JA Project Development Specialist Database Management 2403.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR EXPEDITED PROCEDURES PACKAGE

TO: Julie Lamadrid, Contracting Officer

CC: Deborah Broderick, Agency Competition Advocate

FROM: Heather Bomans, Deputy/Office Director

DATE: November 13, 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 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 the hire of XXXX XXXXX under a Personal Services Contract for the position of Project Development Specialist (Database Management) for a base period of one year with two option years1. Under this action XXXX XXXXX will provide analytical skills and knowledge of USAID’s database systems and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) requirements to guide USAID/Afghanistan’s program measurement and evaluations activities. In addition, he will act as a Program Officer backstop. Performance will commence o/a November

2023 when all onboarding processes are completed. The place of work for this position is continental United States (CONUS).

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

Services to be provided by the contractor include:

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, and FY 2023 CR Section 135 (P.L. 118-15) extends that authority up to

11/17/2023. Consult with OFM and RLO on the availability of funding these PSCs in FYs 2024 and beyond.

a. Managing and providing guidance on the Mission’s overall monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems, and evaluating and reporting on the effectiveness of existing monitoring systems with lessons learned and recommendations for improvement, and providing technical insight and recommendations on the Mission’s data collection strategies.

b. Participating in all data management initiatives, processes, and strategies particularly as they relate to MEL; guides and directs the data team in providing data quality assurance for the

Mission’s multiple data systems and sources (Afghan Info, DIS, Monitoring Capture Tools, GPS data sets, etc.), and provides support to the construction of Mission’s monitoring capture module.

c. Providing guidance and counsel in developing and implementing the Mission’s collaboration, learning, and adapting (CLA) strategy, particularly as it relates to monitoring data and knowledge management.

d. Managing, strengthening, and leading the development and operation of

USAID/Afghanistan database and knowledge management systems.

e. Backstopping one or more technical office, actively participating in the design of new activities, assisting the OPPD clearance of documents, and providing advice and guidance in the program development cycle

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 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.

The contractor has a B.A. in Agricultural Economics and a Master of Public Administration degree which exceeds the educational requirements of the position. In addition, he has a Project

Management Professional certification useful in many of the projects for which he will take responsibility. The contractor has over 13 years of experience, nine of them with USAID, in monitoring and evaluation of projects.

The contractor developed experience designing and developed monitoring, evaluation and survey tools in the field while working with MERCY Corps and the FAO. In addition, he has unique experience in analyzing and interpreting data collected from projects in Afghanistan, and conducting data quality assessments of the data. Such field work gives the contractor a unique perspective into the difficulties of data collection techniques, triangulation, and validation of raw field data. It also enables the contractor to recommend types of data and the methods by which they can be gathered in the field to Technical Offices designing new activities.

While working for USAID for nine years, the contractor learned the project development process, monitoring and evaluation methodologies for activities, and the management of data collection and maintenance systems. This has positioned him well to understand the needs of Activity

Managers in Technical Offices and how best to support them in new activity design, selecting measurable performance indicators, verifying data, and reporting on the performance of active projects. Through his responses to Agency, Front Office, and external organization requests for information, particularly performance information, the contractor understands the types of quantitative and qualitative data required and how to present it in easily understood formats. The contractor’s expertise and experience extends to conducting statistical data analysis and synthesizing large amounts of data across multiple platforms such as Afghan Info and the

Development Information System (DIS).

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

The solicitation for the position was issued on October 27, 2023 and closed on November 3, 2023. The solicitation was publicized to all one-hundred and seventy-four (174) former FSNs for expressions of interest in providing these services. Four (4) expressions of interest were received.

XXXX XXXX was the best qualified of these candidates.

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.

No formal market research was conducted, and the general costs of an offeror with XXXX

XXXX’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.

There were a total of four (4) 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 for 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).

E. Pulliam ______11/13/2023________

Eric Pulliam, Senior Development Advisor Date

13. Resident Legal Office Clearance:

JPower 11/14/2023

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