SOL 72067322R00001 Senior Techinical Advisor for SI.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72067322R00001

ISSUANCE DATE: November 4, 2021

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: December 3, 2021

– 17:00 – Local Time, Pretoria, South Africa

SUBJECT: Solicitation for US/TCN Personal Service Contractor (US/TCNPSC)

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, Shelby Hunt

Contracting Officer

ATTACHMENT 1 72067322R00001

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72067322R00001

2. ISSUANCE DATE: November 4, 2021

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: December 3, 2021

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Alicia Veldman

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Technical Advisor for Strategic Information

6. MARKET VALUE: $110,460 - $143,598; equivalent to GS- 15

Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five years estimated to start on March 2022

“The base period will be two years, estimated to start on March 2022. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise (an) additional option period(s) for three years for the date(s) estimated as follows:”

Base Period: March 2022 to March 2024

Option Period 1: March 2024 to March 2026

Option Period 2: March 2026 to March 2027

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Windhoek, Namibia with possible travel as stated in the

Statement of Duties.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: United States (U.S.) Citizens and Third Country Nationals (TCN)

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Employment Authorization - Facility Access

II. SCOPE OF WORK

Introduction:

USAID/Namibia is heavily engaged in planning and implementing four technical areas: HIV Prevention for young people ages 0 to 24 years and Key Populations, care and support for young people living with

HIV, Strategic Information, and Health Systems Strengthening and Sustainability. In FY 2021, the value of the USAID HIV/AIDS and Health Office’s portfolio was approximately $38 million. The HIV/AIDS program is complex and integrated, requiring a delicate balance between the urgent need to redress the inequities of the past, the budgetary and implementation constraints of the present, and the magnitude and severity of the HIV/AIDS epidemic with 11.2% adult prevalence and nearly 9,000 children 0 to 14 years of age living with HIV.

The Health Office has grown rapidly from 10 staff in 2015 to 25 staff in 2021; the Office collaborates closely with other United States Government (USG) agencies to implement the President’s Emergency

Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), especially the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Health Office staff are active participants in PEPFAR policy and program design, and often chair interagency groups on a range of health-related issues. PEPFAR Namibia is oriented toward strategic partnership with all levels of the Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN), with an emphasis on epidemic control, health systems strengthening, and cost efficiencies for a sustainable HIV response. The

Government of Namibia is the custodian of the national HIV response and PEPFAR is the key partner in the goal of an AIDS-free generation.

Enhancing the availability, quality, and use of Strategic Information (SI) for both PEPFAR/Namibia and the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator are fundamental to achieving success in these areas and the SI

Advisor plays a critical, cross-cutting role that affects not only the direction and progress of not only

USAID in Namibia, but the PEPFAR program. In a post-epidemic Namibia, there is an increased role for

SI engagement in GRN sustainable data systems that track progress in sustaining the gains.

Position Overview:

The position of the Senior Strategic Information (SI) Advisor in located in the Health Office at

USAID/Namibia in Windhoek and serves as the senior expert technical advisor on overall Strategic

Information and Monitoring and Evaluation components of USAID/Namibia’s HIV/AIDS and related health portfolios.

The Senior SI Advisor will provide technical assistance to Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN) officials and collaborating partners in the development, coordination and evaluation of health management information systems that encompass a variety of data components beyond epidemiology and service utilization statistics. The incumbent will provide leadership on the harmonization and alignment of

USAID’s project-supported information system/databases with GRN's health information systems.

The incumbent will provide leadership, oversight, technical assistance, guidance, and direct supervision, to members of the SI and M&E sections of the USAID/Health Office.

S/he may serve as Agreement Officer Representative/Contracting Officer Representative (AOR/COR) or activity manager for select contractor and grantee partners and is actively involved in the planning, design, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of those awards. The Advisor plays a critical role in strategic information program coordination, analysis of progress and project design for inclusion in the annual

Country Operational Plan (COP), Integrated Country Strategy, Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) and other reporting documents such as COVID-19 support to GRN through implementing partners.

The Senior SI Advisor maintains highly collaborative interagency relationships, and ensures that data generated by program monitoring and other strategic information systems are of high quality and analyzed to be used for program improvement, program planning, policy development, advocacy, and program evaluation. The incumbent plays a leadership role within the PEPFAR technical work groups, playing a key role in the development of annual and long-term strategic information strategies. The incumbent represents USAID within multiple GRN and donor technical working groups, and maintains collaborative working relationships with mid-to-senior level government officials in the GRN, donors, USG agencies and non-governmental organizations. Additionally, the Senior SI Advisor will oversee all SI related submissions for the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator. These include overseeing the Site

Improvement through Monitoring Systems (SIMS) activities, Annual and Semiannual Program Results submissions via OGAC systems, and others as needed. This requires sound judgment, diplomacy and tact in negotiating and working closely with the GRN and other stakeholders, and in the provision of ongoing guidance to implementing partners on health strategic directions and activities.

Finally, the Senior SI Advisor spends a significant amount of his/her time ensuring skills transfer and mentoring of USAID, Implementing Partner and GRN staff on effective M&E, surveillance, health informatics and data use methodologies and strengthening Namibia’s overall strategic information system.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Advisor plays a leadership role in USAID/Namibia’s Health Office as the senior most technical expert in all aspects of strategic information, monitoring and evaluating, and surveillance for the “whole of government” PEPFAR program. The Advisor will work in close coordination with all HIV/AIDS team members, other Mission staff including the program office, key USG agencies and other stakeholders and be responsible for, or provide support to, a variety of institutional components in the area of strategic information.

Technical Expert in Strategic Information:

▪ Develops quarterly results reporting systems among PEPFAR implementing partners for efficient program monitoring that facilitates data use and alignment with SAG reporting and monitoring systems.

▪ Revises Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) M&E framework(s), guidance, and indicators with specific application to PEPFAR/Namibia.

▪ Reviews, analyzes and disseminates results from the quarterly, semi-annual and annual PEPFAR reports for the primary objective of enabling evidence-based management among Activity

Managers, as well as preparation for and conduct of quarterly OGAC reviews conducted during the

PEPFAR Oversight and Accountability Results Team (POART) process.

▪ Develops systems for evaluating costs and efficiencies for components of PEPFAR implementation across geographical units in Namibia.

▪ Promotes information exchange with partners, regional institutions and networks regarding effective M&E, including practical applications.

▪ Prepares and presents at various venues and to a variety of audiences in order to communicate

M&E guidance, best-practice models, innovations, revisions to the results reporting systems, or analyses of results. Designs, coordinates and/or delivers cohesive training and capacity building for

USAID Mission, the broader USG and host country stakeholders that transfers and enhances capacity to design, introduce and implement appropriate M&E systems.

▪ Analyzes, synthesizes and disseminates methodologies, lessons learned and best practices on monitoring and evaluation, including M&E in resource constrained settings.

▪ Provides technical guidance to PEPFAR partners in the assessment, development, implementation, and evaluation of HIV/AIDS data quality initiatives.

▪ Strengthens the M&E capacity of Namibian NGOs and other organizations.

▪ Provides oversight, coordination, monitoring and analysis of the required Site Improvement through Monitoring System (SIMS).

▪ Provides oversight, coordination, and inputs to the targets and other M&E elements in the annual

Country Operational Plan (COP) process.

▪ Represents PEPFAR as chair or co-chair of the interagency technical working group on

SI/Reporting.

Technical Leadership and Management for USAID/Namibia:

▪ Provides monitoring and evaluation of overall implementing partner performance against established benchmarks and targets.

▪ Assists USAID Health Office Activity Managers in establishing program-level targets.

▪ Assists in preparation actions for funding and in M&E work plans.

▪ Analyzes program-level results across a range of dimensions and variables for the USAID Health

Office and other relevant stakeholders.

▪ Provides technical leadership in the development and finalization of a Performance Monitoring

Plan (PMP) for the USAID/Southern Africa Health Office.

▪ Provides weekly updates on M&E progress to USAID leadership.

Supervision and Team Management:

▪ Supervises SI team, including the Epidemiologist/Data Analyst, Supervisory Regional Advisor and

Program Management Assistant.

▪ Provides vision and leadership to the Health Office, assuring linkages and coordination among

USAID and USG interagency-supported activities in HIV prevention, treatment and care.

▪ Mentors staff to support professional development, including strengthening strategic information, technical expertise, and leadership skills.

▪ Oversees and coordinates the visits of short-term advisors, evaluators or other in-country visitors associated with assigned HIV/AIDS activities. Ensure that goals and outcomes of the visits are consistent with Namibian and PEPFAR requirements.

