Solicitation_-_Development_Advisor_(Stabilization).pdf

ATTACHMENT 1 SOL-267-17-000003

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: SOL-267-17-000003

2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 17, 2017.

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: April 7, 2017 no later than 17:00 Baghdad time.

4. POSITION TITLE: Development Advisor (Stabilization).

5. MARKET VALUE: $88,136 - $114,578 equivalent to GS-14. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Thirteen months with the option of renewal.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Baghdad, Iraq.

8. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. Citizens.

9. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: The successful applicant shall be required to obtain a Secret level security clearance.

10. BACKGROUND

Since 2003, USAID has been a major contributor to the U.S. government (USG) relief, stabilization and reconstruction effort in Iraq. USAID works closely with other USG entities, the Government of Iraq (GOI), provincial and local governments, international institutions such as the United Nations (UN) and the World Bank, and a network of partners from non-governmental organizations, local community groups, and Iraqi citizens.

U.S. assistance to Iraq has changed substantially over the past years, especially since the Da’esh offensive beginning in 2014. From 2003 to 2006, USAID focused on restoring essential services, such as in health, education, water and electricity; improving economic opportunities; building the foundation of democracy and governance; and managing conflict. In 2007, the focus shifted to strengthening the effectiveness of government and civil society, expanding private sector opportunities, supporting focused stabilization activities, and providing humanitarian assistance and support for internally displaced persons. These types of activities continued until 2009 when USG assistance began shifting from reconstruction to enhancing Iraq’s capacity to rebuild itself and improving Iraq’s ability to govern itself effectively. In December 2012 the mission’s staffing profile changed dramatically when it was forced to reduce expatriate staff by 70 percent. Since October 2014, all projects are managed by one technical office, with support from in-country

Executive and Program Offices and contracting and legal support from the Middle East Regional Platform (MERP) based in Frankfurt, Germany.

In 2014, Da’esh launched a brutal attack and secured an estimated 40 percent of Iraq’s territory. In response, the USG joined other coalition partners in the Integrated Campaign Strategy to rid Iraq and the Middle East of Da’esh. The glide path for the closure of the USAID Mission was reversed and the current portfolio targets humanitarian assistance, stabilization, and economic and governance reform. The Mission now plans assistance through 2020 and is engaging additional staff.

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

This position is located in the Governance & Economic Opportunity Office (GEO) of USAID/Iraq.

The Development Advisor for Stabilization (hereafter referred to as “Advisor”) is a project manager for USAID’s stabilization activities and will serve as the Agreement Officer Representative (AOR) for this critical counter-insurgency program in Iraq. The Advisor provides technical, analytical, management and administrative support in order to meet the objectives of programming, monitoring, coordinating, and evaluating the U.S. Government’s (USG) stabilization efforts in Iraq.

The Advisor’s responsibilities include: a) representing GEO; b) coordinating stabilization activities with the plethora of current and emerging USG, U.S. military, and donor task forces, teams and working groups; and c) preparing regular analyses, briefs, reports, cables, presentations, and other documents.

BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION

The Advisor reports to the Director of the Office of Governance and Economic Opportunity. GEO supports activities to stabilize urban and peri-urban communities in strategically selected cities identified and in line with Government of Iraq (GOI) and USG counter-insurgency objectives.

GEO currently manages over $220 million in contracts and grants. Currently stabilization activities are implemented through a public international organization (PIO) agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Under the GEO Director’s supervision and working with GEO staff and implementing partners, the Advisor will ensure the stabilization activities are coordinated with other GOI, USG agencies, U.S.

military, other donors and other USAID activities.

The Advisor will be required to participate in weekly or bi-weekly donor meetings and USG-U.S.

military activity coordination and implementation review meetings, depending on the security level of the discussions. During these meetings the Advisor will brief participants on the status of stabilization activity progress and challenges. The Advisor will make oral, written and Power Point presentations that describe activity status, time lines, technical content, progress, constraints and achievements. S/he will also recommend how to enhance UNDP’s investment/impact by improving or adjusting activity implementation.

