1. ABOUT GARDP FOUNDATION

The Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP Foundation) is a not-for-profit global health organization registered in Geneva, Switzerland. GARDP’s mission is to accelerate the development and access of treatments for drug-resistant bacterial infections. It does so by forging public-private partnerships all over the world to develop and expand access to treatments for serious bacterial infections and sepsis in adults, children and newborns, as well as sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

GARDP Foundation responds to the crisis in antimicrobial resistance. In 2015, the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), adopted the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. The following year, to deliver on this plan, WHO and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative created GARDP. In 2018, the GARDP Foundation was legally established as an independent entity.

Since then, GARDP Foundation has developed a portfolio of antibiotic treatments that targets WHO priority pathogens, priority diseases and key populations/regions that are especially affected by drug resistance. It is also pioneering new access initiatives with innovator, manufacturing and distribution partners.

As of 2024, the GARDP team consists of about 100 people who collectively share extensive cross-sector R&D and access experience. They work with the key public and private sector stakeholders and partners, such as the research and development community, donors, industry and implementing countries.

 

2. PROJECT BACKGROUND & PURPOSE OF THE RFP

2.1. Background to project

WHO published the “WHO Operational Guidance – Country Preparedness for the Introduction and Preservation of New Antibiotics” to guide the introduction and preservation of new antibiotics. To complement this publication as well as document our work, GARDP plans to develop product-specific antibiotics introduction roadmaps.

Rather than duplicating the WHO document, the roadmaps will offer practical, product-based pathways and tools grounded in real-world needs, challenges, and implementation realities, drawing on GARDP’s experience to date supporting national planning and early adoption. The roadmaps will also incorporate illustrative archetypes and examples of preparatory tools (e.g. facility assessments), which may later be tested and adapted during early implementation phases.

2.2. Purpose of RFP

GARDP seeks to commission a consultancy (individual or firm) to develop two product-specific roadmaps that will serve as reference models for introducing new treatments in different contexts. These roadmaps are intended to inform countries’ planning and decision-making processes and provide concrete, adaptable examples of how new antibiotics can move from regulatory approval to integration into national health systems.

The two products in focus are:

• Cefiderocol: A Reserve antibiotic for the treatment of serious drug-resistant bacterial infections in the hospital setting. This roadmap will serve as an exemplar for introducing similar hospital-based Reserve antibiotics.
• Zoliflodacin: A one-time oral investigational treatment for gonorrhoea. This roadmap will serve as an exemplar for introducing new antibiotics used in a community setting.

Considering the peculiarities of each product, there is a possibility of selecting different providers for each, but preference will be given to applicants that showcase the capacity to deliver all products with a high standard of quality.

 

3. SCOPE OF WORK

The main objective is to develop two product-specific roadmaps for the introduction and scale-up of new antibiotics:

One focused on cefiderocol, a Reserve antibiotic for serious hospital-based infections; another one focused on zoliflodacin, an investigational antibiotic for treating uncomplicated gonorrhoea in community settings.

For each product:

1. To define the step-by-step pathway from regulatory approval to integration into clinical practice, including:

•  Key decision points
• Enabling conditions
• Roles and responsibilities of national stakeholders and other partners

2. To identify and summarize preparatory activities that facilitate national planning and implementation, such as: o Facility mapping of diagnostic and stewardship capacities

• Stakeholder mapping and engagement
• Susceptibility surveys to assess relevance, positioning and evidence generation needs
• Forecasting and procurement planning
• Budgeting and rollout planning

3. To incorporate a set of illustrative annexes with practical tools or templates (e.g. questionnaires) that may later be adapted and tested in country contexts.

4. To recommend the most effective format/tool for public visualization and continued use of the roadmap beyond the consultancy.

5. All deliverables should be presented with a clear methodology of achievement and the related timelines

3.1. Proposed methodology

3.1.1 Desk Research and Synthesis

3.1.1.1 Engage with GARDP’s technical, regional, and programmatic teams to:

• Understand the current state of knowledge, data, tools, and planning related to the introduction of cefiderocol and zoliflodacin
• Capture insights from prior and ongoing workstreams on access, regulatory pathways, implementation planning, and stewardship
• Identify the major knowledge gaps according to GARDPs and other relevant stakeholders’ documentation/ publication.

3.1.1.2 Use the information obtained through internal consultations to determine the roadmap’s structure, emphasis, and areas requiring further exploration.

3.1.1.3 Conduct a targeted desk review of relevant literature, country case studies, regulatory and policy frameworks, and institutional experiences with antibiotic introduction.

3.1.2 External Consultations

3.1.2.1 Engage selected external experts and stakeholders (e.g. national focal points, WHO & PAHO partners, implementing organizations) to:

• Validate the structure, steps, and content of the roadmaps
• Test the relevance and applicability of proposed preparatory actions and country archetypes
• Inform the refinement of roadmap elements based on lived experience and national policy environments

3.1.2.2 Incorporate insights from early implementation planning or pilot testing of tools, where available.

3.1.3 Development of outputs

3.1.3.1 Develop a written roadmap report for each product — cefiderocol and zoliflodacin — approximately 10–15 pages in length (excluding case studies or annexes). Each report should:

•  Be structured to support both planning and adaptation by national stakeholders
•  Outline clear, sequential steps from regulatory approval to clinical integration
•  Identify roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders at national and service delivery levels
•  Address enabling conditions and common barriers (e.g. stewardship, procurement, diagnostic capacity)
•  Highlight decision points and associated risks
•  Reference where existing WHO guidance may support specific steps, to ensure alignment and complementarity
•  Include 2–3 country-context archetypes per product, illustrating different implementation scenarios (e.g. variations in regulatory readiness, procurement models, or delivery platforms)
•  Link to preparatory activities and practical tools where relevant
• Incorporate illustrative annexes with selected tools (e.g. facility mapping questionnaires, stakeholder engagement templates), presented as adaptable examples for country-level planning

3.1.3.2 A visual slide deck summarizing both roadmaps for use with technical and policy audiences

A 2-page executive summary outlining key concepts and recommendations

A white paper synthesizing the roadmap development process, key findings, and considerations for broader application

3.1.4 Validation and Strategic Dissemination

3.1.4.1 Facilitate an internal GARDP validation session to present the draft roadmaps and associated products, gather feedback, and incorporate refinements.

3.1.4.2 Finalize all deliverables based on internal and external input, ensuring quality, clarity, and consistency.

3.1.4.3 Package the final materials for dissemination

3.1.4.4 Recommend next steps for creating a user-friendly visualization tool (e.g. website, guide) to support broader engagement with the roadmaps.

 

Contract duration is expected to be maximum 12 months.

 

If you are interested to participate, please review, complete and sign attached Annex 1 and send it to: RFP_Procurement@gardp.org to receive the complete documentation.

 

Due/closing date: October 31st 2025