SOLICITATION FOR A SENIOR TECHNICAL OFFICER.doc

SOLICITATION FOR A USPSC S.LEONE PROGRAM MANAGER # 675-09-16]

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 675-11-02

ISSUANCE DATE: October 07, 2010

CLOSING DATE: November 07, 2010 SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Services Contractor – Senior Technical Officer for USAID/Guinea Ladies/Gentlemen:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Guinea is seeking applications (Optional Form 612) from qualified applicants to provide services as a Senior Technical Officer 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 OF 612 – Optional Form for Federal Employment; (ii) a 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 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-à-vis the evaluation criteria.

Applications and the required documents in response to this solicitation must be e-mailed to:

Conakrypscjobs@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 or not the contract contemplated herein, subject to availability of funds. ONLY SELECTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.

Any questions regarding this solicitation may be directed to Mahamane Tandina, Executive Officer, USAID Guinea, who may be reached by phone at 224-67-10-40-29 or by email at mtandina@usaid.gov.

Sincerely, Lawrence Bogus Contracting Officer

Solicitation for U.S. Personal Services Contractor (PSC) SENIOR TECHNICAL OFFICER

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 675-11-02

2. ISSUANCE DATE: OCTOBER 07, 2010

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: NOVEMBER 07, 2010 AT MIDNIGHT LOCAL TIME.

4. POSITION TITLE: SENIOR TECHNICAL OFFICER

5. MARKET VALUE: GS-15 ($99,628.00-$129,517.00). 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 possibility of extension.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Conakry, Guinea

8. STATEMENT OF WORK

I. BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION:

The STO will serve as the senior technical and project supervisor for USAID/Guinea. S/he will provide technical support and leadership in the formulation, development, design, administration, monitoring and evaluation of USAID/Guinea’s projects. S/he will also provide technical guidance to USAID projects in Sierra Leone, for which USAID/Guinea has overall responsibility.

The USAID/Guinea Mission has a complex portfolio of projects that are cross-sectoral in nature and approach. The “Working Together” project address areas of health, democracy/governance, education, civil society and agriculture. USAID/Guinea’s STO heads the Assistance Objective Team (AOT) Office, responsible for the Mission’s project portfolio. Past sector approaches have been subsumed under a single major assistance objective. In this role, s/he has the highest-level of technical responsibility for project management, achievement tracking and monitoring, results reporting, and recommending modifications. With the consolidation of earlier multiple strategic objectives into a general overriding objective of improving conditions at the local level, the STO will provide technical expertise that (reaching one-third of Guinea’s communities), that support local communities and governments to increase their participation in their socio-economic lives. The STO is solely responsible within the Mission for advancing the achievements planned under this consolidated objective. S/he has the responsibility to direct the management and propose revisions to the projects under the office’s control.

Approximate annual project budget level managed by the AOT is $20 million.

USAID/Guinea also provides limited project-related expertise to the staff in USAID/Sierra Leone. In both countries, programs focus on health, civil society, local government, increased agricultural and business growth, support for democratic elections, capacity building, and natural resource management.

It is desirable for the STO to possess expertise in health development activities. A significant portion of the Mission programs contains a wide variety of health activities such as maternal and child health care, immunizations, HIV/AIDS prevention and control, and family planning. These are integrated into other non-health activities.

The Assistance Objective Team Office is comprised of an STO and sector advisers (democracy/governance, education, health and agriculture/NRM), and two administrative assistants, for a total of five professional and one support staff. (Staff in USAID/Sierra Leone is directly supervised by a US PSC Program Manager. The STO provides technical support and advice as required to the Sierra Leone program.)

II. DETAILED DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A.

Senior Technical Responsibilities – 80%

1) As one of the three Mission senior officers under the Mission Director, s/he is part of the Mission senior management team, along with the Supervisory Program Officer (SPO) and the Management Officer (EXO). The STO will provide expertise in all technical and resulting project management decisions; including validity of projects, both in the design and the implementation stages, guiding effective and measurable progress and results management. The main project activity is of considerable complexity, as it includes health, education, agriculture, local governance and economic growth. S/he provides technical expertise and organizational direction in project management, monitoring, results reporting and evaluation assisting the technical staff of five professionals (D/G, education, two health, agriculture/NRM) in Guinea and, upon request, to another four professional-level staff in Sierra Leone.

2) S/he will be the key Mission senior officer providing the Program Office with basic project data generated from comprehensive monitoring and results reporting. S/he will be closely involved with the Mission team, host-country officials and consultants in the development of project modifications and new activities, supervising the staff in the writing of Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Assistance (RFA), and other procurement mechanisms consistent with development initiatives, goals and objectives of the Government of Guinea (GOG). S/he will play a key role in generating ideas and providing expertise during the procurement process. This entails leading the design and implementation of major components of the plan.

3) The STO will contribute to the development of the Mission’s overall conceptual framework and formulate plans for implementation. As a senior manager, s/he provides a range of advice on the overall Mission program strategy as reflected by results gained and lessons learned from the projects under the STO’s purview. The STO’s recognized expertise in project design, management, monitoring and evaluation is a powerful influence on program policy.

4) Acting under the overall guidance of the Mission Director, s/he will be the chief Mission spokesperson dealing with senior host-government officials and other partners on all aspects of project policy and implementation, with full authority to represent the Agency, and, where appropriate, the Embassy, on all strategic aspects of policy guidance and direction. S/he also represent the Mission to stakeholders and external development partners in a wide variety of events including conferences, workshops, donor subgroup meetings, and other relevant forums on development. S/he will negotiate with host country government officials on project design and implementation, ensuring that host country officials at the highest level are apprised of project activities. S/he also has full authority to engage in dispute resolution over matters affecting implementation of all USAID-funded projects. These responsibilities require the incumbent to demonstrate highly developed professional judgment and to provide management oversight and supervision as well as technical direction and guidance.

B. Program/Project Administration – 20%

S/he will perform the function of Activity Manager and/or Contracts Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) or Alternate COTR for the oversight of contracts and grants.

Specific duties will include:

1) Directing technical staff in monitoring the implementation of USAID/Guinea’s development project activities.

2) Ensuring that staff and partners are performing their activities in a way that maximizes the achievement of their intended results. S/he will provide technical and organizational leadership on the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of project activities. S/he will ensure that the staff works appropriately with partners to assure they meet their benchmark requirements in accordance with USAID regulations.

3) Monitoring assessments and site visits completed by technical staff to ensure timely implementation by partners, stakeholders and counterparts in the achievement of activities at the local and provincial levels.

4) Assuring that the staff provides sound technical advice to institutional contractors, grantees, government officials and other stakeholders as warranted.

5) Collaborating with other donors and organizations in development and financing to ensure synergy of program activities with those of other organizations.

6) Guiding the technical staff in their management of financial matters related to program activities, such as administrative approval of vouchers, planning and preparing for annual incremental funding amendments, and other financial administrative activities are completed in a timely manner.

7) Overseeing the preparation of all necessary internal USAID project obligation and implementation documentation for smooth program implementation, including Modified Acquisition and Assistance Documents (MAARDs), and required reporting documents.

8) Directing the preparing and submission of the annual evaluation of contractors’ performance for inclusion in their central database on contractors.

III. SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Supervision Received: The STO will work under the general supervision and policy guidance of the Mission Director, USAID/Guinea. The Mission Director will review and approve the STO’s annual work objectives and performance measures. In view of the senior-level technical role of the STO, supervision will be generally confined to staff meetings and informal weekly consultations.

B. Supervision Exercised: The STO will exercise total technical and management oversight of the staff of five technical specialists and two staff personnel in USAID/Guinea, and, as requested, from time to time, provide guidance upon direction of the Mission Director to the four technical specialists in Freetown. In the absence of the Mission Director and Program Officer, the STO may also serve as Acting Mission Director.

IV. QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION CRITERIA

Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following selection criteria. Reference checks will seek to corroborate candidate self-assessments against these criteria.

Education (10 points):

A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in the field of public health, management science, business administration, international development, finance, marketing or related subject, with emphasis on program/project management is required, although a master’s degree is highly desired.

Work experience (total 40 points):

· Development Management (30 points): The incumbent is required to have a minimum of ten (10) years of development management experience – including at least eight (8) years of employment as a program manager with large USG and/or international organizations – with significant project management, design and development experience. It is also desirable to have some working experience in the health sector. Experience in contract or grant management is desired.

· Africa (10 points): Experience in Francophone African development is preferred; other Africa experience will be considered acceptable.

Knowledge (total 25 points):

· Management (15 points): Full mastery of project development, management, performance monitoring and evaluation, and procurement procedures is required for this position. Knowledge of contracting procedures and/or policies is desirable.

· Technical (5 points): Some technical background in health, or at least in another development sector in the Assistance Office (democracy/governance, education, agriculture/natural resources management, or economic growth) is required.

· Governance Environment (5 points): Demonstrated understanding of the major problems facing poorly-governed weak or fragile states will be look upon favorably, and is desired.

Skills and Abilities (total 25 points):

· Supervisory, cross-cultural and multi-sector management (5 points): Demonstrated cross-cultural interaction and supervisory skills in management of projects spanning several development sectors. Candidates must demonstrate ability to work independently, efficiently and effectively to complete multiple tasks within tight timelines, and with little supervision or guidance, while exercising sound judgment. Successful candidates must demonstrate the ability to manage several activities at a time in the performance of project management.

· Oral and written expression (5 points): The candidate must have a demonstrated ability to communicate quickly, clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, in English. This includes the preparation and supervision in the execution of technical reports, presentations and briefings. The applicant should have demonstrated ability to produce professional quality analytical work and deliver authoritative, persuasive written and oral presentations to senior USG officials from multiple agencies, other donors, foreign government officials, and local NGOs.

· Substance (5 points): Ability to engage in policy dialogue and work plan development with senior host government officials, policy makers, NGOs and civil society leaders.

· French Language (2.5 points): Operational effectiveness requires a minimum qualification in French-language capability of FSI-scale S-3, R-3.

· Operational (2.5 points): Computer proficiency, including word processing, Excel and power point programs.

Total: 100 points

V.

TERM OF PERFORMANCE / COMPENSATION

Within two weeks after written notice from the Contracting Officer that all clearances, including medical and security clearances, have been received, or unless another date is specified by the Contracting Officer in writing, the contractor shall proceed to the Washington, D.C. area for mandatory pre-deployment training and orientation, and then directly to Conakry, Guinea, where s/he shall promptly commence performance of the duties specified above. The term of the contract will be for two years (including the mandatory training period in Washington, D.C.).

The position has been classified at a GS-15 level. The actual salary of the successful candidate will be negotiated within the GS-15 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-15 level, or who in some other way does not fully meet all requirements for the position. However, should such an individual be offered a position, the offered salary may be at less than the minimum salary in the GS-15 pay scale.

VI.

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.

VII.

BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES/TAXES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a USPSC 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:

Employer'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)

Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

Education Allowance (Section 270)

Education Travel (Section 280)

Post Differential (Chapter 500)

Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and

Danger Pay (Section 650)

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

VIII. APPLYING

Qualified individuals are requested to submit (i) a U.S. government Optional Form 612 which is available at the USAID websites: http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solicit/forms.html, http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/forms.asp, or at Federal offices; ii) a 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 OF-612. Unsigned applications shall NOT be considered.

All applications should be submitted electronically to:

conakrypscjobs.gov All 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 application must be signed.

Note:

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