Solicitation Economic Growth and Private Sector Engagement USPSC_signed.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72051824R00002

ISSUANCE DATE: June 10, 2024 CLOSING DATE AND TIME: July 9, 2024 at 17:00 (Quito time)

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Services Contractor (USPSC) Economic Growth and Private Sector Engagement, GS-15

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 this solicitation. Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records.

USAID will evaluate all offerors based on the stated evaluation criteria. USAID encourages all individuals, including those from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups, to respond to the solicitation.

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

Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in this solicitation.

Sincerely, William Elderbaum Contracting Officer USAID/Peru

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO: 72051824R00002

2. ISSUANCE DATE: June 10, 2024

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: July 9, 2024 at 17:00 (Quito time)

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Human Resources Office, email at limausaidhr@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Economic Growth and Private Sector Engagement

6. MARKETVALUE: $123,041 - $159,950 equivalent to GS-15

Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value and will include Locality Pay for domestic USPSCs based on the location of the Official USAID Worksite, or the approved alternative worksite if approved for remote work. USPSCs performing overseas are not entitled to Locality Pay. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Ecuador. Overseas USPSCs may be authorized to telework or remote work only from a location within the country of performance, in accordance with Mission policy. Telework or remote work from outside the country of performance may only be authorized in certain situations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.

8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The period of performance will be for two years to start o/a August 2024 to August 2026.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to all U.S. Citizens

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

A. BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION:

The Economic Growth and Private Sector Engagement Specialist will support USAID/Ecuador in working with private sector actors across all sectors active in the Mission at a scale to sustain development progress. This includes working directly with private enterprises and through ongoing mechanisms and new designs, and providing technical direction and private sector engagement support across the Mission’s portfolio.

mailto:limausaidhr@usaid.gov

This position will serve as the lead Economic Growth and Private Sector Engagement Specialist at the Mission. The incumbent will work across all the Mission’s activities, which will require gaining familiarity with programs in a range of sectors, including but not limited to terrestrial and marine biodiversity, climate and forestry, sustainable agriculture, combating wildlife crime, energy, governance, municipal service delivery, investigative journalism, economic integration of migrants, micro, small and medium enterprise development, citizen security, and women’s economic empowerment, among others.

B. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Design and Management (35%)

● Serve as primary manager (Agreement Officer Representative, AOR) for an existing

$3-6 million public-private partnership, overseeing budgeting, reporting, stakeholder engagement and ensuring programming compliance with USAID regulations and policies. Serve as primary manager (AOR) for future economic growth programs and partnerships.

● Lead the design and procurement of new economic resilience programs or activities, including co-creation of activities with the private sector and civil society.

● Provide inputs for reporting on an annual and an ad hoc basis regarding resources leveraged and development outcomes achieved because of the Mission’s private sector partnerships .

Partnership Development & Relationship Management (50%)

● In collaboration with relevant technical teams, identify, develop, and manage relationships with businesses, investors, and foundations to form catalytic public-private partnerships that can boost investment, fuel growth and shared prosperity, and capitalize on the competitive advantages offered by private-sector partners; for instance, their abilities to produce environmental benefits or source agricultural commodities from remote locations. Through such partnerships, strengthen the economic growth components of existing and planned programs across the Mission’s portfolio.

● Engage with private sector entities (particularly Ecuadorian) of all sizes and sectors, interested in partnering with USAID to mobilize market-based solutions for more-sustainable outcomes and leverage private-sector expertise, innovation, and resources that build Ecuadorian capacities for self-reliance.

● Working with the Mission technical teams and implementing partners, cultivate and implement new partnerships, such as Global Development Alliances (GDAs), blended finance mechanisms, and market linkages. Find opportunities to collaborate with the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to expand and scale the use of a broader array of financing instruments to support our development and humanitarian work. Where relevant, this could include developing a project pipeline for DFC investments.

Capacity Building & Coordination (15%)

● Build the capacity of Mission technical teams to integrate the private sector at every stage of USAID’s Program Cycle to understand the private sector’s interests and capabilities and adapt continuously to new evidence, opportunities, or circumstances.

● Provide expert technical support and guidance to other technical teams within the Mission on private sector engagement and economic growth, increasing their capacity to develop partnerships.

