Inviting Expressions of Interest: Realising the value of ‘oxygen-as-a-service’ in Low Resource Settings

Announcing the first Oxygen CoLab grant of £180,000 to catalyse innovation and create a healthy market for fit-for-purpose oxygen concentrators that provide access to reliable, quality oxygen in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

COVID-19 has turned the world’s attention to oxygen inequities, especially in the world’s most underserved communities.

How do we close the oxygen inequality gap to prevent the 800,000 lives per year lost of under 5 years of age globally?

While the world awaits new vaccines and medicines that can prevent and treat COVID-19, countries are relying on oxygen therapy to keep people alive. There are a range of solutions for medical oxygen, but at the centre of the oxygen gap, next to the need for oxygen cylinders in developing countries, is the oxygen concentrator.

The Oxygen CoLab, which is part of UK Aid-funded COVIDaction, seeks to catalyse, support and connect those working to design oxygen concentrators that are fit for purpose in low resource settings (LRS). To address this in a holistic manner the Oxygen CoLab has partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Supply Division to inform an oxygen concentrator target product profile which will describe the ideal requirements for use in LRS.

New models of supply and service

To ensure new and improved oxygen concentrator products get to low-and middle income countries and sustain a valuable market position we need innovations in business models too. There is growing interest in new models of supply and service for providing reliable, quality oxygen in LMICs, albeit there is minimal data on their success as replicable business models.

Click here to read more about ‘Oxygen Concentrators and Affordability’

Existing trials blend key factors in delivering attractive services that provide; affordable oxygen for key stakeholders, support and servicing of hardware (includes a backup oxygen supply), and local logistics and delivery within populated cities that reflect demand size.

The pilot

The Oxygen CoLab is seeking suitably qualified entities (organisations and individuals) to run an ‘oxygen-as-a-service’ pilot that has three core aims:

• Prove a replicable business model that is scalable and sustainable
• De-risk and catalyse Medical Oxygen product innovation for LRS amongst manufacturers by demonstrating demand and growing market opportunities
• Understand the core human factors and servicing needs in providing medical Oxygen as a reliable, quality, and accessible service.

This Open Call aims to solve persistent oxygen concentrator challenges related to the environment, energy, usability, maintenance and supply chains in LRS. These challenges mean oxygen concentrators make a significant contribution to growing equipment graveyards at hospitals in LMICs. By developing improved products and business models for servicing those products we seek to make oxygen more affordable and accessible.

Successful ‘oxygen-as-a-service’ pilot proposals will consider how to navigate significant entrepreneurial complexities.

• Stakeholders & Customer(s). What is the largest market segment with the greatest growth potential? Perhaps this is a hybrid of customers across hospitals (at any tier) and homecare markets. The stakeholder needs and approval processes for each segment represent different types of challenges.
• Maintenance and backup system. How might corrective or preventive maintenance be performed? There is an absence of spare parts in local supply chains and skilled maintenance employees. How might Oxygen-as-a-service protect health workers and patients from unpredictable eventualities?
• Training and installation. Efficiencies in delivery, installation, and clinical training are important to create an effective business model.
• Product Market. Selecting an effective combination of Oxygen products and consumables to meet the needs of local health workers and scale operations to more patients is also critical.

Click here for the full expression of interest document

The process

We are offering up to £180,000 to an individual, a firm or a consortium able to pilot an effective oxygen-as-a-service business model.

Stage 1. Submit an ‘expression of interest’ by 11.59 BST on 1st August 2021. Click here for further details about the submission.

Stage 2. Shortlisted applicants will be sent a full tender via an Invitation to Tender (ITT) in August 2021.

Stage 3. Applicants submit full ITT (with Oxygen CoLab support as required) in September 2021.

Stage 4. One successful applicant will be awarded the contract and commence work in September 2021.

Stage 5. Completion of pilot in March 2022.

Watch this space for more information, and if you are on Twitter, follow @COVIDactionTech for updates. For more information about the Oxygen CoLab look no further!

Are you interested in the role of fit for purpose oxygen concentrators in reducing oxygen inequalities? Or do you have questions about this challenge? Email us, we want to hear from you!