Academic research bth qualitative and quantitative which invlves peple Innvatins addressing gaps in implementatin fr which slutins are knwn fr example, data integratin acrss care cntinuum fr HIV Implementing newer glbal guidelines in India like PrEP (Pre-expsure prphylaxis), HIV self-testing, etc. 1.3. CONTEXT HIV prevalence in India is estimated at 0.26% (0.22% 0.32%) in 2015, 0.30% amng males and 0.22% amng Females 2. The adult HIV prevalence at natinal level has cntinued its steady decline frm an estimated peak f 0.38% in 2001-03 t 0.26% in 2015 2. In 2015 India estimated t have arund 86,000 new HIV infectins, which is a 66% decline in new infectins frm 2000 and 32% decline frm 2007. Althugh India has seen a dwnward trend in the number f HIV cases in past 15 years, the number f deaths due t HIV infectin remain very high. In 2015 an estimated 67,600 peple died f AIDS related causes natinally 2. The declining figures can be attributed t key strategies implemented thrugh NACP (Natinal AIDS Cntrl Prgram) since its launch in 1992. The primary fcus f NACP fr preventing spread f HIV epidemic has been interventins fr High Risk Grups (HRGs) especially targeting preventin, utreach, HIV testing and cunselling and Infrmatin Educatin & Cmmunicatin (IEC). The current prgram, NACP-IV (2012-2017 extended till 2020), aims t reduce annual new HIV infectins by 50% thrugh the prvisin f cmprehensive HIV treatment, educatin, care and supprt fr the general ppulatin and build n targeted interventins fr key affected grups and thse at high risk f HIV transmissin such as Female Sex Wrkers (FSWs), Men having Sex with Men (MSM), Peple Wh Inject Drugs (PWID), Transgender (TG) called as Key 2 NACO (2015) Annual reprt 2015-16 2
Ppulatins (KPs). Althugh India has made a ntewrthy imprvement in its fight against HIV/AIDS, newer pckets f high HIV prevalence amng key ppulatins in lw-prevalence states are emerging ver the past few years. HIV is cncentrated amng the mst marginalized, and particularly in the cmmunities wh, because f real r perceived stigma and discriminatin are amng the least likely t access HIV-related services. Due t sci-cultural barriers and in sme cases legal barriers, health care prviders may als hld their wn prejudice, discuraging peple wh are at risk f HIV frm disclsing their behavirs and thereby jepardizing healthcare services they receive. Mre ver ppulatins wh are at risk f HIV transmissin are nt hmgenus grups, there are clear intersectins. The achievements f India in preventin and cntrl f HIV/AIDS are remarkable and India has set a frmidable bench mark fr ther natinal HIV/AIDS prgrams arund the wrld. But t cntinue such achievements, strategic fcus n newly emerging challenges is required. One f the gap areas is the lack f infrmatin n the size, risk and vulnerability f ppulatin exhibiting high risk behavir perating thrugh virtual spaces. The RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge aims t address this critical gap thrugh innvative, grund-breaking technlgical slutins t infrm the natinal prgram. Cnsidering varius sci-cultural barriers in India innvative appraches are required t reach the unreached ppulatin. 1.4. THE PROBLEM Glbally 1.8 millin peple became newly infected with HIV in 2016, in India as per 2015 estimates 26 ut f every 10,000 adults (15-49 years) are estimated t be HIV psitive. Sme f the primary HIV preventin activities in India are fcused arund grups called key ppulatins (KP) wh have the highest risk f cntracting and transmitting HIV. These include Female Sex Wrkers (FSWs), Men having Sex with Men (MSM), Peple Wh Inject Drugs (PWIDs) and Transgenders (TG). HIV preventin activities have als fcused n Bridge Ppulatins, mainly clients r partners f male and female sex wrkers and are at the risk f cntracting HIV, fr example sectin f truckers and migrant wrkers. Bth KPs and bridge ppulatins are prvided with specialized preventin services and messages called Targeted Interventins (TIs). The prevalence f HIV amng these KPs and bridge ppulatin has shwn a dwnward trend, hwever the cntinuus detectin f new cases raises questins abut new pckets f epidemic. This raises the questin f reaching the unreached high-risk ppulatins with awareness and HIV related services. The NACP has maintained a large fcus n physical and site-based interventin i.e. interventin takes places at physical places where key ppulatins and bridge ppulatins (migrants and truck drivers) are available in persn, fr example, brthels, highways, MSM cruising sites etc. While this may be the mst suitable utreach in mst cases even tday, it is being increasingly bserved that there is a trend amng interested ppulatin t use newer and technlgy driven means t access ther interested partners fr sexual encunters. Increasing number f sexually active ppulatins have taken t these methds quite cmfrtably, and are nt necessarily available n the physical sites fr interactins and interventins. Additinally, there is a gap in knwledge abut the nature, risk and vulnerability f the ppulatin accessing sexual netwrks thrugh virtual space. T address this gap, the HIV preventin, care and supprt prgram shuld keep pace with diffusin f technlgy. On the side f pprtunity, digital technlgy and virtual media, have pened a large spectrum 3
f pssibilities in terms f its ability t address varius health and develpment challenges including HIV/AIDS. Even thugh there have been effrts t use these fr efficient HIV/AIDS respnse, their pssibilities remain infinite making it imperative t invlve stakehlders t explre the ptential f digital technlgy and virtual media in the cntext f HIV/AIDS. 2. APPLICATION 2.1. All Expressins f Interest fr RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge grant MUST BE submitted thrugh the nline applicatin platfrm; submissins will NOT be accepted via email. 2.2. BASIC APPLICANT INFORMATION Name and address f the applicant Type f rganizatin (e.g., fr-prfit, nn-prfit, individual, etc.) Name and cntact details Intrductin t yur prject with a cncise title (300 Characters) Brief bjectives f the prpsed activities (1200 Characters) Fcus f the prpsed innvatin ne r mre f the fllwing Reaching the unreached Awareness generatin Increase risk perceptin Drive behaviur change Demand creatin fr HIV services Increase access t HIV services Gegraphies where the prpsed innvatin will be implemented (Name f state/s/districts/blcks) A summary f the prject innvatin (1800 Characters) Applicants are encuraged t include respnses t the fllwing tw questins in the summary paragraph/abstract 1. What is the essence f yur innvatin and hw will it significantly and sustainably address the prblem statement? Cnsider including the fllwing infrmatin in yur respnse: Ratinale: Hw des the prpsed innvatin address the stated prblem? Please be specific. Apprach: What apprach des this innvatin take t address the prblem Objective, End pint, and Impact: What is the primary bjective and expected end pint f yur innvatin within the award perid? Over the lnger term? What is the impact that the innvatin culd result in if successful? 2. What makes this cncept innvative and a significant imprvement upn existing standard practices? NOTE: The summary paragraph f all finalists and eventual award recipients may be used fr public cmmunicatin befre and after the awards are made. The RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge partners reserve the right t make minr edits t summaries in rder t enhance their readability fr public cmmunicatin. Because the summaries will be used publicly, prprietary 4
infrmatin shuld nt be disclsed in the prject summary. 2.3. TECHNICAL CONCEPT NOTE The Technical Cncept Nte, r bdy f the Expressin f Interest, shuld be presented in Sectins I-IV. If an applicant chses t include charts r graphs, add them within the apprpriate sectin. Applicants are requested t be specific abut the gegraphic lcatin(s) where the prpsed activities will ccur and the ptential gegraphic r reginal applicability. Additinally, applicants are encuraged t cnsult the evaluatin criteria when frmulating the technical cncept nte. NOTE: - Applicants are requested nt t reveal their rganizatin s and/r individual identities in the sectins f technical cncept nte. If revealed, RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge partners reserve rights t disqualify the applicatin. Sectin I. Prblem Statement: What is yur understanding? (1200 Characters) Use this sectin t briefly articulate yur understanding f the prblem statement presented in the Expressin f Interest and what aspect f it will be addressed by yur innvatin. Sectin II. Innvatin: What is yur idea? (3000 Characters) Use this sectin t briefly describe yur idea and the prject design. Ensure that yur idea directly fits the scpe f RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge grant t avid disqualificatin. Indicate the essence f yur idea the specific prblem yu are addressing, yur prpsed slutin, hw it will be delivered, and wh are the primary beneficiaries Explain hw yur idea is substantially different frm ther appraches t address the stated prblem and hw it imprves upn the best existing alternatives. If alternatives exist, please prvide specific examples fr cmparisn Describe the scientific and/r technical basis fr yur idea and why yu expect it t succeed Identify specific prject gals t be achieved with this level f funding within the six-mnth time frame fr seed funds. Identify the expected end pint f the One-year time frame fr transitin t scale funding (ex. wrking prttype, validatin f innvatin in the field, etc.) Sectin III. Executin: Hw will yu implement yur innvatin? (1800 Characters) Use this sectin t briefly describe the prject implementatin plan, specific t the results envisined t be achieved with the funding frm the RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge grant. The wrk prpsed in yur applicatin must include a clear set f key methdlgies r activities t be cmpleted within the time perid f the award. Describe the prject executin plan and critical milestnes that demnstrate prgress twards the prject utcme t be achieved during the funding perid (six mnths) Describe the experimental plan t meet the key milestnes, bjectives, and ultimately the prject utcme 5
Prvide a schedule r timeline fr the attainment f key milestnes and/r bjectives. Describe ptential risks and/r harmful unintended cnsequences and hw yur prject will address them Identify the next steps f the prject tward meeting its ttal addressable reach if the innvatin under this funding is successful Sectin IV. Scalability and sustainability: Hw des yur slutin demnstrate its ptential t scale and sustain? (1200 Characters) Briefly describe yur prject s ptential fr scalability and sustainability. Describe hw the prpsed slutin will demnstrate the ptential t sustain impacts at full scale, if successful Describe yur visin fr success in the cntext f the RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge funding and in the lnger term, i.e., What is the expected result in the lnger duratin, five years beynd the RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge funding? What is yur lng-term exit strategy (start-up/spin-ff cmpany, license prduct, cntinued dnr funding, etc.)? If cntinued dnr funding, frm what dnrs and hw d yu expect t sustain it? Fr revenue-generating prjects, prvide prjectins f the lng-term expenses and revenue/incme stream DISCLAIMER By submitting Expressin f Interest t RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge the applicant must undertake that the prpsed innvatin des nt infringe upn any existing cpyrights. The applicant als accepts that he/she will be slely respnsible fr any legal and/r financial cnsequence/s that may arise if the innvatin is fund t be in vilatin f any cpyright laws. RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge and its partners will nt be liable fr any litigatin and/r damages that may arise frm any cpyright vilatins Fr any EOI related queries cmmunicate at rethinkhiv@taru.c.in 3. EVALUATION CRITERIA Partners will cnduct a review f the full submissin against the criteria listed belw. INNOVATION Demnstratin that the prpsed slutin ffers a creative apprach t the prblem utlined in the challenge and is clearly differentiated frm existing appraches in the prpsed setting Ptential t prvide significant imprvements in access t essential HIV services, relative t standard practice and/r current fferings in the prpsed market SUSTAINED IMPACT Demnstratin that an investment in the prpsed slutin culd result in transfrmatinal gains in cntinuum f HIV preventin, care, supprt and treatment cascade in India. 6
Prvide a clear and cmpelling descriptin f the ptential scale at which the innvatin culd be applied Have the ptential t be sustained beynd RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge funding EXECUTION PLAN Extent t which the prpsed implementatin methdlgy is dable yet rbust in the given time frame Extent t which the prpsed prject bjectives and interim milestnes are apprpriate, feasible and technically sund within the budget and time allcated fr seed funding Extent t which the prpsed utcmes / results that the innvatin expects t achieve 4. SELECTION PROCESS Stage I Expressin f Interest Expressins f Interest received thrugh nline applicatin platfrm will be evaluated by a review cmmittee, upn successful cmpletin f evaluatin, 15 applicants will be shrtlisted at this stage. Stage II Request fr Prpsal (RFP) Fifteen shrtlisted applicants will be invited t submit detailed technical and financial prpsals, fr which a RFP will be shared. Technical and financial prpsals will be reviewed and evaluated by a Selectin Cmmittee cmprising f subject matter experts, key stakehlders and cmmunity representatives. This will facilitate selectin f 10 finalists fr a final rund f face t face evaluatin. Stage III - Bt Camp Our team will cnduct the needs assessment f the 10 shrtlisted finalist innvatrs t identify and understand their needs, gaps, issues and challenges and prepare a list f key cncerns and requirements with respect t the technical, executin and revenue mdel, scalability, sustainability, replicability and verall cst effectiveness. Based n which, the Mentrship Bard at RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge will design and use the custmized capacity building and mentring supprt package fr the finalist. A three-day bt camp fr the 10 finalist innvatrs will be rganized t guide innvatrs thrugh issues and cncerns identified during need assessment, at the end f this stage all finalist innvatrs will have the pprtunity t present their mck pitches t the Mentrship Bard in a shwcase event. The bard will prvide feedback n the pitch highlighting the gaps and additinal areas t be addressed. Stage IV Selectin f Final Five Ten finalist innvatrs will present their final pitches t Selectin Cmmittee. Each presentatin will be fllwed by individual face-t-face interviews. Based n the perfrmance during the presentatin and interview, each member f the Selectin Cmmittee will prvide a scre alng with cmments t each innvatr. Scres frm all Selectin Cmmittee members will be cmpiled, and average scre will be calculated and the cmments frm each Selectin Cmmittee members will be thrughly discussed based n which the Selectin Cmmittee will select five mst suitable final innvatrs wh will be supprted technically and financially as RETHINK HIV Grand Challenge innvatins. 7
5. TIMELINE EOI Advertised 22 nd January 2018 EOI Submissin Deadline 15 th March 2018 RFP Circulatin 22 nd March 2018 RFP Submissin Deadline 12:00 IST, 9 th April 2018 Selectin f Finalists 13 th April 2018 Bt Camp 17 th 19 th April 2018 Final Pitch t Selectin Cmmittee 23 rd 25 th April 2018 Selectin f Final Five 25 th April 2018 Grand Challenge Rund 1 1 st July 2018 8