SOL-696-16-000006_-_Senior_Advisor_for_Health_5-9-16_modified.doc

SOL-696-16-000006

SOLICITATION NUMBER:

SOL-696-16-000006

ISSUANCE DATE:

May 10, 2016

CLOSING DATE/TIME: June 10, 2016 at 1:00 pm (Kigali Time)

ATTACHMENT 1

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.:

SOL-696-16-000004

2. ISSUANCE DATE:

May 10, 2016

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME:

June 10, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. (Kigali Time)

4. POSITION TITLE:

Senior Advisor for Health

5. MARKET VALUE:

Position is classified at GS-15 with annual salary range of

$102,646 to $133,444 p.a. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market rate.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

2 Years. Level of effort is full time (40 hours per week).

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

Kigali, Rwanda

8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRE:

Secret Clearance Level

9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

A. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract USAID/Rwanda’s Health Office oversees an annual budget of approximately $76 million. The health portfolio covers child survival (integrated management of childhood illness), reproductive health (family planning, safe motherhood, fistula), infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, malaria), nutrition, water and sanitation, and health systems strengthening. HIV/AIDS activities are implemented through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) together with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Defense, State Department and Peace Corps. Malaria activities are implemented, together with CDC, with funding from the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI). Rwanda is a GHI Plus country, a Global Health Security Agenda Phase II Country, an Action Plan Against Children in Adversity Focus Country, an Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths (EPCMD) Focus Country, Family Planning 2020 Focus Country and a Feed the Future priority country.

The Health Office, led by an Office Director and Deputy Director, comprises three sub-teams: Health and Social Welfare Promotion (HSWP), Health Service Delivery (HSD), and Health Systems Strengthening (HSS). Each team manages an integrated portfolio of activities and works closely with the other teams to build capacity in Rwanda for sustained and improved health outcomes by providing innovative and responsive technical and financial assistance.

The HSWP team is cross-cutting and also works integrally with other USAID programs in agriculture, democracy and governance, education and economic growth. The team goal is to help Rwandans develop and sustain protective health behaviors, increase their capacity to demand health and social services and products, and receive adequate protection against adverse circumstances and shocks that threaten their livelihoods and affect their ability to achieve and sustain wellbeing.

The HSWP team is responsible for activities that promote healthy behaviors and prevent illness, disability and death, for example use of family planning, safer sexual practices, breastfeeding, hand-washing, and appropriate care-seeking (antenatal care, safe delivery, malaria treatment, etc.). The new nutrition component of the Health and Social Welfare Promotion portfolio aims to address very high rates of chronic malnutrition in children under five years of age by targeting nutrition during pregnancy and the first two years of life. This exciting new component of the portfolio will address a wide range of influences, such as changing feeding practices in the target group; increasing access to a diversified diet throughout the year through increased assets, better post-harvest storage, and improved production of maize, beans and dairy; promoting point of use fortification and in the longer term staple food fortification to address micronutrient deficiencies; informing multi-sector evaluations, plans and activities in support of improved food and nutrition security; access to safe water and sanitation, and the promotion of good hygiene; and earlier identification of nutritional deficits and referral for interventions in health facilities. Lastly, the team oversees efforts to improve the well-being of orphans and vulnerable children through a comprehensive package of health and social welfare services. The HSWP team works in partnership with other Mission programs to decrease the impact of poor health (especially due to HIV/AIDS) on an individual’s social welfare, such as promoting access to education (for orphans and vulnerable children), legal aid, income generating activities and capacity building for civil society organizations. The prevention, health promotion, nutrition, and social welfare portfolios all require close coordination with the agriculture, economic growth and democracy/governance (DG) teams – not only to advise on programmatic linkages but to design, monitor and evaluate the use of health funds provided in support of predominantly economic growth, agricultural, environmental, and DG activities according to USG laws, policies, and regulations.

The HSS team is cross-cutting and also works integrally with other USAID programs. The HSS team goal is to support the organization, management, and governance of the Rwandan health care system to enable the delivery of quality health services that are accessible and affordable to the entire Rwandan population. The HSS team is responsible for activities along the six building blocks with the following long-term expected results:

· Information Systems improved for routine data collection, program monitoring and evaluation, and dissemination of health information

· Health Financing system streamlined

· Pharmaceutical Management and Procurement improved especially regarding availability and use of quality health commodities

· Human Resources for Health - Workforce hiring, training, and retention plans, practices, and policies developed and implemented

· Quality Improvement approach, which includes top-down supervision, peer-peer collaboration, and financial incentives, integrated

· Leadership and Governance capacity of the Government of Rwanda (GOR) to create and enforce regulatory standards is improved with increased participation in health sector development by non-state actors, and increased transparency and accountability in procurement and financial management systems The HSD team oversees a portfolio that cuts across all sources of health funding, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, pandemic influenza, maternal/child health, family planning, nutrition, and water & sanitation. The HSD team vision is to support the delivery of high quality health services that lead to improved health outcomes, and particularly reduce maternal and under-five morbidity and mortality. The HSD team is responsible for activities that promote improved health outcomes through health services at community and facility levels. The team’s long-term expected results are to: 1) improve quality of facility and community-based family health (FH) services; 2) expand access to FH services, primarily by increasing the number of skilled health care providers; and 3) strengthen management of facility and community-based FH services. Critical components of four US Presidential Initiatives form the HSD portfolio, including prevention, treatment, and control interventions for malaria under PMI; community- and facility-based nutrition activities aimed primarily at high rates of chronic malnutrition in children under five years of age (by targeting nutrition during pregnancy and the first two years of life) in support of the President’s Feed the Future Initiative; and high impact interventions for improved maternal, child and reproductive health under EPCMD.

USAID/Rwanda requires the services of a Senior Health Advisor who will support the new Health Office Director. The Advisor will provide strategic, technical, resource and administrative support for the management and coordination of all health activities and the personnel assigned to oversee them within the USAID/Rwanda health program. The Advisor is responsible for guiding and facilitating a broad range of planning, monitoring, coordination, capacity building and implementation of activities within the three team’s portfolios. The Advisor will be responsible for assisting the Health Office Director in the oversight of all projects within the portfolio, and s/he will play a key role in working with the GOR and other donors to ensure USG support is provided according to national plans and strategies, and that USG appropriately provides expert advice, financial support and other assistance in harmony with USG foreign assistance policies. S/he will provide mentoring, direction and supervision to a team largely new to USAID, either as Rwandan staff new to the Agency or as Foreign Service Officers on second or third tours or advisors on contract to USAID. S/he will be part of the Health Office senior management group, liaise closely with other team leadership, and represent USAID’s health portfolio with other USG agencies, the GOR and other Rwandan institutions, and development partners.

B. Statement of Duties

1. General

The Senior Health Advisor serves as the principal consultant to USAID/Rwanda Health Office Director and senior management on all issues and programs pertaining to health.

The Advisor will be responsible for: 1) supporting and mentoring the Health Office Director; 2) devising appropriate strategies and plans for supporting health in Rwanda; 3) leading the design and implementation of cost-effective programs/activities that produce meaningful results, including new direct financing to Rwandan civil society and the Rwandan government; 4) facilitating the proper coordination and integration of USAID health activities within the Mission’s portfolio broadly; 5) ensuring that all Mission health activities are coordinated with, complementary to, and supportive of similar assistance activities of other U.S. government agencies, especially from the Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and also including the Embassy, Department of Defense, and Peace Corps; 6) ensuring that the design and implementation of all health activities are fully coordinated with international organizations and bilateral donors active in this area; 7) ensuring that all Mission health activities support Rwandan national policies and plans and are coordinated with relevant national and local authorities; 8) providing policy advice and analyses to the Health Office Director and senior Mission management, USG leadership, Rwandan authorities within government and the private sector on topics related to health development in Rwanda.

The Advisor will serve as a principal technical resource on health and on matters related to programming under USAID’s Assistance Objective for “Health” and relevant Program Areas and Elements under the USAID foreign assistance framework which are designed and being implemented in partnership with the GOR and in close consultation with concerned Rwandan private sector partners, other USG agencies and development partners. The Advisor will also coach the Health Office Director on day-to-day liaison with other U.S. Government agencies (mainly CDC, DOD, and Peace Corps) and international organizations and foreign donors engaged in providing assistance for health.

2. Specific Duties and Responsibilities The Advisor’s major duties and responsibilities include:

Health Assistance Portfolio Management

· Facilitate the management of the Mission health portfolio on a day-to-day basis, including managing and overseeing all health projects funded by USAID/Rwanda; identifying and resolving program issues, assuring that all activities are carried out in a technically sound and cost-effective manner, assigning responsibility for program management and implementation matters to subordinates, and assure that activities are carried out in accordance with all applicable Mission and Agency directives and requirements by mentoring and supporting the Health Office Director.

· Plan and design new health projects and activities and/or oversee the design of new activities led by members of the health office to meet Mission and Agency foreign assistance goals.

· Ensure monitoring and reporting systems are in place to assess progress in health assistance in achieving Mission goals; provide technical input in the development of performance monitoring plans (PMPs) for both specific projects and activities and for the portfolio as a whole.

· Ensure the timely review and approval of health implementation partner annual work plans and budgets as well as compliance with approved work plans and budgets.

· Manage and oversee the health program budget and finances in coordination with Health Office senior management and budget focal person; ensure that program/activity expenditures and pipelines are monitored and that corrective action is taken when needed; ensure appropriate and timely funding.

· Provide strategic, technical and administrative guidance on all supported health activities.

· Ensure that health activities are integrated into overall USAID-supported development activities (especially education, agriculture, economic growth and democracy and governance).

Strategic and Technical Leadership in Health

· Provide analysis, expert advice, and recommendations to Health Office Director and staff regarding the formulation of Mission strategy for assistance in health and on the management and implementation of related activities in the Mission’s portfolio; identify short and long-range achievable, sustainable strategies and participate, as required, in the development of Mission strategic plans, results analysis, resource requests, and other strategic planning and reporting documentation.

· Determine the additional analyses, assessments, or reviews required for sound health strategies and activities; design and oversee the implementation of such analyses or assessments; and follow up as necessary.

· Participate in, coordinate, or manage USAID inputs into assessments conducted in conjunction with other USG Agencies (especially CDC and DOD), international organizations, or other donors.

· Ensure that all activities are consistent with internationally accepted best practices and relevant to Rwanda.

· Continuously gather information about, and keep current on, developments pertaining to health in Rwanda and reporting such developments as required to Mission management and staff.

Developing Capacity of Health Office Management

· Serve as Advisor the Health Office Director, and support a staff of up to 23.

· Assist in the mentoring of junior/second tour foreign service officers, particularly the four serving within the health office.

· Mentor the Health Office Director on coordination efforts between USAID’s health implementing partners and facilitate coordination with concerned parties within Rwandan and development partner institutions.

· Coach staff on setting annual work objectives; conducting staff performance evaluations; reviewing and revising position descriptions; managing staffing issues and determining staff assignments; developing and managing staff training plans; and determining the need for TDY assistance.

· Provide technical, administrative and managerial leadership for the health office, convene office meetings when needed, provide coaching on information sharing and collaboration among staff and projects, and raise issues with senior management as necessary.

· Provide coaching to health office staff on proper management of the administrative health budget and finances (for program design, management, administration and oversight), including procurement planning, use of program funds, and monitoring pipelines to avoid funding gaps.

General Management

· Carry out such other tasks related to Mission health activities as might be assigned from time-to-time by Mission and Health Management.

· The incumbent will handle all assigned work either independently or, as required, as part of teams, according to established Mission policies, practices and programmatic guidance, as in effect and in accordance with all applicable USAID regulations and guidance as provided in the USAID ADS and elsewhere.

· The incumbent is expected to make independent judgments that can be defended as necessary. As a highly qualified professional, substantial reliance is placed on the employee to independently plan and carry out the specific activities entailed in fulfilling major duties and responsibilities.

· The employee will resolve problems that arise by determining the approaches to be taken and methodologies to be used; developing, coordinating, and clearing proposed solutions with all necessary parties; and then taking appropriate actions necessary to resolve the problem.

C. Supervisory Relationship The contractor will report directly to the Health Office Director and perform assigned work with minimal supervision or guidance.

D. Supervision Exercised None

10. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The USAID/Rwanda Health Office is a fast-paced, short turnaround environment in a professional office setting.

11. POINT OF CONTACT

Anne Gakuba, email at agakuba@usaid.gov.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Education (10 points): A Master’s Degree or PhD in public health or a related area (such as economics, international health, or development) is required.

CORRECTION - Experience (30 points): Minimum of ten years of significant responsible professional experience working in International development organization, at least five of which were spent in a developing country context supporting development programs and in a leadership position. Experience with successfully leading large international health programs and working closely with senior-level officials. Applicants’ management skills will be given particular weight.

Knowledge (15 points): In-depth expert knowledge of health systems strengthening issues and interventions is required, including health-related policies, regulations and precedents applicable to development and administration of national/international public health and development programs.

Good working knowledge of team management techniques to plan, organize and direct multidisciplinary teams and activities is required.

Good working knowledge of the administration and management of contracts/cooperative agreements/grants/purchase requisitions is desired.

Skills and Abilities (20 points): Strong oral and written communications skills are required to develop and maintain effective, sustainable working relationships for the achievement of results with diverse national and international working partners in a cross-cultural setting. The ability to clearly communicate new program and technical concepts to technical and non-technical counterparts is required.

Strong leadership skills are required to lead a results-driven team, motivate individuals and influence professional working groups.

Ability to readily analyze, understand, and discuss new program design, management, and implementation approaches as well as to identify priority actions, generate and complete work plans within short time frames is required. This includes the development of evaluation designs, use of reliable and valid instruments, and methods for data collection, analysis and reports.

Ability to exercise considerable ingenuity and tact in applying guidelines to unique and different settings is required.

Demonstrated attention to details, excellent organizational skills, and personal initiative in the management of multiple tasks within tight time deadlines is required.

Considerable innovation will be required to influence other collaborative organizations engaged in health and development programs to adopt appropriate strategies for their program activities.

Intermediate user level of word processing, spreadsheets and databases is required.

Strong quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills and their application to the interpretation of program monitoring and evaluation data are required.

Language Proficiency (10points): A Master’s Degree or PhD in public health or a related area (such as economics, international health, or development) is required.

Past performance / Professional reference checks (15 points): Applicants must list at least three references and provide current contact information, preferably both an e-mail address and a telephone number. The applicants’ past performance in positions that require similar skills to that required by this solicitation will be evaluated.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

USAID/Rwanda expects to award a one year personal services contract. Applicants meeting the required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and obtained through reference checks. USAID reserves the right to conduct telephonic interviews with the most highly ranked applicants and make the interview a deciding factor in selection.

The incumbent must be:

· A US citizen;

· In possession of, or able to obtain, a Secret level security clearance;

· In possession of, or able to obtain, a State Department medical clearance for assignment to Kigali, Rwanda. Details of how to obtain US Department of State medical clearance will be provided.

· Complete Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Training before arriving in Kigali, Rwanda.

· Available and willing to work outside the regular 40-hour workweek when required or necessary.

· Applicants must address all the below elements as part of their offer in response to this PSC solicitation.

IV. 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.

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 AID-302-3: 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 Form AID-302-3. Form AID-302-3 is available at the USAID web site, http://auslnxapvweb01.usaid.gov/forms/formsnumeric.html, 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 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 cover letter. 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 Evaluation Criteria. Applicants should note that the salary history for the purposes of the AID 302-3 form is the base salary paid, excluding benefits and allowances such as housing, travel, educational support, vehicle use, etc. Applicants are reminded and required to sign the certification at the end of the AID 302-3 form.

Applications must be signed and dated. In addition, hard copies of certain documents may be requested. Applicants are responsible for submitting the AID 302-3 form, so as to reach the Government office designated in the solicitation by the closing date and time specified in the solicitation. 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 institution prior to the time and date specified in the solicitation and in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.412.

USAID/Rwanda reserves the right not to award any contract as a result of this solicitation.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Methods of Submission of an Application:

Electronic submission is authorized and the most preferred. Electronic application packages are to be submitted by email to: KIGALIHR@USAID.GOV. Please quote the number and position title of this solicitation on the subject line of your email application. Be sure to include the announcement number at the top of each of the additional pages.

v). 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/Rwanda reserves the right not to award any contract as a result of this solicitation.

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.

Medical History and Examination (DS 6561)

Questionnaire for the Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86), or

Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)

Finger Print Card (D-258)

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a USPSC policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized to receive benefits and allowances in accordance with the AIDAR Appendix D; however, as conditions at post change, benefits and allowance may also be changed.

A. Benefits

· Employee's FICA Contribution

· Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

· Pay Comparability Adjustment

· Annual and Sick Leave

· Medevac Insurance

· Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

· Access to Embassy medical facilities

· Cost of Travel to/from Post

B. Allowances (If Applicable):

· Post Differential (Section 500)

· Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

· Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120)

· Post Allowance (Section 220)

· Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230)

· Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

· Education Allowance (Section 270)

· Education Travel (Section 280)

· Post Differential (Chapter 500)

· Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600)

· Danger Pay Allowance (Section 650)

VII. TAXES

USPSCs are required to pay Federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State Income taxes.

VIII. ACQUISITION AND ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRETIVES (AAPDS) AND CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETIN (CIBS) PERTAINING TO PSCs

1. AAPDs and CIBs contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and contracts. Please refer to this web site – http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs to determine which AAPDS/ 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.

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