Sol_72065620R00018.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72065620R00018

ISSUANCE DATE: May 21, 2020

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: June 11, 2020, 17:30 Maputo Time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) - Senior

HIV/AIDS Technical Specialist

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 the attachment.

Sincerely, Supervisory Executive Officer/Contracting Officer

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72065620R00018

2. ISSUANCE DATE: May 21, 2020

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: June 11, 2020, 17:30 Maputo

Time, Mozambique

4. POINT OF CONTACT: USAID HR, email at mzrecruiter1@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior HIV/AIDS Technical Specialist

6. MARKET VALUE: $92,977.00 - $120,868.00 equivalent to GS-14

Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The base period will be 2 years, estimated to start o/a

August 2020. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise additional option periods for the dates estimated as follows:

Base Period: 8/2020-8/2022

Option Period 1: 8/2022-8/2023

Option Period 2: 8/2023-8/2024

Option Period 3: 8/2024-8/2025

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Maputo, Mozambique, with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens or lawful permanent U.S. residents.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: USG Facility Access Clearance

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

A. BACKGROUND

Overview of the Program and Role of the Position

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is a leading development partner in Mozambique. USAID manages a comprehensive humanitarian and development assistance program totaling over $352 million in FY 2019 covering health, education, agriculture, economic growth, and democracy and governance sectors.

Health is USAID’s largest and most expansive portfolio (over $250 million per year), which aims to improve health outcomes in country through support of the Government of

Mozambique’s (GRM) Health Sector Strategic Plan. The plan seeks to improve access to and utilization of quality health services through a strengthened national health system.

USAID is part of a unified and effective interagency team—including the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Departments of State (DOS) and Defense mailto:mzrecruiter1@usaid.gov

(DOD), and Peace Corps—which aims to fulfill two overarching health goals in

Mozambique: to control the HIV epidemic and prevent child and maternal deaths. To accomplish these goals, USAID’s Integrated Health Office (IHO) plans, implements, and monitors activities that include: HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, family planning, maternal and child health, nutrition, and water/sanitation/hygiene. IHO, with a total of 69 staff, is comprised of four divisions whose activities are oriented around: HIV and infectious disease; preventing child and maternal deaths; strengthening health systems and commodities security; and providing efficient and effective operations within the office.

For HIV, USAID is a leading implementer of the US President’s Emergency Plan for

AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in harmony with CDC, DOD, Peace Corps, and the PEPFAR

Coordination Office. The goal of the United States Government (USG) for PEPFAR in

Mozambique is to control the HIV epidemic via rapid adoption and application of evidence-based policies and interventions to drive progress and save lives, implemented through a partnership between the USG and the GRM that best supports host country leadership, ownership, and sustainability. PEPFAR achieves this goal by working with the National HIV Program, the National AIDS Council (Conselho Nacional de Combate ao HIV e SIDA, or CNCS), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNAIDS, civil society, and the private sector to target high impact interventions for populations at greatest risk in areas of high HIV prevalence.

PEPFAR support is focused on providing technical assistance, training, mentoring, and supportive supervision together with essential commodities and supply chain support to ensure the National HIV Program can test, treat, and achieve viral suppression for

Mozambicans living with HIV and prevent new infections to effectively achieve an

AIDS-free generation by 2030.

The Senior HIV/AIDS Technical Specialist will provide strategy guidance and technical direction on all aspects of HIV treatment and viral suppression programming. This includes, but is not limited to, ART administration through both facility- and community-based modalities, ART retention and adherence, population-specific engagement interventions, and viral load suppression. The incumbent also provides strategy and technical support to the TB and TB/HIV portfolios that are funded by a combination of

PEPFAR and non-PEPFAR resources. The incumbent is expected to support and lead, as needed, on agency technical preparations related to HIV treatment, retention, adherence, viral load suppression, and TB. This includes annual planning, implementation, analysis, and reporting while ensuring that monitoring and evaluation functions feed into continuous learning and application for the Infectious Disease Team, within the interagency, and with host country counterparts.

B. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As the Senior HIV/AIDS Technical Specialist the incumbent will:

1. Serve as USAID’s senior technical advisor to IHO on HIV retention, adherence, viral suppression, and TB. This includes working closely with national and expatriate staff to strengthen their ability to engage with the USG inter-agency team, headquarters colleagues, the GRM and National HIV program, and HIV and

TB implementing partners. S/he keeps current on new developments in clinical and community HIV and TB treatment, care and support, to advise and/or lead the

Mission and interagency teams on technical priorities and implementation approaches.

2. Provide oversight to the launch of multiple new initiatives, including a strategic marketing campaign to re-engage men in HIV treatment, a stigma reduction communications campaign, and a case management program focusing on adolescents and young adults.

3. Mentor and guide existing data analysis teams on monthly data review exercises to more effectively identify positive and concerning trends, sharing lessons learned across teams, and providing timely feedback to implementing partners to strengthen their ability to use data for timely course correction actions.

4. Represent USAID/Mozambique and PEPFAR/Mozambique at high-level meetings with government, USG agencies (Mozambique, HQ, regional), implementing partners, donors, and international and local partners related to HIV care and treatment and TB.

5. Provide strategic guidance to the technical design, implementation and monitoring of HIV care and treatment and TB-related activities.

6. Actively support quality project implementation, including but not limited to:

monitoring and reporting on HIV activities for USAID; completion of the

PEPFAR Country Operational Plan; quarterly reporting to the Office of the

Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC); compliance with the Site Improvement through Monitoring System (SIMS) requirements while ensuring that SIMS analysis is incorporated into program implementation; and contributing to high quality portfolio analyses and presentations, and other key requirements, as directed by OGAC.

7. Provide substantive technical contributions in technical working groups formed within PEPFAR/Mozambique, the GRM and the National HIV Program, and the

Health Partners Group (coordination body).

Program and Project Management

1. Provide technical guidance and oversight to HIV care and treatment and TB implementing partners, including careful review of annual work plans, quarterly reports, and progress towards targets. This includes engaging in the planning, technical direction and analysis, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation stages.

2. In close coordination with the Project Management Team, oversee implementation of PEPFAR Country Operational Plan FY 2020 new initiatives, including strategic marketing, stigma reduction, and youth case management.

3. Identify and actively support opportunities for leveraging existing mechanisms for more strategic and cost-effective means for achieving results.

4. Contribute to the development of activity budgets during annual planning processes in coordination with the IHO Operations Division and the AIDS-Free

Generation (AFG) Division.

5. Direct the preparation of analysis and documentation required under the USAID and PEPFAR annual reporting process.

6. Provide detailed-oriented oversight over the PEPFAR budget, ensuring that funds are utilized according to USG policy/regulations, and that country programs are using PEPFAR resources effectively. Ensure a high degree of fiscal integrity in the program.

Technical Leadership

1. Serve as USAID/Mozambique’s senior technical advisor for HIV care and treatment and TB. This includes navigating sensitive discussions with GRM colleagues as well as dialoging with inter-agency counterparts to gain consensus on harmonized approaches to epidemic control.

2. Develop and maintain ongoing support for HIV epidemic control activities to key

GRM Ministerial counterparts, including non-Health ministries, to support multi-sectoral responses and inclusive country-led action plans.

3. Provide technical guidance to USAID-funded implementing partners to ensure strict adherence to annual plan agreements. This includes regular and ad hoc meetings with partners as well as routine site visits to ensure implementation fidelity.

Mentorship

1. Mentor AFG and Infectious Disease Team colleagues, who lead small data analysis teams on a monthly basis, on novel approaches to interrogate data, including guiding staff on identifying key questions to ask and potential methods for seeking answers within pre-existing dashboards.

2. Coach AFG and Infectious Disease Team members on individually identified areas for improvement, ranging from data analysis to persuasive presentations and from project design to research and abstract writing.

C. POSITION ELEMENTS:

1. Supervision Received: The work will be performed under the supervision of the

Infectious Disease Team Leader. Substantial interaction and/or coordination from the

Embassy/USAID/CDC Front Offices, the Health Office Chief, Deputy Health Office

Chief, AIDS-Free Generation Division Chief, and the PEPFAR Coordination Office are anticipated. The incumbent defines his/her own work plan to accomplish specific upon agreed objectives and is expected to work with a high degree of independence, professionalism, judgment, responsibility and resourcefulness. His/her conclusions and recommendations carry significant weight in the team.

2. Supervision Exercised: This is not a supervisory position.

3. Available Guidelines: Available guidelines establish a broad pattern of operations that requires frequent need to exercise judgment and interpretation, and provides an opportunity for initiative and innovation. Relevant guidelines include the USAID

Automated Directives System (ADS), PEPFAR guidelines, Country Operational

Plans, Mission Orders, and other directives.

4. Exercise of Judgment: A high degree of judgment will be required to provide guidance and assistance to a wide variety of high-level professionals in PEFPAR/

Mozambique and the USAID mission. As a recognized expert and highly qualified professional, substantial reliance will be placed on the incumbent to independently plan, prioritize and carry out specific activities to fulfill major duties and responsibilities. The incumbent will be expected to resolve problems that arise by determining the approaches to be taken and methodologies to be used, making independent judgments that can be defended, as necessary.

5. Authority to Make Commitments: As a personal services contractor, the incumbent cannot make financial commitments on behalf of the U.S. Government. However, because of the incumbent’s expertise and standing as a highly qualified professional in his/her field, great weight will be given to his/her conclusions and recommendations when commitments are made by those with the authority to do so.

6. Nature, Level and Purpose of Contacts: The incumbent will maintain contacts and work with USAID staff in Mozambique, with considerable interaction with

USAID/Washington Office of HIV & AIDS, USAID/Washington Global Health, USAID/Washington Africa Bureau, and Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator staff to provide policy and procedural guidance and to obtain information relative to programs and activities. The incumbent will also advise and collaborate with a wide range of senior management and technical counterparts within the GRM, implementing partners, and other development partners.

7. Post Entry Training: The incumbent will complete applicable USAID, PEPFAR, Portuguese Language and/or other technical trainings as required to fulfill the duties of the position.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands. During occasional field visits or program sites, there may be some additional physical exertion including long periods of standing, walking or driving over rough terrain.

13. SUPPORT ITEMS: The incumbent will be provided with office space, equipment and supplies.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

A. EDUCATION: A Master’s degree in medicine, laboratory sciences, international public health, social sciences, health care development or other applicable related field.

B. PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE

a. At least seven (7) years of progressive professional experience in designing, implementing, managing and monitoring large scale public health programs, including programs related to HIV epidemic control, is required.

b. Direct work experience with an international organization and/or donor agency, is required.

c. Demonstrated experience working with high-level host country counterparts, in-country program managers, policy makers and a broad array of international health service providers and community leaders.

C. KNOWLEDGE: A thorough knowledge of the latest HIV science and/or research related to both community- and facility-based ART retention, adherence and viral load suppression interventions and strategies, as well as knowledge related to broader health systems issues.

D. SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Exceptionally strong interpersonal skills and abilities to work in a multi-cultural setting are required. Experience motivating and leading teams of professionals are required. Demonstrated ability to work across agencies, and with high level senior-ranking host country government officials, is required.

Ability to work effectively on her/his own, as a member of an office management team, and as a mentor to junior staff, is required. Proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely in both speech and writing. Strong quantitative and analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to obtain, analyze, organize and interpret data and present findings in both oral and written form. Strong skills in interpretation of targeted evaluation and operational research data and advanced numerical skills for data analysis are required. Strong computer (to include the ability to produce concise, clear reports, and utilize word processing, spreadsheet and database programs), verbal

(to include the ability to facilitate meetings and make oral presentations logically and persuasively to senior officials and partners in a multi-cultural context), and writing skills are also required. The incumbent must possess strong technical and management skills, complemented by outstanding cross-cultural communication and interpersonal skills to be successful.

E. LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: Must be fluent in English (S-4/R-4) and must have basic working proficiency in a romance language, preferably Portuguese.

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.

The following evaluation factors are established:

1. EDUCATION (5 points)

A Master’s degree in medicine, laboratory sciences, international public health, social sciences, health care development or other applicable related field.

2. PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE (30 points)

a. At least seven (7) years of progressive professional experience in designing, implementing, managing and monitoring large scale public health programs, including programs related to HIV epidemic control which includes at least four (4) years of substantive supervisory experience, is required.

b. Direct work experience with an international organization and/or donor agency, is required.

https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

c. Demonstrated experience working with high-level host country counterparts, in-country program managers, policy makers and a broad array of international health service providers and community leaders.

3. KNOWLEDGE (25 points)

A thorough knowledge of the latest HIV science and/or research related to both community- and facility-based ART retention, adherence and viral load suppression interventions and strategies, as well as knowledge related to broader health systems issues.

4. SKILLS AND ABILITIES (30 points)

Exceptionally strong interpersonal skills and abilities to work in a multi-cultural setting are required. Experience motivating and leading teams of professionals are required.

Demonstrated ability to work across agencies, and with high level senior-ranking host country government officials, is required. Ability to work effectively on her/his own, as a member of an office management team, and as a mentor to junior staff, is required.

Proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely in both speech and writing.

Strong quantitative and analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to obtain, analyze, organize and interpret data and present findings in both oral and written form. Strong skills in interpretation of targeted evaluation and operational research data and advanced numerical skills for data analysis are required. Strong computer (to include the ability to produce concise, clear reports, and utilize word processing, spreadsheet and database programs), verbal (to include the ability to facilitate meetings and make oral presentations logically and persuasively to senior officials and partners in a multi-cultural context), and writing skills are also required. The incumbent must possess strong technical and management skills, complemented by outstanding cross-cultural communication and interpersonal skills to be successful.

5. LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY (10 points)

Must be fluent in English (S-4/R-4) and must have basic working proficiency in a romance language, preferably Portuguese.

Maximum Points: 100 Points

Per this scoring, prior work experience and skills and abilities are the most important factors, followed by knowledge.

Applications will initially be screened for conformity with minimum requirements and a short list of applicants will be developed for further consideration.

USAID reserves the right to interview only the highest ranked applicants in person or by phone OR not to interview any candidate.

After the closing date for receipt of applications, a selection committee will be convened to review applications and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria.

Applications from candidates which do not meet the required selection criteria will not be scored. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. The interview process will include both a structured interview as well as a work sample test. No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.

Professional references will be conducted for the top ranked candidate and will be utilized to supplement the selection committee’s recommendation to the Contracting

Officer to offer the position to the top ranked candidate.

The selection committee will conduct interviews with all offerors in the competitive range and provide the final rating and ranking of the offerors based on professional references, academic credentials and interview performance.

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, and submitted to mzrecruiter1@usaid.gov. Please note that attachments to e-mail applications in zip format cannot be received to this mailbox. Please make sure that you do not send any attachments in zip format.

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

4. Offerors are required to submit a signed and dated Cover letter with current résumé/curriculum vitae (CV), specifically addressing how the offeror meets the selection criteria stated above.

5. Offerors must provide a minimum of three (3) references who are not family members or relatives. References should be from direct supervisors to professional mentors or peers, who can provide information regarding the offeror’s job knowledge and professional work experience. Offerors must provide e-mail addresses and/or working telephone numbers for all references.

USAID will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews.

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) http://www.usaid.gov/forms mailto:mzrecruiter1@usaid.gov

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

3. Fingerprint 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:

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:

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.

(If Applicable): As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, an offshore USPSC is normally authorized the following allowances:

a. Post Differential (Section 500)

b. Post Allowance (COLA) (Section 220)

c. Payments During Evacuation (Section 600)

d. Education Allowance (Section 270)

e. Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

f. Educational Travel (Section 280)

3. Other Benefits: Additional benefits are available for individuals hired from outside

Maputo in accordance with the AIDAR, Federal Travel Regulations and Standardized

Regulations, e.g., international airfare from place of residence, international shipment of personal effects, unaccompanied baggage allowance, POV Shipment, Repatriation

Travel, furnished housing and educational allowances for dependent children.

VII. TAXES

https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101

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.

LINE ITEMS

ITEM

NO

(A)

SUPPLIES/SERVICES

(DESCRIP

TION) (B)

QUANTIT

Y

(C)

UNIT

(D)

UNIT

PRIC

E (E)

AMOUNT

(F)

0001 Base Period - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other

Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: PSC

- Product Service Code: R497

- Accounting Info: -

1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD at

Award after negotiations with

Contractor_

1001 Option Period 1 –

Compensation, Fringe

Benefits and Other Direct

Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: PSC

- Product Service Code: R497

- Accounting Info: -

1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD at

Award after negotiations with

Contractor_

2001 Option Period 2 –

Compensation, Fringe

Benefits and Other Direct

Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: [e.g.

R497]

- Accounting Info: -

1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD at

Award after negotiations with

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

3001 Option Period 3 –

Compensation, Fringe

Benefits and Other Direct

Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: PSC

- Product Service Code: R497

- Accounting Info: -

1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD at

Award after negotiations with

Contractor_

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.

[END OF SOLICITATION]

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