Approved_J&A__for_FBO.pdf

TO: Victor Diaz de Leon, Contracting Officer

Deborah Broderick, Agency Competition Advocate

FROM: Melissa Jones, Office Director, Office of Public Health (OPH)

SUBJECT: JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION (J&A)

1. This document sets forth the facts and rationale justifying the use of other than full and open competition, in accordance with AIDAR 706.302-70.

This document was prepared by the Office of Public Health (OPH), USAID/RDMA, in support of the U.S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) extension for the continuing services of Dr. Daniel Schar as an offshore hire USPSC Senior Regional Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Advisor.

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved:

This is a request to approve the extension of a U.S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) issued to an offshore hire USPSC Senior Regional EID Advisor, Dr. Daniel Schar (Contract No. AID-486-S-16- 00003) in the OPH at USAID/RDMA. The contract extension is for two years on a full term basis, from January 30, 2019 through January 29, 2021, and the estimated cost of the extension is $350,298, bringing the total estimated cost of the contract from $492,974 to $843,272.

3. Description of the supplies or services required, including an estimated value:

As a core member of OPH, the Senior Regional EID Advisor will provide USAID/RDMA with senior technical leadership, strategic visioning and program management on avian and pandemic influenza and emerging infectious disease activities in Asia to ensure the successful implementation of the U.S.

Government’s programs. The incumbent will assist RDMA with developing and assessing technical and strategic program approaches for preventing, detecting, and containing outbreaks of emerging infectious disease with a particular focus on zoonoses and the human/animal health interface. He will be required to be proactive in keeping abreast of evolving guidelines and policies which affect overall EID and animal health activities within the region. In addition, the incumbent will play a leadership role in coordinating and collaborating with other USG agencies in the region in program planning, management and implementation and will lead regional efforts to secure commitments and promote overarching objectives of the Global Health Security Agenda.

The major role of the Senior Regional EID Advisor is to ensure the successful implementation of the Avian Pandemic Influenza (API) and Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT) activities under RDMA in the region (specifically Burma, China, Laos, Thailand, and Regional). To this end, the incumbent will play an important role in the following areas: program design, management and implementation; strategic information; Embassy and host country relations, networking and liaising with partners, donors, multilateral institutions, Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Environment / Natural Resources, academia, foundations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and community leaders. The incumbent will be responsible for providing leadership, technical guidance, analysis, communications, and reporting on the performance of USAID-funded API and EPT activities, and identifying and resolving - in coordination with the Agreement Officer’s Representatives/Contracting Officer’s Representatives - any issues affecting overall program performance.

The Senior Regional EID Advisor will possess high level in-depth knowledge of infectious diseases, including API and emerging zoonoses; be an innovative self-starter with technical, management and administrative skills; be decisive, original, creative, imaginative and an effective communicator to efficiently solve and handle complex and controversial problems or matters which have little or no precedent, and usually require immediate attention.

The Senior Regional EID Advisor will be based at USAID/RDMA in Bangkok, serve as the API/EID Coordinator: the highest ranked expert in API/EID at RDMA, and supervise a senior Foreign Service National (FSN) who serves as the Regional Animal Health Advisor. The Regional EID Advisor reports to the Office of Public Health’s USDH Supervisory Health Development Officer. Technical Decision making authority: The Regional EID Advisor in his capacity of coordinator of the API/EID unit has full technical decision making authority and wide latitude for independent judgment.

The total estimated cost (TEC) of this contract is currently $492,974 for the initial three-year performance period, January 30, 2016 – January 29, 2019. The requested two-year extension will increase the TEC by $350,298 to a new total of $843,272.

4. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition:

According to AIDAR 706.302-70(a) (2), “[full and open competition need not be obtained when it would impair or otherwise have an adverse effect on programs conducted for the purposes of foreign aid, relief, and rehabilitation.]”

5. A demonstration of the proposed contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition that requires use of the authority cited:

There is a continuing need for this position and for Dr. Daniel Schar’s services to manage and oversee USAID’s portfolio of work supporting the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) addressing critical infectious disease threats. The current Administration has reaffirmed its support for global health security interests broadly and GHSA specifically, including GHSA multilateral efforts and current U.S. GHSA implementation efforts. The GHSA, which the White House launched in February 2014, is a multilateral program working across human, animal, and environmental health and security sectors to strengthen prevention, detection, and response to infectious diseases that threaten social and economic stability and health both at home and abroad. The U.S. Government renewed its commitment to global health security at the World Health Organization (WHO) World Health Assembly in May 2017, and in October 2017, the White House conveyed support for extension of GHSA through 2024. A National Security Council (NSC) Policy Coordination Committee (PCC) endorsed communicating U.S. expressions of interest to other countries to extend GHSA’s multilateral efforts. At the GHSA Steering Group meeting in August 2017, other countries also endorsed the original vision of GHSA, “a world safe and secure from infectious disease threats,” agreeing that it remained relevant today and that more work was needed to achieve this vision. Under NSC authority, the U.S. Government will continue to assists over thirty countries and regional partners to meet GHSA goals and objectives, with eight countries in Asia, including Thailand, currently engaged with the U.S. Government in robust health security partnerships.

A continuation of USAID/RDMA’s Senior Regional EID Advisor position has been endorsed in

Washington. USAID’s Global Health Bureau routinely funds and supports specialized health technical advisors to serve at USAID/RDMA for multiple assignments that are not tied to USAID’s normal Foreign Service Officer Assignment cycle.

In his current capacity, Dr. Schar serves as the Mission’s most senior pandemics threats technical resource and oversees an annual $27 million suite of regional programs advancing global health security critical to U.S. national security interests. Thailand remains among the prioritized countries for bilateral engagement in FY 2018, with a leadership role in—and ongoing commitment to—the GHSA, necessitating the development of joint USAID-USCDC-DoD annual work plans and reporting to the NSC under Embassy Bangkok’s Authority.

Dr. Schar has actively supported and provided strategic guidance to a dynamic and evolving Global Health Security and Development (GHSD) program, including directing USAID’s support addressing pandemic influenza in Asia. In early 2017, he successfully secured over $3.4 million in USG emergency Zika virus funding for surveillance and regional standard-setting dialogues led by the Royal Thai Government in coordinating the response to this emerging global public health threat. His exceptional stewardship of USAID’s emerging infectious disease programs, his provision of policy advice and highest level technical guidance to bilateral missions across the region, implementing partners, multi-lateral agencies and governments, and his role liaising across U.S. agencies at post in furtherance of pandemic prevention and health security objectives, are essential elements of the U.S. Government’s contribution to infectious disease preparedness in the Asia-Pacific region.

As a veterinary epidemiologist with a depth of global public health expertise, Dr. Schar brings to RDMA, and by extension, the U.S. Embassy, highly specialized, expert subject matter knowledge, political and diplomatic tact, complex problem-solving skills, and significant experience related to emerging pandemic threats in Asia. He provides indispensable continuity and connection across this region’s nations, a number of which serve as models for GHSA. His unique, highly technical skill set as a public health veterinarian is not available within USAID’s direct hire employment pool, and the demands of GHSA on Washington staff preclude the possibility of backstopping. His efforts have received strong support from Embassy Bangkok, USAID/Washington, and the NSC. His contract extension will ensure program continuity during a period of renewed high-level commitment to GHSA and during which USAID’s flagship Emerging Pandemic Threats program will be re-designed and move into a new, five-year phase beginning in October 2019.

The loss of his specialized skills and extensive institutional knowledge, if Dr. Schar’s extension is not approved, coupled with the likelihood of an extended gap in coverage associated with a challenge in recruitment given the under-represented technical skills required of the position, would severely hinder the U.S. Government’s ability to provide timely and effective support for the GHSA—particularly during a transition period for the Emerging Pandemic Threats program—and emergency response to emerging infectious disease events.

Extending the current USPSC contract for a two-year period will help meet critical Agency goals and objectives.

6. Description of the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable a n d whether or not a notice was or will be publicized as required by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 5.201 [AIDAR 705.2] (if no, which exception to FAR 5.202 applies)

In accordance with FAR 5.102(a)(5)(iii) and AIDAR 705.102(d), the USAID Senior Procurement Executive has determined that solicitation is not required for an extension or renewal of a USPSC with the same individual for the same services at the same mission awarded under the authorities in AIDAR 706.302-70(b)(5).

A synopsis of the proposed contract action to extend the contract for two years was published on www.fedbizopps.gov on June 5, 2018 in accordance with FAR 5.201, and this document will be published in accordance with FAR 6.3.

7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable:

Appendix D of the AIDAR applies to all personal services contracts with U.S. citizens or U.S. resident aliens to provide assistance abroad under Section 636(a) (3) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. This position was classified at a GS-15 level, and the salary step was based on the incumbent’s salary history. The Contracting Officer’s certification documents his determination that this anticipated cost is fair and reasonable.

8. Description of the market research conducted , and the results or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted:

As indicated in paragraph 6 and 7 above, the incumbent's salary was determined based on a position classification process, along with the incumbent's salary history. The anticipated costs of this activity have also been compared with the prevailing market rates for similar services and are within the average range of costs for similar services.

9. Other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

None.

10. Sources, if any, that expressed an interest, in writing, in the acquisition:

No other source expressed interest in this activity.

11. The actions the Agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required:

A new full-and-open competitive process will be undertaken when this new contract extension comes to an end in early 2021.

Meanwhile in consideration of the highly technical nature of the activities conducted under the GHSD (formerly the Avian Pandemic Influenza/Emerging Infectious Diseases (API/EID) portfolio, RDMA and GHSD Unit in the Global Health Bureau in Washington would like to maintain a position in which the incumbent can provide sound oversight and high level technical direction to partners at the forefront of global public health such as the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization and WHO. In particular, the focus on strengthening the veterinary sector’s capacity to prevent, detect, and contain zoonoses circulating in animal reservoirs has demanded a highly technical skill set not easily represented amongst USDH development professionals. It is essential for this position that USAID has a highly technical professional who is conversant in infectious disease with a focus on viral zoonoses; has a thorough knowledge of the veterinary sector and its foundational elements; can track infectious disease trends and contribute to epidemiological investigations; has the capacity to work across disciplines to foster human, animal, and environmental health cooperation in meeting standards established by the World Organization for Animal Health and WHO; and is capable of following a technically complex and rapidly evolving zoonotic disease landscape, as evidenced by the recent emergence of influenza A/H7N9 in China, the novel Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS CoV), and Ebola virus in West Africa.

12. Technical or requirement personnel certification:

I hereby certify that the technical statements included above and which form a basis for the justification for extension of the offshore USPSC contract are complete and accurate.

/S/ 06/13/2018

Melissa Jones Date

Officer Director, Office of Public Health

13. Contracting Officer Certifications:

I hereby certify that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

/S/ 06/14/2018

Victor Diaz de Leon Date Supervisory Executive Officer, Executive Office

14. Approved/Disapproved

Approved X Disapproved

/S/ 06/14/2018

Deborah Broderick Date Agency Competition Advocate

1. Clearance

__________(via email)_______________ June 13, 2018

Brandon Miller, Resident Legal Officer Date