JA Project Management Specialist Budget 09.pdf

UNCLASSIFIED

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

TO: Julie Lamadrid, Contracting Officer

CC: Deborah Broderick, Agency Competition Advocate

FROM: Harry Bottenberg, Acting Director – Office of Program and

Project Development (OPPD)

DATE: December 2, 2022

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.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that you approve this justification for use of other than full and open competition pursuant to the Action Memorandum 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:

As a result of the evacuation of the US Embassy in Kabul and the termination of contracts of all Foreign Service National Staff who were evacuated, the Office of Program and Project

(OPPD) requests that the Contracting Officer approve the use of the EPP to hire XXXX

XXXXX under a Personal Services Contract for the Project Management Specialist (Budget) position for a base period of one year with two option years1.

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.

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Performance will commence o/a February 2023 when all onboarding processes are completed. The place of work for this position is continental United States (CONUS). This is a remote work position to be carried out from continental United States (CONUS).

3. A description of the supplies or services required, including the estimated value:

The Project Management Specialist (Budget) will be responsible for managing or performing a wide-range of Mission budget actions including but not limited to out-year budget planning, Congressional Notification, Operational Plan coordination and submission, allowance processing, budget change management, reconciliation, and annual, quarterly, and ad hoc budget reporting and analysis.

A complete position description is attached. The estimated value of the contract is

$207,689.00

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 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.

Due to the Mission’s critical staffing shortages as a result of the sudden Embassy evacuation in 2021, the EPP authority is necessary to fill this critical role. XXXX XXXXX worked as a

Budget Specialist with the USAID Afghanistan mission from 2015 to 2021, and during that time developed a deep understanding of the USAID Afghanistan mission portfolio and its complex financial management processes. In March 2022, after his evacuation from

Afghanistan following the take-over of the country by the Taliban, XXXX XXXXX rejoined

USAID/Afghanistan’s Office of Program and Project Development as a Budget Specialist under a Institutional Support Contract. Prior to his employment with USAID, he worked for the UNDP, the Central Bank and various ministries and companies in Afghanistan which have provided him with a solid foundation in the challenging development context of this country. He has an MBA in Business Administration. XXXX XXXXX is well acquainted with all financial aspects of the development assistance cycle and project planning and reporting including the Operational Plan, the Performance Plan and Report (PPR), Congressional Budget Justification and Narrative and Spend Plans, and processes such as accruals, and pipeline and forward funding analyses. His analytical skills, knowledge of financial procedures and USAID Afghanistan experience are strongly needed in the OPPD

Budget Team.

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

The solicitation was initially sent out as one vacancy, however, one additional vacancy was included. The CO made the decision to include the second position because the second vacancy was completely identical in nature to the first and the use of the limited candidate pool of former FSNs that departed the mission through evacuation. As a result, we believe no additional applicants would have applied with a re-solicitation. This solicitation was sent out

-3-to individual emails of 174 former FSNs of which 12 expressed interested in writing, and

XXXX XXXXX is the most qualified and prepared available applicant. Due to critical shortages by the Mission, the EPP affords the Mission the authority to circumvent the normal recruitment process.

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$207,689.00 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 XXXX

XXXXX’s 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. Also, due to critical staffing shortages by the Mission, the EPP affords the Mission the authority to move expeditiously.

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.

There were a total of twelve (12) sources that expressed an interest in writing.

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

Any future needs or announcements for this position will go through a full and open competitive process.

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).

____HB__________________________ __12-7-2022______________

Harry Bottenberg, Acting Director Date

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13. Resident Legal Office Clearance:

JPower 12/07/2022

John Power, 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.

Julie Lamadrid, Contracting Officer Date