SOL-Children in Adversity and Education Advisor-04-12-2024.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72044224R00002

ISSUANCE DATE: April 17, 2024 CLOSING DATE/TIME: May 08, 2024

4:00PM, Cambodia Time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for Resident Hire U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) and Third Country National Personal Services Contractor (TCNPSC): Children in Adversity and Education Advisor

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 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 underrepresented 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 this solicitation.

Sincerely, Cicely Lewis Contracting Officer

72044224R00002

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72044224R00002

2. ISSUANCE DATE: April 17, 2024

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: May 08, 2024 4:00PM, Cambodia Time

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Phnom Penh USAID HR phnompenhusaidhr@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Children in Adversity and Education Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: $88,520 -- $115,079, equivalent to GS-13 Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value, based on the successful candidate’s salary history, work experience and educational background. The standard compensation package also includes a contribution for life and health insurance and a contribution to FICA. This is a resident hire position. It does not include offshore benefits such as housing, post differential, and post allowance.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Cambodia – Phnom Penh, Cambodia with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.

8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One (1) Year, o/a August, 2024 to o/a August, 2025, with the possibility of extensions. Extensions will depend on the need for continuation of such services, availability of funds, satisfactory performance, and the needs of the USAID/ Cambodia Mission.

The base period will be one (1) year estimated to start in August 2024. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise (an) additional option period(s) for the date(s) estimated as follows:

Base Period: August 2024 – August 2025 Option Period 1: August 2025 – August 2026 Option Period 2: August 2026 – August 2027 Option Period 3: August 2027 – August 2028 Option Period 4: August 2028 – August 2029 mailto:phnompenhusaidhr@usaid.gov

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS:

This is a combined USPSC/TCNPSC solicitation, with hiring preference given to U.S.

citizens or resident aliens (USNs) per AIDAR 702. USAID policy specifies that U.S.

citizens or resident aliens (USNs) are preferred over third country nationals (TCNs).

Further details are in the hiring preference and evaluation sections of this solicitation.

To meet basic eligibility requirements, the applicant must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident/registered alien (“green card holder”)

• Submit a complete application as outlined in the section titled SUBMITTING AN

OFFER;

• Be able to attain employment authorization/facility access;

• Be able to obtain a Department of State medical clearance;

• Be available and willing to work additional hours beyond the established 40-hour workweek, including weekends, as may be required or necessary;

• Be willing to travel to work sites and other offices as/when requested.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facilities Access / Employment Authorization

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

1. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

In June 2019, U.S. Government Departments and Agencies launched Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity: A U.S. Government Strategy for International Assistance, or APCCA Strategy, which outlines the U.S. Government’s whole-of-government commitment and approach to investing in the development, care, dignity, and safety of the world’s most-vulnerable children and their families. Further, in 2021 Congress passed the Global Child Thrive Act that mandates all U.S. foreign assistance take integrated approaches to improve early childhood development.

In Cambodia U.S. government (USG) investments under the APCCA strategy seek to integrate internationally recognized, evidence-based good practices and to strengthen the social services system through international assistance for children.

APCCA has three principal objectives:

• Build Strong Beginnings: Promote nurturing care for the most-vulnerable newborns and young children, starting before birth, by implementing integrated programming in early-childhood development to provide for children’s health, nutrition, safety and security, responsive caregiving for social and emotional well-being, and opportunities for early learning.

• Put Family First: Support and enable families to care for their children, prevent unnecessary family-child separation, and promote appropriate, protective and permanent family care.

• Protect Children from Violence: Promote, fund, and support the protection of children from violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect by investing in preventative and responsive programming.

In 2009, USAID/Cambodia launched programming for children in adversity with a focus on developing sustainable solutions to promote family care for all children, assist children with disabilities, and substantially reduce the number of children outside of family care in Cambodia.

