Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for Selected Tanzania Public Health Laboratories
Due to the text limitation of this board, if you are interested in responding to this RFP, you must email Lucy Maryogo-Robinson at APHL (lucy.robinson@aphl.org) to obtain the official RFP response documentation.  This documentation will contain all necessary information and tools to enable you to respond accordingly.  E-mail and fax RFP responses must be received at the APHL office by 5:00 PM EDT (9:00 PM UTC) on August 9, 2011.  Courier and USPS responses must be postmarked or entered into a tracking system by 5:00 PM EDT (9:00 PM UTC) on August 9, 2011.

The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Global AIDS Program (GAP) is supporting the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

This request for proposals (RFP) is one component under the overarching PEPFAR goal to strengthen health system capacity and services for HIV/AIDS. A complete description of PEPFAR can be found at www.pepfar.gov/about

This RFP solicits offers from qualified information technology software providers to implement a laboratory information management system (LIMS) at seven laboratory sites of the Tanzania Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW).  This is the second phase of LIMS implementation for the MOHSW, which has 5 laboratory sites currently operating LIMS. The successful proposal will provide a cost-effective LIMS that can be maintained reliably in a timely manner and will offer an affordable solution that can be sustained in a resource-limited setting.  Proposals should clearly state the plan and means for providing operational support on an on-going basis directly by the provider or through an identified local company with the knowledge and capacity to provide support.  The MOHSW plans to continue to rollout the LIMS to additional laboratory sites to all Zonal and Regional Hospitals in the Tanzania National Public Health Laboratory System (NPHLS). At the option of MOHSW, an offer may be negotiated with the successful vendor of this award to implement LIMS at more than the seven sites that are part of this RFP if the proposal describes favorable licensing fees and innovative options for controlling maintenance costs.  For this project, APHL, working together with the Tanzania MOHSW, CDC/GAP/Atlanta (CDC/Atlanta) and CDC/GAP/Tanzania (CDC/Tanzania), assessed the laboratories at the following sites for Phase II of LIMS implementation:  Amana Hospital (Dar es Salaam), Temeke Hospital (Dar es Salaam), Mount Meru Hospital (Arusha), Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (Moshi), Morogoro Hospital (Morogoro), Dodoma Hospital (Dodoma) and Bombo Regional Hospital (Tanga).  APHL expects to award a contract for this project to implement a LIMS in these laboratories before October 1, 2011. The target period for initiation of the implementation of the LIMS in these laboratories is December, 2011.

APHL assisted CDC/GAP/Tanzania and the Tanzania MOHSW in the performance of a comprehensive evaluation of the laboratory system needs for a LIMS and to develop an implementation plan for the laboratories.  The assessment team activities included the following:

• Assessment of operations at the selected laboratories and meetings with stakeholders, in order to describe standard laboratory services and current LIMS capacity in the public health sector of Tanzania;
• Visits to other governmental laboratories to compare sample flow procedures and understand how samples are processed;
• Discussions on LIMS requirements with Tanzania government and health officials, as well as CDC/Tanzania staff;
• Development of an action plan for the implementation of LIMS at these 7 sites; and
• Compiled the specific information and requirements for the development of an RFP for the purchase of a LIMS application.

1.1  Procurement Contact for this RFP

NAME: Lucy Maryogo-Robinson    

TITLE: Director, Global Health Program

Email:  lucy.robinson@aphl.org

Note:  Any solicitation or contact with APHL, the Tanzania Ministry of Health or CDC employees involved in the LIMS Project or any staff at the selected laboratories concerning this RFP other than the designated Procurement Contact is prohibited, except as authorized by the Procurement Contact, during the period from date of release of the RFP until the notice of intent to contract is released.  Unauthorized contact concerning this RFP may disqualify the respondent from participating in the RFP process (may not be considered in the review of respondents).

2      PREPARING AND SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL

2.1  Contractor information required to be included with response.

1. Full legal name and if LIMS provider has a “doing business name” the d/b/a as well.
2. Authorized representative of the Contractor for the proposal.
3. Telephone, fax and e-mail address of the single point of contact for communication between APHL and the LIMS provider. Contact information for other persons whom the LIMS provider may request informational copies sent in addition to the single point of contact.
4. Business mailing address.

2.2  Response Submittal

Responses must be sent to APHL by e-mail attachment in a Portable Document Files (PDF) format (electronic signatures accepted) to LISProposal@aphl.org; OR by fax to 240-485-2712 attention of Lucy Maryogo-Robinson, Director, Global Health Program, APHL; OR by courier/delivery service that has a tracking system OR by U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Priority or Express Mail to Lucy Maryogo-Robinson, APHL, 8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 700, Silver Spring, MD, USA 20910.  E-mail attachment is the preferred means of receipt.  E-mail and fax responses must be received at the APHL office by 5:00 PM EDT (9:00 PM UTC) on August 9, 2011.  Courier and USPS responses must be postmarked or entered into a tracking system by 5:00 PM EDT (9:00 PM UTC) on August 9, 2011.  Submitters will receive a confirmation of receipt of their proposal by APHL.  APHL may terminate or modify the RFP process at any time during the response period.

