SOL-687-13-000012.docx

Ladies and Gentlemen, The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications from qualified United States (US) citizens and third country nationals (TCN) interested in providing Personal Services Contract (PSC) services as described in the attached solicitation for services.

Interested applicants must submit:

(1) Form OF-612: This 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;

(2) An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) or resume: Your CV/resume must contain but not limited to the most current

a) work experience;

b) education;

c) certifications;

d) and salary going back three years to date.

(3) Brief appendix: To demonstrate how prior work experience addresses the minimum qualifications and Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) set forth in the solicitation. Broad general statements that are vague or lacking specificity will not be considered as effectively addressing particular factor.

(4) 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. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation of the application. If an applicant does not wish for the current employer to be contacted as a reference check, this should be stated in the applicant’s OF-612 form. The interviewing committee will delay such reference check pending communication with the applicant.

Submittals shall be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. In order to be considered for the position a candidate must meet the Minimum Qualifications listed in the solicitation. Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the applications vis-a-vis the QRF. Applicants should note that the salary history for the purposes of the OF-612 is the base salary paid, excluding benefits and allowances such as housing, travel, educational support, vehicle use, etc.

Applications must be received by e-mail by closing date and time specified in the cover letter of this solicitation and should be submitted to E-mail: antananarivoUSAIDHR@usaid.gov Please note that attachments to e-mail must be in Word format (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat format (.pdf) only. Applications in zip or other compressed format will be rejected. To ensure that the application is considered for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number and the position title on your application and in the subject line of any cover letter.

An application received after the closing date and time will be considered late, unless there is acceptable evidence to establish that it was received by the Government installation prior to the time and date specified in the solicitation and in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.412.

Any questions regarding this solicitation may be directed to Ms. Dany Randrianatoavina HR Specialist USAID/Madagascar E-mail: drandrianatoavina@usaid.gov Phone: + (261)33 44 327 18

USAID/Madagascar reserves the right not to award any contract as a result of this solicitation. Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures accompanying their applications.

Sincerely, Thomas D. Bruce Executive Officer

EEO/AA: USAID IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY/ AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER AND PROVIDES EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND FAIR AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT IN EMPLOYMENT TO ALL PEOPLE WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, MARITAL STATUS, OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

SOL-687-13-000012 US/TCN PSC - Senior Community Services and Family Planning Advisor Page 2

SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FAMILY PLANNING ADVISOR

GS/13

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER SOL-687-13-000012

2. ISSUANCE DATE June 7, 2013

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME

FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS June 21, 2013 – 14:00, Madagascar time

4. POSITION TITLE: Senior Community Services and Family Planning Advisor

5. MARKET VALUE: The position is the equivalent of a GS-13 salary (ranging from $72,032 to $93,641 per annum). Final compensation will be based on individual’s qualifications, salary and work history, experience and educational background.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two (2) years from date of appointment.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Antananarivo, Madagascar

8. EVALUATION FACTORS: Evaluation will be done on a 100-point scale:

Professional Experience – 45 points;

Program Management – 30 Points; and Interpersonal and Communication Skills – 25 Points.

10. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: US and Third Country National (TCN)

11. STATEMENT OF WORK/POSITION DESCRIPTION:

I. SCOPE OF WORK

A. BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION

The Senior Community Services and Family Planning (CS/FP) Advisor will provide technical support to the USAID/Madagascar Health, Population, Nutrition and Food Security and Disaster Assistance (HPN/FSDA) Office for the implementation of Family Planning (FP) and Behavior Change Communication (BCC)/Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities. The Senior CS/FP Advisor will also provide technical direction and guidance to USAID-financed activities within the HPN/FSDA portfolio around health promotion, communications, and behavior change across all of USAID’s health sectors, including family planning, maternal and child health, malaria, WASH, nutrition, and HIV/AIDS. As a technical member of USAID/Madagascar’s HPN/FSDA Office, the Senior CS/FP Advisor will be expected to work closely with various sub-sectorial teams in the Mission to plan and implement a range of activities related to community health services -- with a focus on best practices. The Senior CS/FP Advisor will also provide guidance for best practices and successful interventions in community services that can be integrated into USAID’s HPN/FSDA portfolio.

Additionally, the Senior CS/FP Advisor will have primary responsibility for the Health Office’s Family Planning and Nutrition-related activities, including planning and managing USAID-financed activities. These tasks will include collaborating on strategic planning and activity design, development of program descriptions, oversight of work plan development and activity implementation, periodic review of financial performance, and monitoring and evaluation of activities. The Senior CS/FP Advisor will have recognized authority in activity planning, design, management, monitoring and evaluation of the Mission projects that promote healthy practices and create demand for priority services in family planning; maternal and child health; malaria; HIV; water, sanitation, and hygiene; nutrition; as well as gender equity.

Under the supervision of the HPN/FSDA Office Director or his or her designee, the Senior CS/FP Advisor shall fulfill the following duties:

B. MAJOR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Expert programmatic and technical leadership, policy advice, guidance and support for FP and BCC/IEC activities (40%)

• Provide technical leadership and programmatic guidance to the health education, demand creation, and enabling environment components of USAID’s HPN/FSDA portfolio. Serve as the expert in the areas such as (but not limited to):

· HIV/AIDS prevention, stigma reduction, and testing and counseling promotion

· Demand creation for birth spacing

· Promotion of antenatal care, assisted deliveries, post-natal care, well baby visits, and immunization

· Promotion of Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA) and growth monitoring

· Household hygiene promotion and Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS)

· Gender equity and changing social norms to create an enabling environment for these health practices and behaviors.

• Provide strategic technical advice and assistance in preparing portions of key planning and budget documents, such as the Operational Plan (OP), the Malaria Operational Plan (MOP), semi-annual and annual progress reports, and Congressional Notification

• Participate in the relevant interagency technical working groups in Madagascar

• Work collaboratively with implementing partners and key stakeholders to develop appropriate policies for improving FP/IEC/BCC

2. Program Coordination, Management, and Networking with an emphasis on FP and Nutrition (25%)

• Coordinate the IEC/BCC component of all health-related activities, especially as they interrelate with community-based activities implemented by NGOs and Government of Madagascar.

• Collaborate and manage joint activities implemented under PEPFAR, PMI, FFP and GHI. This includes but is not limited to promotion of exclusive breastfeeding and lactational amenorrhea method, addressing anemia in women and children, WASH/Nutrition, or using the MCH platform to promote use of insecticide treated nets.

• Work with partners to ensure best practices and technical interventions support multi-sectorial programming, including community-based linkages to income generating activity and education.

• Coordinate, adapt and disseminate lessons learned on facility and community programs and projects activities to further strengthen and expand interventions to achieve USG goals.

3. Monitoring & Evaluation, Analysis and Reporting (10%)

• Assists in developing a monitoring and evaluation plans in line with the USG targets, as well as ensure that implementing partners develop project monitoring plans and report in a timely manner on their activities

• Provide expert advice and practical experience in helping the partners to monitor inputs, outcomes, and progress towards USG goals.

• Monitor and evaluate activities, by ensuring that performance monitoring systems are in place, and that periodic, reliable measures of impact indicators are established.

• Review and approve annual work plans and quarterly reports

4. Local Staff Mentoring (15%)

Provide supervision and mentoring to the Family Planning Specialist, who is to be a locally-employed Madagascar staff member, including:

· Routine coordination meetings

· Formal and informal job performance feedback

· Joint field visits

· Planned gradual skills transfer – delegating increasing responsibility over time

5. Other duties as assigned (10%)

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

II- POSITION ELEMENTS

A. LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR DECISION MAKING

The incumbent is expected to act independently and work with minimal direction. S/he will independently define and carry out duties, prioritize overall objectives, and manage available resources. The incumbent will develop deadlines for activities and other specialized tasks and is responsible for planning and carrying out assignments, resolving most conflicts that arise, and coordinating the work with others as necessary. S/he will interpret policy in terms of established objectives.

B. LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY OF WORK ASSIGNMENTS

Duties are varied and require application of methods to a broad range of problems or situations with substantial depth of analysis. The incumbent will oversee a portfolio of community activities and family planning activities. S/he will need to keep up to date on internationally proven approaches in all of them and work with staff and partners to help bring these to Madagascar as well as share Madagascar’s innovations with others. The incumbent will also need to help HPN respond to the changing aid environment in the country. S/he will be required to have thorough training and progressively responsible experience in the assigned field(s) of activity and the ability to analyze and to adapt prior knowledge and experience to meet requirements imposed by country and Mission conditions. Also, the incumbent must demonstrate initiative, resourcefulness, and the ability to independently perform work of considerable difficulty, complexity and responsibility

C. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

The incumbent serves the Mission as a community service family planning advisor for the health program. The community service family planning advisor will be supervised on a day-to-day basis by the USAID/Madagascar Health, Nutrition and Population Office Director, who will provide general broad direction and guidelines. Desired results will be outlined in broad terms. Possible alternative methods and procedures may be discussed, but the choice of those to be used will often be left to the discretion of the incumbent. Problems of unusual difficulty or those not commonly associated with the professional specialization or activity will be discussed throughout the term of assignment. The incumbent will work independently and keep his/her supervisor informed of progress in the achievement of objectives and advised of potentially controversial matters. Work will be reviewed in terms of effectiveness in advancing USAID/Madagascar’s health, population and nutrition Strategic Plan and program as enunciated in the annual results reports and resource request submissions, as well as with regard to soundness and effectiveness of decisions and actions, and conformance with policies and regulations.

D. SUPERVISION EXERCISED

The incumbent may supervise one professional staff (FSN-10/11/12). S/he will: plan and organize the staff work and define scope of the activity; make appropriate work assignments to subordinate staff, usually in terms of the end project desired, and be responsible for the technical soundness and general effectiveness and adequacy of the total work output of the unit; participate in developing requests for additional personnel and in reviewing qualifications of nominees; recommend suitable recognition for outstanding performance; take action to improve staff performance as required; and deal with grievances and complaints.

E. GUIDELINES

Administrative: Pertinent sources of information include global health and child survival and health, water and sanitation, Global Health Initiative, President’s Malaria Initiative and President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief issued guidelines and information bulletins, and USAID Agency and Bureau rules and regulations which govern the use of the U.S. assistance programs. The incumbent must exercise considerable judgment in determining the application of current legislative provisions and executive policies to assigned responsibilities. The incumbent will be expected to be innovative and original in formulating new or improved approaches to problem resolution.

Professional and technical: The knowledge, methods and techniques from the occupational field are well defined, but require choices of alternative courses of action. They provide opportunity for adaption and the exercise of judgment in the application.

F. WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is primarily performed in an office setting. The requirement for field trip assignments to consult with implementing partners of HPN programs may however expose the incumbent to difficult working surroundings and security risks during the course of travel.

G. SCOPE AND EFFECT OF WORK PERFORMED

As a Mission technical expert on community services family planning programming, and an advisor to the HPN Director on HPN management, the incumbent’s recommendations will be given substantial weight in final Mission decisions with respect to HPN programming. The incumbent will lead a subset of the HPN team and work in close collaboration with the rest of the HPN office. S/he will also collaborate closely with the Mission’s Food Security and Disaster Assist Unit as HPN program objectives and geographic scope substantially overlap with activities managed by this Unit.

H. NATURE, LEVEL AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

The incumbent serves as a point of contact for USAID’s HPN program and a primary point of contact for the technical areas s/he manages. S/he will establish contacts up through senior level of government to the level of Minister as well as with heads of partner donor agencies.

Contact with the USAID Program Development and Assessment, Executive, Contracting, Regional Legal Advisor, and Controller’s Offices; USAID Food Security and Disaster Assistance Unit; USAID/Washington Offices (Global Health and Africa Bureaus); US Embassy Political/Economics, Public Affairs, and Defense Attaché Offices and other Embassy senior staff is for the primary purpose of giving or obtaining information; explaining, interpreting, or advising on noncontroversial matters such as professional, technical, or operational requirements; or conveying work plans, opinions, and program information.

Where the primary purpose of the contact is to: formally represent the organizational unit and to give or obtain technical opinions, explain and interpret policies and objectives, and to seek acceptance of recommendations on professional and/or administrative matters, which may be controversial or novel, the contact does not involve policy making except within the scope delegated by the supervisor. These include: USAID Mission Director; Government of Madagascar Ministries of Water, Public Health and Finance; Donors (UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, World Bank, European Union, French Cooperation and French Agency for Cooperation, Japanese Embassy and JICA, GTZ, etc.).

The incumbent’s contact with USAID implementing partners (contractors, grantees, cooperating agents, etc.) is primarily to formally represent the Mission for a specific sector, program or staff operation and to furnish expert advice and recommendations on professional or administrative matters (primarily to high-level administrative and technical personnel who have policy making, program-planning or comparable responsibilities). This includes: interpreting and defending policies and objectives; negotiating changes; discussing implications of alternative proposals, policies and procedures; and developing understanding and acceptance of recommendations.

12. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The incumbent should meet the following requirements in education, work experience, knowledge, and skills and abilities to be able to carry out the aforementioned duties and responsibilities

a. Education

A Masters’ Degree in public health, social or behavioral science, public policy/administration with a concentration in public health, communication, international development, or other related field of study.

b. Work Experience

• A minimum of 5 years progressively responsible management experience in public health programming, of which at least 2 years are in a developing country context supporting health and development programs.

• Extensive experience with health communications/community mobilization activities

• Current knowledge of policy, technical and operational aspects of public health, including BCC/IEC.

• Familiarity with US government initiatives and legislation relating to development assistance, USAID programming policies, regulations, procedures, and documentation requirements for strategy and project design, implementation, management, and evaluation.

• Experience working with high level host country counterparts, in-country program managers, policy makers and a broad array of international health service providers and community leaders.

c. Communication Skills

• Proven ability to work as a member of a team and to foster teamwork is required, as is the ability to develop and maintain productive working relationships at all levels, including with USAID/USG staff and colleagues, ministerial-level officials in the Government of Madagascar, the heads of other donor agencies, and leaders of the NGO and corporate community.

• Demonstrated ability to lead policy and/or program negotiations and dialogue with host country officials.

• Excellent English and French language communications skills (native speaker level), both written and oral, including public speaking skills (as the incumbent may be called upon to deliver presentations before large and varied audiences) are essential.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively through oral presentations and briefings, written reporting and analysis, and information technology tools.

13. QUALITY RANKING FACTORS

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and selective factors will be further evaluated based on the Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) listed below. Applicants are strongly encouraged to address each of the factors on a separate sheet describing specifically and accurately the experience, training, and/or education that are relevant to each factor. Be sure to include your name and the announcement number at the top of each additional page.

A. Professional Experience – 45 points

B. Program Management – 30 Points

C. Interpersonal and Communication Skills – 25 Points

14. START DATE:

The Contractor should be available to start as soon as possible subject to appropriate medical and security checks.

15. INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:

1. APPLYING

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

1. OF-612, Optional Application for Federal Employment Form Qualified applicants are requested to submit complete and hand-signed Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF-612) available at the USAID website, on www.usaid.gov/forms. Applicants are required to sign and scan the certification at the end of the OF-612.

2. Application Letter, Resume/Curriculum Vitae Applicants shall submit resume/curriculum vitae and write a brief appendix to demonstrate how prior experience and/or education and training address the QRF listed above. In addition, applicants should highlight or make special note of relevant significant awards and achievements.

The resume will contain the following information:

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

b) 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);

c) 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;

d) Other Qualifications: Other pertinent information related to the qualifications required for the position, as noted above including job-related training courses (title and 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).

3. Reference Persons Applicants are required to provide three (3) to five (5) references with complete contact information, including E-mail address and telephone numbers, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and email contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about your past performance and abilities. Reference checks will be made only for applicants considered as finalists. If an applicant does not wish for the current employer to be contacted as a reference check, this should be stated in the applicant’s OF-612 form. The interviewing committee will delay such reference check pending communication with the applicant.

4. Marking Application To ensure consideration of applicants for the intended position, please mark

SOL-687-13-000012, CS/FP

on your e-mail subject line as well as on any cover letter.

5. Application Submission Applications must be received by closing date and time specified in the cover letter of this solicitation via email at the address:

antananarivoUSAIDHR@usaid.gov Attention: Ms. Dany Randrianatoavina, HR Specialist

Please note that attachments to e-mail must be in Word format (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat format (.pdf) only. Applications in zip or other compressed format will be rejected.

6. 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 14:00, local time (GMT+3), 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/Madagascar reserves the right not to award any contract as a result of this solicitation.

1. 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 an Employment Authorization. Instructions for obtaining the Employment Authorization will be forwarded to the selected individual once negotiations have been concluded.

1. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs

· Optional Form 612. Found at http://www.usaid.gov/forms

Other additional forms, some of which are listed below shall be completed ONLY upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the position.

· DS 6561, Pre-Assignment for Overseas Duty for Non-Foreign Service Personnel. Found at http://www.state.gov/m/med/c35188.htm

· OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment

· SF-86, Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) or SF-85, Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions

· Finger Print Card (FD-258)

16. REGULATIONS/BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

i). USAID Regulations:

0. Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs): CIBs contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and contracts. Please refer to this web site – http://transition.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/cib/subject.html#psc to determine which CIBs 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:

1. Employee’s FICA Contribution

1. Annual Contribution towards Health and Life Insurance

1. Pay Comparability Adjustment - - Annual across the board salary increase for USG employees and USPSCs

1. Worker’s Compensation

1. Annual increase

1. Vacation and Sick Leave

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

2. Allowances * (If Applicable):

1. Post Differential (Section 500)

1. Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

1. Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120)

1. Post Allowance (COLA)(Section 220)

1. Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230)

1. Payment During Evacuation (Section 600)

1. Education Allowance (Section 270)

1. Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

1. Danger Pay (Section 650)

1. 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:

1. Housing

1. Furniture

1. Appliances

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

1. Utilities

1. Guard Services for Residence

4. Federal and State Taxes:

ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, COLOR, SEX, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, LAWFUL POLITICAL AFFILIATION, NON-DISQUALIFYING HANDICAP, MARITAL STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AFFILIATION WITH AN EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION, OR OTHER NON-MERIT FACTOR.

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