Solicitation- Senior Supply Chain Management Advisor_Revised_SS.pdf

ATTACHMENT 1 72066024R00009

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72066024R00009

ISSUANCE DATE: July 12, 2024

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: July 26, 2024, 5:00 PM, Kinshasa Time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) and Third Country

National Personal Service Contractor (TCNPSC) – Senior Supply Chain Management Advisor, USAID/DRC.

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 of 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 under-represented 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 cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the offer.

Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in the Attachment 1.

Sincerely, Sanoussi Traore

Contracting Officer

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72066024R00009

2. ISSUANCE DATE: July 12, 2024

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: July 26, 2024 before and/or on 5:00 PM (Kinshasa local time)

4. POINT OF CONTACT: USAID/DRC, Executive Office/Human Resources Unit, email at usaidhrkinshasa@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Supply Chain Management Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: $104,604 – $135,987 equivalent to GS-14. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value. USPSCs performing overseas are not entitled to

Locality Pay.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with possible regional and international travel. Due to the size of the country, location of project sites, and logistical challenges, field visits can take anywhere from three to seven days.

Overseas USPSCs and TCNPSCs not subject to the local compensation plan 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 base period will be One (1) year, estimated to start o/a February 2025 or earlier if required clearances are obtained. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise three (4) additional option periods for one (1) year for the dates estimated as follows:

Base Period: o/a February 2025 - o/a February 2026

Option Period 1 o/a February 2026 - o/a February 2027

Option Period 2 o/a February 2027 - o/a February 2028

Option Period 3 o/a February 2028 - o/a February 2029

Option Period 3 o/a February 2029 - o/a February 2030

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens, Resident Aliens (USNs) and Third Country

Nationals (TCN).

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: The final selected candidate must obtain both the appropriate security (HSPD-12/Facility Access authorization) and medical clearances within a reasonable period of time (USAID will provide details regarding these clearances to the selected candidate). If such clearance is not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded.

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

1. General Statement of Purpose of Contract

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the second largest African country by area (after

Algeria) and the fourth most populated.

The DRC is a focus country for several US Government (USG) initiatives, including the President’s

Malaria Initiative (PMI), the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and TB

Accelerator. USAID/DRC currently procures over $65M worth of health commodities per year, through a suite of supply chain awards. Over the next five to ten years, USAID is looking to transition direct procurement of commodities to the Government of DRC and shift efforts to technical assistance for sustainable and locally-owned supply chain systems.

The Senior Supply Chain Management Advisor (Senior Advisor) is part of the health systems strengthening team (HSS), will serve as a member of the Health Office within USAID/DRC and will be based in Kinshasa, DRC. The Health Office’s SCM responsibilities can be classified as internal and external. Internally, the Mission needs to manage the ordering, delivery, clearance and distribution processes, and rational use monitoring for the commodities that it procures directly.

Externally, the Mission has to implement a robust and comprehensive approach to supporting the

GDRC on SCM, coordinating closely with the GDRC system and with other donors. Critical to this work will be ensuring effective coordination of USAID-funded technical assistance activities, both central and mission-managed.

This position is a key part of USAID’s efforts to improve its internal approaches to managing commodities and its external support for the GDRC’s supply chain strategic plan. The Senior

Advisor is expected to play a pivotal role in providing technical expertise to USAID and to the

GDRC’s efforts to strengthen the supply chain. S/he will receive technical guidance from the Health

Systems Strengthening Team Lead who will serve as his/her onsite manager. This position will require some travel (up to 20%) within and outside the country.

This position requires highly specialized skills, knowledge, and experience related to health commodities logistics, and supply chain systems, as well as interagency coordination, strategic planning, and health systems strengthening. The Senior Advisor is the key interlocutor for the U.S.

Government on all matters related to procurement and supply chain management of health commodities. In general, s/he will be expected to work independently, including developing and implementing strategies to secure essential supplies for USAID’s priority health areas, including malaria, maternal and child health, family planning, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. Under PEPFAR and PMI, the incumbent will provide senior level technical expertise and leadership to the wider

U.S. Government country team on planning, procurement, and monitoring of HIV/AIDS and malaria commodities. S/he will work with key stakeholders within the GDRC, including the

Ministry of Public Health, donor partners – such as the World Bank, Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (Global Fund), etc. – and other stakeholders to identify and apply innovative approaches and best practices to achieve supply chain and broader health systems goals.

The Senior Advisor will supervise a CCN Supply Chain Specialist.The Senior Advisor is expected to mentor and support the CCN supply chain staff to assume greater leadership and management responsibilities.

2. Statement of Duties to be Performed

The Senior Supply Chain Management Advisor will be responsible for:

1. Serving as primary point of contact for USAID’s working relationships with GDRC entities and other donors involved in supply chain and pharmaceutical management, leading the coordination of supply chain strengthening and participating in national discussions related to supply chain strengthening.

2. Serving as a technical advisor regarding USAID’s investments in strengthening the GDRC supply chain and commodities distribution system.

3. Providing technical advice in the following areas:

a. Reviewing current internal processes related to health commodity ordering and tracking and making recommendations for improvement.

b. Analyzing and monitoring program progress and informing the Mission health office or senior management of any recommendations that need to be discussed with implementing partners, other donors, or GDRC officials.

c. Developing and implementing the Mission’s road map to strengthen capacity in supply chain management and commodities distribution, in the context of the decentralization reform.

d. Working with GHSC, the National Essential Medicines Procurement Program

(Programme National d’Approvisionnement en Médicaments Essentiels (PNAM)) and priority health programs (including malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, reproductive health) to quantify and order the commodities required for each province.

e. Working with the GHSC headquarters and in-country staff, mission staff, and implementing partners to coordinate, monitor and report on the quantification, order and delivery, loss or leakage, and over stock and expiry of health commodities for USAID-supported provinces and health zones.

f. Reviewing and recommending appropriate USAID internal controls for proper tracking of health commodities from arrival in-country to final destination.

g. Monitoring and tracking the process to obtain exoneration and customs clearance for incoming health commodity shipments.

h. As needed, preparing position papers for USAID senior management regarding policy dialogue with the DRC authorities and other stakeholders on supply chain strengthening efforts.

i. Providing monthly reports on progress achieved in Implementing USAID’s commodity procurement and distribution management activities.

j. Serving as an Activity Manager or AOR/COR, as needed, for Global Health Supply Chain activities.

k. Supervise, mentor and provide management oversight to the Cooperating Country

National (CCN) Supply Chain Specialist. Approximately five percent of time will be spent training and supporting the professional development, including technical and leadership skills, of the CCN staff member to ensure s/he has the relevant skills to take over the responsibilities of the Senior Advisor position. Level of readiness of the CCN staff to perform the Senior Advisor responsibilities will be evaluated each year. Time required to reach an acceptable level of readiness will not exceed five years.

3. Supervisory Relationship

The US/TCNPSC works directly under the supervision of the Health Systems Strengthening Team

Lead.

4. Supervisory Controls

The US/TCNPSC will be a direct supervisor of at least one CCN Supply Chain Specialist.

“If a third country national (TCN) is selected for award, during the period of this contract, the TCN personal services contractor must provide at least 10 hours/week of 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”.

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES: U.S. Citizens, Resident Aliens, and Third Country Nationals.

Per ADS 309.3.1.11(c), if the CO issued a combined solicitation that was open to multiple eligible sources (i.e. USNs and TCNs or CCNs and TCNs), the TEC must not evaluate USN and TCN offers or CCN and TCN offers together. In order 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 the CO, as the Source Selection Authority, determines that there are no qualified USNs or CCNs for the position, the CO may then provide the TCN offers to the TEC for evaluation.

For USPSC:

● Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (“green card holder”);

● U.S. resident alien means a non-U.S. citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the

United States;

● Submit a complete application as outlined in the solicitation section titled APPLYING;

● Be able to obtain facility access authorization;

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

● Be willing to travel to work sites and other offices as/when requested;

● Employment is subject to funds availability and all the required approvals obtained.

For TCNPSC:

● Be a Third Country National. Third Country National means an individual: (1) Who is neither a citizen nor a permanent legal resident of the United States nor of the country to which assigned for duty (DRC), and (2) Who is eligible for return to his/her home country or country of recruitment at U.S. Government expenses;

● Submit a complete application as outlined in the section titled APPLYING;

● Be able to obtain facility access authorization;

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

● Be willing to travel to work sites and other offices as/when requested;

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/309.pdf

● Employment is subject to funds availability and all the required approvals obtained.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

The education, experience and language factors below determine basic eligibility qualifications for the position. Applicants who do not meet all the education and work experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.

1. Education: Must possess an advanced degree (Masters or Ph.D.) or the equivalent in international public health, pharmaceutical sciences or health care development related field.

2. Prior Work Experience: Minimum fifteen (15) years experience in pharmaceutical supply chain and logistics management, with at least five (5) years experience in an international or resource challenged setting. The incumbent must have prior experience with major supply chain organizations and/or health system support donors.

3. Language Proficiency: Demonstrated ability to work in French and English 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.

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

QUALITY RANKING FACTORS (QRFs)

Applicants who meet the Education, Work Experience and Language requirements will be further evaluated based on the three (3) Quality Ranking Factors listed below. The applicant will address each factor on a separate sheet describing specifically and accurately the experience, training, and/or education they have that is relevant to each factor. Please provide a word count after each response.

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

Work Experience (noted above)

30 points

Language and writing proficiency, ability to communicate clearly in both French and English

20 points

Subject matter knowledge of health commodities logistics, supply chain systems and health systems strengthening

25 points

Program and personnel management skills & abilities

25 points

TOTAL

100 points

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

Total Possible Points: 100

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 evaluated and scored. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

As part of the selection process, the most qualified candidates may be requested to complete a writing test and be interviewed either in person, by telephone or videoconference at USAID’s discretion. USAID will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews.

Reference checks will be made only for applicants considered for selection. The applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities. Note: Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an offeror. Any offeror not receiving satisfactory reference checks will no longer be considered for the position.

The security clearance and medical clearance are required for the top-ranking candidate, after conducting and receiving the positive reference checks at the conclusion of evaluations.

“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”.

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 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. Letter of application/cover letter.

5. Current resume/CV.

6. Supplemental document specifically addressing the three QRFs (Prior Work Experience, Skills & Abilities and Knowledge).

7. List of minimum three (3) professional references with contact information (telephone numbers and e-mail addresses). The applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities.

8. Application must be submitted ONLY via usaidhrkinshasa@usaid.gov and the email subject must say –: 72066024R00009 Senior Supply Chain Management Advisor

9. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered; the application must be submitted before or on the closing date.

10. Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors – Please be advised that upon award, the contractor will be required to show proof that the contractor is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on or before the first date of onboarding, or submit an approved reasonable accommodation to the CO. If the contractor does not meet this requirement the contract may be terminated. USPSCs/TCNPSCs performing overseas must follow the Mission policies and/or directives from the U.S. Department of State regarding

COVID-19 requirements.

* See Notice Regarding Any Court Order Affecting the Implementation of E.O.

14042 in Section VIII below.

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:

● Security Eligibility/Facility Access

● Medical Clearances and Certifications

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

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

1. BENEFITS (if applicable):

(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 (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

(a) Temporary Quarter Subsistence Allowance (Section 120)

(b) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

(c) Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 210)

(d) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(e) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(f) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(g) Education Travel (Section 280)

(h) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

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

(j) Danger Pay Allowance (Section 650).

VII. TAXES

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

VIII. USAID 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/ads/policy/300/aidar.

USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts with a

Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/ads/policy/300/aidar.

2. ENSURING ADEQUATE COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL

CONTRACTORS (OCT 2021)-Alternate 70 (OCT 2021) (M/OAA-DEV-FAR-22-01c)

(a) Definition. As used in this clause –

United States or its outlying areas means— https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/ads/policy/300/aidar https://www.usaid.gov/sites/ads/policy/300/aidar

(1) The fifty States;

(2) The District of Columbia;

(3) The commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands;

(4) The territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands; and

(5) The minor outlying islands of Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Palmyra Atoll, and Wake Atoll.

(b) Authority. This clause implements Executive Order 14042, Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety

Protocols for Federal Contractors, dated September 9, 2021 (published in the Federal Register on

September 14, 2021, 86 FR 50985).

(c) Personal Services Contracts with individuals. As a matter of policy, the contractor must comply with the USAID’s guidance applicable to direct-hire federal employees.

Notice Regarding Any Court Order Affecting the Implementation of E.O. 14042

USAID will take no action to enforce the clause (FAR 52.223-99) implementing the requirements of Executive Order 14042, absent further written notice from USAID, where the place of performance identified in the contract is in a U.S. state or outlying area subject to a court order prohibiting the application of requirements pursuant to the Executive Order (hereinafter, “Excluded State or Outlying Area”). In all other circumstances, USAID will enforce the clause, except for contractor employees who perform substantial work on or in connection with a covered contract in an Excluded State or Outlying Area, or in a covered contractor workplace located in an

Excluded State or Outlying Area. A current list of such Excluded States and Outlying Areas is maintained at https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.

3. 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)

(B)

QUANTITY

(C)

UNIT

(D)

UNIT PRICE

(E)

AMOUNT

(F)

0001 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]

1 LOT $ _TBD__ $_TBD at

Award after negotiations with

Contractor_

1001 Option Period 1 – Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: [e.g. R497]

- Accounting Info: [insert from Phoenix/GLAAS]

1 LOT $ _TBD__ $_TBD at

Award after negotiations with

Contractor_ https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/

2001 Option Period 2 – Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: [e.g. R497]

- Accounting Info: [insert from Phoenix/GLAAS]

1 LOT $ _TBD__ $_TBD at

Award after negotiations with

Contractor_

3001 Option Period 3 – Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: [e.g. R497]

- Accounting Info: [insert from Phoenix/GLAAS]

1 LOT $ _TBD__ $_TBD at

Award after negotiations with

Contractor_

4001 Option Period 2 – Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: [e.g. R497]

- Accounting Info: [insert from Phoenix/GLAAS]

1 LOT $ _TBD__ $_TBD at

Award after negotiations with

Contractor_

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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.

END OF SOLICITATION

https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman