Solicitation Notice - Food for Peace Officer.doc

SOLICITATION NUMBER 383-08-502: FOOD FOR PEACE OFFICER

USAID Sri Lanka U.S. Personal Services Contractor: Food for Peace Officer 1.

SOLICITATION NUMBER:

383-08-502 2.

ISSUANCE DATE:

October 09, 2008

3.

CLOSING DATE / TIME:

October 30, 2008 (4pm local time)

4.

POSITION TITLE:

Food for Peace Officer (USPSC) 5.

MARKET VALUE:

Equivalent of a GS-13 (no locality base pay rate)

Salary range from $68,625 to $89,217 per annum.

Final compensation will be based on the individual’s salary and work history, experience, educational, background as well as the benefits and allowances provisions in effect for AMEMBASSY

Colombo, the post of assignment.

6.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

One year with an option for second year 7.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

Colombo, Sri Lanka

8.

DIRECT SUPERVISOR:

Office Director, Office of Humanitarian Assistance & Transition

Initiatives, USAID/Sri Lanka 9.

AREA OF CONSIDERATION:

U.S. Citizens Only (Security Clearance required)

I.

Scope of Work:

A. Background and Basic Function of the Position

U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Food for Peace (FFP) provides grants for food assistance to private voluntary organizations (PVOs) and the UN World Food Program (WFP) under Title II of Public Law 480. In fiscal year 2007, FFP provided 2.1 million metric tons of commodities, worth over $1.8 billion, to over 40 million people in 64 countries. FFP provides both emergency food aid (which aims to address food aid needs arising from natural disasters, such as floods or droughts, and complex emergencies often characterized by insecurity and population displacement) and non-emergency food aid (which aims to address the underlying causes of chronic food insecurity).

Sri Lanka faces a host of complex food issues requiring Title II food assistance. Poverty is acute and widespread, and the country has a relatively high global hunger index within the region. Additionally, more than 194,000 persons remain internally displaced -- most due to the resumption of armed conflict between Tamil separatists and Government military in the North and East, which has seriously eroded livelihoods, but a smaller number from the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004.

In FY 2008, Sri Lanka received $32.7 million in Title II food assistance, which supported World Food Program’s Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO). In FY 2009, it is anticipated that emergency food aid will continue due to a significant escalation of hostilities in the North, which could displace upwards of 100,000 persons from the Vanni region.

Title II food aid grants are signed by the Director of FFP, and the FFP/Washington Country Backstop Officer is usually the Cognizant Technical Officer (CTO) who is responsible for the technical oversight of the grants. The USAID Mission in Sri Lanka has overall responsibility for assistance programs in the country.

To help manage emergency food aid programs under the Title II Food aid program in Sri Lanka, USAID requires the services of a FFP Officer hired through a Personal Services Contract. The position is based in Colombo, but the FFP Officer is expected to spend approximately forty (40) percent of his/her time traveling throughout the country to monitor program activities and assess food aid needs.

The FFP Officer will ensure effective management of FFP resources in Sri Lanka. His/her primary responsibility is to monitor Title II-funded emergency food aid programs, and report on their implementation to FFP/Washington and the Mission.

B. Period of Performance: The Personal Services Contract will be for approximately 12 months with an option for a second year.

C. Duties and Responsibilities:

The FFP Officer will undertake the following duties with regard to emergency programs:

1. Serve as point of contact for all issues pertaining to Title II food aid in Sri Lanka for the Sri Lanka Mission, USAID/Washington, the regional FFP Office, other parts of the U.S. government, PVOs, international organizations, host nation governmental ministries and agencies, and others in the country.

2. Monitor and report on implementation of ongoing Title II programs, including progress and problems encountered by grantees, as well as commodity management, including following up with cooperating sponsors on the status of loss claims.

3. Provide information and guidance to Title II assistance award recipients on Title II regulations, policies and procedures.

4. Report on all food security issues, to include changes in the food security situation and food aid requirements, government policies and actions affecting food aid programs, government food aid programs, and donor pledges and programs.

5. Coordinate with the Country Team (consisting of the USAID Mission, U.S. Embassy, and/or other USG staff in-country), host government, PVOs, international organizations, donors, and others to address issues impacting Title II food aid.

6. Undertake and report on assessments to inform Title II food aid funding decisions or modifications to ongoing programs.

7. Work with PVOs on preparation of annual workplans and program modifications, and with WFP on new appeals or revisions to existing ones.

8. Work with other parts of the U.S. government and other donors to promote integration of food aid with other programs to increase the effectiveness of the programs overall.

9. When delegated authority to do so by the FFP Director, serve as CTO for Title II programs (when delegated by the FFP Director).

10. Undertake other tasks, as assigned.

D. Supervision Received

The FFP Officer will be supervised on a day-to-day basis by USAID/Sri Lanka’s Office Director for Humanitarian Assistance & Transition Initiatives but is expected to be in regular contact with FFP/Washington, as well as the regional FFP Office, and report any information to them on issues pertaining to ongoing Title II programs.

E. Supervision/Oversight of Others

The incumbent is expected to take initiative and act independently with little direction, but will have no authority to make financial commitments on behalf of the U.S. government unless such authority is specifically delegated.

F.

Minimum Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree plus at least four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in international development or relief (one of which must be related to food aid);

OR

· Master’s degree with significant study in a pertinent field (including, but not limited to international relations, agriculture, economics, public health,) plus at least three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in international development or relief (one of which must be related to food aid);

· Experience working on development or relief issues in the field.

· Advanced level proficiency in written and spoken English.

· Basic computer skills, to include knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel, e-mail, and the internet.

G.

Position Elements:

Supervisory Control:

The incumbent works within broad policy and professional guidelines at times with minimal supervision. The work is complex, requiring continuous exercise of mature judgment, expert knowledge and professional discretion. The incumbent is responsible for identifying work objectives, priorities, constraints and to employ the resources available to produce satisfactory results and achieve the level of performance required.

Available Guidelines & Reference Documents:

1) USAID’s Automated Directive System

2) USAID Sri Lanka’s Country Strategic Plan

3) USAID Sri Lanka Mission Orders

4) U.S. Government and USAID policy directives

Excise of Judgment and Independent Work:

The incumbent has broad latitude in exercising individual judgment and is responsible for carrying out work independently according to U.S. Government policies, his / her professional knowledge and experience, Mission guidelines and best accepted practices.

Authority to Make Commitments and Obligations:

None

Nature, Level and Purpose of Contacts:

The incumbent will contact Government ministers and senior level officials up to Permanent Secretary at the national level. At the provincial level contacts will include all Ministerial officials. Other contacts will include the U.S. Ambassador, United Agency Heads and Heads of bilateral aid agencies. The nature of contact will be programmatic in nature and may include policy dialogue and participation in working groups.

Additional Requirements:

Applicants must be able to obtain medical and security clearances (Secret level desired). U.S. Nationality is also a requirement.

H.

Evaluation Criteria:

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and selective factors will be further evaluated based on the Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) listed below. Applicants are strongly encouraged to address each of the factors on a separate sheet describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, and/or education that are relevant to each factor. Be sure to include your name, social security number, and the announcement number at the top of each additional page.

A. Professional Experience – 50 pts

(i) Knowledge and experience with international development and relief (20 points)

(ii) Knowledge and experience with Title II food aid programs (20 points)

(iii) Technical expertise in a food aid related field, such as nutrition, agronomy, economics, or public health (10 points)

B. Program Management – 30 Points

(i) Ability to manage programs, to include programmatic and financial issues

(ii) Ability to monitor and evaluate programs, to include programmatic and financial issues

(iii) Ability to review, evaluate and apply complex policies and regulations

C. Interpersonal and Communication Skills – 20 Points

(i) Ability to provide rapid, concise, accurate reporting, both verbally and in writing

(ii) Ability to work effectively as a team member and in diverse cultures

II.

Benefits, Allowances and Taxes:

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a U.S. Personal Service Contractor is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances.

a.

Benefits:

Employee’s FICA Contribution

Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

Pay Comparability Adjustment

Eligibility for Worker’s Compensation

5) Annual & Sick Leave

6) Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service b.

Allowances:

Temporary Lodging Allowance (per Section 120, STR i.e., Standardized Regulations, Government Civilians Foreign Areas)

Living Quarters Allowance (per Section 130, STR)

Post Allowance (per Section 220, STR)

Supplemental Post Allowance (per Section 230, STR)

5) Post Differential (Chapter 500, STR)

6) Payments during Evacuation / Authorized Departure (per Section 600, STR)

7) Danger Pay (per Section 650, STR)

8) Education Allowance (per Section 270)

9) Separate Maintenance Allowance (per Section 260, STR)

10) Educational Travel (per Section 280, STR ) c.

Taxes:

U.S. Personal Service Contractors are not exempt from payment of Federal Income Taxes under the foreign earned income exclusion.

III.

Application Forms & Procedures:

a.

Forms:

List of Required PSC Forms outlined below can be found at:

http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solicit/forms.html

1. Standard Form OF-612.

**2. Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62).

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

**4. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85).

**5. Finger Print Card (FD-258).

NOTE: Form 5 is available from the requirements office.

* Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas).

** The forms listed 2 thru 5 shall only be completed upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.

b.

Application Procedures:

Qualified individuals are requested to submit a U.S. government Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612 which are available at the USAID website http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solicit/forms.html, http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/forms.asp, or at Federal offices. Applicant’s resume (optional) and three references including full name, address, e-mail, and telephone number should also be included as an attachment.

All applications can be submitted via by fax, courier, or USPS to:

Mr. Michael Sampson

USAID

No. 44, Galle Road Colombo 3. Sri Lanka.

Email – msampson@usaid.gov Fax - 94-11-2472850 U.S. Postal Service mailing address:

Mr. Michael Sampson Department of State/USAID

6100 Colombo Place

Washington DC 20521-6100 Applications via Internet email can be submitted to:

hrcolombo@usaid.gov Applications must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter or they will not be considered eligible for evaluation or award, unless the Contracting Officer determines that the document were mishandled by the receiving agency. The closing time for the receipt of applications is 1600 Hours (Eastern Standard Time) on the date specified in the cover letter. You are directed to Federal Acquisition Regulation, Part 15.208 "Submission, modification, revision, and withdrawal of proposals" for further information.

To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, please references the solicitation number on your application and as the subject line in any cover letter, as well as the address/delivery point specified in this solicitation.

Any questions may be directed to Mr. Saliya Navaratne who may be reached at FAX No. 94-11-2472850, or E-Mail: snavaratne@usaid.gov. Please ensure all email messages also copy Mr. Michael Sampson at msampson@usaid.gov.

IV.

Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs and AAPDs) pertaining to Personal Service Contractors:

Various Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs) and Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives (AAPDs) pertain to Personal Services Contracts. Those documents can be found online at:

http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/cib/subject.html#psc Additionally, AIDAR Appendixes D or J also apply to PSCs, which can be found online at: http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/aidar.pdf

* * * * SUBJECT TO FUNDS AVAILABILITY * * * *