MCC-15-RFP-0119_(For_Release_5-15-15)_-_Senior_Prog__Mgr_(AF).pdf

Date Posted May 15, 2015

Announcement Number MCC-15-RFP-0119

Title Senior Program Manager (301)

Position information Full Time PSC - 2,087 hours

Period of Performance One year contract, renewable for up to four additional years at the sole discretion of the government

Pay band 2d ($59.89 - $80.65 per hour)

Closing date for questions May 22, 2015 no later than 12:00pm ET

Application deadline June 1, 2015 no later than 12:00pm ET

Who may be considered U.S. Citizens

Duty location MCC Headquarters, Washington, DC

Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a United States government-owned corporation created in 2004, whose mission is to provide assistance that will support economic growth and poverty reduction in carefully selected developing countries that demonstrate a commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizenry. To receive assistance, eligible countries are required to enter into a public agreement (Compact) with the MCC that includes a multi-year plan for achieving shared development objectives and the responsibilities of each country in achieving those objectives, regular benchmarks to measure progress, multi-year financial plan, and a plan to ensure accountability for the use of MCA assistance. Eligible countries develop, in coordination with the MCC, a program agreement (Compact) that is then implemented during five years.

A personal services contract is different from non-personal services Government contract, which establishes an independent contract relationship. Under a non-personal services contract, the contractor or employees of the contractor are subject to the technical direction but not the supervision of the MCC. As defined by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 37.104, a https://acquisition.gov/far/current/html/Subpart%2037_1.html%23wp1082924

MCC-15-RFP-0119

personal services contract is characterized by the employer-employee relationship it creates between the Government and the contractor personnel. Thus, the PSC is subject to the relatively continuous technical direction, supervision, and control of the MCC. PSCs may be assigned inherently governmental duties (see FAR 7.502). By law and by the contract’s terms, the PSC is subject to most of the laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the direct hire employee such as MCC regulations, conflict of interest, under some circumstances MCC authorized employment security clearances, and financial disclosure. However, under the MCC personal services contract authority, PSCs are not employees for purposes of laws administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The following elements apply to this contact:

(1) Performance on site.

(2) Principal tools and equipment furnished by the Government.

(3) Services are applied directly to the integral effort of agencies or an organizational subpart in furtherance of assigned function or mission.

(4) Comparable services, meeting comparable needs, are performed in the same or similar agencies using civil service personnel.

(5) The need for the type of service provided can reasonably be expected to last beyond 1 year.

(6) The inherent nature of the service, or the manner in which it is provided, reasonably requires directly or indirectly, Government direction or supervision of contractor employees in order to—

(i) Adequately protect the Government’s interest;

(ii) Retain control of the function involved; or

(iii) Retain full personal responsibility for the function supported in a duly authorized Federal officer or employee.

SCOPE OF POSITION

The MCC Department of Administration and Finance (A&F) requires the services of a Full Time Personal Services Contractor (PSC) to serve as a key member of the Department, directly assisting and advising the Vice President (VP) and the Deputy VP by managing priority projects, tasks, issues and initiatives that improve performance and effectiveness within the Department and across the organization. In performing these activities, the PSC will play a critical role in representing the VP and Deputy VP. The role requires exceptional analytical skills, policy acumen, and proactive project management capabilities combined with strong oral and written communications abilities, an orientation toward customer service, and a demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• U.S. citizenship;

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Critical-Sensitive Secret Federal Security Clearance;

https://acquisition.gov/far/current/html/Subpart%207_5.html%23wp1078200

• Overseas travel may be required (to MCC eligible countries);

• Statement of Employment & Financial Interest (i.e. Office of Government Ethics form- 450, or similar statement) may be required;

• Active and approved System for Award Management (SAM) record (listed as sole-proprietor). PLEASE NOTE: This contract shall be awarded solely to an individual(s), not to a firm. The individual must have an active DUNS # and a fully approved and active record in the SAM. The approval of your record in SAM may take a few weeks.

Therefore, please register in SAM immediately after submitting your application.

DUTIES

Major Duties and Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Conduct a variety of administrative, operational and analytical studies and due diligence;

• Prepare concise reports of findings;

• Recommend modifications to existing programs, policies, processes and procedures as appropriate to achieve program objectives;

• Provide authoritative advice and guidance to senior management on A&F department matters, including related to human resources, facilities management and support, contracts and grants, information technology, finance, travel, overseas programs, and budgets, and;

• Manage A&F Front Office budget.

This requires extensive interpretation of many different and unrelated program processes and methods, such as interpretations of legislation and advice on revisions to existing policies and programs for meeting U.S. government program requirements in the context of international development program requirements.

The PSC will monitor flow of information to/from the A&F department to other MCC departments and other agencies. In so doing, the PSC will:

• Ensure timely response to interdepartmental taskers in conjunction with applicable participation within the department, and;

• Track, monitor and follow the progress of key A&F and OCEO front office initiatives/projects, action items, strategies that emanate from regular management meetings. This includes working with A&F and other department managers to develop dashboards and reports that measure the quality and timeliness of A&F service delivery.

The PSC will plan and manage cross-functional teams in projects and studies, and will monitor, evaluate, and improve team performance. The PSC will coordinate and manage project activities within and across Departments, with contractors and with other organizations. The PSC will assist A&F leadership in achieving optimal efficiencies and ensuring project deliverables are met through effective, pro-active project management, including regular reviews and communication on work in progress.

http://www.oge.gov/Financial-Disclosure/Confidential-Financial-Disclosure-450/OGE-Form-450/ http://www.oge.gov/Financial-Disclosure/Confidential-Financial-Disclosure-450/OGE-Form-450/ https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/%231

The PSC will actively contribute and represent A&F in MCC working groups, ensuring follow-through and progress toward stated objectives and ensuring timely and meaningful communication between A&F and MCC departments.

The PSC will develop and implement administrative management policies, working with management on planning organizational needs, and preparing plans, goals, objectives, or criteria for management processes.

The PSC will work closely with the VP and DVP and other staff to identify and address emerging organizational challenges in a timely, thoughtful and effective manner. The PSC will conduct ongoing "atmospheric scans" of administrative initiatives to ensure alignment with internal business objectives and competitiveness with external programs. The PSC will assist the A&F VP and DVP with the development of short-, medium-, and long-term planning and goal setting for the department, and implementation of continuous improvement in the services provided by the A&F departmental divisions.

The PSC will develop and maintain policies, procedures, and applications on A&F-wide initiatives, ensuring that departmental policies are coordinated through the agency’s policy review process. The PSC will develop strategic communication plans to roll out new initiatives and programs.

As advisor to the A&F VP and DVP, the PSC will perform other related duties as assigned.

DELIVERABLES

Deliverables are associated with the tasks identified in DUTIES to include reports as required by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

In addition to monthly progress reports, the PSC will submit biweekly timesheets on a schedule and format determined by MCC. Timesheets will include a list of hours worked, along with a brief description of the tasks undertaken during the pay period.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements, including education and all qualifying specialized experience described below by the closing date of this announcement. Desired qualifications will be considered only once all education and qualifying specialized experience requirements are met. Please clearly demonstrate that you possess the following:

Education/Certification:

• An advanced level degree in the relevant field is required for this position.

Education may only be substituted in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to be credited towards qualifications.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click on the link for a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials.

Qualifying specialized experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in similar positions.

• Mastery of a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods for the development and management of major administrative programs sufficient to serve as a technical authority and advisor to senior management officials and to effectively research, investigate, analyze and evaluate program efficiency and effectiveness. Expertise effectively displaying information/visualizing data to best inform decision-makers.

• Mastery of the laws, policies, and regulations of U.S. Government relating to administration and finance relative to international development and implementation sufficient to apply new theories and developments to problems not susceptible to treatment by accepted methods and to make decisions or recommendations that significantly improve MCC administrative policies or programs preferred.

• Knowledge of strategic and long-range planning and process management, including methods of evaluating mission accomplishments. Ability to recognize the various parts and processes of an organization, their inter-relationships and alignment with strategic objectives.

• Ability to utilize inter-personal skills in engaging individually and in team environment to jointly and collaboratively plan, develop, present, and act on recommendations, ensuring follow up with team members and leadership on outstanding items and negotiating and resolving issues to achieve goals and avoid adverse impacts on projects with critical deadlines.

• Skill and judgment in oral and written communications in order to express ideas clearly and communicate complex and voluminous information quickly under the pressure of short deadlines.

• Skill and speed in written communications in order to prepare reports, policies and to develop guidance, and methods for improving program operations.

• Knowledge of techniques associated with objective reviews of information in order to analyze conflicting data, summarize recommendations, consider various points of view, and specify reasons for acceptance or rejection.

• Ability to draft comprehensive reports to inform management of progress being made or issues that need to be addressed in A&F functions.

• Knowledge of project management automated tools, such as MS Project, Primavera, and/or SharePoint in order to manage administrative projects and to ensure that projects are implemented and completed on time.

NOTE: All experience must be well-documented on your resume and within your application. All aspects of your application must specifically show how you meet the

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED.

COMPENSATION

PSCs for the services of individual experts or consultants are limited by the Classification Act. In addition, the OPM has established requirements which apply in acquiring the personal services of experts or consultants in this manner (e.g., benefits, taxes, conflicts of interest):

This is a full time position and thus, the maximum number of hours allowed is 2,087 per year. The contract will have four one-year option periods that may be exercised at the sole discretion of MCC.

The pay range for this position is $59.89 - $80.65 per hour. Final compensation will be negotiated within this pay range based upon the successful candidate’s salary history, work experience, and educational background. A salary above this pay range will NOT be entertained or negotiated.

MCC issues W-2s to the PSC. For U.S. citizens and legal resident aliens, MCC makes the employer contribution to FICA and Medicare for the PSC. MCC withholds FICA, Medicare, federal tax, and state tax on behalf of the PSC. The PSC is not eligible for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion.

Benefits:

Under the MCC personal services contract authority, PSCs are not employees for purposes of laws administered by OPM, such as Federal retirement benefits and health and life insurance. As such, the PSC is not eligible for participation in the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees Retirement System. Moreover, the PSC is ineligible to receive Federal Health and Life Insurance or participate in the federal Thrift Savings Plan.

Notwithstanding the above, MCC may consider the cost of a PSC’s health insurance premiums during salary negotiations. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide proof of insurance coverage and payment of premium for the prior 12-month period and this must be presented prior to the conclusion of salary negotiations. Examples of acceptable proof are an insurance binder, cancelled checks, or other proof of payment. Individuals covered under another health insurance plan, or have subsidized health insurance are not eligible for this consideration. Subject to the availability of funds, MCC may pay up-to- 15% of the employee’s base salary (based upon the hourly rate and estimated number of hours) to cover a portion of the costs for either an individual policy or a family health insurance as mentioned above.

The full time PSC earns sick leave, annual leave, and holiday pay.

The full time PSC working at MCC Headquarters in Washington, DC is eligible for parking or transit subsidy, subject to the availability of funds. The full time PSC whose duty station is overseas is not eligible for this subsidy.

Travel:

The PSC is subject to the Federal Travel Regulations and MCC travel policies and procedures to the same extent as MCC direct-hire employees.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Interested applicants must submit all required documents to include, but not limited to:

• Completed and signed Biodata Form;

• Curriculum vitae or resume (limit 10 pages);

• A written narrative of up to five pages clearly describing relevant experience and knowledge of each of the Qualifying Specialized Experience requirements, and any desired qualifications.

• No less than three and no more than five professional references with current contact information;

NOTE: Submittals shall be in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS.

Please ensure that applicants’ most recent contact information (telephone numbers and e-mail address) are accurate. Any other documentation will not be accepted.

Delivery:

Electronic submission is required. Electronic application packages shall be submitted by e-mail to MCCPSC@mcc.gov. Submission shall reference the position title AND the announcement number on the subject line of the e-mail. Electronically submitted packages must include a scanned signature on the Bio-data form to be considered.

MCC does not accept responsibility for delays in transmission or receipt of any application.

Applicants are responsible for submitting the application package so as to reach the designated Government office by the closing date and time specified above. Applications received after the closing date and time will not be considered, unless there is acceptable evidence to establish that it was indeed received by the Government installation prior to the time and date specified in this announcement. Receipt of an application in response to this announcement does not constitute an award commitment. The U.S. Government will not reimburse any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. Any submission is at the sole risk of the applicant.

Questions:

Any questions regarding this announcement should be submitted in writing via email only (no phone calls) to MCCPSC@mcc.gov, before the deadline as given above.

Submission of applications to this announcement must be received via e-mail to MCCPSC@mcc.gov before the deadline as given above.

INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS

The QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED are the basis for evaluating all applications.

Applicants must separately address each listed qualification requirement and demonstrate how s/he meets each. Unless stated otherwise, all qualification elements will be weighted equally.

(a) Qualified individuals must submit a completed and signed Biodata form. Please ensure that you provide a current, valid e-mail address and telephone number for notification purposes. The Biodata form must be fully completed including a proposed hourly rate & signed for the application to be considered.

(b) Qualified individuals must submit a resume (or a curriculum vita) which clearly demonstrates their education, experience, knowledge, and skills and abilities as they relate to the qualification elements. Resume must indicate: the earliest possible start date for the applicant; as well as formal title, and duration (start date / end date) for mailto:MCCPSC@mcc.gov each listed position. Resume is limited to 10 pages and must not contain a photo or any salary information.

(c) Describe your experience and knowledge of each of the Qualifying specialized experience requirements and Desired qualifications, if applicable, in no more than five pages (page = 8 ½” x 11” paper; 11 point font or larger; double sided pages count as two pages). Clearly demonstrate how your prior experience is either relevant or directly related to the duties of this position as listed under DUTIES. The responses should describe specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards you have received that are relevant to each factor. Cite specific examples where appropriate.

(d) Qualified individuals must submit no fewer than three and no more than five professional references, who are not relatives or family members. Submitted references MUST include current information, as follows:

a. Name of reference

b. Applicants’ relationship to reference

c. Title of reference at current job

d. Reference current telephone number (work or personal)

e. Reference e-mail address (work)

At least two references must be from direct supervisors (current or prior) who can provide information regarding the applicant’s knowledge & experience in the field of Administration and Finance. All references must be from within the last 5 years of the applicant’s professional life.

(e) Applications must be signed and received prior to the closing date and time specified above to be considered for this position.

To ensure consideration of applicants for the intended position, please reference the position title and announcement number (see page 1) on the subject line of your submission email, on supporting documentation, and on any cover letter.

SELECTION PROCESS

In order to be considered for the position, a candidate must meet the qualifications listed above. Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation in accordance with the QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED. In addition to the materials listed above, applicants are strongly encouraged to write a cover letter, not to exceed one page, to highlight their suitability for this position. The cover letter is NOT included in the required written narrative.

All applicants will be evaluated based on the documentation submitted, the applicant’s evidence of the above qualification requirements, performance in a potential interview, if conducted, and information provided by references, if contacted. All applicants will receive one of three scores for each of the required qualification: Does Not Meet, Meets, or Exceeds.

MCC reserves the right to call the highest qualified candidates for an interview and/or conduct a reference check on those individuals. Reference checks may be conducted on the highest qualified applicants.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure the work history portion thoroughly documents the duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments that are directly related to this position in order to verify specialized experience. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation.

The U.S. Government & MCC is not obligated to make an award or pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of a proposal in response to this announcement. Award of this contract is contingent on availability of funds. MCC reserves the right not to award any contract as a result of this announcement.

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1 – MCC Bio Data Form (Salary History)

Attachment 2 – Provisions and Clauses