SOL-438-15-000002_Sr.Dev't_Advisor.pdf

SOL-438-15-000002

USAID/Mongolia Sr. Development Advisor

Solicitation for U.S. Citizens Personal Services Contractor (USPSC)

USAID/Mongolia Senior Development Advisor, GS-15 equivalent

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER : SOL- 438-15-000002

2. ISSUANCE DATE : February 26, 2015

3. CLOSING DATE SPECIFIED

FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS : March 20, 2015 11:00AM, Manila, Philippines, Local Time

4. POSITION TITLE : Senior Development Advisor for USAID/Mongolia

5. MARKET VALUE : $101,630 - $ 132,122 per annum

(GS 15 – equivalent)

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE : May 2015 to September 2016 with option to extend subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds

7. WORK HOURS : Full-time; 40 hours/week

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE : Performance will take place in the USAID/Mongolia

Office in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia with travel within Mongolia and to the USAID/Philippines Office in Manila, Philippines

9. SECURITY CLEARANCE : As a pre-condition for employment, the apparently successful candidate shall be required to obtain a secret-level security clearance.

10. MEDICAL CLEARANCE : As a pre-condition for employment, the apparently successful candidate, and any eligible family members who will accompany the candidate to post, shall be required to obtain a

Department of State Medical clearance to work and/or live in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia .

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

12. STATEMENT OF WORK

I BACKGROUND

USAID/Mongolia is undergoing a transition and will downsize in presence at the end of fiscal year 2014.

In line with the transition, USAID will launch a new legacy program which will build upon the previous work that we have done in Mongolia and which will represent the last years of development assistance funding. The legacy program is expected to create a mutually beneficial partnership to sustain a healthy and production relationship between the public and private sectors in support of Mongolia’s economic growth and good governance.

In consultation with the Government of Mongolia and USAID Washington, it was agreed that the legacy program will focus its resources on three main components: a) improving the business enabling environment; b) providing support to the USAID established local non-governmental organization the Quality Supply Development Center (QSDC); and c) capacity building for the Ministry of Economic Development in the area of public/private/partnerships.

In order to ensure adequate staffing to manage the transition and manage the legacy program, the mission needs to procure a U.S. Personal Services Contractor (PSC) to serve as the Senior Development Advisor and the sole American at post.

II BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION

The Senior Development Advisor will provide overall program management support for the legacy program. S/he will play a key role in advising the U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia on all development issues, and work with remaining Foreign Service National staff on the implementation of the USAID Legacy program. S/he will ensure timely obligation of all remaining bilateral development assistance funding, and serve as the USAID principal officer and representative to all external stakeholders in Mongolia. The Senior Development Advisor will particularly focus on planning, programming, and procurement related functions. S/he will also be responsible for the annual reporting of budget documents such as the completion of the Operational Plan, the Performance Plan and Report, and the Integrated Country Strategy. The Senior Development Advisor will also conduct the negotiations on the Assistance Agreement between USAID and the Government of Mongolia.

III. SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Specifically, the Senior Development Advisor will undertake the following tasks:

a) Provide effective quality control and technical oversight while also ensuring adherence to USAID policies and procedures. This will entail significant involvement in managing the mission’s legacy program, reviewing work plans, engaging with various development partners, providing guidance to local staff regarding project implementation, advising recipients/contractors, drafting correspondence, making strategic and tactical adjustments and assuring achievement of results.

b) Take the lead in preparing significant program and project documentation, including scopes of work, procurement plans, budgets, obligation schedules, program descriptions, procurement requisitions, Washington reporting and other materials.

c) Establish and maintain and effective program monitoring system. This will entail assessing and making recommendations on ongoing program performance, in part through site visits as well as regular discussions and consultations with staff, partners and counterparts. The incumbent may also be required to procure and carry-out external evaluation of programs.

d) Advise the U.S. Ambassador and Country Team: Provide strategic guidance, analysis, advice and recommendations regarding development issues to the U.S. Ambassador and the wider U.S.

Embassy Country Team. Also, provide similar inputs in discussions with other donors and counterparts.

e) Serve as outreach and donor coordinator: Represent USAID in Mongolia to other heads of donor agencies, private sector, civil society organizations, and the host country government. This will include making public remarks during USAID sponsored public events, representing USAID at heads of donor agency meetings, and attending high level events with senior Government of Mongolia officials.

f) Supervise two Foreign Service Nationals (FSN) staff: Provide overall direction and supervision for the Project Development Specialist and Program Management Assistant. Work with them to set their work objectives, develop their individual development plans, and address training needs.

g) Undertake Other Activities as Appropriate: From time to time, perform certain other duties relevant to this position that is not specifically described above such as those assigned by the USAID/Philippines Mission Director and/or the U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia that are considered inherent to the position as well as to the smooth functioning of a limited presence mission working in a dynamic, complex and changing political and economic environment.

IV. CORE FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

The specific duties of the Senior Development Advisor will include:

1. Program Management and Technical Expertise (30%)

The Senior Development Advisor will provide overall policy and technical advice with regard to overall project implementation. S/he will supervise the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for the Legacy program and will serve as the Alternate Contracting Officer’s Representative (A/COR). S/he will interact with government officials in Mongolia and maintain good relationships with the contractor, the donor community, and other stakeholders. As the Senior Development Advisor, s/he will serve on the U.S.

Ambassador’s Country Team and will provide technical expertise and guidance to the Ambassador and the wider Embassy country team on all development related issues.

2. Program Cycle, Budgeting, and Reporting (50%)

The Senior Development Advisor will provide leadership with regard to the annual program cycle and all reporting to Washington. This will entail liaising with USAID/Philippines Program office on the timely completion of core agency requirements such as the Operational Plan, the Congressional Budget Justification, the Performance Plan and Report, the Mission Resource Request, and any updates to the Integrated Country Strategy. The contractor will be expected to advise the U.S. Ambassador and other members of the country team on issues related to Mongolia’s foreign assistance budgets and to respond to taskers from Washington.

3. Outreach and Coordination (20%)

The Senior Development Advisor will serve as the de-facto spokesperson for USAID programs in Mongolia. In coordination with USAID/Philippines and the Public Affairs section of the U.S. Embassy, S/he will represent the work of USAID to all external stakeholders in Mongolia. This will include other donors, the private sector, civil society organizations, and senior officials within the host government.

V. DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION:

Decision Making

The position requires mastery of a broad field of expertise as well as proficiency in economic growth technical areas. The contractor will be expected to make decisions and demonstrate leadership in the management of the legacy program as well as provide guidance and overall support to FSN local staff and the U.S. Embassy.

Supervisory Controls

The Senior Development Advisor will receive administration direction and supervision from the USAID Mission Director in USAID/Philippines in Manila. S/he in turn will report to the U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia on development assistance activities related to Mongolia. As Supervisor, the USAID Mission Director will normally review analyses, evaluations, and recommendations developed by the Senior Development Advisor for their potential influence on broad agency policy objectives and program goals.

The Supervisor will work with the Senior Development Advisor to set specific work objectives and develop deadlines, projects, and work to be accomplished. The Senior Development Advisor is expected to take initiative and to manage his/her tasks efficiently. S/he will have supervisory responsibilities over two FSN staff, one professional and one administrative.

Guidelines

The Senior Development Advisor is recognized as an expert in the development and/or interpretation of guidance on program planning and evaluation in a specialized area. The Senior Development Advisor will use judgment and discretion in determining intent, and in interpreting and revising existing policy and regulatory guidance for use by others within or outside the employing organization.

Complexity

The Senior Development Advisor will plan, organize, and complete analytical studies involving substantial aspects of key agency programs. As study coordinator, the Senior Development Advisor will assign segments of the studies to various participants who are subject-matter specialists in fields appropriate to the study, coordinates the efforts of the group, and consolidates findings into a completed project. There is extreme complexity and difficulty in identifying the nature of the issues or problems to be studied, and in planning, organizing, and determining the scope and depth of the studies. The nature and scope of the issues are largely undefined. It is expected that there will be difficulties to be encountered in separating the substantive nature of the programs or issues into their administrative, technical, political, economic, fiscal, and other components, determining the nature and magnitude of the interactions, discerning the intent of legislation and broad agency policies, and in determining how to translate the intent into recommended program actions. The work involves efforts to develop and implement programs based upon new or revised legislation requiring consideration of the immediate sequential and long-range effects, both direct and indirect, of proposed actins on the public, other government programs, and/or private industry.

Scope and Effect

The purpose of the Senior Development Advisor’s work is to support the Mongolia Mission in achieving USAID goals. This will require planning and leadership in technical areas. Results of his/her work are critical to the mission.

Exercise of Judgment

The Senior Development Advisor is required to exercise independent judgment and ingenuity to interpret and develop applications and guidelines in devising innovative approaches to resolving technical, administrative, and managerial and/or policy problems. Balanced judgment must be exercised in setting priorities. The use of initiative, discretion and patience is expected from the Senior Development Advisor r in dealing with USAID office personnel, USG interagency representatives as well as representatives from donor organizations and Government of Mongolia, and other foreign government officials to resolve problems that arise during the course of work for which there is often no clear or immediate solution. In addition, considerable judgment is required in working effectively and coordinating multi-sector efforts in support of USAID development objectives and in collecting, analyzing and reporting on progress of activities and recommending project actions. The Senior Development Advisor will also be required to follow and adhere to USAID’s Code of Ethics and Conduct.

Personal Contacts

Personal contacts are with private sector companies and with government officials from outside USAID at national or international levels in highly unstructured settings. Examples include representatives of the donor community, other international diplomatic missions, senior government officials or executives of comparable private sector organizations.

Purpose of Contacts

The purpose of the contacts will usually require active participation in conferences, meetings, or presentations involving problems or issues of considerable consequence or importance. The persons contacted typically have diverse viewpoints, goals, or objectives. The Senior Development Advisor will be required to help in achieving a common understanding of the problem, seeking a satisfactory solution, arriving at a compromise, and/or developing suitable alternatives.

Authority to Make Commitments

The Senior Development Advisor will have no authority to obligate or commit funds on behalf of the U.S.

Government (USAID) funds.

13. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is primarily sedentary, although some walking, bending, or carrying of light items may be involved.

14. WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting rooms, training rooms, etc. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

15. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE AND PROVIDED SERVICES

Performance will take place in the USAID/Mongolia office in the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. In-country travel to other areas in Mongolia is expected up to 5% of the time. Transportation, communications, office space, translation services, travel permissions, and computer will be provided by USAID as available and needed.

16. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

To be considered for this position candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications:

1. Must have United States citizenship ;

2. Holds a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree but Masters degree in business, economics, law, development studies, public administration/public policy, project management or related field is preferred;

3. Have at least ten (10) years of progressive experience in project or program management, with international development experience.

17: EVALUATION / SELECTION CRITERIA

To be considered for this position, candidates must meet the minimum qualifications noted above. For applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, further consideration and selection will be based on panel assessment of the selection factors listed below.

A. Education (10 points): At least a Bachelor’s degree but Masters degree in business, economics, law, development studies, public administration/public policy, project management or a related field is preferred. Candidates will be evaluated on the relevance of their educational accomplishment to the functional responsibilities of the position.

B. Professional Experience (30 points): At least ten (10) years of substantial program management experience in a developing or post-Soviet development context, preferably involving a mix of public and private sector knowledge and expertise.

C. USG/USAID or other Donor Knowledge (20 points): Demonstrated familiarity with key elements of the major policy, administrative and technical elements involved in delivering donor programs successfully in a related multilateral or bilateral donor context. This includes demonstrated skills in planning, monitoring and implementing aid programs and activities.

D. Strong Interpersonal, Communication and Relevant Technical Skills (40 points):

Demonstrated ability to work with a broad range of counterparts at all levels; contribute in a team-oriented workplace; employ strong inter-personal and inter-cultural skills; display good judgment and strong analytical skills; and communicate effectively in both written and oral form.

Maximum Points Available: 100

18. START DATE

May 2015, with the necessary security and medical clearances obtained.

19. POINT OF CONTACT

Irene V Narag, Acquisition & Assistance Agent, Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance

20. HOW TO APPLY

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

The most highly rated candidates may be called for interviews. Applications must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter. Applications received after the date and time shall be considered late and may be considered at the discretion of the Contracting Officer.

We suggest you confirm that all documents submitted were received prior to the closing date and time of this notice.

Qualified individuals are requested to submit the following as an application package:

1. A complete and signed Application for Federal employment (OF-612). Forms available at the USAID website, http://www.usaid.gov/forms/

2. A resume or curriculum vitae relevant to the position for which the applicant is applying;

3. Writing sample must be included in the application to demonstrate written, English language ability. Note that the writing sample may be an excerpt of a larger work and need not be specifically written for this solicitation.

4. A separate document providing three professional references with complete contact information including: address, email addresses and mobile telephone numbers and relationship to applicant. USAID reserves the right to contact all references.

21. WHERE TO APPLY

Applications must be submitted by email no later than March 20 at 11:00 AM, Manila, Philippines Local Time.

The email submission address is: manila-roaa-rfp@usaid.gov with copies to aholland@usaid.gov and inarag@usaid.gov . Please indicate Solicitation No. SOL-438-15-000003 in the subject line.

22. BENEFITS and ALLOWANCES

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

BENEFITS

Employee's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ mailto:manila-roaa-rfp@usaid.gov mailto:aholland@usaid.gov mailto:inarag@usaid.gov

Pay Comparability Adjustment Annual Increase Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual and Sick Leave Home Leave Military Leave Leave Without Pay Compensatory Leave Transportation of Personal Effects, Household Effects, and Personally Owned Vehicle Access to Embassy medical facilities and pouch mail service Cost of Travel to/from Post Rest and Recuperation Travel Overseas R&R Point - Sydney, Australia

ALLOWANCES (as applicable and as found in the Standardized Regulations for Government Civilians Foreign Areas)

Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) Post (Cost of Living) Allowance (Section 220) (Currently 20% for Mongolia ) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) Educational Allowance (Section 270) Educational Travel (Section 280) Post Differential (Chapter 500) (Currently 25 % for Mongolia ) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and Danger Pay (Section 650)

FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are required to pay Federal Income Taxes, FICA, and Medicare.

LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs

1.Optional Form 612 2.Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62). ** 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). **

** Forms 2 through 4 shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.

20) AIDAR Appendix D pertains to USPSCs and can be found at :

http://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar and AAPDs and CIBs containing changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations applicable to USPSC contracts can be found at -http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs

(End of Solicitation) http://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar