SOL-_680-16-000001_(Re-advertised)_.pdf

U.S. Agency for International Development C/O American Embassy, 01 B.P. 2012 Cotonou, BENIN

Tel: (229) 21300513, 21301792, 21304651, 21301636, 21301411, 21307047; 21367500 Fax: (229) 21-30-12-60 http://www.usaid.gov/bj

SUBJECT: RE-ADVERTISEMENT: SOLICITATION US/TCN PSC – GS 13 PROGRAM

SPECIALIST FOR PROGRAM OFFICE, USAID/BENIN

Solicitation No.: SOL- 680-16-000001-01 Issuance Date: May 09, 2016 Closing Date: June 02, 2016 Closing Time: 12:00 PM Local Benin Time

Prospective Applicants:

USAID/Benin is re-issuing the subject solicitation which was advertised under SOL 680-16-000001 from October 15, 2015- November 13, 2015. Interested applicants for the position are requested to re-submit their applications.

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Benin is seeking applications from qualified U.S. Citizens, U.S. Resident Aliens or Third Country Nationals (TCNs), to provide Personal Services Contract as Program Specialist in the office of Program Office, USAID/Benin under a Personal Service Contract.

Application must be submitted in accordance with Attachment 1 (Section I through XV) of this solicitation.

Interested applicants must submit:

(i) A written statement that addresses the Evaluation Factors (EFs) in this solicitation, and demonstrate how their experience and skills meet or exceed the Evaluation factors (please refer EFs. at section V). Please state language proficiency level as well.

(ii) 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 evaluation criteria.

(iii) Signed form AID 302-3; the forms can be obtained from the following websites:

http://auslnxapvweb01.usaid.gov/forms/formsnumeric.html.

(iv) Three (3) references, who are not family members or relatives, with telephone numbers and email contacts.

Incomplete, unsigned application and/or late application will not be considered. Applicants should retain copies the application materials for their records.

The application must be submitted via email only. The application package is to be submitted by email to:

Lucrece Boko at lboko@usaid.gov. Please quote the solicitation number and position title of the position as the subject line and in the cover letter. Please make sure you do not send any attachment in Zip format.

http://www.usaid.gov/bj http://auslnxapvweb01.usaid.gov/forms/formsnumeric.html mailto:lboko@usaid.gov mailto:lboko@usaid.gov

ATTACHMENT 1

RE-ADVERTISEMENT SOLICITATION 680-16-000001-01: US/TCN PSC – GS 13

PROGRAM SPECIALIST FOR PROGRAM OFFICE, USAID/BENIN

SOLICITATION INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL- 680-16-000001-01

2. ISSUANCE DATE: May 09, 2016

3. CLOSING DATE: June 02, 2016 12:00 PM Benin Time

4. POSITION TITLE: Program Specialist

5. MARKET VALUE: GS-13 (US $73,846 to US $96,004)

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year plus one option year.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Cotonou, Republic of Benin.

8. SUPERVISION: Country Representative

9. MEDICAL AND SECURITY ACCESS: The contractor shall obtain necessary

Medical and Security Clearance before a contract is executed.

10. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. Citizens, U.S. Resident Alien, Third Country Nationals (TCNs)

STATEMENT OF WORK: PROGRAM SPECIALIST

II. Basic Function of the Position:

The objective of this position is to provide staffing coverage and contribute to all program office-related functions that will support USAID/Benin's development work.

III. Major Duties and Responsibilities:

The PSC Program Specialist will manage various aspects of program planning, reporting, and obligation of program funds, and advise USAID/Benin regarding issues affecting programming, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and managing for results of USAID development assistance activities. The following identifies the specific work to be performed:

a) Program Monitoring, Analysis, and Support (70%)

• Serve as the Mission Monitoring Point of Contact to ensure implementation of Agency monitoring best practices. Summarize and present monitoring policies and guidance to USAID staff. Socialize these to Mission staff and take the lead in developing schedules and practices to implement the Agency's monitoring and learning agenda. Work with the mission management to draft and execute the standardized Mission Orders on Monitoring and Evaluation.

• Develop and maintain a Mission level Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) to ensure measurement of achievement of the development objectives. Help the Mission utilize the PMP as a tool for planning and managing the process of monitoring, evaluating and analyzing progress.

• Guide and advise technical office staff on utilization of activity workplans, M&E plans and site visit reports. Ensure A/CORs are aware of Agency compliance issues related to monitoring activities and projects.

• Assist the Mission's Data Quality Assessment (DOA) processes to collect performance data from implementing partners and analyze it to confirm that it meets Agency quality standards of validity, integrity precision, reliability, and timeliness. Advise A/CORs on determining data use and reporting in order to better manage programs and report on successes, as well as understand and correct limitations.

• Portfolio Review: Assist the SPO to organize and participate in the first quarter portfolio review, in close collaboration with the West Africa Regional Program Office. Based on consultations with technical teams and senior management, revise standard formats for issues papers as needed. Work with OPS and technical teams and support offices to identify issues and draft a formal issues paper for each program. Help ensure that all documents are distributed to participants well in advance of scheduled reviews. Prepare official records of these portfolio reviews, including a matrix to track action items. Follow up on action items between portfolio reviews to ensure that actions are completed in accordance with agreed timetables.

• Financial Review: Support the planning for the quarterly financial review with the Office of

Financial Management; track identified actions and issue resolutions arising from the review;

Review and draft, in collaboration with the technical offices, accurate and timely pre-obligation action memos.

• Analysis of Prior Year Indicators: Conduct an analysis of the previous year annual report, determining, in coordination with technical teams, which indicators will be reported on in the current fiscal year. Reviews planned evaluations for completion, and assess and then prepare the USAID Forward indicators and corresponding narratives.

b) Program Documentation and Reporting (20%)

• Annual Performance Plan and Reports: Coordinate inputs to the Mission’s Annual

Performance Plan and Report (PPR), which forms the first phase of the Operational Plan.

Work closely with technical teams to ensure that they have the support and information needed to contribute to the PPR. Review, edit, and compile draft narratives, data tables, and special reports to ensure quality control and compliance with Agency guidance. Ensure that the Mission meets established deadlines for submitting the report.

• Unsolicited Applications and Special Reporting: Coordinate and draft responses to unsolicited applications and other general requests for information. Ensure that appropriate Mission staff review and comment on proposals and provide requested information. Coordinate reporting on cross-cutting issues that affect Mission programs (e.g., gender, environment, anti-corruption). Coordinate and take the lead in drafting other short, periodic or ad hoc program management and performance reports.

Provide an end of contract report including an overview of what work was carried out, summary of what was accomplished and what follow-up action needs to be taken by OPS or other offices.

c) Other/As Needed (10%)

Build capacity and mentor OPS staff on budget management: to include managing the field support database, OPS Master, presentation of budget information; provide training and coaching to the technical offices' Budget POC's to enhance their budgetary capacity, as applicable; advise OPS on best practices on budget and other program management planning implementation and tracking; help OPS adopt these practices as appropriate, including the standardized Mission Order on Budget.

IV. POSITION ELEMENTS:

a) Supervision Received: The PSC works under the direct supervision of the Country Representative, USAID/Benin or his/her designee.

b) Supervision Exercised: The PSC will work closely with the OPS staff and is responsible for planning approaches or methodology to be used in carrying out assignments and ensuring deadlines are met. The PSC is expected to provide substantial guidance to the SPO staff as well as technical office's Program Assistants and/or Budget Specialists regarding program funded actions.

c) Guidelines: The PSC must understand and be knowledgeable of guidance which includes

Agency regulations, Automated Directive System requirements, Africa Bureau procedural guidance, Agency procurement guidance, Mission Orders and other relevant U.S. Government guidance including laws, legislative initiatives, and Congressional interests.

d) Complexity: The position requires substantial planning, follow-up/implementation and teamwork abilities. The incumbent will be expected to be highly productive and meet tight deadline. The ability to operate sensitively and effectively is essential. They must have the ability to understand and operate within USAID's regulations regarding budgeting, earmarks, reporting and other aspects of project implementation.

e) Exercise of Judgment: A high degree of independent judgment is required in providingbasic programming guidance to technical offices, reviewing program documentation, and managing assigned programming actions and tasks such as coordinating input for the Operational Plan, Performance Plan Report, organizing portfolio reviews, responding to ad hoc USAID Washington requests and/or taskers for program related information.

f) Nature, Level, Purpose of Contacts: Contacts are established and maintained internally

With USAID/Benin to discuss the Mission's programming and program reporting requirements. The PSC has substantial contact with the Program Officer or his/her designee to update on status of assigned duties and will work directly with the USAID Representative and the West Africa Regional Mission.

g) Physical Demands/Work Environment: This is a moderate physically demanding position supporting program office related activities with technical and other support offices. The incumbent will be physically located at the New Embassy Compound in Cotonou and will be expected to attend required meetings, as well as site visits to current projects in coordination with technical teams.

h) Authority to Make Commitments: The PSC will have no independent authority to commit U.S. Government funds.

i) Other Requirements: The incumbent must be able to obtain U.S. Government medical clearance and Employment Authorization or facilities access clearance.

V. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION CRITERIA:

The applicants must address each Evaluation Factors listed below. When addressing the Evaluation Factors below, demonstrate how your experience relates to the duties and responsibilities. Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following evaluation criteria:

a. Education: (15 points)

Master's Degree in international development, education, business administration, economics, social science, business or public administration.

b. Prior Work Experience: (25 points)

A minimum of five years of experience in program office related work, which has included analyzing problems, working with teams to develop solutions, writing analytic reports, and using empirical data to improve the effectiveness of the work product is required. Significant experience with USAID or with a USAID-funded activity is preferred.

c. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (25 points)

A solid knowledge of basic development principles, program and project development, budgeting, management, and analytical skills to assess activity feasibility is required.

Also, a solid knowledge of core functions of program office systems and procedures, particularly as they relate to USAID reporting; data collection and information sharing.

Ability to analyze programming issues and to develop a way to solve them. Excellent writing and speaking ability. Good interpersonal skills, including an ability to work as a member of a team, build consensus, provide leadership, and effectively coordinate with internal and external stakeholders in a multi-cultural setting. Ability to organize work, develops schedules, and meets deadlines. Ability to use word processing, e-mail and spreadsheet computer applications.

d. Interpersonal and Communication Skills: (15 points)

• Level of demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work in a diverse, multi-cultural teams setting.

• Level of demonstrated ability to produce written communication in a clear, concise manner.

• Level of demonstrated experience leading and facilitating groups.

VI. BASIS OF RATING/Evaluation Criteria:

First all applicants will be short listed on the basis of documentations submitted. Applicants who meet the Education and Experience requirements will be further evaluated based on the scoring of the Evaluation Factors (Section V) responses. Those applicants determined to be competitively ranked may also be evaluated on interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks. USAID reserves the right to conduct in-person or telephonic interviews with the most highly ranked applicants and make the interview a deciding factor in selection and/or to obtain from previous employers relevant information concerning the applicant’s past performance and may consider such information in its evaluation

Rating system:

• Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in international development, education, business administration, economics, social science, business or public administration. Pass/Fail

• A minimum of five years of experience in program office related work, which has included analyzing problems, working with teams to develop solutions, writing analytic reports, and using empirical data to improve the effectiveness of the work product is required. – Pass/Fail

• Evaluation Factors have been assigned the following points:

• EF #1: Education – 15 points

• EF # 2: Prior Work Experience – 25 points

• EF # 3: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - 25 points

• EF # 4: Interpersonal and Communication Skills -15 Points

• Interview Performance (only applicable if invited for interview) – 20 points

• Satisfactory Professional Reference checks – Pass/Fail

Total possible points = 100 points

VI. LOGISTICAL SUPPORT:

The USAID/Benin provides includes office space and equipment, transportation in country for official meetings, work related travel arrangements/tickets and administrative services.

VII. TERMS OF PERFORMANCE:

The Personal Services Contract will be for base period of One Year plus and One Option Year.

Exercising the option to extend the contract will be at the sole discretion of USAID/Benin and would depend on continuing need of services and availability of funds.

VIII. INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS

Applicants must submit the following US government Form AID-302-3 available at the following website: http://auslnxapvweb01.usaid.gov/forms/formsnumeric.html to demonstrate how their previous experience and skills are suited for the position.

In addition to the above, qualified individuals are required to submit the following:

1. Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your application, your resume must include:

(a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Dates (month/year) and locations for all field experience must also be detailed. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.

(b) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments.

(c ) Country of citizenship

2. List of References:

a) Applicants must submit three (3) professional references from employment within the last 5 years. The provided references must not be from family members or relatives.

Submitted references MUST include the following information:

1. Name of reference

2. Applicant’s relationship to reference

3. Title of reference at current job

4. Reference’s current telephone number (work or personal)

5. Reference’s email address (work or personal)

At least two (2) references must be from direct supervisors (current or prior) who can provide information regarding the applicant’s relevant experience. Applicants are advised to ensure the information provided is current for all references.

3. A written statement that addresses the Evaluation/Selection Criteria in this solicitation, and demonstrate how their experience and skills meet or exceed the Evaluation factors (please refer EFs. at section IV)

4. Application Form AID 302-3 ; the forms can be obtained from the following websites:

Applicants are required to complete and sign the form.

X. 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 followings forms:

1. Medical History and Examination Form

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)

XI. SECURITY, MEDICAL CLEARANCE AND FACT TRAING REQUIREMENTS

1. Security Clearance:

• If a U.S. citizen, the apparently successful applicant shall be required to obtain a

Facility Access level security clearance as a pre-condition for employment.

• If Third Country National, , the apparently successful applicant shall be required to obtain an Employment Authorization security clearance as a pre-condition for employment.

2. The applicant selected to fill the position must receive state medical clearance to work in

USAID/Benin, Cotonou. Details of how to obtain such clearance will be provided after selection and acceptance of the job offer.

3. Complete Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Training before arriving in Cotonou, Benin

XII. COMPENSATION

The position has been classified at a GS-13 level. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value of GS-13. Salaries over and above the market value will not be entertained or negotiated. In addition to salary post has 25% of post differential.

XIII. NOTICE REGARDING GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIN FOR THIS SOLICITATION

This solicitation is no way obligates USAID to award a US PSC contract, not does it commit USAID to pay any cost construed in the preparation and submission of application.

XIV. NOTE REGARDING COUNTER TRAFFICKING IN PERSON CODE OF CONDUCT

USAID employee in the Civil Services and Foreign Service, as well as individuals employed through PSC Contract must adhere to Counter Trafficking in Persons Code of Conduct. For information on the effort to counter all forms of human trafficking, including the procurement of commercial sex acts and the use of forced labor, visit http://www.state.gov/g/tip. For more information about USAID, visit http://www usaid.gov

AS A MATTER OF POLICY, AND AS APPROPRIATE, A PSC IS NORMALLY

AUTHORIZED THE FOLLOWING:

Benefits:

1. Employee's FICA contribution*

2. Contribution toward Health and Life Insurance

- 72% of Health insurance Annual premium (not to exceed $20,339.00) and $7,266.00 for employees without dependents)

- 50% of Life Insurance Annual Premium (not to exceed $500)

3. Pay Comparability Adjustment

4. Annual Salary Increase (if applicable)

5. Annual and Sick Leave

6. Eligibility for Worker’s Compensation

7. Medevac insurance: 100% Medical Evacuation.

8. Access to Embassy medical facilities, and pouch mail service for USPSC (Department of State approval required)

9. Federal Taxes: USPSC are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes.

http://www.state.gov/g/tip

Allowances: (If applicable, as found in the Standardized Regulations Government Civilian Foreign Areas) Sections cited below)

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 Travel (Section 270)

7. Post Differential (Chapter 500)

8. Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600)

9. Danger Pay (Section 650)

XV. CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs) OR ACQUISITION AND ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRECTIVES (AAPDs) PERTAINING TO PSCs.

AAPDs/CIBs contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and contracts. Please refer to this website http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/cib/subject.html to determine which AAPDs/CIBs apply to this contract.

-------------------------------END OF SOL 680-16-000001-01-------------------------------------------http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solici/

V. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION CRITERIA: