JA 72030623R00012 Project Management Specialist (Health).pdf

UNCLASSIFIED

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR EXPEDITED PROCEDURES PACKAGE

TO: Julie Lamadrid, Contracting Officer

CC: Deborah Broderick, Agency Competition Advocate

FROM: Nina Weisenhorn, acting Office Director, Office of Social Service

DATE: April 4, 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.

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:

The Office of Social Services (OSS) requests that the Contracting Office approve use of the EPP for the limited competition award to XXXXX XXXXXX for approximately $214,915.00 under a

US Personal Service Contract.1 XXXXX XXXXXX will fill the position of Project Management

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.

Specialist (Health) for a base period of one year with two additional option years. Performance will commence on or about May 2023, following the completion of onboarding processes. The place of work for this position is the continental United States (CONUS). This is a remote work position to be carried out from continental United States (CONUS) while agency remote work authority for USAID/Afghanistan remains in place.

Under this action XXXXX XXXXXX will serve as Project Management Specialist (Health). In this capacity he will be responsible for ensuring that USAID and OSS policies, strategies, programs, projects in the health sector have the greatest possible impact on Afghans. He will serve as Certified Agreement/Contracting Officer’s Representative/Contracts Officer’s

Representative (AOR/COR) and/or alternate for USAID/Afghanistan’s bilateral health activities.

He will be responsible for management and monitoring of agreements, grants, or contracts, and contractors’ and grantees’ performance, and for regularly engaging with USAID implementing partners and beneficiaries.

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

XXXXX XXXXXX will serve as a Project Management Specialist (Health) for

USAID/Afghanistan. The estimated value of this one-year base period USPSC contract is approximately $214,915.00. As the base period will be to provide remote support, all allowances such as post differential, danger pay, and Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) have been removed.

The Statement of Duties (SOD) for this position outlining the required services have been included in this package as an attachment.

A complete position description is attached. The estimated value of the contract is $214,915.00

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.

USAID seeks use of the above referenced authority due to the relocation of staff to the United

States following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the rapid closure of the U.S. Embassy in

Kabul, and the relocation of staff to the United States. In order to utilize the skills and knowledge of former Cooperating Country National (also known as Foreign Service National) staff members, as well as to help their resettlement efforts in the United States, the Agency intends to sign a limited competition award to XXXXX XXXXXX under a US Personal Service

Contract.

XXXXX XXXXXX meets and exceeds the minimum qualification requirements of the Project

Management Specialist (Health) position. His academic background exceeds the required qualifications with a medical degree and a master’s degree in business administration. With more than 20 years of experience implementing, managing, monitoring, and evaluating health programs in Afghanistan. Through his prior work experience as a USAID/Afghanistan Project

Management Specialist and in various roles within the Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health, he has demonstrated a thorough understanding of the public and private health sector and related governing bodies in Afghanistan. Finally with more than 10 years of experience implementing, managing, and monitoring health programs at various local and international organizations working in the health sector, he is well positioned to be successful in the Project Management

Specialist position.

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

The position was initially solicited to 154 former FSNs on June 10, 2022 for expressions of interest in providing the services highlighted in the solicitation. After no qualified candidate was immediately identified, the position was re-solicited on August 23, 2022 through targeted outreach to eligible candidates. A full and open competition solicitation would impair the OSS’s ability to meet the demanding needs within the office at this time. The Mission’s immediate need is a compelling urgency and any postponement in award will cause unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's requirements. The full and open competition contracting process would impair OSS’ ability to meet the needs of having a contractor in place as soon as possible. A

Personal Services Contract with the proposed candidate, XXXXX XXXXXX, would meet this urgent requirement to have the service in a timely manner.

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$214,915.00 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 XXXXX

XXXXXX’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.

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.

No other candidate expressed interest.

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 these services by the USAID/Afghanistan Mission will be solicited from as many potential sources as practical. To that end, the Mission may undertake targeted outreach (i.e., executive recruiter) to complement general issuance of the solicitation given the dearth of candidates with the required skills and experiences for the position.

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).

Nina Weisenhorn_________________________ March 3, 2023___

Nina Weisenhorn, acting Office Director, OSS Date

13. Resident Legal Office Clearance:

JPower April 3, 2023

John Power, Senior 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