Sol_SOL-656-17-000018.docx

SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL-656-17-000018

ISSUANCE DATE: 05/17/2017

CLOSING DATE/TIME: 06/16/2017

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (PSC) – Senior HIV/AIDS & Infectious Disease Team Leader, USAID/Maputo, Mozambique

Dear Prospective Applicants:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation.

Application must be in accordance with Attachment 1, Sections I through IV of this solicitation. Incomplete or unsigned applications will not be considered. Applicants should retain copies of all application materials for their records.

This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the application.

Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in the attached information.

Sincerely, Avani Baluci Supervisory Executive Officer

ATTACHMENT 1

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: SOL-656-17-000018

2. ISSUANCE DATE: 05/17/2017

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 06/16/2017

4. POSITION TITLE: Senior HIV/AIDS & Infectious Disease Team Leader

5. MARKET VALUE: $88,136.00 - $114,578.00 equivalent to GS-14 Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two years. Starting as soon as clearances are obtained and contract is signed.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Maputo, Mozambique with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Work.

8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: USG Facility Access Clearance

9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

I. BACKGROUND

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is a leading development partner in Mozambique. USAID manages a comprehensive humanitarian and development assistance program totaling over $270 million in FY 2016 covering health, education, agriculture, economic growth, and democracy and governance sectors. Health is USAID’s largest and most expansive portfolio (over $200 million per year) which aims to improve health outcomes in country through support of the Government of Mozambique’s (GRM) Health Sector Strategic Plan which seeks to improve access to and utilization of quality health services through a strengthened national health system. USAID is part of a unified and effective interagency team including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Departments of State and Defense, and Peace Corps which aims to fulfill both United States Government (USG) international health goals in Mozambique: to create an AIDS-free generation and to end preventable child and maternal death. To accomplish these goals, USAID’s Health Office plans, implements and monitors activities that include: HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, family planning, maternal/child health, nutrition, and water/sanitation/hygiene. The Health Office has four divisions to manage these activities oriented around: achieving an AIDS free generation; ending preventable child and maternal death; strengthening health systems and commodities security; and providing efficient and effective operations within the office, with an office profile of 63 total staff.

II. BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION

The Senior HIV/AIDS & Infectious Disease Team Leader will provide technical leadership and coordination for USAID/Mozambique’s work in HIV/AIDS, and will support the integration of HIV activities with other health areas, such as family planning, and maternal and child health. The Specialist provides technical assistance to build strong linkages between clinical and care and support activities within the continuum of health services. The Specialist will assist in the design, integration, and implementation of HIV/AIDS care and support programs, and provide technical support to increase capacity and integration across the USAID health portfolio, with a particular emphasis on HIV/AIDS. The Specialist serves as a senior Advisor in public health, exercising considerable judgment and discretion in dealing with senior- and mid-level partners in other USG agencies, with the Government of the Republic of Mozambique (GRM), other donors, other local organizations, and Implementing Partners (IPs). The Specialist is involved in policy dialogue, and the development of health activities with the GRM, other PEPFAR agencies, and other stakeholders on a consistent basis. The Specialist will provide technical assistance to the GRM, including participation in the review and evaluation of existing policies on HIV/AIDS care and support, adult treatment, and other relevant policies, providing recommendations and suggesting modifications to existing policies or the creation of new policies.

Representative Duties and Responsibilities:

The Senior HIV/AIDS & Infectious Disease Team Leader will have the following primary responsibilities:

· Providing technical assistance to Contracting Officer Representatives and Agreement Officer Representatives (CORs/AORs), activity managers, and others by providing technical guidance to IPs;

· Reviewing technical quality of programs/projects/activities in the field, by conducting frequent site visits, meeting with program planners, managers, and senior government counterparts in the field as a representative of USAID, providing expert technical assistance, monitoring progress, and reviewing and analyzing results;

· Providing strategic, programmatic, and technical leadership on HIV/AIDS and related linkages across the IHO portfolio, including health promotion, health systems strengthening, reproductive health, maternal/child health, and TB;

· Providing technical mentorship to 4-6 staff, ensuring technical expertise is integrated into USAID programs/projects/activities;

· Participating in related technical working groups, and collaborating within USAID, other PEPFAR partners, and the Ministry of Health to define priorities in HIV/AIDS for Mozambique, and providing technical guidance on care and treatment integration issues, particularly in clinical settings such as TB and STI clinics;

· Participating in the review and evaluation of existing policies, providing recommendations and suggesting modifications to existing policies or the creation of new policies to support and/or enhance GRM health activities;

· Promoting USG interagency collaboration and strengthening coordination with other multinational partners involved in HIV/AIDS and other health areas, such as the Global Fund and others;

· Analyzing existing epidemiologic, demographic, geographic, and health data, including IP data, and leading efforts to use data to inform programs/projects/activities management and design; and,

· Serving as a Mission expert and coordinator in providing intellectual leadership and focus to HIV/AIDS and other health programming, which may include initiating and/or supporting research and evaluation activities, in close coordination with the IHO Strategic Information division.