Other Duties:

▪ Provides technical advice and serves as an outside resource to organizations involved in implementing PEPFAR, including the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, USAID

Headquarters and the Namibian Government.

▪ Establishes and maintains contact with counterparts in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, National Planning Commission, and its various

HIV/AIDS-related programs, UN Agencies, other bilateral donor partners and implementing partners working in HIV/AIDS.

▪ Provides assistance, in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy and/or USAID Public Affairs Officers, and contributes to the development of press releases, interviews, talking points or other material in preparation for, or as part of, Congressional Delegations, technical working group reviews or similar such visits in the development of site sheets and fact sheets for visitors.

▪ Prepares correspondence and cables relating to implementation, management, and evaluation of

HIV/AIDS activities.

▪ Provide strategic information support to COVID-19 and Global Health Security Agenda related activities.

▪ Performs other duties as assigned or required.

III. QUALIFICATIONS:

In order to be considered for this position, a candidate must meet the Required Minimum Qualifications listed below. Consideration and selection will be based on panel evaluation of Required Minimum

Qualifications, Desired Qualifications and Evaluation Factors. Additionally, interviews and writing samples may be requested. Applicants are encouraged to write a brief appendix to a resume, OF-612 to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training addresses the Minimum Qualifications and Evaluation

Factors listed below:

Required Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

A. Education: A completed Master’s degree in an appropriate social science or public health discipline in which quantitative analysis and measurement for public health outcomes are emphasized.

B. Work Experience: 10 years of experience in international, public health monitoring and evaluation with field-based applications, and experience working in technical oversight, design, monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS programs in developing countries.

C. Language: Level IV (fluent) ability in written and spoken English. Must possess strong verbal and written communication skills including a demonstrated ability to write technical documents.

IV. 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 factors are listed in descending order of importance and 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.

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

A. Work Experience (50 points):

1. A minimum of 10 years’ overseas experience in providing similar services to a large USG or international organization.

2. Additional years of progressively greater responsibility and authority as demonstrated through previous work experience beyond the minimum of ten years’ overseas experience.

3. Experience in leading teams and supervising other technical staff.

4. Demonstrated experience working with USAID or equivalent procurement, financial, and other systems.

B. Knowledge, Abilities and Skills (50 points):

1. Demonstrated excellent, interpersonal, oral and written communication and computer skills.

2. Experience providing monitoring and evaluation technical assistance to large, complex public health programs in contexts of high disease burden.

3. Specialized knowledge and demonstrated expertise in the demography and epidemiology of HIV and AIDS. COVID-19 and Global Health Security Agenda related knowledge and skills is an added value.

4. Specialized knowledge and demonstrated expertise in understanding the current evidence base as it applies to HIV and AIDS program design, management, and evaluation.

5. Strong familiarity with HIV and AIDS modeling of incidence and prevalence and the ability to interpret modeling results in a meaningful way to a layperson-audience.

6. Strong quantitative, analytical and reasoning skills, verbal skills and ability to communicate technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical colleagues.

7. Excellent management, interpersonal and teamwork skills with experience in operating effectively in a cross-cultural environment and working within an interagency setting.

8. A thorough working knowledge of U.S. Government operations, rules, regulations, procedures, policies and programs and previous relevant working experience with the USG, particularly USAID and OGAC.

9. Strong quantitative, analytical and reasoning skills, verbal skills and the ability to communicate technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical colleagues.

10. Demonstrated ability to work within a team framework and positive interpersonal skills as well as an ability to work independently with minimal supervision is required. Cultural sensitivity, previous management, supervisory and staff development skills are required.

11. A high degree of judgment, maturity, ingenuity, and originality to interpret technical and political opportunities and constraints.

12. Ability in dealing effectively and diplomatically with multiple U.S. and host-country government agencies, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, and the private sector.

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.

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.

V. POSITION ELEMENTS

a) Position Title of Direct Supervisor/Supervision Received: The incumbent will report to the

Health Office Director.

b) Supervisory Controls: S/He is expected to work independently in carrying out responsibilities and is expected to develop annual work objectives.

c) Exercise of Judgment: A high degree of independent judgment and initiative is expected. The incumbent receives minimal day-to-day supervision, and general technical direction. The incumbent is expected to carry out all duties in an independent manner, calling on the supervisor for policy and decision-making matters.

d) Authority to make Commitments: The incumbent has full authority and responsibility as delegated by ADS, other Mission, and USAID guidelines for AORs/CORs.

e) Nature, Level and Purpose of Contacts: The incumbent has routine and frequent contact with senior officials of the Government of the Republic of Namibia, at the regional and national levels, other members of the Mission Health Office, personnel at the U.S. Embassy, USAID/Namibia, USAID/Washington and other USG agencies such as the CDC, partnering organizations, institutional contractors and consultants.

f) Supervision Exercised: Supervises SI team, including the Epidemiologist/Data Analyst, Supervisory Regional Advisor and Program Management Assistant.

g) Available Guidelines: Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR); AID Acquisitions Regulations

(AIDAR; AID Automated Directives System (ADS Series); Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs);

Office of Procurement Acquisition Memorandum (OPAMS); U.S. Department of State

Standardized Regulations; Federal Travel Regulations; Office of Management and Budget (OMB);

Circulars and Controller General Decisions, USAID Mission Orders, Project Papers, Mission

Strategy, and other documents available, USAID policies and procedures, Technical Documents and Policy Papers.

h) Complexity: Given the duties and responsibilities of the position, there is a heavy emphasis on interagency collaboration, review, analysis and strategy. It is essential for the incumbent to demonstrate strong technical and management skills, complemented by outstanding communication and interpersonal skills. This position will finalize many different tasks and processes, and the incumbent will be involved in activities requiring advanced interpretation and evaluation of data.

i) Work Environment: The position will require working with health team members, visits to ministries and other donors to collect, validate and report on program level data. There will be an occasional project site visit, but not extensive travel.

VI. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

• 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.

• An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) or resume: Your CV/resume must contain sufficient relevant information to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria.

Broad general statements that are vague or lacking specificity will not be considered as effectively addressing selection criteria. Applicants are encouraged to write a brief appendix to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training addresses the minimum qualifications and evaluation criteria set forth in the solicitation.

• References: Three (3) references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about your past performance and abilities. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation of the application.

• Security Clearance: Prior to signing a contract, the selected individual will be required to obtain an “employment authorization” if a US Citizen or US Green Card Holder. This temporary security clearance will be requested while a personal background investigation is conducted. Instructions for obtaining the security clearance will be forwarded to the selected individual once negotiations have been concluded.

• Submissions shall be in accordance with the above information at the place and time specified. In order to be considered for the position a candidate must meet the minimum qualifications listed in the solicitation. Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the applications vis-a-vis the required qualifications. Applicants should note that the salary history for the purposes of the AID309-2 is the base salary paid, excluding benefits and allowances such as housing, travel, educational support, vehicle use, etc. Applicants are reminded and required to sign the certification at the end of the AID309-2.

• Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified and submitted to the job applications mailbox.

• To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.

• Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors - The Offeror will be required to show proof that the Offeror is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on or before the first date of onboarding, or submit an approved reasonable accommodation to the CO. If the contractor does not meet this requirement the contract may be terminated.

Methods of application submissions:

For applicants to be considered for this position the following guidelines will be adhered to and forms completed, signed and submitted to jobapplications@usaid.gov, to allow the evaluation committee to thoroughly and objectively review your application vis-a-vis the requirements of the position.

If sent via email:

Alicia Veldman

HR Assistant

Telephone: +27 12 452 2088

E-mail address: jobapplications@usaid.gov http://www.usaid.gov/forms mailto:jobapplications@usaid.gov

VII. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit the forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award. Forms outlined below can be found at http://www.usaid.gov/forms:

• AID 309-2

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

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

• Finger Print Card (FD-258). **

** Forms 2 through 4 shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.

VIII. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

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

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

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) Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 210)

(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)

If a TCN is selected for this position the benefits will be adjusted as per Mission policy.

IX. TAXES

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

http://www.usaid.gov/forms http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=231&menu_id=92 http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=231&menu_id=92 http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=231&menu_id=92 https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101

A TCN will be eligible to pay taxes as specified by their respective country.

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

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

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.

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)

QUANTITY

(C)

UNIT

(D)

UNIT

PRICE (E)

AMOUNT (F)

0001 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_

1001 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 negotiations with

Contractor_

2001 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 negotiations with

Contractor_

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.

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***

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