72061225R00003 Senior Digital Health Advisor_Final.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72061225R00003

ISSUANCE DATE: January 6, 2025 QUESTIONS DEADLINE: January 20, 2025, at 15:00 hours Malawi Time CLOSING DATE AND TIME: February 06, 2025, at 17:00 hours Malawi Time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S./TCN Personal Service Contractor- Senior Digital Health Advisor

(SDHA)

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 the instructions in Attachments 1 and 2 of this solicitation.

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

Any questions must be directed in writing to the lilongwehr@usaid.gov address with the subject line: “Questions Solicitation No. 72061225R00003 US/TCNPSC Senior Digital Health Advisor” not later than January 20, 2025, at 15:00 hours Malawi time. We will post responses as soon as possible afterward.

Offers must be sent to lilongwehr@usaid.gov with the subject line: “Solicitation No.

72061225R00003 US/TCNPSC Senior Digital Health Advisor.” To ensure delivery by the due date, it is recommended that offers be sent as email attachments.

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.

Sincerely, Warren Gray Supervisory Executive Officer mailto:lilongwehr@usaid.gov

ATTACHMENT 1

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72061225R00003

2. ISSUANCE DATE: January 6, 2025

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: February 06, 2025 - 17:00 hours Malawi Time

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Martha Nanthoka, Supervisory Human Resources Specialist at mnanthoka@usaid.gov with copy to Catherine Masi, HR Assistant at cmasi@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Digital Health Advisor (SDHA)

6. MARKET VALUE OF POSITION (Base Pay): $121,803 to $173,662 per annum (FS Overseas Salary Schedule -2 equivalent). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and salary history. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two (2) year base with a three one-year options to extend.

The extensions will be contingent on satisfactory performance, continued need for the services and availability of funds.

Base Period: o/a March 1, 2025 – February 28, 2027

Option Period 1: o/a March 1, 2027 – February 28, 2028

Option Period 2: o/a March 1, 2028 – February 28, 2029

Option Period 3: o/a March 1, 2029 – February 28, 2030

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Lilongwe, Malawi (Southern Africa) with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.

9. SECURITY CLEARANCE LEVEL REQUIRED: USPSCs - Secret; TCNPSCs - Employment

Authorization

10. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS U.S. Citizens, Resident Aliens and Third country Nationals (TCN).

Per ADS 309.3.1.11(c), if the CO issues a combined solicitation that was open to multiple eligible sources (USNs and TCNs or CCNs and TCNs), the TEC must not evaluate USN and TCN offers or CCN and TCN offers together. To comply with the order of preference in section 309.3.1.4, the CO must provide the TEC only those offers received from the preferred type first. After the evaluation of USN or CCN offers, if CO, as the Source mailto:mnanthoka@usaid.gov mailto:cmasi@usaid.gov

Selection Authority, determines that there are no qualified USNs and CCNs for the position, the CO may then provide the TCN offer to the TEC for evaluation.

Offeror must:

● submit a complete and hand-signed copy of an offer as outlined in the solicitation section titled “submitting an offer.”

● submit a supplemental document specifically addressing the evaluation factors.

● be able to obtain secret level security clearance.

● be able to obtain a department of state medical clearance.

● be willing to travel to work at sites and other locations as/when required.

● not appear as an excluded party in the system for award management.

11. MEDICAL AND SECURITY CLEARANCES: The final selected candidate must obtain both the security and medical clearances required for the position. If such clearances are not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded.

12. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Travel to project sites and field offices in Malawi may be required.

13. SUPPORT ITEMS: The Executive Office will provide the US/TCN PSC with adequate support services, equipment, and supplies necessary to perform the work.

II. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

1. BACKGROUND

The Senior Digital Health Advisor (SDHA) is an offshore US or TCN Personal Services Contractor located in USAID/Malawi’s Health, Population, and Nutrition (HPN) Office. The SDHA will report to the Branch Chief for Health Systems Strengthening and will provide expert technical advice to U.S. Government (USG) and other officials at all levels, including the HPN Management Team, the USAID Mission Director, the U.S. Ambassador to Malawi, and other USG and donor agencies in Malawi. The position requires highly specialized skills, knowledge, and experience related to digital health architecture and policy, as well as interagency coordination, strategic planning, and health systems strengthening.

2. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Digital Health Advisor will serve as an expert advisor and technical authority on complex and precedent-setting programmatic and policy issues in digital health systems. The incumbent will be a key member of the HPN Office, a member of the Health Systems Strengthening Team, and will report to the Branch Chief for Health Systems Strengthening.

They will be a senior professional and expert in their field who will focus on supporting digital health services programming to improve health systems. They will provide evidence-based technical advice to the Mission, help to develop strategic approaches to health systems across the portfolio, and assist in the design and management of activities and projects. The SDHA will be a subject matter expert in health information systems and have experience in at least one of the following areas: digital health, health informatics, market access, or logistics management information systems. The SDHA will serve as the Mission Digital Development Advisor (DDA) and will spend up to 25% of their time advising on and supporting digital efforts across the Mission.

The SDHA will provide strategic and technical input to the Malawi Ministry of Health (MoH), implementing partners, the HPN Office and, as required, within other USAID/Malawi technical offices. They will play a key role in supporting and coordinating the implementation of the Agency’s digitization and digital health strategies and advance the next generation of strategic digital-health investments in the Malawi context. The incumbent will represent the Mission on digital health systems issues to government officials, other donors, partners and potential partners, a role which requires strong diplomatic and negotiation skills. They will represent these issues to USAID senior management and with offices throughout the Mission for cross-sectoral impact. The incumbent may be designated as a COR, AOR, and/or Activity Manager for activities related to digital health and health information systems, including logistics management information systems, or to any other USAID activities. They will also advise and collaborate on all digital health and commodity security components within the USAID health portfolio.

3. SPECIFIC TASKS AND OBJECTIVES

The Senior Digital Health Advisor will undertake the following duties:

Technical Leadership

1. Provide leadership, strategic advice, and programmatic direction on the design and implementation of complex digital health interventions involving one or more of the following: system integration, multiple vendor management, national scale systems, open-source solutions, and national health information systems (HIS).

2. Serve as technical advisor on programmatic and policy issues for digital health systems interoperability within the context of health systems strengthening, in particular as related to health service delivery (facility- and community-based), human resources for health, supply chain, with attention to digital financing, leadership, governance, and institutionalization; coordination across public, private, and faith-based sectors; and engagement of communities and clients.

3. Integrate digital technologies to increase visibility into supply chains down to the end user, strengthen visibility into demand-planning; optimize operations among multilateral and bilateral partners; and promote the appropriate use of medicines and other health products by providers, pharmacists/dispensers, and consumers.

4. Develop technical cooperation strategies and provide guidance on integrating components of digital health interventions to achieve harmonized digital systems that promote innovation and collaboration, to address challenges posed by fragmented investments in Malawi’s digital health landscape, and to ensure the integration of critical actors and sectors outside of the health sector.

5. Strengthen the development of national capacities for the design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of quality and accuracy of data and information sources, including vital and health statistics.

6. Support the integration and application of state-of-the-art digital health systems theories, methods, and practices into the design of HPN activities, scopes of work, research and learning activities, monitoring and evaluation activities, training materials, technical guidelines, implementing tools.

7. Build upon existing USAID investments in digital health across all technical areas, including those supported by PEPFAR, PMI and the Global Fund, working collaboratively with colleagues across the interagency. Coordinate USAID digital health partners and lead the advocacy of their work with the Malawi government.

8. Serve as the Mission Digital Development Advisor and allocate up to 25% of time to collaborating across office work streams and initiatives and support cross-sectoral investments in the digital ecosystem. Support the linkage of sector-specific data systems funded by USAID with host country systems. Work with Mission private sector POCs to seek opportunities to coordinate USAID investments with the private sector. Work with Mission staff to build digital responses into sector-level programming or develop cross-cutting efforts country-wide. Increase the capacity of USAID/Malawi staff to establish digital best practices that are integrated into Mission strategies, programming, monitoring, and evaluation.

9. Stay abreast of digital health strategies, reports, analyses, publications, research, latest technologies, innovations and developments in Malawi, the Africa region and globally, and consider their adaptability and applicability to the context of Malawi’s health sector.

Determine any additional analyses, assessments, or reviews required to support digitization, data use, and governance policies and practices.

Project Design and Management

1. Serve directly as a COR/AOR and/or Activity Manager on bilateral and central contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements as required. This includes providing technical, financial, and administrative oversight to the partners, including but not limited to reviewing and approving work plans and budgets, administratively approving payment vouchers, and other performing ongoing project oversight and management actions.

2. Lead or participate in the preparation of new procurements, such as the preparation of scopes of work, program descriptions, illustrative budgets, waivers, and exceptions to competition as required. This includes serving on technical selection committees for acquisition and assistance awards.

3. Oversee all monitoring, evaluation and reporting for activities under his/her areas.

4. Support Agency reporting requirements for digitization, including preparing briefers, talking points, reports, project plans, budgets, trip reports, and other materials as needed.

Stakeholder Engagement

1. Support USAID/Malawi engagement with external stakeholders to ensure consistency and coordination of digital health systems and bridge connections to ensure a strong systems approach in USAID/Malawi’s digital platforms. Stakeholder groups include the USAID technical offices within the Bureau for Global Health and other bureaus as needed; Malawi Government Ministries, technical working groups, and task forces, PEPFAR interagency working groups, USAID implementing partners; multilateral and bilateral donor organizations; foundations; the private sector; and other U.S. Government agencies.

2. Work with development and humanitarian partners to prioritize and scale innovations and existing interventions that align with USAID priorities in digital health, including to enable market access and digital health approaches and bridging the digital gender divide.

3. Engage with Government of Malawi policy officials, the donor community, and other stakeholders to advise on the digital health agenda, activities, standards, processes, and tools, and to advocate for the work of USAID digital health activities. Coordination with MoH will include the Central Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Digital Health Division, Department of Planning and Policy Development, E-government, and any other relevant health programs and departments.

4. The incumbent may be delegated by the HPN Office Director or other senior Mission staff to fulfill other assignments or duties related to achieving the Mission’s health objectives and goals. For example, this may include serving as focal person for select office and Mission new initiatives, representing other Mission staff at forums and meetings, and supporting and participating in Mission processes, e.g., Country Development Cooperation Strategy Project teams.

Supervisory Controls: The incumbent will report to the USAID/Malawi Health Systems Strengthening Branch within the HPN Office. The incumbent is expected to advise senior and mid-level USG and GOM officials, to work effectively within a multicultural and interagency environment, and to keep managers and colleagues fully apprised of the status of work assignments. Assignments are often self-generated in response to HPN goals and objectives.

Supervision exercised: The incumbent will not supervise any staff.

Physical Demands: This is a moderate physically demanding position. The incumbent will be physically located at the USAID building in Malawi.

III. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

1. Education: Master’s degree in public health, information technology, business administration, computer science or related field.

2. Work experience: At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in digital health systems development lifecycle and other software implementation methodologies in low resource settings. Experience in IT and/or software implementation in a developing country or other resource-poor settings.

3. Language proficiency: English language at level IV or equivalent (full professional proficiency)

IV. 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.

Education: Pass/Fail Total possible Prior Work Experience points: 20 points Total Possible Job Knowledge points: 40 points Total Possible Skills and Abilities points: 40 points Total Possible Points: 100 Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks: Pass/Fail

Education (Pass/Fail): The candidate must have a Master’s degree in public health, information technology, business administration, computer science or related field is required.

Work Experience (20 points): The incumbent is required to have at least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in digital health systems development lifecycle and other software implementation methodologies in low resource settings. The incumbent should further have experience in IT and/or software implementation in a developing country or other resource-poor settings; experience working in the public and/or private health sector and with current mobile technologies that can be leveraged to further public health objectives; experience working with and analyzing dashboards, Tableau, Power BI and similar platforms and professional experience in health informatics or digital health in low-and middle-income country contexts; direct experience with open-source software systems such as District Health Information Systems 2 (DHIS2), Logistics Management Information Systems (LMIS), Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), Open EMR (electronic medical records) and other linked HIS software packages; overseas experience designing and managing integrated, and complex digital health programs, including LMIS, in developing countries to include programmatic, monitoring and evaluation, and financial management; experience in development of digitization strategies for health and in reviewing, evaluating and influencing complex policies and regulations; and experience in negotiation and representation with high-level stakeholders in the health sector.

Technical Knowledge (40 points): The incumbent should have knowledge of current information technology tools, standards, methodologies, and policies that can be applied to advance health information systems in low resource settings; knowledge of current digitization policies and strategies for health; and management knowledge to develop, implement, and https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far oversee digital health activities, including financial and administrative management and interaction with partners. General knowledge of the Malawian public sector health systems, digital health priorities, and its affiliated agencies, donors, and related private sector programs is an added advantage.

Skills and Abilities (40 points): The incumbent should have excellent analytical skills, including an ability to comprehend quantitative and analytical reports from development and peer-reviewed literature and to objectively evaluate programs. Ability to provide rapid, concise, accurate reporting, both verbally and in writing. Skills to work effectively as a senior technical leader in a multicultural environment. Ability to establish and maintain professional and effective contacts with host government officials, other donors, implementing partners, private sector CEOs, Washington headquarters staff, and Mission staff. Ability to negotiate diplomatically and influence people from a variety of professional, educational and cultural backgrounds. Ability to draft and read complex technical documents and to conduct technical discussions in English.