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Office Director, USAID/Cambodia Office of Public Health and Education (OPHE), or his/her designee, the Children in Adversity and Education Advisor will work as part of USAID OPHE to provide program oversight to USAID’s Children in Adversity programs. S/he will provide day-to-day program management and oversight for specific Children in Adversity activities and cross-cutting, multi-sectoral approaches.

The Advisor will facilitate communication and maintain collaborative working relationships with mid-to senior level government officials of the Cambodian government, development partners, and non-governmental organizations working in the area of child protection, care and development. The Advisor is expected to function with a high degree of independence and work as a member of USAID OPHE. The Advisor will lead the USG Child Protection Working Group collaborating with other USG agencies, including the State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Advisor will also liaise with the Consular and Political/Economic Sections of the U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh. The Advisor will provide regular updates to the Washington-based USAID Children in Adversity team and the USAID/Cambodia Front Office (via her/his supervisor or the OPHE Director) on Cambodia’s progress toward becoming Hague compliant and support the U.S.

Government’s commitment to the convention regarding inter-country adoption and assuring that all necessary child protection measures are in place.

The Children in Adversity and Education Advisor will provide technical inputs and liaise with all mission USG agencies, development partners, various levels of government, the private sector, and international technical organizations in support of USAID’s social services sector (non-health) programs. The Advisor must have experience and skills in strategic thinking and analysis; technical leadership; program planning and implementation; advocacy, communication, and program management.

The Advisor will have a strong background in the social services sector with relevant work experience. As part of an overall coordination and advocacy role with USG and all other social services sector partners, the Advisor will be responsible for providing direction, management, technical assistance, and oversight to the USG’s portfolio of social services sector (non-health) activities in Cambodia, including considerations to support disability inclusion and access to care and services for children with disabilities and their families. The Advisor will support coordinated efforts across USAID and USG agencies to ensure and enhance the effectiveness of activities through high quality design, well-managed implementation, and appropriate monitoring and evaluation. The Advisor will be responsible for relevant report writing components of the annual Operational Plan, and semi-annual and annual reporting (e.g., the Performance Plan and Report).

2. Statement of Duties to be Performed:

A. Children in Adversity Program Management (60%) Serve as the lead advisor on Children in Adversity for the U.S. Government in Cambodia. Provide strategic direction, identify opportunities, and coordinate program initiatives related to the USG Strategy for International Assistance, Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity (APCCA) and its subsequent iterations.

Other duties and responsibilities include, and are not limited to:

• Oversee APCCA-related activities funded from USAID Washington, including funding to UNICEF, Family Care First, Integrated Early Childhood Development, and any new activities that result from USG objectives to support children in adversity. In this role as Contracting Officer Representative (COR), Agreement Officer Representative (AOR), or Activity Manager, coordinate activities, facilitate regular meetings (bi-weekly, quarterly, annually), review and provide comments on work plans, budgets, and reports; initiate or participate in relevant U.S. and Cambodian government meetings; brief senior U.S. government staff as necessary;

ensure regular coordination and communication with USAID’s Center on Children in Adversity and Displaced Children and Orphans Fund (CECA/DCOF) staff;

support events, VIP and field visits, communication/outreach-related tasks.

• Function as the A/COR, or Activity Manager for Mission-based programming supporting APCCA objectives. Manage project performance through a robust monitoring and evaluation plan, review semi-/annual project reports, project accrual information, and quarterly financial reports; prepare documents if financial or programmatic amendments to agreements are necessary, review project vouchers for accuracy, and approve project requests.

• Track and understand the status of all significant activities supported by the U.S. and Cambodian governments and other donors that contribute to APCCA. Communicate information to other development partners, the Cambodian government, U.S.

government interagency team in Cambodia, and USAID/Washington staff; maintain positive and collaborative relationships with all stakeholders through regular meetings; cultivate new relationships that help to advance the USG APCCA strategy.