For electronic submissions, responses must be presented in a consistent format of 2 PDFs:

·         PDF File 1:  RFP Submission Form Template:

Using this naming convention:  “Proposal.Legal_Name.Tanzania.PDF” please complete the standard RFP requirements submission form (either in MS Word or editable PDF form), electronically sign, convert to a PDF and submit to the email listed below.  This document should include a response to all requests for information included in Section 5, Technical Requirements; Section 6, Laboratory Business Requirements; Section 7, Project Management and Implementation Plant; and Section 8, Cost Proposal & System Acceptance.

·         PDF File 2:  Supporting Documentation:

Using this naming convention:  “Documents.Legal_Name.Tanzania.PDF”, please provide, under a Table of Contents, other specific documentation requested by the RFP or any supporting documentation the vendor feels would be helpful to the APHL reviewers of the response or information which helps support statements made in PDF File 1.  This document should include that information requested in Section 4, General Requirements of Proposal along with any other supporting documentation, sales literature or pictures and diagrams which the vendor believes would be helpful to support the response to the RFP.

·         Please attach both PDF files to an email to be sent here:  LISProposal@aphl.org 

Responses that are not received by the stated deadline shall be determined to be non-responsive and at APHL’s discretion may not be considered in the review of respondents.  The review process for this award contract is comprised of three parts, including:

Part One:

·         APHL reviews all responses received by the response deadline, assesses the responses with Tanzania NPHLS and CDC/Tanzania and compares them to the requirements stated in the RFP.  Responses are assessed on these criteria:

o    LIMS Project requirements

o    Strength of the provider’s project plan to successfully implement a LIMS at the selected laboratory

o    Strength of the providers project plan to sustain operation of LIMS at the laboratory and any subsequent laboratories which might be added later

o    Value of the offer relative to cost, performance and maintenance

·         One or more providers are selected to be included in Part Two of the RFP review process.  Applications that meet the minimum technical requirements of the RFP may not be included for consideration in Part Two due to weaknesses in the noted criteria compared to other applications. Respondents to the RFP should address all noted criteria. 

Part Two:

·         APHL may require respondents selected for Part Two of the review process to travel to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to present a demonstration of their proposed application to the Tanzania LIMS Technical Working Group (Tanzania TWG) made up of representatives of Tanzania MOHSW and the Phase I and Phase II laboratory managers (or their representatives) and answer questions related to their software, project plan and costs. This meeting is tentatively scheduled for September 6th and 7th, 2011. The presentations are organized and facilitated by APHL, in coordination with CDC-Tanzania. If a respondent is required to travel to Tanzania, APHL may provide a stipend, the amount determined by APHL, to partially offset the cost of travel to Tanzania for up to 2 representatives of a selected respondent.

·         The review of proposals in Part Two may be done without requiring presentations by providers in Tanzania.  In this case, APHL will organize and facilitate remote conferencing and demonstration of the provider’s software. APHL staff will be in Tanzania with the Tanzania TWG for these presentations.

Part Three:

·         After consideration of the information provided in the RFP response, Tanzania TWG shall select the preferred respondent in consultation with APHL and CDC-Tanzania.  APHL will request a final offer from the preferred respondent prior to awarding a contract.  

o    The final offer will permit inclusion of changes that may arise in deliverables or conditions of the implementation during the negotiation of a contract.

o    The negotiations may include the addition of other laboratories, sections or departments where insufficient information was available to include in this RFP.

o    The purchasing contract negotiated between APHL and the selected respondent will identify costs and payments to be associated with:

§  system licenses (initial and subsequent)

§  purchase price

§  implementation costs

§  training costs

§  maintenance and update costs

§  other associated costs and services.

Detailed contract and terms will be finalized as part of contract negotiations. The contract starting and ending effective dates shall be indicated on the purchase order or contract and by mutual agreement of both parties; the ending date may be extended for maintenance, support and additional work subject to the contract rules of CDC/Atlanta.

Ralph Timperi

Senior Advisor

Global Health and Laboratory Management

Association of Public Health Laboratories

GENERAL Information, Assumptions, REQUIREMENTS and Preferences

The notes here on general issues, assumptions and preferences, while not requirements, provide an overview of the non-functional requirements and preferences that are important issues for consideration by respondents since they describe key aspects of the LIMS that would be most appropriate.

1.             This LIMS application should be considered a laboratory-oriented, sample-centric application as opposed to a patient-centric, patient management application.  While there are many patient-centric applications that have laboratory components, the primary purpose of this application is to collect and manage laboratory test data, quality control data, inventory control data, standard operating procedures and training information within the laboratory.  Sample-centric laboratory systems that link individual patient data through some universal identifier for epidemiological purposes are preferred.

2.             For the purpose of this RFP, installations in laboratories should be considered as separate, individual installations.  Applications that have the flexibility to move toward central data management in the future are preferred.

3.             Respondents should keep in mind that this RFP is designed for the purchase and installation of application software in the selected Tanzania laboratories only.  However, if the installation at these laboratories is successful, there is a possibility of following these installations with subsequent implementations in other zonal, regional and district laboratories in Tanzania.  Respondents may supply cost estimates for these additional sites, beyond the selected sites, in the cost break-down sheet in Section 8.  This is optional.

4.             The laboratory requirements found in section 6 are meant to be a guide for respondents in responding to this RFP and to ensure that respondents understand the type of data that needs to be collected and communicated within the Tanzania laboratories.  Consequently, they are general in nature and represent the minimum of data points to be collected. 

5.             The ability for the LIMS to remotely order tests and report results is preferable and the system should either have or be extensible enough to accommodate this feature. 

6.             Applications that have the ability to create and transmit data files in internationally recognized standards such as HL7 and utilize standard vocabulary code sets such as LOINC and SNOMED are preferred.

7.             Respondents can assume that:

a.     A local LAN will be in place and functional at the selected Tanzania laboratories prior to installation of the application.  Respondents can assume that required networking, switches, hubs, firewalls, virus software, etc., will be provided.

b.    The laboratory will have access to the internet either through broadband or dial-up connection and that the access will be available through the local LAN installed in the laboratory.  

c.     Sufficient PC’s will be available to run the application software at the selected Tanzania laboratories prior to the installation of the application software. 

d.    Bar code printers and scanners (if necessary) along with a sufficient number of networked system printers required by the selected application will be available prior to the installation of application software.

8.             Respondents whose application software is licensed by PC or server, can base their proposal on the following standard information regarding PC’s and servers.  Each installation site will also include a minimum of two laser printers, two bar code printers and two bar code scanners.  Complete and final information regarding hardware, infrastructure and training requirements will be gathered as a part of the GAP analysis:

a.     Approximately seven (7) PC’s and one (1) server will be available at the Amana Hospital Laboratory

b.    Approximately seven (7) PC’s and one (1) server will be available at the Mount Meru  Hospital Laboratory

c.     Approximately seven (7) PC’s and one (1) server will be available at the KCMC Hospital Laboratory

d.    Approximately seven (7) PC’s and one (1) server will be available at the Temeke Hospital Laboratory

e.     Approximately seven (7) PC’s and one (1) server will be available at the Morogoro Hospital Laboratory

f.     Approximately seven (7) PC’s and one (1) server will be available at the Dodoma Hospital Laboratory

g.    Approximately seven (7) PC’s and one (1) server will be available at the Bombo Regional Hospital Laboratory

9.             Respondents should bid a LIMS application package that includes the following for the selected Tanzania installation: 

a.     All software required to make the LIMS viable at each laboratory site

b.    Hardware not already available in the laboratory, specifically including any required or specialized cabling or converters for instrument interfaces

c.     Superuser and network administrator training (initial minimum one week end user training at the laboratory facility on the software as provided, two weeks post-live supportive supervision)

d.    Installation and initial customization of the software for use at each of the selected Tanzania laboratories and future Regional and District sites

e.     One (1) year minimum of software maintenance (updates, patches, etc.)

f.     One (1) year minimum of software support (for user questions, help desk, etc.). 

g.    Plans and prices for the continuation of software maintenance and support

h.     Costs associated with additional instrument interfaces beyond those included in this RFP

i.      Costs associated with technical support (not included with software maintenance and support)

j.      Costs associated with training and software customization following initial installation.

Questions regarding technical and business (laboratory) requirements described in this RFP must be directed in writing, via email to Lucy Maryogo-Robinson:

Lucy Maryogo-Robinson

Director, Global Health Program, APHL

Email:  lucy.robinson@aphl.org

Due to the text limitation of this board, if you are interested in responding to this RFP, you must email Lucy Maryogo-Robinson at APHL (lucy.robinson@aphl.org) to obtain the official RFP response documentation.  This documentation will contain all necessary information and tools to enable you to respond accordingly. 

E-mail and fax RFP responses must be received at the APHL office by 5:00 PM EDT (9:00 PM UTC) on August 9, 2011.  Courier and USPS responses must be postmarked or entered into a tracking system by 5:00 PM EDT (9:00 PM UTC) on August 9, 2011.

Moore: www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35321_0_24_0_C

The Faculty of Science occupies a leading position internationally in its fields of research and participates in a large number of cooperative programmes with universities, research institutes and businesses. The faculty has a student body of around 3,000 and 1,500 members of staff, spread over eight research institutes and a number of faculty-wide support services. A considerable part of the research is made possible by external funding from Dutch and international organisations and the private sector. The Faculty of Science offers thirteen Bachelor's degree programmes and eighteen Master’s degree programmes in the fields of the exact sciences, computer science and information studies, and life and earth sciences.

Since September 2010, the whole faculty has been housed in a brand new building at the Science Park in Amsterdam. The instalment of the faculty has made the Science Park one of the largest centres of academic research in the Netherlands.

Within the Faculty, the information sciences are organized in two research institutes, the Informatics Institute and the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation. The Informatics Institute encompasses around 230 members, organized in an education group, an administrative bureau and eight research groups that cooperate intensively, both formally and informally.

The Informatics Institute has a vacancy for a:

PhD student - Cognitive and computer vision of movies
full-time (38 hours per week)
vacancy number W11-151

Movies when shown to people create a massive amount of signals in the brain. They are not random signals, instead their pattern is similar from person to person as well as from style, type and mood in the movie. There is a difference in directed or undirected movies. In this PhD project we want to understand what visual movie content generates what brain signals corresponding to what emotions. We aim to correlate automatic computer vision concept detection in the movie stream to the noisy signals of brains across persons, movies and movie types.

The research bridges state-of-the-art vision technology of the Intelligent Systems Lab Amsterdam (ISLA, Science Faculty), with the state-of-the-art in brain imaging offered by the Cognitive Neuroscience Group Amsterdam (CNGA, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences). Both groups are part of the University of Amsterdam and enjoy a world-class reputation, ISLA for computer vision and search engine technology (discovering concepts in images and video) and CNG for the neural basis of visual perception.

We are looking for an excellent PhD student who will study visual content in movies underling common perceptual, cognitive and emotional brain states. The research will be carried out under supervision of Prof. Arnold Smeulders and Dr Sennay Ghebreab at ISLA in a regular cooperation with Prof. Victor Lamme and Dr H.Steven Scholte of CNGA. Cooperation on this topic with the Princeton Neuroscience Institute is in the making. The research is part of the large public – private programme COMMIT and may lead to inspiration for Neurensics, a startup company in Neuromarketing.

The PhD plan includes: (1) To research how to best correlate the content of movies to human brain responses recorded when watching movies. The research is based on low-level invariant color feature analysis and machine learning for the automatic recognition of concepts in movies. (2) To relate streams of visual movie features with a multitude of noisy human fMRI responses by functional data analysis. (3) To discover what fMRI brain states correspond to what aspect of the movie content. Assistance in under graduate teaching is standard part of the job.

Requirements

We are looking for motivated candidates with an MSc in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, or a related field. Applicants have knowledge in computer vision, stochastic signal processing and/or machine learning and good programming skills in Matlab and/or C++. An interest in quantitative analysis of perception, cognition and emotion will be a significant plus. Applicants should be able to demonstrate independence and good communications skills.

Further information

Further information can be obtained from Dr Sennay Ghebreab, s.ghebreab@uva.nl.

AppointmentThe appointment will be full-time (38 hours a week) for a period of four years (initial employment is 18 months and after a positive evaluation, the appointment will be extended further with 30 months) and should lead to a dissertation. The salary is in accordance with the university regulations for academic personnel. The salary will range from €2,042 (first year) up to a maximum of €2,612 (last year) before tax per month (scale P).

Employees receive an 8% holiday bonus and an end of the year bonus on top of the monthly salaries. The collective employment agreement of Dutch universities is applicable.

Job application

Applications should include a letter of motivation, a detailed curriculum vitae, a transcript of grades and courses, a web link to a writing sample available online (such as MSc thesis and/or other publications), and names and contact details of two academic referees.

Applications should be emailed before 15 September 2011 to application-science@uva.nl addressed to University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Science, Personnel Dept., attn. J.C. Knaap-Cabi.

The preferred starting date is 1 November 2011.

Refer to Informatics Institute

source: www.english.uva.nl/vacancies/vacancies.cfm/617AD1E0-02C6-499B-8FD43140238F1A2B

Remixed, Reframed & Reimagined: Innovative Perspectives in African Studies Fifth Annual Michigan State University Africanist Graduate Student Conference

October 7-8, 2011, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

The 5th annual Africanist Graduate Student Research conference at Michigan State University is seeking graduate student presenters to report on new and innovative ways of addressing the study of Africa and the African Diaspora. The conference provides an opportunity for graduate students to discuss their research, receive constructive feedback, network with other students and scholars, and sharpen their presentation skills within a constructive and supportive colloquium.

The organizing committee invites papers from all academic disciplines and from all approaches to the study of Africa, Africans, and the crisscrossing intersections of the continent and the global diaspora.

However, in conjunction with the 2011 African Studies Association  (ASA) Annual Meeting, "50 Years of African Liberation," we are especially seeking papers on African perspectives of liberation, independence, and self-determination, whether ethnic, feminist, literary, economic, national or otherwise. This includes studies of diaspora, globalization, and development that challenge conventional definitions of Africa as a marginal place and Africans and their descendants as marginalized peoples. 

It encourages us to question how forms of cultural expression such as visual art, film, and fiction have envisioned and challenged avenues of self-determination. Whose independence was provided for, under what conditions, and at what costs? The committee calls for innovative research proposals, research designs, dissertation or thesis chapters, methodological models, works in progress, outlines of dissertations, preliminary research findings or poster presentations from any academic discipline within African Studies.

We are also looking for experienced graduate students to serve as discussants for the panels. Interested discussants willing to provide insightful, integrative responses to panel presentations should be ABD.

Abstracts Due: August 10, 2011

Email submissions and questions to: msuafricasubmissions@gmail.com

Abstracts should include the author’s name, paper title, address, institutional affiliation, email address, and phone number. In 300 words or less, provide a clearly identifiable thesis, information on methods and/or sources used, and describe the significance of the research to your field. Please also identify three keywords. A $25 conference fee will be payable upon acceptance. Interested discussants should send a curriculum
vitae that includes areas of specialization. There is no conference fee for discussants.

Students may also consider submitting a panel proposal, including an abstract for the panel and an abstract for each paper presenter. The panel abstract should include a statement about the panel topic and a brief
summary of the arguments to be explored by contributing papers.

If you wish to be considered for a travel award, please submit your abstract by July 15, 2011.  Please also explore other funding options upon submission. International students requiring letters of invitation and
sufficient time to secure funding and visas should also submit early.

Because of the short time frame between abstract submission and conference date, we will require attendance confirmation by September 2, 2011. 

Accepted papers should be submitted by September 17, 2011 to allow discussants ample preparation time.

More information can be found at the Conference’s website http://africa.msu.edu/gradconference or you can join our Facebook group: MSU Africanist Graduate Student Conference.


(thanks to Chambi/Wanazuoni fro sharing)

Yale is among a small group of the world’s greatest universities. Our goal is to build an extraordinary cohort of Fellows interested in preparing for greater roles of leadership, expanding their professional and personal horizons, and contributing to a deepening of international awareness and dialogue within the Yale community. If you want to be a part of it, we welcome your application.  

The application deadline for the 2012 class is Friday, December 9, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST.

To determine if you would be a competitive candidate for the Program, please carefully review the biographies of the previous Fellows and the Eligibility and Selection Criteria.  To learn more about the mission of the Yale World Fellows Program click here.  Admission to the Yale World Fellows Program is extremely competitive; we receive several thousand applications for the 14-18 fellowships awarded each year. We look forward to receiving your application. 

Apply to the Program: Candidates interested in applying to the Yale World Fellows Program should proceed to the online application.  Upon registering for the online application you will be able to submit your application materials electronically.  All materials must be submitted electronically by the deadline of 11:59 PM EST on Friday, December 9, 2011.

Nominate a Candidate: Candidates may either apply directly to the Program or be nominated to apply by someone else. The purpose of the nominator is to bring to the attention of the Program qualified candidates who may not be aware of the Program. A nominator may be from any country, and may or may not have an affiliation with Yale. Click here for more information or to nominate a candidate. 

Eligibility and Selection Criteria: To learn more about the traits, characteristics, and qualifications the selection committee is looking for in a World Fellow applicant please click here.

Dates and Deadlines: For a timeline of the application and admissions process, please click here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Please review our website and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) before contacting us. If, after careful review of these resources, your question is unanswered, you may contact Program staff at applicant.worldfellows@yale.edu. Please do not send multiple emails regarding one issue, and please do not email staff individually. We thank you for your patience in allowing staff adequate time to thoughtfully process your inquiries. 

Admission to other programs at Yale University: The Yale World Fellows Program does not accept full-time students or full-time academics and does not award an academic diploma of any kind. The fellowship is designed for practitioners. If your primary occupation is student or scholar and you are interested in spending time at Yale, please directly contact the academic department that most closely aligns with your interests.


Source: www.yale.edu/worldfellows/about.html

Fogarty developed this program to address research training needs related to infectious diseases that are predominantly endemic in or impact upon people living in developing countries. The training programs include a variety of research training options to match the needs of the developing country institution. The ultimate goal is to build a critical mass of researchers and support staff to conduct independent infectious disease research in developing country institutions.

Eligible: Applicants may only be submitted by foreign institutions in LMICs, as defined by the World Bank Classification system. Foreign applicants should apply in collaboration with U.S. institutions and must name an individual in the proposed institution as the major collaborator.

Letters of intent due date: August 21, 2011

Application deadline: September 21, 2011

Further information: visit website www.fic.nih.gov/Programs/Pages/infectious-disease.aspx or contact Dr Barbara sina (Barbara.Sina@nih.gov)

National Institute of Health, Fogarty International Center

Fogarty developed this program to address research training needs related to infectious diseases that are predominantly endemic in or impact upon people living in developing countries. The training programs include a variety of research training options to match the needs of the developing country institution. The ultimate goal is to build a critical mass of researchers and support staff to conduct independent infectious disease research in developing country institutions.

Eligiblility:  
U.S. Institutions with a demonstrated collaboration with a researcher in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) institutions. Foreign institutions in LMICs may also apply. Applicant institution must have active, ongoing research (18 months of funding remaining at the time of applicant submission).

Letters of intent due date: August 21, 2011

Application deadline: September 21, 2011

Further information: visit website www.fic.nih.gov/Programs/Pages/infectious-disease.aspx or contact Dr Barbara sina (Barbara.Sina@nih.gov)

Job Title: International Broadcaster (Swahili)

Agency: Broadcasting Board of Governors

Job Announcement Number: DEU-11-96

SALARY RANGE:$74,872.00 - $97,333.00 /year

OPEN PERIOD:Thursday, June 09, 2011 to Thursday, June 16, 2011

SERIES & GRADE:GS-1001-12

POSITION INFORMATION:Full Time Career/Career Conditional

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:12

DUTY LOCATIONS:1 vacancy - Washington DC Metro Area, DC

WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED: United States Citizens

JOB SUMMARY:This position is located in the Africa Division, Swahili Service of the Voice of America in Washington, DC. The incumbent will serve as an International Broadcaster with responsibility for conceiving, planning, researching, writing and broadcasting original audio/video scripts of a highly complex nature and for providing Internet content for the website.

This position is covered by an union agreement.

The Broadcasting Board of Governors is conveniently located within walking distance to the Blue, Orange, Yellow and Green Metro lines.

