Project Information

Bid Title

Advanced-level bioinformatics training for laboratory specialists in Kyrgyzstan .

Issuing Agency

FHI 360

Location

District of Columbia

Published Date

Feb 23, 2026

Closing Date

Mar 10, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

EpiC003/26_RFQ_02

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Advanced-level bioinformatics training for laboratory specialists in Kyrgyzstan .
RFQ No.: EpiC003/26_RFQ_02

Issue date: 23 Feb, 2026
Closing date: 10 Mar, 2026

Solicitation file(s):
RFQ-EpiC 003-26.pdf (262 KB)

Attachment Preview

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION

102533.1134.002.001.001 / 991297.1354

Procurement of external trainer services from an internationally recognized institution to conduct

advanced-level bioinformatics training for laboratory specialists in-country in Kyrgyzstan

Branch of Family Health International (FHI 360) in Kyrgyzstan.

RFQ #:

Solicitation Title:

EpiC 003/26

Procurement of external trainer services from an

internationally recognized institution to conduct

advanced-level bioinformatics training for

laboratory specialists, either in-country in

Kyrgyzstan or abroad

Submit Proposal to:

Date of Issue:

Date Proposal Due:

Approximate Date/Month External

Trainer Contract Issued to training:

procurement_epic.kg@fhi360.org

February 24, 2026

March 10, 2026

April 2026

Method of submission

Respond via e-mail with attached document in MS Word / PDF format.

The Specialist agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm until FHI 360 finalizes the specialist

agreement approval process.

Executive Summary

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting

ways by advancing coordinated, locally driven solutions. Our global portfolio includes experts

in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, community groups, sex,

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

60 countries and all U.S. states and territories.

FHI 360 is currently carrying out the Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC)

project, a global initiative funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

(PEPFAR) and the U.S. Department of State to achieve and sustain epidemiological control of

HIV and other infection diseases. The project is being led by FHI 360 as the main implementer

and spans an eight-year period from April 15, 2019 to December 30, 2027.

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The EpiC project provides strategic support and direct service delivery (DSD) to overcome

challenges to achieving the 95-95-95 targets and to promote self-reliant management of national

HIV programs by improving HIV case-finding, prevention, and treatment programming.

The EpiC project is also well positioned to strengthen global, regional, and local public health

systems to effectively prevent, detect and respond to infectious diseases, building on broad

experience and existing capabilities that align with Global Health Security (GHS) priorities,

National Action Plans for Health Security (NAPHS) and U.S. Department of State goals.

As part of its Global Health Security activities, the EpiC project in Kyrgyzstan supports

strengthening of national laboratory systems, including the development of genomic sequencing

and bioinformatics capacity. Building upon the foundational bioinformatics training put into effect

in September 2025, the project now plans to conduct advanced-level bioinformatics training to

further develop participants’ analytical skills and enhance integration of NGS-based pathogen

genomics into national disease surveillance.

Objective:

The objective of this RFQ is to identify and select an internationally recognized institution to

deliver an advanced, hands-on bioinformatics training designed to: strengthen routine pathogen

genomic analysis workflows, enable local analysis of sequence data for surveillance and outbreak

response and build sustainable capacity through train-the-trainer components and long-term

mentoring. The training should follow up on the foundations introduced in the 2025 basic course

and progress participants to independent, reproducible analysis of pathogen NGS data. The

training is planned to be conducted in-country in Kyrgyzstan at a location to be confirmed in

coordination with EpiC project.

Key Responsibilities:

The EpiC project intends to contract an internationally recognized institution to put into effect

bioinformatics training, as outlined below:

1. Develop a detailed training curriculum and training materials (slides, example datasets,

reproducible pipelines and exercises) including sequence data handling, phylogenetic

analysis, variant detection and pathogen identification with practical focuse in Geneious

Prime and iTOL (Interactive tree of life) tools for visualization and reporting, in English

and provide Russian translations where feasible.

2. Conduct in-country advanced bioinformatics training for 6-7 laboratory specialists over a

5-day period, delivered by a maximum of 1 to 2 trainers from an internationally recognized

training center with certification provided by the institution.

3. Ensure that all required materials for hands-on training (software, datasets and any relevant

tools) are provided for the training.

4. Built on the basic training conducted in 2025, facilitate interactive advanced training

sessions and activities that ensure the effective transfer of knowledge and practical skills

to laboratory specialists with a focus on real-world application and locally relevant

pathogen analysis.

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5. Conduct pre- and post-training assessments to measure learning outcomes, including

participants’ comprehension and skill development.

6. Customize the training to local needs, including laboratory workflows, data systems and

surveillance priorities with a focus on priority infectious diseases (TB, influenza, COVID-

19) and alignment with national regulations, standards and best practices in bioinformatics.

The curriculum must cover analysis pipelines and data processing approaches for

sequencing platforms used in Kyrgyz laboratories with particular emphasis on one or two

platforms (MGI, Illumina or Oxford Nanopore Technologies) most relevant to participants

to ensure practical skills align with local laboratory capabilities.

7. Provide post-training resources, including access to a support network or online materials

to ensure continued learning and assistance.

8. Submit a narrative training report with recommendations, sample datasets, all training

artifacts (pipelines, scripts, exercise files), and a long-term plan, including train-the-trainer

recommendations and required hardware/software investments. All training materials

developed under this contract will remain available to EpiC/MoH for continued skills

training.

9. Deliver part of the training in Russian or provide translated materials. Trainers fluent in

Russian are an advantage.

Deliverables/Milestones & Due Dates:

№ Responsibilities

Deliverables

1. Develop a training program with Training program,

associated materials, covering both PowerPoint Presentations

theoretical and practical aspects of developed

advanced level bioinformatics

Due date

⁓within 2 weeks

after contract

signing

Conduct in-country or abroad training Detailed report on in-

⁓June, 2026

2. for laboratory specialists on country or overseas

bioinformatics at an advanced level over advanced bioinformatics

a 5-day period, delivered by a maximum training conducted for 6-7

of 1 to 2 trainers from an internationally lab staff who previously

recognized training center with completed the basic course

certification provided by the institution

3. Conduct assessments to measure the Assessment results report ⁓June, 2026

effectiveness of the training in terms of submitted

participants comprehension and skill

development

4. Provide post-training resources, Resources shared and

including access to a support network, access granted to

online materials and bioinformatics participants

software to ensure continued learning

and assistance

⁓June, 2026

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5. Provide certificates of completion to Certificates issued to

participants issued by the institution participants

⁓June, 2026

6. Submit a narrative training report with The narrative report

Within 10 days after

recommendations, sample datasets, all submitted and approved by training completion

training artifacts (pipelines, scripts, EpiC project

exercise files), and a long-term plan of

bioinformatics in the country

Location of work

Bishkek

Procedure for payment of rendered services

Payment of rendered services will be made to the institution upon satisfactory completion of

deliverables and acceptance by FHI 360, in accordance with the terms of the institution

agreement.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria:

• Technical proposal including CVs of trainers/experts – 60%

• Financial proposal – 40%

Required Documentation

Proposals must be submitted directly to procurement_epic.kg@fhi360.org no later than 6 p.m on

March 10, 2026 with the subject line: Advanced-level bioinformatics training for laboratory

specialists in Kyrgyzstan .

and include the following documents in English:

Technical and financial proposals detailing all requirements for the training (e.g., materials,

bioinformatics software, datasets and any necessary tools) along with CVs of trainers/experts

highlighting relevant experience;

• Proof of registration/legal status of the institution/company;

• Relevant certifications or accreditations of the institution/organization in the field of

bioinformatics or molecular testing;

• A detailed training plan, including content, training objectives, methodology and

proposed schedule, ensuring alignment with essentials and practical skills development;

• A detailed, itemized budget breakdown covering all associated costs (trainer fees, travel,

accommodation, venue, materials, transportation etc.).

FHI 360 Disclaimers

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• FHI 360 may perform a background check on any selected Specialist candidates/company

• 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

• 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.

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Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541690Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
• NAICS 611430Professional and Management Development Training
• NAICS 611699All Other Miscellaneous Schools and Instruction

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