SOL-72044219R00002_PMI_Advisor_final.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72044219R00002

ISSUANCE DATE: February 5, 2019 CLOSING DATE/TIME: February 19, 2019 4:00PM, Local Time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for a U.S/Third Country National Personal Services Contractor (PSC)

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation.

Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1, Sections I through V of this solicitation. Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records.

This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the offer.

Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in the attached information.

Sincerely, Andrew Reese Executive Officer

ATTACHMENT 1 72044219R00002

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72044219R00002

2. ISSUANCE DATE: February 5, 2019

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: February 19, 2019, 4:00PM, Cambodia Time

4. POSITION TITLE: President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) Advisor

5. MARKET VALUE: $89,370 -- $116,181, equivalent to GS-14 Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value, based on the successful candidate’s salary history, work experience and educational background.

Compensation package for Cambodia includes post differential, currently set at 25%.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two Years (2 years), o/a May 13, 2019 to o/a May 12, 2021, with the possibility of extensions. Extensions will depend on the need for continuation of such services, availability of funds, satisfactory performance, and the needs of the USAID/Cambodia Mission.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Cambodia – Phnom Penh, Cambodia with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Work.

8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facilities Access / Employment Authorization

9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

1. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract In May 2009, the Global Health Initiative (GHI) was announced, which is a comprehensive effort to reduce the burden of disease and promote healthy communities and families around the world. The President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) continues to be a core component of GHI and in 2011, PMI initiated activities in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS). The PMI is an interagency Initiative led by USAID and implemented in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In FY13, the PMI team developed the first Malaria Operational Plan (MOP) comprising of the six GMS countries including Cambodia, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Lao and Yunnan Province (People’s Republic of China). In 2015, support for PMI in Cambodia transitioned to direct bilateral support. PMI’s primary goal in this region and for Cambodia in particular is to effectively respond to artemisinin resistance through implementing malaria control and preventions and support for malaria elimination in selected geographic areas in Western Cambodia where emerging artemisinin resistance are present.

Both malaria morbidity and mortality rates in Cambodia have declined over the last decade due to increased government commitment and along with that commitment, substantial financial and technical support from the international community. The total number of treated malaria cases in the public sector was halved from 115,614 reported cases in 2001 to 23,627 reported cases in 2016 with roughly half of malaria cases being tested and treated by Village Malaria Workers. Malaria deaths have decreased dramatically by 95.4% from 219 deaths in 2009 to only 1 death in 2017. While there has been a rapid reduction in malaria cases in-country, Cambodia still faces many challenges especially in epidemiological pattern changes, reaching mobile and migrant populations as well as in case management of artemisinin resistance. However, in 2017, malaria cases were doubled (45,971) in both public health facilities and village malaria workers in 9 provinces compared to 2016 in Northeastern and Western Cambodia. In particular, plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin drugs has been confirmed in Western Cambodia; and treatment failures to artemisinins have been reported in nine provinces located on the Thai-Cambodia border and along the Laos-Cambodia and Vietnam-Cambodia borders.

2. Statement of Duties to be Performed:

Program and Activity Management 30 percent The Malaria Advisor will manage and oversee services and deliverables provided by contractors and grantees, in accordance with PMI and USAID program management regulations, procedures, and practices. Further the incumbent will advise Mission Management and PMI headquarters on the status of PMI and related malaria activities in Cambodia. The Advisor will coordinate with relevant stakeholders, provide program oversight, and exercise independent technical and professional judgment in organizing, planning and supervising PMI program implementation including routine site visits.

Technical Oversight, Collaboration, and Coordination 50 percent The Advisor will maintain familiarity with current scientific and medical literature as well as best practices in methods of malaria prevention and control as relevant to the Cambodia program, especially in regard to drug resistance, drug quality monitoring, vector control, malaria control and elimination intervention, entomological monitoring, operational research and surveillance. Additional expertise in health care seeking behavior particularly as it relates to community drug distribution and use of lower level facilities, drug and diagnostic policy issues, and strategic health communication for behavior change is desirable. Provide technical direction, strategic planning and oversight of the implementation of the PMI program, and ensure that planned development results are achieved in a highly efficient, effective, and timely manner, consistent with PMI guidelines and USAID regulations, policies and development principles.

