REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Diagnostic Technology Transfer Expert – 6-month consultancy contract

Deadline for applications: 30th of April 2025

Type of assignment: Consultancy

1.   Background

In January 2024, WHO and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) announced a license agreement with SD Biosensor Inc., a global in-vitro diagnostic company, to provide sublicensees with the right, know-how and material to manufacture SDB’s rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) technology. The transparent, non-exclusive license agreement, negotiated under the auspices of the Covid Technology Access Pool (C-TAP, succeeded by the Health Technology Access Program in January 2024) represents an important milestone in the evolution of the C-TAP initiative as it enables the manufacture of diagnostics for COVID-19 as well as other diseases such as HIV, malaria and syphilis.

The Medicines Patent Pool Foundation (MPP) is a United Nations-backed public health organisation working to increase access to and facilitate the development of life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries. Through its innovative business model, MPP partners with civil society, governments, international organisations, industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders to prioritise and license needed medicines and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations. To date, MPP has signed agreements with 20 patent holders for 13 HIV antiretrovirals, one HIV technology platform, three hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals, a tuberculosis treatment, a cancer treatment, four long-acting technologies, three oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and 15 COVID-19 technologies. MPP was founded by Unitaid, which continues to be MPP’s main funder. MPP’s work on access to essential medicines is also funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). MPP’s activities in COVID-19 are undertaken with the financial support of the Japanese Government, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the German Agency for International Cooperation and SDC. More information at https://medicinespatentpool.org/

Covid Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) was launched in May 2020 by WHO, the Government of Costa Rica and other partners to facilitate equitable and affordable access to COVID-19 health products for people in all countries. After securing 6 transparent, non-exclusive global licenses involving 15 technologies that span R&D tools, diagnostics, and vaccines – including the first from a private manufacturer, in January 2024 the WHO announced that C-TAP would be succeeded by Health Technology Programme (HTAP).

HTAP builds on the foundation laid by C-TAP and maintains a focus on pandemic preparedness and response, while also targeting health technologies relevant during and outside health emergencies. Through collaboration within WHO and with other organisations, HTAP aims to promote the transfer of licensed technology and know-how required to enable geo-diversified production of health products.

2.   Scope of work

MPP and WHO HTAP are seeking a highly experienced consultant to support MPP, in coordination with relevant partners, with the development and execution of the implementation plans aimed at preparing selected manufacturers for the successful transfer and subsequent production of the SD Biosensor rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) technology. The Consultant will also facilitate the establishment of a coordinated support mechanism for sublicensed diagnostic manufacturers, design a diagnostic technology network/consortium to enhance health product capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and support the prioritisation and selection of diagnostic technologies.

This consultancy requires deep expertise in global public health, in vitro diagnostic (including. chromatographic immunoassays) product development, manufacturing, and technology transfer. Key responsibilities include:

• Provide support to the HTAP Secretariat in the development and execution of implementation support plans aimed at preparing selected manufacturers for the successful transfer and subsequent production of SD biosensor rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) technology. This includes:
  • Supporting the implementation of pre-technology transfer support plans based on the outcomes of the WHO/MPP SD Biosensor RDT call for applications process
  • Identifying technical assistance (TA) requirements and supporting manufacturers to address the gaps.
• Develop and finalise technology transfer implementation support plans for selected manufactures, outlining key milestones, deliverables and monitoring indicators.
• Establishing an inter-agency coordinated technology transfer and know-how sharing mechanism for by defining roles, responsibilities, collaboration agreements and monitoring and evaluation framework to enable effective coordination among partners.
• Conduct landscaping analyses and technical assessments to inform HTAP public health business cases for selected diagnostic technologies, focusing on the feasibility and enablers required to enable geo-diversified production in LMICs.
• Designing a diagnostic technology consortium model to enhance end-to-end health product capacity in LMICs, integrating lessons learned from previous initiatives such as the mRNA vaccine consortia.

3.   Expected Deliverables and timeline

• Preparatory technology transfer implementation support plan including technical assistance requirements, gaps analysis and corresponding action needed – Month 1. [Outcome assessment reports and summary of manufacturers’ actions to be provided at commencement of the consultancy]
• Draft implementation support plans for each of the recipients- Month 3
• Written report on the sublicensees progress towards addressing the gaps identified and implementing the preparatory support plan – Month 4
• Final implementation support plan for each of the recipients- Month 6
• Term of reference and collaboration proposal for the coordination support mechanism- Month 2
• Kick-off meeting of the coordinating support mechanism- Month 3
• Written proposal and consultative meeting reports on the diagnostic technology consortium model – Month 4
• Technical assessment reports of diagnostics identified for inclusion in the HTAP technology portfolio – – (draft Month 3; final Month 6)

4.   Essential requirements

• Postgraduate degree in a scientific discipline relevant to health products (e.g. chemical engineering, biotechnology, bioproduction or pharmaceutical sciences).
• Hands-on experience in the design, development, manufacturing and evaluation of IVD
• Knowledge of Global Health and experience collaborating with Global Health organisations, previous experience working with WHO, preferred.
• Experience providing technical assistance to diagnostics initiatives in low-income settings.
• Skills and experience managing projects involving multiple stakeholders from private, public and Global Health sector.
• Excellent communication skills to coordinate effectively with cross-functional teams
• Fluency in English, and preferably in another UN language
• Ability to take initiative, work autonomously, and deliver high-quality results with minimal supervision.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot complex manufacturing challenges.
• Availability to travel for up to 5% of the worktime.

5.   How to apply

Interested consultants are requested to submit their proposal including:

• Motivation statement
• Curriculum vitae
• Consultancy rate/ Expected remuneration
• Contact details for two professional references

Proposals are to be submitted no later than 30 April 2025 to recruitment@medicinespatentpool.org with “ RDT Technology Consultant” in the subject line.