The Advisor shall serve as the AOR for the ongoing PIO grant and any future stabilization activities. The Advisor’s duties will include the full range of representation, monitoring, management, data collection, analysis, and evaluative responsibilities for stabilization activities. In his/her capacity as AOR, the Advisor shall, among other things:

• Provide technical guidance to the implementing partner and inform other USAID/Iraq offices as required (such as the Program Office);

• Effectively manage all stabilization activities;

• Provide sufficient program/activity monitoring;

• Prepare and distribute timely and accurate reporting;

• Ensure effective public outreach in accordance with Agency requirements;

• Maintain proper electronic and hard-copy program records;

• Supervise GEO’s Foreign Service Nationals working on stabilization;

• Monitor, calculate and report on budget, finances, quarterly accruals and expenditures;

• Travel as required to visit program activity sites on an as-needed basis as activities are initiated or as implementation problems arise.

The Advisor will collaborate with USG and USAID colleagues in Baghdad and Washington, D.C.

as well as with counterparts from the local donor community and from the national government, and non-governmental organizations. The Advisor shall be based in Baghdad’s International Zone with possible travel to the ‘Red Zone’ in Baghdad, as well as to program sites in and around provincial capitals where GEO activities are implemented. The Advisor will be required to oversee stabilization activities, attend meetings, monitor programs through field visits, participate in the evaluation of programs, recommend and implement solutions to problems that may arise, and report on the financial status of stabilization programs.

DETAILED DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (percentages are approximate)

Program Management Support (15%):

The incumbent:

• will perform research, reporting, and analysis that provides programmatic, technical and activity management information to his/her superior and other senior USAID staff;

• will maintain up-to-date information on Stabilization status and processes, and complementary programs of the GOI, other USG agencies, donors and USAID;

• will draft and process Development Objective activity documentation for clearance, including requisitions, non-competition and cost share memos, action memoranda, information memoranda, and other documentation as required;

• will provide input for the Operational Plan, Congressional Budget Justifications, and other documentation as required;

• will ensure that environmental concerns as contained in Initial Environmental Examinations (IEE) are in place and up-to-date;

• will ensure pre-obligation documents are prepared, including modification documents pertaining to Stabilization’s PIO Agreement and related pre-obligation documents(e.g., 611e and 1273 sustainability certifications, initial environmental evaluation amendments, and pre-obligation checklists;

• will provide guidance to implementing partners on activity development and implementation;

and

• will determine the adequacy of program initiatives and financial resources in meeting stabilization objectives. S/he will recommend and/or pursue adjustments as required.

Program Oversight, Management & Implementation (10%):

The incumbent will be required to build and maintain a productive professional working relationship with the following parties: all USAID employees (e.g., USAID/Iraq, USAID/Middle East Region, USAID/Washington), U.S. Embassy officials (including, but not limited to, the Embassy’s Economic and Political Sections and the Office of Regional Affairs), Government of Iraq officials, USG employees, U.S. and non-U.S. partners, U.S. military and Coalition Forces in Iraq, other donor agencies, local and national government officials and the general public.

The incumbent must be able to ensure timely activity management and implementation; collect and verify program implementation and impact information (e.g., this may include statistical information, responding to tasks, requests for information and ad-hoc inquiries, activity progress reports, proposals, etc.). Similarly, the incumbent must be able to manage multiple tasks concurrently in the planning, implementation and follow-up stages of program management, including in the Baghdad USAID/Iraq office as well as at field locations (e.g., consulates) if required. The incumbent must be able to both anticipate and help resolve operational challenges that arise through day-to-day program operations.

The incumbent provides assistance to visitors and performs other duties in support of the stabilization and the development objectives and goals of USAID/Iraq. At times, this may include the organization of high-level USG visits to Iraq.

Partner Communications, Liaison and Official Interactions (50%):

The Advisor will serve as the liaison and engage in substantial coordination with representatives from other USAID offices, the host government, other USG agencies, U.S. military, UN/PVOs/NGOs/IOs, and other assisting countries. Therefore, this position requires a highly collaborative work style, the ability to synthesize and summarize relevant information to brief succinctly senior-level officials, and excellent, detail-oriented writing for reports.

The Advisor will maintain close communication with senior Embassy officials and foster open communications with USAID Mission and Embassy staff to ensure continued support of and collaboration on stabilization efforts.

S/he will represent USAID on stabilization at regular (e.g., weekly and bi-weekly) meetings with the GOI, relevant USG officials and staff, Coalition Forces in Iraq, relevant cooperating agencies, donors, implementing partners, and with USAID/Washington. Communication shall be in person, by telephone or in writing, in English. The incumbent should be able to prepare exceptional visual graphics and be able to make appealing and convincing presentations in English, with or without visual aids, to individuals and/or large groups. The incumbent will prepare weekly briefings and reports for senior management to present to the Ambassador and/or Deputy Chief of Mission.

Communications will be at all levels up to the U.S. Ambassador, U.S. military commanders, and high-level USG visitors as may be required, and also may include senior GOI and donor officials.

S/he will ensure that timely and appropriate information is reported out from USAID/Iraq via a range of information means and products.

These communications and contacts will, among other things: establish inter-agency and GOI support for stabilization activities; stimulate and maintain dialogue in support of the stabilization project; resolve programmatic challenges; formulate and/or explain stabilization’s strategy; and describe/explain the stabilization program concept and implementation environment.

Monitoring and Evaluation / Performance Monitoring (20%):

The incumbent will monitor and evaluate stabilization implementing partner performance in accordance with contractual requirements and regulations. He or she will monitor the impact of program activities and ensure that these activities are kept on schedule and are implemented within all applicable U.S. Government guidelines, laws and regulations (i.e., USAID’s Automated Directives System, or ADS). S/he will collect and distribute USG working group and partner reports to enhance stabilization impact. In collaboration with implementing partners the Advisor will collect information on program planning, implementation, and achievements and contribute relevant qualitative and quantitative information and analysis to USAID/Iraq’s Operational Plan.

The incumbent will be required to monitor and report on financial management issues (pipelines, monthly expenditure rates, accruals, etc.).

The Advisor will ensure development of and adherence to an effective monitoring and evaluation plan as part of the Stabilization PIO Agreement’s annual work plan requirement. The Advisor will perform site visits as required to review and monitor program performance and keep abreast of program developments.

USAID/Iraq Additional Activity Support, Theoretical Analysis & Strategy Development (5%)

The Advisor will serve as a member of Mission teams responsible for guiding the development, implementation and evaluation of USAID/Iraq’s assistance to support stabilization, cross-cutting themes and other sectors. This can include, but is not limited to, serving as a member of Mission Teams that affect stabilization implementation; drafting and finalizing activity-related correspondence and documents; contributing to annual and semiannual performance reviews;

drafting technical justifications for new activities and changes to on-going activities; organizing public or USG events in support of stabilization activities and mission strategies; and generally assisting in GEO program implementation as required.

Supervisory Relationship: The Advisor will report to and work under the general supervision and guidance of the Director of the Governance and Economic Opportunity Office. The GEO Director will review and approve the incumbent’s work plan and performance measures. Supervision will be generally confined to informal daily and/or weekly consultations.

Supervisory Controls: May provide guidance and supervision to at most two local employees.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requested is generally sedentary and poses few physical demands. The selected applicant must meet new fitness for duty standards for Iraq (stated in 15 State 11055) which includes: (1) a full medical evaluation, and (2) must obtain medical clearance from State/MED in order to deploy to post.

13. POINT OF CONTACT: Francisco Santos, Supervisory Human Resources Specialist, USAID/Iraq, frsantos@usaid.gov or Leslie C. Petersen, Supervisory Executive Officer, LPetersen@usaid.gov (inquiries only). Applications will NOT be accepted to these email addresses. Please see item IV for instructions on how and where to submit applications.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

1. Education: A master’s degree in international development, international relations, business, economics, public administration, social sciences, urban planning, disaster management, conflict or post-conflict studies is required.

2. Prior Work Experience: A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience working with development or humanitarian assistance in an ongoing conflict situation and/or post-conflict reconstruction is required. Prior successful experience as either AOR or COR is required. The Advisor must have extensive international development, disaster recovery, humanitarian relief, and/or fragile or strategic state experience overseas. The Advisor must have significant experience implementing development programs as either an AOR or COR. S/he must be familiar with USAID activity design, monitoring and evaluation, implementation and reporting procedures and policies.

3. Language Proficiency: Level IV English ability (fluent) is required (reading, writing and speaking).

4. Knowledge: Knowledge of USAID processes, procedures and instruments is required. Knowledge of military and civilian agencies involved in development, conflict mitigation, or disaster relief activities is required.

5. Skills and Abilities: The candidate must possess:

• Demonstrated project management, inter-donor and inter-agency coordination (especially with the U.S. military) and monitoring/oversight skills are required;

• The ability to operate basic computer tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and potentially Access is required;

• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated political acumen to establish and maintain collaborative relations with counterparts both inside and outside of USAID are required;

• A proven, demonstrated ability to work independently under tight deadlines and heavy workload within agreed-upon parameters with minimal supervision or guidance and while exercising sound judgment is required;

• The ability to conceptualize both strategically and programmatically is required;

• An entrepreneurial, results-oriented approach to assistance, and the ability to diplomatically and tactfully confront and resolve institutional and interagency bureaucratic challenges while maintaining collaborative relations is required;

• “Self-starter” skills in order to anticipate and proactively address client needs are required;

• A proven ability to respond quickly to changing environments and evolving client needs are required; and

• An ability to work calmly, tactfully and effectively under pressure and adapt to the existing management team are required.

mailto:frsantos@usaid.gov mailto:LPetersen@usaid.gov

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

Applicants must submit a summary statement of no more than one letter-size page, which describes how their relevant professional experience and education has prepared them to meet the specific challenges of the duties and responsibilities described above. Following the interview, those applicants ranked highest may be required to submit a timed writing sample on a topic provided.

The selection committee may conduct reference checks at any time during the selection process.

Applications that do not meet the required minimum qualifications will not be scored.

- Work experience (40 points)

- Knowledge (20 points)

- Skills and abilities (20 points)

- Education (10 points)

- Language (10 points)

Total possible points: 100

Candidates meeting the above required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and reference checks. References will be asked to assess the applicant’s technical knowledge, work performance, communication skills, and group dynamics, using the above criteria. USAID reserves the right to conduct interviews with the top ranked short-listed applicants. The interview will be one of the determining factors in the final selection.

IV. APPLYING

1. Qualified applicants are requested to submit:

A. Most current Curriculum Vitae or resume;

B. Completed and signed USPSC Application Form, a302-3 (Offeror Information for Personal

Services Contracts), which can be found at the following website: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/a302-3.doc ;

C. Three professional references, who are not blood-related, with telephone and e-mail contacts;

D. Brief appendix of no more than one letter-size page to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training have prepared them to meet the specific challenges of the duties and responsibilities described in the solicitation.

2. Applications must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted electronically to: IraqUSPSCjobs@usaid.gov.

3. To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, Applicants must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the application submission.

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/a302-3.doc mailto:IraqUSPSCjobs@usaid.gov

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

Once the CO informs the successful Applicant about being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide the successful Applicant 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),

3. Finger Print Card (FD-258)

4. OF-306

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:

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

(a) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(b) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(c) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(d) Education Travel (Section 280)

(e) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

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

(g) Danger Pay Allowance (Section 650)

VII. TAXES

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

VIII. ACQUISITION & ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRECTIVES (AAPDS) AND CONTRACT

INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBS) PERTAINING TO PSCs

Various Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs) and Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives (AAPDs) pertain to Personal Services Contracts can be found at:

http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs

Additionally, AIDAR Appendixes D and J that apply to PSCs can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/aidar.pdf http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/aidar.pdf