USPSC Solicitation for Deputy Tchnical Office Chief corrected April 18.doc

Solicitation for a USPSC Solicitation # 675-08-02]

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 675-08-02

ISSUANCE DATE April 22, 2008

CLOSING DATE: May 15, 2008

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor for Deputy Technical Office Chief Advisor at USAID, Guinea Ladies/Gentlemen:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Guinea is seeking applications (Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612 only) from qualified U.S. citizens or permanent residents to provide personal services as a Deputy Technical Office Chief under a personal services contract, 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: (i) a complete and signed Form set of U.S. Government SF 171 or OF 612 – Optional Form for Federal Employment; (ii) his/her most current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume; and (iii) three references, who are not family members or relatives, together with working telephone and email contacts.. (iv) a cover letter (3 pages maximum) addressing how they meet the required qualifications for this position (see Qualification section of this Solicitation). Each of the expected qualifications should be addressed in the cover letter. Applicants are reminded and required to sign the certification at the end of the SF -171 or OF-612 – unsigned applications shall NOT be considered In order to be considered for the position, a candidate must meet the minimum qualifications listed in the solicitation. Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the applications vis-a-vis the Evaluation Criteria.

Applications and the required documents in response to this solicitation must be sent by courier, or mailed to:

Executive Office USAID/Guinea

2110 Conakry Place

Washington, D.C. 20521-2110 scamara@usaid.gov Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications.

This solicitation does not represent a commitment on behalf of the USAID. 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.

Any questions regarding this solicitation may be directed to Saran Bamba Camara, Personnel Specialist, USAID Guinea who may be reached by phone at 224-64-45-53-18 and or Mahamane Tandina, Acting Executive Officer, USAID Guinea who may be reached by phone at 224-64-29-63-74, or email at scamara@usaid.gov and mtandina@usaid.gov respectively.

Sincerely, Lawrence Bogus Contracting Officer

Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (PSC) DEPUTY TECHNICAL OFFICE CHIEF & ADVISOR

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 675-08-02

2. ISSUANCE DATE: APRIL 22, 2008

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: MAY 15, 2008 at 17:00 local time (Guinea)

4. POSITION TITLE: DEPUTY TECHNICAL OFFICE CHIEF & ADVISOR

5. MARKET VALUE: GS-14 ($81,093-$105,420). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon the candidate’s past salary, work history and educational background.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two years (with possible extension for additional two years based on performance, continuing need for the Advisor’s services, and availability of fund)

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Conakry, Guinea, West Africa with frequent travel within Guinea and Sierra Leone (o/a 25% of time).

8. STATEMENT OF WORK

A. INTRODUCTION

USAID/Guinea & Sierra Leone has a single technical office which manages all activities in governance, health, education, economic growth and biodiversity. It is currently staffed by a single U.S. Direct Hire Office Chief, reporting directly to the Mission Director, one USPSC, one Third Country National PSC, five FSN professionals and two administrative assistants. This position is for the USPSC, who will function as the Deputy Office Chief.

The Mission also has oversight responsibility for its Country Office in Sierra Leone, staffed by one USPSC, three FSN professionals and one administrative assistant. The Technical Office must provide technical guidance to both USAID and Embassy staff working in Sierra Leone.

The Mission's assistance programs draw from several accounts to support key goals in a coordinated, interagency effort, with mutually reinforcing elements. Developmental Assistance (DA) supports government institutions and civil society organizations focused on democracy and governance. Child Survival and Health (CSH) funding contributes to economic growth and development through combating HIV/AIDS, and fostering maternal/child and reproductive health. Health projects also are structured to increase accountability and effectiveness in local service providers. Economic Support Funds (ESF), when available, are used to build and reinforce institutions allowing for free and fair elections. P.L. 480 will support effective engagement on agricultural initiatives as well as health and nutrition.

Governing Justly and Democratically: Funding in this area promotes good governance and anti-corruption during a period of political transition in which both Guinea and Sierra Leone seek to build more effective and accountable governmental and non-governmental institutions. Local government and decentralization programs increase the ability of local governments to govern effectively, transparently and democratically, and improve service delivery. U.S. assistance here also increases citizen awareness of and demand for government transparency, accountability, and effectiveness by strengthening civil society’s capacity to participate more actively in governance and public affairs. These efforts are integrated with the work of other sectors such as education, health and natural resource/agricultural management. Assistance for anti-corruption activities to support national and local level initiatives is aimed specifically at combating the endemic corruption in both countries. Assistance is also used to strengthen the consensus-building processes at the national, regional and local levels. The funding structure allows the flexibility to support programs relevant to the changing political environment, permitting support for institutional development assistance for government institutions, and funding for civil society groups to conduct consensus-building forums and uphold democratic processes related to the transition. Funding to support an independent media involves developing and strengthening rural radio networks, training media professionals, and media advocacy to improve the enabling environment.

Investing in People: Guinea and Sierra Leone are at the bottom of the UN’s human development indexes. CSH and P.L. 480 funding for maternal and child health, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS programs will continue to reduce maternal and child mortality rates, improve reproductive health and help both countries maintain their low HIV/AIDS prevalence rate while addressing key governance and transparency issues in the health sector. Communication efforts will address HIV-related stigma, harmful traditional practices such as female genital cutting, early and forced marriages and gender equity. These activities, together with anti-trafficking programs, also support Embassy objectives in human rights.

Economic Growth: Though richly endowed with minerals, Guinea and Sierra Leone are two of the poorest countries in the world, with the latter at the absolute bottom in 2008. The U.S. programs promote a more positive environment for economic growth and ease conditions of poverty by supporting agricultural sector productivity and an improved investment climate, both with DA and P.L. 480 funds. The Mission also seeks to help both countries take full advantage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by encouraging development of export opportunities.

Environment & Biodiversity: The Mission supports programs to better manage natural resources and preserve biodiversity, especially as it relates to ensuring sustainable economic growth. This involves better community management of classified forests, reclamation of lands damaged by artisanal mining, and better cross-border coordination of national forest management programs. Guinean forests are the source of most of the major rivers in West Africa and are an essential part of the biosphere in the region.

B. SCOPE OF WORK

Overview

This position is the Guinea and Sierra Leone Deputy Technical Office Chief and will assist in the design and implementation of Guinea and Sierra Leone's development assistance portfolio funded approaching $40 million annually. S/he reports to the Technical Office Chief and is responsible for coordinating Guinea and Sierra Leone activities in the areas of governance, human rights, health, economic growth, biodiversity, humanitarian assistance, and office operations. The Deputy Technical Office Chief works closely with other technical officers, Guinea and Sierra Leone Embassy officials, other donors, U.S. partner organizations, and host government officials. This position requires broad development experience, strong management, interpersonal, teamwork and partnership building skills.

The Deputy Technical Office Chief is the alter ego of the Technical Office Chief and assumes the responsibilities and authority of the Technical Office Chief in his/her absence. This requires that the incumbent be fully familiar with all programs and activities, the issues and objectives involved, and the implementation partners and local counterparts. As needed, the Technical Office Chief may delegate specific responsibilities or assignments to the Deputy, on either a short-term or long-term basis.

The Deputy is required to travel frequently within Guinea and Sierra Leone to monitor USAID activities, but this will not exceed 25% of time in any month.

The incumbent will provide technical input into the overall country program including the development of the new Country Strategic Plan, and guide, collect and disseminate information to all team members in this area to increase skills and competencies within USAID and their partners in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The incumbent also will be responsible for managing several activities in the Mission's portfolio, as determined by Mission management. This will require constant interaction with USAID's partners. This incumbent will assist in the preparation of USAID reporting documents and responding to requests from USAID/W for information.

The incumbent will also have the major role in providing advice and support to USAID and Embassy staff assigned to Sierra Leone. This function will require occasional travel to Sierra Leone. The time required for work on Sierra Leone will not exceed 15%.

I.

Duties and Areas of responsibility for the position of Deputy Technical Office Chief include:

· Assist the Technical Office Chief and Country Office staff in Sierra Leone to achieve the desired outcomes of USAID’s programs in Guinea and Sierra Leone in the most effective and efficient manner.

· Provide expert advice, technical leadership, and coordination in developing and implementing USAID projects/activities in Guinea and Sierra Leone as well as monitoring the progress of these activities.

· Serve as a liaison official for USG assistance with the Government of Guinea and Sierra Leone, the U.S. Embassies in Guinea and Sierra Leone, private voluntary organizations, and international donor organizations.

· Through field observation, analysis, and consultation with host government and other local entities, identify needs for USAID assistance in areas consistent with USG assistance program and foreign policy objectives. Advise the Guinea and Sierra Leone Mission Director of these needs, and as required, develop concept papers outlining the potential USAID response. Incumbent keeps the Technical Office Chief and the Mission management apprised of issues, problems, successes and solutions in the management of USAID’s programs in Guinea and Sierra Leone.

· As a manager is responsible for coordinating and implementation of any humanitarian assistance activities.

· Assist the Technical Office Chief to maintain effective liaison and communication between the USAID offices, the U.S. Embassies in Guinea and Sierra Leone, USAID grantees and contractors, other donors, the Government of Guinea and Sierra Leone, and USAID/Washington.

· Provide oversight and manage selected partner activities in the USAID/Guinea & Sierra Leone portfolios.

· Analyze partners' progress in relation to their and Mission’s performance indicators. Assist in tracking of quality of performance data. Identify any problem areas and provide a plan for corrective actions. Ensure partners receive needed information on USAID procedures and policies.

· Assist in the preparation of USAID reporting documents including the Portfolio Review and Annual Report, Washington-driven requests and other documents as required.

· Coordinate with government officials and donors to avoid duplication of activities.

· Work closely with and provide technical leadership on cross-cutting issues, particularly HIV/AIDS, nutrition, civil society strengthening and combating female genital cutting and early and forced marriages.

· As a team member, actively participate in meetings and joint activities between USAID and the various Ministries, other donors, Peace Corps and the U.S. Embassies.

· Strengthen and forge new relations, when required, between other USAID missions, USAID/Washington, donors working in Guinea and Sierra Leone, NGOs, cooperating and implementing agencies and host-country collaborators.

· Make periodic site visits and inspection of USAID funded activities.

· Draft all documentation necessary to obtain approval of obligation (SOW, Action Memoranda, pipeline analysis, MAARDS).

· Provide input regarding annual resource requirements and budgets, and track expenditures for selected activities.

· Actively participate in team building and strengthening activities.

· Participate with other Mission teams in searching for opportunities of collaboration.

· Attend international technical conferences and meetings, as judged necessary by Mission management.

II.

Supervision Exercised

The incumbent will have such direct supervisory responsibilities as will be determined by the Technical Office Chief. When serving in the capacity of acting Technical Office Chief, the Deputy will assume full supervisory responsibility for the entire technical portfolio, reporting directly to the Mission Director.

III.

Supervision Received:

The incumbent will work directly under the supervision and technical guidance of the U.S. Direct Hire Technical Office Chief.

Under broad guidance from the USDH Office Chief, work is performed with a high degree of independence.

Incumbent will keep the Technical Office Chief apprised of issues, problems, successes and solutions in the management of USAID’s programs in Guinea and Sierra Leone.

When serving in the capacity of acting Technical Office Chief the incumbent will report directly to the USAID Director or his/her designee; also as acting Technical Office Chief the incumbent will be under parallel supervision from the U.S. Ambassadors to Guinea and Sierra Leone.

IV

Level of Contacts

The incumbent actively engages in official personal contacts with a broad range of individuals and organizations in Guinea & Sierra Leone and beyond. The purpose of these contacts is to promote USAID’s development assistance objectives and to increase his/her understanding of the dynamics of local society as they affect USAID’s programs. Contact also serves to gain insights from the procedures, methodologies, and experiences from host country counterparts and implementation partners as they affect USAID’s implementation effectiveness. It is expected that personal contacts will include, but not be limited to, the following:

Heads of various social sector committees in the GOG and GOSL.

Ministers and deputy ministers;

U.S. Ambassadors to Guinea and Sierra Leone, and other members of the respective country teams;

Chiefs of Party of USAID-funded contracts and grants;

Senior officials and executives from U.S. headquarters of USAID-funded contracts and grants;

Institutional contractors, PVOs and NGOs;

Host Country officials responsible for assistance matters;

Representatives of international donors;

USAID Office Directors;

USAID/Washington representatives; and

CODELs, STAFFdels V.

Other Factors:

This position requires both supervisory skills to oversee the entire range of technical activities, and a blend of qualities that includes: broad development experience, including specific expertise in the health area; proven management abilities; ability to work independently; strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability and willingness to function in a collaborative and collegial environment; sensitivity to others; intellectual curiosity; balanced judgment; ability to conceptualize, both strategically and programmatically; and ability to generate trust and build alliances with donor partners. The ideal incumbent would have the following characteristics:

TERMS OF PERFORMANCE

The contract will be for a period of twenty four (24) months. The contract may be extended for up to an additional two years subject to performance, continuing need for the Advisor’s services, and availability of funds.

