SOL 72067423R00008_Senior Clinical Services and Integration Advisor_Final - CO Signed.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72067423R00008

ISSUANCE DATE: February 27, 2023

CLOSING DATE/TIME: March 27, 2023 (17:00) Local

Time, Pretoria, South Africa)

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) and Third Country National Personal Service Contractor (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.

USAID will evaluate all offerors based on the stated evaluation criteria. USAID encourages all individuals, including those from disadvantaged and under-represented groups, to respond to the solicitation.

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 1.

Sincerely, Ifeoma Ezeh Contracting Officer

ATTACHMENT 1 72067423R00008

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72067423R00008

2. ISSUANCE DATE: February 27, 2023

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME: March 27, 2023

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Engeline Sebego email at esebego@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Clinical Services and Integration Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: $ 99,908- $ 129,878 equivalent to GS-14

Final compensation will be negotiated within the above value and will include Locality Pay for domestic USPSCs based on the location of the Official USAID Worksite, or the approved alternative worksite if approved for remote work. USPSCs performing overseas are not entitled to Locality Pay.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Maseru, Lesotho

Overseas USPSCs [and TCNPSCs not subject to the local compensation plan] may be authorized telework or remote work only from a location within the country of performance, in accordance with Mission policy. Telework or remote work from outside the country of performance may only be authorized in certain situations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.

8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The base period will be two years, estimated to start in June 2023. 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: June 2023 to June 2025

Option Period 1: June 2025 to June 2026

Option Period 2: June 2026 to June 2027

Option Period 3: June 2027 to June 2028

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: United States (U.S.) Citizens and Third Country Nationals (TCN) (if an applicant qualifies as a Resident Hire, they will be treated as such).

o U.S. CITIZEN: 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.

o THIRD COUNTRY NATIONAL: Third Country National (TCN) means an individual (i) Who is neither a citizen nor a permanent legal resident alien of the United States nor of the country to which assigned for duty, and (ii) Who is eligible for return to his/her home country or country of recruitment at U.S. Government expense o RESIDENT HIRE: Resident hire means a U.S. citizen who, at the time of hire as a PSC, resides in the cooperating country as a spouse or dependent of a U.S. citizen employed by a U.S. government agency or under any U.S. government-financed contract or agreement, or for reasons other than for employment with a U.S.

government agency or under any U.S. government-financed contract or agreement. A U.S. citizen for purposes of this definition also includes persons who at the time of contracting are lawfully admitted permanent residents of the United States.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facility Access

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

“If a third country national (TCN) is selected for the award, during the period of this contract, the TCN personal services contractor must provide at least 85 hours per annum of training to a cooperating country national (CCN) designated by USAID. The PSC 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.

A. BACKGROUND:

Lesotho is a landlocked kingdom encircled by South Africa. Lesotho has a population of approximately 2.1 million people with over 30 percent of people under 15 years of age. Largely mountainous and covering an area of 30,350 km2, 23 percent of the population lives in urban areas clustered along the flatter north-western borders, while the remaining 77 percent live in rural and difficult to access areas. Lesotho is ranked 164/189 on the Human Development Index (HDI) with the majority dependent on subsistence agriculture. Economic growth has been sluggish in recent years and has worsened with COVID-19. Unemployment, especially youth unemployment, is prevalent and poverty is a key challenge impacting access to health services.

With USG support under the PEPFAR response, Lesotho has achieved great success in achieving HIV epidemic control, achieving the 90-90-90 UNAIDS HIV Treatment Goals across most age cohorts. Lesotho continues to make progress towards the 95-95-95 UNAIDS HIV Treatment Goals.

The USAID/Lesotho country office implements a comprehensive HIV/AIDS portfolio across the Adult and Pediatric prevention and treatment cascade, including DREAMS, Gender-Based Violence programming, and Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) programs. PEPFAR investments have built and strengthened health system functions in Lesotho, however gains in key HIV and TB outcomes have not extended broadly to essential Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) services, or to addressing broader social determinants of health. In collaboration with the Government of Lesotho, USAID aims to increase access to an integrated package of essential health services using a primary health care (PHC) approach and strengthening the capacity of institutions to provide services in a sustainable manner.

COVID-19 impacted Lesotho’s ability to continue to deliver essential health services, exposing weaknesses in Lesotho’s overall health system resilience. Many essential health services (e.g.

routine childhood immunization) have not fully rebounded after initial disruptions. In addition to Pfizer vaccine donations through CoVAX, USAID has contributed over $21M to the COVID response with a focus on COVID-19 immunization, clinical care and treatment, and oxygen supply and related logistics.

USAID/Lesotho is part of the USAID/ Southern Africa Regional Health Office (RHO), located in Pretoria, South Africa. The position is located in the Maseru, Lesotho office of USAID at the U.S.

Embassy.

B. BASIC FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:

The Senior Clinical Services and Integration Advisor (hereafter referred to as ‘The Advisor’) oversees USAID/Lesotho’s HIV clinical care and treatment services program across all governmental, faith-based, and private service delivery outlets in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Christian Health Association of Lesotho (CHAL). The Advisor will provide technical leadership across the overall clinical services portfolio and serve as the HIV treatment lead for the USAID/Lesotho country office. This includes providing strategic technical direction and guidance to USAID technical programs in all aspects of PEPFAR planning, reporting, and budgeting cycles, such as the Country Operational Plan, semi-annual, and annual progress reporting. The Advisor will be the subject matter expert for all USAID activities related to strengthening and integrating HIV clinical services into primary health care platforms. As such, the Advisor represents USAID in the USG interagency and engages at a senior level with relevant health and development partner stakeholders, including government counterparts and relevant line Ministry leadership, other development partners, and private sector partners to advance the USAID/PEPFAR response and achieve USAID development aims.

C. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Senior Clinical Services and Integration Advisor is a senior member of the USAID/Lesotho team and provides thought leadership and senior technical guidance across USAID/Lesotho country office programming to advance health system resilience and strengthen community health and primary health care platforms. The major duties and responsibilities include:

1. Technical Leadership and Strategic Planning (35%)

● Oversee quality of clinical care across USAID/Lesotho’s portfolio, ensure adherence to standards of care and high-quality clinical service delivery at all levels of the health system.

● Lead strategic interagency discussions and national level technical working groups discussions on the formulation, adoption, and application of policies and technical guidelines, based on state-of-the-art knowledge and global best practices in decentralized, integrated health delivery platforms.

● Collaborate closely with other international and bilateral, multilateral organizations, and donor agencies to ensure effective collaboration and coordination of interventions across the health system, including HIV/AIDS, TB, RMNCAH, and Nutrition programming.

● Provide technical guidance and support to the PEPFAR and USAID Team in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs and interventions across the HIV/AIDS prevention and care and treatment cascade, including integration HIV and primary health care interventions.

● Facilitate the design of program strategies for new development activities and awards.

● Provide technical assistance to all USAID/PEPFAR implementing partners to ensure that their clinical activities are aligned with PEPFAR and MOH priorities ensuring quality of care and integration is mainstreamed into program strategies.

● Support the scale-up and management of USAID activities that ensure preparedness to respond to emerging pandemics.

● Maintain regular and on-going consultations with senior counterparts of ministerial and near ministerial ranks in the Lesotho National and District Departments of Health, Chiefs of Party of major NGOs, directors of health institutions such as universities, and Medical Associations to remain up to date on emerging trends, status of key policies, and legal and regulatory changes that could affect the implementation of USAID programs.

2. Program Management (35%) ●Build administrative, managerial, and programmatic, and technical capacity within the MOH and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and faith-based organizations (FBOs).

● Work collaboratively with other USG partners, including OGAC, CDC, DOD, PC and the National

Institute of Health (NIH), implementing partners, multilateral and bilateral partners, the Global

Fund, civil society, district and sub-district management structures and with Lesotho government counterparts to achieve the goals and objectives of PEPFAR.

● Mentor the PEPFAR Lesotho Team in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of

HIV and AIDS programs interventions and related programming, providing “on-the-job-training” and support for more junior staff.

● Serve as a C/AOR or Activity Manager for designated activities within the USAID portfolio and maintain responsibility for all aspects of project management within assigned portfolio, including overseeing technical implementation of partner activities, allocation of budget against technical objectives, and ensuring quarterly technical and financial reports are submitted to the Mission in a timely manner.

● Meet with USAID implementing partners on a regular basis and conduct regular site visits to review and track activity progress, identify potential issues before they become problems, and keep the PEPFAR team, USAID PEPFAR Program Director, PEPFAR Coordinator and the Mission

Front Office informed on partner performance.

● Advise USAID C/AORs and Activity Managers on establishing program level targets, reviewing IP performance monitoring plans, tracking partner performance against established benchmarks and targets, and reviewing partner evaluation plans and reports to ensure technical soundness.

● Assist IPs to troubleshoot and resolve bottlenecks in implementation and bring any major management or politically sensitive issues to the attention of the Country Director

Coordinate the USAID/PEPFAR facility and community quality assurance/quality improvement

(QA/QI) initiative – Site Improvement through Site Monitoring (SIMS) for clinical care and treatment activities.

● Review all acquisition and assistance requirements of contractors and/or development partners, including obligations, accruals, expenditures, pipeline, and mortgages, ensuring that appropriate levels of funding are available, and informing the USAID PEPFAR Program Director and PEPFAR Management of issues and making recommendations to resolve those issues as they arise or are forecast.

● Prepare timely and accurate documents for Mission reporting, administration and planning needs, including the Operational Plan, Country Operational Plan, Congressional Budget

Justifications, Technical Notifications, and Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports and Portfolio

Implementation Reviews.

● Liaise with OGAC, and other offices of the USAID Southern Africa Regional Mission, USAID HQ and Embassy Maseru, and with counterparts, as necessary, and ensure responsiveness to requests for technical and program implementation to ensure the success of the USAID health program.

● Lead the development of other pandemic preparedness and response activities, and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders in this space including the Disaster

Management Authority, Ministry of Health, District and sub-district levels to strengthen quality surveillance, clinical care, and prevention programming.

● Facilitate implementation of integrated programming, where feasible, to leverage PEPFAR platforms for enhanced HIV/AIDS and health outcomes.

3. Representational and Reporting (20%) ●Represent USAID in the Treatment, and Care and Support TWG and facilitate linkages and evidence-based strategies across the Prevention and Cross-Cutting TWG’s, as relevant, in line with WHO normative guidance.

●Represent USAID and/or PEPFAR in national, regional, and international meetings that relate to HIV, AIDS, TB, and Clinical Services Integration.

●Provide strategic leadership and advice to Global Fund for AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) processes related to clinical services and HIV treatment activities in Lesotho and to ensure alignment with PEPFAR investments.

● Advance clinical service strategies and program pivots in the COP, lead reporting on partner implementation of those strategies within semi-annual and annual reports, congressional presentations, portfolio reviews, performance monitoring plans, PEPFAR Oversight and Accountability Response Team (POART) presentations and other key documents.

● Solicit inputs from other USG team members and implementing partners in documentation of USAID and PEPFAR activities and facilitate timely submission to OGAC, RHO and USAID/ W bureaus and offices, with adequate time for review and clearance.

Disseminate information on the USAID/Lesotho Country office’s programs to the Government of Lesotho, CHAL, civil society, USAID, CDC, State Department among others in Lesotho.

4. Other Duties (10%)

● Leads USAID/Lesotho responses to Congressional inquiries, supports VIP visits, responds to Washington programmatic requests, and carries out ad-hoc assignments at the discretion of the USAID/Southern Africa Mission Director, Deputy Mission Director, RHO Office Director, and PEPFAR Coordinator.

D. POSITION ELEMENTS

a) Supervisory Controls: The incumbent will report to the USAID PEPFAR Country Director or her/his designee at the USAID/Lesotho Country Office. S/he is expected to work independently in carrying out responsibilities. S/he is expected to develop annual work objectives and a professional development plan in consultation with the supervisor. S/he will supervise the HIV treatment and tuberculosis team as well as the pandemic preparedness and response team, with a current focus on Covid 19.

b) Physical Demands and Work Environment: The incumbent is stationed at the USAID office in Maseru. S/he is expected to conduct site visits as necessary and may be required to travel to international conferences and training.

c) Available Guidelines: PEPFAR Guidance and Directives, 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. The incumbent is required to understand Mission and Agency-specific policies and procedures that govern project activity management in addition to administrative operating procedures, policies and formats established by the Department of State. The incumbent will be required to be proactive in keeping abreast of evolving guidelines and policies which affect PEPFAR programming. Guidance from his/her immediate Supervisor and specific detailed instructions will be given (when necessary) for carrying out unique assignments, however the incumbent will be expected to interpret both USG and international guidelines, and to provide relative programming advice. The incumbent’s supervisor is available for subject matter specific consultation and to provide advice and guidance.

d) 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. In instances not clearly covered by written guidelines, the incumbent will use her/his own personal, well-informed judgment in devising innovative approaches to resolving technical, administrative, managerial and/or policy problems. Excellent (balanced) judgment must be exercised in setting priorities. The use of initiative, discretion and patience is expected from the incumbent in dealing with USG HIV and AIDS Teams and representatives from donor organizations to resolve problems that arise during the course of work for which there is often no clear or immediate solution.

e) Authority to Make Commitments: The incumbent has no authority to make commitments, unless fully designated as A/ COR in writing, in which case s/he will have full authority and responsibility as delegated by ADS, other Mission, and USAID guidelines for A/CORs.

f) Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The incumbent has routine and frequent contact with senior officials of the Government of Lesotho at the national, district and sub-district levels, other members of the USAID/ Southern Africa Mission, personnel at the U.S.

Embassy, USAID/Washington and other USG agencies such as the CDC, partnering organizations, institutional contractors and consultants to: communicate USAID program investments; provide technical input to country and partner plans; ensure coordination and collaboration programmatically and geographically; and to relate information to the country office.

Time required to reach optimal execution of duties: One (1) year.

E. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

a) Education: The minimum educational requirement is a medical degree (MD).

b) Work Experience:

i. Minimum 10 years of progressively increasing work experience in international public health programming and/or programming and experience working in technical oversight, design, and implementation of HIV and AIDS clinical services, PMTCT, RMNCAH and nutrition programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

ii. Specialized knowledge and demonstrated expertise in the area of HIV and AIDS care, support and treatment including palliative care, nutrition and facilitation of linkages to food security programs including water, sanitation and hygiene promotion in sub-Saharan Africa.

iii. Previous work experience in program/project design, implementation, management and/or evaluation of integrated HIV programming in sub-Saharan Africa is required.

iv. Knowledge of clinical and ethical issues involved in HIV and AIDS programming in the Southern Africa region and prior HIV-related work experience in Lesotho.

v. Prior experience with emergency or pandemic preparedness and/or response in an LMIC setting is required.

vi. Previous work experience in supervising and mentoring staff is a prerequisite

vii. Previous work program/project management experience, directly or indirectly, with USAID, PEPFAR, or other USG health programs is an asset.

c) Skills and Abilities:

i. A basic understanding of the organizational structure of USAID and its strategic objectives related to health is strongly preferred.

ii. Ability to deal effectively and diplomatically with multiple U.S. and host-country government agencies, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, and the private sector in sub-Saharan Africa.

iii. High degree of judgment, maturity, ingenuity, and originality to interpret strategy, to analyze, develop and present work and to monitor and evaluate implementation of health programs.

iv. Ability to use independent professional judgment, experience, and skills to plan and carry out assigned programs, projects, or other assignments.

v. Excellent management and teamwork skills with experience in operating effectively in cross-cultural environment and working within an interagency setting in sub-Saharan Africa

vi. Ability to build the capacity of staff and provide mentorship under his/her supervision.

vii. Excellent interpersonal, oral\written communication and computer skills.

viii. Willingness and ability to travel extensively including Temporary Duty (TDY) in emergencies, and to work virtually.

d) Language: i. Level IV (fluent) English writing and speaking ability is required.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

In order to be considered for the position, an applicant must have the following minimum qualifications:

Education: The minimum educational requirement is a medical degree (MD).

Work Experience: Minimum 10 years of progressively increasing work experience in international public health programming and/or programming and experience working in technical oversight, design, and implementation of HIV and AIDS clinical services, PMTCT, RMNCAH and nutrition programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

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 factors, and points for each, 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. The highest-ranking applicants may be selected for an interview, but an interview is not always guaranteed. USAID may conduct reference checks, including references from individuals who have not been specifically identified by the offeror.

Evaluation Factors (100 Points total):

● Work Experience (40%): Demonstrated robust experience in designing, implementing, and monitoring clinical HIV care, treatment, and support programs in sub-Saharan Africa in addition to experience on pandemic preparedness and/or response in a LMIC setting.

Exhibit ability to support integrated programming within the health sector and prior experience with multi sectoral programming.

● Knowledge (35%): Demonstrated fluency with latest clinical and programmatic development priorities for HIV and TB programming in Sub-Saharan Africa. Demonstrated understanding of pandemic preparedness and/or response and its role in the development of resilient health systems. Understanding of opportunities to utilize HIV and TB investments to strengthen pandemic preparedness and response.

● Skills and Abilities (25%): Demonstrated application of diplomacy internal to an organization and with external partners. Clear experience with application of independent judgment to plan, execute, and adaptively manage clinical public health programs. Prior experience with supervision and capacity building of staff.

Total possible Factor points: 100

INTERVIEW PERFORMANCE – 100 points

Interview performance – inclusive of written test will be deciding factor in selection

Satisfactory reference check: Pass/Fail (No points assigned) Reference Checks: The technical evaluation committee may conduct reference checks, including references from individuals who have not been specifically identified by the offeror, and may do so before or after a candidate is interviewed. USAID Lesotho reserves the right to conduct interviews with the most highly ranked applicants and make the interview a deciding factor in selection.

Selection Process:

▪ After the closing date for receipt of applications, applications will be reviewed for submission requirements and the established minimum requirements for the position. Applications that meet the minimum requirements will be forwarded to a Technical Evaluation Committee or TEC. The TEC will review each of the forwarded applications against the established evaluation criteria to develop a shortlist of applicants to be tested and possibly interviewed.

▪ Shortlisted applicants may be further evaluated. Assessments to include English writing, computer and other technical skills may be administered to determine competitively ranked applicants for possible interviews. Competitively ranked applicants may be interviewed.

Reference checks will be made only for the interviewed applicants.

▪ Following the interview, during which the applicant will be evaluated against the established criteria, the TEC will make a preliminary determination of applicants to be considered for employment and conduct and document reference checks. Please note that references may be solicited from current as well as former supervisors in addition to the references you provided in application packages. References will only be solicited for those interviewed applicants who are being considered for ranking. The applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about their 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.

▪ Based on this final input, the TEC will make its final decision on applicant ranking and submit a selection memo to the Contracting Officer (CO) for final determination on whether an offer of employment will be made. Unsuccessful applicants who were interviewed will be contacted and advised of their non-selection. As a positive medical clearance and security certification are a condition of employment, the selected candidate will undergo a stringent investigation prior to employment with USAID/SA.

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.

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

• Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts, 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. Written responses to Factors 1, 2 and 3 not to exceed 2 pages.

• Proof of Eligibility (AEFM): Provide one of two documents that specifically names the applicant and provides proof of American Eligible Family Member (AEFM) status: 1) Travel orders of a sponsoring employee who is assigned (not TDY) to the U.S. Mission to South Africa under COM authority, or 2) an approved Form OF-126, Foreign Service Residence and Dependency Report (or other agency equivalent), of a sponsoring employee who is assigned (not TDY) to the U.S. Mission to South Africa under COM authority, and is residing at the sponsoring employee’s post of assignment abroad;

• Proof of Eligibility (Work Permit): For those applicants who do not hold AEFM status, proof of US citizenship, as well as proof of eligibility to work within the Republic of South Africa, is required.

• 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 appropriate security determination Instructions for obtaining the security determination 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. Applicants should note that the salary history for the purposes of the AID 309-2 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 AID 309-2.

• 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.

• To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number on submitted documents.

• Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors – USPSCs performing overseas must follow the Mission Policies and/or directives from the U.S. Department of State regarding COVID-19 requirements.

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.

For queries please contact: Ms. Engeline Sebego Human Resource Assistant, Telephone: +27 12 452 2188, e-mail address: esebego@usaid.gov

V. 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:

1. AID 309-2

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

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

4. Fingerprint 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.

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC 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 Quarters Subsistence Allowance (Section 120)

(b) Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 210) mailto:esebego@usaid.gov

(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 or Resident Hire USPSC is selected for this position the benefits will be adjusted as per Mission and AIDAR policy.

VII. TAXES

USPSCs are required to pay Federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State Income taxes. A TCN will be eligible to pay taxes as specified by their country.

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 .

USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts with a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National 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 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

3001 Option Period 3 – 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

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

5. 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 more information:

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

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

END OF SOLICITATION