Introduction to Agency: The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent federal agency, is an exciting, multicultural organization that encompasses all U.S. civilian international broadcasting. The BBG is comprised of the Voice of America, which delivers high quality, multimedia programming in 44 languages to audiences worldwide; the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti); the International Broadcasting Bureau, which provides transmission, administrative, and other support services; and three grantee organizations - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa), and Radio Free Asia. Our staff of dedicated professionals serves as an example of a free and independent media, reaching a worldwide audience with news, information, and relevant discussions.

This vacancy is being advertised under delegated examining procedures and is open to all U.S. citizens. 

The Full Performance Level: 12

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

• U.S. Citizenship
• Candidates MUST complete the Online Questionnaire.
• Relocation expenses WILL NOT be paid.
• Selectee will be subject to an investigation for suitability determination.
• Position may require candidate to work evenings, weekends and holidays.

DutiesAdditional Duty Location Info:1 vacancy - Washington DC Metro Area, DC

--Writes news related stories for use in radio, television or Internet posting. Prepares integrated, highly-targeted, well-balanced scripts,  radio or television program or program segments or Internet web presentations that captures the attention of the audience.

--Writes feature stories on a variety of subjects for television, radio or web posting.

--Adapts and/or translates material, which may include simultaneous translations.

--Edits broadcast segments, including stringer reports. Voices material for or during television and/or radio broadcasts.

--Participates in the development of regularly scheduled television or radio programs. Initiates coverage of news and features, participates fully in coverage of major events and in preparation and execution of broadcast remotes.

--Contributes to the production elements, including editing of taped material, planning/coordinating airshows.

--Prepares and/or presents news and feature material in a studio or on location for television/radio simulcast. May serve as show host.

 Qualifications and EvaluationsQUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Basic Qualifications: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level which is directly related to this line of work AND bilingual fluency in both English and Swahili with the ability to write, report, interview and announce in both languages.

Specialized Experience is defined as experience in  the use of the Swahili language in radio broadcasting, print, TV or Internet journalism. Work must have included writing, editing and/or voicing broadcast material from English into Swahili. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include work as a reporter, editor or news broadcaster for a recognized news publication; or for a wire service; or for a radio or television station. This experience must have provided a comprehensive knowledge of the history, customs and psychology of the target area people, as well as their political, economic, cultural and social life.

Suitability Determination: If selected, you will be subject to a security investigation to establish your suitability for federal employment. The security investigation will include, among other aspects, a review of your credit and legal history.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:Once the application process is complete, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements. We will review your application to ensure you meet the following competencies/skills.

Competencies/Skills:

• Journalism
• TV/Radio Reporting
• Domestic/Foreign Policy  

To assist in determining if you are qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. Providing false information may be grounds for not selecting you or termination after appointment. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Competitive Examining Procedures: Once the application process is complete, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements.  Your application will be evaluated and rated under the Category Rating and Selection Procedures.  Your resume and supporting documentation will be reviewed and compared to your responses on the occupational questionnaire or KSAs (as applicable) to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for this position.  If you meet the minimum qualifications for this job, your qualifications will be further reviewed by a Human Resources Specialist, to assess the quality, depth, and complexity of your accomplishments, experience, and education as they relate to the critical experience requirements listed in this vacancy announcement.  You will then be placed in one of three rating categories: 

• Qualified Category - Meets the specialized experience outlined in the minimum  qualifications requirements section of the vacancy announcement.
• Well Qualified Category - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy announcement and demonstrates proficiency in the critical competencies for this position.
• Best Qualified Category - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy announcement and has successful experience in the same or similar job that has demonstrated "outstanding" proficiency in applying knowledge, skill, and ability in the critical competencies for this position to work of increased levels of difficulty and complexity.

 VETERANS PREFERENCE: "Application of Veterans' Preference:  the Category Rating Method does not add veterans' preference points, but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category.  Preference eligibles who do not have a service-connected disability of 10 percent or more will be assigned to the appropriate quality category based upon the job-related assessment and will be listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within the appropriate quality category.

 Benefits and Other InfoBENEFITS:The Federal Government offers exceptional benefits to employees, including opportunities for training and advancement, health Insurance, vacation and sick leave, life insurance, long term care insurance, retirement benefits, flexible spending accounts, and public transportation subsidies.  The link below provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal Employees: www.usajobs.gov/EI/benefits.asp#icc

OTHER INFORMATION:1. If you are an eligible Inter agency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant you may apply for special selection over other candidates for this position . To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must berated at 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position. ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.

2. If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference , you must attach an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form.

If you are still on active duty, you may submit a statement of service from your Personnel Command which states the date you entered active duty, the date you are separating, and the campaign medals you have received. For more information on the VRA, consult the Vets Guide at: www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.htm

3. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.

4. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review in our office, in other Federal agency personnel offices, and on OPM's web site at www.opm.gov/qualifications 

Additional selections may be made if additional/identical vacancies occur within 90 days of certificate issuance.

How To ApplyHOW TO APPLY: All applications must be submitted by: Thursday, June 16, 2011

To begin click the Apply Online button and follow the prompts to register, answer a few questions, and submit all required documents.  To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at www.usajobs.opm.gov and click on "Application Status". Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.

We strongly encourage you to apply online. If you cannot apply online, you may FAX your resume, questionnaire, and supporting documents to (478) 757-3144. You must print a copy of OPM Form 1203-FX, document your responses to the questionnaire View Occupational Questionnaire and use the official FAX coversheet found here. You must also cite Vacancy Identification Number 487744. 

After you complete and submit the online resume, you will receive a "Confirmation of Submission" message stating that your online resume has been successfully submitted. If you do not receive this message, please submit again as this indicates that your resume has not been received.  

NOTE: Submission of a resume alone IS NOT a complete application. This position requires the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described previously. Please carefully review the complete job announcement and the "How to Apply" instructions.Failure to provide the required information and/or materials, by Thursday, June 16, 2011, will result in your not being considered for employment.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:What you need to submit to apply for this position:

• Resume 
• Veterans Preference documentation (Letter from Veteran's Administration, DD-214-(member 4 Copy),  Application for 10- Point Veteran Preference (SF-15), if applicable.  

To submit the documents requested follow the instructions below: Your resume, curriculum vitae, the Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF 612), or any other written format you choose to describe your job-related qualifications  can be submitted electronically using the document upload process, fax, mail or by hand-deliver. Please ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone and at least your last four digits of your social security number.

JOB OPENINGS 

For job information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call 912-757-3000, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) automated telephone system. Or, with a computer modem dial 912-757-3100 for job information from an OPM electronic bulletin board. You can also reach the board through the Internet (Telnet only) at FJOB.MAIL.OPM.GOV.
WHAT TO INCLUDE

Although the Federal Government does not require a standard application form for most jobs, we do need certain information to evaluate your qualifications and determine if you meet legal requirements for Federal employment. If your resume or application does not provide all the information requested in the job vacancy announcement and in this brochure, you may lose consideration for a job. Help speed the selection process by keeping your resume or application brief and by sending only the requested material. Type or print clearly in dark ink.

Note: Please ensure that your resume contains the basic information outlined under the Applying for a Federal Job link: www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#WSBI

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:Leslie Y. Brown 
Phone: (202)382-7537 
Fax: (202)382-7542 
Email: LYBROWN@BBG.GOV

Agency Information:
Broadcasting Board Governors
330 Independence Avenue SW
ATTN Office of Human Resources
Washington, DC 20237 
USA 

Fax: (202)382-7542

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a reveiw of your complete application is made you will be notified of your rating and or referral to the hiring official.  If further evaluation or  interviews are required you will be contacted.

Instructions for completing the OPM 1203-FX: If you are applying to this announcement by completing the OPM 1203-FX form instead of using the Online Application method, please use the following step-by-step instructions as a guide to filling out the required questionnaire. You will need to print the vacancy announcement and refer to it as you answer the questions. You may omit any optional information; however, you must provide responses to all required questions. Be sure to double check your application before submission.

View Occupational Questionnaire

Info source : http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=100054846

Technical Advisor Level III: Senior Malaria and Global Fund Advisor 
Infectious Disease Division, Office of Health, Infectious Diseases, and Nutrition, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development 
Location: Washington, DC 
Assignment: Two year fellowship 
GHFP-11-229 

The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute (PHI) in partnership with the Harvard School of Public Health, Management Systems International and the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. GHFP is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). 

The goal of GHFP is to improve the effectiveness of USAID Population, Health and Nutrition programs by developing and increasing capacity of health professionals in Washington, DC and overseas. This is accomplished through the recruitment, placement and support of junior, mid and senior level health professionals; a diversity initiative focused on providing internship and mentoring opportunities in international public health to underrepresented communities; and professional and organizational development activities to bolster USAID’s ability to maximize results and strengthen its leadership role in global health. 

INTRODUCTION: 

The Office of Health, Infectious Disease and Nutrition (HIDN)/Infectious Disease Division (ID) of USAID’s Bureau for Global Health is charged with technical leadership for and management of programs in infectious diseases including tuberculosis (TB), malaria, and neglected tropical diseases. The Office seeks a Senior Malaria and Global Fund Advisor to focus on providing policy and strategic advice to senior leadership and the malaria and tuberculosis technical teams on issues related to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria (Global Fund). 

The US Government’s (USG) President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) aims to reduce malaria-related morbidity and mortality by 50% or more in up to 17 sub-Saharan African countries through rapid scale up of a package of proven malaria prevention and treatment measures: artemisinin-based combination therapy; insecticide-treated mosquito nets, intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy, and indoor residual spraying. USAID is the lead USG agency for implementation of the PMI, working in close collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other USG agencies. The Initiative is results-based, focused, and requires a high-level of financial and programmatic accountability. In 2009, PMI became a component of the USG Global Health Initiative (GHI) and funding has now extended to 2013. 

USAID manages an almost $250 million TB program in 40 countries. The USG TB strategy supports the objectives of the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Plan to STOP TB. As part of the GHI, the USG TB Program aims to contribute to a 50% reduction in tuberculosis deaths and disease burden from the 1990 baseline. 

Both PMI and the USG TB programs are part of larger partnerships including other major donors, such as the Global Fund, multilateral organizations, such as WHO, the Roll Back Malaria and Stop TB Partnerships, and UNICEF, bilateral organizations, private sector partners, and nongovernmental organizations. As two of the major funders of malaria and TB control efforts worldwide, close collaboration and coordination between PMI, the USAID TB program and the Global Fund is critical. Additionally, the success of USG malaria and TB control efforts is greatly influenced by the performance of Global Fund grants. PMI and USAID TB program staff coordinate with the Global Fund at multiple levels, including participation at Global Fund Board meetings, as members of Technical Review Panels, and coordination with Fund Portfolio Managers and at the country level. 

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

The Senior Malaria and Global Fund Advisor will: 

A. Provide support to PMI leadership and staff on Global Fund malaria issues (50% time) 

• Provide support to the PMI Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator on malaria and general health policy issues related to the Global Fund, including identifying bottlenecks and potential issues of concern and developing policy positions, papers, etc.
• Work with PMI team members in USAID, CDC, and the field to facilitate engagement with the Global Fund and pass implementation issues to the Global Fund Core Group
• Conduct analyses of Global Fund malaria grants and keep the PMI team informed about changes in Global Fund policies and procedures, as well as the performance of Global Fund malaria grants in PMI countries
• Participate in the USG Global Fund Reform Working Group, led by the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator
• Provide support to USAID leadership related to G8 meetings and initiatives
• Support PMI leadership in coordinating malaria control efforts with major international partners other than the Global Fund, including the World Bank, the British Department for International Development, etc.
• Provide support to PMI leadership on work with the Roll Back Malaria Partnership
• Technically manage the work of the Roll Back Malaria Sub-Regional Networks, which is financed through the Global Fund contribution of the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator. Provide guidance to the Sub-Regional Networks’ team on USG objectives with regard to the Global Fund and malaria programs for use of this funding
• As a member of the PMI team, take the lead on PMI/PEPFAR interactions, including identifying and documenting activities to foster better linkages

B. Provide programmatic and technical backstopping to one PMI Country Team (15%) 
Serve as Country Lead or Alternate on one PMI Team for a country in sub-Saharan Africa

C. Provide Global Fund technical support to the USAID TB team (35%) 

• Provide support to the TB team on Global Fund-related policy issues
• Support the members of the USAID Global Fund core team on document review and strategic direction for Board documents related to TB
• Conduct analyses on Global Fund TB grants to inform policy decisions
• Prepare other documentation as needed on Global Fund issues related to TB

Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on (a) organizational and programming need and/or (b) the Advisor’s own interests. 

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE 

• Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology or other field related to infectious diseases
• Minimum ten years’ experience in the fields of international health and/or development, with at least three to five years’ experience working in sub-Saharan Africa or a resource challenged setting
• Thorough working knowledge of Global Fund structure, policies, and procedures
• Understanding of the USG interagency structure related to the Global Fund and its pro-grams in malaria and TB
• Experience working with international partnerships on malaria and/or TB
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing
• Excellent leadership, communications and interpersonal skills to work effectively with a broad range of USG personnel and international partners.
• Demonstrated technical leadership, policy experience, and problem-solving skills working on complex projects in a highly sensitive environment.
•  Demonstrated flexibility and openness in responding to changing work priorities and environment
• Willingness to travel overseas
• US Citizenship or US Permanent Residency required

SALARY AND BENEFITS 
Salary will be based on commensurate experience and earnings history. The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programs www.ghfp.net/docs/2011_Benefits_Booklet_GHFP.pdf 

TO APPLY 
All applicants are required to apply for this position through GHFP’s online recruitment system at www.ghfp.net/recruitment/, which allows you to store your CV, profile and bio data form in our database. A separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, and how this position relates to your career goals is required for each application. All online applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm Eastern Time June 30, 2011. 

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Employer.

National Institute of Health

Open date: May 23, 2011

Letter of intent: 30 days prior to application due date

Eligibility: Applicant institutions or organizations must be headquartered in foreign (non-U.S.) resource-constrained countries (i.e. low-income economies, lower-middle-income economies, and upper-middle-income economies by World Bank definition).

Available funding: Number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations, and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

Award Budget: Budgets for direct costs of up to $125,000 per year and a project duration of up to five years may be requested for a maximum of $625,000 direct costs over a five-year project period.

Award project period: Awards under this FOA are limited to 5 years.

More info: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-11-145.html#_Section_III._Eligibility

Application due date: June 23, 2011 and August 23, 2011 for AIDS

Program Description
The M.A. in Cross-disciplinary Studies is multidisciplinary, experiential, and allows students to self-design their graduate studies. The program is designed to meet the needs of students who are seeking a broader learning forum and who appreciate the unique self-design of cross-disciplinary studies. The M.A. program provides intellectual advancement and the opportunity to expand and enrich educational horizons in keeping with the liberal studies traditions. The M.A. program utilizes a multidisciplinary approach and variety of perspectives for observing, analyzing, and addressing contemporary social issues. Students focus on systemic approaches and methodologies when studying human challenges. The M.A. utilizes experiential learning to provide students with hands-on training where theory and practice are integrated.

The M.A. consists of an 11-course (33 credits) sequence that includes core classes, practicums, and a 12-credit concentration track.

More info on this course is available at : http://shss.nova.edu/programs/macs/index.htm