Solicitation_524-15-000004.pdf

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL-524-15-000004

2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 31, 2015

3. CLOSING DATE: April 14, 2015 (4:30 p.m. Nicaragua time)

4. POSITION TITLE: Program Officer

5. MARKET VALUE: GS-14 ($86,399 - $112,319). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon the candidate’s qualifications and salary history.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The USPSC will be for six (6) months, pending availability of funds and the needs of the Mission.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Managua, Nicaragua

8. CLEARANCES: The selected candidate must be able to obtain a security clearance at the “Secret” level and a medical clearance within a reasonable period of time. If such clearances are not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer may be rescinded.

9. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. Citizens only

10. SCOPE OF WORK

A. Background:

Nicaragua faces significant development challenges as a result of democratic backsliding problems, persistent poverty, and growing insecurity. Increasingly, Nicaragua is feeling the negative effects of international drug trafficking and an alarming rise in youth violent crime, especially along the Caribbean coast. Added to these concerns and as a result of increased global climate change, the impoverished north central part of Nicaragua frequently experiences severe droughts causing alarming levels of food insecurity and malnutrition. Finally, the region’s vulnerability to multiple forms of natural disasters places further stress on Nicaragua’s fragile economy.

Provided limited resources, the Mission manages two Development Objectives (DOs) focusing on improving democracy and governance nationwide while supporting basic education and citizen security along the southern Caribbean coast. More specifically, DO1 will increase the ability of Nicaraguan citizenry to engage in democratic governance. Citizens who have the necessary tools, information, and skills will be better able to engage in governance, demand accountability, and affect positive, democratic solutions. DO 2 will improve safety and competitiveness of at-risk children and youth on Nicaragua’s southern Caribbean coast.

Improving reading achievement for children, providing youth with basic skills to compete in the job market, and cementing the community’s support for these goals will provide opportunity where none previously existed for children and youth to choose a life without violence, drugs, and crime.

The Mission is comprised of 29 staff of with a mix of local staff, personal services contractors, and US Direct Hire staff. A Mission Director oversees all Mission operations, program implementation, and staff. Remaining Nicaragua staff includes a five-person General

Development Office (GDO) and a five-person Democracy and Governance Office (DGO). Both technical teams are supported by a six-person Program Office (PO) of which two members form the Mission’s acquisition and assistance team. The Executive Office (EXO) has three staff and the Office of Financial Management (OFM) has five staff.

B. Duties and responsibilities of the position:

The PO is assigned to support, and at times lead, the six-person Program Office for

USAID/Nicaragua and provide expert advice and services to both Development Objective teams of the Mission in development, planning, implementation, management, and monitoring of activities that comprise the Mission’s portfolio. The PO also assists with overall strategy design and reporting as well as mentoring of Program Office staff. The PO plays the leadership role in initiating actions related strategy, design, budgeting, monitoring, analyses, assessment, evaluation and close-out of programs, activities (projects), and/or strategic objectives that comprise the Mission’s portfolio.

The PO will also lead the design of an amendment to the Mission FY 2013 - FY 2017 Country

Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) to: 1) expand citizen security and basic education programming from the southern Caribbean Coast to the Caribbean Coast and targeted municipalities across the nation, 2) add assistance to national and municipal elections, 3) expand basic education programming from only working in private schools to working in targeted public schools, and 4) include a request for additional resources to address increasing poverty levels in the north central region of the country.

Overall, the Program Officer is expected to:

Apply a broad knowledge of U.S. Government and USAID regulations and procedures to the development and management of the USAID/Nicaragua programs, sector planning and design, based on a comprehensive understanding of U.S., national and regional development needs and objectives.

Participate in program planning carried out by the Mission including the design, development, documentation, and implementation of a Mission strategy amendment.

Direct the development and preparation of Mission reports, budget submissions and

Congressional presentation material for submission to and approval by

USAID/Washington including the Mission Operational Plan, Congressional Budget

Justification, Performance Plan and Report (PPR) and Congressional Notifications (CN).

Analyze and evaluate the planning, design, implementation, results, and accomplishments of project activities for their need, effectiveness, efficiency, and significance

Provide guidance in addressing gender equality, female empowerment, and social inclusion in sectors through mainstreaming into the Program Cycle.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Advises the Mission Director, DO teams, individual technical officers, and other staff regarding issues affecting programming, planning, development, budgeting, procurement, implementation, monitoring, accelerating USAID Forward implementation and procurement reform of USAID development assistance activities across the Mission’s area of responsibility. Ensure expanded opportunities for both formal and informal training for staff in these areas of importance.

Provides leadership for the design and development of the Mission’s performance monitoring system. Collaborates with DO teams to develop practical information tracking systems. Assists in the verification of baseline data and helps to analyze data collected.

Advises and monitors technical sector portfolios consisting of projects/activities, multiple strategic objectives/intermediate results and sub-programs through the development, implementation and close-out stages. While advising others on specific strategic objectives, intermediate results, and projects/activities, the PO:

i) contributes to the conceptual design of projects and activities, amendments, and related statements of work;

ii) provides overall guidance on USAID’s project design process;

iii) ensures USAID’s efforts to operationalize gender equality, female empowerment, and social inclusion are integrated throughout programming, monitoring and evaluation activities;

iv) reviews or arranges for the review of proposals for new activities as well as for commitments, obligation, and de-obligation actions;

v) reviews projects, activities, strategic objective, and intermediate results proposals, and amendments to ensure adherence to approved Bureau and Mission strategy and policies. Make recommendations for further actions if indicated;

vi) serves as an advisor for the design and development of proposals for projects, activities, feasibility studies, evaluations, analyses, and the like in the Mission and in the interagency;

vii) participates in the preparation of close-out assessments and actions as needed for activity phase-outs.

Provide guidance to the Mission Director and technical teams on policies and practices related to program budget formulation, project implementation, tracking, and reporting.

Provide strategic guidance, and at times leads, a variety of performance management actions such as Portfolio Reviews, Performance Management Plan (PMP) reviews;

monitoring and evaluation (M&E) reporting systems; preparation; lead effort to raise the profile of M&E in the Mission; and other related performance management tasks.

Makes site visits as necessary to observe program results and to interface with project implementation partners.

Design and develop an amendment to USAID/Nicaragua’s CDCS to: 1) expand citizen security and basic education programming from the southern Caribbean Coast to the

Caribbean Coast and targeted municipalities across the nation, 2) add assistance to national and municipal elections, 3) expand basic education programming from only working in private schools to working in targeted public schools, and 4) include a request for additional resources to address increasing poverty levels in the north central region of the country through a limited term, geographically focused Special Objective. Conduct studies and analysis to determine most feasible and relevant interventions required including but limited to Global Climate Change adaptation, improved water shed management and access to water, malnutrition reduction, and improved food security;

Support the Mission through a variety of other assigned tasks. May respond to urgent, complex information requests and action items as needed.

C. Minimum Qualification Requirements:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in economics, public or business administration, political science, international relations or related field is required.

Prior Work Experience: A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in project design and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation, preferably for U.S. Government agencies.

Knowledge: Knowledge of USG laws, policies, regulations and procedures related to international development assistance. Working knowledge of development project design as well as the principles of sound program oversight, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation, and assistance and acquisition is required. Experience working on gender equality, female empowerment, and social inclusion in the international development context, including integration of the same in the design and implementation of assistance programs is preferred. A working knowledge of the Central American region, its institutions, and peculiar development challenges is preferred. Demonstrated ability to work across multiple technical sectors is required.

Skills, and Abilities: Excellent written and oral communications; analytical; management; and interpersonal/teamwork skills required. Computer skills, including the development and management of spreadsheets, tracking systems, etc., and the ability to interpret, organize and present data to a variety of audiences preferred. Proven ability to mentor staff in program development and management skills required. Ability to work in teams is necessary.

11. SELECTIVE/EVALUATION FACTORS:

Education 10 points

Prior Work Experience 30 points

Language Proficiency 10 points

Knowledge 35 points

Skills, and Abilities 15 points

Maximum Points Available: 100

Candidates meeting the above required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and reference checks.

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.

A. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Six (6) months, pending availability of funds and the needs of the Mission.

B. MEDICAL AND SECURITY CLEARANCE: The selected applicant must be able to obtain a USG security clearance at the “Secret” level and a Department of State medical clearance to work and/or live in Nicaragua.

C. BENEFITS/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 U.S. Federal Income Tax [including differentials and allowances), but shall not be eligible for any fringe benefits except contributions for

FICA, health insurance, and life insurance.)

BENEFITS:

(1) FICA Contribution

(2) Contribution toward Health & life insurance

(3) Pay Comparability Adjustment

(4) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

(5) Annual & Sick Leave

(6) Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service as per post policy

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) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(6) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(7) Education Travel (Section 280)

(8) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

(9) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600)

(10) Danger Pay (Section 650)

* Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas).

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

Medicare.

D. ACQUISITION AND ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRECTIVES (AAPDs) AND

CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs) PERTAINING TO

PERSONAL SERVICE CONTRACT (PSC):

AAPDs and CIBs contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and contracts. These documents can be found at this website:

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

Additionally, AIDAR Appendix D applies to PSCs and can be found at:

http://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar

E. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

All of the following information must be included in the application package in order for the package to be considered complete:

1. A signed cover letter of no more than 3 pages that demonstrates how the candidate’s qualifications meet the work requirements;

2. A Curriculum Vitae which, at a minimum, describes education, latest experience and career achievements;

3. A completed and signed Application for Federal employment (OF-612), which can be found at the following websites: http://www.usaid.gov/forms/; OR http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/OF612.pdf

4. Names, current and accurate phone numbers, and email addresses of three professional references that have knowledge of the applicant’s abilities to perform http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs http://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/OF612.pdf the duties set forth in the solicitation. USAID reserves the right to contact all references;

5. A signed written statement certifying the date and length of time for which the candidate is available for the position;

6. All correspondence and attachments must reference the Solicitation Number;

7. Application packages must be submitted electronically to aolivares@usaid.gov no later than 4:30 p.m. on April 14, 2015 (Nicaragua/Local Time).

USAID/Nicaragua expects to award a personal services contract for a US Citizen commencing as early as practically possible subject to security and medical clearances and funds availability. The duty post for this contract is Managua, Nicaragua.

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mailto:aolivares@usaid.gov