SOL-633-15-000001.doc

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER:

SOL-633-15-000001

2. ISSUANCE DATE:

March 16, 2015

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME:

March 31, 2015, 17:00 Local Time, Pretoria, South Africa

4. POSITION TITLE:

Health Systems and Finance Advisor

5. MARKET VALUE OF POSITION:

The position is the equivalent of a GS-14, ranging from $86,399.00 to $112,319.00 per annum. Final compensation will be based on the individual’s salary and work history, experience and educational background.

6. EVALUATION FACTORS:

Evaluation of qualifications and experience required of candidates will be conducted on a 100-point Scale and weighted as follows: Education (10%); Work Experience (30%); Technical Knowledge and Abilities (35%); Communications/Interpersonal Skills (25%).

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

Two (2) years, with the possibility of extensions pending approval, need, performance and funding, not to exceed a total of five (5) years.

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

Gaborone, Botswana.

9. SECURITY ACCESS:

Employment Authorization (USPSCs)

Background Check (TCNs)

10. AREA OF CONSIDERATION:

U.S. Citizens or Third Country Nationals

11. STATEMENT OF WORK/POSITION DESCRIPTION:

I. SCOPE OF WORK

Background:

With an HIV prevalence rate of 25.4 percent among persons aged 15-49 and estimated incidence rate of 1.25 percent, Botswana still faces a prolonged and severe HIV epidemic. In early 2014, 340,000 adults and children in Botswana were estimated to be HIV-positive, of which approximately 227,000 were on antiretroviral therapy (ART). According to the National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA), key drivers of Botswana’s generalized epidemic are multiple and concurrent sexual partnerships, adolescent and intergenerational sex, alcohol and high-risk sex, stigma and discrimination, low uptake of male circumcision, and gender based violence (GBV). The epidemic varies within different geographical regions, communities, age groups, with urbanization and, most pronouncedly, by gender.

The Government of Botswana’s (GOB) response to the epidemic has been very successful on many fronts and the United State Government (USG) has been a critical partner. The program comprises both public and private sector elements including non-government organizations (NGOs), but is heavily dependent upon the public sector delivery system. The situation has given rise to concerns regarding long-term sustainability including rising costs of the HIV/AIDS program, limited availability of domestic resources and declining levels of donor support. The USG’s role has now shifted from supporting delivery of HIV/AIDS services to strengthening health systems and building capacity of NGOs and civil society organizations that will be able to sustain service delivery in the long-term.

Position Overview:

USAID is part of the USG President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) inter-agency team in Botswana, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of State, Department of Defense, and the Peace Corps. The Botswana PEPFAR program is organized around the four pillar programs of the USG-GOB Partnership Framework and the Botswana National Strategic Framework II for HIV/AIDS: Prevention; Systems Strengthening; Treatment, Care and Support; and Strategic Information. The Botswana interagency PEPFAR team implements a sustainable, evidence-based, results-oriented program, leveraging the particular technical expertise of each agency.

USAID manages a large part of the Systems Strengthening portfolio, which includes: 1) support to the Ministry of Health to strengthen supply chain management, human resources for health, quality improvement, and health financing; 2) support to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to strengthen monitoring systems and policy implementation; 3) support to NACA to strengthen monitoring systems; 4) support to the Gender Affairs Department (Ministry of Labor and Home Affairs) to strengthen GBV district referral and monitoring systems; and, 5) support to civil society organizations (CSO) to improve organizational development and their ability to deliver HIV-related services in their communities including: orphans and vulnerable children (OVC); TB prevention and treatment; HIV counseling and testing (HTC); positive health, dignity and prevention (PHDP for people living with AIDS); prevention, care and treatment for sex workers and other key populations; and prevention and treatment for GBV. The USAID Botswana PEPFAR program supports these activities at the national, district and community levels.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Senior Health Financing and Strategic Information Technical Advisor serves as the HSS team lead and directly supervises and provides administrative direction for the HSS portfolio and team. The HSS team consists of a Senior Health Systems Strengthening Advisor (GS-14) and a Supply Chain Specialist. The Advisor is responsible for providing technical direction and expertise to the USAID HSS Team. S/he serves as activity manager for select HO awards and is actively involved in the planning, design, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of those awards and plays a critical role in health financing and strategic information program coordination, analysis of progress and project design for inclusion in the annual Country Operational Plan (COP), CDCS, Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) and other reporting documents. The Advisor will receive day to day guidance from the Health Office Director.

The Advisor will also oversee and provide leadership in the day-to-day technical guidance of health financing and strategic information activities. The Advisor will lead all technical assistance to GOB officials and collaborating partners in the development, coordination of all USAID health financing and strategic information activities.

The Advisor maintains highly collaborative interagency relationships. The incumbent plays a leadership role within the PEPFAR technical work groups, playing a key role in the development of annual and long-term health financing and strategic information strategies. The incumbent represents USAID within multiple GOB and donor technical working groups, and maintains collaborative working relationships with mid-to-senior level government officials in the GOB, donors, USG agencies and non-governmental organizations. This requires sound judgment, diplomacy and tact in negotiating and working closely with the GOB and other stakeholders, and in the provision of ongoing guidance to implementing partners on health strategic directions and activities. Finally, the Advisor spends a significant amount of his/her time ensuring skills transfer and mentoring of USAID and GOT staff on effective M&E, surveillance, and health finance and data use methodologies.

Specific activities of the Senior SI Technical Advisor will include but are not limited to the following:

Health Financing Strategic Planning and Program Design (35%):

· Serve as the lead coordinator and technical expert in strategic planning and design of the health and HIV/AIDS financing activities.

· Lead the management and implementation of health and HIV/AIDS financing plans and policies and ensuring that PEPFAR implementing partners’ programs are aligned with GOB priorities.

· Serve as USAID point person for all technical and management issues affecting the design, implementation and evaluation of PEPFAR health and HIV/AIDS financing activities, including keeping team members current on USAID and OGAC policies and procedures.

· Responsible in ensuring that USG-supported health and HIV/AIDS financing activities address the organizational, technical and human dimensions of sustainability in Botswana.

· Serve as lead liaison with the GOB and generating wide stakeholder buy-in to develop innovative health financing options.

· Leads and directs all technical advisors in HSS and health financing.

· Lead USG effort with the GOB to develop a detailed work plan for conducting consultations with other key stakeholders to select a health financing model.

· Provide oversight and lead technical assistance inputs required to conduct health financing activities.

· Supporting data collection, analysis and reports. Utilizing data to recommend evidence-based actions.

Technical Leadership and Expertise (35%)

· Serve as the USAID Botswana lead technical advisor in health and HIV/AIDS financing and strategic information to the USAID and PEPFAR teams, PEPFAR implementing partners, GOB counterparts, and the broader USG program

· Lead USAID work with GOB institutions towards institutionalizing health finance and strategic information related knowledge and expertise, including creation of linkages between the MOH and other key stakeholders in Botswana.

· Responsible for information on health and HIV/AIDS financing and strategic information activities and results to GOB, USAID, PEPFAR and other key stakeholders in Botswana.

· Draft the health and HIV/AIDS financing and strategic information related sections of the annual Country Operating Plan, the Semi and Annual Progress Reports, Congressional Presentations, Portfolio Reviews, Performance Monitoring Plans, and other key documents. Specific tasks include tracking changes, editing and verifying partners’ submissions for completeness and consistency with PEPFAR guidance.

· Establishing and maintaining contact with counterparts at NACA, the MOH, the MFDP, UN agencies, World Bank, EU and key implementing partners working in HSS and particularly in health financing in Botswana.

· Provide technical leadership and expertise on program monitoring and; data use and analysis; surveillance and health informatics to the USAID Mission, the broader USG and host country stakeholders.

· Mentor staff to support professional development, including strengthening strategic information technical expertise and leadership skills.

· Develop and/or participate in development of guidance and frameworks for local procedures, policies and processes that will institutionalize and support capacity development for high quality design, monitoring, evaluation and reporting

· Ensure that evaluation findings, performance data are integrated into HO decision-making.

· Lead collaboration with USG partners and other stakeholders on mutually identified critical operational research and/or targeted public health evaluation questions, provide assistance in development of strategies to address those questions, and help disseminate findings to the broader community.

· Play a leadership role in the PEPFAR working groups, developing multi-sectoral programming and providing technical guidance and direction.

Program Management (30%)

· Serve as HSS team lead and directly supervise and provide administrative direction for the HSS portfolio and team.

· Provide leadership in the day-to-day technical guidance of health financing and strategic information activities. Independently plans, designs and carries out project, studies, and programs in SI and HF.

· Provide technical input on annual work plans and performance monitoring plans for HO implementing partners.

· Directly supervises staff, including US Global Health Fellow and locally employed staff.

· Provide strategic technical advice for, and prepare portions of, key USG planning and budget documents, such as the PEPFAR COP, semi-annual and annual progress reports, Congressional Notifications and the Operational Plan.

· Conduct regular site visits to review program implementation and meet with beneficiaries. Based on the information collected during field visits, communicate findings and recommendations to team members and, as appropriate, implementing partners and GOT counterparts.

· Serve as COR/AOR or official activity manager for designated activities awarded under the USAID portfolio. In this context, the incumbent is responsible for all aspects of project management for her/his assigned activities, including technical and financial oversight of contractors and grantees, reviewing reports, documents, and scopes of work. Where appropriate, the incumbent oversees other program activities to ensure their successful implementation.

· Review and determine the appropriateness of proposed agreement modifications and submit recommendations to the Regional Acquisitions and Assistance Office (ROAA) or USAID/W C/AOR for follow-up action.

· Ensure that all program documentation meets both USG requirements and audit inspection standards, and comply with international standards.

· Negotiate directly with counterpart officials and with partners on all aspects of financial expenditures, and recommending action to the respective C/AOR.

· Carry out routine monitoring and evaluation of project progress by reviewing technical documents and reports, completing site visits and DQAs, engaging in one-on-one reporting, and meeting with key counterparts and officials.

· Assist implementing partners to troubleshoot implementation problems, and bring any major management or politically sensitive issues to the attention of the USAID Health Office Director and USAID Representative.

· Serve as Activity Manager for activities awarded in other program areas as required. This includes the responsibility for all aspects of project management such as programmatic and financial oversight, reviewing work-plans and reports, scopes of work and other documents.

Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on (a) organizational and programming needs and/or (b) the Advisor’s own interests.

II. QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

A master’s level degree in health financing, health economics, economics, health policy, public policy, public health, or related field. Doctoral degree preferred.

Work Experience:

· Minimum ten (10) years’ related professional experience in public health financing, health economics, economics, health policy, public policy, or public health.

· Minimum ten (10) years’ related professional experience designing large-scale research or evaluation studies, management of research implementation, analysis and use of data for design making.

· At least four (4) years’ experience living and working in an international or resource challenged setting.

· Experience conducting health expenditure analysis to inform policy/planning and/or previous experience conducting national health accounts exercise is desired.

· Experience leading and working with USAID or USAID funded research and evaluation programs is required.

Skills and Abilities:

· Demonstrated proficiency in the research methods needed to produce useable and actionable data.

· Strong quantitative research skills.

· Ability to interpret regulatory directives and related guidance.

· Knowledge of using GIS data for health programing.

· Good research and presentation skills; able to convey technical information clearly to a non-technical audience.

· Excellent interpersonal skills, tact and diplomacy, required to establish and maintain a wide range of senior level and working level contacts with health financing and strategic information and HIV/AIDS programs in government, non-governmental, and private-sector circles.

· Ability to work effectively within team and interagency environments.

· Experience communicating, negotiating and working with academic organizations and senior level government officials desired.

· Strong management and analytical skills are required to strategize, develop and implement effective USAID-supported health and HIV/AIDS financing programs; and strong financial management and administrative skills to track the performance of implementing partners.

· Computer proficiency including MS Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint) and ability to undertake search engine based research.

· Demonstrated proficiency with statistical packages (SAS/Stata) is required.

Language Ability:

Level IV (fluent) English writing and speaking ability is required.

III. EVALUATION FACTORS:

The following factors are listed in descending order of importance and will be the basis for the evaluation of applications meeting the required minimum qualifications:

Education (10%)

Relevant Work Experience (30%)

Technical Knowledge and Ability (35%)

Communications/Interpersonal Skills (25%) All applications will be evaluated based on the documentation submitted with the application. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation. The highest ranking applicants may be selected for an interview, but an interview is not always necessary.

12. INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:

A) APPLYING

For applicants to be considered for this position, the following guidelines will be adhered to and forms completed, signed and submitted to jobapplications@usaid.gov, to allow the evaluation committee to thoroughly and objectively review your application vis-a-vis the requirements of the position.

i). Marking Applications: To ensure consideration of applicants for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application, and as the subject line in any cover letter, as well as using the address/delivery point specified in this solicitation.

ii). CV: An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) or resume. Your 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. Applicants are encouraged to write a brief appendix to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training addresses the minimum qualifications and evaluation criteria set forth in the solicitation.

iii). Form OF-612: The submitted form must be signed and completed as much as possible and may reference the CV/resume for a greater detailed explanation of work experience rather than repeat it in the OF-612. Form 612 is available at the USAID web site, http:/www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms or internet http://fillform.gsa.gov, or at USG offices.

iv). References: Three (3) to five (5) references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about your past performance and abilities. Reference checks will be done on selected applicants only. If an applicant does not wish for the current employer to be contacted as a reference, this should be stated in the applicant’s cover letter. The interviewing committee will delay such reference check pending communication with the applicant.

v). Required Forms for PSCs: Specific forms shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the position.

vi). Late Submissions: Qualified individuals should note that applications must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter or they will not be considered eligible for evaluation or award, unless Contracting Officer determines that the documents were mishandled by the receiving agency. The closing time for the receipt of applications is 5:00 pm, local time, on the date specified on the covering letter to this solicitation. You are directed to Federal Acquisitions Regulation, Part 15.208 “Submission, modification, revision, and withdrawal of proposals” for further information. USAID/Southern Africa reserves the right not to award any contract as a result of this solicitation.

B) SECURITY AND MEDICAL CLEARANCES

i). Medical Clearance: Prior to signing a contract, the selected individual and eligible dependents will be required to obtain a medical clearance or waiver for the country of performance specified. Instructions for obtaining the medical clearance will be forwarded to the selected individual once negotiations have been concluded.

ii). Security Clearance: Prior to signing a contract, the selected individual will be required to obtain a Security Background Check. This temporary security clearance will be requested while a personal background investigation is conducted. Instructions for obtaining the security clearance will be forwarded to the selected individual once negotiations have been concluded.

C) REGULATIONS/BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES/DEFINITIONS

i). USAID Regulations:

1. Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives (AAPDs): AAPDs serve as official sources for the latest updates in acquisition and assistance (A&A) policy and requirements. AAPDs provide information of significance including, but not limited to, advance notification of changes or implementation of new requirements to A&A regulations and procedures. Please refer to this web site – http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs to determine which AAPDs apply to this contract.

2. AIDAR: The Agency for International Development Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR) Appendix D - Direct USAID Contracts With U.S. Citizens or U.S. Residents for Personal Services Abroad found at: http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/aidar.pdf is the primary regulation governing USPSCs for USAID.

ii). Benefits, Allowances and U.S. Taxes:

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances (however, as conditions at post change, benefits and allowances may also be changed):

1. Benefits:

a) Employee’s FICA Contribution (applicable to USPSCs only)

b) Annual Contribution towards Health and Life Insurance (applicable to US & TCNPSCs)

c) Pay Comparability Adjustment - - Annual across the board salary increase for USG employees and USPSCs (applicable to US & TCNPSCs)

d) Worker’s Compensation (applicable to US & TCNPSCs)

e) Vacation and Sick Leave (applicable to US & TCNPSCs)

f) Access to Health Unit if employee and/or dependents are medically cleared to serve at post of assignment

2. Allowances * (If Applicable):

a) Post Differential (Section 500)

b) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

c) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120)

d) Post Allowance (COLA)(Section 220)

e) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230)

f) Payment During Evacuation (Section 600)

g) Education Allowance (Section 270)

h) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

i) Danger Pay (Section 650)

j) Educational Travel (Section 280)

* Dept of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR) (Government Civilians Foreign Areas)

3. In-Kind Allowances:

The USG will provide the following in-kind allowances, on par with US Direct Hires at the same location, in lieu of some allowances in paragraph “2. Allowances* (If Applicable)” above:

a) Housing

b) Furniture

c) Appliances

d) Furnishings (drapes/blinds, rugs, lights, etc.)

e) Utilities

f) Guard Services for Residence

4. Federal and State Taxes:

a. Federal Taxes: USPSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes and will be withheld from compensation payments.

b. State Taxes: USAID does not withhold state taxes from compensation payments. State taxes are solely between the employee and the employee’s state of official residence.

iii). Definitions:

Eligible Family Member (EFM):

An individual related to a USG employee in one of the following ways:

· Spouse or same sex domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610);

· Child, who is unmarried and under 21 years of age or regardless of age, is incapable of self-support. The term shall include, in addition to natural off-spring, step-children and adopted children and those under legal guardianship of the employee or the spouse when such children are expected to be under such legal guardianship until they reach 21 years of age and when dependent upon and normally residing with the guardian;

· Parent (including step-parents and legally adoptive parents) of the employee or of the spouse; when such parent is at least 51% dependent on the employee for support;

· Sister or brother (including step-sisters or step-brothers or adoptive sisters or brothers) of the employee, or of the spouse, when such sibling is at least 51% dependent on the employee for support, unmarried and under 21 years of age, or regardless of age, incapable of self-support.

Third Country National (TCN):

An individual (i) who is neither a citizen nor a permanent legal resident alien of the United States nor of the country to which assigned for duty, and (ii) who is eligible for return to his/her home country or country of recruitment at U.S. Government expense.

Member of Household (MOH):

Members of household (MOHs) are those persons who have accompanied or joined an employee assigned abroad and who the employee has declared to the chief of mission to be part of his or her household, who will reside at post with the employee, and who are other than legitimate domestic staff. MOHs do not include those persons who are “family members” or “eligible family members.” MOHs are by definition cohabitants. Therefore, employees who declare MOHs must ensure compliance with the provisions of 12 FAM 275, Reporting Cohabitation with and/or Intent to Marry a Foreign National.

Resident Hire:

Resident hire means a U.S. citizen who, at the time of hire as a PSC, resides in the cooperating country as a spouse or dependent of a U.S. citizen employed by a U.S. government agency or under any U.S. government-financed contract or agreement, or for reasons other than for employment with a U.S. government agency or under any U.S. government-financed contract or agreement. A U.S. citizen for purposes of this definition also includes persons who at the time of contracting are lawfully admitted permanent residents of the United States.

END OF SOLICITATION

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