BASIS OF RATING: Offerors who meet the Minimum Qualifications will be further evaluated according to the Evaluation and Selection Factors.

Offerors should address these factors in the offer package, describing specifically and accurately what experience, education, training, knowledge of the job, skills, and/or awards they have received as it pertains to the factors. Failure to address the Evaluation and Selection Factors may result in not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, training, knowledge of the job, skills, and/or awards.

The highest-ranking offerors may be invited for an interview and writing test. Interviews may be conducted either in person or by telephone/video call at USAID’s discretion. Final rating and ranking for the candidates will be based on the initial evaluation of the applications, interview performance, and writing test. USAID/Malawi will not pay for any expenses associated with interviews. Reference checks will be conducted for the highest-ranking offerors.

Note: Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – Pass/Fail (no points assigned). Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in in addition to the ones provided by an offeror. If a candidate does not wish USAID to contact a current employer for a reference check, this should be stated in the candidate’s cover letter, and USAID will not contact those references without contacting the candidate.

V. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

For your offer to be considered, the following documents must be submitted:

1. Fully completed and signed copy of an “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals Form (AID309-2), available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/FORM_AID_309- 2_OMB_corrected_1.pdf Offerors should note that the salary history for the purposes of the AID 309-2 is the base salary paid, excluding benefits and allowances such as housing, travel, vehicles use, etc.

2. Letter of Application that responds to the requirements of the position (Evaluation and Selection Factors)

3. Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae

4. A minimum of three (3) and a maximum of five (5) references, including two references which must be from direct supervisors who can provide information regarding the offeror’s job knowledge.

Further Guidance:

Submission of Resume/Curriculum Vitae alone is not a complete offer. This offer must be complete of all forms and supplemental materials as described in this Section V. Submitting an Offer. Failure to provide the required information and/or materials may result in the offer not being considered.

Offers must be submitted to the Point of Contact identified in Section I, by the closing date and time specified in this solicitation.

Offers must be sent to lilongwehr@usaid.gov with subject line “Solicitation No.

72061225R00003 US/TCNPSC Senior Digital Health Advisor”. To ensure delivery by the due date, it is recommended that offers be sent as email attachments.

Please do not submit more than one offer.

Late and incomplete applications will not be considered. Note all offers must be signed (hand or digitally signed). Unsigned offers will not be considered.

[END OF ATTACHMENT 1]

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/FORM_AID_309-2_OMB_corrected_1.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/FORM_AID_309-2_OMB_corrected_1.pdf

ATTACHMENT 2

1. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: (NOTE: An individual defined as a Resident Hire employee may only be eligible for those benefits listed under item A below.)

A. BENEFITS:

1. Employee's FICA Contribution

2. Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

3. Pay Comparability Adjustment

4. Annual Increase (depending on satisfactory performance evaluation)

5. Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

6. Annual & Sick Leave

7. Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service

8. Paid Parental Leave

9. Relocation Expense

B. 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

1. Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120)

2. Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

3. Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 200)

4. Payments during Ordered/Authorized Departure (Section 600),

5. Post Differential (Chapter 500)

6. Education Allowance (Section 270)

7. Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260), and,

8. Education Travel (Section 280)

2. TAXES

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

3. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

Once the Contracting Officer informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract award, the Contracting Officer will provide the successful Offeror with instructions.

about how to complete and submit the following forms.

1. Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Form DS-1843)

2. Fingerprint Card (FD-258), and either

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

4. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85), whichever is applicable.

https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101

4. 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 is to be determined upon contract award as described below:

LINE ITEMS

ITEM NO

(A)

SUPPLIES/SERVICES

(DESCRIPTION)

QUANTITY

(C)

UNIT

(D)

UNIT PRICE

(E)

AMOUNT

(F)

Base Period - 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]

LOT

$ _TBD__

$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor_

1001 Option Period 1 –

Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code:

[e.g., R497]

- Accounting Info: [insert

1 LOT

negotiations

2001 Option Period 2 –

Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code:

[e.g., R497]

- Accounting Info: [insert

1 LOT

negotiations

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 .

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 https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contractsombudsman for additional information. The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted by email at PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov.

6. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The U.S. Mission in Malawi provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. USAID/Malawi also strives to achieve equal employment opportunities in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.

The EEO complaint procedure is not available to individuals who believe they have been denied equal opportunity based upon marital status or political affiliation. Individuals with such complaints should avail themselves of the appropriate grievance procedures, remedies for prohibited personnel practices, and/or courts for relief.

[END OF ATTACHMENT 2]