2021 Solicitation PMI Resident Advisor Malawi (1) (1).pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72061221R00003

ISSUANCE DATE: March 5, 2021

CLOSING DATE/TIME: March 25, 2021, 5pm Lilongwe Time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for a U.S or Third Country National (Resident Hire) Personal Service

Contractor for PMI Resident Advisor, GS-14 equivalent, USAID/Malawi

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development

(USAID), is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation.

Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1, Sections I through IV of this solicitation. All application packages are to be submitted via email to: malawijobs@usaid.gov. Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records.

This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the offer.

Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in the attached information.

Sincerely, Shawn Phillips

Supervisory Executive Officer

720-612-21-R-00003

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. RE-SOLICITATION NO.: 72061221R00003

2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 5, 2021

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: March 25, 2021 no later than 1700

Hours Lilongwe Time.

4. POSITION TITLE: PMI Resident Advisor

5. MARKET VALUE: $93,907.00 to $122,077.00 per annum (GS-14 equivalent). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The contract will be for two years (appointment with a preferable start date of June 2021), with three renewable one-year option periods up to a maximum of five years. Extensions will depend on the need for continuation of such services, availability of funds, satisfactory performance, and the needs of the USAID/Malawi Mission.

Level of effort is full time (40 hours per week)

6. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Lilongwe, Malawi; with possible travel as stated in the

Statement of Duties.

7. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: USPSCs - Secret; TCNPSCs - Employment

Authorization

8. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Hiring preference - Reference: ADS 309.3.1.4.d.

U.S. Nationals

Third Country Nationals

9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

1. General Statement of Purpose of Contract:

This position is located in the Health, Population and Nutrition (HPN) Office, USAID/Malawi, Lilongwe. The primary purpose of this supervisory position is to serve as the USAID/Malawi President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) Resident Advisor (RA), managing a

US$ 24 million portfolio; it is one of the largest, most complex, and politically sensitive within the USAID Mission. Based in USAID/Malawi, the PMI Resident Advisor

(PMI/USAID RA) shall provide leadership, guidance, and overall direction on the development and execution of the PMI-supported interventions in collaboration with the

PMI/CDC Resident Advisor (PMI/CDC RA). The PMI/USAID RA shall liaise with backstops for PMI in USAID Washington, counterparts in CDC/Atlanta, and USAID personnel working within the Mission’s activities related to cross-cutting malaria interventions. These responsibilities include regular contact and collaboration with senior level ministerial counterparts such as those in the National Malaria Control Program

(NMCP), Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI), Reproductive Health Unit, Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST), and other government ministries and agencies, as well as in a wide range of civil society and private organizations, other donor and international organizations, and other United States Government (USG) entities working in malaria prevention and control.

The PMI/USAID RA shall exercise extensive independent judgment in planning and carrying out tasks, in representing the USG in high level critical technical and policy forums, in resolving problems and conflicts, and in taking steps necessary to meet deadlines. The

PMI/USAID RA will also perform inherently governmental functions such as officially representing USAID at functions; approving policy documents; managing contracts and grants; budgeting; and developing and preparing planning documents and work plans.

The PMI portfolio is a technically complex portfolio that continues to grow and change to meet the needs in Malawi. In support of USAID's broader goals, the portfolio is expected to transition to work with more local partners over the next several years. This effort will require a high level of expertise in USAID activity management, as well as in capacity strengthening and technical programming. This position will remain an offshore position for the next two to three years before potentially transitioning to a local hire/Foreign Service

National position in order to maximize program direction from international best practices and to ensure expert support for transition to local partners. Any future change in PMI-required country staffing positions will need advance approval by the U.S. Global Malaria

Coordinator.

2. Statement of Duties to be Performed:

The PMI/USAID RA, in collaboration with the PMI/CDC RA, shall oversee the technical design, planning, implementing, and monitoring of the PMI portfolio. S/he shall work with the PMI/CDC RA as a team in liaising with backstops for the PMI in USAID Washington, counterparts at CDC Atlanta, USAID personnel working within and overseeing the Mission’s activities related to malaria control and providing technical and managerial support to the

NMCP Director and staff and helping to build capacity within the NMCP. In addition, the

PMI/USAID RA shall represent USAID and the USG on various national and international technical and policy forums.

Specifically, the PMI/USAID RA shall provide:

A) Technical Leadership (30%)

The incumbent, working in collaboration with the NMCP and PMI staff in the US, will be responsible for developing and providing expert malaria technical guidance and advice to guide planning and implementation of malaria control interventions. The incumbent will be responsible for developing annual work plans in line with PMI objectives and goals. This will include but is not limited to overseeing activities related to case-management of malaria in health facilities and at the community level, distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) through health facilities, mass campaigns, work with the private sector, intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women (IPTp), indoor residual spraying (IRS), and development of Social and Behavior Change (SBC) programs to promote the use of these interventions.

As appropriate, collaborate with other USG agencies including CDC and the US Embassy in

Malawi, USAID-funded grantees, international organizations and appropriate GOM officials to provide substantive technical and programmatic leadership in malaria analysis and planning. This includes: identifying achievable development results in collaboration with customers; establishing dialogue with and obtaining and maintaining support from in-country partners, customers and stakeholders; and identifying and obtaining GOM and Mission approvals for new opportunities to provide targeted support for activities related to malaria to be funded under the USAID/Malawi Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) and the PMI.

Specific activities:

1. The incumbent, working in collaboration with the PMI/CDC RA, the USAID health team, especially Malawian professionals assigned to PMI, Malawi Ministry of Health authorities (in particular the NMCP) and PMI staff in the US, will be responsible for developing annual Malaria OPerational Plans (MOPs) in line with PMI guidance and the health team’s objectives and goals. This will include but is not limited to case-management of malaria in health facilities and at the community level, distribution of

LLINs through health facilities and mass campaigns, work with the private sector, IPTp, IRS, and SBC programs to promote the use of these interventions.

2. Reviews and modifies the Health Results Framework with particular focus on malaria results, fully developing new and on-going activities, including technical, policy, social soundness, gender and budgetary analyses.

3. Prepares the Mission’s annual MOPs and other required documentation and reporting of malaria activities required by USAID/Washington given Malawi’s status as a PMI focus country.

4. Drafts the relevant Development Objective (DO) sections of the Congressional Budget

Justification materials for new USAID-financed results and activities related to malaria, and makes recommendations for the annual Health DO resource requests.

5. Prepares sections of the Health Element narrative in the annual Operating Plan related to

PMI activities and budgets.

B) Management of Activity Implementation (25%)

The incumbent, in collaboration with the NMCP, will be responsible for overseeing the management of projects being implemented under the PMI. This includes but is not limited to malaria prevention and control activities such as SBC and communication activities, bednet and antimalarial drug purchase and distribution through the existing health system and at the community level, IPTp coverage and the diagnosis and treatment of acute malaria, and

IRS conducted under the initiative. The incumbent, in collaboration with the PMI/CDC RA, will also be responsible for monitoring and reporting the results of all PMI activities. The

PMI/USAID RA shall manage and oversee services and deliverables provided by contractors and grantees, in accordance with USAID program management regulations, procedures, and practices.

1. Leads the following PMI activities: organizes regular meetings with implementing agencies, reviews progress reports and assessments, makes field visits to activity sites to document progress, conducts data quality assessments, completes environmental compliance and monitoring, identifies issues and problems, and facilitates solutions to problems by identifying and securing technical assistance and other resources as appropriate.

2. Works with all of USAID’s implementing partners to identify appropriate implementers to develop and carry out malaria activities. Participates in the review and approval of technically sound proposals submitted by the applicants. Provides technical guidance to USAID’s partners to develop the malaria sections of their annual work plans, including identifying in-country participant training activities.

Provides these partners and their clients’ with guidance on malaria research results and lessons learned from interventions in Malawi and other countries and their implications for design and evaluation of PMI activities in Malawi. Makes recommendations for study tours and other information sharing activities both in and outside of Malawi, as appropriate.

3. Provides technical oversight on pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical supply chain interventions to ensure that commodities quantification and required paperwork for ordering supplies are completed in a timely manner and that stock outs of anti-malarial commodities are minimized as much as possible.

4. Provides oversight of commodity pipelines to ensure the country has a constant supply of essential anti-malarial supplies while at the same time ensuring avoidance of overstocking either at central level or peripheral health facilities.

5. Develops scopes of work and coordinates visits for short-term advisors coming into

Malawi, secures GOM and USG clearances for these visits, and ensures that results are consistent with MOH and Mission activities and requirements.

6. Participates in regular meetings of the USAID Heath team and other malaria-related meetings as appropriate, such as the CMST Steering Committee. Provides updates on

GOM, implementing partners’ activities and activities of other organizations providing services related to malaria prevention, detection, and treatment.

7. Participates in quarterly meetings of the Malaria Technical Working Group (TWG), which includes representatives from the GOM, donor agencies, UN agencies and parastatal entities and major implementing partners, to keep all informed of progress and issues related to PMI-funded activities. Provides updates to the Health Office

Director and Mission Front Office as necessary on progress and issues related to the

TWG.

8. Provides guidance to the DO Teams to ensure that viable malaria activities are incorporated within these DOs. In this capacity the incumbent serves on the

Expanded Mission Teams and will contribute to program design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of malaria activities.

9. Participates in Southern African regional meetings and activities related to USAID, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and/or Global Fund-financed regional malaria interventions.

10. Recommends and identifies funding for research activities, mentors Malawian project managers and researchers to develop their skills and carry out research studies and present and publish findings. Participates in and makes presentations at professional meetings related to malaria.

11. Drafts sections of the semi-annual portfolio reviews and quarterly financial reviews related to malaria activities describing progress, identifying implementation issues, technical problems and administrative bottlenecks that could impede results achievement and outlining technical assistance and activities planned for the following period.

12. Coordinates PMI activities for all the USG-implementing agencies working in

Malawi.

13. Works closely with the Financial Analyst assigned to the Health team to review and analyze the financial status of each malaria activity.

C) Partner Relationships (25%)

Successful performance in this position depends upon establishing and maintaining productive collaborative relationships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, the

MOH, World Bank, Global Fund, WHO, UNICEF, other Donors, and NGOs dealing with issues focusing on malaria. The PMI/USAID RA shall, therefore, develop and maintain relationships with these partners and stakeholders in order to effectively assure that all of

PMI’s activities are complementary and enhance all other malaria activities being implemented in Malawi. The incumbent will participate in meetings hosted by the NMCP on malaria.

D) Coordination with Other PMI Personnel (10%)

The incumbent will be required to communicate regularly and work jointly with other members of the USAID/Washington Global Health Bureau, USAID/Malawi Health Team, and CDC/Malawi and CDC/Atlanta teams.

E) Assessing, Learning, and Adaptation (10%)

The PMI/USAID RA shall be responsible for working with the PMI/CDC RA to develop a monitoring and evaluation plan in line with the PMI targets, as well as ensure that PMI partners develop project monitoring plans and report in a timely manner on their activities. It is also expected that the PMI/USAID RA shall provide expert advice and practical experience in helping the MOH, the NMCP and other partners to monitor inputs and outcomes and progress towards RBM goals.

S/he will provide leadership for assessing PMI activities by ensuring that PMI performance monitoring systems are in place and that periodic, reliable measures and indicators of impact and performance are established and tracked, which will include data quality assessments and helping build partner’s capacity to assure valid and verifiable source data. S/he will ensure that PMI-related indicator datasets are being tracked using Mission-wide data tracking applications like DevResults currently being used by the Mission. S/he will ensure that environmental compliance is up-to-date and that implementing partners continue to comply with the Mission initial environmental examination and related ongoing environmental compliance and mitigation monitoring and activities.

1. Provide technical guidance to GOM and cooperating agency implementing partners to develop adequate monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plans for PMI-funded activities, and assists them in establishing monitoring systems that will provide regular measurements of outputs and results.

2. Provide leadership in establishing performance monitoring systems for the PMI-related activities under the CDCS and the PMI. Collaborates with the Monitoring, Evaluation and

Learning Specialist for data quality assessments and the Mission Environmental Officer for compliance and mitigation plans and monitoring.

3. Ensure that the M&E plans meet the requirements outlined by USAID/Washington for adequately tracking PMI activities.

4. Collects performance data from all partners implementing USAID-financed activities, as well as from GOM and donor agencies, and draft the PMI portion of the DO sections and

Health Element narrative of the Annual Performance Plan and Report. Assure accuracy and reliability of data by performing annual data quality assessments.

5. Provide leadership for coordinating analysis of the malaria data from the Malaria Indicator

Survey, Malawi Demographic and Health Surveys, and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, in collaboration with the National Statistics Office, the MOH and the DHS Program including development of plans for analysis and dissemination of results.

3. USAID Consultation or Orientation

The selected applicant shall proceed to the Washington, DC area for one week of mandatory training to complete the Foreign Affairs Counter Threat (FACT) course prior to proceeding to

USAID/Malawi to commence duties as outlined in the statement of duties. FACT is a mandatory course for service in Malawi.

Supervisory Relationship: Directly supervised by the Deputy Health Office Director who provides instructions on an as-needed basis and reviews work for conformance to policy and procedures. The Health Office team collaborates on the performance evaluation based primarily on accomplishments and compliance with policies and procedures. Work is reviewed by the Deputy Health Office Director for adequacy, accuracy and compliance with instructions.

Supervisory Controls: Provides leadership and specific supervision to selected technical advisors within the PMI team as deemed appropriate and advantageous to the program.

Directly supervises the Malaria Specialist and Senior Malaria Specialist.

2. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: US Nationals and US Resident Aliens

● Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident/registered alien (“green card holder”);

● Submit a complete application as outlined in the solicitation section titled APPLYING;

● Be able to attain a Secret security clearance;

● Be able to obtain a Department of State medical clearance;

● Be willing to travel to work sites and other offices as/when requested;

3. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The primary location of work will be in Lilongwe at the USAID/Malawi Mission. The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

4. POINT OF CONTACT:

Any questions about this solicitation may be directed to: Fiskani Mbeya, Human Resources Assistant fmbeya@usaid.gov

I. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

In order to be considered for the position, a candidate must meet the Minimum Qualifications.

Applications will be pre-screened and only those that meet the Minimum Qualifications will be considered. These are the minimum qualifications necessary to be considered for the position:

Education: Have a graduate degree (Master’s Degree or Medical Degree) in public health, international health, or social sciences from a recognized institution.

Prior Work Experience: The PMI/USAID RA will have at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in designing, implementing, and managing communicable disease or maternal and child health programs with a preference for experience with malaria or parasitic diseases and other health programs in developing countries. Demonstrated technical leadership, program management, strategic planning, policy experience and problem solving skills working on complex projects in a highly sensitive environment are required. In addition, experience in resource management (staff and budget) and program management is required. Preference will be given to those candidates with proven knowledge and experience with international, and/or bilateral donor program management. The successful candidate will also have strong technical skills in such areas as program planning, design and development, and oversight of health management systems such as laboratory, information, human resource management, procurement, monitoring and evaluation.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

(a) Analytical ability to interpret public policies on malaria and assist in the development of revised policies.

(b) Management and administrative skills are required to develop and implement effective malaria prevention and treatment program activities involving financial and human resources. Administrative skills are required to assist in the oversight of cooperating agency technical advisors and institutional contractors.

(c) Skill in conceptualizing programs, policies, and plans and developing strategies for their management and implementation. The candidate must be able to integrate short and long-range objectives of the USAID Health Team and the PMI with the cultural/organizational needs of the GOM.

(d) Knowledge and skills in quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods; experience in designing and evaluating activities. The PMI/USAID RA must have proven skills in capacity building and mentoring local staff in a developing country.

mailto:fmbeya@usaid.gov

(e) Demonstrable skills are required in working effectively with health personnel of diverse cultural backgrounds, negotiating agreements on matters of program strategy and performance, writing, administration, and management. Ability to navigate and manage politically sensitive issues related to malaria control/infectious diseases.

Communication Skills: The PMI/USAID RA must have the following:

(a) Proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely – both orally and in writing. Must have demonstrated ability to make sensitive and persuasive oral presentations to senior USG and GOM officials and other donors.

(b) Excellent verbal communication skills, tact, and diplomacy are required to establish and develop sustainable working relationships at the highest level and a high level of trust with public/private organizations. Verbal communication skills are also used to negotiate activity plans and resolve activity implementation issues with counterparts, partners, and team members. Ability to communicate technical information to health and non-health audiences is extremely important. Excellent written communication skills are required to prepare regular and ad hoc reports, activity documentation and briefing papers.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

After an initial application screening, the best qualified applicants may be invited for an oral interview.

Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs):

1. Professional Experience – 40 Points

2. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities – 30 Points

3.Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills – 20 Points

4. Language, Communication, and Computer Skills – 10 Points

TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 100 points

The successful candidate will be selected based on a review of his/her qualifications, work experience, skills, and abilities; an interview; and the results of reference checks. The hiring panel may check references that have not been specifically identified by applicants and may check references before or after a candidate is interviewed.

NOTE: Due to the high volume of applications received, we will only contact applicants who are being considered. Thank you for your understanding.

IV APPLYING

For an offeror to be considered for this position, s/he must adhere to the following guidelines and complete, sign, and submit the following documents to malawijobs@usaid.gov. This will enable the evaluation committee to thoroughly and objectively review the offer against the requirements of the position

1. AID 302-3, Offeror Information for Personal Services Contract Form

Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 302-3, “Offeror

Information for Personal Services Contracts,” available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.

http://www.usaid.gov/forms

2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae

3. Reference Persons

Offerors are required to provide five (5) reference persons who are not family members or relatives, with working telephones and email contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about Offerors past performance and abilities. Reference checks will be made only for Offerors considered as finalists. If an Offeror does not wish for the current employer to be contacted as a reference check, this should be stated in the offeror’s AID 302-

3 form and/or resume. The interviewing committee will delay such reference check pending communication with the offeror.

4. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I, item 11.

5. To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

Once the Contracting Officer (CO) informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms.

1. Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms)

2. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions for National Security (SF-86), or

3. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)

4. Fingerprint Card (FD-258)

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

1. BENEFITS:

(a) Employer's FICA Contribution

(b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

(c) Pay Comparability Adjustment

(d) Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

(e) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

(f) Annual and Sick Leave

2. ALLOWANCES:

Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations

(Government Civilians Foreign Areas)

(a) Temporary Quarter Subsistence Allowance (Section 120)

(b) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

(d) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(e) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(f) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(g) Education Travel (Section 280)

(h) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

(i) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and

VII. TAXES

USPSCs are required to pay Federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State

Income taxes. TCN PSCs are required to abide by local laws with regards to applicability of local income tax to their contract.

VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING

TO PSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources:

1. 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.

2. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services

Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf

3. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms.

4. 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.

5. 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 .

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/forms http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations