Sol-72062423R00010 - final 3_7_2023.docx

SOLICITATION NUMBER:72062423R00010

ISSUANCE DATE: March 13, 2023 CLOSING DATE/TIME: March 25, 2023/23:59 GMT

SUBJECT: Solicitation for Offshore U.S./Third Country National (TCN) Personal Services Contractor as the Senior Agriculture Technical Advisor, USAID/West Africa

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 any offer.

All offers must be submitted to the Point of Contact via email: accrapsc@usaid.gov

Only shortlisted offerors will be contacted.

Any questions must be directed in writing to Patience Charway at pcharway@usaid.gov or Yusif Ibrahim at yibrahim@usaid.gov with a copy to Michael Sampson at msampson@usaid.gov.

Sincerely, Michael Sampson Contracting Officer Regional Executive Office USAID/West Africa

ATTACHMENT 1 SOL #72062422R00010.

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.:72062423R00010

2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 13, 2023

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS:

March 26, 2023, 23:59 GMT

4. POINT OF CONTACT: USAID/West Africa, Accra; e-mail at accrapsc@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Agriculture Technical Advisor, USAID/West Africa

6. MARKET VALUE: $99,908 - $129,878 equivalent to GS-14 Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two (2) years, estimated to start o/a 06/2023 with an option of three (3) one-year extensions for a maximum of five (5) years. Exercise of options will depend on continuing need of services, availability of funds, successful performance, and requisite approvals.

Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise the additional option periods for up to three (3) years for the dates estimated as follows:

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/West Africa, Accra.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to U.S. Citizens (including lawful Permanent legal residents) or Third Country Nationals.

Hiring Preference:

In order of preference, U.S. Citizens (including Permanent legal residents) offers will be evaluated first and only when it is determined that there is no qualified U.S. Citizens (including Permanent legal residents) that offers from Third Country Nationals (TCN) will be considered. References 309.3.1.10 and 309.3.1.4.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facility Access

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

BACKGROUND:

USAID/West Africa is a regional operating unit of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), responsible for managing development programs that cover 21 countries[endnoteRef:1], seven of which have bilateral USAID missions. The USAID/West Africa Regional Agriculture Team is responsible for managing the cross-cutting FTF initiative in West Africa. It contributes to the overall economic growth Development Objective of “Inclusive Broad-Based Economic Growth Enhanced” under the newly designed Regional Cooperation Development Strategy and to the FTF Strategy for West Africa. [1: ]

With more than 300 million inhabitants, the West Africa region ranks as the poorest with the lowest level of human capital development, and the highest in population growth, and maternal and child mortality. Most institutions have limited absorptive capacity. Inter-governmental and national partners are limited by weak regional and national systems and inadequate financial support. The agriculture sector is critical to job creation and sustained economic growth in West Africa. The ECOWAS Policy for Agriculture (ECOWAP), together with its associated implementation plan, the Regional Agriculture Investment Plan (RAIP), guides the investments under the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program for the region, and provides an overarching framework for policies and programs to increase agriculture-based economic growth and food security in West Africa.

West Africa’s lack of robust intra-regional trade exacerbates food insecurity, pushes vulnerable populations into reoccurring crises, and aggravates already low malnutrition rates among rural poor and newly urban populations. Improvements in regional and national level policies will lead to expanded trade and access to new markets, stronger resilience to man-made and natural disasters among vulnerable populations, and increased availability and access to nutritious foods. West Africa’s farmers and traders operate in local marketplaces and fail to penetrate the larger swaths of purchasing power residing in domestic, regional, and internal markets. Improved trade facilitation and lowering barriers to engaging those marketplaces to open opportunities capturing higher earnings.

Several regional institutions in West Africa continue to play vital roles in addressing the region’s development challenges. Inter-governmental regional organizations have strong political mandates, commitment, and support from national governments. Key regional organizations in West Africa include: the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); the Permanent Intergovernmental Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS); the West and Central Africa Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD); and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). ECOWAS has made great strides in developing important regional policies and initiatives such as the Zero Hunger Initiative, the Rice Self-Sufficiency Policy, the Fertilizer Regulations, the Trade Liberalization Scheme, and the Nutrition Fortification standards. Private sector engagement in policy development, creation, and implementation is critical. In many cases, drives toward making achieving sustainable integration of regional policies at the country level have not included private sector entities.

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION:

The position is located in the USAID/West Africa Regional Economic Growth Office’s Regional Agriculture team. The Incumbent serves as a Senior Agriculture Technical Advisor to implement key aspects of USAID Feed the Future (FTF) programs to increase food security and agriculture investment in the region. The Senior Agriculture Technical Advisor helps coordinate major regional programs under the Presidential FTF Initiative that is administered by USAID’s Bureau for Resilience and Food Security in Washington, D.C. The applicant must possess an in-depth knowledge of the sector, based on years of practical experience and be able to build partnerships among regional groups and institutions to greatly enhance the effectiveness of food security programs in West Africa.

Agricultural producers, traders, processors, distributors, and consumers in West Africa face numerous operational and systemic challenges. USAID/West Africa implements various programs to address these challenges on a regional scale. The overall goal of the Agriculture Team is to improve food security for West Africans. This goal will be accomplished by enhancing the effectiveness and ability of regional institutions to address the myriad problems facing both ends of the agricultural spectrum, from the producers to the consumers.

The USAID/West Africa Agriculture team, with a technical team of four full-time specialists, is responsible for directing approximately USD $16 million of technical assistance to meet the regional challenges of food security. The four specialists deliver direct support to regional institutions, but also target critical gaps in the agriculture sector such as a lack of quality seeds and fertilizer, the inability to trade efficiently across borders, the lack of market and trade related information for all those involved in the industry, and other barriers. The Senior Agriculture Technical Advisor is part of that team.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

As the Senior Agriculture Technical Advisor, the Contractor shall:

1. Serve as the principal agriculture technical advisor to the AGR Team Leader. S/he shall support the Regional Agriculture Team to implement programs that respond to current and emerging regional agriculture issues, policies, and opportunities for engagement to ensure that the USAID program is positioned to affect the highest level of influence. S/he shall advise the AGR Team Leader and others including the REGO Office Director and senior management, on program implementation options and programs’ technical and policy implications for the region. S/he shall be expected to serve as an Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) on one or more activities.

2. As requested, represent USAID/West Africa at meetings with implementing partners (including major regional organizations that receive direct USAID support), donors, government, U.S. Government agencies, and international, and local partners.

3. Assist the AGR Team Leader and REGO in carrying out a full range of consultative, advisory, strategic, programming and planning responsibilities.

Specifically, the Contractor shall perform the following tasks:

1. Technical Advice (60%): The Contractor shall support REGO/AGR in oversight for all USAID/West Africa FTF projects to ensure the successful achievement of the agriculture commitments under the Economic Growth Development objectives. The Contractor shall serve as the senior agriculture technical advisor to the team and will have specific technical oversight responsibilities for assigned activities. Given the complex dimensions of the issues and actors in the agriculture sector in West Africa, the Contractor shall be expected to quickly grasp the nature of regional interventions and how regional activities support the objectives of USAID/West Africa’s major regional partners in implementing the ECOWAS Agriculture Policy. Specific duties may include:

a) Support REGO/AGR interaction with West African regional organizations and private sector on technical policies affecting food security and economic growth in West Africa. This may include agricultural trade policies, agricultural productivity, regional food reserves, resilience, regional information sharing, agricultural research, trade in agricultural products, etc. Travel in the West Africa region to liaise with regional organizations and partners, bilateral USAID Missions and USAID Limited Presence Countries will be expected.

b) Provide analysis and recommendations to address technical and policy constraints and advise the Mission on options. Provide guidance on regional policies, information systems and data collection related to resilience, agriculture, land use change and economic considerations in West Africa. Advise the REGO/AGR Team Leader, REGO Director, Mission Management and others on new regional developments and technical policies related to Mission priorities.

c) Assess the progress towards achievement of the CAADP/ECOWAP goals, at the regional level and at the national level throughout the region. Work to advance integration and harmonization of technical policies and systems throughout the West Africa region by developing methods to record and understand the various policies, procedures and systems that are in place to support agriculture development in the region.

d) As requested-- represent USAID/West Africa before other donors, USAID Missions and USG agencies and officials, including coordinating site visits with other USG officials. Organize and hold workshops and seminars with ECOWAS, USG, national governments, CILSS, UEMOA, CORAF and/or other donors and to present and discuss common approaches, get feedback, and to achieve buy-in.

e) Provide technical oversight, mentoring and training to junior officers within USAID/West Africa. Introduce junior staff to the functions and realities of regional systems and organizations in the region. Serve as mentor to advance the relationships of USAID staff with other regional organizations.

2. Regional Activity Design, Implementation and Management (30%): The Contractor shall ensure that all assigned activities are designed, implemented, evaluated, and documented in the appropriate manner. These responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

a) Design/develop activities and instruments to further the FTF agenda, the Agency resilience policy and other presidential initiatives for West Africa. Provide estimates of funding requirements for programs developed to advance economic growth through regional integration, increase trade in agricultural products and improve agricultural productivity. Design/develop programs and options for deepening engagement of regional actors in climate smart agriculture.

b) Serve as the AOR for major agriculture and policy activities. This may include one or more USAID/WA or Washington-based implementing mechanisms.

c) For delegated activities, undertake program and budget monitoring, reporting and evaluation to ensure that adequate resources are appropriately budgeted, focused and achieving desired results, and undertake corrective action as needed.

d) As requested, provide monitoring oversight and technical assistance for all AGR FTF activities funded by USAID/West Africa and/or others. Monitoring responsibilities will involve substantial regional travel. Provide advice and assistance in evaluating the impact of USAID-funded activities in achieving USAID/USG objectives.

e) Provide input into and ensure that all USAID reporting requirements on sustainability and impact (direct and indirect) are met and, where necessary, assist implementing partners in setting up reporting and tracking systems to provide such information in an efficient and timely manner.

f) The Contractor shall be responsible for producing necessary documents as required, including working documents, position papers, concept papers, action memos, etc.

3. Communication, Reporting and Administration (10%)

a) The Senior Agriculture Technical Advisor shall participate fully as a member of the REGO/AGR in support of the current USAID/West Africa Agriculture portfolio. This includes contributing to team meetings, carrying out activities related to agricultural productivity, value chain development, agriculture policy, resilience, climate smart agriculture, reducing barriers to regional trade in staple foods and agricultural commodities, among other activities, as well as performing administrative activities including budgeting, accruals and monitoring and evaluation.

b) Analyze data, prepare reports and perform office functions in support of the program; Respond to requests from other USAID offices, including requests for information from USAID/Washington; Draft materials for use in USAID communication relating to agriculture, food security and resilience-- this includes speeches, press releases, Ambassadorial memos, briefing papers, etc.; Write reports and assist in portfolio reviews for submission to the Mission and to Washington.

c) Supporting the AGR Team Leader, the Contractor shall maintain regular communication with USAID/Washington, such as with the USAID’s Bureau for Food Security and the Bureau for Africa, other USAID Missions and offices in the region and other regional partners to ensure programs are coordinated and responsive to new sector technical developments and Agency priorities.

d) Coordinate with the USAID/Washington Africa Bureau, Bureau of Food Security and other USAID/West Africa Missions and offices regarding Feed the Future and other agriculture and/or food security initiatives, resilience, program plans, implementation, monitoring and evaluation as well as preparation of background materials.

e) Participate in USAID/WA regional agriculture and economic growth office meetings with other USAID Missions and /or with Washington to review progress in program implementation and seek technical guidance from officers in the region; Maintain and manage technical issues on sustainability and capacity development initiatives in with USAID/W to ensure that the regional program is using state-of-art practices.

f) Perform other regular office functions as requested.

Supervision Received: The REGO/AGR Team Leader is the immediate supervisor. Assignments are in broad terms, primarily on overall objectives to be achieved and suggested approaches to consider. Performance is evaluated primarily in terms of results achieved and compliance with policy.

Supervision Exercised: The Contractor shall assist in providing technical guidance to REGO/AGR staff, helping to coordinate the work of these employees to achieve program objectives. In accordance with ADS 495.3.1, the Contractor is expected to mentor and train more junior staff (FSNs). S/he may serve as Acting Team Leader as needed and requested.

II. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The following factors will be the basis for the evaluation of applications meeting the required minimum qualifications. All applications will be evaluated based on the documentation submitted with the application. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation. The highest-ranking applicants may be selected for an interview, but an interview is not always necessary.

Education: Master’s degree or higher in Agriculture or related Social Science or Private Sector/Business. 5 points

Prior Work Experience: A minimum of ten years of job-related experience in food security, agriculture policy and/or development or a related role as well as experience working with the West Africa Regional Economic Community and/or other Regional Organizations is required. Prior experience in project design, management and implementation, and usage of software systems for monitoring and evaluation of economic and social development projects and results/budget tracking and documentation is required. 35 points

Job Knowledge: Service in, or substantial and regular contact and/or business dealings with, key U.S. Government agencies and/or African institutions or organizations involved in agriculture and/or food security-related fields are required. 25 points

Skills and Abilities: Excellent computer skills (especially MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) including the ability to operate required software effortlessly and with little instruction or mentoring is required. Strong technical, analytical, and conceptual skills to analyze issues and recommend and present solutions and/or options is required. Demonstrated ability to manage a variety of tasks simultaneously is required. 15 points

Interpersonal Skills/Communication: Must have the ability to establish and maintain an extensive range of mid to high level contacts within and outside USAID and within the region. Ability to travel regionally and work collaboratively as part of a team is required. Ability to interact effectively with senior level officials, and others representing all segments of public and private sectors, from government officials to business leaders to community representatives across West Africa is required. In order to achieve this in the West Africa context with success, fluency in English and French (speaking, reading, writing) is required. The candidate must be able to communicate, participate in meetings, give presentations and read technical documents in both English and French. French and English language skills will be tested during the interview. 20 points

Total: 100 points

III. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

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. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

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, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I.

3. Offeror submissions must clearly reference the Solicitation number on all offeror submitted documents.

4. A Cover Letter of not more than three (3) pages describing how the incumbent’s skills and experience fit the requirements of the position.

5. A current CV/resume. The CV/resume must contain sufficient relevant information to evaluate the Offers in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria. Broad general statements that are vague or lacking specificity will not be considered as effectively addressing particular selection criteria. Complete dates (month/year) are also required on CV.

6. Applicants also must address the above Section III: Evaluation and Selection Factors, in a Summary Statement to be included in the Offers. This Summary Statement, limited to two (2) pages, must describe specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, and/or awards the applicant has received that are relevant to each selection factor above. The Summary Statement must include the name of the applicant and the announcement number at the top of each page.

7. Applicants must provide a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of five (5) references within the last five years from the applicant’s professional life, namely individuals who are not family members or relatives. Three references must be from direct supervisors who can provide information regarding the applicant’s work knowledge and professional experience. Applicants must provide e-mail addresses and/or working telephone numbers for all references.

8. Hard copies of diplomas, certificates or relevant degrees may be included to corroborate the CV/resume.

9. Applicants must provide their full mailing address with telephone, facsimile numbers (if available) and email address and should retain for their records copies of all enclosures that accompany their submission.

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 found at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms/

1. Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals (AID 309-2);

2. Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62); *

3. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86); * or

4. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85); *

5. Finger Print Card (FD-258). *

* Forms 2 through 5 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 US/TCNPSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

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

*Note: A US citizen’s salary will be subject to employee’s FICA and Medicare contribution.

2. 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), and

(j) Danger Pay Allowance (Section 650)]

TCNs do not receive identical allowances as USPSCs. However, subject to Mission Director approval, TCNs may receive specific allowances under AIDAR Appendix J sec. 4(c)(2)(ii) and many allowances from AIDAR Appendix D that are on par with other offshore hires.

VII. TAXES

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

VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

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

a. 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.

b. 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:

· Award Type: PSC

· Product Service Code: R497

· Accounting Info: TBD

· Award Type: PSC

· Product Service Code: R497

· Accounting Info: TBD

· Award Type: PSC

· Product Service Code: R497

· Accounting Info: TBD

· Award Type: PSC

· Product Service Code: R497 Accounting Info: TBD

c. 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.

d. 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]

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