• Write USAID documentation such as action memos, waivers, justifications and acquisition documents, operational and performance plan narratives, project design documents, scopes of work, and other correspondence as required. Provide draft language for the Cambodia section of the Annual Report to Congress that USAID CECA/DCOF is required to submit under U.S. Public Law 109-95.

• Hold regular meetings (bi-weekly, quarterly) with implementing partners and perform assessments as needed to provide programmatic and technical support and assurances to the USAID Mission. Visit USAID-funded project field sites to anticipate, recognize, and resolve any potential problems with partners and bring major program issues to the attention of appropriate USAID staff as necessary.

• Ensure involvement by the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) and promote alignment of APCCA objectives within the RGC’s policies and programs.

Advocate, as relevant, with both RGC and U.S. government through formal and informal means.

• Act as technical team lead on the design of new APCCA related awards, and as a support team member for awards that may impact children.

B. Child Protection, Care and Development Program Management (25%)

• Assist with coordination on child protection, care and development programs within the USAID Mission, the broader USG team, and USAID implementing partners in coordination with the AOR, COR, or Activity Manager.

• Provide on-going program advice for the Mission’s child protection, care and development strategies including development of key planning and reporting documents in alignment with the APCCA strategy and Global Child Thrive Act.

• Work closely with the Cambodian government, bilateral and multilateral agencies and other key stakeholders to strengthen child protection, care and development collaboration at the national level to support the development of country ownership and capacity.

• Monitor current child protection, care and development literature, reports, international guidelines and standards as well as best practices and provide recommendations in developing innovative approaches to designing, implementing and evaluating child protection, care and development related programs, particularly for children with disabilities, for Cambodia.

• Conduct regular site visits to review program implementation and meet with program participants.

• Communicate findings from information collected during field visits, assessment reports, performance statistics and other available data to provide programmatic recommendations to OPHE, and, as appropriate, implementing partners and Cambodian government counterparts.

• Provide inputs on annual project work plans and reports, participate in USAID project portfolio reviews and evaluations.

• Provide program assistance (including drafting briefing papers, cables, and memos for information and action) for child protection, care and development activities.

C. Stakeholder Engagement and Advisory Support (15%)

The Children in Adversity and Education Advisor will work within the context of supporting the U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh’s development assistance goals and will represent USAID/Cambodia in appropriate international fora. S/he will work closely with Mission team members to include the Health Team Lead, FSN Project Management Specialist (Health) and FSN Development Assistance Specialist (Monitoring and Evaluation), as well as other Missions in the region as needed. The Children in Adversity Advisor will mentor and/or coach Cambodian staff on best practices in social services (non-health) around the protection of children, including for those with disabilities. The incumbent may also be called upon to support special projects or events which may require compiling information and/or escorting and briefing visitors.

3. Supervisory Relationship The incumbent will report to the Deputy Office Director or designee.

4. Supervisory Controls

N/A

5. Important Information

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% of working hours 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.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

All candidates must meet the Minimum Qualifications. Applications will be screened accordingly, and only those that meet the below, required criteria, will be moved forward in the recruitment process:

A. Education: A Master's degree in social work, social welfare, child protection, education or a related field within international development is required.

B. Experience: Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in development and/or social services, including policy, program design, oversight and implementation is required. Experience on alternative care, child protection, care and development programming, interacting with both USG and Cambodian government officials, and prior USAID experience is preferred. Experience in Southeast Asia is desired, experience in Cambodia is preferred.

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.

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.

Upon closing of the solicitation, a committee will convene to review the applications.

Applicants who meet the education and experience requirements will be scored and ranked based on the following selection factors:

Selection Process and Basis of Evaluation: Offerors who clearly meet the minimum education and work experience qualification requirements may be further evaluated through review of the offeror’s submitted required documents (see section IV below) and ranked based on the below evaluation and selection factors. A competitive range may be established of the highest-ranked offerors, who may be further evaluated through technical tests, interviews, and reference checks to determine the most qualified/highest-ranked offerors. Reference checks may be conducted with the highest-ranked offerors.

Reference checks may be conducted with individuals not provided by the offeror. Any offeror not receiving satisfactory reference checks will no longer be considered for the position. Negotiations may be conducted with the most qualified/ highest-ranked offerors at the conclusion of evaluations.

Education (10 points): A Master's degree in social work, social welfare, child protection, education or a related field within international development is required.

Prior Work Experience (30 points): Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in development and/or social services, including policy, program design, oversight and implementation is required. Experience on alternative care, child protection, care and development programming, interacting with both USG and Cambodian government officials, and prior USAID experience is preferred. Experience in Southeast Asia is desired, experience in Cambodia is preferred.

Knowledge (30 points):

• Must have relevant knowledge of the USG Action Plan for Children in Adversity and international best-practices for child well-being and care reform.

• Must have knowledge or experience with program design, implementation, evaluation, and alternative care and child protection.

• Understanding of the social, economic and cultural determinants that impact child-wellbeing in Cambodia and its neighboring countries.

• Knowledge and experience with other U.S. government programs, procedures and systems for program design, procurement, implementation, management and monitoring.

Skills and Abilities (30 points):

• Demonstrated through relevant experience and training:

• Ability to take leadership in national child protection coordination and technical approach of implementing the Action Plan for Children in Adversity.

• Ability to build capacity of and mentor local staff.

• Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team environment with a broad range of USG personnel and agencies particularly within USAID/Cambodia as well as partners; have demonstrated skills in donor coordination and collaboration;

and achieve consensus on policy, program, and administrative matters.

• Tact and diplomacy are required to establish and develop sustainable working relationships at the highest level and a high level of trust with public/private organizations.

• Ability to negotiate activity plans and resolve activity implementation issues with counterparts, partners, and team members.

• Ability to navigate and manage politically sensitive issues related to child protection and alternative care.

• Ability to analyze and interpret public policies and assist in the development of revised policies as required, as well as integrate short and long-range objectives of USAID Cambodia with the cultural/organizational needs of the host country government and civil society partners.

• Ability to conceptualize programs, policies, and plans and developing strategies for their management and implementation.

• Ability to communicate quickly, clearly and concisely-both orally and in writing in English. Demonstrated ability to make sensitive oral presentations logically and persuasively to senior U.S. and Cambodian government officials and other donors.

• Ability to communicate technical child-wellbeing information to both health and non-health audiences.

• Excellent written communication skills are required to prepare regular and ad hoc reports, activity documentation, and briefing papers.

• Excellent computer skills (e.g. MS Word, Excel, Power Point, and Malaria Information System (MIS/DHIS2)) or other similar statistical software are required for effectively operating in this position. Good computer skills are required to implement, analyze, and monitor, and manage activity goals, inputs, outcomes, and achievements, both program and impact.

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

1. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals,” available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms

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

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

4. Offerors are also required to submit:

1. Cover Letter;

2. Curriculum Vitae or resume;

3. Salary history for the previous three years; and

4. A list of three professional references.

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award:

http://www.usaid.gov/forms

1. Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306)

2. Medical History and Examination Form (DS-6561)

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)

Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors - Please be advised that, upon award, the contractor will be required to follow the Mission policies and/or directives from the U.S. Department of State regarding COVID-19 requirements.

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

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

1. BENEFITS:

(a) Employer's FICA Contribution

(b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

(c) Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

(d) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

(e) Leave and Holidays

Note: U.S. Resident Hire PSCs are not eligible for any fringe benefits (except contributions for FICA, health insurance, and life insurance), including differentials and allowances.

The benefits and/or allowances will be adjusted as applicable as specifically approved by the Mission Director for the TCNPSC position per AIDAR Appendix J, sec. 4(c)(2)(ii).

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

VII. TAXES

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

VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

PERTAINING TO PSCs

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

1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix D, “Direct USAID Contracts with a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf.

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: TBD

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: TBD

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: TBD

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

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

***END OF SOLICITATION***

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