JA 72030623R00016 Program Management Specialist (Democracy and Conflict Mitigation).pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR EXPEDITED PROCEDURES PACKAGE

TO: Julie Lamadrid, Contracting Officer

CC: Deborah Broderick, Agency Competition Advocate

FROM: Randall Olson, Acting Democracy, Gender and Rights Office Director

DATE: May 29, 2023

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. 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 limited competition for the award of a Personal Services Contract for XXXXX XXXXXX for one year, plus 2 option years1, estimated to start on June 18, 2023 for an estimated value USD$185,740.00 for one year. Under this action, XXXXX XXXXXX will provide personal services to USAID Afghanistan as a Program Management Specialist (Democracy and Conflict Mitigation), with a focus on democracy, conflict mitigation, and/or peacebuilding. Work involves the full range of consultative, advisory, monitoring, management, data collection, analysis and evaluative services across Afghanistan. This is a remote work position to be carried out from the continental United States (CONUS).

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

1 For PSCs being hired with a U.S. duty station, all funding must be provided in FYs 2022 and FY 2023, 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 provides an exception for PSCs but only if they are funded in FY 2022 and FY 2023. Consult with OFM and RLO on the availability of authority for funding these PSCs in FYs 2024 and beyond.

Under the general supervision and technical guidance of the Democracy, Gender, and Rights (DGR) Office Director, Deputy Director, and/or Technical Team Leader, the contractor serves as a program manager, Contracting/Agreement Officer Representative, and the Mission's professional specialist with a focus on democracy, conflict mitigation, and/or peacebuilding.

Work involves the full range of consultative, advisory, monitoring, management, data collection, analysis, and evaluative services across Afghanistan.

The contractor is also responsible for designing, managing, and evaluating multi-million-dollar USAID initiatives promoting democracy and governance that are politically viable, cost effective, and respond effectively to areas of greatest need and potential. As such, the contractor must be knowledgeable about and committed to the role democracy and governance plays in a democratic system and must be effective in obtaining the willing agreement, cooperation, and support of relevant counterparts in the country. 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. The Statement of Duties (SOD) for this position outlining the required services have been included in this package as an attachment.

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 December 9, 2021.

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

XXXXX XXXXXX holds a graduate degree in Business Administration, and an ongoing Master’s degree in Global Diplomacy. She has over 11 years of development experience with USAID and other donor organizations. She has focused on program and project management donors’ coordination, strategic planning, activity design, financial management, monitoring and evaluation. Prior to relocating to the US in the aftermath of the collapse of Afghanistan, she worked as a Project Management Specialist at the USAID Afghanistan, Democracy and Governance Office. She was responsible for managing the Mission's Elections and Political Process portfolio including donor coordination for the election process. She has a USAID COR/AOR certification and strong knowledge of USAID systems, including ASIST, Phoenix, and Afghan Info. She has received numerous performance awards for her work on monitoring and evaluation, project assessments and development of SOWs for democracy activities. She served as Sector Lead for the Rule of Law, Election, Anti-Corruption, and Transparency (REACT) team with four active awards totaling $197 million where she worked as AOR and COR, managing the implementation of the democracy and conflict mitigation activities.

During her work with USAID she collaborated with international donors, including the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), UN agencies, the World Bank, the European

Union, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). During the past year she has provided outstanding contributions to the Office of Democracy, Gender and Rights (ODGR) and served as the Activity Manager for two USIP Interagency awards, which included producing all the procurement documents required for the new awards. She has also assisted the office in working on clearing numerous technical issues for ODGR.

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

This procurement action was limited to 174 former Afghan FSNs who were evacuated from the country after the fall of the previous government on or about August 25, 2021. The solicitation for a personal services contract was accordingly shared with former FSNs evacuated from Afghanistan and a total of five applications were submitted to the Office Director for review.

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 USAIDs Position Level and Market Value Determination and therefore is determined to be fair and reasonable. For this award the anticipated TEC amount is USD$185,740.00 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.

The staffing needs of the Afghanistan Mission reflected in the current procurement resulted from the urgent and unforeseen rapid evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul in August 2021.

At that time, all previously active democracy and governance, and gender, FSNs (14 in total) were put on administrative leave; and those who were evacuated were involuntarily terminated effective November 29, 2021. Accordingly, the Mission understood both the needs of the agency to procure experienced and knowledgeable staff for Afghanistan, as well as the potential bidders with the background and expertise among those evacuated and resigned as a result of the closure of the U.S. Embassy. Accordingly, formal market research was not necessary to understand the requirements or the availability of bidders. The general costs of an offeror with XXXXX XXXXXX’s background, coupled with her 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.

In addition to XXXXX XXXXXX, four additional sources expressed interest in the personal service contract to meet the needs of the current acquisition. Each of the five potential sources were evaluated based on the following criteria, as described in the solicitation:

1. Background and experience in designing and managing democracy and governance programs in Afghanistan;

2. Demonstrated ability to produce high quality written reports and analysis for the different audiences on democracy and governance or related issues;

3. Demonstrated ability and skills to interpret project development related policies and procedures, technical aspects of the project and communicate with the stakeholders;

4. Demonstrated ability and skills to understand and analyze a democracy and governance project in Afghanistan, develop mitigation and contingency plans for the project and advise stakeholders.

Based upon the review of the qualifications and experience of each source, XXXXX XXXXXX was identified as the most qualified source.

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:

Future requirements will be competed through full and open competition.

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 complement and accurate in accordance with EPP titled Expedited Acquisition and Assistance Procedures for Afghanistan approved December 9, 2021 (attached).

_____________________________________ May 29, 2023_________ Randall B. Olson Date

13. Resident Legal Office Clearance:

JPower May 28, 2023 John Power, Legal Advisor 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.

Julie Lamadrid, Contracting Officer Date