Sol_72052621R00001-Economic Growth and Environment Team Lead.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72052621R00001

ISSUANCE DATE: 03/01/2021

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: 03/15/2021 at 17:00 (Asuncion time)

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) Economic Growth and Environment Team Lead, GS‐14 equivalent

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, Sections I through V 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 I.

Sincerely, Marty George Contracting Executive Officer USAID/Peru

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72052621R00001

2. ISSUANCE DATE: 03/01/2021

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: 03/15/2021 at 17:00 (Asuncion time)

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Monica Ortiz, email at moortiz@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Economic Growth and Environment Team Lead

6. MARKET VALUE: $93,907‐$122,077 equivalent to GS‐14 Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The contract duration will be a maximum of one year.

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Paraguay with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to all U.S. citizens

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance is required.

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

A. BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION:

The Economic Growth and Environment (EG) Officer serves as USAID/Paraguay's Team Lead for all Economic Growth and Environment activities, including the Local Works program. The EG Team Lead would lead a team comprised of a Senior Economic Growth and Environment Specialist and a Junior EG specialist, both FSNs. The incumbent would be responsible or the team's management and will also have Agreement Officer's Representative (AOR) responsibilities. Additionally, the incumbent would serve as the Mission’s Disaster Relief Officer. He/she will report directly to the Country Representative.

The incumbent has the opportunity to collaborate extensively and at the highest levels with local civil society and grassroots organizations, other USG agencies, international cooperation and a multitude of Paraguayan government entities. Despite a relatively small portfolio, this is a highly visible position with direct access to leadership. Since the Mission has a strong cadre of technical specialists, the position requires strong management and interpersonal skills.

B. MAJOR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Economic Growth Team Lead 40%

1. Leads the EG Team in areas including strategy and program design and implementation.

Manages and supervises the FSN staff on the EG Team.

2. Trains and mentors the new FSN hire for the Local Works program.

3. Oversees reporting to Washington and strategic communications, in coordination with the Program Office.

4. Ensures implementation of agency policies, including private sector engagement, new partnerships initiative and capacity building along the journey to self‐reliance, into EG activities.

5. Provides expert advice to Mission, Embassy, USAID implementers, government counterparts and other donors on economic growth and environment issues.

6. In the absence of the Country Representative, represents USAID in Country Team meetings and the like.

Project Management 60%

1. Serves as either the Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) or the Alternate AOR in all

EG and Environment activities, including Local Works.

2. Leads the design of the Formalization of Economic Opportunities activity under the

“Culture of Lawfulness” PAD.

3. Leads the design and implementation of the new LocalWorks program and serves as

Mission's advisor on Localworks.

4. Serves as Mission Disaster Relief Officer.

5. Serves as the Local Registration Authority.

C. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

The incumbent works under the supervision of the USAID/Paraguay Country Representative.

Assignments are made orally and in writing and the incumbent is required to determine those that must be coordinated with the Country Representative, the Program and Resources Director, and/or others.

D. SUPERVISORY CONTROL:

The incumbent exercises full supervisory responsibility over at least two high ranking FSNs.

Supervisory responsibilities include technical direction, work assignments and prioritization, and personnel administrative management. The incumbent will also provide training and mentoring to a new FSN hire.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Frequent travel, at least one week per month, to project sites throughout the country are required.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Education: A Master’s degree in an area related to Economic Growth, such as Economics, Management, Finance or Social or Political Sciences, is required.

Experience: A minimum of ten years of professional experience in a field related to economic growth and/or community development.

Language: Fluency in English and Spanish language is required (Level III, self‐assessed) in both speaking and reading. Fluency in Guarani, Paraguay’s indigenous language (Level II, self‐ assessed), is required for speaking.

Job Knowledge: An in‐depth, professional‐level knowledge on the topics of governance, economic growth, environment, community development, and/or capacity building are required. Contextual knowledge of Paraguay is highly desirable.

Skills and Abilities: The position requires strong management and communication skills. The incumbent must have the ability to represent USAID to external audiences, to include engagement of ministerial and near‐ministerial members of the GOP and leaders of non‐ governmental and private sector organizations in order to develop, further, and coordinate USAID EG activities. S/he must also be capable of briefing Embassy and USAID officials, including the Front Office, as well as USG VIP visitors, non‐governmental organization (NGO) stakeholders, and the public on the various aspects of USAID’s EG portfolio. Judgment and discretion in determining development priorities and appropriate courses of action are critical.

Only offerors clearly meeting the above minimum qualifications will be considered for further evaluation.

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 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. FAR provisions of this solicitation are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

a) Management and interpersonal skills: 20%

b) Job Knowledge: 15%

c) Language Proficiency: 15%

d) Education and Work Experience: 10%

e) Interview: 40%

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – Pass/Fail

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. A cover letter of no more than 1 page that demonstrates how the Offeror’s qualifications meet the evaluation and selection factors in section III of this solicitation;

3. A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which, at a minimum, describes education, experience and career achievements relevant to the evaluation and selection factors in section III of this solicitation;

4. Names of three professional references that have knowledge of the offeror’s ability to perform the duties set forth in the solicitation, including current and accurate contact information. This information may be included in in cover letter, resume/CV, or in a separate document.

5. Proof of U.S. Citizenship

6. Offers must be received by the closing date and time and submitted to the Point of Contact specified in Section I.

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

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.

Forms outlined below can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms

1. Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet (AID 1420‐17);

2. Form AID 309‐2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals,”

3. Medical History and Examination Form (DS‐1843) **

4. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (SF‐86) ** or

5. Questionnaire for Non‐Sensitive Positions (SF‐85) **

6. Finger Print Card (FD‐258) **

** Forms 3 through 6 shall be completed ONLY upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

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

[If the solicitation is also open to TCNs, the CO must insert the benefits and allowances specifically approved by the Mission Director for a TCN offeror in accordance with AIDAR Appendix J, sec. 4(c)(2)(ii)(B).]

1. 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

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 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

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

AAPDs/CIBs specifically applicable to this position include:

AAPD 16‐03: Expanded Incentive Awards for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals

AAPD 15‐02 REVISED ‐ Continuation of Deviation from the ‘Leave and Holidays’ clause, including Family and Medical Leave, for U.S. Personal Services Contractors

AAPD 10‐03 Amendment 1: AIDAR, Appendix D: Implementing Benefits For Same‐Sex Domestic Partners of USPSCs

AAPD 10‐01: Personal Services Contracts ‐‐ Changes in USG Reimbursement Amounts for Health Insurance and Physical Examination Costs

AAPD 06‐10: PSC Medical Expense Payment Responsibility

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

[End of Solicitation]