Solicitation_Development_Assistance_Specialist_GS-11_.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL-112-17-000001

ISSUANCE DATE: May 23, 2017

CLOSING DATE/TIME: June 23, 2017 (17:00 local time)

SUBJECT: Solicitation SOL-112-17-000001 for a Resident-Hire U.S. Personal Services Contractor (USPSC)

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation.

Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1, Sections I through V 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 USPSC 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 attached information.

Sincerely, /s/

Michael Rossman

Regional Contracting Officer

ATTACHMENT 1

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL-112-17-000001

2. ISSUANCE DATE: May 24, 2017

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: June 23, 2017 (17:00 local Baku time)

4. POSITION TITLE: Development Assistance Specialist

5. MARKET VALUE: USD 52,329 to USD 68,025 equivalent to GS-11. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Six months (with the option to extend for an additional six months subject to available funding and programmatic needs)

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Baku, Azerbaijan, with possible travel as required.

8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Applicants must be able to obtain an HSPD-12 Facility Access level

U.S. Government Security Clearance and must be resident in Azerbaijan at the time of contracting.

9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES: The position is located in the USAID/Azerbaijan Program Office located in

Baku. The Development Assistance Specialist reports to the Program Office (PPO) Director, works with his/her colleagues in the PPO and other technical offices and coordinates a variety of duties and responsibilities directly with all the Foreign Service Nationals within USAID.

USAID/Azerbaijan manages the U.S. Government (USG) development program in Azerbaijan with a FY 2016 bilateral budget of $6.2 million. The Mission portfolio includes a broad range of economic growth, and democracy and governance development activities. The main purpose of the position is to draft and edit key documents for the Mission to outside stakeholders; develop and assist with all outreach efforts to showcase

USAID activities in Azerbaijan; assist with strategy development; and mentor local staff.

USAID/Azerbaijan's program activities are of exceptionally broad scope and complexity. In this capacity, the incumbent is responsible for helping to strategically plan, develop, implement, and administer the program to promote better awareness and understanding of U.S. foreign assistance to Azerbaijan. She/he is also responsible for helping to relay related policies and achievements to key audiences of the host country, in the United States, and throughout other donor countries.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Develop Program Materials 35%

Work with USAID program and technical staff to develop briefing materials for USAID/Azerbaijan and for the

Embassy/Baku Front Office. This includes materials for senior level meetings with government officials, USAID site visits and media events, plus responses to requests from USAID/Washington, Embassy/Baku, STATE/W, the U.S. Congress and others.

Assist in producing key program materials, including one-page descriptions of program activities, program impacts, lessons learned, materials for updating the website, and others as deemed necessary.

Respond in a timely manner to ongoing requests from USAID/Washington on USAID/Azerbaijan program accomplishments, updates and priorities.

B. Provide Editorial Quality Control 30%

Review and edit key documents produced by the Mission. This includes briefers for the USAID Mission

Director, briefing checklists and speeches for the Embassy/Baku Front Office, the monthly newsletter, official correspondence, the Baku Daily Report, annual Operational Plan, Annual Report, and other program documents.

Responsible for ensuring all materials meet quality standards.

C. Mentoring 20%

Establish formal mentoring relationship with USAID/Azerbaijan Development Outreach Coordinator (DOC), and informal relationships with other FSNs in PPO and in the USAID Mission

D. Manage Public Events 15%

With the assistance of the FSN Development, Outreach, and Communications Specialist, the incumbent plans, schedules, publicizes, and carries out activities to present Mission programs to the public. Activities may include using a range of communications tools (including photography and video) and distribution networks to reach a variety of audiences. Events can include, but are not limited to, field trips to specific venues or activities, as well as outreach and social media coverage for overall public information programming.

For site visits or events that involve the Ambassador, DCM, USAID Mission Director, the incumbent ensures that all information related to these events (e.g., backgrounders/scene setters, schedules, talking points, speeches, etc.) are prepared, and meets quality standards and within the time requirements.

Coordinates closely with the Embassy/Baku Public Affairs Section (PAS) to support Post’s Communications

Strategy, highlighting efforts that showcase USAID activities.

Occasionally the Mission Director may ask the Development Assistance Specialist to manage special projects based on the needs of the Mission. Previous examples include serving as the USAID Point of Contact for all

Embassy/Baku document requests (incoming from the Front Office, the Political Affairs Section, the Economic

Affairs Section, and the Public Affairs Section); drafting and transmitting cables; serving as Control Officer;

and supporting PAS to highlight its partnership and engagement with Azerbaijan.

Reporting:

Work is performed under the supervision of the Program Office Director, a USDH officer, who assigns work orally and in writing. Most assignments occur in the normal course of the work, but the incumbent is required to determine those that must be coordinated with their supervisor. The supervisor provides a review of the assignment, the goals and objectives to be achieved, and the results expected. The incumbent will work independently and seek advice and assistance as required. Work is reviewed in terms of results achieved.

Supervision Exercised:

The PSC will provide communications and related guidance to various technical office team members. There are no supervisory responsibilities.

10. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: All interested candidates U.S. citizens and U.S. resident aliens residing in

Azerbaijan at the time of contracting

11. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

12. POINTS OF CONTACT

Rebecca White, Regional Contracting Officer, Phone (in Georgia) – (+ 995 32) 254-4185; Email:

rwhite@usaid.gov

Rodney Stubina, Executive Officer, Phone (in Georgia) – (+995 32) 254-4167; Email: rstubina@usaid.gov

Eka Kirvalidze, Human Resources Specialist, Phone (in Georgia) – (+ 995 32) 254-4154; Email:

ekirvalidze@usaid.gov

All application packages are to be submitted via email to: HR-Baku@usaid.gov

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

In order to qualify for this position, the offeror must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Hold United States citizenship or be a U.S. resident alien.

Hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, including journalism, marketing, public relations, international relations, social sciences, economics, and political science.

Have a minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience, including writing and editing, in public relations or social marketing with a USG or other international development organization or multilateral institution.

mailto:ekirvalidze@usaid.gov

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

To be considered for this position, offerors must meet the minimum qualifications noted above. For those who do, further consideration and selection will be based on a panel assessment of the selection criteria listed below.

Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following selection criteria to a maximum score of 100 points:

Previous Experience (35 points): Demonstrate progressively responsible experience in writing, editing, public relations and social marketing, with a USG or other international development organization or multilateral institution.

Skills and Abilities (25 points): Displayed excellence in providing a variety of ad hoc briefing materials, in a short period of time, for wider distribution. The preferred candidate will have demonstrated experience in assimilating, preparing and adhering to the guidelines of a dynamic and multilateral interoffice clearance process. The candidate should also have demonstrated strengths in working independently and managing multiple time sensitive actions in consensus with other team members on strategy, policy, project and administrative matters.

Job Knowledge (20 points): Exhibit knowledge of a variety of approaches to clear business writing relating to a broad understanding of current issues in international development and transition economies using various media or public relations tools, e.g., social marketing and social media platforms.

Interpersonal and Communications Skills (20 points): The preferred candidate must have proven interpersonal skills and a demonstrated expertise in a variety of public communications forums, as well as demonstrated experience working in a diverse multicultural workspace. The successful candidate must demonstrate ability and professional tact and discretion in a variety of situations with strengths in initiating, promoting, and maintaining strong interpersonal relations among the public and other institutions and bureaus.

Reference Verification (Pass/Fail): USAID reserves the right to interview only the highest ranked applicant(s) in person or by phone.

After the closing date for receipt of submissions, a selection committee will be convened to review the offers and evaluate them in accordance with the included evaluation criteria. Based on the evaluation results, the selection committee will proceed with the testing/interview sessions with the short-listed candidate(s).

Reference checks will be conducted only for applicant(s) considered as finalists.

The final selected Offeror must be able to obtain the security clearance at the “Facility Access” level and a medical clearance.

IV. APPLYING

To ensure consideration for this position please reference the solicitation number on your application, and as the subject line in any email, cover letter and any other attached pages.

The highest ranking applicant(s) may be selected for interviews at USAID’s discretion.

Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the following documents:

1. The offer form AID 302-3, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts,” available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.

2. A cover letter and current resume or curriculum vitae (CV) containing sufficient relevant information that respond to the requirements of the position (education/experience) sufficient to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria.

3. Separate sheets addressing each of the selection criteria describing specifically what experience, training, education, and/or awards or recognition the applicant has received relevant to each selection criteria described above, providing periods of performance where possible. Responses are limited to 500 words per selection criteria.

4. Applicants are required to provide a three to five page writing sample as part of their application in order to demonstrate their written English language ability. The writing sample may be an excerpt of a larger work and need not be specifically written for this solicitation.

5. A minimum of three and a maximum of five professional references from the last five years. Offerors must provide email addresses and current telephone numbers for all references provided.

6. Statement of Availability: a written statement certifying the date and length of time for which the candidate is available for the position.

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 12 to HR-Baku@usaid.gov. Applications received after the date and time shall be considered late and shall be considered at the discretion of the Government.

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

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

Once the Contracting Officer (CO) informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract award, the

CO will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms.

http://www.usaid.gov/forms mailto:HR-Baku@usaid.gov

1. Completed and singed AID 302-3 (electronic version required)

2. Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet (AID 1420-17)**

3. Contractor Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms) **

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

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

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

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES:

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the benefits and allowances listed in this section. NOTE: A contractor meeting the definition of a U.S. Resident Hire PSC shall be subject to US Federal Income Tax, but shall not be eligible for any fringe benefits (except contributions for FICA, health insurance, and life insurance), including differentials and allowances.

1. BENEFITS:

FICA Contribution

Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

Pay Comparability Adjustment

Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

Annual & Sick Leave

Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

Access to Embassy commissary and gym if authorized per post policy

2. ALLOWANCES (If Applicable):

No allowances are authorized for this Resident-hire position.

VII. TAXES:

USPSCs are required to pay Federal Income Taxes, FICA, Medicare and as applicable U.S. 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

2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms

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.

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/forms http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs