US-TCN PSC-EFM Supervisory Public Health Advisor

Solicitation # 620-10-04

ISSUANCE DATE: February 6, 2010 DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF QUESTION: February 16, 2010 CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS: March 5, 2010 CLOSING TIME FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS: 4 PM (Nigeria Time)

SUBJECT: Solicitation # 620-10-04 for U.S/TCN Personal Service Contractor for Supervisory Public Health Advisor (Health Systems Strengthening) in USAID/Nigeria.

Ladies/Gentlemen:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications from qualified U.S. citizens or Third Country Nationals (TCN), to provide personal services as described in the attached solicitation.

Submittals shall be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified.

Interested applicants must submit all the materials required by the solicitation such as (but not limited to): (i) his/her most current curriculum vitae or resume; (ii) signed form SF 171 or OF 612; and (iii) three (3) to five (5) references, who are not family members or relatives, with telephone and email contacts. The CV/resume must contain sufficient relevant information to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria. Broad general statements that are vague or lacking specificity will not be considered as effectively addressing particular selection criteria. The Applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities. USAID/Nigeria reserves the right to obtain from previous employers relevant information concerning the applicant's past performance and may consider such information in its evaluation.

Form SF 171 or OF 612 must be signed and those submitted unsigned will be rejected. Applicants should retain for their record, copies of all enclosures that accompany their submissions.

Any questions regarding this solicitation should be submitted in writing to Gloria Nwokedi, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist via e-mail to gnwokedi@usaid.gov and to abujasolicitations@usaid.gov; no later than February 16, 2010.

Preferred method of delivery of applications:

E-mail – gnwokedi@usaid.gov and abujasolicitations@usaid.gov. Please quote the number and position title of this solicitation on the subject line of your e-mail application.

U.S.

Agency for International Development 7-9, Mambilla Street off Aso Drive , Maitama, P.M.B. 519, Garki, Abuja Nigeria Tel:

+234-9-4619300 Fax +234-9-4619400 www.usaid.gov/ng

- Via Courier Service:

Gloria Nwokedi, Acquisition & Assistance Specialist USAID/Nigeria 7 – 9, Mambilla Street (Off Aso Drive) Maitama, Abuja Nigeria Telephone- +234-9-4619300

Submission by e-mail is the preferred method of delivery. Applications sent through courier service, and received after the closing date and time specified will not be considered.

This solicitation does not represent, nor should it be construed to make, a commitment on behalf of the US Government/USAID. The U.S. Government is not obligated to make an award or to pay any costs associated with the preparation and submission of proposals in response to this solicitation. Any submission is at the sole risk of the applicant.

USAID reserves the right to award, or not to award the contract herein contemplated, subject to availability of funds.

Sincerely, Michael Glees Contracting Officer USAID/Nigeria

Attachment: Solicitation No. 620-10-04

I. SOLICITATION INFORMATION

an annual salary range of $84,697.00 to $110,104.00 Salary is not negotiable beyond this range and shall be based on the candidate’s past salary, work history and educational background.

II. POSITION DESCRIPTION

Title: Supervisory Public Health Advisor (Health Systems Strengthening)

Supervisory Public Health Advisor (Health Systems Strengthening), GS-0685-14 – Equivalent

USAID/Nigeria is recruiting for a Supervisory Public Health Advisor (Health Systems Strengthening), GS-0685-14 – Equivalent as a US Personal Services Contractor (USPSC), Third Country National (TCN), or Eligible Family Member (EFM) for an initial 2 year period with two option years contingent upon performance and continuing need of service, availability of funds, and satisfactory or better performance.

Background:

USAID/Nigeria manages a very large country program, with a total FY 2010 operating year budget anticipated to be at or over US$350M. Its employees are organized into objective teams and support offices implementing programs in Investing in People, Peace and Democratic Governance, and Economic Growth. Nigeria is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, and is considered important to US foreign policy interests on the continent. Therefore, USAID programs are subject to intense scrutiny by various elements of the US government, by Nigerian government ministries, and by diverse civil society constituencies.

PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, is the largest international health initiative ever undertaken by any country to combat a single disease. The first strategic principle of the multi-year Global HIV/AIDS Strategy is: “We will respond with urgency to the global HIV/AIDS crisis.” In addition to providing an unprecedented commitment of resources, PEPFAR demands a results-oriented way of doing business, with high levels of accountability, establishment of measurable goals against which progress will be tracked and evaluated, and funding decisions based on performance toward these goals. As PEPFAR evolves there is increasing emphasis on health systems strengthening, sustainability of services and Nigerian ownership.

In the first five years of PEPFAR, the program supported rapid expansion of anti-retroviral treatment in focus countries by providing training for health staff in the latest therapies, organization of services, clinical diagnosis and care, rehabilitation of facilities, laboratory equipment, and the systems and logistics necessary for the import of drugs, their proper storage and transport, improved quality, and cost containment. In Nigeria, PEPFAR has supported life-saving antiretroviral treatment for more than 238,000 men, women, and children; reached over 101,000 orphans and vulnerable children; reached over 16 million individuals with HIV prevention programming.

PEPFAR is a unified USG effort that operates under the guidance of the State Department Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), based in Washington, DC. In Nigeria, PEPFAR is led by the Ambassador and programmed by an Inter-agency Working Group including USAID, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of Defense. PEPFAR funding for Nigeria is anticipated to exceed US$440M in FY 2010, with approximately half managed directly by USAID.

The Supervisory Public Health Advisor (Health Systems Strengthening) position is located in the USAID/Nigeria, Investing In People (IIP) Office. IIP is the largest program/project Office, in terms of staffing and budget, in USAID/Nigeria, with over forty (40) authorized staff and a very high US$-value annual budget. IIP is divided into three sub-teams – HIV/AIDS/TB, Health, Population and Nutrition (HPN), and Education. This position is located in the HIV/AIDS/TB Team, and supervises the Health Systems Strengthening Work Group. The Health Systems Strengthening Work Group supports the USAID and USG PEPFAR teams to achieve the broader PEPFAR II goals of strengthening and sustaining health systems in Nigeria.

Basic Function of the Position:

The Supervisory Public Health Advisor (Health Systems Strengthening) provides technical guidance and leadership to the Health Systems Strengthening Work Group, which includes six professional-level staff and two Assistant-level subordinates engaged in all manner of interventions in order to strengthen Nigerian health systems and to provide needed sustainability in their operation. In addition, the Advisor will serve as the senior Health Systems Strengthening Advisor for all HIV/AIDS/TB Team and all USG PEPFAR team activities in Nigeria. The USG PEPFAR team includes the US Embassy, USAID, CDC, DOD, and PAS.

The Health Systems Strengthening Work Group has overall responsibility for providing direction and technical support for all areas of programming and project management directly related to health systems strengthening for all HIV/AIDS/TB Team and USG PEPFAR team activities in Nigeria. The Group works in close coordination with all USAID and USG PEPFAR teams and groups, the GoN, and implementing partners (IPs) in health systems strengthening. In addition, the Health Systems Strengthening work group will coordinate closely with the Health Team to ensure maximum levels of integration and cooperation between the two teams.

The Advisor represents the Investing in People Office, and the HIV/AIDS/TB Team interests to IPs, other USG Agencies, GoN representatives, and other stakeholders in the full range of health systems strengthening activities (including technical support and actual program/project management). The Advisor serves as COTR/AOTR for selected USAID IPs engaged in health systems strengthening activities; and, participates extensively in the preparation and presentation of Semi-annual and Annual PEPFAR Progress Reports and, with the full Work Group, supports work on the preparation of the annual cross-agency Country Operational Plan.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

The Supervisory Public Health Advisor (Health Systems Strengthening), individually and through subordinate staff members, is involved in policy reform, program/project conceptualization, program/project management, and research and outreach, as follows:

1. The Advisor is the lead USAID team member working with the USG PEPFAR team, the GoN, and other stakeholders on the broad areas of health systems strengthening and health systems policy reform. The Advisor provides intellectual and hands-on leadership to shaping and influencing the broader Health and HIV/AIDS/TB and USG PEPFAR team health systems strengthening portfolio in Nigeria; assists in the assessment of current strengthening and reform programs/projects/activities; and, designs and implements activities, with a primary emphasis on health policy. A major part of the policy reform agenda involves substantial efforts directed to donor coordination, primarily with the Global Fund and DFID, but with other donors as well, in order to avoid overlap and redundancy.

2. With PEPFAR at a crossroads, the Advisor is relied upon to conceptualize programs and projects focusing on health care financing, in order to provide the GoN the capacity to perform strategic planning in terms of health care financing, leading to an overall increase in sustainable health financing in the future. Individually and through subordinate Work Group staff, the Advisor works to increase the knowledge of all HIV/AIDS & TB Team staff, and the staffs of the USG PEPFAR team, in the area of health systems strengthening, and the importance of coordination and collaboration with other sectors, particularly in education and health, but with governance and economic growth as well, to develop synergistic approaches to health systems strengthening and policy reform. The Advisor works to assure coordination within the HIV/AIDS & TB Team, and elsewhere, in order to integrate discrete (stove piped) efforts in order to affect systemic change.

3. The Advisor provides program/project development expertise in the areas of health systems strengthening and policy reform; works to design and implement significant health systems strengthening activities; and, serves as COTR/AOTR, as assigned. The Advisor works to develop the capacity of subordinate Work Group staff to take over day-to-day management of approved program/projects, providing guidance on project management techniques, resources and tools available, and sources of technical assistance and data management for health systems strengthening and for policy reform. Monitors IP health systems strengthening work, and serves as a technical advisor to specific program/project activities, performing site visits and assuring progress toward agreed-upon goals, targets, and objectives.

4. The Advisor performs research and outreach, and collaborates with superiors, other USG PEPFAR team leaders, and the Strategic Information (Monitoring and Evaluation) Work Group in planning, evaluation, and reporting on the work of monitoring and evaluation teams, designed to evaluate and improve current program/project practices, and to measure progress toward and outcomes of health systems strengthening investments by the HIV/AIDS & TB Team and the USG PEPFAR team. Participates on committees and work groups, and with other agencies, the GoN, and others working on or implementing systems strengthening activities, especially in the area of health policy reform. Researches health system strengthening and health policy related tools, strategies, technical papers, and/or other literature produced by cooperating agencies, Missions, donors, and other partners for relevance to work in Nigeria; adapts findings and techniques to the Nigerian environment, and strives to implement successful strategies into programs/projects in Nigeria. The Advisor attends seminars and workshops, and generally participates in other USAID and interagency working groups concerned with HIV/AIDS& TB policies, priorities, and practices affecting, or otherwise of interest to, health systems strengthening, and health policy reform, and leverages the work of others to increase the impact of PEPFAR programs/projects in Nigeria.

5. Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Relevant Factors Pertaining to this Position

Knowledge Required by the Position:

Work requires mastery of the program, principles, concepts, practices, methods, and advanced techniques for health systems strengthening and health systems policy reform. Such knowledge is required in order to apply new developments and theories of the field to major problems not susceptible to treatment by accepted methods.

Work requires expert knowledge of USG, international, and host-government laws and regulations, and documentation and reporting requirements sufficient to make decisions or recommendations significantly changing, interpreting, or expanding important USAID health systems strengthening and policy reform programs in a sensitive environment.

Supervisory Controls:

The Advisor works under the very general administrative supervision of the IIP Office Director, and the general administrative supervision of the HIV/AIDS/TB Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader. The Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader set the overall assignment objectives in broad terms that define program emphasis and resources available. The Supervisory Public Health Advisor (Health Systems Strengthening) and the supervisors, in consultation, develop the deadlines, projects, and work to be done.

The Advisor, having advanced expertise in the areas of health systems strengthening and health systems policy reform, has continuing responsibility for independently planning and carrying out important programs/projects and activities; determining the approach to be taken and the methods to be used; resolving most of the conflicts that arise; coordinating the work with others as necessary; and, interpreting policy in terms of established objectives. The Supervisory Public Health Advisor (Health Systems Strengthening) keeps the supervisors informed of progress, potentially controversial matters, and problems with far-reaching implications.

Completed work is considered technically authoritative and is normally accepted without significant change. Review is normally limited to fulfillment of program objectives, and the effect of work on overall health systems strengthening and policy reform programs.

Guidelines:

Administrative policies and precedents, ADS Chapters, handbooks, USG/Embassy/USAID/and Bureau and Mission directives, and technical health systems strengthening and policy reform references are available, but are stated in terms that are often not specific for the current state of development in Nigeria. For example, USAID health systems strengthening and health systems policy reform goals, strategies, and priorities are broadly stated, but may require extensive interpretation and judgment for application in the host country.

The Advisor must use judgment and ingenuity to interpret the intent of available guides, and independently develop applications for use in this work situation.

Complexity:

The work includes a wide variety of duties requiring many different and unrelated processes and methods – applied to a broad range of health systems strengthening and policy reform activities (e.g., planning and conducting/coordinating evaluations to identify and evaluate programs/projects in a variety of sites), or intensive analysis and problem solving in the area of health systems strengthening and policy reform reporting.

Decisions regarding what needs to be done depend on an assessment of very complex, diverse circumstances that involve major areas of uncertainty in approach, methodology, or interpretation resulting from such elements as continuing program changes, technical health systems strengthening and policy reform developments, new or unconventional methods, the unique or controversial aspects of PEPFAR and HIV/AIDS & TB or Health Team activities, or conflicting interests or ideas (as between HIV/AIDS/TB Team, Mission, or host-country requirements, and recognized health systems strengthening and policy reform practices).

The work requires devising new health systems strengthening and policy reform methods and techniques, in order to produce effective results, or to implement advances in the state of the art; establishing new criteria for administering health systems strengthening and policy reform programs; or, developing policy guidance and procedural material for use by the Mission, the IIP Office, the HIV/AIDS/TB Team, and host-country and/or NGO/PVO personnel.

Scope and Effect:

The purpose of the work is to investigate, analyze, review, plan, and advise on various unusual, controversial, or technically difficult development assistance and health systems strengthening and policy reform problems or conditions. Work results are critical to the successful completion of diverse USG PEPFAR and HIV/AIDS/TB Team projects or programs.

Personal Contacts:

The persons contacted include high-ranking officials from outside USAID, including host-country officials of Ministerial rank and high-level politicians in highly unstructured settings. Contacts include high-ranking officials of other donor countries and multilateral organizations, both within Nigeria and at international meetings. Typical of contacts at this level are those with high-level representatives of other countries, presidents or CEOs of large national or international firms, or the equivalent.

Purpose of Contacts:

The purpose of contacts is to influence, motivate, or persuade persons or groups who are typically skeptical, resistant, or uncooperative, and who must be approached skillfully to obtain the desired effect (e.g., negotiating PEPFAR and HIV/AIDS & TB Team milestones or timetables; influencing or persuading NGOs/PVOs to agree to use new or improved PEPFAR and HIV/AIDS & TB Team health systems strengthening and policy reform techniques, about which there may be conflicting opinions; representing the USG and the HIV/AIDS & TB Team, as a member of an institutional committee on controversial health systems strengthening and policy reform topics; justifying the feasibility and desirability of plans or proposals that significantly affect NGOs/PVOs, the host government, USG PEPFAR and HIV/AIDS & TB Teams, etc.).

Work Environment:

The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, training rooms, and libraries. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or during program/project visits.

III. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

Health Systems Strengthening Work Group Leader

Selection Criteria

Candidates must address and will be evaluated and ranked based on the following selection criteria:

(a) Technical Experience and skills (50 points)

Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience working in health systems strengthening, including human resources in developing countries. Africa experience is preferred.

Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience providing effective oversight of program activities and budgets.

Strong technical skills in providing technical support and capacity building for health systems strengthening, including but not limited to human for health in developing countries.

Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of state of the art approaches to strengthen health systems and human resources in development countries, both in the public and private sector.

Extensive familiarity with USG policies and requirements, including PEPFAR, preferred but not required.

Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with senior managerial and technical host-country counterparts, donors, and other stakeholders at national and decentralized levels.

(b) Team and Interpersonal skills (25 points)

Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multi-cultural setting.

Demonstrated ability to work in a team.

Demonstrated ability to take on leadership in a technical area and in a team.

Demonstrated experience working closely with government decision makers and program managers at central decentralized levels in a developing country.

(c) Language, Communication and Computer skills (25points)

Strong written and verbal communication skill: Must be fluent in English (FSI Level 4) and have proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly and concisely in both speech and writing. Excellent writing skills must include ability to produce and edit documents in a timely manner.

Able to facilitate meetings and make logical and persuasive oral presentations to senior officials and partners in a multi-cultural context.

Strong computer skills: Able to produce concise, clear reports and utilize work processing spreadsheet and database programs.

IV. COMPENSATION

This position has been classified at a U.S. Government GS 14. The actual salary of the successful candidate will be negotiated within the GS-14 salary range depending on qualifications and previous salary history.

V. BASIS OF RATING

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be evaluated based on the criteria listed above. Applicants are strongly encouraged to address each of the criteria on a separate sheet describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, and/or awards you have received that are relevant to each. Be sure to include your name, social security number, and the announcement number at the top of each additional page. Failure to address the minimum selective and/or quality ranking factors may result in your not receiving credit for all of your pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards.

VI. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE.

An initial 2 year period with a two option years. Exercising options to extend will depend on continuing need of service, availability of funds, and satisfactory or better performance.

VII. MEDICAL AND SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

1. The successful applicant must receive medical clearance for serving in Nigeria. Details of how to obtain US Department of State Medical Unit medical clearance will be provided once a job offer is made and accepted.

2. The successful applicant must be able to receive USAID security clearance that involves applicant's comprehensive background investigation performed by a US Government Agency.

3. The successful applicant must be able to report to post in Abuja, Nigeria to assume duties promptly upon obtaining medical and security clearances and notification by the Contracting Officer.

IX. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the benefits and allowances listed in this section. [NOTE: an individual defined as a Resident Hire Employee may only be eligible for certain benefits listed under item 1].

1. BENEFITS:

Employee's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Shipment and Storage of Household effects Shipment of POV (Private Own Vehicle) Pay Comparability Adjustment Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual & Sick Leave

2. 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) Danger Pay (Section 650) Educational Allowance (Section 270) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) Educational Travel (Section 280)

* Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas).

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

X. APPLYING:

Qualified individuals are requested to submit:

· A U.S. Government Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612 (available at the USAID website, http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms or internet http://fillform.gsa.gov, or at Federal offices);

· All applicants must submit a cover letter (3 pages maximum) to demonstrate how their previous experience and skills are suited for the position (see Qualification section of this Solicitation). Each of the expected qualifications should be addressed in the cover letter.

Applicants should retain for their record, copies of all enclosures that accompany their proposals.

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.

N.B.: Mark submissions “Nigeria 620-10-04”. Late applications will not be accepted nor acknowledged. Applicants are requested to provide their full mailing address and contact information (including fax, telephone and/or e-mail where available).

XI. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs

Forms outlined below can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solicit/

1. Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612.

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

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.

XII. CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs) OR ACQUISITION AND ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRECTIVES (AAPDs) PERTAINING TO PSCs

Various Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs) and Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives (AAPDs) pertaining to Personal Services Contracts can be found at http://www.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/cib/subject.html#psc. Additionally, AIDAR Appendixes D or J also applies to PSCs, and can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/aidar.pdf

XIII. POINT OF CONTACT

Via e-mail: to Gloria Nwokedi, Acquisition & Assistance Specialist at gnwokedi@usaid.gov. Please quote the number and position title of this solicitation on the subject line of your e-mail application. Any questions regarding this solicitation should be submitted no later than February 16, 2010.

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