In addition, the Specialist will:

· Serve as the Mission medical care expert and coordinator in providing intellectual leadership and focus to initiate dialogue; generate policy recommendations, interventions, and Mission mechanisms; and initiate and/or support research activities which are economically feasible to support sustainable achievements within the HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis arenas and, as appropriate, within related technical areas such as MCH and FP;

· Share the latest substantive thinking in the sector, from sources within and outside the USG, relating such findings and knowledge to policies and programs of USAID/Mozambique in order to strengthen innovative, evidence-based programming;

· Analyze, synthesize, and disseminate key research findings, cutting-edge methodologies, and best practices to USAID, other USG agencies, IPs, and the GoRM;

· Enhance and coordinate effective working relationships across sectoral lines, identifying important areas of interaction and impact between programmatic areas, and ensuring that programs/projects/activities are managed in a manner to gain the greatest possible benefit from such interactions;

· Coordinate the work of technical personnel in conducting conceptual systems analyses, evaluations, or investigations of highly unstructured and/or interconnected problems involving controversial and complex administrative or programmatic issues and problems;

· Integrate the results of various studies and analyses into comprehensive technical briefings, reports, and technical papers, providing technical advice and counsel both within and outside the organization – as an expert in the field; and,

· Undertake additional duties as assigned.

III. POSITION ELEMENTS:

a. Supervision Received:

The Senior HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Team Leader works under the general administrative supervision of the USDH HIV/AIDS Division Chief. The Division Chief makes assignments in terms of broadly defined missions or functions, and provides primarily administrative and policy direction. As a recognized authority in the field, the Specialist has the responsibility to plan, design, schedule, and carry out major health programs/projects/activities, studies, or other work independently. The Specialist typically exercises discretion and judgment in determining whether to broaden or narrow the scope of programs and projects or studies.

Completed work is reviewed by the Division Chief for potential influence on broad Mission and IHO program policy and program goals, fulfillment of program objectives, and/or for contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the field, and is normally accepted without significant change. Recommendations for new programs/projects/activities or new program objectives are usually evaluated for such considerations as availability of funds and other resources, broad program goals, or Mission priorities.

b. Supervision Exercised:

The Senior HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Team Leader provides mentorship and technical supervision to 4-6 subordinate personnel, including a USPSC and 4-5 local host-country citizen staff. The Specialist will assign tasks to implementation specialists and administrative assistants, and will review their completed work.

c. Available Guidelines Available administrative guidelines establish a broad pattern of operation that requires frequent need to exercise judgment and interpretation, and provides an opportunity for initiative and innovation. Relevant guidelines include the USAID Automated Directives System (ADS), Emergency Plan (PEPFAR) guidelines, Country Operational Plans, the Mozambique Five-Year Strategic Plan, Mission Orders, and other directives.

d. Post Entry Training Through on-the-job training (formal, informal and self-taught), the Senior Strategic Information Advisor will become familiar with the M&E systems and requirements of the overall IHO portfolio. S/he will also obtain a clear understanding of USAID and PEPFAR and other health initiative policies, procedures and regulations, including the Automated Directives System, Mission Orders, and the PEPFAR planning and reporting databases. Training in USAID implementation, auditing and financial management will be provided as needed.

e. Time Required to Perform Full Range of Duties: Six months.

f. Physical Demands The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

g. Point of Contact: Avani Baluci, email at mzrecruiter1@usaid.gov

IV. APPLYING

1. Qualified applicants are requested to submit a U.S. Government Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts (AID 302-3) form available at:

the USAID website: http://www.usaid.gov/forms the GSA website: http://www.opm.gov/forms/Optional-forms/

2. Applications must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section III, item g.

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

SOL-656-17-000018

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

The following factors will be the basis for the evaluation of applications meeting the required minimum qualifications. 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.

A. EDUCATION (10 points):

Required qualifications:; A Medical Doctor (MD) or a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) with additional training in international health, health care management, quality assurance, public health, reproductive health, TB, or other relevant specialization is required.

B. WORK EXPERIENCE (30 points):

Required Experience: At least seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible professional-level experience in designing, implementing, managing, and monitoring health services delivery and/or other special programs/projects/activities, including programs related to HIV/AIDS, which included substantive clinical experience is required.

Desirable Experience: Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa and working with USAID or USAID-funded health and HIV programs is highly desirable.

C. KNOWLEDGE (20 Points):

Required Knowledge: The successful candidate must have sound knowledge of the medical care aspects of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment, and the integration of FP/MNCH, tuberculosis, and other health areas in sub-Saharan Africa; and, a good understanding of the African and/or Mozambican social, cultural, and political contexts.

Desirable Knowledge: Prior familiarity with USAID programs, policies, and regulations is highly desirable.

D.ABILITIES AND SKILLS (30 points):

Required Abilities and Skills: (1) Excellent interpersonal skills, tact, and diplomacy are required to establish and maintain a wide range of senior-level and working-level contacts with health program professionals in government, non-governmental, and private-sector circles. (2) The ability to work effectively within team and interagency environments, and to mentor others, is required. (3) Strong management and analytical skills are required to strategize, develop, and implement effective USAID-supported integrated health programs; and, strong financial management and administrative skills are required in order to track the performance of IPs. (4) The ability to interpret regulatory directives and related guidance is needed. (5) The ability to organize and present information, and to draft clear concise documents, is demanded by the position. And, (6) computer literacy, including ease and skill in using word processing programs, E-mail, spreadsheet applications, and presentation software, and facility in using the internet, are required.

E. LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY (10 Points):

Required Language qualifications: Excellent English communication skills, both oral and written, are essential. The successful candidate must have the ability to present information, analysis, and recommendations in clear written and oral formats. A good working knowledge (Level 2) of oral and written Portuguese or another Romance language is also required. Portuguese language capability is preferred.

USAID will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews.

Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for all applicants selected for an interview.

The applicant’s interview performance and academic and professional reference checks will be utilized to supplement the findings in the initial review.

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), or

3. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)

4. Finger Print Card (FD-258)

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)

* (If Applicable): As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, an offshore/ USPSC is normally authorized the following allowances:

1. Post Differential (Section 500)

1. Post Allowance (COLA)(Section 220)

1. Payments During Evacuation (Section 600)

1. Education Allowance (Section 270)

1. Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

f. Educational Travel (Section 280)

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

3.Other Benefits: Additional benefits are available for individuals hired from outside Maputo in accordance with the AIDAR, Federal Travel Regulations and Standardized Regulations, e.g., international airfare from place of residence, R&R, international shipment of personal effects, unaccompanied baggage allowance, POV Shipment, Repatriation Travel, furnished housing and educational allowances for dependent children.

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 [AAPDs and CIBs contain changes to USAID policy and the PSC General Provisions in accordance with USAID regulations and contracts. See http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs to determine which AAPDs and CIBs apply and insert the relevant text as required.]

INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:

Qualified applicants are requested to submit an application for Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts (AID 302-3) available at the USAID website, http://www.usaid.gov/forms and a Resume containing the following information:

1) Personal Information: Full name, mailing address (with zip code), email address, day and evening phone numbers, social security number, country of citizenship, highest federal civilian grade held (also give job series and dates held);

2) Education: high school, name, city and state, date of diploma or GED; colleges and universities, name, city and state, majors, type and year of any degrees received (if no degree, show total credits earned and indicate whether semester or quarter hours);

3) Work Experience: provide the following information for your paid and non-paid work experience related to the job for which you are applying (do not send job descriptions); job title (include series and grade if federal job), duties, and accomplishments, employer’s name and address, supervisor’s name and phone number, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours per week, salary. Indicate if we may contact your current supervisor;

4) Other Qualifications: Other pertinent information related to the qualifications required for the position, as noted above including job-related training courses (title & year), job-related skills; for example, other languages, computer software/hardware, tools, machinery, typing speed, job-related certificates and licenses (current only), job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments, for example, publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership, activities, public speaking and performance awards (give dates but do not send documents unless requested).

5) Applicants are required to provide three references with complete contact information including email address and telephone numbers.

Interested candidates should send the above via the fax, email, international mail, international courier or Department of State official mail to the attention of the Supervisory Executive Officer, Avani Baluci, at the addresses indicated below. Please note that attachments to e-mail applications in zip format cannot be received to this mailbox. Please make sure that you do not send any attachments in zip format. To ensure that the application is considered for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number and title of position on your application and in the subject line of any cover letter. If the application is submitted by email or fax, hard copy must submitted by mail.

Applications must be received by fax, e-mail or separate post by closing date and time specified in the cover letter and should be submitted to Ms. Avani Baluci on e-mail: mzrecruiter1@usaid.gov or the following addresses:

International Mail:

USAID/Mozambique Attn: Avani Baluci, Supervisory Executive Officer P.O. Box 783 Maputo, Mozambique

If sent via courier to:

USAID/Maputo Attn: Avani Baluci, Supervisory Executive Officer JAT Complex, 2nd Floor Rua 1231, No. 41 Bairro Central “C” Maputo, Mozambique Fax: (258-21) 35 21 30 E-mail: mzrecruiter1@usaid.gov Telephone: 258-21-352000

If sent from the U.S. Official Mail/Pouch:

USAID/Maputo Attn: Avani Baluci, Supervisory Executive Officer 2331 Maputo Place Washington, D.C. 20521

Please note that delivery times for the official pouch can vary, allow at least two weeks. USAID/Maputo cannot be responsible for any delays in delivery through the official pouch.

EEO/AA: USAID IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF HIV/AIDS STATUS image1.jpeg