Senior TB and HIV Advisor.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72062122R00001

ISSUANCE DATE: October 06, 2021

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: November 05, 2021, 5:00 P.M.

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) – Offshore Hire -

Senior TB & HIV Advisor

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development

(USAID), is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation.

Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1 of this solicitation. Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records.

This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the offer.

Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in Attachment 1.

Sincerely, Timothy Pruett

Contracting Officer

USAID/Tanzania 686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani

P.O. BOX 9130

DAR ES

SALAAM

Tel: 255-22-2294490 Fax: 255-22-2294421 www.usaid.gov/Tanzan ia http://www.usaid.gov/Tanzania http://www.usaid.gov/Tanzania

ATTACHMENT 1 72062122R00001

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72062122R00001

2. ISSUANCE DATE: October 06, 2021

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: November 05, 2021, 5:00 P.M.

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Hussein Tuwa, e-mail at htuwa@usai.gov.

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior TB and HIV Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: USD $110,460 – USD $143,598 equivalent to GS- 15. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two Years with three option years, estimated to start on January

16, 2022.

The base period will be January 16, 2022 to January 15, 2024, estimated to start on January 16, 2022. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise additional option periods for four years - for the dates estimated as follows:

Base Period: January 16, 2022 to January 15, 2024

Option Period 1: January 16, 2024 to January 15, 2025

Option Period 2: January 16, 2025 to January 15, 2026

Option Period 3: January 16, 2026 to January 15, 2027

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with a possible travel as stated in the

Statement of Duties.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: American Citizens

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facility Access

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

1. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

The USAID/Tanzania Senior TB and HIV Advisor will be a leading technical expert in curative services delivery for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and tuberculosis (TB). S/he will work in close collaboration with other members of the U.S. Government’s (USG) curative services team, providing state-of-the-art strategic and technical leadership and direction to the USAID and PEPFAR care and treatment programs. S/he will provide his/her technical expertise to the

Government of Tanzania (GOT) and other collaborating partners and be responsible for coordinating care and treatment policy issues with these stakeholders.

S/he will introduce innovative and cost-effective approaches that have been successfully applied in other resource-constrained countries and will bring scientific rigor to discussions with the

GOT and other partners. S/he will be actively involved in the design, implementation, and evaluation of selected identification, linkages and treatment activities, and will provide technical oversight to these activities in the field closely monitoring implementers’ performance against mailto:htuwa@usai.gov targets and suggesting mid-course corrections as needed. S/he may serve as an

Agreement/Contract Officer’s Representative (A/COR) for assigned activities, overseeing the overall strategic direction, relevance, coverage and quality of these activities, and ensuring coordination and complementarity with other prevention programs.

The Senior TB and HIV advisor will represent USAID at various technical and programmatic for and will establish and maintain highly collaborative relationships with other members of the interagency President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Team in Tanzania and the US, GOT counterparts, USAID and other donors and stakeholders active in HIV and TB treatment programming in Tanzania. The Senior TB and HIV advisor will supervise technical experts in

Pediatrics, Infectious Disease, Quality of Care and Diagnostics.

2. Statement of Duties to be Performed

A. Strategic Portfolio Oversight and External Representation (25% of time)

• Represent USAID/Tanzania and/or USG/Tanzania at meetings with bilateral and multilateral development partners, host country government, USG agencies, international and local partners and with external visitors including Congressional delegations.

• Assist GOT with policy development, ensuring that supportive national policy, in line with global standards are considered and programs funded through the private and public sectors are structured to address key health and HIV/AIDS needs. Use epidemiological and program data; and supply chain, human resources and costing information to shape national policy, system reforms, and influence policy and resource allocation decisions.

• Communicate the impact of USG programs during visits from congressional delegations, high-level USG officials, and other dignitaries.

• Serve on relevant national technical working groups to represent USAID.

• Demonstrate mastery of HIV and TB concepts to apply experimental theories and new developments to problems not necessarily addressed by proven interventions and make recommendations that may significantly change important public policies.

• Carry out a full range of consultative, advisory, strategic, and planning responsibilities, including linking with other USAID Missions in the region and Washington to share promising practices, experiences, and lessons learned.

B. Technical Leadership (40% of time)

• Provide technical leadership in curative services to the USG and USAID Mission, assessing programmatic needs and overseeing the development and implementation of interventions.

• Apply technical expertise in clinical services to ensure effectiveness and efficiency by using an integrated approach with strong linkages to community-based programs, system strengthening services and data use.

• Work across sectors to develop and ensure implementation of smart integration approaches among PEPFAR, maternal/child health, malaria, emerging pandemic threats and neglected tropical diseases to provide greater program efficiencies and improved health outcomes from a clinical perspective.

• Support the clinical services program to ensure that its systems and structures meet the demand for comprehensive health and social services for beneficiaries, including persons affected and infected by HIV and TB.

• Work as focal person for the adoption and implementation of index testing, optimized provider-initiated counselling and testing, test and start, new service delivery models, new

ART and TB treatment regimens and lost to follow-up strategies. Engage other Mission teams to ensure desired results are achieved and liaise between USAID and GOT to ensure continued progress.

• Provide technical leadership to the Curative Facility Unit and support the Strategic

Information Unit to ensure that appropriate data is collected, analysed and reviewed from activities for the timely identification of progress and challenges, course-correction and the replication of successful interventions.

• Work with USG agencies (CDC, DOD, Department of State, and Peace Corps) in the coordinated planning of programs through the PEPFAR Country Operational Plan; and participate in partner performance review and evaluations of cross-agency clinical services programs.

• Serve on appropriate national technical working groups and coordinating committees related to clinical care services.

• Provide technical leadership on national policy development.

• Promote the inclusion of comprehensive and integrated service delivery among Tanzania’s national programs. Identify key policy barriers and participate in addressing them. Draft and revise educational materials that support treatment literacy and adherence to treatment in collaboration with local partners and organizations.

• Provide guidance and technical assistance to USG staff and implementing partners to plan rapid scale up of successful programs and best practices related to HIV and TB identification and treatment. Determine priorities for interventions and propose geographic expansion.

• Support the design and implementation of new programs and activities.

• Participate in the development of the Global Fund plans, Malaria Operational Plan and the

Country Development Corporation Strategy (CDCS), Emerging pandemic threats and neglected tropical diseases plans.

B. Project Management (35% of time)

• Provide AOR and/or COR responsibilities and supervision for all assigned activities.

• Ensure the effective implementation of programs that will achieve GOT and

USAID/Tanzania program goals.

• Provide appropriate financial oversight of implementing partner activities including review and approval of advances, vouchers, liquidations, and annual budgets.

• Approve work plans and monitoring and evaluation plans and strengthen linkages with complementary USG-supported programs.

• Identify potential opportunities for local/global and private/public development alliances.

• Conduct quarterly Joint Partner Program Monitoring (JPPM) meetings, Site Improvement

Monitoring Systems (SIMS) visits, and other site visits to ensure that program monitoring is appropriate and that indicators being reported are valid and reliable.

• Identify successes, best practices and innovations to share on a national and global level.

3. Supervisory Relationship: Directly supervised by the Facility Based Team Lead or designate.

The incumbent will have to demonstrate considerable leadership as well as individual initiative and creativity and serve as a high level decision maker to pull critical systems components in the right direction to support mission needs.

4. Supervisory Controls: Directly supervise and mentor three technical and one administrative staff to build technical and program management skills.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

a. Education: Doctor of Medicine OR Master’s degree in Public Health and ten years of significant professional experience directly related to HIV and TB care and treatment is required.

b. Work Experience: A minimum of 10 years progressively responsible experience in HIV and

TB strategy development and implementation with a focus on identification, linkages, care and treatment. Comprehensive understanding of HIV and TB care and treatment at both facility and community levels; HIV program design, implementation, and evaluation in the East

African context. Demonstrated technical leadership in both clinical and public health components of HIV and TB programs. Demonstrated high-level experience analyzing and using data for project management, decision-making and policy-advocacy. Demonstrated experience in building and maintaining close counterpart relationships, both governmental and

CSO. Demonstrated success of highly effective performance in a context with competing agendas and tight deadlines. Demonstrated experience influencing and applying policy directives to program management are required. Knowledge of or experience working with the

President’s Emergency Plans for AIDS Relief, as well as with USAID, is preferred.

c. Language: Level IV (fluent) English. The ability to communicate effectively in both written and spoken English, including in technical and professional contexts, is required. Spoken and/or written Kiswahili abilities are preferred.

d. Knowledge: Must have thorough knowledge of program management principles, including program design, implementation, and evaluation. Must possess a comprehensive understanding of state-of-the-art clinical care and treatment elements including current developments and international standards of care in HIV, TB, and other infectious disease treatment. Must have up-to-date knowledge of clinical medicine, quality improvement, diagnostic services, and performance-based programming.

e. Skills and Abilities: The position requires strong organizational and management skills, exceptional analytical skills, excellent social and professional judgement, strong listening and negotiation skills, and excellent interpersonal skills in cross-cultural settings. Must interact effectively with mid- and senior-level government officials and maintain collaborative working relationships within a multi-agency team structure. The selected candidate must be capable of generating high-quality work within tight timelines and present it coherently with limited guidance. The incumbent will be able to rapidly analyze, interpret and evaluate health statistics, program and facility data; present findings to diverse audiences including senior representatives of the Government of Tanzania, USG and multilaterals; and prepare reports and related documents in short timeframes. The ability to work collaboratively and effectively in a high-performance, complex environment is necessary. Word processing skills are essential, as is the ability to develop spreadsheets using MS Excel and visualize data.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR

52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and reference checks. For purposes of this solicitation, Offerors will be required to have the minimum qualifications expressed in Section II and will be assessed based on the following factors:

1. Education - (10 Points)

2. Work Experience - (40 Points)

3. Skills & Abilities - (20 Points)

4. Knowledge - (20 Points)

5. Language Proficiency - (10 Points)

In order to be considered for the position, a candidate must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated in Section II above. Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the

Evaluation Factors. Please note that not all applicants will be interviewed or contacted. USAID will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews unless expenses are pre authorized. The applicant's references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities.

After the closing date for receipt of offers, a selection committee will be convened to review offers and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Offers from candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements will not be considered or scored. Reference checks will be made only for offerors considered as finalists.

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

1. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror

Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals,” available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.

2. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3.

3. Offeror submissions must clearly reference the number of this Solicitation to ensure the offer is for the position in this Solicitation.

Interested applicants must submit the following: (1) a current Form AID 309-2, Offeror

Information for Personal Services Contract-attached to this solicitation; (2) a current resume or curriculum vitae; (3) a cover letter, not to exceed three pages, addressing how the applicant meets the Required Qualifications {(a) education; (b) prior work experience; (c) knowledge, (d) skills and abilities}; and (4) any other documents (certificates, awards, copies of degrees earned, etc.) that address the qualification requirements of the position as listed above, and a list of three (3) to five (5) references with complete contact information, including email address and telephone numbers.

Submittals should be sent to USAID/Tanzania PSC Applications mailbox, at daressalaampscsap@usaid.gov.

https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far http://www.usaid.gov/forms http://www.usaid.gov/forms mailto:daressalaampscsap@usaid.gov

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award:

1. Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms)

2. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions for National Security (SF-86), or

3. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)

4. Finger Print Card (FD-258)

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a USPSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

5. BENEFITS:

(a) Employer's FICA Contribution

(b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

(c) Pay Comparability Adjustment

(d) Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

(e) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

(f) Annual and Sick Leave

6. ALLOWANCES:

Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations

(Government Civilians Foreign Areas), available at https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101

(a) Temporary Quarter Subsistence Allowance (Section 120)

(b) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

(c) Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 210)

(d) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(e) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(f) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(g) Education Travel (Section 280)

(h) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

(i) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600)

VII. TAXES

USPSCs are required to pay Federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State Income taxes.

VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources:

1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix D, “Direct USAID Contracts with a U.S.

Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause

“General Provisions,” available at http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=231&amp%3Bmenu_id=92 http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=231&amp%3Bmenu_id=92 http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=231&amp%3Bmenu_id=92 https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf.

2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms. Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award as described below:

LINE ITEMS

ITEM NO

(A)

SUPPLIES/SERVICES

(DESCRIPTION) (B)

QUANTI

TY

(C)

UNI

T

(D)

UNIT

PRIC

E (E)

AMOU

NT

(F)

1130008 Base Period -

Compensation, Fringe

Benefits and Other Direct

Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code:

R497

1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD

at

Award after negotiati ons with

Contract or_

1130008 Option Period 1 –

Compensation, Fringe

Benefits and Other Direct

Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code:

R497

1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD

at

Award after negotiati ons with

Contract or_

1130008 Option Period 2 –

Compensation, Fringe

Benefits and Other Direct

Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code:

R497

1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD

at

Award after negotiati ons with

Contract or_

1130008 Option Period 3 –

Compensation, Fringe

Benefits and Other Direct

Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code:

R497

1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD

at

Award after negotiati ons with

Contract or_ https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/forms

3. Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for

Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs.

4. Ethical Conduct. By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635. See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations

USAID IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: In selecting personnel, there will be no discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, politics, marital status, physical handicap, HIV/AIDS status, age, or membership or non- membership in an employee organization.

http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations