SOL 72051420R00018_USPSC_Senior Rural Development Advisor.pdf

Tel: (571) 2752000 www.usaid.gov

U.S. Agency for International Development

Cra45#24B-27,Gate2

Bogot^

COLOMBIA

Contracting Officer

SUBJECT: Solicitation for a U.S. / TCN Personal Service Contractor - Short-term - Senior

Rural Development Advisor, GS-14

Dear Prospective Offerers:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development

(USAID), is seeking applications from qualified individuals interested in providing the personal services under contract as described in this solicitation.

Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1 of this solicitation. Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered. Offerers 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 bogotausaidhrteam@usaid.gov. Please ensure to include the solicitation number and position name in the subject line of the enrail.

72051420R000018

February 20, 2020

March 19,2020 -16:00 (Colombia Time)

SOLICITATION NUMBER:

ISSUANCE DATE:

CLOSING DATE/TIME:

FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

USAID COLOMBIA

ATTACHMENT 1 SOL #72051420R00018

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL: 72051420R00018

2. ISSUANCE DATE: February 20, 2020

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR

RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS:

March 19, 2020 no later than 16:00

Colombia Time

4. POINT OF CONTACT:

bogotausaidhrteam@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE:

Senior Rural Development Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE:

$92,977 - $120,868 equivalent to GS-14

Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year – estimated to start on June 2020

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Colombia

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS U.S. Citizens, U.S. Resident Aliens and Third

Country Nationals

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: The successful applicant shall be required to obtain a Secret level security clearance (if U.S. Citizen) or

Moderate Risk Public Trust certificate (if U.S.

Resident Alien or TCN), as a pre-condition for employment.

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

1. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

USAID’s commitment in Colombia stems from the instability, inequality, and strife associated with the country’s 50 year civil conflict. Although Colombia is characterized as a middle-income country, there are two Colombia’s. One the one hand, there is a dynamic and sophisticated

Colombia in a half dozen urban centers, such as Bogota and Medellin. On the other hand, there is a poor, conflict-affected and neglected rural Colombia where USAID focuses its efforts.

Inequality in Colombia perpetuates conflict and fuels an illicit rural economy of drug trafficking, extorsion, and illegal mining. To address these issues and to promote peace, USAID/Colombia builds strategic partnerships with the Government of Colombia (GOC), civil society, and the private sector to support the effective transition out of conflict and to build the conditions for a sustainable and inclusive peace. USAID is working to redress the historical neglect of rural

Colombia through four objectives 1) increasing the presence of democratic institutions, 2) promoting reconciliation for vulnerable populations, 3) improving conditions for inclusive rural economic growth, and 4) strengthening environmental resiliency and low emissions development.

mailto:bogotausaidhrteam@usaid.gov

The Mission also supports the GOC to effectively respond to the influx of Venezuelan migrants into Colombia.

The Senior Rural Development Officer will be based in USAID/Colombia’s Office of Rural and

Economic Development (RED). The RED office manages programs focused on improving the conditions for rural economic growth, particularly connecting isolated, rural conflict zones with licit markets. The RED office implements key elements of the Mission’s post-conflict and rural livelihoods programming in the context of peace implementation and high coca levels. With 11 contracts and cooperative agreements and USAID’s largest single country Development Credit

Authority (DCA) program, RED’s programs are high profile with the largest portfolio in the

Mission. The RED portfolio includes programs in the following areas:

• Developing rural agriculture and licit value chains: RED facilitates linkages between markets and rural producers in such value chains as fine flavor cacao, specialty coffee, rubber, dairy, and fruits and vegetables, as well as improving farm-to-market infrastructure so that rural producers can get their goods to market, strengthening farming practices, promoting business and cooperative development, and increasing access to finance.

• Promoting rural financial inclusion. RED develops programs to raise and channel private capital into conflict-affected regions. It helps financial institutions to expand services into rural regions; provides equity investments for rural agribusinesses; and incentivizes financial services to support rural agriculture and businesses, leveraging $924 million in financial services to 691,000 clients since 2015.

• Creating equitable and secure land tenure. Land was at the core of the conflict and is central to the Peace Accords. Land formalization is also a critical tool for fighting illicit crops. In partnership with Government of Colombia, RED supports the development of tools, systems, and skills which enable the GOC to resolve land restitution and titling issues, particularly reducing time and costs for land titling through piloting and scaling up a new methodology for massive land formalization.

• Strengthening communities. RED works with community-based organizations in conflict-affected rural areas to strengthen citizen engagement and to provide tangible public services in conflict zones historically neglected by the state. This includes strengthening local organizations’ ability to advocate for their development priorities;

increasing citizen engagement in public service provision; and helping community groups become effective partners in the implementation of GOC peace building activities.

The Senior Rural Development Advisor will serve as a member of the Rural and Economic

Development Office team. S/he is supervised by the RED Office Director. S/he will play a leadership and advisory role in implementing key elements of the Mission’s post-conflict and rural livelihoods programming. The value of the portfolio is $280 million with approximately $50-$60 million in annual appropriations. S/he will provide senior-level technical, management, and advisory support services to the RED Office Director and advise the Front Office on rural development topics, as required. S/he will liaise with CORs/AORs managing programs that aim to improve the conditions for inclusive rural economic growth and connect isolated, rural conflict zones with licit markets, as well as serve as COR/AOR if required. The candidate must have strong leadership skills to pull together different stakeholders on complex topics, excellent strategic abilities to analyze how to respond to the rising coca challenge, cultural sensitivity, and demonstrated ability to work well across the interagency. The position involves substantial engagement with other U.S. Government agencies at post, such as the U.S. Embassy’s

International Narcotics and Law (INL) Enforcement, Economic, and Political sections. The position also requires substantial engagement with senior-level Colombian government officials involved in rural development. The candidate represents USAID equities at the U.S. Embassy

Economic Section coordination meetings and may serves as the chair of one or more working groups within the Mission. The candidate will be expected to play an important role in project design and implementation for rural development under the Mission’s new Country Development

Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) set to begin in 2020. Due to anticipated staffing gaps, the Advisor may be asked to serve as the Acting RED Deputy Director, as requested, and may be asked to supervise four Cooperating Country Nationals (CCN). Travel is expected up to 15% of the time.

2. Duties to be Performed

The Senior Rural Development Advisor will provide leadership, guidance, and overall direction and support to USAID/Colombia’s rural development programs:

1. Technical Advisory and Management Services (50%)

● Provides advisory services to the RED Office Director on strategies to advance US

Government priorities in integrated rural development in such sectors as agriculture, rural financial inclusion, and land reform.

● Provides management support on a portfolio of rural development activities with a life of project value of nearly $280 million in coordination with the Colombian government.

● Coordinates with USAID Front Office, technical offices, the USG interagency, key stakeholders in Washington, implementing partners, and Government of Colombia officials to ensure that USAID’s rural development programs are aligned with host country efforts.

● Identifies innovative solutions to respond to integrated rural development challenges, including the coca challenge, as appropriate.

● Presents the Mission’s integrated rural development priorities to internal and external audiences, guiding discussions and decision-making.

● Writes talking points, speeches, cables, factsheets, reports, and various communications for high-level USG, GOC, and international audiences.

● Leads RED project design (e.g., Project Appraisal Document) and supports activity design under the new Country Development Cooperation Strategy.

● Serves as Acting RED Deputy Director, as required.

2. High-Level Relationship Management (25%)

● In coordination with USAID/Colombia staff, implementing partners, and interagency colleagues, develops critical relationships with stakeholders at the national and/or regional level, as appropriate, including Presidential Advisors, Ministers, Vice Ministers, and

Agency leads, other donors, civil society organizations, and others.

● Works with leaders across all sectors and governments to identify development opportunities, challenges, and bottlenecks in rural development, and strengthen coordination among the USG, GOC, implementing partners, donors, and numerous actors.

● Develops strong relationships with senior-level US Government and Colombian

Government officials; has an in-depth understanding of the roles of key sections/agencies

(e.g., INL, Economic and Political Sections), in order to identify synergies among them.

● Represents USAID before the host government, international counterparts, private sector, civil society, primarily at the senior-level.

● Plans, coordinates, and leads high-level visits, requiring significant coordination with the interagency, implementing partners, and host country counterparts.

● May lead one or more cross-office Mission Working Groups to support integration.

3. Program Management, Implementation, and Reporting (25%)

● Serves as Agreement/Contracting Officer’s Representative (or alternate), as needed, for designated Mission rural development activities (appropriate certificate required).

● Works with technical staff to inform the Portfolio Review, Operational Plan, Performance

Plan and Report (PPR) process, ensuring deadlines, internal and external reviews, and necessary follow-up to ensure improved results.

● Provides strategic guidance on a variety of performance management actions, such as the monitoring and evaluation reporting system and other performance management tasks.

● Collaborates with technical staff to gather regular updates for briefing memoranda, speeches, communication materials, and reports.

3) Supervisory Relationship:

The USPSC will report directly to the Director of the Rural and Economic Development Office.

The supervisor will provide administrative direction in terms of the broadly defined mission of supporting inclusive rural economic growth in Colombia. The incumbent will independently plan, design, and carry out programs in such areas as land, finance, and agriculture with the results considered technically authoritative, particularly when Acting as Deputy Office Director..

4) Supervisory Controls:

The RED Office anticipates having a gap of up to 10 months without a Deputy Office Director.

The incumbent may be asked to serve this role. When serving as Acting RED Office Director, the incumbent may be asked to supervise four Country Country Nationals (CCNs).

“If a third country national (TCN) is selected for award, during the period of this contract, the

TCN personal services contractor must provide training to a cooperating country national (CCN) designated by USAID. The PSC Supervisor will establish a training plan with benchmarks to measure the TCNPSC's progress toward achieving this training deliverable.”

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The incumbent works in an office environment and must follow U.S. Embassy regulations regarding safety and precautions, including security rules from the Regional Security Office and participation in drills. The incumbent will travel up to 15% of the time in accordance with

Embassy security regulations, often to remote and conflict-affected geographies in Colombia where illegal armed groups and/or illicit economies, such as coca production, may be present. In these locations, working conditions can be rudimentary with exposure to sun, humidity, mosquitoes, etc.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

a. Education: Master’s Degree in agriculture or agricultural economics; economics; business administration; finance; international development; public policy; international relations;

development administration; or other closely related fields is required.

b. Prior Work Experience: A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in international development in such sectors as agriculture, rural development, land, or private sector development in an overseas development context is required, including management, coordination, project/activity design, activity implementation, and/or monitoring and evaluation. Prior experience working with donors, government, contractors, NGOs, or foundations in international development required.

Management experience successfully supervising a diverse team is preferred.

c. Knowledge: The work requires knowledge of trends, methodologies, and best practices in international development, particularly rural development, land, agriculture, or private sector development. The incumbent must possess the ability to plan, organize, and implement programs, plans, and proposals involving substantial agency resources. S/he must have sound, evidence-based knowledge of a wide range of relevant issues, policies, and practices within the rural development field; must possess thorough knowledge of development realities in Latin America, preferably in Colombia. Must be knowledgeable about project implementation, monitoring, and management, as well as project financial management. The position also requires the ability to write effectively in order to develop policies and standards for Mission-wide activities, and to deal tactfully and convincingly with others regarding the coordination of policies and procedures. The work requires knowledge of USG, international, and host government laws, regulations, documentation, and reporting requirements to make decisions and/or recommendations that affect USAID programs in a very sensitive environment. In addition, knowledge of, or the ability to obtain knowledge of, USAID processes including project design, procurement, and monitoring and evaluation is required.

d. Skills and Abilities: A high level of analytical skills and sound judgment is required.

Must be able to work independently and as a member of a team and present a great deal of detailed information in a concise and fully professional manner. Must be capable of motivating a team to accomplish a long-term task. Also requires operational and management skills; computer skills; multi-tasking skills; and the ability to conceptualize both strategically and programmatically. The position requires excellent interpersonal skills, and the candidate must have a genuine interest in coordinating with Mission staff.

Must be able to maintain cordial and professional relationships with USAID staff, other

USG agencies at post, Host Country officials, NGOs, and contractor personnel.

e. Language: Fluent English (spoken/written) is required, and professional proficiency in

Spanish – Level 3/3 (spoken / written) is required.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR

52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

“USAID policy specifies that U.S. citizens or resident aliens (USNs) are preferred over third country nationals (TCNs). Therefore, USN and TCN offers will not be evaluated together. USAID will evaluate USN offers first and if the CO determines that there are no qualified USNs, only then will USAID evaluate TCN offers”.

The Evaluation Factors listed will be the basis for evaluating and ranking applicants for the position. Applicants will be scored based on the documentation submitted within the application.

Applicants must submit a supplemental document outlining their responses to the evaluation factors in order to be considered. Only the highest-ranked applicants will be interviewed.

SELECTION PROCESS

After the closing date for receipt of applications, a committee will convene to review applications that meet the minimum requirements and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria.

Applications from candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements will not be scored. As part of the selection process, finalist candidates will be interviewed. Reference checks will be made only for applicants considered as finalists. 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 should be stated in the applicant’s cover letter;

USAID will delay such reference checks pending the applicant’s concurrence.

EVALUATION FACTORS

Those applicants who meet the minimum education and experience qualifications will be evaluated based on the content of their application as well as on the applicant’s writing, presentation, and communication skills.

FACTOR #1: Prior Work Experience: The extent to which the applicant's relevant experience and technical expertise meets or exceeds the requisite levels of professional experience set forth above https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

FACTOR #2: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: The extent to which the applicant's relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities meet or exceed the requisite levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities set forth above.

FACTOR #3: Communication Skills: The extent to which the applicant meets or exceeds the required oral and written language ability set forth above. The summary statement and writing sample submitted will be considered in scoring this factor.

FACTOR #4: Education: The extent to which the applicant meets or exceeds the required level of education described above.

BASIS OF RATING

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and basic eligibility requirements will be further evaluated based on their responses to the evaluation factors in the supplemental document. Those applicants determined to be competitively ranked will also be evaluated on their interview performance and on their professional reference checks. The applicant rating system is as follows:

Evaluation Factors

Factor #1 25 points

Factor #2 20 points

Factor #3 20 points

Factor #4 10 points

Interview: 25 points

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – Pass/Fail (no points assigned)

Total Possible Points: 100

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

All offers must be submitted by e-mail with the subject line SOL: 72051420R000018

- Senior Rural Development Advisor to bogotausaidhrteam@usaid.gov

Attention: Executive Officer

USAID/Colombia

Human Resources Office

Offerors must submit their application by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3 and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I.

Qualified applicants must submit the following documents in English or their application will not be considered for this position:

mailto:bogotausaidhrteam@usaid.gov

1. 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

2. Cover letter (1 page).

3. Current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume containing sufficient relevant information that respond to the requirements of the position (education/experience) in order to evaluate the application in accordance with the evaluation criteria; provide periods of performance where possible (maximum 3 pages).

4. Supplemental document with written responses to the evaluation factors describing specifically what experience, training, education, etc., the applicant has received relevant to each selection criteria (maximum 3 pages).

5. List of Minimum of three (3) professional references with complete name, title, organization where he/she works, description of relationship, with working/accurate telephone and e-mail numbers. These professional references must not be family members or relatives. The applicant's references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities. At least one reference must be from a current or former supervisor

(1 page).

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

Once the CO informs the successful candidate of being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide him/her instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms, if applicable:

1. Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet (AID 1420-17);

2. Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306);

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

4. Medical clearance - Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62)

5. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-85)

6. Fingerprint Card (FD-258)

VI. BENEFITS / ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized benefits and allowances in accordance with AIDAR Appendix D – Appendix J and other relevant Agency and Mission policies.

Salary: Will be determined by the USAID Contracting Officer within the GS–14 salary range based on experience, qualifications, and salary history.

BENEFITS

(a) Employer's FICA Contribution

(b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

(c) Pay Comparability Adjustment

(d) Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation) http://www.usaid.gov/forms

(e) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

(f) Annual and Sick Leave

ALLOWANCES (If Applicable):

Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations

(Government Civilians Foreign Areas), available at https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101

Allowances applicable for TCN PCSs per Mission Director approval

1) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120)

2) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

3) Post Allowance (Section 220)

4) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230)

5) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

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

7) Education Allowance (Section 270)

8) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

9) Education Travel (Section 280)

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. Pricing by line item as described below:

ITEM No.

(A)

SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION)

(B)

QUANTITY

(C)

UNIT

(D)

UNIT PRICE

(E)

AMOUNT

(F)

0001 Compensation, Fringe Benefits and

Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

Award Type: Cost

Product Service Code: R497

Accounting Info:

Appropriation: 7216/171037; 7217/181037;

7218/191037

LOT

LC$TBD

LC$TBD at

Award after negotiations with

Contractor https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf 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.

http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations