UNICEF has now issued a Request for Proposals in order to select a supplier for the provision of Consultancy Services for Implementation Research for Testing Internet Connectivity Solutions, Financial Models and to develop a robust Investment Case Document for Non-Urban Health Facilities in Zambia [XXXXX]. BRIEF BACKGROUND Purpose : To conduct Implementation Research (IR) to test and evaluate three connectivity technology solutions (including connectivity infrastructure, real-time monitoring of connectivity metrics) at 80 health facilities, to evaluate three Technological models, including institutional arrangements, to financially sustain these technology solutions and to develop a robust Investment Case Document for digital connectivity of health facilities in Zambia OBJECTIVES / TARGET UNICEF in collaboration with Zambia’s Ministry of Health (MoH), the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, are supporting the testing of three internet connectivity technologies in rural health facilities in Zambia, with the goal of eventually scaling throughout Zambia and beyond. In June 2025, the MoH hosted a stakeholder validation workshop to validate the proposed IR Protocol and Methodology. The study will further generate a Costed Investment Plan, evaluating capital and operational expenditures for each connectivity and financing model. This includes scenario-based cost-benefit analyses and options for fiscal sustainability, including public financing, infrastructure-as-a-service, and intersectoral cost-sharing models. This TOR seeks a qualified contractor to conduct all data collection, cleaning, analysis, and dissemination activities under the validated IR Protocol, which targets 80 non-urban health facilities to receive one of three internet connectivity technology solutions (satellite, 3G/4G data, or point-to-point microwave). The main objective of the IR being: • To conduct Implementation Research (IR) to test and evaluate three connectivity technology solutions (including connectivity infrastructure, real-time monitoring of connectivity metrics) and to evaluate three financial models, including institutional arrangements, to financially sustain these technology solutions. • To develop a robust Investment Case Document for digital connectivity of health facilities in Zambia with identification of potential partners to support Connectivity solutions. • To disseminate the findings to the different audiences in the form of presentations and policy briefs and reports. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: I. To test the effectiveness of internet connectivity technologies through indicators including internet availability and quality of service (QoS) factors such as down time, speed, latency (Indicators: average daily internet uptime (hours/day), download/upload speeds (Mbps), latency (ms), number of service interruptions per week). II. To compare and assess the effective use of online digital tools in the different connectivity groups pre and post-intervention (Indicators: frequency of SmartCare, HMIS/DHIS2, and eIDSR submissions, percentage of facility staff using digital tools, number of electronic patient records entered monthly, timeliness of facility-level data reporting to national systems, access to eIDSR data at ZNPHI, feedback from key data users at central units such as the Directorate of Public Health or Surveillance Unit, perception surveys of end-users). III. To document the acceptability and sustainability considerations of three financial models (Indicators: stakeholder willingness to pay (ZMW/month), perceived value/satisfaction scores from users (Likert scale), operational cost recovery rate, continuity of service after donor support ends, cost-benefit) IV. To identify and recommend scalable solutions for national and regional rollout (Indicators: cost per facility per month, effectiveness, ease of deployment (time/resources required), technical support requirements, stakeholder perspectives across provinces, alignment with national digital health strategy, viability of health facility as a hub). V. Estimating the investment needed to connect all priority health facilities. Presenting cost-benefit arguments and return on investment (ROI). Identifying financing options and sustainability strategies. Informing policy and advocacy for joint resource mobilization and identifying the potential partners to support the scale up. IMPORTANT NOTE : This tender will be run through the UNICEF e-submissions system. By clicking on the blue ‘Express Interest’ button in the UNGM tender notice, the full UNICEF e-submission system instructions to bidders document (including instructions on how to access the tender documents and submit an Offer) will be automatically emailed to the ‘contact persons’ included in your UNGM registration. Alternatively, the full UNICEF e-submission system instructions to bidders document is publicly available on the UNICEF supply internet pages here: https://www.unicef.org/supply/index_procurement_policies.html . In the tender management site, if you navigate to the documents tab and opt in to confirm your intention to submit a Bid – you will then see the mandatory placeholders for documents that must be attached prior to submitting your Offer (you will also see if there are any mandatory questionnaires to complete). As such, you are recommended to `opt in` well before the submission deadline so you are clear exactly what documents are required to be uploaded prior to completing your submission. Please note that in order to access the tender documentation through UNICEF’s e-submissions system, vendors must: (i) be registered with UNICEF in UNGM as a company/NGO; (ii) have successfully completed all mandatory information currently required by UNGM when registering. Please ensure that any files submitted as part of your Bid are not corrupt or damaged in any way. Please exercise particular caution when using compressed files. Any corrupt or damaged files may lead to your Bid being invalidated. All vendors are strongly recommended to regularly log in to the UNICEF e-submissions system to check for any deadline extensions, new clarifications, new correspondence or updated tender documents relating to this tender.