Solicitation_Senior_A&A_Specialist_-_Final.doc

Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist

Solicitation #72062019B00003

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72062019B00003

ISSUANCE DATE: March 21, 2019 CLOSING DATE/TIME: April 20, 2019 4:30pm (Nigeria/Local Time) SUBJECT: Solicitation for an Off-shore U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) for Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist 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 Contract specified in the attached information.

Sincerely, Debbie Jackson Contracting Officer

ATTACHMENT 1

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1.

SOLICITATION NUMBER:

72062019B00003 2.

ISSUANCE DATE:

March 21, 2019

3.

CLOSING DATE/TIME:

April 20, 2019 (4:30pm Nigeria/local time) 4.

POSITION TITLE:

Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist 5.

MARKET VALUE:

$75,628 to $98,317 equivalent to GS-13. The final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based on the successful candidate’s salary history, work experience and educational background. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

6.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

Two (2) base years, with three (3) option year periods, pending approval, need, performance, and funding, not to exceed a total of five (5) years.

7.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria

8.

SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: The selected candidate must be able to obtain a security clearance at the “Secret” level and a medical clearance within a reasonable period of time. If such clearances are not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded.

9.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

1. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract:

Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria is also one of its largest emerging economies. Oil revenues fuel much of its robust growth rate. Nigeria's enormous growth potential is constrained by decades of poor governance, lack of adequate social services, a rapidly growing population, high unemployment, and a growing sense of grievance that has fueled an upsurge in crime, sectarian violence and terrorist acts.

With FY 18 OYB of $462 million, FY18 OE budget of 10.2 million, and a staff of 160, and over 40 implementing partners, USAID/Nigeria manages one of the largest programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

Given the significant role Nigeria plays in sub-Saharan Africa and the country’s importance to U.S. foreign policy objectives, it is anticipated that USAID/Nigeria programming funding levels will continue to increase over the next few years. This demanding environment requires experienced senior staff to manage administrative functions and programs in the Mission.

USAID/Nigeria’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA) currently manages 36 active Acquisition and Assistance (A&A) instruments totaling over $1.4 billion. More than $600 million of this large portfolio is made up of 9 projects under the HIV/AIDS and TB directorate. HPN accounts for another $384 million under 6 projects. Together these two health-related technical offices comprise more than 70% of the Mission’s portfolio.

2. Statement of Duties to be Performed:

This position is located in the OAA at USAID/Nigeria. The position’s primary purpose is to execute acquisition and assistance actions in support of critical USAID programs in Nigeria. The mission portfolio includes the technical sectors of the Presidential Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); Health Population and Nutrition; Education; Economic Growth and Environment; and Peace and Democratic Governance. The portfolio includes critical and highly visible presidential initiatives including HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Global Food Security.

It is anticipated that the primary focus of the incumbent will be to provide expert A&A support and guidance to USAID/Nigeria’s Health Offices to include HIV/AID and TB, and Health Population and Nutrition (HPN).

The responsibilities of the incumbent include providing support on all aspects of contract management relating to and affecting USAID assistance programs in Nigeria. This includes providing policy guidance, project planning, project design, and implementation and the evaluation of on-going programs.

He/she is responsible for planning, developing, carrying out, managing, and advising on all aspects of procurement and contract management relating to and affecting USAID/Nigeria assistance programs, policy and project planning, design, implementation, and evaluation. He/she will participate in projects, mission policy formulation, and project design. He/she will develop and execute plans for the procurement of and provide contract management support to achieve program objectives.

This includes training and mentoring of Cooperating Country National (CCN) A&A Specialists, Agreement Officer’s Representatives/Contracting Officer’s Representatives (AORs/CORs), Development Leadership Initiative (DLI) Foreign Service Officers, other staff within USAID/Nigeria and the larger mission. The incumbent will demonstrate expertise on training/mentoring the full-range of acquisition and assistance functions.

USAID/Nigeria has made significant strides in furthering its procurement reform initiatives. Our award portfolio includes local partners as direct recipients of USAID awards. In addition to training DLI and local staff, the incumbent will also play a lead role in conducting new recipient training, especially in adherence to USAID audit requirements. The incumbent will also be expected to participate as an OAA expert on financial review teams and conduct on-site training and oversight through field visits to recipient locations throughout Nigeria.

Given the sensitivity, scope, and purpose of the role and position of the Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist and the critical nature and complexity of the Mission programs that are being implemented in a very fluid political environment, it is essential that the incumbent be able to function as an expert in all technical areas of the assignment, and fulfill the position responsibilities with the supervisor’s complete confidence in their understanding of the assignment and ability to integrate issues, conflicts, continually changing working requirements, creative problem solving, and the introduction of new theories and methods to resolve unique problems.

The Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist will provide a full-range of acquisition and assistance support, including but not limited to:

1. The negotiation, award, and administration of both Assistance- and Acquisition-type instruments to accomplish both emergency-response and traditional development programs. He/she prepares pre-award documents, conducts negotiations, and finalizes award documents and award file documentation for a Contracting/Agreement Officer's review and signature. He/she must be available for consultation on contracting issues with Mission technical staff, other in-country U.S. Government officials and representatives, Government of Nigeria (GON) officials, Implementing Partners, and others, as required. This effort requires extensive knowledge of Federal and USAID regulations, and the associated governing guidance (e.g., the FAR and USAID Supplement [AIDAR], CFR, OMB Circulars, FAM, and FTR) for all types of procurements.

2. In addition to the execution of contracts and modifications as identified above, the Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist researches and resolves issues, and draft responses in official correspondence as assigned. Examples include, but are not limited to: subcontract consent requests, salary approvals, equipment approvals, etc., on a wide variety of contract and assistance awards.

3. Providing expert-level technical assistance to USAID/Nigeria in the execution of program/project-funded contracts, cooperative agreements, grants, and US Government Agreements, such as Participating Agency Service Agreements (PASAs). This entails providing staff support on all aspects of acquisition and assistance activity including: project planning, design, implementation and evaluation; mission policy development and formulation; project resource assessments, sector analyses, and other studies. He/she serves as a primary contractual advisor to major development program initiatives and activities in the Mission. He/she prepares and negotiates modifications of basic contractual text, terms and conditions, specifications, scopes of work, program descriptions, and costs in the full range of award instruments. He/she plans for and provides procurement and contract management support to accomplish program objectives, and proper and timely administration of all assigned Acquisition and Assistance awards. This includes clarifications and interpretations of directive correspondence, and miscellaneous administrative modifications to procurement instruments. He/she seeks resolution and settlement of contract disputes, termination and settlement of procurement instruments, close outs, and reporting of contractor performance. The Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist composes and prepares all contractual correspondence, signing within their own delegated authority or for a Contracting Officer’s signature.

4. Serving as the office’s lead in training and mentoring on USAID acquisition and assistance procedures. This includes training less-experienced local OAA staff, USAID technical and other mission staff, and local implementing partners. The incumbent manages the office’s routine training responsibilities and mentors local staff to be able to deliver the trainings.

5. Serving as a lead role in preparing mission responses to Regional Inspector General (RIG) audit reports. The incumbent will be expected to transfer audit response skills to local staff.

6. Serving as a senior and trusted policy and technical advisor to the Supervisory Contracting Officer, and the U.S. Mission to Nigeria on all manner of Acquisition and Assistance issues. He/she will speak for the Supervisory Contracting Officer on technical Acquisition and Assistance matters, as directed by the Supervisory Contracting Officer or as required.

3. Supervisory Relationship:

The Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist has no formal supervisory responsibilities.

4. Supervision Controls:

The Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist will receive supervision, policy direction, and guidance from the Supervisory Contracting Officer (Director, Office of Acquisition and Assistance) or his/her designee, located in USAID/Nigeria. The Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist is expected to function at an expert level with minimal supervision.

The Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist is expected to exercise considerable independent judgment and initiative. Such initiative is critical to the success of the assignment; however, the actions and decisions of the Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist will be discussed with the Office Director, and all acquisition instruments will be signed by the supervisor who is the Mission Contracting/Agreement Officer.

Overall management of the Office is in a collaborative team environment, with the Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist participating fully in the process. Specific work plans and anticipated results are developed in consultation with the OAA Team. The Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist performs most assignments independently, providing leadership to others involved in the management of the OAA portfolio, and in the development, design, and drafting of the acquisition instruments. The work is reviewed in terms of achievement of established milestones, and the appropriateness of program/project activity focus.

The Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist will meet weekly with the Office Director or his/her designee to update him or her on the progress of agreed upon milestones for projects.

5. Other important information:

A candidate will be selected based on his/her qualifications, availability, results of reference checks and cross-agency interview. The selected individual must complete all medical examinations as well as undergo required security clearance.

10.

AREA OF CONSIDERATION:

To meet basic eligibility requirements, the offeror must:

· Be a U.S. Citizen;

· Submit a complete offer as outlined in the solicitation section titled APPLYING;

· Be able to attain security clearance at the “Secret” level;

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

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

11. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not pose undue physical demands. While the Contractor will be based in Abuja, some amount of travel to Implementing Partners and program activities spread throughout Nigeria is expected.

12.

POINT OF CONTACT: Clementina Edereka, at cedereka@usaid.gov with a copy to Abujahr@usaid.gov.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

1. Education and Training:

· Minimum of a Bachelor degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Purchasing, Economics, Finance, Law, International Relations, Marketing, Accounting, Industrial Management, Quantitative Methods or other related fields is required.

· Completion of or has substantially completed the requirements for certification under the USG’s FAC-C Certification program at a minimum of Level II. Certification requires successful completion of FAC-C specified courses in procurement, plus the achievement of certain competencies, through a combination of training and experience.

2. Work Experience:

· A minimum of five years of progressively responsible hands-on experience in Acquisition (Contracts, Purchase Orders) and Assistance (Grants and Cooperative Agreements) policies and procedures execution, administration, termination, cost and analysis, procurement planning, and analysis and evaluation of proposals is required.

· A proven track record of programmatic accomplishment and professional achievement in the A&A field; the incumbent is expected to be an expert in the field of USG acquisition and assistance procedures.

· Demonstrated experience in cradle-to-grave (pre-award, negotiation/award and post-award/administration) of all types of A&A instruments is required.

· Experience should demonstrate knowledge of contracting laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; knowledge of cost principles; knowledge of cost plus/award fee and performance based contracting procedures.

· Experience that demonstrates pre-award negotiation skills, contract execution and demonstrated experience in making formal presentations to senior organization officials is required.

· Demonstrated ability to function in a high risk environment.

3. Job Knowledge:

· Demonstrated strong knowledge of USG and USAID policies and procedures pertaining to Acquisition and Assistance.

· Mastery of procurement regulations and contracting principles including the latest acquisition procedures and techniques is required. An in-depth understanding of U.S. Government procurement rules and regulations is imperative.

· A thorough and complete knowledge and understanding of how to execute and administer a complex acquisition and assistance portfolio in accordance with USG regulations.

· Knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and the ability to work with the regulatory context of the FAR is essential. In addition, knowledge of the following is required:

· USAID Acquisition Regulations (AIDAR)

· U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)

· Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars

· USAID Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives (AAPDs/CIBs)

· USAID Automated Directive Systems (ADS)

· USAID Procurement Executive Bulletins (PEBs)

4. Abilities and Skills:

· Exceptional leadership, communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability and willingness to function collaboratively and productively as a member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-functional team.

· Proven ability to work well in complex institutional settings and to develop networks of relationships that facilitate collaboration among colleagues and a genuine interest in assisting USAID staff with expedient program implementation.

· Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with a broad range of internal and external partners and USAID Implementing Partners, international organizations, and host country government officials.

· Attention to detail, good analytical skills, and excellent organizational skills to perform the pre- and post-award functions.

· Discretion, tact and the ability to work under accelerated schedules and deadlines and to effectively complete required actions.

· Must be able to maintain and adhere to high standards of professional conduct.

· Must be able to function as a leader during contract negotiations, and personally negotiate the majority of assigned contracts.

· Must demonstrate an ability to mentor and assist staff in the award and administration of contracts and agreements.

· Excellent interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills and the ability to work independently.

· Good coordination, teamwork and organizational skills to manage multi-cultural work setting are required.

· Computer skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc., so as to independently prepare correspondence and documentation are also required.

5. Language: The candidate must be fluent in English (Level IV) and have proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely, both orally and in writing.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

Qualified offerors meeting the required minimum qualifications will be assessed based on the following selection/evaluation factors:

1. Education and Training (10 points)

2. Experience (35 points)

3. Job Knowledge (30 points)

4. Skills and Abilities (20 points)

5. Language (5 points)

Total Possible Points: 100 points

Per this scoring rubric, Knowledge and Abilities is the most important factor. Applications will initially be screened for conformity with minimum requirements and a short list of applicants developed.

USAID reserves the right to interview only the highest ranked applicants in person or by phone OR not to interview any candidate.

After the closing date for receipt of applications, a Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) will be convened to review applications and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation factors. Applications from candidates which do not meet the required evaluation factors will not be scored. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.

IV.

APPLYING

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

1. A signed cover letter of no more than 3 pages that demonstrates how the candidate’s qualifications meet the work requirements.

2. Curriculum Vitae which, at a minimum, describes education, latest experience and career achievements.

3. 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.

4. Offerors must successfully demonstrate how they meet FAC-C Level II certification standards.

5. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I, item 12.

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

7. Name, current and accurate phone numbers, and email addresses of three professional references that have knowledge of the applicant’s abilities to perform the duties set forth in the solicitation. USAID reserves the right to contact all references.

8. Application packages must be submitted electronically to cedereka@usaid.gov with a copy to Abujahr@usaid.gov no later than 4:30pm on April 20, 2019 (Nigeria’s local time).

V.

LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

Once the CO informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms:

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

(2) Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)*

(3) Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (SF-86)*

(4) Authority for Release of Information (AID 610-14)*

(5) Foreign Residence Data (AID 6-85)*

(6) Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970, As Amended*

(7) Notice Required by The Privacy Act of 1974*

(8) Fingerprint Cards (FD-258)*

(9) Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms)*

*The above listed forms (2 through 8) shall only be completed upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.

VI.

BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized to receive the following benefits and allowances:

1.

BENEFITS:

(a) Employer's FICA contribution

(b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

(c) Pay Comparability Adjustment

(d) Annual Salary Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

(e) Eligibility for Worker’s Compensation

(f) Annual and Sick Leave

2. ALLOWANCES (If applicable)

Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilian Foreign Areas):

(a) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120)

(b) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

(c) Cost of Living Allowance (Section 210)

(d) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(e) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(f) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(g) Educational Travel (Section 280)

(h) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

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

(j) Danger Pay (Section 650)

Note: As of November 27, 2016, Nigeria became a 35% Post Differential, 25% Cost of Living Allowance, 0% Danger Pay post.

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.

(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

END OF SOLICITATION