USAIDBENIN_SOL-_680-16-000001.pdf

Ladies and Gentlemen:

SUBJECT: USAID/Benin: Solicitation for a Personal Services Contractor (PSC) – Program Specialist Position, Solicitation No.: SOL- 680-16-000001 Issuance Date: October 15, 2015 Closing Date: November 13, 2015 Closing Time: 12:00 Pm Local Benin Time

USAID/BENIN is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

Persons with disabilities will be assisted and receive reasonable accommodation.

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 a Program Specialist.

USAID/Benin anticipates awarding one contract as a result of this solicitation, subject to availability of funds. Interested applicants must submit:

(i) A written statement that addresses the Evaluation/Selection Criteria in this solicitation, and demonstrate how their experience and skills meet or exceed these criteria.

(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 selection 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) to five (5) references, who are not family members or relatives, with telephone and email contacts.

The application must be submitted by via email only. All application packages are to be submitted by email to: Francine Agblo at fagblo@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.

Point of Contact: Any questions concerning this Solicitation Notice may be directed to Ms. Francine Agblo at fagblo@usaid.gov no later than October 30, 2015; no question will be entertained after this date. The submission deadline is November 13, 2015 -12:00 PM Benin local time. Application received after this date and time will not be considered. Only short-listed applications will be called for interview.

http://auslnxapvweb01.usaid.gov/forms/formsnumeric.html mailto:fagblo@usaid.gov mailto:fagblo@usaid.gov

I. SOLICITATION INFORMATION

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

2. ISSUANCE DATE: October 15, 2015

3. CLOSING DATE: November 13, 2015 12:00 PM Local

Benin Time

4. POSITION TITLE: Program Specialist

5. MARKET VALUE: GS-13 (US $73,115 to US $95,048)

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

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

8. SUPERVISION: Program Officer.

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 POSITION

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 SPO 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 Program Officer, 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 deadlines. 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 providing basic 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) 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 facilities access clearance.

V. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION 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-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. Language Proficiency: (10 points) Level IV English is required with proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing; fluency in French is desired but not required.

d. Knowledge: (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.

e . Skills and Abilities: (25 points)

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.

VI. LOGISTICAL SUPPORT:

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

VII. TERMS OF PERFORMANCE:

The Personal Services Contract will be for 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) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.

(c) Names and contact information (phone/email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). Current and/or previous supervisors may be contacted for a reference.

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

Note: No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.

IX. SECURITY AND MEDICAL CLEARANCE 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. For a TCN, an Employment Authorization is required as a pre-condition for employment.

2. The applicant selected to fill the position must receive 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.

X. COMPENSATION

The position has been classified at a GS-13 level for U.S citizens and Off Shore hire TCNs. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value of GS-13 for U.S. citizens and Off-shore hire TCNs. Salaries over and above the market value will not be entertained or negotiated.

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

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.

NB: No allowances will be paid to CCNs and Benin National with U.S. Resident Alien status.

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 Allowance (Section 270)

7. Post Differential (Chapter 500)

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

9. Danger Pay (Section 650)

10. Educational Travel

XI. 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.

http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solici/

V. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION CRITERIA: