SOL-306-12-000049-OEGI.docx

Solicitation no. 306-12-000049/OEGI

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: 306-12-000049/OEGI

2. ISSUING DATE: May 13, 2012

3. CLOSING DATE: June 02, 2012

4. POSITION TITLE: Senior Program Engineer

5. Number of Positions: Multiple

6. MARKETING VALUE: GS-14 ($8469700 – $110,104.00)

7. ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION OF POSITION: USAID/AFGHANISTAN

8. DIRECT SUPERVISOR: Energy or Water Team Leader

9. SUPERVISORY CONTROL: May include supervision of FSN staff or indirect supervision of program teams

11. SECURITY ACCESS: Secret Level

12. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. Citizens Only

POSITION DESCRIPTION: USAID USPSC SENIOR PROGRAM ENGINEER

A. Introduction

After decades of war and civil strife, Afghanistan emerged in late 2001 as a fragile state with devastated infrastructure. The extent of destruction of the country's physical, institutional, human and social capital left Afghanistan in dire straits with enormous challenges to both the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) and donors with regard to rebuilding of the country’s essential infrastructure, especially in energy, roads, water and sanitation, schools, clinics, hospitals and government buildings.

B. USAID/Afghanistan

USAID/Afghanistan remains at the forefront of the U.S. foreign policy agenda. The United States is the largest donor to Afghanistan, and USAID is designated as the principal agency for managing U.S. Government (USG) development assistance. With a portfolio valued at approximately $5.9 billion, the Mission is the second largest USAID program in the world, with comprehensive sector programs in agricultural and alternative development, health, education, democracy and governance, economic development, and infrastructure rehabilitation. USAID also has transitional and special initiatives involving Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs).

The Mission’s Office of Economic Growth and Infrastructure (OEGI) is the largest technical field office in the Agency. OEGI’s Infrastructure Group consists of roads, water/sanitation, vertical structures, and energy teams, all of which are key to the achievement of USG objectives in Afghanistan. The Infrastructure Group also supplies engineering and technical review services for construction activities in health, education, and PRTs.

The Energy and Water Teams currently manage a portfolio in excess of $2 billion. Coordination of Afghanistan’s energy and water programs is extremely complex and includes the U.S. Military, other USG agencies, other donors, and GIRoA ministries. The Energy and Water Teams include 16 professionals, including US Personal Services Contractors (PSCs), US Army Corps of Engineer (USACE) participating agency services agreement (PASA) staff, Third Country National PSCs, and Foreign Service Nationals.

USAID/Afghanistan implements projects through direct contracts (off-budget) or funds contracts held by Afghan Governmental agencies (on-budget). USAID/Afghanistan is transitioning most programs to on-budget assistance.

C. Basic role in the organization

The Senior Program Engineer (SPE) will be based in USAID Afghanistan Office of Office of Economic Growth and Infrastructure in Kabul but at times will be required to travel throughout Afghanistan to assist with site visits and reporting requirements in conjunction with quality assurance and project acceptance inspections for ongoing contracted work.

The SPE will guide the planning, design and implementation of construction, renovation, and improvement projects in the energy, mining, water and other natural resource management sectors, providing engineering and management expertise and guidance, analyzing contract plans and specifications to identify problem areas or potential problems with planned construction and activities, and making recommendations to resolve problems.

The SPE will serve as a Contract Officer's Representative (COR) leading teams in the administration of off-budget direct USAID contracts and/or as Activity Manager in administration of on-budget host country contracts.

The incumbent will lead Energy and/or Water Team members in preparing and obtaining Mission approval on a wide range of internal USAID documents, which include budgets, Action Memo clearance packages, GLAAS funding requests, waivers, annual operational plans and indicators, annual performance reports, portfolio reviews, financial accruals, monitoring and evaluation, and special reports such as audits.

The SPE will be housed in OEGI and report to the Energy or Water Team Leader.

D. Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Program Engineer (SPE) duties and responsibilities are as follows:

1. Exercise consistent and superior judgment in implementing of all aspects of his/her work, work with minimal supervision, and exercise wide latitude in planning and executing assignments.

2. Become familiar with USAID policies, procedures, objectives, and strategies.

3. Become familiar with major stakeholders in Energy or Water sector amount GIRoA Ministries and donors, their responsibilities, objectives, and activities.

4. Guide the conceptual design of activities, and the preparation of program descriptions, amendments, and related statements of work.

5. Lead technical evaluation committees to evaluate and select contractors and grantees.

6. Obtain Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) certification. Serve as a lead or alternate COR or ACOR on one or more OEGI projects.

7. Manage energy, mining, and water sector projects and program teams, monitor contract deliverables, assess implementing partner performance, ensure that work meets specifications, and closeout completed activities.

8. Guide other Energy and Water Team personnel to manage activities.

9. Maintain project and program files, including databases on project performance, implementation progress, disbursement of funds, and achievement of objectives.

10. Review financial reports from implementing partners, monitor expenditures, process contractor invoices, prepare pipelines, accruals, and program modification requests. Track commitments, obligations and de—obligation actions.

11. Prepare and review action memos, implementation letters, and other procurement documents.

12. Support implementing partners to strengthen their technical and financial reporting, to meet the information needs of Congress, auditors, and other stakeholders, external and internal.

13. Guide design, development, and implementation of performance monitoring systems and other information tracking systems; lead the collection of baseline data, coordinate monitoring and evaluation, and analyze collected data.

14. Determine program successes and failures; recommend actions to build on strengths, or address shortcomings, of program implementation.

15. Lead natural resource team related to energy, mining and water participation in USAID planning, needs forecasting, and budgeting.

16. Prepare updates for the annual USAID Operational Plan and other reporting, for semiannual and annual portfolio reviews with mission management, for Congressional taskers and presentations.

17. Draft or review official correspondence and respond to information requests from the Government of Afghanistan and other entities in the sector.

18. Convene and lead meetings to support and coordinate activities, programs, budgets, strategic objectives, and intermediate result issues. Represent USG and USAID as subject matter experts.

19. Build and maintain professional relationships with Mission employees and leadership, USAID/Washington staff, consultants, implementing partners, government officials, and donor agencies.

20. Provide balanced and objective input into discussions of USAID/Afghanistan policies and strategy in the Energy and Water sectors.

21. Perform other related duties as assigned by the Energy and Water Team Leaders or other USAID supervisors.

E. EVALUATION CRITERIA/SELECTION CRITERIA:

Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following selection criteria:

1. Education: (20 Points) Bachelor's degree relevant to the construction, management, or commercialization of energy and water programs in a development context. Undergraduate and graduate degrees in civil, mechanical, electrical, or power engineering; economics, business, or project management; or in environmental or water resource management are desirable.

2. Work Experience: (25 Points) Ten years of progressively responsible experience in development or infrastructure program management is required. Four years field experience with international organizations in developing country, post-conflict, or emergency response environments is preferred. Additional experience beneficial. Business or financial management experience preferred. Experience in hydropower construction and management; power production, transmission, distribution and management; hydrocarbon production, sustainable energy, utility commercialization, water and sanitation, or water resource management preferred.

3. Communication skills: (20 Points) Demonstrated ability to communicate professionally and effectively, both orally and in writing, at the highest levels is required. Excellent presentation, analytical and writing skills are required, specifically, experience in the independent analysis, interpretation, and presentation of complex data orally and in precise, accurate, clear and complete written formats before multiple international stakeholders.

4. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (35 Points) In-depth knowledge of the concepts, principles, techniques, and practices of a professional field directly related to energy or water programs required.

Strong engineering or managerial skills needed to support the design and implementation of the diverse and challenging USAID energy and water portfolio required.

Sustained responsibility for activity design, implementation, management, and evaluation of high value programs in a conflict, post conflict, or development environment required.

Ability to manage resources effectively and efficiently (staff, equipment, and budgets) is required.

Maturity, stability, objectivity, resourcefulness, adaptability, and the application of sound professional judgment are required.

Ability to conceptualize, analyze, identify problems, develop solutions, and exercise sound judgment is required.

Ability to work effectively with superiors, subordinates, colleagues, and partners, both inside and outside the Mission is required.

Good interpersonal skills, the ability to work effectively in a multicultural team environment, and to achieve consensus on project and administrative matters, is required.

Excellent verbal communication skills, tact and diplomacy and the ability to establish and develop productive working relations with key counterparts, and a high level of trust with public and private organizations required.

Excellent written communication skills sufficient to prepare high quality regular and ad hoc reports on program activities and progress, presentations required.

Advanced computer literacy in word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation programs, and the ability to use those skills to support professional presentations and briefers. Facility in use of email and the internet, and the ability to learn workplace specific programs for payroll, travel, and project management required.

In depth knowledge of USAID policies, regulations, methodologies, and documentation desired.

Excellent knowledge of Afghan recent history, social and ethnic tensions, and its economic and political development is desired.

Post Entry Training: Over time, and as courses become available, training in USAID Agency processes will be provided (A/COR, strategic planning, performance monitoring and program planning).

Maximum Points Available: 100.

F. Terms of Performance

The term of the contract will be for 13 months. Within 2 weeks after written notice from the Contracting Officer that all clearances have been received or, unless another date is specified by the Contracting Officer in writing, the incumbent shall proceed to Washington, DC for a period not to exceed three days of consultations with relevant USAID stakeholders as well as the USG interagency, Congress, donor and NGO community. Following consultations in Washington, the incumbent will take the two mandatory pre-deployment training courses and then proceed directly to Kabul to perform the above services, which may be extended upon mutual agreement and subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds. This position has been classified at a U.S. Government GS 14. The actual salary of the successful candidate will be negotiated depending on qualifications and previous salary history.

In addition, the Mission has 35% Post Differential allowance and 35% Danger Pay. FICA and federal income tax will be withheld by USAID for U.S. PSCs only. Employee is authorized two R&R (Rest and Recuperation) and three RRBs (Regional Rest Break) during the 1-year assignment period. In lieu of the three RRBs, employee may be authorized an additional R&R trip for a total of three R&R trips.

Afghanistan is a no-dependent post.

F. General information regarding living and working conditions in Afghanistan

Life in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan has somewhat improved since the establishment of the government, and great strides have been made to regularize the availability of services, utilities, and supplies of common consumer items. Living conditions, however, are still difficult but this is an historical opportunity to work closely with a dedicated team to assist the Afghans to bring about peace and stability to their war-torn country. Afghanistan is an unaccompanied post. All staff will be housed on the heavily guarded and fortified Embassy compound, at a military compound, or at a PRT.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: Work in the office is mostly sedentary but travel to program activity implementation sites outside of Kabul requires U.S. Government Regional Security Officer (RSO) approval, travel in fully armored vehicles and close coordination with the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate security officers, DoD, and ISAF as relevant. PRT sites are in remote areas of Afghanistan in rugged terrain that requires good physical condition to conduct site assessments.

G. Medical and Security Clearance

The selected applicant must be able to obtain USG Secret Level security clearance. US Citizens should obtain Department of State Class I Medical Clearance.

H. Benefits:

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 U.S. 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.]

A. BENEFITS:

· FICA Contribution

· Contribution toward Health & life insurance

· Pay Comparability Adjustment

· Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

· Annual & Sick Leave

· Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service as per post policy B. ALLOWANCES (If Applicable):

(1) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120)

(2) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

(3) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(4) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230)

(5) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

(6) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and

(7) Danger Pay (Section 650)

(8) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(9) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) (10)Education Travel (Section 280)

* Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas).

C. FEDERAL TAXES: PSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes under the foreign earned income exclusion.

I. CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs/AAPDs) 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/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/cib/subject.html#psc

Additionally, AIDAR Appendixes D or J also applies to PSCs can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/aidar.pdf

J. APPLYING

All applications should be submitted electronically to e-mail address

AfUSAIDJobs@state.gov

Attention: Sameer Lodeen Human Resources Specialist USAID/Afghanistan

To ensure that your application is received for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number in the subject line of your e-mail as (SOL-306-12-000049/OEGI) or your application may not be considered.

Applicants may submit an application against this solicitation at any time but prior to June 02, 2012 16:30 local (Kabul) time unless revised.

The highest ranking applications may be selected for an interview.

Please note that only short listed candidates will be notified.

K. LIST OF REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

For initial consideration:

1. Cover Letter

2. his/her most current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume;

3. three (3) to five (5) references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and email contacts,

a. The applicant's references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities. USAID/Afghanistan will only contact references for the finalist, and will only do so with the permission of the applicant.

4. a written statement that addresses the Evaluation/Selection Criteria in this solicitation.

The CV/resume must contain sufficient relevant information to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria. Broad general statements that are vague or lacking specificity will not be considered as effectively addressing particular selection criteria.

L. Other Information related to PSCs:

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

http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/cib/subject.html#psc

Additionally, AIDAR Appendixes D or J also applies to PSCs, which can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/aidar.pdf

Point of Contact:

Sameer Lodeen Human Resources Specialist Email: slodeen@usaid.gov Phone (in Afghanistan) – (202) 216-6288 Ext. 4344;

Cell 0093797777301 or Fax (202) 216-6288 (Ext. 105)

Place of Performance USAID/Afghanistan U.S. Embassy Great Masoud Road Kabul, Afghanistan

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