SOL72062421R00008 Health Systems Strengthening Advisor CDI.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72062421R00008

ISSUANCE DATE: April 9, 2021 CLOSING DATE/TIME: May 9, 2020/17:00 GMT

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S./TCN Personal Service Contractor (US/TCNPSC):

Senior Health Systems Strengthening Advisor, USAID/Cote D’Ivoire

Dear Prospective Offerors:

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

Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1, Sections I through V of this solicitation.

Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records.

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

All offers must be submitted to the Point of Contact via email: accrapsc@usaid.gov

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Any questions must be directed in writing to Patience Charway at pcharway@usaid.gov or Yusif Ibrahim at yibrahim@usaid.gov with a copy to Michael Sampson at msampson@usaid.gov.

Sincerely, Michael Sampson Contracting Officer Regional Executive Office, USAID/West Africa mailto:accrapsc@usaid.gov mailto:pcharway@usaid.gov mailto:msampson@usaid.gov

ATTACHMENT 1 SOL # 72062421R00008

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72062421R00008

2. ISSUANCE DATE: April 09, 2021

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: May 09, 2021, 17:00GMT

4. POINT OF CONTACT: USAID/West Africa, Accra; e-mail at accrapsc@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Health Systems Strengthening and Policy Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: $93,970- $122,077 equivalent to GS-14 Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Immediate upon receipt of Security/Medical Clearances. The duration of the Personal Services Contract will be for a base of two (2) years, with an option of three (3) one year extensions for a maximum of five (5) years. Exercise of options will depend on continuing need of services, availability of funds, and Washington’s approval.

Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise the additional option periods for Three (3) years for the dates estimated as follows:

Base Period: o/a 09/2021 to 09/2023 Option Period 1: o/a 09/2023 to 09/2024 Option Period 2: o/a 09/2024 to 09/2025 Option Period 3: o/a 09/2025 to 09/2026

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Cote D’Ivoire.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to U.S. Citizens (including lawful Permanent legal residents) or Third Country Nationals.

Hiring Preference:

In order of preference, U.S. Citizens (including Permanent legal residents) offers will be evaluated first and only when it is determined that there is no qualified U.S. Citizens (including Permanent legal residents) that offers from Third Country Nationals (TCN) will be considered.

References 309.3.1.10 and 309.3.1.4.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facility Access mailto:accrapsc@usaid.gov

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE POSTION:

USAID supports the Government of Cote d’Ivoire in its efforts to prevent, mitigate and treat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, emerging pandemics, neglected tropical diseases and to support Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health and Family Planning activities. Key USG initiatives include the President’s Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS Relief Program (PEPFAR) and the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).

In 2014, UNAIDS put forward what is known as the “90-90-90 targets” to emphasize the importance of expanding access to treatment as a means to both save millions of lives and control the HIV epidemic by 2020.

The targets were updated to “95-95-95” to meet 2030 goals:

● 95 percent of PLHIV know their HIV status.

● 95 percent of people who know their HIV-positive status are on HIV treatment; and,

● 95 percent of people on HIV treatment have suppressed viral loads.

endorses these targets and aims to achieve them by 2030. Moreover, since 2014 PEPFAR has focused on transitioning from an emergency response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic to promoting sustainable country programs to address HIV/AIDS. To achieve the 95-95-95 targets and realize an effective transition to a sustainable program in Côte d’Ivoire, PEPFAR aims to:

Strengthen partner government capacity to lead the response to the epidemic and related public health demands.

support prevention, care, and treatment activities in both concentrated and generalized epidemics.

promote integration of HIV/AIDS activities with broader global health and development programs to maximize impact within the health system.

invest in innovation and operations research to evaluate impact, improve service delivery, and maximize outcomes.

The Washington D.C. Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) oversees all USG international HIV/AIDS activities. The main USG agencies currently working under PEPFAR in Côte d’Ivoire are the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, small-scale activities are undertaken by the U.S. Departments of Defense (DOD), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and State (DOS).

The USAID/PEPFAR Côte d’Ivoire portfolio currently includes activities with USAID implementing partners.

They complement the work of more than PEPFAR partners that are financed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CI PEPFAR program is unique in that activities, regardless of whether USAID or CDC is the grantor or sponsoring agency, are considered part of one coherent program that is implemented jointly by these two USG agencies. For the past several years, total PEPFAR funding for Côte d’Ivoire has exceeded $110 million annually.

Malaria is endemic throughout Côte d’Ivoire the whole year, with peaks during the rainy season. The rains occur in line with a sub-equatorial climate between May and July for the main season and between October and November for the secondary season, and with a tropical climate from March through May. Côte d’Ivoire has a tropical climate with four seasons in the coastal and central regions and two seasons in the northern savannah region, including a long dry season from November to May and a wet season from June to October.

The coastal and central region has:

Malaria continues to be a major public health problem in Côte d’Ivoire, with incidence in the general population dropping slightly from 155 per 1000 in 2015 to about 154 per 1000 in 2016. Among children under five years of age, the incidence has declined from 292 per 1000 in 2015 to 287 per 1000 in 2016. In 2016, 3,645,081 confirmed malaria cases were reported to the World Health Organization. The same year, 4,000 deaths due to malaria were reported nationwide. Among regions with the highest incidence are Hambol (259.60 per 1000), Goh (257.78 per 1000) and Gbeke (251.4 per 1000).

In FY 2017, Cote d’Ivoire was selected as one of the last five U.S President’s Malaria Initiative-focus (PMI) countries. PMI supports 24 partner countries in sub-Saharan Africa and three programs in the Greater Mekong Subregion in Southeast Asia to control and eliminate malaria. PMI delivers cost-effective, life-saving malaria interventions—such as insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying, and essential medicines—alongside catalytic technical and operational assistance to equip and empower partner countries to end malaria. PMI is a multi-agency initiative, led by USAID and co-implemented with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

PMI also has strong bi-partisan support from the US Congress as well as from, and collaborates closely with, the Department of Defense; the National Institutes of Health; Peace Corps; and other U.S. departments, agencies, and programs.

Today, PMI’s programs benefit at least 570 million people at risk of malaria. Since 2006, in countries where PMI works, global efforts have supported a 27 percent drop-in malaria case rates and a 60 percent decline in malaria death rates. Child mortality has also fallen dramatically across PMI-supported African countries.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The USAID Senior HSS Advisor will have primary responsibility for the development and/or reinforcement of cross cutting health sector systems supported by USAID,, PEPFAR, PMI, and identified as priorities by GOCI in its national development and health sector plans. The USAID implementing partners’ activities that the Senior HSS Advisor will oversee were designed to reform and/or reinforce fundamental systems, practices and tools that are necessary for optimal institutional performance, improved health outcomes, and sustainable programs.

Systems include:

Human resources management.

Leadership and governance.

Healthcare financing and sustainability (Domestic Resource Mobilization);

Decentralization and Deconcentration.

Healthcare policy and regulatory mechanisms.

Laboratory network; and, Health commodities supply chain.

The Senior HSS Advisor will also take the lead in promoting, developing and overseeing, in close collaboration with USG colleagues and appropriate GOCI counterparts, the implementation of a USG-GOCI PEPFAR partnership compact that lays out a joint strategic plan for cooperation between the USG, the host country, and other partners to combat HIV/AIDS through service delivery, policy reform, and coordinated financial commitments. The purpose of the compact is to support and strengthen national HIV strategies, and to promote a more sustainable approach to combating HIV/AIDS, characterized by strengthened country capacity, ownership, and leadership. S/he will also provide inputs into Malaria Operational Planning, coordinate and oversee the implementation of PMI funds allocated to the supply chain and pharmaceutical management mechanisms in support of the National Malaria Control Program. The Senior HSS Advisor will ensure a holistic approach is taken while planning USAID’s support to the supply chain, using different funding elements in the Health Office’s portfolio. The Senior HSS Advisor will be responsible for engaging GOCI counterparts in the process, and for proposing activities and benchmarks, deliverables, and timetables.

S/he will work with GOCI counterparts to ensure its timely execution. It should be transparent, with measures to ensure accountability and the active participation of key partners from civil society, the private sector, bilateral and multilateral partners (e.g., Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, GFATM), and international organizations.

The Senior HSS Advisor is responsible for providing technical guidance for health sector reform and systems strengthening activities, including the development of planning and management capacities. S/he will liaise and work with other USAID, and with CDC colleagues who work on HIV and Malaria care and treatment, prevention, strategic information, laboratory, and project management activities, and with GOCI counterparts, to identify needs, set priorities, and propose strategies, options, interventions and activities to be supported by USAID. S/he will promote and facilitate the application of best practices in various health sector systems strengthening areas. The incumbent will also be the USAID Health Office point of contact (POC) for commodity and supply chain liaison with the Global Fund.

The incumbent will produce written documents, in English and in French, for use in USAID and PEPFAR CI communications related to health systems activities. This includes preparation of the HSS section for the annual PEPFAR Country Operational Plan (COP), PEPFAR Oversight and Accountability Response Team (POART) and other analytical reports, briefing papers, press releases, etc. S/he will produce required USAID and PEPFAR reports for submission/distribution to the PEPFAR Côte d’Ivoire team, USAID/Washington, OGAC, USAID/West Africa, and other USG agencies and interested parties. The Senior HSS Advisor will review and provide input into USAID implementing partners’ work plans, meetings, activity proposals and other program documents regarding systems strengthening activities. S/he will be a member of the PEPFAR Côte d’Ivoire Strategy and Policy Team (SPOT). S/he will mentor USAID staff and provide guidance on HSS strategies to USAID implementing partners and GOCI counterparts. The incumbent will be directly supervised by the USAID Health Office Director or her designee.

The Senior HSS Advisor will work closely with the PMI Team, through the Malaria Operational Planning process, to ensure that adequate resources are allocated to HSS and mainly supply chain strengthening to complement other funding elements to allow USAID’s Health Office to meet its HSS objectives. S/he will participate in technical discussion with the NMCP and MoH leadership regarding challenges of the supply chain and solutions.

The Contractor shall perform the following duties:

Activity Design and Management (35% LOE)

In collaboration with USAID staff, USG interagency colleagues and host country counterparts, provide technical guidance, identify and develop health care financing initiatives, key health sector policy initiatives, and other health systems strengthening activities to be supported by USAID in Côte d’Ivoire;

Ensure that USAID’s HSS activities are designed to support and strengthen GOCI’s national health programs and promote a sustainable approach to service delivery likely to result in better health outcomes.

Serve as the point of contact for the PMI Team with the NMCP, the NPSP and other institutions involved in the supply chain and pharmaceutical management.

Identify HSS short-term technical assistance (STTA) needs, prepare scopes of work for STTA to address needs, and participate in recruitment of appropriate STTA;

Monitor the implementation and progress of all USAID-supported health systems strengthening activities and prepare quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports as required by HSS programs;

Carry out USAID Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) duties for select activities, as needed, upon successful completion of relevant USAID training;

Oversee the development of USAID’s HSS implementing partners’ (IPs) scopes of work and budgets, monitor progress towards attaining objectives, and ensure that IPs’ activities, annual work plans, and budgets reflect USG and GOCI priorities, policies, and guidance.

Participate in Site Improvement through Monitoring Systems (SIMS) visits to the field

HSS Team Lead and Staff Supervision (30% LOE)

Lead the USAID HSS team, mentor and supervise non-direct hire HSS personnel (up to four);

Coordinate and collaborate with other USAID/CI technical teams (One Health/Infectious Diseases, Community Health, Malaria, Health Statistics and Evaluation) and with other USG agencies that also work in these areas (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of State (DOS), Department of Defense (DOD), etc.);

Facilitate frequent and active collaboration with implementing partners and host country stakeholders.

USAID Technical Advisor and Point of Contact (POC) for HSS Activities (35% LOE)

Collaborate with host country counterparts and implementing partners, and provide timely recommendations for and information about HSS activities to USAID colleagues, USG interagency partners, the GOCI ministerial and other officials, and other interested stakeholders;

Have a good understanding and be able to speak knowledgeably about current systems-related issues and challenges, and USAID policy and technical guidance for the following programs: HIV/AIDS, pandemic threats and global health security, neglected tropical diseases, malaria, maternal and child health, and reproductive health/family planning;

Promote and encourage host country engagement in HSS activities, informed decision making and sustainability in order to achieve better health outcomes;

Promote and facilitate the application of best practices in health sector systems strengthening areas.

Supervisory Responsibilities

In addition to the Senior HSS Advisor, the HSS Team currently includes a Senior Supply Chain Advisor, an

Advisor for Decentralized Supply Chain Management, a Health Systems Advisor, and a Health Economist.

There may be additional staff in the future. The Senior HSS Advisor supervises and provides technical direction and guidance for the entire HSS Team and will provide input for team members’ periodic employee evaluations. The Senior HSS Advisor may also supervise the work of short-term technical assistance providers and consultants who provide ad hoc support to the HSS team.

Other Significant factors

● Guidelines The incumbent must have the ability to understand and operate within USAID’s policies and regulations regarding foreign assistance programs, and in particular global health and HIV/AIDS programs. The selected candidate for the Senior HSS Advisor position is expected to quickly become familiar with USAID processes, procedures and regulations as presented in USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS) and other relevant USG and PEPFAR policies, directives and programmatic guidelines. The incumbent is required to be proactive in keeping abreast of all relevant USG guidelines and policies as well as host country policies and decrees related to the health sector in CI. Guidance will be available to the incumbent from senior USAID and CDC staff in Abidjan, USAID/West Africa, USAID/Washington Global Health and Africa Bureaus, Dept. of State Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) for PEPFAR, and CDC.

● Exercise of Judgment The incumbent will exercise a high degree of independent judgment in providing guidance and assistance to a wide range of host country counterparts and PEPFAR implementing partners in Côte d’Ivoire. As a recognized expert and highly qualified professional, substantial reliance will be placed on the incumbent to independently plan, prioritize and carry out the duties and responsibilities of the position. The incumbent will be expected to analyze and address problems by applying relevant guidance (for management/administrative issues) and evidence-based strategies (for technical issues). The use of initiative, discretion, cultural sensitivity, collaboration and teamwork is expected of the incumbent when working with PEPFAR colleagues, USG implementing partners and host country counterparts to resolve challenges for which there are no clear or immediate solutions. In instances where no formal guidance exists, the incumbent will propose solutions in consultation with his/her supervisor and/or other senior PEPFAR and USAID colleagues.

● Complexity This is a position of substantial complexity. The incumbent must demonstrate leadership and exceptional initiative to address evolving country health system needs. The position requires the ability to plan, implement, follow-up and work both independently and within a large multi-agency team setting. The incumbent is expected to be highly productive and meet tight deadlines. Strong interpersonal and team-building skills are essential as is the ability to operate sensitively and effectively in a post-conflict developing country environment. S/he must be able to devise solutions for situations that may involve conflict and disagreement among stakeholders, competing priorities, differing political sensitivities, unclear or outdated policies, and/or weak institutions.

● Scope and Effect The incumbent is the lead USAID PEPFAR advisor on all matters relating to HSS activities. S/he serves to guide the entire PEPFAR team in this subject area as well as the US Embassy officials at the highest levels.

S/he will collaborate closely with other PEPFAR Cote d’Ivoire senior management staff to ensure that HSS efforts are coordinated appropriately with all PEPFAR technical areas. S/he also serves as the primary point of contact for all exterior parties, including host country government officials and PEPFAR implementing partners, regarding USG-supported health systems strategies, interventions and activities.

● Personal Contacts Personal contacts include high-level USG officials at the US Embassy, the PEPFAR CI team, host country officials (both high-level management and technical) at all levels (national, regional, local), other donors, and PEPFAR implementing partners and other concerned stakeholders. S/he must have the ability to communicate PEPFAR HSS strategies effectively in French and in English, using a great deal of tact, diplomacy, and technical knowledge. S/he must be a good listener, stay abreast of host country priorities, policies and practices, and be able to manage and/or reconcile differences of opinion or conflicts regarding HIV HSS program priorities and strategies.

● Level and Purpose of Contacts The incumbent occupies a high profile and important position in USG foreign assistance to Côte d’Ivoire. S/he provides policy recommendations as well as strategic and programmatic advice to senior PEPFAR (includes USAID, CDC, DOD, DOS) and US Embassy officials, host country government officials, and PEPFAR implementing partners. The incumbent will represent the PMI, PEPFAR CI program at the highest levels in USG, GOCI, PEPFAR and HIV/AIDS technical meetings with PEPFAR and PMI partners, the donor community, and other interested parties. S/he is required to establish and maintain professional contacts/relationships with senior host country government officials and leaders of private and nongovernmental sector institutions that partner with PMI and PEPFAR in the fight against malaria and HIV/AIDS. Meetings range from factual exchanges of information on HSS issues, strategies and programmatic guidance, etc. to subjects that could involve significant or controversial issues and differing viewpoints, goals or objectives.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

● Education Minimum Master’s degree in health economics, health cost financing, health services, public health program management, public policy, public sector reform, or similar.

● Experience Minimum twelve years’ progressively responsible work as a systems strengthening subject matter expert in at least three of the HSS areas.

Minimum five years in a team leader and supervisory program management position.

● Language High-level fluency (written and spoken) in English and French is required.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

The following factors will be the basis for the evaluation of applications meeting the required minimum qualifications. All applications will be evaluated based on the documentation submitted with the application. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation. The highest ranking applicants may be selected for an interview, but an interview is not always necessary.

Education (10 points):

Minimum Master’s degree in health economics, health cost financing, health services, public health program management, public policy, public sector reform, or similar.

Knowledge (20 points):

Strong knowledge of challenges faced by national health ministries and programs in Africa.

Understanding of the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the various economic sectors (health, education, labor, etc.).

Knowledge about the field of international development, with focus on health sector reform, systems development, health cost financing and institutional capacity building, as well as national health insurance and user fee plans, innovations in provider payments, decentralization and equitable resource allocation, the role of public and private sector providers, integration of services, cost analysis and efficiency indicators for health care, decentralization and deconcentration of services, supply chain management, etc.

Familiarity with the USG PEPFAR program, including knowledge of the different USG agencies that work together to meet the President’s goals and objectives.

Work Experience (45 points):

Minimum twelve years’ progressively responsible work as a systems strengthening subject matter expert in at least three of the HSS areas.

Work experience must include systems strengthening project design and implementation experience for https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far large, multi-million dollar development programs in Côte d’Ivoire or similar countries.

Minimum five years in a team leader and supervisory program management position.

Experience and responsibility for advising and liaising with high-level host government officials, senior advisors, and professional staff from other institutes, organizations, and donor agencies.

Abilities and Skills (25 Points):

Ability to readily analyze, understand and discuss new program design, management, and implementation approaches; ability to identify priority actions, generate and complete work plans within short time frames.

Strong computer literacy and aptitude to rapidly acquire and apply additional skills.

Strong oral and written skills, and ability to clearly communicate programmatic and technical concepts to technical and non-technical colleagues and counterparts.

Strong interpersonal communication and negotiation skills and ability to establish cooperative working relationships with a wide range of colleagues and program partners.

Level 4 in English and Level 3 in French

- Maximum Evaluation Score: 100 Points

USAID policy specifies that U.S. citizens or resident aliens (USNs) are preferred over third country nationals (TCNs). Therefore, USN and TCN offers will not be evaluated together.

USAID will evaluate USN offers first and if the CO determines that there are no qualified USNs, only then will USAID evaluate TCN offers.

POSITION ELEMENTS:

a. Supervision Received Work will be performed in consultation with the USAID Health Office Director (or designee) who will approve incumbent’s annual work objectives and undertake the incumbent's annual performance evaluation. The supervisor will also provide guidance on USAID and PEPFAR strategic, and management and administrative requirements. The incumbent will receive minimal oversight in carrying out his/her daily tasks and achieving longer-term work objectives.

b. Supervision Exercised The Senior HSS Advisor will coordinate all USAID HSS staff members’ work assignments and expected deliverables. S/he will provide technical direction and guidance for the entire HSS team and will directly supervise USAID HSS employees, as designated by the USAID Health Office Director. The Senior HSS Advisor will also elaborate scopes of work and oversee the work of short-term technical assistants and consultants who provide ad hoc assistance and collaboration to the HSS Team throughout the year.

c. Reporting The incumbent will develop annual work objectives and an illustrative work plan in consultation with his/her supervisor. S/he is responsible for all required USAID, PMI and PEPFAR documentation for HSS PMI and PEPFAR activities, including terms of reference, strategy papers, activity budgets, scopes of work for consultants, responses to questions and requests for information from a wide range of stakeholders, etc. S/he is required to complete a trip report upon completion of site visits.

d. Authority to Make Commitments/Obligations The incumbent is not authorized to make financial commitments on behalf of the USG. However, because of the incumbent’s expertise and standing as a highly qualified professional in his/her field, his/her conclusions and recommendations will be taken into account by USAID direct hire colleagues who have such decision-making authority regarding funding commitments and obligations.

e. Physical Demands/Work Environment This is a low-to-moderate physically demanding position. The incumbent will be physically located at the US Embassy in Abidjan and will be expected to attend meetings and events related to the USG PEPFAR program on a frequent basis, both in Abidjan and in other cities in Cote d’Ivoire. S/he will also conduct site visits (minimum 8 per year) to review progress of PEPFAR-supported activities throughout the country many of which are located in rural or quasi-urban areas with limited amenities.

f. Time Required to Perform Full Range of Duties The incumbent must be able to perform the full range of technical and HSS leadership duties upon arrival at post. While the incumbent might not have a thorough working knowledge of USG activity management and administrative procedures (used in the implementation of PEPFAR CI), it is expected that this knowledge will be acquired and reinforced within the first six (6) months on the job.

g. Post Entry Training Post entry training will focus on USG regulations that govern USAID grants, contracts and field support activities; ii) USAID activity management and procurement systems; iii) PEPFAR- specific objectives, guidelines and procedures; and iv) PMI technical guidance, v) USG technical guidance concerning HIV/AIDS and HSS strategies and activities. Other formal training, attendance at PMI, HIV/AIDS workshops, seminars and conferences (both internal and external) may be provided from time to time depending on the availability of funds and if determined to be in direct support of USAID/PMI and PEPFAR CI’s activities.

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

1. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals,” available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.

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

3. Offeror submissions must clearly reference the Solicitation number on all offeror submitted documents.

4. A Cover Letter of not more than three (3) pages describing how the incumbent’s skills and experience fit the requirements of the position.

5. A current CV/resume. The CV/resume must contain sufficient relevant information to evaluate the Offers in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria. Broad general statements that are vague or lacking http://www.usaid.gov/forms specificity will not be considered as effectively addressing particular selection criteria. Complete dates (month/year) are also required on CV.

6. Applicants also must address the above Section III: Evaluation and Selection Factors, in a Summary Statement to be included in the Offers. This Summary Statement, limited to two (2) pages, must describe specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, and/or awards the applicant has received that are relevant to each selection factor above. The Summary Statement must include the name of the applicant and the announcement number at the top of each page.

7. Applicants must provide a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of five (5) references within the last five years from the applicant’s professional life, namely individuals who are not family members or relatives.

Three references must be from direct supervisors who can provide information regarding the applicant’s work knowledge and professional experience. Applicants must provide e-mail addresses and/or working telephone numbers for all references.

8. Copies of diplomas, certificates or relevant degrees may be included to corroborate the CV/resume.

9. Applicants must provide their full mailing address with telephone, facsimile numbers (if available) and email address and should retain for their records copies of all enclosures that accompany their submission.

10. Only Shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award:

Forms outlined below can found at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms/

1. Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals (AID 309-2);

2. Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62); *

3. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86); * or

4. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85); *

5. Finger Print Card (FD-258). *

* Forms 2 through 5 shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a US/TCNPSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

1. BENEFITS:

(a) Employer's FICA Contribution

(b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

(c) Pay Comparability Adjustment

(d) Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation) http://www.usaid.gov/forms/

(e) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

(f) Annual and Sick Leave

*Note: A US citizen’s salary will be subject to employee’s FICA and Medicare contribution.

2. ALLOWANCES:

Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas), available at https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101

(a) Temporary Quarter Subsistence Allowance (Section 120)

(b) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

(c) Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 210)

(d) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(e) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(f) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(g) Education Travel (Section 280)

(h) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

(i) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and

(j) Danger Pay Allowance (Section 650)]

VII. TAXES

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

VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources:

a. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix D, “Direct USAID Contracts with a U.S.

Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf.

b. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms. Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award as described below:

LINE ITEMS

ITEM

NO

SUPPLIES/SERVICES

(DESCRIPTION)

QT

Y

UNI

T

UNI

T

PRI

CE

AMOUNT (F)

0001 Base Period - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: PSC

- Product Service Code: R497

- Accounting Info: TBD

1 LOT $ TBD $TBD at Award after negotiations http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=231&menu_id=92 http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=231&menu_id=92 https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/forms

1001 Base Period - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: PSC

- Product Service Code: R497

- Accounting Info: TBD

1 LOT $ TBD $TBD at Award after negotiations

2001 Base Period - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: PSC

- Product Service Code: R497

- Accounting Info: TBD

1 LOT $ TBD $TBD at Award after negotiations

3001 Base Period - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: PSC

- Product Service Code: R497 Accounting Info: TBD

1 LOT $ TBD $TBD at Award after negotiations

c. Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs.

d. Ethical Conduct. By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635. See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations .

[END OF SOLICITATION]

http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations