J and A Project Management Specialist (Civil Society).pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR EXPEDITED PROCEDURES PACKAGE

TO: Sean Hofmann, Contracting Officer

CC: Deborah Broderick, Agency Competition Advocate

FROM: Elcy Valdez, Deputy Office Director, Democracy, Gender and Rights

DATE: September 19, 2024

SUBJECT: Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition under the Expedited

Procedures Package (EPP) for Afghanistan.

1. This document sets forth the facts and rationale justifying the use of other than full and open competition.

Approval is requested for the justification for use of other than full and open competition pursuant to the authorities under the Expedited Acquisition and Assistance Procedures (EPP) for Afghanistan, approved on December 9, 2021, and extended on October 7, 2023, through December 8, 2025. Your approval of this J&A constitutes the justification for other than full and open competition as required by Tab 1 (D&F for the Authorization of Less than Full and Open Competitive Procedures in the Modification or Award of Contracts) of the EPP.

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved:

This is a request to approve a follow-on United States Personal Services Contract (USPSC) award to XXXXXXX for a base period of one year with two option years1. Under this action XXXXXX will provide personal services to USAID Afghanistan as a Program Management Specialist with a focus on democratic development and serving as the Mission's professional specialist with a focus on civil society. The performance will commence o/a October 2024 when all onboarding processes are completed. The place of work for this position is the continental United States (CONUS).

3. Description of the supplies or services required, including an estimated value:

XXXXXX will be responsible for designing, managing, and evaluating multi-million dollar USAID initiatives promoting democracy and governance, with a focus on civil society development, that are politically viable, cost-effective, and respond effectively to areas of

1 For PSCs being hired with a U.S. duty station, all funding must be provided in FYs 2022, FY 2023 and FY 2024, including funding for option years, unless authority is identified for funding after those FYs. Under FAA 636(a)(3), PSCs are hired to perform services abroad. FY 2022 CR Section 2401 and subsequent reauthorizations of Section 2401 Authority provides an exception for PSCs but only if they are funded in FY 2022, FY 2023 and FY 2024.

Consult with OFM and RLO on the availability of funding these PSCs in FYs 2025 and beyond.

greatest need and potential. Counterparts include, but are not limited to, U.S., international, and indigenous private voluntary organizations (NGOs/PVOs); international donors; Afghanistan government officials; and legal professionals.

She will manage assigned democracy assistance activities or selected components of complex democracy projects, which are underway or in development in the country, and prepare the scope of work and illustrative budget for new and follow-on activities, evaluations, and other related efforts. She will also review and comment on technical and cost proposals and work plans by prospective and existing implementing partners, monitor performance through written reports, manage a third-party monitoring mechanism, and communicate regularly with implementers and recipients.

XXXXXX will also assist in reviewing Mission democracy and governance activities for compliance with U.S. laws, USAID regulations and policies, international law, and bilateral international agreements between the U.S. Government and the host country government. She will analyze the policy documents of government and non-governmental organizations of Afghanistan and other donors operating in the country to identify "targets of opportunity” for future USAID interventions in support of democracy and good governance in order to minimize duplication of efforts. On the basis of USAID policy and program objectives, she will prepare technical and policy analyses to evaluate trends in the development of democratic culture and contribute directly to the drafting of annual and semi-annual performance reviews, notifications to Congress, and other required reports.

A complete position description is attached. The total estimated cost of the contract is $152,918.00.

4. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition:

AIDAR 706.302-70(b)(3) and 40 U.S.C. §113; see Action Memorandum titled “Expedited Acquisition and Assistance Procedures for Afghanistan” approved on December 9, 2021. On October 7, 2023, the EPP was extended through December 8, 2025.

5. A discussion of the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition that requires use of the authority cited.

Given the closure of the US Embassy in Kabul and the evacuation of hundreds of staff, the Mission faced the daunting task of re-establishing Mission staffing and infrastructure to facilitate its humanitarian and development objectives in Afghanistan, including within the Office of Democracy, Gender, and Rights (DGR). The use of limited competition to issue PSCs allows USAID to obtain the services of new qualified staff and/or transition existing staff in an expeditious manner to support programming. Moreover, limiting competition to bring on the former Afghan FSN as USPSCs will allow DGR to quickly resume, modify, accelerate and/or develop new programming as conditions require or permit, helping to mitigate the impact of the emerging crises on the Afghan people.

XXXXXX possesses a bachelor’s degree in political science as well as a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Public Administration. This educational background has trained her to provide in-depth analysis of projects designed in governance and civil society, and the relationship between the two sectors. Moreover, over the past several years she engaged with several networks of civil society organizations and former government officials in the country, furthering her expert knowledge of the sector and her ability to further engage and support those entities, including on issues for women and girls in Afghanistan.

XXXXXXX extensive work experience includes assignments with the Afghanistan National Development Strategy as the Pillar Coordinator, a Manager for the Economic Policy Analysis Unit at the Ministry of Economy, the Head of the Policy and Strategy Development Unit in the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission, the Director of International Relations in the Afghanistan Red Crescent Society, the Aid Effectiveness Policy Unit Manager in the Ministry of Finance, and as a Project Coordinator with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable.

The initial award was made following a solicitation publicized to around one-hundred and fifty-one (151) former CCNPSCs.

7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The anticipated cost was calculated based on the classification grade and step range, including allowances. It is consistent with USAID’s Position Level and Market Value Determination and therefore is determined to be fair and reasonable. For this award, the anticipated TEC amount is USD$152,918.00 for the one (1) year base period.

8. A description of the market research conducted (see FAR Part 10), and the results or a statement of the reason(s) market research was not conducted.

No formal market research was conducted, and the general costs of an offeror with XXXXXXX background, coupled with his salary history are deemed fair. The skills available in the US labor market are well known through USAID's ongoing recruitment and screening processes.

9. Other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

None.

10. Sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

None.

11. The actions the Agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required:

Subsequent acquisition of services after completion of all option years or substantive changes to the statement of duties under a reorganized USAID/Afghanistan Mission will be solicited from as many potential sources as practical.

12. Technical or Requirements Personnel Certification:

In accordance with FAR 6.303, I hereby certify that the technical statements included above, which form a basis for the justification, are complete and accurate in accordance with the EPP titled Expedited Acquisition and Assistance Procedures for Afghanistan, approved December 9, 2021 (attached).

Technical Office Representative Date

13. Resident Legal Office Clearance:

Resident Legal Officer Date

14. Contracting Officer Certification:

In accordance with FAR 6.303, I hereby certify that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Sean Hofmann, Contracting Officer Date