SOL 72067421R00030 - Senior Regional Health Advisor.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72067421R00030

ISSUANCE DATE: August 4, 2021

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: September 3, 2021 –

17:00 – Local Time, Pretoria, South Africa

SUBJECT: Solicitation for US Personal Service Contractor (USPSC)

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 72067421R00030

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72067421R00030

2. ISSUANCE DATE: August 4, 2021

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

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Alicia Veldman

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Regional Health Advisor

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 November 2021

“The base period will be two years, estimated to start on November 2021. 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: November 2021 to November 2023

Option Period 1: November 2023 to November 2025

Option Period 2: November 2025 to November 2026

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Pretoria, South Africa with possible travel as stated in the

Statement of Duties.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: United States (U.S.) Citizens

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Employment Authorization - Facility Access

II. SCOPE OF WORK

Introduction:

USAID’s Regional Health Office (RHO) seeks to recruit a Senior Regional Health Advisor to be based at

USAID/Southern Africa, Pretoria, South Africa. RHO’s foremost objective is to provide quality technical assistance to Missions that have PEPFAR programs in the southern Africa region, and as staff is available and when requested, beyond the region. RHO also provides management oversight, technical advice, programmatic and administrative support to the USAID non-presence Kingdoms of Eswatini and Lesotho

(NPCs), and essential management services (EMS) as requested to Angola, Botswana, and Namibia, also categorized as limited presence countries (LPCs). To this end, RHO has a cadre of high caliber Technical

Advisors in the areas of Care and Treatment, OVC and Youth Prevention, Digital Health and Strategic

Information (SI).

The advent of COVID-19 and the speed with which funding became available to USAID Missions in the region, has underscored the need for swift and timely coordination response from the USAID/SA regional

Mission to the Operating Units (OUs) it supports in the southern Africa region and beyond. In light of anticipated additional COVID-19 resources across the region, RHO seeks to expand its technical and management capacity to ensure responsiveness to NPC and LPC needs to sustain the gains made in achieving HIV epidemic control, while also enhancing focus on building decentralized, integrated client-centered, multi-disease control, prevention, and treatment services

Background:

The emergence of COVID-19 placed a strain on the current USAID staff complement working on

PEPFAR across the region. The speed with which additional COVID funding became available in the region to strengthen pandemic readiness and the parallel need for effective program adaptations and innovations to ensure a resilient HIV response, meant staff working on PEPFAR had to divide attention between two urgent priority areas, and absorb additional management burden with the same staffing footprint. In the past year, RHO assisted with the obligation of COVID-19 funding and tracked the implementation of COVID-19 mitigation measures in the context of HIV/AIDS and broader health systems strengthening programs, which extended RHO’s coordination and oversight role beyond

HIV/AIDS interventions. Moreover, this is an opportune time for USAID to leverage PEPFAR-supported health systems and program infrastructure to strengthen the COVID-19 response across the region

The global COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions to health service delivery everywhere, and the need for USAID to provide continued, safe access to lifesaving HIV services is paramount in this context.

COVID-19 has reinforced the need for integrated, client-centered primary health care platforms where people can access all basic health services they need: vaccines, prenatal care and treatment for common yet life-threatening illnesses like HIV, as well as TB and malaria. As countries across the Southern Africa region begin to reach and achieve HIV epidemic control, USAID needs to leverage whole of agency assets to ensure health systems in the region can effectively support multi-disease control, prevention, and treatment services to sustain the gains made within the PEPFAR response in a cost effective and sustainable manner.

Basic Functions of the position:

The Senior Health Advisor is expected to expand the USAID regional Mission’s capacity to respond to present and emerging health threats in the region. A key role of the Senior Regional Health Advisor is to proactively engage with all the countries and anticipate emerging needs to ensure that the response of the regional Mission and RHO is timely, relevant, and effective. This includes surge support and longer term coverage for country staff, as needed. Furthermore, the Senior Health Advisor is expected to strategically engage with regional Operating Units (OUs) to assist with program planning, inter-agency and external engagement, and be available when called upon by the Front Offices of the USAID/SA Mission and the

Office of HIV/AIDS (OHA) to provide interventions as necessary. To this end the Senior Health Advisor is expected to carry out the major duties and responsibilities listed below.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Technical and Strategic Leadership (60%)

• Protect USAID investments in reaching, achieving and sustaining HIV/AIDS epidemic control and find ways to harness efficiencies and promote the performance and sustainability of

PEPFAR programs. Effectively institutionalize and implement the USAID GH/OHA HIV

Optimization Plan elements within country strategies across the region, depending on their proximity to epidemic control.

• Strengthen data-driven analyses across USAID OUs in the region to ensure that at this stage of the PEPFAR response, funding allocations are based on how the epidemic is unfolding in each country to inform the right balance among HIV prevention, treatment, and care.

• Provide technical and thought leadership across the regional portfolio in designing evidence-based, sustainable approaches to shift away from siloed, individual health systems functions to a broadened, more comprehensive approach that recognizes the interconnected nature of health systems.

• Lead the region in the pursuit of a strategic and multi-sectoral approach that builds health systems capable of responding to multiple health challenges and disease burdens. The COVID-

19 Pandemic has underscored that activities designed to strengthen individual health system functions are both less effective and less sustainable as they focus too narrowly on improving the functions of siloed areas within an interconnected health system. Failure to pursue a strategic, multi-sectoral path could lead to pandemic resurgence and make response infrastructure more costly over time.

• Ensure the documentation and sharing of best practices and perform a strong knowledge management role in ensuring best practices across the region are implemented in an appropriately contextualized and timely manner, as relevant.

2. Program / Project Management (40%)

• Provide technical support to RHO and USAID field mission offices for a range of USAID processes for project procurement activities including scoping activities, drafting RFAs, participating in TEC panel reviews, and providing budget and cost estimates for program planning purposes. Once awarded, assist USAID Missions with partner oversight and management and assist with site visits and performance monitoring.

• As required by circumstances at RHO or in one of USAID’s non-presence countries – Eswatini and Lesotho, the incumbent may serve as COR/AOR or Activity Manager and therefore, will be expected to take and keep up-to-date with all certification requirements to become and remain a COR/AOR. When required to be COR/AOR, the incumbent will be issued with a

COR/AOR designation letter by the Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance (ROAA) that details all the expected responsibilities. Apart from any assigned COR/AOR duties, the incumbent is expected to be familiar with basic principles of program/project management, and the USAID program cycle to be able to assist with program design, implementation and the achievement of results in the course of providing technical assistance.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the RHO Office Director, and the OHA From Office as necessary.

III. MINIMUM 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, written test 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: Masters in Public Health (MPH) and/or equivalent qualifications in Health

Management, Policy, and Administration.

B. Work Experience:

- Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience working for international organizations, at least 5 of which were spent in a developing country context supporting development or health programs is required.

- Demonstrated, strong technical experience working on strategic planning, program planning and budgeting is required. Experience with USAID program management and design, particularly with PEPFAR programs, is highly desirable.

- Deep familiarity with PEPFAR reporting cycles and program analytics.

C. Language: Level IV English ability (fluent) is required. The incumbent must possess a high degree of proficiency in both written and spoken English.

D. Specific Skills:

- Proven ability to review and interpret routine HIV and other public health data to assess partner performance, identify programmatic issues, and define follow-up actions for AOR/Activity

Managers to help improve USAID’s data quality and program implementation.

- Demonstrated interpersonal, oral and written communication skills including computer skills.

- Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and proactively build consensus.

- Demonstrated ability to deal effectively and diplomatically with multiple U.S. government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and multilateral organizations.

- Proven ability to interpret and coordinate implementation of complex and evolving policy and programmatic guidance in a developing country context.

E. Other:

- U.S. Citizen.

- Ability to obtain US Government security and medical clearances (or meet facility access requirements) in accordance with USAID hiring policy is required.

- The ability to travel regularly (60%) across the southern Africa region.

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.

Applicants meeting the required minimum qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and obtained through reference checks. USAID reserves the right to conduct interviews with the most highly ranked applicants and make the interview a deciding factor in selection.

Education: (Required, will not be evaluated)

Candidates will be evaluated based on his/her ability to demonstrate educational experience, as noted above.

Work Experience: 30 points

- Candidates will be evaluated based on his/her ability to demonstrate relevance and depth of professional experience, as noted in the Required Work Experience section above.

- Demonstrated experience in providing technical support and capacity building for host-country governments (national and local level) on strategic information.

Technical Knowledge: 35 points

- Must have knowledge of principles and frameworks for health systems strengthening and a demonstrated understanding of the global policy environment, and donor investment alignment efforts.

- Must have a sound knowledge of the main technical and substantive issues related to program/project development and international development, preferably related to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment in the facility and at community level in sub-Saharan Africa.

- A good understanding of developing countries social, cultural, and political contexts, preferably in

Africa.

- Demonstrated competency in representing USAID equities and interests in inter-agency forums

- Familiarity with USAID programs, policies and regulations is highly desirable.

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

Abilities and Skills: 35 points

- Demonstrated ability to develop high level talking points for senior USAID officials to advance

USAID equities and interests in sustaining HIV epidemic control.

- Excellent interpersonal skills, tact and diplomacy are required to establish and maintain a wide range of senior-level and working-level contacts with HIV/AIDS programs in governmental, non-governmental, and private-sector circles.

- Ability to work effectively within culturally diverse teams and interagency environments, and to supervise and mentor others.

- Strong management and analytical skills are required to strategize, develop, and implement effective

USAID-supported HIV/AIDS programs.

- Strong financial management and administrative skills are necessary to track the performance of implementing partners and adherence to USAID regulations.

- Ability to interpret regulatory directives and related guidance.

- Ability to organize and present information and to draft clear, concise, and well-written documents.

- Excellent written and spoken English language communications skills.

V. POSITION ELEMENTS

a) Supervisory Controls: Work will be performed under the supervision of the RHO Office Director or his designee. Performance is evaluated annually based on performance and accomplishments.

b) Supervision Exercised: The incumbent is expected to provide technical direction and mentorship to staff at RHO, in the limited presence countries of Eswatini and Lesotho, and in other countries in the region, as requested. The incumbent may, at the discretion of the RHO Office Director, supervise a Foreign Service National (FSN), providing overall supervision, policy guidance and coordinating the work of this employee to achieve program objectives.

c) 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 the region. As a recognized expert and highly qualified professional, substantial reliance will be placed on the incumbent to independently plan, prioritize, and carry out the specific activities entailed in fulfilling 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 and making independent judgments that can be defended as necessary.

d) Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The incumbent will maintain contacts and work with all the 10 USAID/USG Mission that RHO supports in the region, with considerable interaction with

USAID/Washington Global Health and Africa Bureau staff, OGAC and others to obtain information relative to programs and activities. The incumbent will also play a leadership role in establishing and maintaining senior professional contacts with development partners, including UN agencies, regional NGOs, and multilateral aid organizations.

e) Knowledge level required: The Senior Regional Health Advisor is required to be a subject matter expert on PEPFAR and HIV/AIDS in the southern Africa region. The incumbent is also required to have experience in designing integrated health programming approaches, decentralizing

HIV/AIDS services into primary health care platforms, and strong command of PEPFAR program requirements across the prevention to care and treatment continuum.

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.

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)

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

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