STRIDES Fiji Implementation Start-Up and Stakeholder Engagement Advisor

Request for Consultant Services Proposal (RFP)
Solicitation Title: STRIDES Fiji Implementation Start-Up and Stakeholder
Engagement Advisor
Solicitation Number: FY26-103433-STRIDES-FIJI-Consultant-RFP-002
Submit Proposal and Questions to: STRIDESProcurement@fhi360.org
Date of Issue of RFP: Friday, July 31, 2026
Date Questions Due: Wednesday, August 5, 2026, by 5:00PM EDT
Date FHI 360 Responds to Questions: Friday, August 7, 2026
Date Proposals Due: Tuesday, August 11, 2026, by 11:59PM EDT
Approximate Date Consultant Contract
Mid to late August 2026
Issued to Successful Candidate(s):
Method of Submittal:
Respond via e-mail to STRIDESProcurement@fhi360.org with the attached documents in MS
Word/ pdf format.
The Consultant agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 90 days from the date specified for
the receipt of offers, unless another time is specified in the addendum of the RFP.
Contract Term: Estimated August 2026 - November 2026
Background:
FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways
by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, public health
threats, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender, youth,
research, technology, communication, and social marketing - creating a unique mix of capabilities
to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 70 countries and
all U.S. states and territories.
STRIDES Fiji is supporting Year 1 implementation activities related to laboratory systems
strengthening, biosafety and biosecurity, diagnostic networks, surveillance, and overall global
health security priorities. While technical laboratory expertise remains important, current
implementation needs require stronger interim support for start-up coordination, stakeholder
engagement, communication, and governance while longer-term local implementation
arrangements are finalized.
Purpose of Consultancy:
The Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems (STRIDES) Activity is seeking a consultant
to provide interim implementation coordination, stakeholder engagement, and project start-up
support in Fiji. The consultant will support the establishment of project governance structures,
coordination with Ministry of Health leadership and U.S. Government stakeholders, implementation
planning, prioritization of Year 1 activities, and transition planning to local implementing partners.
The consultant will serve as a liaison between STRIDES, the Fiji Ministry of Health, Post, and other
key stakeholders to ensure implementation activities are appropriately coordinated and aligned with
approved workplans and national priorities.
Consultant Solicitation
January 2026

The consultant will work under the direction of STRIDES leadership and in close coordination with
Post, Government of Fiji counterparts, STRIDES technical teams, and partners. The consultant will
be responsible for translating approved workplan activities into clear, prioritized, and appropriately
sequenced implementation actions; supporting governance mechanisms; documenting Ministry
requests and decisions; and ensuring clear communication and escalation of implementation
issues.
Scope of Work:
The consultant will work under the direction of STRIDES HQ and Fiji leadership to support
preparatory laboratory systems strengthening activities across six technical areas. Specifically, the
consultant will perform the following tasks:
1. Governance and Start Up Coordination
* Support establishment of Fiji STRIDES governance structures, including the Steering
Committee and/or technical working groups, as requested.
* Support drafting, review, and coordination of Steering Committee terms of reference,
agendas, meeting notes, and action trackers.
* Track implementation progress against approved workplan activities and agreed start-
up priorities.
* Identify, document, and escalate implementation risks, bottlenecks, and decisions
requiring Ministry, Post, or STRIDES leadership input.
2. Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management
* Maintain regular coordination with Ministry of Health leadership, technical focal points,
Post, STRIDES, SPC, and other relevant stakeholders.
* Ensure Ministry requests, decisions, and priorities are documented and communicated
to STRIDES leadership and Post in a timely manner.
* Develop and maintain a stakeholder engagement plan, contact map, and
meeting/action tracker.
* Support respectful, coordinated, and protocol-aligned engagement with national and
subnational stakeholders.
3. Implementation Planning and Workplan Alignment
* Translate approved STRIDES Fiji workplan activities into clear, implementation-ready
priorities and sequencing recommendations.
* Maintain an implementation priority matrix and activity tracker that ties each proposed
activity to the relevant workplan output, deliverable, and stakeholder approval
pathway.
* Support development of short-term activity plans for the remainder of interim
implementation support and transition to local partners.
* Coordinate with STRIDES technical leads to ensure proposed laboratory, BSS,
surveillance, and diagnostic network activities are appropriately timed and approved
before execution.
Consultant Solicitation
January 2026

4. Communication, Briefing, and Reporting Support
* Prepare concise written updates, briefing notes, talking points, and slide inputs for
STRIDES, Post, and leadership discussions.
* Provide regular progress updates that clearly identify accomplishments, challenges,
risks, pending decisions, and next steps.
* Document meetings and consultations with clear action items, owners, and follow-up
timelines.
* Ensure communications clearly distinguish between proposed activities, approved
activities, and activities requiring further Ministry or Post validation.
5. Technical Coordination and Transition Support
* Facilitate coordination between STRIDES technical experts and Fiji stakeholders on
laboratory systems, BSS, surveillance, and diagnostic network priorities.
* Support documentation of technical decisions, open questions, and dependencies
for handover to SPC or other local implementation partners.
* Prepare a transition and continuity package summarizing completed work,
unresolved decisions, risks, stakeholder expectations, and recommended next
steps.
* Support continuity planning to maintain implementation momentum while SPC
onboarding or other local arrangements are being finalized.
6. Reporting and Coordination
* Report to STRIDES leadership and coordinate closely with designated Fiji technical
and operations focal points.
* Maintain regular check-ins with Post and relevant Ministry counterparts, as agreed
by STRIDES leadership and Post.
* Route sensitive Ministry requests, implementation decisions, and stakeholder
concerns through agreed communication and escalation channels.
* Initiate downstream technical implementation activities requiring Ministry
authorization only after appropriate alignment and approval are secured.
* Provide clear written updates that connect activities to workplan outputs, Ministry
priorities, and agreed implementation sequencing.
Deliverables and Timeline:
As mentioned above, we anticipate a consultancy agreement for a three (3) month period.
Interested individuals will support the tasks above in coordination with FHI 360 headquarters team.
A sample schedule of deliverables can include:
Consultant Solicitation
January 2026

Estimated
Key Activity Description Deliverables Due Date
LoE
Maintain and update the
Bi-weekly report on
existing stakeholder map, Reports due
engagement protocols, stakeholder on the 1st
Stakeholder engagement
communication cadence, and engagement and and the 8 - 9 days
and coordination
coordination 15th of
coordination
expectations developed by each month
the previous consultant. activities.
Representative on Steering
Reports due
Committee, support the draft
Bi-weekly report on on the 1st
Governance and steering TOR, agenda templates,
Steering Committee and the 8 - 9 days
committee support action tracker, and materials
support activities 15th of
to support establishment of
each month
governance structures.
Prioritized list of activities tied Bi-weekly report on
Reports due
to approved STRIDES prioritized STRIDES
on the 1st
Implementation planning workplan outputs, workplan activities,
and the 8 - 10 days
and workplan alignment stakeholder approvals, recommendations,
15th of
dependencies, and and progress against
each month
recommended sequencing. planned outputs.
Tracker documenting Reports due
Bi-weekly updates
implementation risks, on the 1st
Risk management and on risks, mitigation
bottlenecks, decision, and the 8 - 9 days
escalation actions, and
mitigation actions, and 15th of
escalation needs.
escalation needs. each month
Reports due
Concise summaries of
Bi-Weekly reports of on the 1st
Meeting documentation stakeholder meetings with
Meeting summaries and the 8 - 9 days
and action tracking clear owners, action items,
and next steps 15th of
and follow-up needs.
each month
Dashboard
Briefing notes, talking points,
due on the
Leadership briefing and and slide inputs for Post, Monthly Executive
25th of 8 - 9 days
communication support Ministry, and STRIDES Dashboard
every
leadership discussions.
month
Reports due
Summary of progress,
Bi-Weekly on the 1st
Implementation progress pending decisions,
Implementation and the 8 - 9 days
reporting challenges, next steps, and
progress update 15th of
recommended adjustments.
each month
Summary of completed work,
open items, expectations,
Transition and handover November
risks, and recommended next Final Report 5- 6 days
planning 16 ,2026
steps for SPC/local partner
transition.
67 - 70
TOTAL LoE
days
Period of Performance:
The initial anticipated period of performance for the consultancy is August 2026, to November
2026. For budget estimates, anticipate a maximum of 70 workdays. Final level of effort will be
determined at time of issue.
Consultant Solicitation
January 2026

Scope Boundaries:
* This role is not intended to serve as the primary laboratory technical implementation lead.
* This scope does not include independent procurement, equipment installation, hands-on
laboratory training, or implementation of SOPs without prior Ministry/Post/STRIDES alignment.
* Specialized laboratory technical assistance may be requested separately through STRIDES
technical staff or targeted short-term consultants.
Location and Travel Requirements:
* Location: The consultancy is expected to be based in Fiji or include an extended TDY
presence in Fiji sufficient to support in-country coordination, stakeholder engagement, and
implementation activities
* Travel: Travel expectations vary based on the candidate's location.
o Candidates based in Fiji should anticipate approximately 20-30% local travel
o Candidates based outside Fiji will be expected to undertake international travel to Fiji,
as required to support implementation.
Timetable and Address for Submission
Interested applicants should submit questions to STRIDESProcurement@fhi360.org by
Wednesday, August 5, 2026, by 5:00PM EDT.
Proposals are due no later than Tuesday, August 11, 2026, by 11:59PM EDT. Required
documentation listed below must be e-mailed to STRIDESProcurement@fhi360.org.
Qualifications:
* Advanced degree in public health, health systems, laboratory sciences, epidemiology,
international development, project management, or a related field.
* Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in donor-funded global health implementation,
project start-up, health systems strengthening, or government stakeholder coordination.
* Demonstrated experience engaging Ministries of Health or other government counterparts
and supporting governance or coordination structures such as steering committees or
technical working groups.
* Strong project management skills, including workplan tracking, risk management, activity
sequencing, meeting facilitation, and action-item follow-up.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of leadership
briefs, meeting notes, reports, and concise implementation updates.
* Experience working with U.S. Government-funded programs or other donor-funded
activities strongly preferred.
* Familiarity with laboratory systems, surveillance, biosafety and biosecurity, diagnostic
networks, or global health security preferred.
* Prior experience in Fiji or the Pacific region strongly preferred.
* Ability to work diplomatically across technical, operational, government, and donor
stakeholders.
* Specific experience in:
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January 2026

1. Proficient with applicable USG or other donor rules, regulations, and policies.
2. Prior working experience in Fiji with local governments and stakeholders supporting
health and laboratory diagnostic networks preferred
3. Demonstrated experience working on complex, multidisciplinary projects and/or
activities.
4. Experience operating in insecure environments.
5. Experience working in a Government of Fiji Human, Animal or Environmental Health
Ministry/Agency is desirable.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria:
Criteria Suggested Weight
Relevant implementation start-up and stakeholder engagement experience 30%
Demonstrated government coordination and governance support experience 25%
Project management, communication, and reporting capability 20%
Relevant laboratory, surveillance, BSS, or global health security knowledge 15%
Pacific/Fiji experience and proposed availability including ability to reside in Fiji or
10%
undertake extended TDY in Fiji
Applicants are also welcome to submit their CV into FHI 360's global consultant database for
future consideration outside of this RFP: Consult@FHI360
Required documentation:
* Completed USAID1420 Biodata Form
* CV with country experience listed and updated to no less than 3 months prior to
submission of proposal
* Cover letter (letter shall summarize the consultant's qualifications and explain why they
should be added to the pool as well as rate of pay).
* Written response addressing the needs listed in the SOW.
* Estimated budget, in Excel format, to complete the work as indicated in this RFP.
FHI 360 Disclaimers
* FHI 360 may perform a background check on any selected Consultant candidates.
* FHI 360 may cancel the solicitation and not award
* FHI 360 may reject any or all responses received
* Issuance of the solicitation does not constitute an award commitment by FHI 360
* FHI 360 reserves the right to disqualify any offer based on failure of the offeror to follow
solicitation instructions
* FHI 360 will not compensate any offeror for responding to solicitation
* FHI 360 reserves the right to issue award based on initial evaluation of offers without further
discussion
Consultant Solicitation
January 2026

* FHI 360 may choose to award only part of the activities in the solicitation, or issue multiple
awards based on the solicitation activities
* FHI 360 reserves the right to waive minor proposal deficiencies that can be corrected prior to
award determination to promote competition
* FHI 360's consultant terms and conditions can be found here
Consultant Solicitation
January 2026