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 to provide operational support for the implementation of MMS-specific activities during the contract period, to ensure continuity and sustainability of maternal nutrition efforts in the target area.

1.2.     Background

1.2.1.        Nutrition International is Canada’s global nutrition organization. Founded in 1992, Nutrition International is dedicated to delivering evidence-based nutrition interventions to those who need them most. With its vision to eradicate hidden hunger and nourish lives, Nutrition International has been working in Pakistan since 2000 to improve the health of people in need, especially women and children, through better nutrition. Working in partnership with national and provincial government, Nutrition International focuses on improving access to much needed micronutrients for the most disadvantaged through existing health systems. Building on over two decades of collaboration in Pakistan, Nutrition International’s current programs prioritize integration, sustainability, and government ownership, with a focus on translating evidence to action.

1.2.2.        The Advancing Maternal Health through MMS Implementation Research Project in Pakistan (AMMI), launched in 2021 with the Nutrition Wing of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation & Coordination (MoNHSR&C), guided by a Technical Advisory Group, used implementation research to generate evidence on the introduction of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) in public ANC1 to replace daily preventative iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation. AMMI piloted and evaluated enhanced service delivery approaches in Swabi, answering what works best for delivering MMS and improving adherence. With the end of AMMI’s research phase in January 2025, the program now transitions to a district-wide, government-led model under IGNIT3, with a strong focus on sustainability, local capacity, supply chain maintenance, DHIS2 data integration, and provincial coordination.

1.2.3.        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.