Sol_SOL-165-17-000008,_SPO_(FINAL).docx

SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL-165-17-000008

ISSUANCE DATE: 06/28/2017

CLOSING DATE/TIME: 07/12/2017, 17:00 Skopje Time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC)

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Macedonia, 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 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 attached information.

Sincerely, Joseph Sidari Regional Executive Officer/Contracting Officer

ATTACHMENT 1

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: SOL-165-17-000008

2. ISSUANCE DATE: 06/28/2017

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: 07/12/2017, 17:00 Skopje Time

4. POSITION TITLE: Supervisory Program Officer (SPO)

5. MARKET VALUE: $103,672 -$134,776 per annum equivalent to GS-15 Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Eleven (11) months

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Skopje, Macedonia

8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret

9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

General Statement of Purpose of the Contract:

This position is located in the Program Office (PO) of USAID/Macedonia. The position's primary purpose is to act as the PO Director. This highly experienced PO Director will oversee a range of program office duties including project design, strategic planning, and reporting services. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, Congressional reporting, project design development, staff development, Mission training, and performance reporting for each of the Mission's technical sectors. In addition, s/he may be called upon to act for the Mission Director in his/her absence. The PO Director also ensures Mission coordination with regional support services provided by the Regional Executive Office, Regional Contracting Office, the Regional Legal Office, and the Regional Financial Management Office.

Duties to be Performed:

• Overall Coordination:

Oversee Mission adherence to Foreign Assistance (F), Agency, Europe and Eurasia Bureau (E&E), State/EUR/ACE and Mission policies and directives. The PO Director also serves as the Mission's key point of contact with USAID/Washington Desk Officer(s) and E&E Program Support Office, and is responsible for ensuring communication flows between the field and Washington.

The incumbent will establish regular working relationships with USAID General Development Office Director, activity managers, other Embassy Offices, regional support offices, as well as mid-to-high-level representatives of the Government of Macedonia, donor, and implementing organizations.

• Programmatic Reporting:

The PO Director is responsible for managing the Mission-wide development and timely submission of the FY 2017 Performance and Progress Report in the fall of 2017. This will involve coordinating with other agencies present in the Mission and managing data collection, review and edits to ensure its accuracy and completeness, as well as write-ups of operating unit-wide narratives as required. Furthermore, the PO Director works with the Mission's Project Development Specialist to ensure Mission compliance with Agency standards on Performance Monitoring Plans and tracking and updating of indicators. The PO Director is also responsible for leading the twice annual Portfolio Reviews, and for managing evaluations.

• Budget Processes:

The PO Director is responsible for supervising the Mission Budget Specialist and successful completion of budget implementation tasks including submission of FY 2018 Congressional Budget Justifications (CBJ) narratives, the FY 2018 Annual Budget Review, the FY 2018 Strawman Budget, F Memos, F Change Notices, Congressional Notifications when required, review and approval of GLAAS requisitions and working with staff to ultimately advise Mission Management on budget allocations and priority setting. The PO Director is also responsible for leading the FY 18 Operational Plan and the FY 2020 Mission resource request for all Embassy foreign assistance. In addition, the PO Director will be responsible for managing budget tasks such as accruals reporting, pipeline analysis, and Quarterly Budget Reviews.

• Program Design Support:

The incumbent will serve as an advisor on the development of new assistance to ensure that concepts, designs, and desired results are clear and in line with USAID policies and procedures, and the Mission's strategic framework, and adequately justify the use of budgetary resources through managing the Mission's overall project design, review, and approval processes. The incumbent serves as an advisor on matters related to procurement planning for new and ongoing activities and ensures Mission staff is informed of Mission and Agency requirements. Consistent with Mission policies and procedures, the incumbent would be responsible for advising technical staff on the preparation of, and ultimately approving, Activity Approval Documents, packages, checklists, and other requirements.

• Communications and Outreach Oversight:

The incumbent provides oversight of the Development Communications & Outreach (DOC) team, comprised of a PSC and an FSN. Duties of the team include written communication products and management/coordination of the Mission's outreach activities, which includes updating of the Mission website and Facebook page; liaising with implementing partner Information Officers to convey Agency guidance on communications as well as regular capacity building; preparation of Ambassadorial and Mission Director remarks for events and interviews; dissemination of public information such as press releases, talking points, briefers, and scene setters; management and coordination of official site visits and information reporting to the Embassy and USAID/Washington. In addition, the DOC team is responsible for the Mission’s social media outreach and managing the 25th anniversary campaign. These efforts must also be well coordinated with input of the Mission's technical teams. The incumbent must also work closely with the Embassy Front Office and the Public Affairs Section to ensure messaging is well coordinated.

• Cross-cutting:

The PO Director chairs the Inclusive Development Committee, leading the Mission on initiatives and capacity building related to gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, and vulnerable groups. In addition, the PO Director serves as the gender Point of Contact. They also head USAID Forward-related initiatives including local capacity building efforts aimed at local organizations and play a key role in the management of Localworks.

Supervisory Relationship:

Contractor will report directly to the Mission Director, who will be responsible for managing the contractor's performance.

Supervisory Controls:

The incumbent is expected to demonstrate a high level of leadership, independence, professionalism, judgment, and responsibility.

10. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. citizens.

11. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

12. POINT OF CONTACT: Human Resources Office via email at mmacedonia@usaid.gov

II&III. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION & EVALUATION FACTORS:

A. General In order to be considered for the position, a candidate must be a U.S. citizen and must submit an application in accordance with the guidance provided. Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the evaluation criteria. Interviews and a writing exercise may be requested, and professional references will be checked at the discretion of the USAID/Macedonia Mission. Applicants are required to prepare a brief narrative demonstrating how education, experience, and skills address the evaluation criteria listed below. Candidates must also have effective computer skills particularly in Microsoft Office. Regional or international travel may be required.

The selected candidate must be able to obtain USAID secret security clearance. If a security clearance is not able to be obtained within two months after the selected submits the initial security clearance documentation, the offer may be rescinded. A U.S. State Department medical clearance will also be required. Details on how to obtain a medical clearance will be provided once a job offer is made and accepted.

B. Evaluation Criteria The selection criteria for this PO position are as follows:

1. EDUCATION: (10 points) A Master’s degree in a relevant social science field such as international relations or development, or a Master of Business Administration, is required.

2. WORK EXPERIENCE: (50 points) A minimum of ten years of demonstrated technical and administrative leadership in the programming skills required by USAID is required. That experience will cover a combination of the following: strategic planning, program budgeting and budget implementation, reporting, and/or project design. The majority of that work must have been with USAID, preferably as a Foreign Service Officer. Additional experience in programming capacities either for a USAID implementer or with a bilateral or multilateral donor organization is acceptable. Five years of the applicant’s overall experience must be at a senior managerial level, as an office director or deputy, or higher.

The incumbent must have a demonstrated ability to exercise significant, independent professional judgment to anticipate both systemic and ad-hoc program and activity design, budgeting, and operational problems and issues requiring strategy development, policy decisions, and innovative solutions. Proven Project Development expertise is a plus.

3. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: (40 points) Demonstrated experience in a team environment, and excellent skills as a program advisor, are required. Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to work effectively in a culturally diverse context are required. Superior oral and written communication skills in English are required. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain high level contacts with a host country government, donor organizations, bilateral and multilateral agencies, and private-sector organizations is a benefit. Experience with and knowledge of U.S. foreign policy goals and objectives for the Balkans region is highly useful. Excellent time management skills and ability to cope effectively with a fast-paced, often stressful work environment are essential.

Must have the ability to: absorb large amounts of information and accurately report them; make contacts; work productively with teams; take initiative and action; and make on-the-spot decisions which are necessary to guide, support and complete development activities across a broad and complex range of technical specialties.

Thorough knowledge of development principles, program and project development, budgeting, management, and analytical skills to assess activity feasibility required. Relevance of prior experience to procedures and directives related to strategic development, programming, project development, approval, implementation, results review, performance monitoring, evaluation and activity; provide leadership and make recommendations regarding public policy and programs; excellent written and oral communication skills, analytical; management; and interpersonal teamwork skills required. Proven ability to mentor USAID staff is required.

IV. APPLYING

1. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 302-3, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts,” available at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms , and a brief narrative demonstrating how education, experience, and skills address the evaluation criteria listed above.

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, item 11.

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

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

Once the 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.

1. Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms)

2. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions for National Security (SF-86), or

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

4. Finger Print Card (FD-258)

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

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

1. 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

2. ALLOWANCES:

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

Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas)

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)

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 .

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 image1.png