SOLICITATION - Senior Health Advisor 2012 DOC

ISSUANCE DATE: January 18, 2012 CLOSING DATE: February 21, 2012 12:30 Accra Local Time SUBJECT: SOLICITATION #624-12-004 FOR A THIRD COUNTRY NATIONAL PERSONAL SERVICE CONTRACTOR -- SENIOR HEALTH ADVISOR, USAID/WEST AFRICA BASED IN ACCRA, GHANA.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications of qualified Third Country National individuals interested in providing Personal Services Contract (PSC) 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:

• Completed and hand-signed federal form Application for Federal employment (SF-171) or OF-612 (including OF-612 continuation sheets as needed) including other documentation/information in Instruction to Applicants. (Incomplete or unsigned applications will NOT be considered.) Forms can be downloaded from: www.usaid.gov/forms/.

Applicants are required to sign the certification at the end of the OF-612. Applications that are received without a signature will not be considered for the position.

To be considered for the position, a candidate must meet all of the eligibility requirements listed under Selection Factors in the solicitation. Complete application must be e-mailed to the submission address specified in the solicitation. Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the applications in accordance with the Evaluation Criteria in the solicitation.

Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications. All applications and the required documents should be submitted to:

Regional Executive Office, U.S. Agency for International Development

No. 24 Fourth Circular Road

P.O. Box GP 194

Cantonments, Accra, Ghana

Via email: accrapsc@usaid.gov. Please cite the solicitation number and position title within the subject line of your email application. Any attachments provided via email shall be Microsoft Word 2003 or PDF and not zipped. Note that attachments to email must not exceed 3 MB.

This solicitation does not represent a commitment on behalf of USAID and it is subject to availability of funds. The U.S. Government is not obligated to make an award or to pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of a proposal in response to this solicitation.

USAID reserves the right to award all or none of the contracts contemplated herein, subject to availability of funds.

Sincerely, Heather Armstrong

Supervisory Executive Officer

SOLICITATION NUMBER:

624-12-004

ISSUANCE DATE:

January 18, 2012

CLOSING DATE:

February 21, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. Ghana local time

POSITION TITLE:

Senior Health Advisor

MARKET VALUE OF POSITION:

(GS 13 - $71,674 – 93,175 per annum). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon the candidate’s past salary, work history and educational background. Salaries over and above the top of the GS 13 pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

Two (2) years with the option to extend will depend on continuing need of services, availability of funds, and satisfactory or better performance.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

Accra, Ghana

CLEARANCES:

The final selected candidates must obtain an Employment Authorization and medical clearance within a reasonable period of time (USAID will provide details regarding these clearances to the selected candidate). If such clearances are not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded.

AREA OF CONSIDERATION:

THIRD COUNTRY NATIONAL (TCN)

Due to NSDD-38 restrictions in Ghana US Citizens and US Permanent residents may not be considered.

JOB DESCRIPTION

1. BACKGROUND

USAID/West Africa is an independent Operating Unit of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), responsible for managing development programs that cover 21 countries , seven of which have bilateral USAID missions. The Strategic Plan of USAID/West Africa envisions “a politically stable and economically prosperous West Africa.” The Mission is committed to achieve this goal through programs in the following areas: health, economic integration and trade; agriculture, food security and natural resource management; and conflict prevention and anti-corruption. USAID/West Africa coordinates and enhances other USAID programs in the region and builds and sustains partnerships with West African governments and regional institutions to focus on four foreign policy objectives:

· Peace & Security

· Governing Justly & Democratically

· Investing in People (health and education)

· Economic Growth (Agriculture, Trade and Investment and Natural Resource Management)

With more than 250 million inhabitants, the West Africa region ranks as the poorest with the lowest level of human capital development, and the highest in population growth, and maternal and child mortality. Almost half of the 510,000 women dying worldwide as a result of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth occurs in sub-Saharan Africa. Regional health systems are severely limited, with inadequate service provision in most national programs. Most institutions have limited absorptive capacity. Inter-governmental and national partners are limited by weak regional and national systems and inadequate financial support. The USAID/West Africa Health office, under the Investing in People objective, works to improve health outcomes in the region. The vision of the office is to be a “recognized leader in improving health status of vulnerable populations in West Africa, especially that of women and children, by promoting and building partnerships to scale up evidence based interventions”.

2. BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the Senior Health Advisor, an integral member of the West Africa Regional Health Office. S/he provides leadership, technical assistance, and management capacity to the Regional Health Office, as well as technical assistance to projects and programs in the portfolio. The Senior Health Advisor is assigned to the USAID West Africa Regional Program (WA) and reports to the Health Office Chief. This position is currently located in the USAID/West Africa Health Office in Accra, Ghana, with travel throughout the West Africa Region.

The incumbent will strengthen the institutional capacities of key regional partner organizations, increase the sustainability of regional activities, and increase the internal capacity of the USAID/West Africa Health Office. The incumbent will develop and implement a cross cutting capacity development and institutional strengthening strategy for the Regional Health Office. Working with a team of other professionals in the USAID/WA and partners, s/he will provide leadership and improve knowledge and skills in order to remove the human and institutional capacity constraints that the region faces with respect to health programs. The incumbent will work with appropriate donor partners, and NGO and USAID grantees to strengthen their planning, implementation, and monitoring skills, and serve as a resource for USAID and other partners.

3. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific responsibilities for this USAID/WA-funded position shall include but not be limited to:

Technical Assistance (40%):

· Provide assistance and technical support to implementing partners, other donors, and regional partners to strengthen the leadership, management, and financial planning capacities of key regional institutions, networks, and local civil society organizations. Responsibilities in this domain include oversight of matching grant and institutional support grant programs. S/He will seek and develop partnerships with other donors to capitalize on improved capacity of these regional institutions. This will specifically include brokering technical assistance from qualified regional technical partners with the Global Fund and other key donors;

· Provide monitoring oversight and technical assistance for activities funded with other partners and grantees. Monitoring responsibilities will involve substantial regional travel;

· Foster the strengthening of regional health organizations, networks, and civil society organizations; actively identify and develop opportunities for improved coordination with other major donors active in the region, particularly with the Global Fund for AIDS TB and Malaria (GFATM), to leverage greater results of those other programs where possible;

· In concert with the Team Leader, serve as “virtual” health program advisor to U.S. Embassies in USAID non-presence countries in the region for technical matters relating to donor coordination and capacity building. Meet regularly with other donors and partners in countries to coordinate programming;

· Provide substantive technical and programming advice to the overall reproductive health/ family planning (RH/FP), MCH, malaria and HIV/AIDS portfolio. In addition, s/he will provide technical guidance in related subject areas to the Mission as well as implementing partners in the regional countries as appropriate.

Office Management and Staff Development (20%)

· Serve as a technical advisor and expert on capacity building within the West Africa Regional Office;

· Coordinate closely with entire USAID/West Africa health team, as well as stay informed of other USAID/WA activities and relevant bilateral and non-presence country activities. In the absence of the Supervisory Health Officer, manage the West Africa Health portfolio;

· Respond to requests from other USAID offices, including requests for information from USAID/Washington;

· Draft materials for use in USAID communication relating to RH/FP, MCH, nutrition, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and commodity security logistics systems; this includes speeches, press releases, Ambassadorial memos, briefing papers, etc.;

· Write reports for submission to Washington.

Management of USAID and Partner Relationships (20%)

· The incumbent may serve as the COTR/AOTR of one or more USAID/WA or Washington-based implementing mechanisms. Undertake program and budget monitoring to ensure that adequate resources are focused on this program component and undertake corrective action as need;

· In collaboration with grantees and supervisor, engage donors, NGO and other regional networks and public sector organizations to increase advocacy and leverage resources for HIV/AIDS, and reproductive and family health in the region;

· Serve as a liaison between the Regional Health Office and client missions, including those countries that do not have a USAID office. Present Regional Health Office activities and strategy to US Embassy staff and coordinate to ensure that the Embassy is aware of USG funded activities;

· Represent the Regional Health Office in high level forums and with high level government officials, as well as in meetings with regional institutions, including WAHO and ECOWAS. Coordinate activities with other regional stakeholders, as well as with multilateral agencies such as UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNAIDS.

· Provide input into and assure that all USAID reporting requirements on sustainability and impact (direct and indirect) are met and, where necessary, assist implementing partners in setting up reporting and tracking systems to provide such information in an efficient and timely manner. Review and analyze data and information on human resources and institutional strengthening, as well as closely monitor all contracted capacity building activities under the USAID/West Africa regional health program as a basis for providing up-to-date information on impact and capacity building. Monitoring and evaluation responsibilities will include travel in the region to observe and report on program-funded partner interventions.

Communication and Administration (20%)

· Coordinate with the USAID/Washington Africa Bureau and other USAID/West Africa Mission teams regarding program plans, implementation, monitoring and evaluation as well as preparation of background materials;

· Participate in USAID/WA regional health officers meetings with other USAID Missions to review progress in program implementation and seek technical guidance from officers in the region; Maintain and manage technical issues on sustainability and capacity development initiatives in with USAID/W to ensure that the regional program is using state-of-art practices.

· Analyze data, prepare reports and perform office functions in support of the program

In addition to the aforementioned responsibilities, the incumbent will perform other duties as assigned.

This position requires an estimated 30-40% travel within the region.

SUPERVISION/OVERSIGHT OVER OTHERS:

This position will directly supervise one Foreign Service National Capacity Building Specialist. Additional supervisory responsibilities may be assigned in the absence of the Supervisory Health Officer.

4. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION:

The geographical and technical scope of the project is complex and requires a senior-level manager with strong experience in institutional development, public health, human resource management and training, and other areas. The minimum qualifications listed below determine basic eligibility for the position. Applicants that do not meet all of the minimum qualifications listed below are considered NOT qualified for the position:

a. Education:

A Master’s Degree from an accredited institution in public health, medicine, nursing, or similar discipline is required. Formal training and experience in RH/FP maternal/child health, HIV/AIDS, malaria management or related discipline is required.

b. Technical Knowledge In-depth knowledge of development, particularly public health, programs and principles is required. Knowledge of West and Central African health institutions as well as familiarity with and sensitivity to socio-cultural factors affecting development in the region is required. Skill in conceptualizing programs, policies and plans, and developing strategies for their management and implementation, including financial and human resources. Proven skills in project management, including skills in working effectively with health personnel of diverse cultural backgrounds, negotiating agreements on matters of program strategy and performance, writing, administration, and management.

c. Work Experience:

A minimum of six years of progressive responsibilities in implementing RH/FP, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and/or MCH programs is required. Preferences are given to those who have worked with health programs in the West Africa region. At least one year liaison or work experience with bilateral and multilateral donors such as USAID, UN agencies, public sector and/or NGO entities is required.

d. Communication Skills:

Good analytical skills and an ability to comprehend reports, analyze, and evaluate programs. Must also have excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain professional and effective contacts with counterparts and other donors, implementing partner chiefs-of party and technical staff is required. Excellent writing skills in English and French required. Good computer skills are also required.

e. Language:

Must be bilingual in French and English; should be able to draft and read complex technical documents in English as well as conduct technical discussions in both languages. (Level 4).

5. EVALUATION/SELECTION CRITERIA:

Education (10%): A Master’s Degree from an accredited institution in public health, medicine, nursing, or similar discipline is required. Formal training and experience in RH/FP, maternal/child health, HIV/AIDS, commodity security logistics or related discipline is required.

Experience (40%): At least six years of progressive responsibilities in implementing RH/FP, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and/or MCH programs is required. Preferences are given to those who have worked with health programs in the West Africa region. At least one year liaison or work experience with bilateral and multilateral donors such as USAID, UN agencies, public sector and/or NGO entities is required.

Experience in the following is also required: coordinating programs with bilateral and multilateral donors such as the UN agencies, public sector, and NGOs entities; representing home agency to counterparts; and interacting and advising high-level government and non-government officials in a variety of management and program topics. The incumbent must also possess knowledge of West and Central African institutions, as well as familiarity with and sensitivity to socio-cultural factors affecting development in the region.

Language Proficiency (10%): Must be bilingual in French and English and should be able to draft and read complex technical documents in English as well as conduct technical discussions in both languages (Level 4).

Skills and Abilities (40%): The incumbent is required to:

· Have skills in conceptualizing programs, policies and plans and developing strategies for their management and implementation, including financial and human resources.

· Have proven skills in project management, including skills in working effectively with health personnel of diverse cultural backgrounds, negotiating agreements on matters of program strategy and performance, writing, administration, and management.

· Demonstrate excellent interpersonal communication and team-work skills, and ability to act independently or as a member of a diverse team with common objectives including a demonstrated ability to facilitate discussions among diverse stakeholders. Incumbent must show a high degree of diplomacy and tact, and be able to present effective arguments policy or technical issues to diverse audiences.

· Have the ability to establish and maintain professional and effective contacts with counterparts and other donors, client missions, regional institutions, implementing partner chiefs-of party and technical staff is required.

· Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with Mission Directors, Ambassadors and other Embassy personnel, multilateral agencies, and other stakeholders. Demonstrate excellent computer skills, with high proficiency in Word and Excel at a minimum, as well as ability to develop technical and policy reports and analysis, presentations, and proposals independently.

6. POSITION ELEMENTS:

A. GUIDELINES: The incumbent must become familiar with USAID assistance management regulations. S/he will need to apply these regulations and understand when guidance or approval should be requested from the Regional Acquisition and Assistance Office. While some of the knowledge, methods, and techniques from the health technical field are established and commonly accepted, other guidance may be vague, controversial, conflicting, or absent, especially with respect to management of a regional health program. Where there is no guidance available, the incumbent is required to interpret and make decisions based on sound judgment and strong decision making, as well as effective interpretation of any guidance that is available. While the Health Office Director may provide some input, the incumbent is expected to apply guidelines and act independently. Some situations will require interpretation and deviation from existing guides.

B. COMPLEXITY: The incumbent must be able to assume a wide range of various strategic programmatic and project management tasks and be able to independently identify the appropriate action needed. The incumbent may be required to take a leadership role in various situations. Clear guidance is not always available; the person in this role is expected to demonstrate sound judgment and seek guidance where appropriate.

C. SCOPE AND EFFECT: The scope of the incumbent’s work will be very wide s/he is likely to work on a wide range of activities.

D. PERSONAL CONTACTS: Incumbent will interact extensively with USAID/West Africa Staff to complete various assignments. This requires frequent stakeholder consultations and coordination efforts and entails regular contact with U.S. Ambassadors, Deputy Chiefs of Mission, senior USAID principle officers, ECOWAS officials, senior level host country and Ministerial counterparts and other policy and technical advisors, by e-mail, conference calls, and through site visits.

E. LEVEL AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS: The incumbent will directly interact with the USAID/WA Mission Director and Deputy Director, Team Leaders and other USAID staff, and other senior management staff of USAID bilateral missions and regional authorities in West Africa. S/he will liaise with West African national, regional, and international organizations, NGOs/PVOs and USG agencies (US Embassies, Department of State, Centre for Diseases Control, Department of Defense, etc.), as well as the private sector. The primary purpose of the contact is to formally represent the organizational unit and to give or obtain technical opinions, explain and interpret policies and objectives, and to seek acceptance of recommendations on professional and/or administrative matters which may be controversial or novel. In addition, the incumbent will have high level contact with U.S. Ambassadors, Deputy Chiefs of Mission, senior USAID principle officers, ECOWAS officials, senior level host country and Ministerial counterparts and other policy and technical advisors. These contacts will require the incumbent to represent the Regional Health Office in high level forums and require participation in technical meetings. The contact does not involve policy making except within the scope delegated by the supervisor.

F. PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The incumbent will be expected to travel throughout West Africa 30-40% of his/her time. While in Accra, s/he will be assigned an office at the US Embassy building.

7. INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS

Interested individuals are requested to submit fully completed and hand-signed copy of an Application for Federal employment (SF-171) or an Optional Application for Federal Employment Form (OF-612), cover letter and a current resume/curriculum vita (CV) containing the following information which clearly demonstrates their education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities as they relate to the evaluation criteria. Forms are (available at the USAID website, http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ .

1. Personal Information: full name, mailing address (with zip code), email address, day and evening phone numbers, social security number, country of citizenship, highest federal civilian grade held (also give job series and dates held);

2. Education: Colleges and universities, name, city and state, majors, type and year of any degrees received;

3. Work Experience: provide the following information for your paid and non-paid work experience related to the job for which you are applying (do not send job descriptions); job title (includes series and grade if federal job), duties and accomplishments, employer’s name and address, supervisor’s name and phone number, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours per week, basic salary. Indicate if we may contact your current supervisor; Applicants should note that the salary history for the purposes of the SF-171 or OF-612 is the base salary paid, excluding benefits and allowances such as housing, travel, educational support, vehicle use, etc.

4. Other Qualifications: Other pertinent information related to the qualifications required for the position, as noted above including job-related training courses (title & year), job-related skills; for example, other languages, computer software/hardware, job related certificates and licenses (current only), job related honors, awards, and special accomplishments, for example, publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership, activities, public speaking and performance awards (give dates but do not send documents unless requested).

5. Applicants must provide a minimum of three and a maximum of five references within the last five years of the applicant’s professional life from individuals who are not family members or relatives. Three references must be from direct supervisors who can provide information regarding the applicant’s knowledge of contracting work. Applicants must provide e-mail addresses and/or working telephone numbers for all references.

6. Date of availability to begin assignment in Accra, Ghana.

NOTE: This position requires the submission of complete forms and/or supplemental materials as described herein above. Failure to provide the required information and/or materials will result in your application not being considered. Please note unsigned applications shall NOT be considered. To ensure that the application is considered for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number and title of position on your application and as the subject line in any cover letter.

8. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT:

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a TCN-PSC is normally authorized the benefits and allowances as per Mission Order and AIDAR Appendix J. AIDAR Appendix J can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/aidar.pdf and Mission Order at http://agh2k3fpsaccr02:8080/accra_aid/intranet/notices/index/15 TCN positions in Ghana are not covered by the ICASS service provider/USG housing pool system. Therefore, in lieu of government provided housing TCN PSCs are eligible for a housing allowance. TCN PSCs will be allowed an amount for rent equal to the post rental ceiling set by Overseas Building Operations. Other allowances in support of housing costs include a furniture and appliances allowance; a generator allowance; and a residential expenses allowance. Full details are available upon request. Shipment of a POV however is not covered under the contract.

ACQUISITION AND ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRECTIVES (AAPDs) contain information or changes pertaining to USAID policy, regulation and procedures concerning acquisition and assistance including Personal Service Contracts. Please refer to the USAID website http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solicit/ to locate relevant AAPDs.

9. ALLOWANCES: PSCs are also eligible for allowances listed in the Standardized Regulations Government Civilian Foreign Areas Sections cited below – as applicable.

1. Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120)

2. Living quarters allowance (Section 130)

3. Post Allowance (Section 220)

4. Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230)

5. Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

6. Education allowance (Section 270)

7. Educational Travel (Section 280)

8. Post differential (Chapter 500)

9. Payments during Evacuation/authorized Departure (Section 600)

10. Danger Pay (Section 650)

11. Consumables Allowance

10. SECURITY AND MEDICAL CLEARANCE: The final selected candidates must obtain an Employment Authorization and medical clearance within a reasonable period of time (USAID will provide details regarding these clearances to the selected candidate). If such clearances are not obtained within a reasonable time, any offer made may be rescinded.

� USAID/WA’s regional health program served the following 21 nations: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Eighteen of the 21 USAID/WA countries have a US Embassy presence (Equatorial Guinea is supported by Cameroon, Guinea Bissau by Senegal, and São Tomé and Príncipe by Gabon). The USAID/WA health program also includes activities in all 15 member countries of ECOWAS.

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