Evaluation and Learning Advisor Solicitation.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72062121R00011

ISSUANCE DATE: April 23, 2021

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: May 22, 2021

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

Learning Advisor

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.

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 Attachment 1.

Sincerely, Timothy Pruett

Contracting Officer

USAID/Tanzania 686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani

P.O. BOX 9130

DAR ES SALAAM

Tel: 255-22-2294490 Fax: 255-22-2294421 www.usaid.gov/Tanzania

ATTACHMENT 1 72062121R00011

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72062121R00011

2. ISSUANCE DATE: April 23, 2021

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: May 22, 2021; 5:00 pm

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Hussein Tuwa, e-mail at htuwa@usaid.gov.

5. POSITION TITLE: Evaluation and Learning Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: $108,885 – $141,548 equivalent to GS-14. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One Year with four option years, estimated to start on August 29, 2021.

The base period will be August 29, 2021 to August 28, 2022, estimated to start on August 29, 2021.

Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise additional option periods for four years

- for the dates estimated as follows:

Base Period: August 29, 2021 to August 28, 2022

Option Period 1: August 29, 2022 to August 28, 2023

Option Period 2: August 29, 2023 to August 28, 2024

Option Period 3: August 29, 2024 to August 28, 2025

Option Period 4: August 29, 2025 to August 28, 2026

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania with possible travel as stated in the

Statement of Duties.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U. S. citizens

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facility Access

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

1. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

The Evaluation and Learning Advisor requires full understanding of USAID’s Program Cycle and the role of the Collaborating, Learning and Adapting in strengthening the cycle. The incumbent will be responsible for guiding technical teams to ask the most important questions about activities and finding answers that are relevant to decision making through surveys, special studies and monitoring and evaluation. The incumbent will also guide teams to use the information that we gather through collaboration and learning activities to make better decisions and make adjustments as necessary. The incumbent will work closely with USAID Health team members to build their capacity in using technical evidence including special studies, survey and monitoring and evaluation data for program improvement and design. Capacity building will be an important aspect of this position.

Using evaluations, surveys, routine data and special studies that measure progress against key health indicators in Tanzania, the incumbent will assist program staff in understanding their data and measuring success of national and global USAID programs. USAID Tanzania has a large health portfolio, including all technical areas within PEPFAR-funded HIV/AIDS activities (e.g., HIV testing, treatment, voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC), orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), health systems) and malaria, maternal and child health, family planning). The

Evaluation and Learning Advisor will build the capacity of the USAID health staff to use special studies, surveys, evaluations and their own routine data to understand activity performance. S/he will also supervise the Tanzanian Intensive Site Monitoring (TIMS) Coordinator and support regular use of monthly data for performance improvement.

The incumbent will lead the planning for and manage all USAID-funded population-based surveys, national-level assessments, and external evaluations that are outside of the scope of the

Program Office’s evaluation activity. The incumbent will lead the Health Office input and interaction with the program office on monitoring and evaluation tasks.

2. Statement of Duties to be Performed

Specific activities of the Evaluation and Learning Specialist will include, but are not limited to, the following:

A. Provide Leadership in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (50% of time)

The incumbent will align monitoring, evaluation, and learning efforts of the Health Office with

USAID/ Tanzania’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy and Agency priorities, such as youth and gender, at the project, and activity-levels in partnership with technical teams and data analysts. In partnership with the Program Office, s/he will design and conduct program evaluations to inform ongoing and future programming and plan and manage USAID investments into surveys and assessments. S/he will support technical teams to track and apply the technical evidence base in planning and implementation. The Evaluation and Learning Advisor will support technical teams to analyze learning from implementation and/or pause and reflect opportunities within or across activities within the Health Office and throughout the mission. Finally, s/he will work closely with technical teams to coordinate meaningful engagement and scheduling of periodic partners meetings.

The Evaluation and Learning Advisor will maintain close communication and work collaboratively with the PEPFAR strategic information (SI) Unit Lead and the TIMS Coordinator.

