Technical analysis services

Department of Foreign Affairs

Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority: Evaluation of International Partnership for Microbicides. The primary purpose of this evaluation is for both IPM and its funders to take independent stock of achievements since its establishment 5 years ago. It will draw relevant lessons to inform choices as it looks ahead, such as how to define its optimal strategic role in microbicide development (and how this could be realised), including how the organisation functions. After a quarter century of the HIV pandemic, prevention efforts have failed to curb its relentless spread. Whilst there have been successes, these have been isolated and gains in many settings are now under threat for a variety of reasons. To complement behaviour change, only a limited number of effective biomedical prevention technologies have been developed and made available, but these have fallen short of delivering global control. The worldwide trend has been an increasing feminisation of this pandemic with women in developing countries most hard hit. The exaggerated vulnerability of young women in particular is reflected in the sobering statistics. The case for new prevention tools for HIV and microbicides against HIV in particular has been universally accepted and underlined by UNAIDS in its prevention strategy and in a number of international fora including; the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV and AIDS (UNGASS), the G8 Summit and recent annual International AIDS Meetings and Conferences. There is a technical and political imperative to pursue the search for a microbicide effective against HIV and for it to be made available to the world's most disadvantaged and vulnerable women. At this stage vaginal microbicides and/or pre-exposure prophylaxis are prioritised ahead of rectal products although there is recognition that anal sex is a significant feature of heterosexual and same-sex relationships. Whilst the science to develop HIV preventive microbicides has been active for the best part of 2 decades, championed by a relatively small group of passionate product development researchers, the last 5 years have witnessed a spectacular jump in interest, activity and corresponding resources. Although the microbicides field has benefited generally from remarkable successes in mobilising additional finance for health and HIV/AIDS, new microbicides-specific advocacy efforts, organisations, partnerships and strategies have delivered unprecedented and growing support for the development of microbicides. Furthermore the past decade has witnessed an impressive variety and number of Global Health Partnerships established to address priority diseases of poverty. Selections of these are product development public-private-partnerships (referred to as PDPs). Current available evidence indicates that PDPs bring efficiencies and acceleration to hitherto neglected product development areas. The International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), established in 2002 and based in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA, has become a prominent player in the microbicide field having been instrumental in a number of field-wide developments and certain product focussed progress. A non-profit PDP, IPM's goal has remained unchanged; to accelerate the development of and access to effective microbicides for women living in the world's poorest settings. IPM has variously and at different times been referred to as a scientific convenor, knowledge hub, a catalyst, broker, venture capital company, advocate and in some quarters, a reasonable one-stop-shop for microbicides. However it is best recognised as a virtual international pharmaceutical company that applies a global approach to its business and the microbicides field in its primary mission to bring the day forward when women in high incidence settings will effectively protect themselves from HIV with a vaginal microbicide. IPM has secured support from public bodies, multilateral UN agencies, private philanthropy and for-profit private companies. Regarding direct funding, IPM has secured 217 000 000 USD (165 000 000 EUR) in confirmed commitments to date and has received approximately 147 000 000 USD (110 000 000 EUR). IPM's funding aeries from un-earmarked to tightly earmarked support. Product 'donation' agreements have been made with Tibotec Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Merck & Co., Inc, Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Bristol-Meyers Squibb. further information and additional documentation relating to this notice may be available on the eTenders web site at http://www.etenders.gov.ie/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=52927.

The time limit for receipt of tenders was 2007-09-18. The procurement was published on 2007-07-20.

• • Department of Foreign Affairs

• • Research and development services and related consultancy services › Research and development consultancy services
• • Miscellaneous health services › Medical analysis services
• • Miscellaneous health services › Pharmacy services
• • Social services › Community health services

• • Éire/Ireland