SOL-72044219R00004_Senior_Acquisition_and_Assistance_Specialist_final.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72044219R00004

ISSUANCE DATE: March 1, 2019 CLOSING DATE/TIME: March 15, 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 72044219R00004

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72044219R00004

2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 1, 2019

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: March 15, 2019, 4:00PM, Cambodia Time

4. POSITION TITLE: Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist

5. MARKET VALUE: $75,628 -- $98,317, equivalent to GS-13 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 June 13, 2019 to o/a June 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 The Personal Services Contractor (PSC) serves as a Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist (further referred to as the Specialist) in the USAID/Cambodia Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA). The Specialist is responsible for all pre-award and post-award functions involving complex negotiated procurement of significant importance to the Mission. The work includes support on all aspects of contract/agreement management relating to and affecting USAID assistance programs in Cambodia, including procurement planning, activity design, solicitation, negotiation, award and implementation of programs. The Specialist is also responsible for training/ mentoring two (2) to three (3) local-hire Acquisition and Assistance Specialists, one (1) Acquisition and Assistance Assistant in the OAA, and other acquisition workforce personnel, as applicable.

2. Statement of Duties to be Performed:

The Specialist provides professional-level procurement planning advice and guidance to USAID/Cambodia technical offices, including procurement policy, and procedures in the design and implementation of Mission activities. The Specialist coordinates the development of procurement objectives for assigned portfolios in terms of potential implementing organizations/partners, competitive issues, and socioeconomic issues, and identifies and constructs appropriate contract and/or grant instruments. The Specialist collaborates with client offices in the Mission to ensure acquisition plans are current, have appropriate milestones, and that related schedules are adequate. (10%)

The Specialist reviews GLAAS Requisitions (REQs/REQMs) entered into GLAAS requesting specific acquisition/assistance actions for major and complex programs/projects/activities and/or services. The Specialist analyzes requirements and determines instrument selection or procurement approach, if SOWs/PDs are complete, and if the request meets FAR, ADS, AIDAR, and/or other Mission, Agency, or USG policies. The Specialist ensures that necessary Mission clearances have been obtained, and that waivers and other supporting documentation are complete. The Specialist recommends revisions regarding SOWs/PDs, budgets, clarification of terms, reporting requirements, and any special conditions, and ensures that required performance indicators are developed and included in the initial Request for Proposal (RFP) or Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), develops solicitation documentation in accordance with all appropriate regulations, selects and includes correct required clauses, and transmits solicitations using Internet-based technology; responds to offeror(s)/applicant (s)’ questions during the proposal/application submission phase; and, determines the need for, and prepares, clarifying amendments, as required, for solicitation documents. As necessary, the Specialist holds pre-bid or consultative meetings with partners to fully explain Agency and counterpart needs, and to discuss solicitation documents. The Specialist applies a high degree of judgment and analysis when deliberating among and between competing and often conflicting regulations and objectives, where the activities involved include multi-million-dollar issues, often with significant political and/or legal implications. (30%)

The Specialist evaluates applications and offers for responsiveness to particular solicitations, and documents the relative strengths and deficiencies of each proposal/application. The Specialist guides Technical Teams in the practice of 'best value' selection; and obtains reports and references, ensuring that past performance of the offeror/applicant is relevant and of a high quality. The Specialist ensures that offerors/applicants have adequate management, accounting, personnel, and procurement systems, and appropriate corporate leadership, resources, and quality control systems to satisfactorily carry out contracts/grants. The Specialist requests audit reports or pre-award surveys from the Office of Financial Management, Office of the Inspector General, and/or the Defense Contract Audit Agency, and obtains clearance from the Department of Labor and/or the Small Business Administration on a variety of EEO and workplace issues; analyzes cost proposals/applications and technical scores/ratings from technical evaluation committees; and, based on the analysis, presents his/her findings to the Contracting/Agreement Officer. The Specialist performs analysis of cost issues, considering economic conditions and factors of material, labor, and transportation costs; examines cost and pricing data submitted by offerors/applicants, to substantiate direct and indirect costs and profit;

determines reasonableness of costs submitted; ensures data provided is consistent with all USAID requirements on eligible geographic sources, and that salary structures are consistent with Agency policy; and, identifies circumstances that may require a waiver. The Specialist coordinates issues of technical weakness and excessive cost with the Technical Teams prior to commencement of negotiation.

Clarifies, and, as necessary, instructs the members of the Team, host-country counterparts, and other Mission staff on the USAID procurement process. The Specialist designs the negotiation strategy, identifies areas subject to negotiation, and consults with technical specialists concerning data submitted by offerors/applicants;

and, conducts extensive negotiations on cost and technical issues prior to contract/grant award, presenting USAID issues of concern, and persuading offerors/applicants to revise technical deficiencies and reduce costs where appropriate. The Specialist requests submission of Revised Proposals/Applications, and prepares appropriate contract or grant instruments for award; coordinates the last stages of selection with the Technical Teams and technical evaluation committee(s);

negotiates and awards grants and cooperative agreements with US-based and local NGOs, colleges and universities, and other non-profit organizations; analyzes transactions to ensure compliance with Agency cost-sharing and registration policies, as well as local laws governing status; presents award recommendations of the successful implementing partner to the Contracting/Agreement Officer, with all the appropriate supporting documentation, including the development of appropriate performance indicators, in conjunction with the Technical Teams; organizes and conducts orientation meetings with the selected implementing partners, to ensure that mobilization efforts will be conducted efficiently, and that all terms and conditions of procurement instruments are clear and well- understood by all parties;

and, provides debriefings to unsuccessful offerors/applicants. (30%)

The Specialist monitors contractor/grantee performance in relation to the completion schedule required by the contract or assistance instrument; ensures timely submission of technical progress reports, making periodic visits to implementing partner work sites, and representing OAA at performance-related meetings held by the Mission; assists the Mission to develop appropriate indicators for work plans and contract/assistance documents; ensures contractor/grantee is fully compliant with performance standards contained in the agreement, and seeks corrective action in cases of non-compliance. (10%)

The Specialist analyzes, and takes action to resolve, audit findings, such as cost items questioned or unresolved; supports recommendations with detailed analysis of each cost, category, or element as necessary; prepares necessary documents to resolve all aspects of audits, questioned or ineligible costs, and accounting issues.

The Specialist reviews completed (after full performance) contract/agreement files to determine that all actions are satisfied, and that there are no pending administrative actions to be resolved; ensures that all file documents are signed, that there are no litigation actions pending, and that the contract/agreement is complete in every respect and ready to be closed; and, ensures that contracts/agreements nearing annual anniversaries or final completion have a completed performance report from the COR/AOR, and submits reports to the Contractor for comment. (10%)

The Specialist provides guidance and mentoring to two (2) to three A&A Specialists, one (1) A&A Assistant, and other acquisition workforce personnel, as applicable, on the basic principles of Federal and USAID acquisition/assistance, general procurement management, procurement policy direction, new/changed procurement policies, filing requirements and close-out, as required. (10%)

3. Supervisory Relationship N/A

4. Supervisory Controls The incumbent will report to the OAA 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 Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, law, international affairs, procurement/contracting or finance, is required.

• Experience: Five years substantive and directly-relatable professional contracting or procurement work is required. Experience working in various countries, with different cultures and under challenging circumstances is desirable. Such experience must include the full range of contracting responsibilities, including acquisition and assistance award execution, administration, termination, cost and price analysis, procurement planning, analysis and evaluation of proposals, negotiation of changes, execution of options, investigation and resolution of contractor delays, contractor performance appraisal, subcontractor surveillance, and disposition of claims.

Experience should demonstrate knowledge of contracting laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; the ability to lead others and the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing.

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 Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, law, international affairs, procurement/contracting or finance, is required.

2. Relevant Experience (30 points) Five years substantive and directly-relatable professional contracting or procurement work is required. Experience working in various countries, with different cultures and under challenging circumstances is desirable. Such experience must include the full range of contracting responsibilities, including acquisition and assistance award execution, administration, termination, cost and price analysis, procurement planning, analysis and evaluation of proposals, negotiation of changes, execution of options, investigation and resolution of contractor delays, contractor performance appraisal, subcontractor surveillance, and disposition of claims.

Experience should demonstrate knowledge of contracting laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; the ability to lead others and the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing.

3. Job Knowledge (30 points) Demonstrated knowledge of federal contracting and assistance principles, laws, statutes, Executive Orders, regulations and procedures applicable to pre-award and/or post-award actions sufficient to procure and/or administer contracts, grants and cooperative agreements for a variety of specialized equipment, services, and/or construction, or to conduct studies of problem areas and develop standard methods and operating procedures. The following are representative of such knowledge:

• Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)

• USAID Acquisition Regulations (AIDAR)

• Contract Information Bulletins (CIBS) / Acquisition & Assistance Policy

Directives (AAPDs)

• USAID Automated Directive System (ADS)

• Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars

• Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) as appropriate to USAID

• Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C)

Familiarity with business practices and market conditions applicable to program and technical requirements is required sufficient to evaluate such actions as bid responsiveness, contractor responsibility, and/or contractor performance.

Demonstrated knowledge of team management strategies, mentoring and knowledge transfer to provide training for junior staff members is highly desirable.

4. Skills and Abilities (30 points)

• Must be able to work independently in a highly demanding environment and capable of handling tasks with varying deadlines. The ability to plan, organize and manage complex negotiations and meetings is very important. Strong organizational skills, the ability to work independently with little supervision, the ability to work calmly, tactfully and effectively under pressure and to demonstrate extreme flexibility to manage more than one activity at a time is essential.

• Demonstrated ability to work collegially with technical officers, peers, and supervisors with good interpersonal skills and past performance in working effectively in a team environment is required. S/he must be able to adhere to high standards of professional conduct and to maintain strict confidentiality and high ethical standards relating to all areas of acquisition and assistance.

• Demonstrated ability to lead team(s) and provide strategic advice on highly complex, time sensitive procurements. Must be able to communicate complex and difficult policy and programmatic issues understandable by knowledgeable laypersons without oversimplifying and be able to transfer knowledge/mentor other team members.

• Proven ability in the following: negotiation, issuance of fixed-price contracts, issuance of cost reimbursement contracts, issuance of special-purpose contracts and agreements, business evaluations, administration, termination and award and administration of grants and cooperative agreements.

• Demonstrated skills in managerial and coordinative activities sufficient to conduct a variety of contractual actions occurring concurrently, is essential.

• Demonstrated excellence in oral communication in English and strong writing skills. Proving ability to evaluate, and interpret policy directives and regulations, produce technical documents and to effectively communicate to internal and external stakeholders and produce technical documents is required.

• Proficiency in standard operating and application software (Windows, Microsoft

Word, Excel, and Outlook) is required.

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, http://www.usaid.gov/forms 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)

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 http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs

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

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.

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