Work closely with senior and technical representatives from the Cambodian government, foreign embassies providing development assistance, international donor organizations, local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private international organizations, other U.S. agencies, senior U.S. government officials and USAID and CDC technical staff. The incumbent will manage relationships and assignments independently and with minimal supervision as well as limited guidance.

The Advisor will work closely with the following stakeholders as described below.

• Work with CNM to assist in developing and updating the National Treatment Guidelines, National Surveillance System and other national plans for best practices in vector control, treatment regimens, diagnosis, and other proven malaria control and elimination strategies atthe health facility, private sector, and community levels based on medical and scientific literature, experience from other countries and operations research. Assist CNM to develop a potential donor platform for funding and technical discussion in the country to avoid duplicating activities and maximize available funding for malaria activities. Assist CNM in facilitating communication and coordination between PMI activities, other donors, such as the Global Fund and Gates Foundation, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other line ministries, Global Fund principal recipients as well as, sub-recipients, the World Health Organization, other in-country stakeholders, purposely for broader health system strengthening efforts.

This includes actively engaging during the Malaria Technical Strategic Group meetings and other sub-technical working groups as related to malaria.

• Work with offices within the MOH and other relevant ministries, such as the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Fisheries, to ensure that various stakeholders are in sync and working together to effectively plan, implement and monitor activities relevant to malaria prevention and control, and elimination.

• Work with health partners at the national, provincial and operational district level and private sectors to ensure effectiveness of programs at the community level.

• Work with suppliers and partners to ensure that programmatic commodities are purchased in a timely and cost effective manner. Also, ensure that the absorptive capacity exists in implementation sites to receive, manage and distribute these items effectively.

• Work with PMI partners to communicate regularly and work jointly with other members of the USAID/Cambodia health team, PMI/Mekong Advisors, and the PMI headquarter team including USAID/Washington and CDC/Atlanta.

• Ensure that malaria prevention and control activities are integrated into overall USAID/Cambodia health portfolio and coordinated with regional PMI efforts.

• Provide technical support to all partners and managerial support as needed during the design and implementation phases of the project to ensure the quality of interventions supported and that programmatic targets are met.

• Represent USAID and PMI in Cambodia with host government and other in-country counterparts.

• Coordinate with other OPHE staff and implementing partners working on cross-cutting health systems strengthening activities that support the national malaria program.

• Ensures that malaria activities under all PMI/USAID Cambodia partners are well coordinated and in line with PMI’s five year strategy, PMI headquarters guidelines as well as, integrated into the National Malaria Programs.

• Serves as an integral member of the Mission PMI team which includes an FSN and the Family Planning, Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Team Lead in USAID/Cambodia and the GMS PMI team which includes PMI staff in the USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia, USAID/Washington, and CDC/Atlanta. S/he provides technical direction, strategic planning and oversight of the implementation of the PMI program and malaria activities.

This includes preparation and development of the annual Malaria Operational Plan, budget and reports, with the interagency GMS PMI and PMI HQ teams.

• Ensures that all malaria activities are integrated appropriately and according to the principles of GHI. Additionally, s/he provides the Mission with technical advice on how best to achieve results. S/he will, as appropriate, work in other areas within the Mission (e.g. democracy and governance, economic growth, humanitarian assistance etc.) and other U.S. agencies as related to the U.S government’s broader development goals.

• Maintains close technical coordination with donors and development partners working in malaria.

Monitoring and Evaluation Responsibilities 20 percent Monitoring and evaluation is a key component of PMI. The Advisor will be responsible for the following:

• Develop a monitoring and evaluation plan which is in line with PMI targets as well as, ensure that PMI partners develop project monitoring plans and reports in a timely manner.

• Provide expert advice and practical experience in helping CNM to develop and implement the national monitoring and evaluation plan on the National Strategic Plan for Elimination of Malaria 2011-2025. Subsequently, assist CNM to monitor inputs and outcomes and progress towards national elimination goals.

• Work with MOH and other partners to develop and execute a monitoring and evaluation plan to be implemented through existing MOH systems and existing USG supported mechanisms. Carry out monitoring and evaluation visits to implementation sites to ascertain all quantitative and qualitative data is collected properly and ensure programmatic quality and value for money are maintained.

• Ensure audit accountability within the PMI program.

3. Supervisory Relationship

N/A

4. Supervisory Controls The incumbent will report to the OPHE Office Director or his/her designee.

5. Other Important Information

Should a third country national (TCN) PSC be selected for award, during the period of the contract, the TCN contractor shall devote at least 10% of working hours to training to a cooperating country national (CCN) designated by USAID. The PSC Supervisor will establish a training plan with benchmarks to measure the contractor's progress toward achieving this training deliverable.

10. AREA OF CONSIDERATION:

To meet basic eligibility requirements, the applicant must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident/registered alien (“green card holder”)

• A Third Country National (e.g.; a citizen of a country other than Cambodia)

• Submit a complete application as outlined in the section titled APPLYING;

• Be able to attain employment authorization/facility access;

• Be able to obtain a Department of State medical clearance;

• Be available and willing to work additional hours beyond the established 40-hour workweek, including weekends, as may be required or necessary;

• Be willing to travel to work sites and other offices as/when requested.

Hiring Preference:

• In accordance with ADS 309.3.3, Cooperating Country National and Third Country National Personal Services Contracts, USAID policy is that the use of CCNPSCs is preferred over the use of TCNPSCs in order to integrate the foreign assistance effort into the community, enhance the skills of the cooperating country's population, and contribute to the local economy.

• USPSCs are also preferred over TCNPSCs. TCNPSC positions must only be used when:

o Qualified CCNs are not available;

o Limitations on Agency and Mission operations do not allow sufficient time to train CCNs; and o Program efficiencies and policy objectives can only be achieved using

TCNPSCs as a substitute for available, eligible, and qualified U.S.

citizens (as defined in AIDAR Appendix D) and persons from the host country.

• A TCNPSC hired under this contract will receive compensation in accordance with the applicable, approved Alternate Compensation Plan (ACP). All other compensation, allowances, and benefits, will be accorded under the applicable AIDAR Appendix J contract clauses.

11. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

12. POINT OF CONTACT:

Complete, signed application packages should be submitted by email to Mr. Andrew Reese at areese@usaid.gov with a courtesy copy to Ms. Chhorvy Heng at cheng@usaid.gov. Incomplete or unsigned applications will not be considered.

Digital signatures are acceptable.

mailto:areese@usaid.gov mailto:cheng@usaid.gov

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

All candidates must meet the Minimum Qualifications. Applications will be screened accordingly, and only those that meet the below, required criteria, will be moved forward in the recruitment process:

• Education: A Master’s Degree in public health, international health, or health sciences.

• Experience: The incumbent must have at least five years of progressively responsible experience in designing, implementing and managing malaria and other health programs in developing countries. The incumbent must also have demonstrated experience managing successful teams comprised of experienced professionals. Demonstrated technical leadership, program management, strategic planning, policy experience and problem solving skills working on complex projects in a highly sensitive environment are required. Specialized experience in malaria is required in areas including, but not limited to malaria program design, management and implementation; vector control; entomology;

malaria case management; and epidemic surveillance.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

Upon closing of the solicitation, a committee will convene to review the applications. Applicants who meet the education and experience requirements will be scored and ranked based on the following selection factors:

1. Education Requirements (10 points) A Master’s Degree in public health, international health, or health sciences.

2. Relevant Experience (30 points)

The incumbent must have at least five years of progressively responsible experience in designing, implementing and managing malaria and other health programs in developing countries. The incumbent must also have demonstrated experience managing successful teams comprised of experienced professionals. Demonstrated technical leadership, program management, strategic planning, policy experience and problem solving skills working on complex projects in a highly sensitive environment are required. Specialized experience in malaria is required in areas including, but not limited to malaria program design, management and implementation; vector control; entomology; malaria case management; and epidemic surveillance.

3. Job Knowledge (30 points)

Demonstrated through relevant experience and training:

• Must have proven knowledge of main malaria technical areas, behavior change communication, prevention and control, operational research, entomology, drug management, epidemic surveillance, and vector control. Preference will be given to those candidates with malaria elimination knowledge.

• Must have proven knowledge of malaria control and strategies and operational program design, implementation, and evaluation, and preference will be given to those candidates with malaria elimination experience.

• Preference will be given to those candidates with overall understanding of the social, economic and cultural determinants and implications of the epidemic and multi-drug resistant malaria in Cambodia and its neighboring countries.

• Preference will be given to those candidates with proven knowledge and experience with other U.S. government programs, procedures and systems for program design, procurement, implementation, management and monitoring.

• Must have knowledge of quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods.

4. Skills and Abilities (30 points)

Demonstrated through relevant experience and training:

• Ability to take technical leadership in national malaria coordination and technical approach of control and elimination with National Malaria Program Center and other partners.

• Ability to build capacity of and mentor local staff in a developing country.

• Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team environment with a broad range of USG personnel and agencies particularly within USAID/Cambodia as well as PMI team and partners; have demonstrated skills in donor coordination and collaboration; and achieve consensus on policy, program, and administrative matters is a must.

• Tact and diplomacy are required to establish and develop sustainable working relationships at the highest level and a high level of trust with public/private organizations.

• Ability to negotiate activity plans and resolve activity implementation issues with counterparts, partners and team members.

• Ability to navigate and manage politically sensitive issues related to malaria control and elimination.

• Ability to analyze and interpret public policies and assist in the development of revised policies as required as well as integrate short and long-range objectives of USAID Cambodia and PMI with the cultural/organizational needs of the host country government and civil society partners.

• Ability to conceptualize programs, policies, and plans and developing strategies for their management and implementation.

• Proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly and concisely – both orally and in writing in English. Demonstrated ability to make sensitive oral presentations logically and persuasively to senior U.S. and Cambodian government officials and other donors.

• Ability to communicate highly technical health information to both health and non-health audiences.

• Excellent written communication skills are required to prepare regular and ad hoc reports, activity documentation and briefing papers.

• Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook, Access, SPSS or Stata) and Malaria Information System (MIS/DHIS2) or other similar statistical software are required for effectively operating in this position. Good computer skills are required to implement, analyze, and monitor, and manage activity goals, inputs, outcomes, and achievements, both program and impact.

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 finalist candidates will be contacted.

Reference checks will be conducted only for the candidates who are considered to be finalists, based on the results of their interviews. The applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities.

If an applicant does not wish USAID to contact a current employer for a reference check, this must be stated in the applicant’s cover letter; USAID will delay such reference checks pending the applicant’s concurrence.

IV. APPLYING

a. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals,” available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.

b. Offerors are also required to submit:

1. Cover Letter;

2. Curriculum Vitae or resume;

3. Two (2) writing samples

4. Salary history for the previous three years; and

5. A list of three professional references.

c. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I, item 11.

d. To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

Once the CO informs the successful offeror of their being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide instructions on how to complete and submit the following forms.

1. Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) http://www.usaid.gov/forms

2. Medical History and Examination Form (DS-6561)

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)

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC 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) Temporary Quarter Subsistence Allowance (Section 120)

(b) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

(c) Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 210)

(d) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(e) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(f) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(g) Education Travel (Section 280)

(h) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

(i) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and

(j) Danger Pay Allowance (Section 650)

VII. TAXES

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

VIII. USAID PSCs 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.

[The CO must check http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs to determine which AAPDs/CIBs apply and insert the relevant text as required.]

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 .

USAID regulations and policies governing CCN/TCN PSC awards are available at these sources:

1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID

Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National 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 & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins

(AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs

[The CO must check http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs to determine which AAPDs/CIBs apply and insert the relevant text as required.]

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

ALL QUALIFIED APPLICATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED REGARDLESS OF AGE,

RACE, COLOR, SEX, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, LAWFUL POLITICAL

AFFILIATION, NON-DISQUALIFYING DISABILITY, MARITAL STATUS, SEXUAL

ORIENTATION, AFFILIATION WITH AN EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION, OR

OTHER NON-MERIT FACTOR.