Solicitation 386-10-100 A A Specialist India.pdf

U.S. Agency for International Development American Embassy Chanakyapuri New Delhi 110 021

Tel: 91-11-24198000 Fax: 91-11-24198612 / 8454 www.usaid.gov/in

Solicitation No.: USAID/India/386-10-100 Issuance Date: February 16, 2010

Closing Date: March 8, 2010 at 1730 hrs New Delhi time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for Personal Services Contractor (PSC) – Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist

To All Interested Applicants:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications from qualified candidates interested in providing the PSC services described in the solicitation.

Submissions shall be in accordance with the information provided in solicitation and should be submitted electronically to bnegi@usaid.gov (attention: Banita Negi, Human Resources Specialist, USAID/India). Applicants must quote the solicitation number and position title on the subject line of e-mail application. Only short listed applicants will be notified by USAID/India.

Applications should be completed on Form OF 612 and must include salary history for the prior three years and the names and contact points (telephone/fax numbers, email addresses) for at least three references with knowledge of the applicant's prior work skills. The award of a contract hereunder is subject to the availability of funds.

Any questions regarding on this solicitation may be directed to Banita Negi, Human Resources Specialist at bnegi@usaid.gov and/or Patrick Robinson, Executive Officer at probinson@usaid.gov

Applicants should retain for their record copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications.

Sincerely, Sd/-

Patrick Robinson Contracting Officer USAID/India

SOLICITATION NUMBER: USAID/India/10-100 ISSUANCE DATE: February 16, 2010 CLOSING DATE/TIME: March 8, 2010, 1730 hours New Delhi Time POSITION TITLE: Senior Acquisition and Assistance

Specialist MARKET VALUE: GS-14 ($84,697 - $110,104 p.a.) for USPSC who can qualify for a warrant; TCN candidates will be considered at the GS-13 specialist level.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 24 months, renewable subject to the availability of funds and Mission requirements

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Regional Office of Acquisition & Assistance (ROAA), USAID/India

SUPERVISOR: Supervisory Contracting Officer, USAID/India

SECURITY ACCESS: Security clearance (minimum of an Employment Authorization) must be initiated prior to travel to post of duty

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. Citizens and Third Country Nationals (the latter pending Government of India approval)

POSITION DESCRIPTION: Senior Acquisition & Assistance Specialist, USAID/India

I. INTRODUCTION:

In general terms, the optimal applicant for the Sr. A&A Specialist position will possess extensive knowledge of US federal contracting and assistance (grants and cooperative agreements) principles, policies, and procedures from pre-award through post-award phases; solid experience with formal advertising and negotiating methods; as well as exhibit great facility with acquisition and assistance (A&A) procuring and administration requirements. In addition, for this senior PSC position, the applicant will need to demonstrate a well-seasoned familiarity with USAID development principles, federal procurement mechanisms and donor/NGO partnering.

Specifically, the Sr. A&A Specialist ensures that all USAID/India’s A&A obligations and awards’ terms and conditions effectively support USAID/India’s Technical Teams in achieving implementation of the Mission strategy. The Sr. A&A Specialist will apply expert-level contracting and procurement knowledge, skills and abilities in performing duties. The Sr.

A&A Specialist leads his/her team with full technical independence on activity design and implementation after Mission upper management elaborates broad policy objectives and desired outcomes, and supports the other teams as required. The Sr. A&A Specialist will directly manage (pre-award, award, and post-award) the assigned portfolios.

In addition to utilizing expert A&A skills in multiple focal areas requiring a wide breadth of technical subject matter and country-specific program and policy comprehension in a problematic environment, the Sr. A&A Specialist will also supervise Foreign Service National (FSN) employees. The Sr. A&A Specialist will interact substantively with many US and host government entities and conduct diplomatically sensitive cross-cultural business dealings. Work assignments that the Sr. A&A Specialist will direct comprise typical and atypical short-term procurement actions, but more commonly, the large, multi-year, phased A&A instruments. Lastly, besides A&A expertise, knowledge of economic and project management best practices are essential.

USAID’s work in India is primarily focused on: improving the health of at-risk populations; promoting clean and renewable energy; improving access to water and sanitation services; improving the quality of education and workforce skills; promoting sustained and inclusive economic growth;

improving agricultural productivity and linkages to markets; and reducing vulnerability to disasters. The program in India’s 2010 operating year budget is $125 mn. The Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance (ROAA)/India also covers Sri Lanka and The Maldives which may require the Sr. A&A Specialist’s support.

II. Specific Duties and Responsibilities

1. Acquisition & Assistance (A&A) Pre-Award through Award functions: The Sr.

A&A Specialist will be a core member of the mission’s program teams for the assigned technical portfolios. The Sr. A&A Specialist will be responsible for all the A&A pre-award through award functions including development of realistic and thorough procurement (acquisition & assistance) plans.

Illustrative tasks: a) determination of the appropriate type of instrument to be used; b) interpretation of USAID’s A&A policies and procedures; c) coordination with the mission’s SO teams and implementing partners to ensure consistency of interpretation; d) ensuring the integrity of the A&A process by drafting and approving RFA/RFPs before posting and ensuring that source selection documentation complies with USAID policy directives and required procedures; e) ensuring that all A&A pre-award representations and certifications required of the competitors are completed as necessary; f) determination of responsibility for potential A&A awardees; g) performance of cost or price analysis, cost realism, etc and negotiation of major awards for implementation of a development program; h) development of A&A awards that comply with all Federal, Agency and Mission policies, procedures, and practices, etc.

2. A&A administration: Sr. A&A Specialist will be responsible for all post-award functions through close-out and will manage active awards for the assigned portfolios. The incumbent will also be responsible for continuing the close-out actions for expired, but not-yet-closed contracts and cooperative agreements. Illustrative tasks: a) maintaining contact with the responsible technical team, the Activity Manager, the COTR and the awardee for proper award administration, including monitoring reporting requirements;

b) preparing and executing modifications to awards as necessary; c) determining the allowability of questioned costs in financial audits; d) initiating actions when disallowances, suspensions, or terminations are necessary; e) reviewing regularly status reports detailing task completions;

f) authorizing payments of presented invoices; g) maintaining the official Agency file for each A&A instrument in accordance with the guidelines provided, etc.

3. Office Management: Sr. A&A Specialist shall work independently and report directly to the Supervisory Contracting Officer. Incumbent provides daily direction to office staff, assigns work, establishes priorities, mentors and conducts on-the-job training in A&A policies and practices, and re-directs efforts when necessary.

In addition to overseeing day-to-day operations of his/her team, the actions of the staff and the execution of contracts/assistance and modifications, the Sr. A&A Specialist shall ensure that the necessary documentation (e.g., memoranda, correspondence, technical papers, subcontract consent requests, authority to make grants under contracts, salary and personnel approvals, equipment approvals, and Congressional inquiries) for all current A&A actions are maintained according to USAID records management regulations.

4. Country Program & policy knowledge: Sr. A&A Specialist ensures that all A&A activities conform to the defined Strategic Objectives (SOs) of the Mission in India, serves as a core team member of two of the Mission’s technical teams providing guidance and assistance on acquisition and assistance related matters, as well as contributes to overall Mission team work.

5. Procurement knowledge and experience: Extensive knowledge of USAID and Federal Acquisition Regulations, USAID assistance regulations, OMB Circulars, A&A cost principles, the USAID Automated Directive System (ADS) and USAID AAPDs.

In hand with regulation and statutory familiarity, the Sr. A&A Specialist must have extensive professional experience with cost-reimbursement contracts, fixed-price contracts, and assistance awards (cooperative agreements and grants, etc.)

Utilization of Regulations: Reference and guidance materials to be used by the Sr. A&A Specialist in performing the duties described in this solicitation shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) USAID Acquisition Regulations (AIDAR) USAID Automated Directive Systems (ADS) USAID Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives (AAPD/CIB) USAID Procurement Executive Bulletins (PEBS)

6. Contracting Warrant: The Sr. A&A Specialist is expected to qualify for a contracting warrant of a minimum $1 million. In which case, the Sr. A&A Specialist will have the authority to sign A&A instruments or other documents that require a warrant, and have the authority to make legal determinations that have the effect of binding the Government. Third country nationals are not expected to qualify for a warrant.

III. Skills and qualifications

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following competencies:

1. Education: At a minimum, a graduate degree in business administration, public administration, law, marketing, industrial management, accounting or other directly related fields (or OPM authorized equivalent) is required.

Five years of relevant experience (in addition to the seven years of continuous, progressive experience in Acquisition (Contracts, Purchase Orders), US Government Agreements and Assistance (Grant and Cooperative Agreements) execution, administration, termination, cost and price analysis, procurement planning, and analysis and evaluation of proposals) may substitute for a graduate degree. The training/experience requirement of the position is that the incumbent has completed or has substantially completed the requirements for certification under the USAID/OFPP FAC-C Certification or an equivalent program. Certification requires successful completion of eight specified courses in procurement, plus the achievement of certain competencies, through a combination of training and experience. Under normal circumstances, it is anticipated that an individual who lacks all, or some, of the required training and competencies will obtain the training as quickly as possible as a condition of continued employment.

2. Experience: At least seven years of continuous, progressive experience in Acquisition (Contracts, Purchase Orders), US Government Agreements and Assistance (Grant and Cooperative Agreements) execution, administration, termination, cost and price analysis, procurement planning, and analysis and evaluation of proposals is required. At least three years working overseas preferred, but not required.

3. Exercise of Judgment: The employee exercises independent judgment and initiative as the sole procurement representative on technical teams to 1) identify those aspects of regulations which apply to the particular procurement; 2) develop justification for adopting a procurement posture; 3) tailor provisions to meet special requirements and develop criteria or justifications involving contractor claims; and 4) to recommend the selection of winning contractors or grantees. S/he also determines and uses special clauses, clearances, and determinations applicable to certain procurements.

The candidate should demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of USG contracting and assistance procedures and a thorough knowledge and understanding of Federal contracting and procurement regulations, policies, practices, and procedures is necessary. It is also important that the incumbent have knowledge of USG project development and implementation regulations and practices. The guidelines that apply to work are broadly stated and nonspecific. The employee exercises initiative, resourcefulness, and experienced judgment in interpreting and applying such guides, as well as in developing and implementing solutions to problems that are unique and outside the scope of current written guidelines.

4. Contracting Warrant/Authority to Make Commitments: The candidate is expected to qualify for a contracting warrant of a minimum $1 million. In which case, the candidate will have the authority to sign A&A instruments or other documents that require a warrant, and have the authority to make legal determinations that have the effect of binding the Government. The incumbent has considerable latitude in dealing with problems arising during the pre-award or post-award phases of the procurement action, and to independently manage full and open competitive transactions from inception to completion, including award within the limitations of his/her warrant. He makes decisions on the basis of analysis of alternatives, adaptation, or modification of procedures, or resolution of incomplete or conflicting technical or contractor data. Decisions that are unsound result in legal conflicts and put the Agency at risk.

IV. TERM OF PERFORMANCE/COMPENSATION:

The term of the contract will be for 2 years to start o/a May 2010. The position has been classified at a GS 14 level for a candidate who qualifies for a warrant and GS-13 for the candidate who does not qualify for a warrant.

The actual salary of the successful candidate will be negotiated within that pay band, depending on qualifications and previous salary history. It is unlikely that an individual will be selected who does not already have the prior training and experience to fully perform at the GS-14 or 13 equivalent level, or who in some other way does not fully meet all requirements for the position. However, should such an individual be offered the position, the offered salary may be at less than the GS 14 or 13 pay band. In addition to the basic salary, differentials and other benefits in effect at the time and which are applicable and subject to change on a similar basis as for direct-hire USG employees, will be added. Currently, post differential for India is 20% and COLA is at 10%. One Rest & Recuperation trip will be allowed per AIDAR Appendix D.

V. MEDICAL AND SECURITY CLEARANCES

The selected candidate must be able to obtain both a background security clearance and a worldwide available medical clearance. The security clearance involves a comprehensive investigation performed by the appropriate U.S. Government agency. Details on how to obtain US Department of State Medical Unit clearance will be provided once a job offer is made and accepted.

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES/TAXES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a US/TCN PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: (NOTE: An individual defined as a Resident-Hire employee may only be eligible for those benefits listed under item A below.)

A. BENEFITS:

Employee's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual & Sick Leave Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service

B. ALLOWANCES (If Applicable):

Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) Post Allowance (Section 220) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230) Post Differential (Chapter 500) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and Danger Pay (Section 650) Educational Allowance (Section 270) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) Educational Travel (Section 280)

C. FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs and TCNPSC green card holders are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes under the foreign earned income exclusion.

V. HOW TO APPLY:

Qualified individuals are requested to submit a U.S. government Optional Application for Federal Employment Form OF-612, available on website http://www.usaid.gov/forms/of-612.doc

Resumes may be attached to the OF-612 Applicants are encouraged to write a brief appendix to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training address the minimum qualifications and selection criteria.

Applicants must provide at least three references with their current contact information, preferably both an e-mail address and a telephone number.

Applications should be submitted electronically to:

Banita Negi, HR Specialist United States Agency for International Development Shantipath, Chankyapuri New Delhi – 110 021 Email: bnegi@usaid.gov

NOTE: Applicants must quote the solicitation number and position title on the subject line of e-mail application.

Or

FAX: 91-11-2419-8612 or 91-11-2419-8454

Applications should be received by the closing date and time previously specified. 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 selection will be based on the panel evaluation of the applicants vis-à-vis selection criteria mentioned previously. Applicants should also note that the salary history for the purpose of the OF-612 is the salary paid, excluding benefits and allowances such as housing, travel, educational support, vehicle use, etc. The OF-612 applications must be signed.

VI.Point of Contact

Ms. Banita Negi, Human Resources Specialist, USAID/India

VII.LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs

Forms outlined below can be found at:

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

1. Optional Form 612.

2. Medical History & Examination for Foreign Service (DS-1843).**

3. AID 6-1 (Request for Security Action)**

4. SF-86 (Questionnaire for National Security Positions)**

5. FD-258 (Fingerprint Cards) 2 each**

6. AID 610-14 (Authority for Release of Information)**

7. AID 6-85 (Foreign Residence Data)**

8. Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970, As Amended**

9. Notice Required by the Privacy Act of 1974**

** Forms 2 through 9 shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job. Note: The selected individual shall be required to obtain a security clearance.

ACQUISITION AND ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRECTIVES (AAPDs) PERTAINING TO PERSONAL

SERVICE CONTRACT (PSC)

AAPDs contain information or changes pertaining to USAID policy, regulation and procedures concerning acquisition and assistance. A number of AAPDs pertain to Personal Service Contracts. Please refer to the USAID website http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solicit/ to locate relevant AAPDs. Additionally, AIDAR Appendix D or J also applies to PSCs and can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/aidar.pdf