SOL-72067521R00001.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72067521R00001

ISSUANCE DATE: OCTOBER 12, 2020

CLOSING DATE: NOVEMBER 06, 2020, midnight Local Time (GMT – GUINEA)

SUBJECT: SOLICITATION FOR A US/TCN PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACTOR – SENIOR

ADVISOR FOR DEMOCRACY, RIGHTS & GOVERNANCE & CONFLICT MANAGEMENT & MITIGATION

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID/Guinea & Sierra Leone, is seeking applications of qualified U.S Citizens interested in providing Personal Services Contract (PSC) services as described in the attached 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 offers.

Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in Attachment 1.

Sincerely, /signed/ Ifeoma Ezeh Contracting Officer

Attachment 1 SOL-72067521R00001

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72067521R00001

2. ISSUANCE DATE: October 12, 2020

3. CLOSING DATE & TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: November 06, 2020 at midnight local Time (GMT – Guinea)

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

5. POSITION TITLE: SENIOR ADVISOR FOR DEMOCRACY, RIGHTS AND GOVERNANCE (DRG)

AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION (CMM)

6. MARKET VALUE: GS-14 ($92,977.00 to $120,808.00) is the equivalent market value for this position. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year with two renewable one-year option periods.

The base period will start on or about January 17, 2021 and end on or about January 16, 2022. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise additional option periods for the dates estimated as follows:

Base Period: 01/17/2021 – 01/16/2022 Option Period 1: 01/17/2022 – 01/16/2023 Option Period 2: 01/17/2023 – 01/16/2024

Depending on the Mission’s needs and funds availability, the position may be renewed for 1-2 additional years.

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

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens, including Green Card Holders and Third

Country Nationals (TCN).

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: FACILITY ACCESS

mailto:conakrypscjobs@usaid.gov

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

Overview

The USAID mission in Conakry manages activities to strengthen democracy, human rights, gender equality, youth participation, conflict mitigation, governance and related cross-sectoral programs (such as governance in the public health sector) in both Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Both countries represent young democracies that are striving to overcome extreme poverty while rebuilding their public health systems in the aftermath of the Ebola virus epidemic (2014-2016) and during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Each country faces challenges to mitigate and control simmering inter-communal conflicts: Sierra Leone suffered a tragic civil war from 1991 to 2002; while Guinea struggles to find political compromises in an environment too often characterized by sharp ethno-partisan polarization and distrust among diverse communities.

Yet both countries also offer opportunities for reforms in such areas as decentralized governance, particularly in Sierra Leone in the aftermath of that country’s comparatively peaceful and orderly General Elections of March, 2018.

The Senior Advisor Democracy, Rights and Governance Advisor) will lead Mission’s DRG team and will perform a range of duties to support the drafting, implementation and monitoring of Mission strategies, program designs and descriptions, procurement documents, and management/supervision of program activities in the democratic, human rights and governance (DRG) sectors of both Guinea and Sierra Leone. The Senior Advisor will represent the mission on DRG-related issues with the U.S. Embassies, other donors, host country officials and implementing partners. The assignment will be for 12 months, with potential for annual contract renewals subject to sufficient performance and availability of funds.

Major Roles and Responsibilities

Program Management and Development Objective Achievement Responsibility

The Senior Democracy, Rights and Governance Advisor will provide leadership and have discretion to exercise judgment in the planning, development and management of DRG programs, including: development of policy recommendations;

determination of work priorities; making decisions on activity implementation matters; identifying and resolving program issues; assuring that all activities are carried out in a technically-sound and cost-effective manner;

and assuring activities are carried out in accordance with all applicable USAID requirements.

DRG programs in Guinea and Sierra Leone are technically complex and politically sensitive, requiring analysis and decision making of unusual difficulty. The Advisor will design, report on, and oversee the implementation of a portfolio of activities that respond to country needs.

The Senior Advisor will be relied upon to provide technical and policy advice to USAID, the Department of State, other USG agencies, donor agencies, implementing partners, recipients, contractors, customers, and other stakeholders. The Advisor will also consult with senior management of the US Mission on DRG-related issues.

Provide subject matter expertise on civil society, elections, governance, conflict mitigation, gender, youth, media and public messaging issues relevant to the Democracy, Rights and Governance portfolios in both Guinea and Sierra Leone. As the subject matter specialist, the Senior Advisor will prepare written policy papers and provide oral briefings as needed.

Coordinate closely with the USAID Mission’s Program Office, ensuring a strategic, coordinated approach to public sector reforms, citizen participation and capacity development as cross-cutting issues across the Mission’s portfolios.

Maintain a diplomatic and productive dialogue with host country officials at the technical level up to and including the ministerial level. Develop a strong working relationship with host country government counterparts, implementing partners and key stakeholders including private sector and civil society actors to gain knowledge of Guinea and Sierra Leone, identify needs, and promote shared priorities.

Develop and maintain effective dialogue with USAID program implementers based in Guinea and Sierra Leone, and lead coordination in program design, information sharing and activity implementation among stakeholders. The Advisor plays a critical role in formulating the content of USAID's assistance and ensuring coordination with the State Department and other United States Government (USG) agencies.

Serve as Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or Assistance Officer’s Representative (AOR) for assigned contracts and grants, or as the Technical Representative for grants to public international organizations. The Advisor will take full project and activity management responsibility for DRG and health governance activities which will be assigned to his/her portfolio in accordance with USG procurement regulations. The COR/AOR/ Technical Representative functions include the day-to-day responsibility for monitoring the implementation of activities, monitoring pipelines, processing obligation actions, and responding to requests for approvals or modifications to specific activities. It also may include writing technical justifications for changes to on-going programs, objectives, activities or indicators. The Advisor will work closely with the Office of Financial Management to review and assess quarterly accruals and disbursements, and track funding pipelines to ensure compliance with the USAID guidelines.

Design development activities to meet Mission strategic objectives. This includes preparing statements of work or program descriptions, requests for proposals/applications, Acquisition and Assistance requests, decision memos, Congressional Notifications, inter-agency agreement letters, etc.

Participate actively in procurement processes, including activity designs and supporting documentation, in consultation with USAID/Guinea’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance and USG stakeholders.

Fully understand U.S. foreign policy in Guinea and Sierra Leone. Serve as the USAID representative in international bodies and promote projects that help to meet U.S. foreign policy objectives. Provide briefings to U.S. and foreign officials and other donors on USAID programming in the region as necessary.

Contribute to briefers or testimony for high level U.S. Government staff.

Maintain contact with USAID/Washington staff on latest democracy, rights and governance policy and technical issues.

Write and review procurement documents including, but not limited to: GLAAS requests, requests for proposals, requests for assistance, action memos, justifications and annual program statements as applicable.

Serve, as needed, as a member of technical panels reviewing bids or proposals for the provision of technical assistance, commodities, or the award of contracts/grants.

Perform Monitoring & Evaluation function:

The Advisor will work closely with the Mission’s Program Office Monitoring and Evaluation Team performance monitoring, and regular evaluations of USAID-managed public sector reform activities. This includes:

review of quarterly and annual program and financial reports from program partners;

review partner reports, paying particular attention to the data pertaining to:

o activity performance indicators as identified within the Performance Management Plan (PMP) and Operational Plan;

o program objectives achievement, methodology and lessons learned, including attention to inputs, output and expected outcomes including economic, social, cultural and technical factors;

o financial indicators (e.g., expenditures, burn rate/pipeline analysis and congruity of expenditures against activities); and o justifications for incremental funding.

Travel as needed in both countries to coordinate and monitor field operations, identify program implementation constraints, and assess and facilitate progress towards planned results.

Assess impact and propose new directions for public financial management, decentralization, civil service or other public sector reform, civil society or media strengthening, inclusive democratic participation, and/or other activities to strengthen democratic governance. The Advisor should ensure that activities are carried out in accordance with all applicable Mission and Agency directives and requirements.

Prepare required documents including trip reports, briefing papers, reporting cables and results reports.

Strategy Development Function:

Provide analysis, advice and recommendations regarding the formulation of Mission strategy to the supervisor and Mission management on issues related to the Democracy, Rights and Governance portfolio.

Contribute to Mission-level Planning and Reporting:

Working closely with the Mission’s Program Office Monitoring and Evaluation

Team, the Senior Advisor will be responsible for data collection and synthesis for select sections of the USAID/Guinea/Sierra Leone Congressional Budget Justification, Annual Operational Plan, Performance Plan and Report, Country Development Cooperation Strategy, and satisfying other program management requirements as described in USAID’s Automated Directive System (ADS) 200 Series.

The Advisor will assist the Mission’s Program Office Monitoring and Evaluation Team with:

Tracking the collection of performance data that originate from various sources such as USAID/Guinea and Sierra Leone’s implementing partners, local partners and other international organizations;

Preparing inventories of current indicators, information collected and information still needed;

Devising more efficient methods for collecting information;

Verifying data reliability and accuracy;

Determining that the information gathered responds to the indicators of the Annual Report and related performance monitoring plans; and

Utilizing, as appropriate, partner reports to contribute quantitative and qualitative input into the USAID/Guinea’s annual reporting requirement.

Ensure effective responses to Program Office requests for participation or information, such as participation in strategic planning exercises, or information for newsletters, other USG agencies, USAID/Washington, the U.S.

Congress, etc.

Gather the latest information about developments pertaining to the Senior Advisor’s portfolio and report such information as requested by the Mission Director, Program Office, and other Mission management and staff.

Perform tasks which are consistent with the advisory, managerial, and reporting requirements of the Senior Advisor’s position.

Accompany, brief and guide visiting Congressional Delegations, Staff Delegations, and other mid-to-high level delegations from the United States and other countries as necessary.

Maintain contact and dialogue with donor organizations as well as non-governmental organization (NGOs).

Organize donor coordination events in support of program activities.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

Supervision Received: The Advisor will work under the direct supervision of the Mission Director or his/her designee. The supervisor will assist the Advisor to:

1) establish annual work objectives and performance measures; 2) review work outputs and accomplishments to ensure compliance with Agency policies, and implementation of best practices; and 3) assess the incumbent's performance seeking input from appropriate USAID/Guinea and Sierra Leone team members and external stakeholders. As the incumbent is expected to work with a high degree of independence, s/he must be able to establish priorities, adhere to and meet deadlines, and perform responsibilities and duties with minimal guidance.

Supervision Exercised:

The Advisor will manage a team of two-three Cooperating Country National (CCN) personnel, Project Management Specialists/Assistant at the FSN-9 to FSN-12 grade levels. The Advisor will assist each team member to: 1) establish annual work objectives and performance measures; 2) review work outputs and accomplishments to ensure compliance with Agency policies, and implementation of best practices;

and 3) assess the incumbent's performance seeking input from appropriate USAID/Guinea and Sierra Leone team members and external stakeholders. The Advisor will also provide technical guidance and work with a CCN in Sierra Leone, but the Sierra Leone CCN will work under the direct supervision of the USAID/Sierra Leone Country Program Coordinator.

If a third country national (TCN) is selected for award, during the period of this contract, the TCN personal services contractor must provide at least 10 hours/week of training to a cooperating country national (CCN) designated by USAID. The 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 does not involve undue physical demands but travel to worksites and other offices is occasionally warranted.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

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

EDUCATION: A Master’s degree in public administration, management, international development, social sciences or other closely related field is required.

WORK EXPERIENCE: At least ten years of work experience in private, civil society and/or public service sectors, including at least five years designing, managing and evaluating development projects with increasingly responsible project or organizational management/leadership, project design, and project development experience is required.

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. FAR provisions of this solicitation are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

(a) Selection Process

After the closing date for receipt of applications, a committee will convene to review applications that meet the minimum requirements and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Applications from candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements will not be evaluated and scored. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.

As part of the selection process, the most qualified candidates may be requested to complete a writing sample and be interviewed either in person, by telephone or videoconference at USAID’s discretion. USAID will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews.

Reference checks will be made only for applicants considered for selection. The applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities. Note: Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an offeror. Any offeror not receiving satisfactory reference checks will no longer be considered for the position.

The security clearance and medical clearance are required for the top-ranking candidate, after conducting and receiving the positive reference checks at the conclusion of evaluations.

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

(b) EVALUATION FACTORS AND BASIS OF RATING:

Applicants who clearly meet the Education/Experience requirements and basic eligibility requirements will be further evaluated based on scoring of their Evaluation Factor responses. Those applicants determined to be competitively ranked will also be evaluated on their interview performance.

Factor # 1 - KNOWLEDGE (30 points):

Knowledge in designing, managing and/or evaluating projects related to democratic governance, conflict management and mitigation (CMM), and/or development (such as public sector reform, public financial management, building organizational capacity, civil society strengthening or advocacy, gender equality, inclusive democratic participation and human rights).

Current professional knowledge of development assistance issues and development approaches.

Current, specialized technical knowledge and best practices for promoting more active and inclusive civic participation and strengthening democratic governance.

Knowledge of relevant evaluations, assessments and analyses.

Demonstrated experience managing stakeholder relationships in developing countries at senior levels of government and with international donors.

FACTOR #2: SKILLS & ABILITIES (30 points)

Management

Ability to lead and supervise a small team of two-four persons.

Demonstrated program management skills including previous experience in contract and/or grants management.

Field experience in developing/transition/post-conflict country environments.

Professional level management experience including budget and project management is required.

Communication:

A strong ability to serve as team leader and as a member of a larger Mission wide team.

Ability to foster teamwork is required, as is the ability to develop and maintain productive working relationships at all levels, including with staff and colleagues, ministerial-level officials in the Government of Guinea, the heads of other donor agencies, the U.S. Ambassador and members of the U.S. country team.

Ability to lead policy and program negotiations and dialogue with host country officials.

Excellent English (Level IV) and French (Level III) language communications skills, both written and oral, including public speaking skills (as the incumbent may be called upon to deliver presentations before large and varied audiences) are essential.

Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively through oral presentations and briefings, written reporting and analysis, and information technology tools.

FACTOR #3 – INTERVIEW PERFORMANCE (40 POINTS):

TOTAL POINTS: 100

Professional reference checks will be conducted but yield no points.

SELECTION PROCESS:

After the closing date for receipt of applications, a committee will convene to review applications that meet the minimum requirements and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Applications from candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements will not be evaluated and scored. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.

As part of the selection process, the most qualified candidates may be requested to complete a writing sample and be interviewed either in person, by telephone or videoconference at USAID’s discretion. USAID will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews.

Reference checks will be made only for applicants considered for selection. The applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities. Note: Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an offeror. Any offeror not receiving satisfactory reference checks will no longer be considered for the position.

The security clearance and medical clearance are required for the top-ranking candidate, after conducting and receiving the positive reference checks at the conclusion of evaluations.

“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. SUBMITTING AN OFFER:

All applications must be submitted electronically by e-mail with the subject line – SOL - 72067521R00001 – Senior Advisor for Democracy, Rights and Governance & Conflict Mitigation to: conakrypscjobs@usaid.gov Attention: Supervisory Executive Officer USAID/Guinea & Sierra Leone

• 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/

• Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I, item 4.

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

• In 750-1000 words each, address the two Evaluation Factors - Job Knowledge and Skills & Abilities

• Cover letter and a current resume/curriculum vitae (CV). The CV/resume must contain sufficient relevant information to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria.

• Offerors must provide a minimum of three and a maximum of five references within the last five years of the applicant’s professional life from individuals who are not family members or relatives. Three references must be from direct supervisors who can provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities. Applicants must provide e-mail addresses and/or working telephone numbers for all references.

• Application letters and Form a309-2 must be signed. Incomplete and unsigned applications/forms will not be considered. ALL DOCUMENTS MUST

BE PREPARED AND SUBMITTED IN ENGLISH.

The final selected candidate must obtain security and medical clearances within a reasonable period of time. USAID will provide details regarding these clearances to the selected candidate). If such clearances are not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded.

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

I. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCS:

Forms outlined below can found at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms/

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

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

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

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

5) Finger Print Card (FD-258). *

* Forms 2 through 5 shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.

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

mailto:conakrypscjobs@usaid.gov http://www.usaid.gov/forms/

II. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES:

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

BENEFITS (if applicable)

(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

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) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

(c) Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 210)

(d) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(e) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(f) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(g) Education Travel (Section 280)

(h) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

(i) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and

(j) Danger Pay Allowance (Section 650).

III. FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are required to pay Federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State Income Taxes.

IV. 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

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

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

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code:

(R497)

- Accounting Info:

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

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

END OF SOLICITATION

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