● Participate in USAID and interagency processes and working groups related to economic growth and private sector engagement, and represent the Mission’s equities to internal and external stakeholders.

● Maintain and strengthen relationships with other relevant USG agencies, including the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC), State Department, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, and others. Liaise with these entities and relevant Mission stakeholders to bridge the gap and increase Mission engagement and understanding for how these agencies can amplify USAID/Ecuador’s bilateral programming.

C. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

Work is performed under administrative direction from the USDH Environment and Energy Office Director.

D. SUPERVISORY CONTROL:

The supervision of USAID staff is not contemplated.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

● Education: An advanced academic degree (master’s degree or equivalent, or higher) in a related area, such as business administration, economics, finance, international development, and international trade, is required.

● Professional Experience: The incumbent must have a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in international development, private sector development, finance/capital mobilization, or related field with increasingly responsible project design and management experience.

● Language: English fluency and professional proficiency in Spanish is required.

● Knowledge: The incumbent must know how to link the public and private sector, preferably from inception through closing of deals and implementation. The incumbent must have demonstrated expertise and experience in at least one technical area relevant to USAID/Ecuador’s portfolio. The incumbent should understand international development in the context of an emerging market.

Familiarity with USAID’s operations, procedures, and policies in areas such as program design and management, procurement, reporting, and monitoring and evaluation is preferred.

● Skills and Abilities: The incumbent must have demonstrated effective project management skills, ideally including experience in developing and designing new programs. Strong interpersonal skills are required to establish and maintain strong contacts with counterparts in the private sector as well as U.S. and Ecuadorian government officials. An existing network of private sector contacts in Ecuador or the region is a distinct advantage. A demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision or guidance is required. Must be able to work fluidly in Microsoft and Google office suites.

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.

https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

The technical evaluation committee may conduct reference checks, including references form individuals who have not been specifically identified by the offeror, and may do so before of after a candidate is interviewed.

1. Offerors who clearly meet the aforementioned minimum education and work experience qualification requirements may be further evaluated through review of the offeror’s submitted required documents and ranked based on the below evaluation and selection factors. A competitive range will be established of the highest-ranked offerors, who may be further evaluated through technical tests and interviews to determine the most qualified/highest-ranked offerors.

2. Reference checks will be conducted with the highest-ranked offerors.

3. Evaluation and Selection Factors. Applicants meeting the required qualifications of the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and obtained through reference checks.

The following is the evaluation criteria for this position:

a) Education: 15 points

b) Work Experience: 30 points

c) Language: 10 points

d) Knowledge: 20 points

e) Skills and Abilities: 25 points

Total Possible Points: 100

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

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. 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.

3. Offeror submissions must clearly reference the Solicitation number on all offeror submitted documents.

4. A cover letter of no more than 1 page that demonstrates how the Offeror’s qualifications meet the evaluation and selection factors in section III of this solicitation.

http://www.usaid.gov/forms

5. A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which, at a minimum, describes education, experience, and career achievements relevant to the evaluation and selection factors in section III of this solicitation.

6. Names of three professional references that have knowledge of the offeror’s ability to perform the duties set forth in the solicitation, including current and accurate contact information. This information may be included in in cover letter, resume/CV, or in a separate document.

7. Proof of U.S. Citizenship

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award:

Forms outlined below can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms

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

2. Form AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals”

3. Medical History and Examination Form (DS-1843) **

4. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (SF-86) ** or

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

6. Fingerprint Card (FD-258) **

** Forms 3 through 6 shall be completed ONLY upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a USPSC 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) Leave and Holidays

2. ALLOWANCES:

http://www.usaid.gov/forms

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

a) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120)

b) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) c)Post Allowance (Section 220)

d) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230)

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)

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/ads/policy/300/aidar

2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms. Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award as described below:

https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101 https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar https://www.usaid.gov/forms

LINE ITEMS

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: [e.g. R497]

- Accounting Info: [insert one or more citation(s) from

Phoenix/GLAAS]

1 LOT $ _TBD__ $_TBD at

Award after negotiatio ns with

Contractor

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/resources_standards-of-conduct.

5. PSC Ombudsman

The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information: https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman

The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov.

http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/resources_standards-of-conduct https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman about:blank