The incumbent will also work closely with health staff from other units on the team, including the facilities team, the community team, and the health systems team. The incumbent will need to apply his/her knowledge of surveys; monitoring and evaluation; and data use to build the capacity of these team members to use data for program improvement and design. The incumbent will advise the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist to analyze non-PEPFAR routine and survey data to help program teams understand in more depth what the predictors of disease and health-seeking behavior are, whether health outcomes are improving or getting worse, and, where feasible, whether USAID programs are having the desired impact. The incumbent will work closely with all health teams to understand data needs for program planning, implementation, and evaluation.

B. Supervise the Tanzanian Intensive Monitoring of Sites (TIMS) Coordinator (25% of time)

A critical aspect of the responsibilities will be to work with his/her supervisee in the Program, Analysis and Operations Team, - the TIMS Coordinator. There are requisite administrative, staff-development, and coordination responsibilities involved in supervising staff at USAID.

i. Personnel Management

● Supervise and mentor the TIMS Coordinator on data needs of the office and management.

● Monitor the activities of the TIMS Coordinator and provide technical assistance and professional guidance as needed.

● Maintain updated work objectives and performance measures for the TIMS

Coordinator.

● Complete annual performance evaluations for the TIMS Coordinator, and provide ongoing feedback on his/her performance.

● Approve leave, trainings, etc. for the TIMS Coordinator.

● Identify opportunities for staff to expand technical expertise and/or present in technical fora

● Oversee, review and approve actions of TIMS Coordinator including: time sheets, E2 travel authorizations and vouchers, and after-hours building access

● Provide coaching and mentoring to team members to achieve professional program objectives (work objectives, targets, intermediate results, etc.)

ii. Program & Technical Leadership

● Provide guidance to members of the team in the design and implementation of projects/activities related to data use, quantitative evaluation, surveillance, etc.

● Support the team’s use of existing and new program data and reports, by facilitating quarterly reviews of partner targets/results in order to possess a grasp of overall partner performance across the team.

● Ensure that analyses are coordinated and complementary with those of other teams within USAID, the USG, and other donors and stakeholders in Tanzania, maximizing opportunities for integration and efficiencies.

● In collaboration with CORs and AORs, participate in site visits and meetings with key partners and stakeholders to review program implementation and data quality and use.

● Provide quantitative analyses for USAID strategic planning processes.

● Stay updated (e.g., USAID policies and guidelines, technical journals, trainings, conferences, etc.) and recommend appropriate data-collection approaches and analyses to implement new technical developments, policy initiatives, and research.

C. Provide Activity Management (30% of time)

The incumbent will manage health studies and surveys commissioned by USAID, e.g., impact evaluations or population-based surveys. Such management duties would include the drafting and review of concept notes, scopes of work, research protocols, data collection tools, analysis plans, and study reports and manuscripts. For such studies, the incumbent needs to work collaboratively with the partner conducting the study, other development partners involved in the study or survey, other USAID health staff and staff from the USAID Program Office (who manage all evaluations for USAID).

The incumbent will design and manage special studies funded by USAID, including: (1) the

Demographic and Health Survey and Tanzania Service Provision Assessment; (2) impact evaluations; (3) surveillance activities; and (4) other special studies.

The incumbent may be asked to fulfill the formal role of AOR/COR or Activity Manager. In the capacity as technical representative for the agreements officer/contracting officer (AOR/COR) or an activity manager for evaluation activities, the incumbent will provide day-to-day oversight, as well as strategic and technical input and direction on annual work plans and performance monitoring plans.

S/he will review financial and performance reports to ensure that partner(s) are in compliance with the performance expectations outlined in their work plan and contract/agreement with

USAID. S/he will ensure compliance with PEPFAR, Development Objectives, USAID regulations and host government agreements as they relate to the specific mechanisms managed.

S/he will assure that assigned activities are designed, implemented, evaluated, and documented in an appropriate manner as emphasized in USAID/Tanzania’s evaluation mission order and other relevant strategic documents.

The incumbent will serve as the Health Office representative/activity manager for the cross-mission evaluation activity managed by the Program Office. S/he will provide guidance on the allocation of health resources to that activity and provide technical supervision to ensure the quality and relevance of evaluations and data quality assessments conducted by that activity.

3. Supervisory Relationship

S/he will exercise direct and functional supervision over the TIMS Coordinator. Sound leadership, mentoring and coaching abilities will need to be applied.

4. Supervisory Controls

The work will be performed under the supervision of the Program Analysis and Operations Team

Lead. Performance will be evaluated annually based on accomplishments.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

● Possession of a graduate degree (masters or PhD) in the field of evaluation, public health, epidemiology, statistics, economics, social science, or a related discipline.

● Demonstrated expertise in designing and/or conducting evaluations: At least five to seven years of experience with both quantitative and qualitative research and knowledge of research/evaluation methods.

● Five years or more of progressive and responsible experience in managing or advising public health programs.

● At least five years of experience in implementing evaluations and monitoring activities.

● Experience in all aspects of collecting and analyzing health data – e.g., designing data collection tools, assessing data for validity, analyzing quantitative data, and presenting findings in a programmatically useful way.

● Demonstrated ability to function as an active member of a team and to lead a team when needed.

● Demonstrated skills in oral and written communication in English. Swahili is a plus.

● Advanced knowledge of analytic software (e.g., Excel, Stata, R, SAS). Knowledge of GIS and database management is a plus.

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.

Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and reference checks. For purposes of this solicitation, Offerors will be required to have the minimum qualifications expressed in Section II and will be assessed based on the following factors:

1. Education - (10 Points)

2. Work Experience - (40 Points)

3. Skills & Abilities - (20 Points)

4. Knowledge - (20 Points)

5. Language Proficiency - (10 Points)

In order to be considered for the position, a candidate must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated in Section II above. Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the

Evaluation Factors. Please note that not all applicants will be interviewed or contacted. USAID will https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews unless expenses are pre-authorized. The applicant's references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities.

After the closing date for receipt of offers, a selection committee will be convened to review offers and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Offers from candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements will not be considered or scored. Reference checks will be made only for offerors considered as finalists.

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

1. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror

Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals,” available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.

2. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3.

3. Offeror submissions must clearly reference the number of this Solicitation to ensure the offer is for the position in this Solicitation.

Interested applicants must submit the following: (1) a current Form AID 302- 3, Offeror

Information for Personal Services Contract-attached to this solicitation; (2) a current resume or curriculum vitae; (3) a cover letter, not to exceed three pages, addressing how the applicant meets the Required Qualifications {(a) education; (b) prior work experience; (c) knowledge, (d) skills and abilities}; and (4) any other documents (certificates, awards, copies of degrees earned, etc.) that address the qualification requirements of the position as listed above, and a list of three (3) to five (5) references with complete contact information, including email address and telephone numbers.

Submittals should be sent to USAID/Tanzania PSC Applications mailbox, at daressalaampscsap@usaid.gov.

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:

1. Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms)

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

3. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)

4. Finger Print Card (FD-258)

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a USPSC is normally authorized the following http://www.usaid.gov/forms http://www.usaid.gov/forms mailto:daressalaampscsap@usaid.gov 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), 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)

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. Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award.

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 http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=231&amp%3Bmenu_id=92 http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=231&amp%3Bmenu_id=92 http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=231&amp%3Bmenu_id=92 https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/forms http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs 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 .

USAID IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: In selecting personnel, there will be no discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, politics, marital status, physical handicap, HIV/AIDS status, age, or membership or non- membership in an employee organization.

5. PSC Ombudsman. The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal

Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information:

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

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

https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations http://www.usaid.gov/work-mailto:PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov