72067420R00002-_Solicitation_-_Care_and_Treatment_Advisor.docx

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72067420R00002

ISSUANCE DATE: October 21, 2019 CLOSING DATE/TIME: November 20, 2019 – 17:00 Local Time, Pretoria, South Africa

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

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 Contact specified in the attached information.

Sincerely, Summer Tucker Contracting Officer

ATTACHMENT 1 72067420R00002

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72067420R00002

2. ISSUANCE DATE: October 21, 2019

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: November 20, 2019

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Ms. Caroline Sello +2712 452 2059

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Care and Treatment Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: $106,595.00 - $138,572.00 equivalent to GS-15 Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two years, with the possibility of extensions pending need, performance and funding, not to exceed five (5) years.

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Pretoria, South Africa

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: United States (U.S.) Citizens

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Employment Authorization (USPSCs) - Facility Access

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

The USAID/South Africa (SA) Health Office (HO) manages one of the largest President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programs in the world. The Health and HIV/AIDS portfolio covers a broad range of health topics, including HIV Treatment, Care, Voluntary Counseling and Testing, Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission, Tuberculosis/HIV, HIV Prevention, and Orphans and Vulnerable Children programs. An estimated 80% of the USAID/South Africa portfolio is implemented through local organizations. These partners are tasked with reaching ambitious targets so that South Africa can reach HIV epidemic control by 2020. This requires USAID and its implementing partners to advocate for strong national health policies, quickly adapt to changing data trends, and adopt reflexive technical and organizational reforms.

The Senior Care and Treatment HIV/AIDS Advisor (“Advisor”) serves as a key advisor on health issues, especially HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) provision, policies and issues. The incumbent is expected to play a major leadership role within the health team and will have responsibility for guiding and expanding significant elements of the Mission’s HIV and TB health portfolio. The incumbent will have leadership and management responsibility for the HIV clinical activities supported by the Mission. This will entail monitoring and evaluating technical and clinical activities, advising Mission leadership of shifts in program operations and other recommended actions, representing the U.S. government at public events, and assisting in planning joint programming with the Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and international cooperating agencies. The selected candidate will provide:

· Leadership in the technical areas of HIV/TB treatment (including pediatric, adolescent, pregnant women, adult and advance clinical care), HIV testing and counseling (HTC) and care and support within USAID and for the PEPFAR interagency team.

· Technical expertise grounded in strong programmatic knowledge, previous technical experience, and demonstrated public health understanding.

· Significant technical assistance across the differentiated services needed to provide client-centered care, and building strong linkages between HIV treatment and other clinical services.

· Assistance in the design, integration and implementation of HIV and AIDS care and support programs.

· Technical support toward the design and improvement of programs in line with USAID and PEPFAR strategies and objectives.

Position Overview

The Senior Care and Treatment Advisor for HIV/AIDS is located in the HIV/AIDS and Health Office at USAID/South Africa and serves as the senior expert technical advisor on HIV Care and Treatment components of USAID/South Africa’s HIV/AIDS and related health programs and activities.

The Senior Care and Treatment Advisor will provide technical assistance to Government of the Republic of South Africa (GoSA) officials and collaborating partners in the development, coordination and monitoring of HIV prevention, treatment and care programs, including OVC and TB.

S/he may serve as Agreement Officer Representative/Contracting Officer Representative (AOR/COR) or activity manager for select contractor and grantee partners and is actively involved in the planning, design, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of those awards. The Advisor plays a critical role in program coordination, analysis of progress and project design for inclusion in the annual Country Operational Plan (COP), Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) and other processes that directly monitor and assess programmatic performance of the partners and portfolio.

The Senior Care and Treatment Advisor maintains highly collaborative interagency relationships and ensures that program activities are complementary and non-duplicative, are of high quality and regularly analyzed to be used for program improvement, program planning, policy development, and advocacy. The incumbent plays a leadership role within the PEPFAR technical work groups, playing a key role in the development of annual and work plans and strategies. The incumbent represents USAID within multiple GoSA and donor technical working groups and maintains collaborative working relationships with mid-to-senior level government officials in the GoSA, donors, USG agencies and non-governmental organizations. This requires sound judgment, diplomacy and tact in negotiating and working closely with the GoSA and other stakeholders, and in the provision of ongoing guidance to implementing partners on health strategic directions and activities.

Finally, the Senior Care and Treatment Advisor spends a significant amount of his/her time ensuring skills transfer and mentoring of USAID, Implementing Partner and GoSA staff on new technologies and approaches to accelerate HIV epidemic control and strengthening South Africa’s overall national response.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Advisor plays a leadership role in USAID/South Africa’s Health Office as a senior technical expert in all aspects of the Care and Treatment for the “whole of government” PEPFAR program. The Advisor will work in close coordination with all HIV/AIDS team members, other Mission staff including the program office, key USG agencies and other stakeholders and be responsible for, or provide support to, a variety of institutional components in the area of strategic information.

Technical Expert in HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment

· Adapts Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) guidance, models and interventions with specific application to PEPFAR/South Africa.

· Reviews analyzes and provides feedback to team members and partners from the quarterly, semi-annual and annual PEPFAR reports to assure targets are met and results achieved

· Promotes information exchange with partners, regional institutions and networks regarding application of new approaches or development for greater success and practical application.

· Prepares and presents at various venues and to a variety of audiences in order to communicate treatment best-practice models, innovations.

· Analyzes, synthesizes and disseminates methodologies, lessons learned and best practices on monitoring and evaluation, including M&E in resource constrained settings.

· Provides technical guidance to PEPFAR partners on HIV/AIDS program quality initiatives.

· Represents USAID as chair or co-chair of the interagency technical working group on treatment and Care and Treatment.

Team Leadership and Supervision

· Provide vision and leadership within the HIV Care and Treatment Team, assuring linkages and coordination among USAID and USG interagency-supported activities in HIV prevention, treatment and care.

· Supervise project development specialist, technical specialist, or other staff

· Mentor staff to support professional development, including technical expertise and leadership skills.

· Oversee the monitoring activities of team to track progress against partner program descriptions, implementation plans and work plans, assess progress and barriers to achievement, recommend action for improvement or modifications to address problems, and document and highlight results.

Management and Technical Oversight

· Serve as the COR/AOR for selected USAID-supported cooperative agreements and contracts; provide overall management, technical guidance and leadership to the implementing partners who carry out activities within the Mission's HIV/AIDS portfolio.

· Provide technical guidance to implementing partners on linking HIV/AIDS activities across HIV program areas and with maternal and child health, family planning.

· Track performance data from partners implementing USAID-financed activities on a routine basis to provide updated information to the Health team and other USAID Mission senior staff to determine mid-course corrections, barriers or opportunities to achieving results.

· Provide strategic technical advice for and prepare portions of key Emergency Plan planning and budget documents such as the Country Operational Plan (COP), the semi-annual and annual progress reports, and Congressional Notifications.

Other Duties

· Provides technical advice and serves as an outside resource to organizations involved in implementing PEPFAR, including the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, USAID Headquarters and the South African Government.

· Establishes and maintains contact with counterparts in the National and Provincial Departments of Health, South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), and other various HIV/AIDS-related government programs/departments, UN Agencies, other bilateral donors.

· Represent USAID in GoSA and donor working groups and provide inputs to ensure coordination between USAID-supported activities and those supported by the others, including implementation and policy issues related to assigned HIV/AIDS activities.

· Support and contribute to U.S. Embassy and/or USAID Public Affairs HIV-related press releases, interviews, talking points or other material in preparation for, or as part of, Congressional Delegations, technical working group reviews or similar such visits in the development of site sheets and fact sheets for visitors; prepares correspondence and cables relating to implementation, management, and evaluation of HIV/AIDS activities

POSITION ELEMENTS:

A. Position Title of Direct Supervisor/Supervision Received The incumbent will report to the Care and Treatment Team Lead for the USAID/SA Health Office

B. Supervisory Controls:

S/He is expected to work independently in designing, planning and implementing responsibilities and is expected to develop annual work objectives. Minimal technical direction and day-to-day supervision is expected.

C. Exercise of Judgment:

A high degree of independent judgment and initiative is expected. The incumbent receives minimal day-to-day supervision, and general technical direction. The incumbent is expected to carry out all duties in an independent manner and be able to interpret guidelines and implement their intent.

D. Authority to Make Commitments:

The incumbent has full authority and responsibility as delegated by ADS, other Mission, and USAID guidelines for AORs/CORs.

E. Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts:

The incumbent has routine and frequent contact with senior officials of the Government of the Republic of South Africa, at the regional and national levels, other members of the Mission Health Office, personnel at the U.S. Embassy, USAID/South Africa, USAID/Washington and other USG agencies such as the CDC, partnering organizations, institutional contractors and consultants and incumbent will need to defend and negotiate with South African Government officials regarding programmatic implementation (for example, prioritizing geographic areas and priority populations), which is challenging.

F. Supervision Exercised:

Responsible for supervising and evaluating performance of two staff on the Care and Treatment Team.

G. Available Guidelines:

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR); AID Acquisitions Regulations (AIDAR; AID Automated Directives System (ADS Series); Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs); Office of Procurement Acquisition Memorandum (OPAMS); U.S. Department of State Standardized Regulations; Federal Travel Regulations; Office of Management and Budget (OMB); Circulars and Controller General Decisions, USAID Mission Orders, Project Papers, Mission Strategy, and other documents available, USAID policies and procedures, Technical Documents and Policy Papers.

H. Complexity:

Given the duties and responsibilities of the position, there is a heavy emphasis on interagency collaboration, team leadership and providing vision and strategy. It is essential for the incumbent to demonstrate strong technical and management skills, complemented by outstanding communication and interpersonal skills. This position will finalize many different tasks and processes, and the incumbent will be involved in activities requiring advanced interpretation and evaluation of data. The program remains in a state of constant change, with new requirements regularly evolving.

I. Work Environment:

The position will require working with health team members, visits to ministries and other donors to collect, validate and report on program level data. Travel will be required in order to appropriate assess and inform guidance for implementing partners; the amount of travel expected will be determined based on site-level results and needs of the Health Team.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Education:

· A completed Master’s degree in a medical or public health discipline.

· 7 years of experience in international, public health programming, and experience working in technical oversight, design, and implementation of HIV/AIDS programs in developing countries.

Prior Work Experience:

· A minimum of 7 years’ overseas experience in providing similar services to a large USG or international organization, with increasing responsibility and authority beyond the ten years.

· Experience providing HIV and health technical assistance to large, complex public health programs in contexts of high disease burden.

· Experience in successfully leading teams and supervising other technical staff.

· Demonstrated experience working with USAID or equivalent procurement, financial, and other systems.

Skills and Abilities:

· Specialized knowledge in the demography and epidemiology of HIV and AIDS.

· Specialized knowledge and demonstrated expertise in understanding the current evidence base as it applies to HIV and AIDS program design, management, and evaluation.

· Skilled at strategizing, developing and implementing effective USAID-supported HIV/AIDS programs, including financial management and administrative skills to oversee the performance of implementing partners, technical advisors and development partners.

· Strong quantitative, analytical and reasoning skills, verbal skills and ability to communicate technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical colleagues.

· Familiarity with HIV/AIDS modeling of incidence and prevalence and ability to interpret results for programmatic decision making/prioritization.

· Able to develop and maintain a range of working-level and senior-level contacts on HIV/AIDS-related topics, in government, non-governmental and private sector circles.

· Excellent management, interpersonal and teamwork skills with experience in operating effectively in a cross-cultural environment and working within an interagency setting. Cultural sensitivity, previous management, supervisory and staff development skills are required.

· Demonstrated excellent, interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, including – diplomacy and tact.

· A thorough working knowledge of U.S. Government operations, rules, regulations, procedures, policies and programs and previous relevant working experience with the USG, particularly USAID and OGAC. Able to interpret regulatory directives.

· Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

· A high degree of judgment, maturity, ingenuity, and originality to interpret technical and political opportunities and constraints.

· Ability in dealing effectively and diplomatically with high level and multiple U.S. and host-country government agencies, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, and the private sector.

· Advanced Microsoft platform skills to complete data analyses

Language Ability:

· Level IV (fluent) ability in written and spoken English. Must possess strong verbal and written communication skills including a demonstrated ability to present highly technical information, analysis, and recommendations in clear written and oral formats. A preference will be given to candidates who are fluent in at least one of the other ten official languages of South Africa.

II. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The following factors are listed in descending order of importance and will be the basis for the evaluation of applications meeting the required minimum qualifications:

Work Experience (50%)

· A minimum of 7 years’ overseas experience in providing similar services to a large USG or international organization, with increasing responsibility and authority beyond the ten years.

· 7 years of experience in international, public health programming, and experience working in technical oversight, design, and implementation of HIV/AIDS programs in developing countries.

· Experience providing HIV and health technical assistance to large, complex public health programs in contexts of high disease burden.

· Experience in successfully leading teams and supervising other technical staff.

· Demonstrated experience working with USAID or equivalent procurement, financial, and other systems.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills (40%)

· Specialized knowledge in the demography and epidemiology of HIV and AIDS.

· Specialized knowledge and demonstrated expertise in understanding the current evidence base as it applies to HIV and AIDS program design, management, and evaluation.

· Skilled at strategizing, developing and implementing effective USAID-supported HIV/AIDS programs, including financial management and administrative skills to oversee the performance of implementing partners, technical advisors and development partners.

· Strong quantitative, analytical and reasoning skills, verbal skills and ability to communicate technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical colleagues.

· Familiarity with HIV/AIDS modeling of incidence and prevalence and ability to interpret results for programmatic decision making/prioritization.

· Able to develop and maintain a range of working-level and senior-level contacts on HIV/AIDS-related topics, in government, non-governmental and private sector circles.

· Excellent management, interpersonal and teamwork skills with experience in operating effectively in a cross-cultural environment and working within an interagency setting. Cultural sensitivity, previous management, supervisory and staff development skills are required.

· Demonstrated excellent, interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, including – diplomacy and tact.

· A thorough working knowledge of U.S. Government operations, rules, regulations, procedures, policies and programs and previous relevant working experience with the USG, particularly USAID and OGAC. Able to interpret regulatory directives.

· Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

· A high degree of judgment, maturity, ingenuity, and originality to interpret technical and political opportunities and constraints.

· Ability in dealing effectively and diplomatically with high level and multiple U.S. and host-country government agencies, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, and the private sector.

· Advanced Microsoft platform skills to complete data analyses

Education (10%)

· A completed Master’s degree in a medical or public health discipline

All applications will be evaluated based on the documentation submitted with the application. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation. The highest ranking applicants may be selected for an interview, but an interview is not always necessary.

III. APPLYING

1. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts,” available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.

2. An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) or resume: Your CV/resume must contain sufficient relevant information to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria. Broad general statements that are vague or lacking specificity will not be considered as effectively addressing selection criteria. Applicants are encouraged to write a brief appendix to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training addresses the minimum qualifications and evaluation criteria set forth in the solicitation.

3. References: Three (3) references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about your past performance and abilities. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation of the application.

4. Security Clearance: Prior to signing a contract, the selected individual will be required to obtain an “employment authorization” if a US Citizen or US Green Card Holder. This temporary security clearance will be requested while a personal background investigation is conducted. Instructions for obtaining the security clearance will be forwarded to the selected individual once negotiations have been concluded.

5. Submissions shall be in accordance with the above information at the place and time specified. In order to be considered for the position a candidate must meet the minimum qualifications listed in the solicitation. Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the applications vis-a-vis the required qualifications. Applicants should note that the salary history for the purposes of the AID309-2 is the base salary paid, excluding benefits and allowances such as housing, travel, educational support, vehicle use, etc. Applicants are reminded and required to sign the certification at the end of the AID309-2.

6. 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.

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

Methods of application submissions:

For applicants to be considered for this position the following guidelines will be adhered to and forms completed, signed and submitted to jobapplications@usaid.gov, to allow the evaluation committee to thoroughly and objectively review your application vis-a-vis the requirements of the position.

Hand Deliver To:

USAID/Southern Africa Office of Human Resources 100 Totius Street Groenkloof Pretoria South Africa

Via U.S. Mail:

USAID/Southern Africa Office of Human Resources 9300 Pretoria Place Washington D.C. 20521 – 9300

If sent via Courier, International or Local (South African) Mail use:

USAID/Southern Africa Office of Human Resources 100 Totius Street PO Box 43 Groenkloof Pretoria South Africa

4. If sent via email:

Ms. Caroline Sello Human Resource Assistant Telephone: +27 12 452 2059 E-mail address: jobapplications@usaid.gov

IV. 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.

V. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC 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) Annual and Sick Leave

2. ALLOWANCES:

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

(a) Temporary Quarter Subsistence Allowance (Section 120)

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

(c) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(d) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(e) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(f) Education Travel (Section 280)

(g) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

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

VI. TAXES

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

VII. 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 .

[The CO must check http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs to determine which AAPDs/CIBs apply and insert the relevant text as required.]

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

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