Design, Development and Implementation of a Digital Research Ethics Review System for the Rwanda National Research Ethics Committee (RNEC)

The Centre for Impact, Innovation and Capacity building for Health Information Systems and Nutrition (CIIC-HIN), coordinating the TRACE Project in Rwanda, on behalf of the Rwanda National Research Ethics Committee (RNEC), invites eligible firms to submit proposals for the design, development, and implementation of a Research Ethics Review System for RNEC and Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) in Rwanda. The TRACE Project (Trial Regulation and Clinical Ethics Optimization), funded by the Gates Foundation, is supporting Rwanda in strengthening its ethics and regulatory systems through digital transformation and institutional capacity building. RNEC is mandated by the Ministry of Health to oversee the ethical conduct of health research in Rwanda. The current platform used for protocol submission and review has operational and compliance limitations, while most IRBs in Rwanda operate using manual or semi-digital processes. This has resulted in inefficiencies in submission, review timelines, communication, monitoring, and reporting. Following a comprehensive needs assessment that was conducted, RNEC intends to procure a qualified firm to design, develop, and implement a Research Ethics Review System that will support RNEC and IRBs through a shared application portal and a multi-tenant review platform. The new system will improve efficiency, transparency, compliance, reporting, and overall management of research ethics review processes in Rwanda.

How to Apply:

Proposals will only be considered from vendors who meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

• Legally registered company in Rwanda or in the region or with a demonstrable capacity to operate in Rwanda.
• Qualification of the team: At least 2 software developers with Bachelor’s degree and above in Software engineering, computer Science, IT, or other related fields with proven experience in similar assignment.
• For companies registered within the last five (5) years, the vendor shall submit CVs demonstrating that the proposed key team members individually possess at least five (5) years of relevant professional experience.
• Relevant experience shall include proven experience in software development, health information systems, regulatory systems, or similar digital platforms.
• Demonstrated experience in requirements gathering, gap analysis, system design, and full software development lifecycle delivery.
• Demonstrated experience with system integrations and interoperability, including API-based data exchange within government or health sector institution.
• Demonstrated capacity to incorporate AI or machine learning capabilities within digital platforms.
• Experience in user training, and building internal digital capacity within government or health sector institutions.

All proposals must be submitted electronically in two separate files in PDF format.

• File1: Technical Proposal
• File2: Financial Proposal

Combined submissions will be disqualified.