9. CORE FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

See attached Solicitation

10. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is generally sedentary and does not pose undue physical demands, except for the ability to tolerate bumpy roads for extended trips up-country and sometimes spending the night in hotels with no air-conditioning.

11. WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is primarily performed in an office setting. In-country & occasional international travel is required (o/a 25% of time)

12. START DATE: Immediately, once necessary clearances are obtained.

13. POINT OF CONTACT: See Cover Letter (pages 1 and 2)

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

The technical scope of the program is complex and requires the services of a seasoned program manager with knowledge of development assistance. Required professional qualifications and skills include:

· A Masters degree in a field related to one or more of the Mission’s strategic objectives (Democracy and Governance, Economic Growth, Health or Education).

· Five to seven years of experience in the design and implementation of development programs with demonstrated technical expertise and skill in the implementation of such programs. At least three years experience working overseas in a developing country, preferably in francophone Africa.

· Strong interpersonal skills and the demonstrated ability to work in and lead teams.

· Familiarity with and understanding of development programs and implementation procedures.

· Experience in coordinating programs with bilateral and multilateral donors such as the UN agencies as well as public sector and NGOs entities.

· Strong computer and writing skills, able to produce concise reports and utilize word processing, spreadsheets and graphic programs.

· Knowledge, experience and demonstrated competency in the design, management, and evaluation of projects to improve their quality, relevance, and cost-effectiveness.

· English and French Language at the S-3+, R-3+ level or higher.

The following skills and qualifications are desired, but not required:

· Particular experience with democracy-building programs and/or economic development and/or health programs.

· Familiarity with USAID’s policies and priorities and means of delivering assistance in developing nations.

· Hands-on experience with and knowledge of Agency-provided computer software and hardware used in the USAID system.

· Experience and knowledge of the political, social, and economic characteristics of francophone Africa.

· Training (or experience) in relevant USAID administrative policies and procedures.

SELECTION FACTORS

· Education (20 Points): A Masters degree in development-related field.

· Experience (35 points): (1) At least 5-7 years of experience in the design and implementation of development programs. (2) 3 years or more of experience working in a developing country, preferably in Africa. (3) Experience in coordinating programs with bilateral and multilateral donors such as the UN agencies as well as public sector and NGOs entities.

· Knowledge (30 points): (1) strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in teams; (2) Familiarity with and understanding of development programs and implementation procedures is desirable. (3) Strong computer and writing skills, able to produce concise reports and utilize word processing, spreadsheets and graphic programs.

· Language (15 points): (1) English at S-3+, R-3+ and French at S-3+/R-3+ level or higher. (2) Ability to produce well-written documents under tight deadlines;

APPLYING:

Qualified individuals are requested to submit:

(i) a complete and signed Form set of U.S. Government SF 171 or OF 612 – Optional Form for Federal Employment; (available at the USAID website, http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms or internet http://fillform.gsa.gov, or at Federal offices); (ii) a current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume; and (iii) three references, who are not family members or relatives, together with working telephone and email contacts.. (iv) a cover letter (3 pages maximum) addressing how they meet the required qualifications for this position (see Qualification section of this Solicitation). Each of the expected qualifications should be addressed in the cover letter. Applicants are reminded and required to sign the certification at the end of the SF -171 or OF-612 – unsigned applications shall NOT be considered.

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.

LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCS

Forms outlined below can found at http://www.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/psc_solicitations.html

1. Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 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). **

** Forms 2 through 5 shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.

CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBS) PERTAINING TO PSCS

AAPDs and CIBs contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and contracts. Please refer to this website http://www.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/cib/subject.html#psc to determine which AAPDs and CIBs apply to this contract.

BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES:

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

BENEFITS:

Employee's FICA Contribution

Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

Pay Comparability Adjustment

Annual Increase

Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

Annual and Sick Leave

Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service

ALLOWANCES (if 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) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

(6) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and

(7) Danger Pay (Section 650)

(8) Educational Allowance (Section 270)

(9) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(10) Educational Travel (Section 280)

* Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas).

FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are required to pay Federal Income Taxes, FICA, and Medicare.

Note:

The selected individual must be eligible for a U.S. government security clearance and obtain a full medical clearance for service.