Solicitation.pdf

ATTACHMENT 1 72026719R00001

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72026719R00001

2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 10, 2019.

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: March 31, 2019 no later than 17:00 Baghdad time.

4. POSITION TITLE: Supervisory Development Advisor (Stabilization).

5. MARKET VALUE: $105,123 - $136,659 equivalent to GS-15. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The period of performance is one year, with the possibility of extensions. The contract and extensions cannot exceed 5 years.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Baghdad, Iraq.

8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: The successful applicant shall be required to obtain a

Secret level security clearance.

9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

A) BACKGROUND

Since 2003, USAID has been a major contributor to the U.S. government (USG) relief, stabilization and reconstruction effort in Iraq. USAID works closely with other USG entities, the Government of Iraq (GOI), provincial and local governments, international institutions such as the United Nations (UN) and the World Bank, and a network of partners from non-governmental organizations, local community groups, and Iraqi citizens.

U.S. assistance to Iraq has changed substantially over the past years, especially since the Da’esh offensive beginning in 2014. From 2003 to 2006, USAID focused on restoring essential services, such as in health, education, water and electricity; improving economic opportunities; building the foundation of democracy and governance; and managing conflict. In 2007, the focus shifted to strengthening the effectiveness of government and civil society, expanding private sector opportunities, supporting focused stabilization activities, and providing humanitarian assistance and support for internally displaced persons. These types of activities continued until 2009 when USG assistance began shifting from reconstruction to enhancing Iraq’s capacity to rebuild itself and improving Iraq’s ability to govern itself effectively. In December 2012 the mission’s staffing profile changed dramatically when it was forced to reduce expatriate staff by 70 percent. Since October 2014, all projects are managed by one technical office.

In 2014, Da’esh launched a brutal attack and secured an estimated 40 percent of Iraq’s territory. In response, the USG joined other coalition partners in the Integrated Campaign Strategy to rid Iraq and the Middle East of Da’esh. The glide path for the closure of the USAID Mission was reversed and the current portfolio targets humanitarian assistance, stabilization, and economic and governance reform. Today, USAID/Iraq’s efforts focus on five goals:

1) Assisting Iraqis affected by conflict, including those displaces by violence;

2) Helping Iraq stabilize communities newly liberated from Da’esh occupation through rehabilitating basic services;

3) Supporting Iraqi efforts to decentralize decision making and basic services, so provincial governments have the authority and resources to respond effectively to public needs;

4) Increasing government openness, efficiency and effectiveness through improved public financial management and financial management and financial oversight;

5) Promoting economic reform, improving the business environment and moving Iraq towards a diversified market economy.

B) STATEMENT OF DUTIES

BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION:

This position is located in the Governance & Economic Opportunity Office (GEO) of USAID/Iraq.

The Supervisory Development Advisor for Stabilization (hereafter referred to as “Advisor”) is a senior technical expert and policy advisor providing strategic vision, direction and oversight for USAID’s stabilization activities in Iraq.

The Advisor reports to the Director of the Office of Governance and Economic Opportunity. GEO supports activities to stabilize urban and peri-urban communities in strategically selected cities identified and in line with GOI and USG objectives. GEO currently manages over $412 million in contracts and grants. Currently stabilization activities are valued at $271 million and are implemented through a public international organization (PIO) agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and a number of cooperative agreements with U.S. organizations.

This portfolio is expected to grow over the coming months and years.

The Advisor provides strategic direction, guidance and oversight in order to meet U.S. Government’s (USG) stabilization objectives for Iraq. The Advisor reports to the GEO Director and supervises 3 to 5 Stabilization staff members. The Advisor’s responsibilities include: a) serving as a deputy director/stabilization advisor; b) representing the U.S government/USAID on stabilization matters with U.S. government including the military, Government of Iraq (GOI) and international community audiences; c) supervising the stabilization team; and d) providing expert advice and policy guidance on stabilization initiatives, trends and issues. The Advisor shall:

1. Provide effective technical leadership and vision to ensure high quality Stabilization sector strategy and technical work product in the design, procurement and management of the Stabilization portfolio.

2. Motivates and empowers the Stabilization team by establishing clear goals, demonstrating a commitment to technical excellence, encouraging innovation, and appropriately deleting.

3. Provides comprehensive policy and technical advice to Mission Management, GEO Director, the Ambassador and other interagency colleagues, USAID Washington, within the international community, and to the highest-level host government officials engaged in the stabilization sector.

4. Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the Stabilization sector, related policies, procedures, requirements, and is a recognized resource and technical expert on the Stabilization sector.

5. Clearly communicates highly technical and complicated information and represents the Mission in both internal and external meetings on the Stabilization sector including meetings with implementing partners, other donor groups and senior host government officials.

6. Leads and activity contributes to broader Agency, inter-agency and/or development partner teams and initiatives in the Stabilization sector.

7. Oversees and/or leads designs, procurements and manages multiple Stabilization initiatives.

8. Oversees, COR/AORs for Stabilization sector projects and, as necessary serves COR/AOR for stabilization projects including approval of work plans and vouchers, carrying out site visits and providing technical oversight and guidance to ensure activities achieved U.S. government intended results and objectives.

DETAILED DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Planning (40%):

1. Provide strategic and technical advice for planning and design of stabilization activities and measures achievement in Iraq, including preparing stabilization portions of key USAID documents such as the operational plan, the performance plan and report, the Congressional Budget Justification and other critical documents.

2. Advise USAID/Iraq staff, Embassy personnel and Washington policy makers on stabilization trends and emerging issues in Iraq.

3. Advise on new developments in Iraq and their implications for the strategic direction and implementation of stabilization objectives and the Mission’s operational framework.

4. Take leadership in developing the analytical agenda for the stabilization portfolio.

5. Provide strategic and technical advice to the international donor community and USAID’s development partners and implementing agencies on stabilization policies and issues.

6. Represent USAID with the interagency, GOI, other donor agencies, non-governmental organizations, and implementing agencies with a goal of sharing information and coordinating advice and activities.

7. Provide USAID Washington, Embassy Front Office, and others on the application of development paradigms and aid effectiveness principles with host country and international partners on matters of broad U.S. government interest.

8. Represent USAID and the U.S. government in multi-lateral and national level strategy discussions on issues related to stabilization.

Technical Leadership and Expertise (25%):

1. Provide technical leadership on stabilization, counter-insurgency, resiliency and related technical topics to the USAID Mission, U.S. Embassy and the broader international community.

2. Mentor U.S. and Foreign Service national staff to support professional development including technical expertise and leadership skills.

3. Play a technical/expertise leadership role in the interagency, technical working groups, developing multi-sectoral stabilization programming and providing technical guidance and direction.

4. Provide technical and program assistance including drafting briefing papers, cables and memos for information and action on stabilization related correspondence, reports and documents, etc.

5. Coordinate dissemination of lessons learned among all stabilization stakeholders, including the U.S. government, other development partners, the GOI at the national and sub-national levels.

6. Develop documents related the stabilization sector and portfolio.

7. Develop and/or maintain linkages among USAID’s activities with other U.S. government funded activities, with a focus strengthening multi-sectoral programming.

8. Provide technical advice and assistance to strengthen capacity of indigenous organizations and GOI institutions to ensure sustainability of U.S. government and other donor stabilization efforts.

9. Strengthen collaboration, provide technical advice/assistance and enhance the long-term sustainability of program activities.

10. Provide technical assistance to ensure stabilization program investments are consistent with international norms and standards and are synergistic with other investments made by the U.S.

government and partnering agencies.

11. Provide technical leadership and expertise on the development and implementation of stabilization guidelines, interventions and programs.

12. Monitor current stabilization literature, policies, reports, international guidelines and standards and best practices.

13. Provide recommendations in developing and implementing innovative approaches to designing, implementing and evaluating stabilization initiatives.

Representation and Coordination (25%):

1. Work to strengthen coordination within the stabilization sector including within the U.S government interagency, the GOI, other donors, multi-laterals, implementing agencies and others involved in the stabilization sector.

2. Provide leadership to bring international best practices and technical advances while coordinating and collaborating with the GOI, other donors, UN agencies and other key stakeholders on planning, implementation and policy issues related to stabilization.

3. Work closely with the GOI, bilateral and multilateral agencies, U.S. interagency and other key stakeholders to strengthen collaboration of stabilization activities at the national and sub-levels to ensure greater country ownership and technical capacity.

4. Represent USAID and the U.S. government as appropriate on relevant GOI, U.S. interagency and other donor working groups/committees and in technical discussions on issues related to stabilization programming.

5. Lead collaboration and coordination efforts with the GOI, donors and other relevant partners on stabilization activities to ensure technical and programmatic synergy.

6. Prepare strategy papers, briefings, power point presentations and other presentations representing the stabilization portfolio for diverse audiences including GOI, U.S. government, development partners, other donors, the military, civil society and other stakeholders.

Program Management and Performance Monitoring (10%):

1. Provide technical leadership, advice and guidance on annual work plans and design for stabilization activities and implementing partners.

2. Conduct regular site visits to review program implementation and meet with beneficiaries.

Based upon the information collected during field visits, communicate findings and recommendations to the U.S. government, USAID, other donors, implementing partners and GOI counterparts.

3. Ensure that implementing partners are in compliance with relevant regulations and procedures including but not limited to applicable U.S. government laws and legislative directives and regulations.

4. Based on personal observations, assessment reports, performance statistics and other available data, make programmatic recommendations.

5. Provide strategic technical advice for, and prepare portions of key U.S. government/USAID planning and budget documents, contributing to annual and semiannual performance reviews;

operational plans, performance, plan reports, drafting technical justifications for new activities and changes to on-going activities and organizing public or USG events in support of stabilization activities and mission strategies.

6. Serve as A/COR for stabilization activities and serve as Acting GEO Director, as necessary.

C) SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP

The Advisor will report to and work under the general supervision and guidance of the Director of the Governance and Economic Opportunity Office. Performance is evaluated by the GEO Director, primarily in terms of conformance with policy and results achieved. The Advisor functions with a considerable degree of latitude and independence.

D) SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

This is a supervisory position. The incumbent provides direct supervision to 3 to 5 Stabilization office staff members. S/he will provide direction, assign tasks and review completed work that they perform.

10. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. Citizens.

11. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items, such as papers, books, or small parts; or driving an automobile. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. The work requested is generally sedentary and poses few physical demands. The selected applicant must meet new fitness for duty standards for Iraq (stated in 15 State 11055) which includes: (1) a full medical evaluation, and (2) must obtain medical clearance from State/MED in order to deploy to post.

12. POINT OF CONTACT: For inquiries only, please contact:

Francisco Santos, Supervisory Executive Specialist, USAID/Iraq, frsantos@usaid.gov Mohammad Ibrahim, Human Resources Specialist, Mibrahim@usaid.gov

Applications will NOT be accepted to these email addresses. Please see item IV for instructions on how and where to submit applications.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

In order to be considered for the position, a candidate must meet the Minimum Qualifications.

Applications will be pre-screened and only those that meet the Minimum Qualifications will be considered. These are the minimum qualifications necessary to be considered for the position:

1. Education: A master’s degree in international development, international relations, business, economics, public administration, social sciences, urban planning, disaster management, conflict or post-conflict studies is required.

2. Prior Work Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in development or stabilization or humanitarian strategy development, program development and implementation in an ongoing conflict situation and/or post-conflict reconstruction environment is required. The Advisor must have extensive international development, disaster recovery, stabilization, and/or fragile or strategic state experience overseas. The Advisor must have significant experience implementing development programs particularly those with the U.S. government/USAID. S/he must be familiar with USAID activity design, monitoring and evaluation, implementation and reporting procedures and policies.

3. Language Proficiency: Fluent English (Level IV) reading, speaking and writing ability is required.

4. Knowledge: Knowledge of USAID processes, procedures and instruments is required.

Knowledge of military and civilian agencies involved in development, conflict mitigation, stabilization counter-insurgency or disaster relief activities is required.

5. Skills and abilities: The candidate must possess:

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate in an inter-agency and multi-donor setting, project management, and monitoring/oversight skills are required;

• Demonstrated mastery of writing and speaking/presentation skills, and in preparing analytical briefings for key U.S. government and other leaders/decision makers are required.

• The ability to operate basic computer tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and potentially Access is required;

• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated political acumen to establish and maintain collaborative relations with senior-level and working-level counterparts both inside and outside of USAID are required;

mailto:frsantos@usaid.gov mailto:Mibrahim@usaid.gov

• A proven, demonstrated ability to work independently under tight deadlines and heavy workload within agreed-upon parameters with minimal supervision or guidance and while exercising sound judgment is required;

• The ability to conceptualize both strategically and programmatically is required;

• An entrepreneurial, results-oriented approach to assistance, and the ability to diplomatically and tactfully confront and resolve institutional and interagency bureaucratic challenges while maintaining collaborative relations is required;

• “Self-starter” skills in order to anticipate and proactively address client needs are required;

• A proven ability to respond quickly to changing environments and evolving client needs are required; and

• An ability to work calmly, tactfully and effectively under pressure and adapt to the existing management team are required.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

Applicants must submit a summary statement of no more than one letter-size page, which describes how their relevant professional experience and education has prepared them to meet the specific challenges of the duties and responsibilities described above. The Contracting Officer will establish a competitive range and only shortlisted candidate will be contacted for interview.

Applications that do not meet the required minimum qualifications will not be scored.

1. Education (10 points):

2. Prior Work Experience (40 points)

3. Language Proficiency (10 points)

4. Knowledge (20 points)

5. Skills and Abilities (20 points)

Total possible points: 100

Candidates meeting the above required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented within the application. The Contracting Officer reserves the right to establish a competitive range. Those applicants determined to be competitively ranked will be invited to participate in an interview. Only those applicants in competitive range, if established, will be contacted. The interview will be one of the determining factors in the final selection.

Reference checks will be conducted with the highest-ranked offeror at the conclusion of evaluations and prior to negotiations to assess the applicant’s technical knowledge, work performance, communication skills, and group dynamics, using the above criteria.

IV. APPLYING

1. Qualified applicants are requested to submit:

A. Most current Curriculum Vitae or resume;

B. Completed and signed USPSC Application Form, a302-3 (Offeror Information for Personal

Services Contracts), which can be found at the following website: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/a302-3.doc ;

C. Three professional references, who are not blood-related, with telephone and e-mail contacts;

D. Brief appendix of no more than one letter-size page to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training have prepared them to meet the specific challenges of the duties and responsibilities described in the solicitation.

2. Applications must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted electronically to: IraqUSPSCjobs@usaid.gov.

3. To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, Applicants must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the application submission.

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

Once the Contracting Officer (CO) informs the successful Applicant about being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide the successful Applicant instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms:

1. Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms)

2. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions for National Security (SF-86),

3. Finger Print Card

4. Form OF306

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a Personal Service Contracting (PSC) employee is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

1. BENEFITS:

(a) Employer's FICA Contribution

(b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

(c) Pay Comparability Adjustment

(d) Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

(e) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

(f) Annual and Sick Leave

2. ALLOWANCES:

Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas)

(a) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(b) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(c) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(d) Education Travel (Section 280)

(e) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

(f) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/a302-3.doc mailto:IraqUSPSCjobs@usaid.gov

(g) Danger Pay Allowance (Section 650)

VII. TAXES

USPSCs are required to pay Federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State Income taxes.

VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO

PSCs USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources:

1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix D, “Direct USAID Contracts with a U.S.

Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf.

2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms .

3. Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for

Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs .

4. Ethical Conduct. By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635. See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations .

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/forms http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations