SOL-72063621R00003 GHSA ADVISOR.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72063621R00003

ISSUANCE DATE: June 01, 2021

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: July 02, 2021 midnight Local Time (GMT – SIERRA LEONE)

SUBJECT: SOLICITATION NUMBER 72063621R00003 FOR U.S. Personal Service Contractor and Third Country Nationals (US/TCN PSC) – Global Health Security Agenda Advisor for SIERRA

LEONE

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID/Guinea & Sierra Leone, is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation.

Offers must be in accordance with the 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, /signed/ Ifeoma Ezeh

Contracting Officer

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72063621R00003

2. ISSUANCE DATE: June 01, 2021

3. CLOSING DATE & TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: July 02, 2021 at midnight local Time

(GMT – Sierra Leone)

4. POINT OF CONTACT: HR TEAM at conakrypscjobs@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Global Health Security Agenda Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: GS-14 ($93,907.00 to $122,077.00) is the equivalent market value for this position. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The USPSC contract will be for an initial one (1) year period, with four (4), one-year option years. Option years may be exercised based upon satisfactory contractor performance, mutual agreement between the Contractor and USG, continued Mission requirements, and the continued availability of funds.

The base period is estimated to start on or about 12/05/2021 and end on or about 12/04/2022. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise additional option periods for the dates estimated as follows:

Base Period: 12/05/2021 – 12/04/2022 Option Period 1: 12/05/2022– 12/04/2023 Option Period 2: 12/05/2023– 12/04/2024 Option Period 3: 12/05/2024– 12/04/2025 Option Period 4: 12/05/2025– 12/04/2026

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Freetown, Sierra Leone with travel to Conakry, Guinea.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. citizens, Resident Aliens and Third Country Nationals

DEFINITION OF A U.S. CITIZEN PER THE AIDAR:

“U.S. national (USN)” means an individual who is a U.S. citizen, or a non-U.S. citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States.

DEFINITION OF A THIRD COUNTRY NATIONAL PER THE AIDAR:

“Third Country National” (“TCN”) means an individual who is neither a cooperating country national nor a U.S. national, but is a citizen or lawful permanent resident (or equivalent immigration status) of any country other than the countries which are prohibited sources. (See 22 CFR 228.15).

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: U.S. Citizens: Secret Clearance

TCNs: Facility Access mailto:conakrypscjobs@usaid.gov mailto:conakrypscjobs@usaid.gov

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

A. BACKGROUND

USAID’s GHSA portfolio works to strengthen countries’ multisectoral capacities in reducing the risk and impact of zoonotic disease threats that are of greatest public health concern. The program emphasizes systems strengthening at national and subnational levels and in multiple sectors for preparedness; laboratory;

surveillance; workforce; risk communications; supply chain and related countermeasures. GHSA embraces the One Health approach, recognizing the critical role that wildlife, livestock, other domestic animals, and environment play in emerging zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential and antimicrobial resistance.

Identifying and minimizing zoonotic disease spillover risks at their source in animals and a comprehensive approach to AMR that includes the livestock, agriculture, and environment sectors are essential components of USAID’s contribution to GHSA. USAID’s GHSA program also leverages other USAID programming priorities in the areas of health systems strengthening, food security, economic growth, and disaster assistance.

Healthy animals provide a safe and nutritious food supply component, and additionally, jobs and livelihoods all along the value chain from producer to final consumer. Ensuring that animals are safely, economically managed and food is safe for human consumption not only minimizes the risk of transferring zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance, but also greatly assists with enhancing partner countries’ capacity for agricultural development and participation in international trade. Global Health programming in Sierra Leone with primary objectives in the areas of health systems strengthening and disease control, such as malaria and TB, also contribute to GHSA targets.

B. OBJECTIVE

The objective of this position is to provide technical expertise to the USAID/Guinea & Sierra Leone Mission and USAID/W to manage and coordinate activities associated with the GHSA portfolio as it relates to human and animal health in the environment. Successful completion of this objective will require working with a wide array of US Government partners, ministries, regional economic bodies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other implementing partners. The highest result will be rapid, effective, and coordinated oversight of GHSA action packages.

The Global Health Security Advisor, working with the USAID Sierra Leone Mission Health team, will provide activities management and technical expertise to the Mission and USAID/W, with a key focus on achieving results under USAID’s GHSA portfolio. The Advisor will liaise with the Agency’s GHSD Unit in Washington. S/he will ensure that the Mission’s planning, response, and reporting on GHSA and EPT are carried out in accordance with Agency, State Department, and Congressional directives.

Further, the GHSA Advisor has the responsibility to ensure that all administrative and accountability requirements related to USAID operations are conducted in compliance with Agency Regulations, policies and procedures. The Advisor will consult with Financial Management, Contracting, Executive Office and Legal officers of USAID/W as needed to ensure compliance.

1. MAJOR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Working as part of the Embassy Sierra Leone’s GHSA Team, the Technical Advisor will complete the following duties and responsibilities:

A. Ensures coordination of USAID GHSA activities with USAID’s existing program and with CDC, DOD and other USG agencies’ GHSA-related activities. Maintain strong partnerships between agencies as well as implementing partners of respective agencies and build strong partnerships with other development partners in Sierra Leone:

a. Represent USAID in the USG GHSA Interagency Technical Working Group. Work collaboratively with the USG agencies while representing USAID priorities.

b. Maintain frequent, regular, and ad hoc meetings with CDC, DOD and other Embassy Sierra

Leone agencies to discuss activities and maintain coordination and to keep each other informed on changes to GHSA activities.

c. Work collaboratively with USG agencies to develop detailed annual GHSA work plans to ensure coordination of USG GHSA supported activities and to avoid duplication.

d. Provide technical expertise to USAID and USG leadership for GHSA technical areas of work.

e. During disease outbreak situations in which USAID, CDC, DOD, Implementing Partners are asked to participate, ensure that USAID’s efforts are tightly coordinated with other partners in supporting the national government.

f. Set up/encourage the establishment of Partner/Donor coordination and collaboration mechanisms to advance GHSA in Sierra Leone. Such partners include USAID partners, other donors, the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL), private sector, international and local NGOs, multilateral organizations, etc.

B. Liaison between the Mission in Sierra Leone and USAID Washington:

a. Report on activities in Sierra Leone to USAID Global Health Security Washington-based and regional team members.

b. Assist the Agreement Office Representatives and Contract Office Representatives by monitoring and guiding implementing partner activities to ensure consistency with project objectives and to ensure that activities contribute to advancing Sierra Leone’s targets for GHSA and JEE metrics.

c. Work with USAID’s GHSA Team and GHSD to identify new opportunities and activities to contribute to Sierra Leone’s GHSA efforts. This would include activity design, assessments and scoping of new opportunities.

C. Serve as USAID’s representative on technical working groups with GoSL counterparts related to GHSA activities. Build and Maintain strong relationships with multiple GoSL Ministries and Agencies:

a. S/he will represent USAID on donor/government coordination groups related to priority zoonotic diseases and AMR, One Health Technical Committees and other GHSA priority engagements.

b. Develop relationships with senior level policy makers in the Ministry of Agriculture and

Livestock Resources, Ministry of Health, Sierra Leone Public Health Institute, Wildlife and Conservation Authority and Regional Bureaus.

D. Provide coordination across all USAID GHSA activities in Sierra Leone:

a. Establish and maintain coordination networks among USAID implementing partners in Sierra

Leone whose activities are related to GHSA. Facilitate opportunities for USAID implementing partners to collaborate and leverage each other’s activities. Communicate and promote to IPs USAID’s expectations for IPs to function as a cohesive program working together to advance GHSA targets in Sierra Leone, in consultation with relevant A/COR.

b. Use the coordination network to facilitate the GHSA implementing partners in successful completion of work plan activities and to maximize USG investments.

c. Engage with implementing partners and multisectoral GoSL and other stakeholders to promote the skills, capacities and environment in Sierra Leone across the ministries to investigate diverse and complex conditions that resemble pathologic patterns that will or could affect public health.

d. Provide technical guidance to USAID IPs to promote and leverage existing USAID activities and the contributions of other stakeholders in Sierra Leone to achieve JEE targets with an emphasis on USAID priority Action Packages and interventions at the human-animal-environment.

E. Coordinate multiple reporting requirements that require input and clearance from diverse stakeholders.

a. Lead development of USAID contributions to Embassy Sierra Leone’s Bi-Annual GHSA Progress Report

b. Have strong knowledge of assessments and scoring related to Sierra Leone’s GHSA Joint External Evaluation Report

c. Provide bi-weekly updates to Embassy Sierra Leone inter-agency GHSA Team

d. Develop weekly updates for USAID/Guinea and Sierra Leone Front Office on GHSA progress, events and upcoming visitors.

F. Support Sierra Leone Health Office.

a. As a member of the USAID/Sierra Leone Health Office, supports the office in its strategic planning, communication, monitoring and evaluation, official representation responsibilities (including service as control officer for VIPs when/if needed) and participating in team meetings and events.

b. Where need and/or opportunities arise, seek coordination of work between health sectors for a more cost-effective approach.

c. Support the team to ensure health office coverage at meetings and in the office as needed.

d. Take relevant USAID training in project and financial management and other required training and stay current in these areas

2. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

● Supervision Received: The GHSA Advisor will be supervised by and report to the USDH Health Office Director in the USAID Sierra Leone office. The Health Office Director will assist the Advisor to: 1) establish annual work objectives and performance measures; 2) review work outputs and accomplishments to ensure compliance with Agency policies, and implementation of best practices; and 3) assess the incumbent's performance seeking input from appropriate USAID/Sierra Leone team members and external stakeholders. As the incumbent is expected to work with a high degree of independence, s/he must be able to establish priorities, adhere to and meet deadlines, and perform responsibilities and duties with minimal guidance.

● Supervision Exercised: None.

If a third country national (TCN) is selected for award, during the period of this contract, the TCN personal services contractor must provide at least 10 hours/week of training to a cooperating country national (CCN) designated by USAID. The TCNPSC’s Supervisor will establish a training plan with benchmarks to measure the TCNPSC's progress toward achieving this training deliverable.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

In order to be considered for the position, a candidate must have the following minimum qualifications.

EDUCATION:

● Minimum of Master’s degree in public health, public policy, epidemiology, infectious disease, or similar related discipline are required. Health clinical degrees (MD, veterinary medicine, Registered Nursing or similar) and/or degrees in laboratory science in addition to the above Masters are strongly preferred. Additional studies/certificates or training may be an advantage.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

● The incumbent must have a minimum of eight years’ experience in public health (research, program management, project implementation) or related experience, five of which must be in developing countries.

● Experience with an internationally-focused organization working on animal and/or human public health e.g., World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), USG or other donors or similar may be an advantage.

Familiarity with these organizations is required.

● Experience coordinating complex programs with multiple partners across sectors is required and must be demonstrated. Experience in any of One Health/Avian Flu/Zoonotic Disease/Infectious Disease is an advantage.

● Minimum of five years of experience related to management of programs in developing countries that involve significant partnership and collaboration across ministries or sectors such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Livestock or Wildlife, Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Agriculture.

● Experience with monitoring and evaluation methodologies including frameworks, data quality assurance, analysis reporting and best practices in data dissemination in international/resource poor settings.

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

(a) Selection Process

After the closing date for receipt of applications, a committee will convene to review applications that meet the minimum requirements and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Applications from candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements will not be scored. As part of the selection process, finalist candidates may be interviewed. Reference checks will be made only for applicants considered as finalists. The applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities. If an applicant does not wish USAID to contact a current employer for a reference check, this should be stated in the applicant’s cover letter; USAID will delay such reference checks pending the applicant’s concurrence.

“USAID policy specifies that U.S. citizens or resident aliens (USNs) are preferred over third country nationals (TCNs). Therefore, USN and TCN offers will not be evaluated together. USAID will evaluate USN offers first and if the CO determines that there are no qualified USNs, only then will USAID evaluate TCN offers.”

(b) EVALUATION FACTORS AND BASIS OF RATING:

Applicants who clearly meet the Education/Experience requirements will be further evaluated based on scoring of their Evaluation Factor responses.

Factor #1: (20 Points) In 500 words or less, outline how you have demonstrated an ability to work independently, manage competing and/or complex situations, monitoring & evaluation, activity/sector/partner coordination, etc.

FACTOR #2: (25 Points) In 1,000 words or less, outline how you have demonstrated your knowledge in GHSA activities with regard to donor coordination for One Health strategies. Provide examples of your success in one or more of the https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-52#FAR_52_215_1 https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-52#FAR_52_215_1 https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far position’s responsibilities: development and management, planning, communications skills, leadership skills, etc. The candidate must be able to build effective working relationships with senior country officials, USG partners, donors, international financial institutions, and other sector counterparts.

FACTOR #3: (25 Points) In 1,000 words or less, outline your demonstrated experience in providing technical assistance to designing, implementing and operating in challenging environments.

FACTOR #4: INTERVIEW PERFORMANCE (30 Points)

Total: 100 points

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER:

All applications must be submitted electronically by email with the subject line – SOL - 720636210R00003 – Global Health Security Agenda Advisor to conakrypscjobs@usaid.gov

Attention: Supervisory Executive Officer, USAID/Guinea & Sierra Leone

1. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror information for Personal Services Contracts,” available at https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/forms/aid-309-2

(Note: All offerors must submit complete dates (months/years) and hours per week for all positions listed on the Form AID 309-2 to allow for adequate evaluation of your related and direct experiences.)

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, item 4.

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

4. Cover letter

5. Submit responses outlining the evaluation factors listed in section III, above

6. Submit a current resume/CV

7. Provide the names of three to five references with current contact information, with both an email address and a telephone number.

Application letters and Form AID 309-2 must be signed. Incomplete and unsigned applications/forms will not be considered. ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE PREPARED AND

SUBMITTED IN ENGLISH.

The final selected candidate must obtain security and medical clearances within a reasonable period of time.

USAID will provide details regarding these clearances to the selected candidate. If such clearances are not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded.

The Agency retains the right to cancel or amend the solicitation and associated actions at any stage of the recruitment process.

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCS:

Forms outlined below can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ mailto:conakrypscjobs@usaid.gov https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/forms/aid-309-2 http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ http://www.usaid.gov/forms/

1) Application for Federal Employment (AID 309-2).

2) Medical History and Examination Forms (DS-6561 and AID Form 1420-62). *

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

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

5) Fingerprint 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.

Based on employment category, a temporary security clearance must be obtained prior to contract start date.

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES:

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a USPSC 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

2. ALLOWANCES: (If applicable) * 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 Quarters Subsistence Allowance (Section 120).

(b) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130).

(c) Post Allowance (Section 220).

(d) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260).

(e) Education Allowance (Section 270).

(f) Education Travel (Section 280).

(g) Post Differential (Chapter 500).

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

* Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas)

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 and TCN PSC 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.

https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/aidar.pdf 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)

QUA

NTIT

Y

(C)

UNIT

(D)

UNIT

PRICE

(E

AMOUNT

(F)

Base Period - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code:

R497)

- Accounting Info:

1 LOT $__ TBD $_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor

Option Period 1 - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code:

(R497)

- Accounting Info:

1 LOT $___TBD $_TBD at Award after

Option Period 2- Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code:

R497)

- Accounting Info:

1 LOT $__ TBD $_TBD at Award after

Option Period 2- Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: R497)

- Accounting Info:

1 LOT $__ TBD $_TBD at Award after

4001 Option Period 2- Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: R497)

- Accounting Info:

1 LOT $__ TBD $_TBD at Award after

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.

http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs

4. USAID Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives (AAPD-20-08): Leave and Holidays (OCT 1987) [Deviation (DEC 2020)] [For use in contracts with a CCNPSC or TCNPSC not subject to the local compensation plan.] https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/AAPD-20-08.pdf

5. 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.

6. PSC Ombudsman The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information:

https://www.usaid.gov/workusaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman 7

The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, physical handicap, genetic information, age or membership or non-membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military services, or other non-merit factor.

END OF SOLICITATION

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/AAPD-20-08.pdf https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman mailto:PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov