Health System Strengthening (HSS) Advisor 2021.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72062122R00002

ISSUANCE DATE: October 13, 2021

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: November 02, 2021, 5:00 P.M.

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) – Offshore Hire -

Health System Strengthening (HSS) 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/Tanzan ia http://www.usaid.gov/Tanzania http://www.usaid.gov/Tanzania

ATTACHMENT 1 72062122R00002

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72062122R00002

2. ISSUANCE DATE: October 13, 2021

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: November 02, 2021, 5:00 P.M.

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

5. POSITION TITLE: Health System Strengthening (HSS) Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: USD $110,460 – USD $143,598 equivalent to GS- 15. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two Years with three option years, estimated to start on January

16, 2022.

The base period will be January 16, 2022 to January 15, 2024, estimated to start on January 16, 2022. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise additional option periods for four years - for the dates estimated as follows:

Base Period: January 16, 2022 to January 15, 2024

Option Period 1: January 16, 2024 to January 15, 2025

Option Period 2: January 16, 2025 to January 15, 2026

Option Period 3: January 16, 2026 to January 15, 2027

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

Statement of Duties.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: American Citizens

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facility Access

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

1. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

The Health System Strengthening (HSS) Advisor will lead policy, technical, and program management for universal health coverage (UHC) in Tanzania, focused on health financing and related issues. S/he will support the HSS Team to provide strategic and technical expertise to the

USAID/Tanzania Health Office and the interagency USG PEPFAR team. The HSS Advisor will provide advisory and deep technical acumen, including hands-on health financing technical expertise, conduct results-oriented analyses, and manage communications in close collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders including GOT, USAID, and other USG agencies. S/he will work with other offices at USAID and within the interagency community to guide

USAID/Tanzania’s strategic engagement and support of activities that ensure a more cohesive and harmonized health financing strategy for Tanzania.

mailto:htuwa@usai.gov

2. Statement of Duties to be Performed

A. Technical and Strategic Leadership (35% of time)

1. Under the guidance of Health Office leadership and the HSS Team Lead, develop a plan for how USAID can engage strategically and proactively with GOT on its UHC agenda, with a focus on health financing, in line with the USAID Vision for Health System

Strengthening 2030, the USAID/Tanzania Health System Strengthening Strategy 2019-

2024, and other strategic planning efforts within the HSS Team.

2. Serve as USAID’s technical expert and lead on health financing policy design, implementation, and evaluation, health insurance reform and implementation, provider payment models, domestic resource mobilization (DRM) in the public and private sectors, macroeconomic and fiscal issues relevant for the health sector, and public financial management (PFM), providing high-level technical guidance to the Mission, the GOT, and other development partners.

3. Provide overall strategic and technical guidance and direction on health financing activities and ensure that activities are appropriately integrated with the Health Office and larger Mission activities.

4. Oversee the health information systems (HIS) portfolio and represent USAID to the interagency and GOT on HIS and related matters, as needed.

5. Work closely with leadership across the Health Office and USAID Mission to ensure the quality of health financing and related activities implemented by implementing partners is adequately addressed.

6. Through literature review, research, and regular communication with local and international stakeholders, keep abreast of emerging developments in health financing policy, health insurance reform and implementation, provider payment models, DRM, macroeconomic and fiscal issues relevant for the health sector, and PFM approaches.

Advise accordingly on how these policies and strategies can most effectively be incorporated to enhance USAID’s approaches.

7. Identify opportunities and strengthen existing opportunities for integrating the principles of UHC and health financing within the HSS team, across the Health Office, and other areas of the Mission as appropriate.

8. Provide strategic leadership in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents including the PEFPAR Country Operational Plan, the Operational

Plan for the operating unit, Congressional Budget Justifications, Technical Notifications, Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports and other ad hoc requests for information.

9. Organize site visits and prepare orientation materials for delegations from Mission leadership, USAID Headquarters (HQ), Department of State, other agencies and

Congress.

B. Activity Management (40% of time)

1. Lead the design of project mechanisms and activities for health financing policy, health insurance reform and implementation, provider payment models, DRM, macroeconomic and fiscal issues relevant for the health sector, and PFM approaches.

2. Serve as AOR/COR or Activity Manager for the Mission’s activities focused on health financing and related issues, and supervise and provide guidance to HSS Team and/or

Health Office staff serving as AORs/CORs for related projects, including:

a. reviewing and approving implementing partners’ (IPs) annual work plans;

b. facilitating IP relationships and coordinating with local stakeholders (other IPs, host government counterparts, other development partners/donors, etc.);

c. maintaining a schedule for and conducting regular site visits to USAID-supported health finance activities to meet with IPs, government health officials, and beneficiaries as appropriate, review program implementation, and based on the information collected during such visits, provide technical, programmatic, and administrative guidance as necessary, including adjusting or recommending adjustments to programs/projects/activities, and overseeing IP compliance with bilateral government agreements and with performance expectations;

d. ensuring IPs are in compliance with all relevant USAID reporting requirements, regulations, and procedures, communicating regularly with IPs regarding USAID rules and regulations as well as their obligations to USAID;

e. ensuring that sub-partners (sub-awards and sub-contracts) are given appropriate monitoring and oversight;

f. keeping the HSS Team Lead regularly informed of program implementation progress, results, and issues/problems on a timely basis.

3. Participate or take the lead on each stage of project design for new activities, including drafting and getting approval for concept papers, writing scopes of work, evaluating applications/proposals, and starting up new projects.

4. Lead routine meetings with implementing partners to discuss technical and programmatic direction of health financing activities.

5. Technically advise and make recommendations on the need for short-term technical assistance (STTA) from USAID/Washington central projects and write the technical components of the scope of work for the consultants.

C. Representation and Reporting (25% of time)

1. Represent USAID at designated national, regional and international meetings that relate to health financing, including regular participation in national-level technical working groups and related committees. As needed, represent USAID at interagency and/or GOT meetings.

2. Establish strategic working relationships with senior Ministry of Finance (MOF), MOH and other relevant GOT officials at the national, regional, and local levels, development partners, civil society organizations, and academic institutions to enhance regular and timely sharing of information on issues related to health financing policy, health insurance reform and implementation, provider payment models, DRM, macroeconomic and fiscal issues relevant for the health sector, and PFM approaches, including changes in key policies, and legal and regulatory environments that could affect the implementation of USAID programs.

3. Provide strategic leadership in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents including the Country Operational Plan, Operational Plan, Congressional Budget Justifications, Technical Notifications, Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports.

4. As requested by the Mission Director, Health Office Director and/or HSS Team Lead, represent USAID at meetings outside of the health financing field when needed.

5. As a member of the HSS Team, respond flexibly and capably to a wide range of work-related requirements including responding to requests for information from Mission leadership, USAID/Washington and Congress.

6. Serve as the Mission’s representative on all inter-agency forums related to health financing.

7. Assist the HSS team lead, and the Health Office with other tasks related to the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of USAID support to health programs in

Tanzania.

3. Supervisory Relationship: The HSS Advisor will report to the HSS Team Lead. Performance will be evaluated annually based on accomplishments. Most assignments are self-generated and occur in the normal course of work and the jobholder exercises independence in most phases of his/her job responsibilities but determines those situations that must be coordinated with the supervisor or other team members. Completed work is accepted as technically correct and the overall work is reviewed in terms of results achieved.

4. Supervisory Controls: The HSS Advisor will exercise direct and functional supervision over the Health Information Systems (HIS) Specialist. Sound leadership, mentoring and coaching abilities will need to be applied to ensure that the team achieves the Mission’s CDCS objectives and specific health policy and systems strengthening program objectives.

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

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

a. Education: A Masters degree in a discipline such as health economics or applied economics or relevant field.

b. Work Experience: A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in health systems and health financing in low- or middle-income countries, with experience spent on health financing in sub-Saharan Africa required. Prior experience working with or for bilateral or multilateral donors/stakeholders such as the World Bank, the Global Fund, UN agencies, or national-level public or private sector projects and ensuring compliance with U.S.

Government rules and regulations is required.

c. Language: Level IV English ability (fluent) is required. The incumbent must possess a high degree of proficiency in both written and spoken English. Language competence will be tested.

d. Knowledge: Expert-level knowledge of health financing approaches and interventions.

Demonstrated senior-level knowledge of health systems strengthening used in finance.

Familiarity with health informatics or health information systems will be an advantage.

Comprehensive knowledge of a country context within sub-Saharan Africa including health system priorities and challenges, funding for health system interventions and the key stakeholders engaged in health system strengthening efforts, with demonstrated experience applying lessons across countries, is required. Familiarity with the Tanzania health systems and health financing context desirable. Thorough knowledge of the host-country’s economic, political, social and cultural characteristics and the history of development assistance, in particular for health systems, including current trends and directions.

e. Skills and Abilities: The incumbent must possess strong skills in communication (oral and written), advocacy, and networking. S/he must have strong conceptual and analytical skills to be able to quickly grasp and translate new concepts into operational plans and results. This position requires an outstanding ability to exercise flexibility and prioritization skills to be able to accept and react to evolving planning and implementation contexts. Ability to exercise sound judgement, take initiative and offer leadership. S/he demonstrates timely decision-making and extensive judgment in planning and carrying out tasks. The incumbent must have the ability to identify significant economic, political and social trends in the host country and assess their importance and impact on USAID development assistance objectives and programs. The incumbent must demonstrate excellent computer skills including skills with Microsoft Office, google workspace, web-based databases, and electronic filing.

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 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.

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

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 309-2, 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 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 http://www.usaid.gov/forms http://www.usaid.gov/forms mailto:daressalaampscsap@usaid.gov

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 as described below:

LINE ITEMS

ITEM NO

(A)

SUPPLIES/SERVICES

(DESCRIPTION) (B)

QUANTI

TY

(C)

UNI

T

(D)

UNIT

PRIC

E (E)

AMOU

NT

(F)

1130008 Base Period -

Compensation, Fringe

Benefits and Other Direct

Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code:

R497

1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD

at

Award after negotiati ons with

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1130008 Option Period 1 –

Compensation, Fringe

Benefits and Other Direct

Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code:

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1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD

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Award after negotiati ons with

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1130008 Option Period 2 –

Compensation, Fringe

Benefits and Other Direct

Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code:

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1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD

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Award after negotiati ons with

Contract or_

1130008 Option Period 3 –

Compensation, Fringe

Benefits and Other Direct

Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code:

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1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD

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Award after negotiati ons with

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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

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.

http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations