US/TCN Personal Service Contractor, Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist, USAID/Zimbabwe
SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72061321R00005
ISSUANCE DATE: April 23, 2021
CLOSING DATE: May 26, 2021, 1200 Noon CAT
POSITION TITLE: Senior Acquisition and Assistance (A&A) Specialist
MARKET VALUE: GS-14 Annualized Equivalent Base ($93,907 - $122,077). The final compensation will be negotiated within the market value based on the successful candidate’s salary history, work experience, and educational background. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.
PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Harare, Zimbabwe
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Not to exceed six months
STATEMENT OF WORK: As described below.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work is generally sedentary and does not pose undue physical demands.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is primarily performed in an office setting. The work area is well lighted, heated, and ventilated. Temporary Duty (TDY) travel, however, may present instances of temporary environmental stress due to inadequate work conditions.
START DATE: o/a June/July 2021
SUPERVISORY CONTROL: Incumbent reports to the Supervisory Contracting Officer
SECURITY ACCESS: Facilities Access. The final selected candidate must obtain a Facilities Access Clearance) within a reasonable period of time (USAID will provide details regarding these clearances to the selected candidate). If such a clearance is not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded.
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to U.S. Citizens (including Legal Permanent Residents) and Third Country Nationals. Third Country Nationals means an individual (i) who is neither a citizen nor a permanent legal resident alien of the United States nor of the country to which assigned for duty, and (ii) who is eligible for return to his/her home country or country of recruitment at U.S. Government expense.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES:
The Senior Acquisition and Assistance (A&A) Specialist will provide technical competence and leadership support to USAID/Zimbabwe (hereafter ‘the Office’) in the following ways:
Award Administration
The PSC will provide technical assistance to USAID/Zimbabwe in the execution of program/project-funded contracts, cooperative agreements, grants, and United States Government (USG) Agreements in accordance with Agency Procurement Acquisition Lead Time (PALT) metrics, including providing staff support on all aspects of procurement and contract management relating to and affecting USAID’s acquisition and assistance programs, policy and project planning, design, implementation and evaluation, and participating in project and mission policy formulation, project design resource assessments, sector analyses, and other studies. The PSC will serve as a primary contractual Specialist for assigned programs and projects in the Mission. The PSC will prepare and negotiate modifications of basic contractual text, terms and conditions, specifications, scopes of work, program descriptions, and costs in the full range of award instruments. The PSC will plan for and provide procurement and contract management support to accomplish program objectives and provide proper and timely administration of all assigned acquisition and assistance awards, to include clarifications and interpretations of directive correspondence, and other miscellaneous administrative modifications to procurement instruments. The PSC will seek resolution and settlement of contract disputes, termination and settlement of procurement instruments, close outs, and reporting of contractor performance. The PSC will compose and prepare all manner of contractual correspondence to include debriefing letters, responses to protest, congressional inquiries and audit recommendations.
The PSC’s responsibilities will encompass the negotiation, award, and administration of both assistance and acquisition type instruments to accomplish development goals. Specifically, in all cases the PSC will prepare pre-award documents, conduct negotiations, and prepare award documents and award file documentation for the USAID Contracting and Agreement Officer's review and signature. The PSC must be available for consultation on contracting issues with the Office’s technical staff, US Embassy staff, government officials, implementing partners, and others, as required. This effort requires extensive knowledge of Federal and USAID regulations, and the associated governing guidance (e.g., the CFR, OMB Circulars, FAM, and FTR) for all types of procurements.
In addition to the execution of contracts and modifications as identified above, the PSC will also research issues contained in, and draft responses to, items of correspondence as assigned. Examples include, but are not limited to: subcontract consent requests, salary approvals, equipment approvals, etc., on a wide variety of contract and assistance awards.
The PSC will serve as a senior and trusted policy and technical advisor to the USAID/Zimbabwe Contracting/Agreement Officer and USAID/Zimbabwe staff on all manner of acquisition and assistance issues; and will speak for the supervisor on technical acquisition and assistance matters as required.
Staff Training and Development
The PSC’s responsibilities include training newly hired expatriate and local staff in the direct contracting and administration of complex projects. The PSC will train A&A staff on all aspects of acquisition and assistance procedures, policy, and document formation. The PSC will be required to assist in creating a supportive work environment that values diversity and elicits the highest possible level of performance from USAID/ Zimbabwe’s acquisition and assistance staff; set clear individual and teamwork objectives; ensure that the staff carries out those assignments; and, as required, evaluate staff performance, formally and by providing ongoing feedback.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS:
Reporting Requirements: The PSC will receive supervision, policy direction, and guidance from the USAID/Zimbabwe Supervisory Contracting/Agreement Officer, or his/her designee.
Supervisory Controls: The PSC is expected to exercise considerable independent judgment and initiative. Such initiative is critical to the success of the assignment; however, the actions and decisions of the PSC will be discussed with the Contracting/Agreement Officer. Overall management of the Office is in a collaborative team environment, with the PSC participating fully in the process. Specific work plans and anticipated results are developed in consultation with USAID/Zimbabwe A&A supervisor. The PSC performs many assignments independently, providing leadership to others involved in the management of USAID/Zimbabwe’s A&A portfolio, and in the development, design, and drafting of the acquisition instruments. The work is reviewed in terms of achievement of established milestones, and the appropriateness of program/project activity focus.
Physical Demands: The primary location of work will be in USAID/Zimbabwe at the U.S. Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe. Work in the office is expected to be mostly sedentary. Secondary locations will include telework from temporary lodging, implementing partner offices and field offices, and project site field locations, the location of program beneficiaries in rural and in urban areas, government departments and offices of bi- and multi-lateral donors and NGOs, and attendance at conferences and training. The PSC will also face a heavy workload and in-country travel is a requirement of the position.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION CRITERIA:
To be considered for this position, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications. For those who do, further consideration and selection will be based on panel assessment of the Selection Criteria, also listed below. Applicants are strongly encouraged to write a brief appendix to the OF 309-2 to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training addresses the Selection Criteria.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
Baccalaureate degree from one of these disciplines: accounting, law, business, finance, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.
Completion of Federal Acquisition Certification – Contracting (FAC-C) Level I or higher.
Experience
A minimum of 10 years of substantive and professional contracting or procurement work. Experience must include the full range of contracting responsibilities, including: acquisition and assistance award execution, administration, termination, cost and price analysis; procurement planning, and analysis and evaluation of proposals; negotiation of changes; execution of options; investigation and resolution of contractor delays; contractor performance appraisal reports; resolution of claims and contractor disputes.
A minimum of 3 years of experience training/transferring knowledge of USG contracting rules, regulations, procedures, proposal evaluation, contract creation, and monitoring.
Selection Criteria (Maximum of 100 Points Available):
Work experience (25 Points)
Experience in an overseas environment.
Demonstrated ability to apply and train colleagues on contracting laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; leadership of the contracting process; knowledge of cost principles; knowledge of cost plus/award fee, performance based contracting procedures, pre-awards and other formal presentations.
Knowledge (25 Points)
Procurement regulations and contracting principles including the latest acquisition procedures and techniques.
U.S. Government procurement rules and regulations.
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
USAID’s Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives (AAPDS) and Contract Information Bulletins (CIBS).
USAID’s Agency Automated Directives Systems (ADS) regulations; specifically 300 series references.
Abilities and Skills (25 Points)
Work in a highly demanding environment and capable of handling tasks with varying deadlines.
Maintain, adhere to and model high standards of professional conduct, with a focus on supporting an inclusive work environment.
Function as a team leader during contract negotiations, personally negotiating assigned contracts.
Manage and coordinate activities sufficient to contract a variety of actions concurrently.
Plan, organize, and manage complex negotiations and meetings.
Lead, supervisory, and train colleagues at varying level of expertise.
Communication (25 Points)
Fluency in both spoken and written English.
Demonstrated ability to write and edit complex letters, emails, and memorandums.
Ability to process information from a wide variety of sources into cohesive, polished documents.
Ability to communicate complex and difficult policy and programmatic issues in a manner understandable by knowledgeable laypersons without oversimplifying.
Demonstrated self-awareness and knowledge of the impacts of unmitigated bias.
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCE CHECKS
Applicants must provide at least three references with current contact information, preferably both an e-mail address and a telephone number. (The Selection Committee will conduct reference checks of the highest ranked applicants). References will be asked to complete a questionnaire that assesses the applicant’s technical knowledge, work performance, communication skills, and group dynamics, using the above specific criteria. The references will be asked to provide a general assessment of the applicant’s suitability for the position.
HOW TO APPLY
Qualified individuals are requested to submit:
USAID Form AID 309-2 (Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts) with handwritten signature (available at the USAID website, http://www.usaid.gov/forms/).
A resume must be attached to the AID 309-2. Resumes must contain sufficient information to make a valid determination of meeting experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information should be clearly identified in the resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.
A recent writing sample of not more than two pages.
To fully evaluate applications, resumes must include:
Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Dates (month/year) and locations for all field experience must also be detailed.
Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.
Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards, or accomplishments.
A brief appendix or cover letter that demonstrates how prior experience and/or training address directly the evaluation criteria should be attached.
A scanned or emailed copy of transcripts or diploma for the highest degree attained.
Names and current contact information of three professional references that have knowledge of the applicant’s ability to perform the duties set forth in this solicitation.
Proof of U.S. Citizenship
For Zimbabwean residents, proof of eligibility to work in Zimbabwe
Applications must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter.
To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application, and as the subject line in any cover letter. The highest-ranking applicants may be selected for an interview. It is also possible that reference checks may be conducted on those candidates selected for an interview. The U.S. Government will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews.
BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES
As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:
BENEFITS:
Employee's FICA Contribution
Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment
Annual Increase
Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual & Sick Leave
THE FOLLOWING ALLOWANCES ARE NOT PAYABLE TO A RESIDENT HIRE US PSC:
Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120).
Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130).
Post Allowance (Section 220).
Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230).
Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260).
Education Allowance (Section 270).
Education Travel (Section 280).
Post Differential (Chapter 500).
Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and
Danger Pay (Section 650).
TAXES: USPSCs are required to pay Federal Income taxes, FICA, Medicare, and applicable State Income taxes.
ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, COLOR, SEX, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, LAWFUL POLITICAL AFFILIATION, NON- DISQUALIFYING HANDICAP, MARITAL STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AFFILIATION WITH AN EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION, OR OTHER NON-MERIT FACTOR.
USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs
USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources:
USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix D, “Direct USAID Contracts with a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at
https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf.
Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms.
Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs.
Ethical Conduct. By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635.
See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations.
72061321R00005 US Agency for International Development Zimbabwe
4/23/21, 10:26 AM