Solicitation_-_Madagascar_Sr_A&A_Spec,_720687-18B00002.docx

18:00 Madagascar Time

Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist, equivalent to GS-14 USAID/Madagascar

Dear Prospective Offerors, The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development Mission to Madagascar (USAID/Madagascar), is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services as a Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist under a Personal Service Contract (PSC) as described in this solicitation.

Offers must be in accordance with the Attachment, 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 the offer.

Any questions on this solicitation must be directed in writing to the USAID/Madagascar Point of Contact as specified in the attached information.

Sincerely, Stephanie Iceland-Leitzel Contracting Officer

U.S. Agency for International Development

C/O AMERICAN EMBASSY

B.P. 5253 – Antananarivo 101

MADAGASCAR

Tel: 261 20 23 480 00 Fax: 261 20 23 480 44 www.usaid.gov

ATTACHMENT

Solicitation for a Personal Service Contract (PSC) Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist, equivalent to grade GS-14

I – GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER SOL-720687-18B00002

2. ISSUANCE DATE February 8, 2018

4. POSITION TITLE Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist (Sr. A&A)

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two (2) years from date of appointment with option to renew in one year increments up to a total of 5 years, subject to availability of funds.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Madagascar U.S. Embassy Lot 207 A, Point Liberty Andranoro Antehiroka Antananarivo 105 Madagascar With possible travel as stated in the Statement of Work.

8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facility and Computer Access

9. WHO MAY APPLY: US Citizens and Third Country Nationals with ability to obtain and maintain US G Facility Access Certification, and ability to obtain a Department of State medical clearance for Madagascar.

“Third Country National” means an individual

(i) who is neither a citizen nor a permanent legal resident alien of the United States nor of the country to which assigned for duty, and

(ii) who is eligible for return to his/her home country or country of recruitment at U.S. Government expense.

10. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands

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 the offer.

11. STATEMENT OF WORK/POSITION DESCRIPTION:

A- BACKGROUND

USAID/Madagascar has provided development and humanitarian assistance to Madagascar for 33 years. Following a coup d’état in 2009, the country experienced a political crisis which limited aid to humanitarian assistance. Following peaceful and democratic elections in 2014, the State Department lifted restrictions, clearing the way for USAID re-engagement with the Government of Madagascar. USAID has since seen a rise in budget resources and scope of programing. USAID’s presence in country was recently upgraded from a Country Representative Office to a full Mission. Programming currently includes bio-diversity and environment, health, food security and more. As a result, the Mission’s procurement requirements have changed considerably.

A fascinating country with a unique culture, and exceptional biodiversity, Madagascar presents challenging development problems. Despite considerable economic potential, Madagascar ranks as one of the poorest countries in the world. Economically, the country has struggled to overcome the legacy of a statist economy and political insecurity. More than seventy percent of the population lives in poverty, and over half of the children under the age of five suffer from chronic malnutrition. One of the world’s top biodiversity hotspots, Madagascar’s unique natural resources are threatened by poverty, unproductive agricultural methods, and weak governance.

Today USAID is among the country’s largest bilateral donors with a 2017 OYB of $96.7 M primarily in the areas of health, food security/emergency assistance, and biodiversity conservation. USAID’s innovative health programs are focused on malaria, family planning, WASH, and maternal and child health; food security programming helps vulnerable farmers improve production, advances economic opportunities, and increases community resilience to shocks and natural disasters; and environmental programs protect biodiversity and improve community-based management of natural resources. USAID is also the lead donor for food assistance and emergency relief.

The Mission has 68 positions including eight U.S. Direct Hires, one USDH PASA, four offshore USPSCs, three TCNs, five resident hire PSCs and 47 FSNs. The incumbent will supervise and mentor a staff of three (3) Cooperating Country Nationals (CCNs, also known as FSNs / Foreign Service Nationals) in the Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA). Together they will provide procurement support services to the Mission, in tandem with the warranted Contracting and Agreement Officer (CO/AO) located at the USAID/Southern Africa Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance (USAID/SA/ROAA) in Pretoria, South Africa.

Based in the vibrant capital city of Antananarivo, the Mission is co-located in the Embassy. USAID maintains excellent relations with Embassy colleagues. Antananarivo boasts an extremely pleasant climate, a wide variety of restaurants and places to explore, and wonderful Malagasy counterparts. On the downside, traffic is heavy and driving can be challenging at times. Travel outside the city is complicated by poor infrastructure. There is currently one (1) authorized Rest and Recuperation (R&R) travel allowance per year, and a post differential rate of 25%. A frequent place of training and travel is South Africa, which can be reached daily via a short 3 hour flight. Mauritius and Reunion Island are also easily accessible by plane.

B- BASIC FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION

The Senior Acquisition and Assistance (A&A) Specialist serves as USAID/Madagascar's senior specialist and key advisor for all A&A matters. S/he directly supervises three (3) CCN staff members and is expected to mentor and further develop these employees’ skills. As head of USAID Madagascar’s OAA, s/he participates as valued member of the Mission’s Senior Staff, should provide expert advice on how to leverage the tool of procurement to more effectively advance USAID’s goals, and should identify opportunities to assist mission staff in improving their Contracting/Agreement Officer Representative (C/AOR) skills. The incoming Senior A&A Specialist will have the unique opportunity to actively engage in a new Country Development Cooperation Strategy and support the re-launch of the USAID environmental program after years of absence from that sector.

The Senior A&A Specialist is responsible for providing the full range of A&A services in support of USAID/Madagascar's foreign assistance objectives. S/he will be required to apply highly specialized A&A knowledge, skills, and abilities involving a variety of actions that range from simplified acquisition to complex multi-million dollar, multi-year awards. This includes providing support on all aspects of contract management relating to and affecting USAID assistance programs, policy and project planning, design, implementation, learning and evaluation.

The Senior A&A Specialist will receive on-sight supervision from the Mission Director. Policy guidance and technical oversight will be provided by the Regional CO/AO in Pretoria. As there is no CO/AO located in at the Mission in Madagascar, the Regional CO/AO has overall responsibility for USAID/Madagascar’s procurements.

The incumbent is expected to work primarily in accomplishing the specific tasks as outlined below. Given the nature of the position, the Senior A&A Specialist will also be expected to respond to any changes in priorities that emerge during the contract period to provide efficient, timely, and effective services to the Mission.

C- MAJOR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The incumbent shall provide personal services as a Senior A&A Specialist and is responsible for a wide range of A&A support services to the Mission. S/he will function as the supervisor of OAA staff. A comprehensive and up to date knowledge of A&A processes and procedures is essential as little of the work involves repetitive actions and is assigned based on project support needs. The Senior A&A Specialist must provide informed technical assistance necessary to execute a full range of procurement actions, including but not limited to the following:

1. Cost-reimbursement and fixed price contracts, task orders, delivery orders, purchase orders, blanket purchase agreements, grants, cooperative agreements, grants to public international organizations, interagency agreements, fixed amount awards, and other agreements and award types;

2. Various modifications to all of the above;

3. Other miscellaneous administrative requirements associated with A&A awards;

4. The provision of training, mentoring, and coaching to Mission staff, especially OAA staff and designated Agreement Officer’s Representatives (AORs) and Contracting Officer’s Representatives (CORs), and local partners; and

5. Management of the Mission’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance.

The Senior A&A Specialist must be able to discuss and assess situations with a degree of expertise sufficient to provide the basis for well-founded recommendations to Senior Mission Management and the Regional CO/AO. A clear understanding of the differences between acquisition and assistance in achieving USAID’s operation and strategic development is essential. Both the underlying purposes, as defined in law, and the different relationships, as reflected in the different terms and conditions, must be understood at a level that permits the specialist to effectively and accurately represent U.S. Government policy to outside organizations and to a full range of programmatic and administrative officials within USAID/Madagascar up to the level of Mission Director. The incumbent may be called upon to provide advice to other Agencies at Post or the Embassy Front Office upon request.

S/he must perform a full range of pre-award and post-award duties described below with independence. Actions will be highly complex and represent critical Agency objectives with short lead times. S/he must be available to Mission staff for consultation on all aspects of procurement from the procurement planning stage through to the administration stage. The Senior A&A Specialist must also provide expert advice on program objectives, budgetary issues, and procurement policy. In consultation with the Regional AO/CO, contractual decisions and recommendations will be considered authoritative for all actions within the designated portfolio and authority. S/he must be a recognized technical expert able to independently interact with high level officials to obtain advance approvals for critical actions. This requires extensive knowledge of the USAID and Federal Acquisition Regulations (AIDAR and FAR), USAID assistance regulations (2CFR 200 and 700, 2 CFR 228), OMB Circulars, the USAID Automated Directive System, the Department of State Standard Regulations (DSSR), USAID A&A Policy Directives (AAPDs), and Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs). S/he must also keep updated with new regulations issued through the Agency’s General Notices. The Senior A&A Specialist must also manage OAA and its staff in their performance of the same.

The Senior A&A Specialist will be responsible for on-the-job and online/classroom training of the Mission OAA, AOR, and COR staff in all relevant aspects of A&A policy and procedures including the development of training material and the revision of existing material as applicable. S/he is expected to mentor the OAA staff work actively to keep the team engaged and updated on the latest procurement guidance, and continuously improve the services they offer. The incumbent should possess strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work across teams and portfolios and with diverse clients. S/he must be fully versed in internet applications, vital of which is Google’s G Suite as the incumbent must work long distance with the Regional AO/CO in Pretoria, and other mandated US Government and Agency applications and software related to A&A work, such as the full Microsoft Office Suite, the Global Acquisition & Assistance System (GLAAS), and the Agency Secure Image and Storage Tracking (ASIST) system. Finally, s/he will be a key member of Senior Staff, actively participating in daily leadership and decision-making.

D- SPECIFIC TASKS

a. Pre-Award Duties and Responsibilities

1. Manage all procurement planning functions for the Mission, which may include reviewing strategic objective agreements and/or results frameworks, participating in program planning meetings, identifying components of the plans that should be accomplished through the participation of outside provider organizations, the management of OAA’s internal procurement planning, and the Agency Business Forecast/A&A Plan.

2. Lead Mission technical and support offices in developing annual procurement plans for the Mission A&A activities. Ensure that these plans are always current. Collaborate with technical office members in the preparation of advance procurement planning documents for proposed actions. Input shall reflect the steps required by regulation or policy in the selected mechanism's process, realistic estimates of the time required to accomplish each step utilizing Agency Procurement Action Lead Times (PALTs) as a guide, and a commitment to maintain the agreed-upon timelines. Keep the Regional CO/AO informed of any anticipated workload demands through frequent email communication and weekly calls.

3. Working in tandem with technical teams, ensure that all A&A planning documents are completed, such as the Individual Acquisition Plan, the Source Selection Plan, and the Assistance Selection Plan. Ensure that technical offices use M/OAA’s mandatory A&A templates. Advise Mission management and technical office personnel concerning the selection of appropriate A&A instruments to use in order to accomplish the Mission’s programmatic objectives. Working with technical counterparts and OAA, make choice of instrument recommendations to the Mission and to the CO/AO Officer. Identify A&A issues/potential problems that require guidance or concurrence from the RLO or ROAA in Pretoria and/or Washington and obtain such guidance and/or concurrence. Provide expert guidance to technical office members in the preparation of required descriptions of the proposed project including, as appropriate, statements of work, specifications, program descriptions, program announcements, evaluation criteria, etc.

This guidance may take the form of directing them to the appropriate Automated Directive System (ADS) and/or to any other agency guidance, reviewing drafts, providing periodic training on the preparation of such documents or on Federal and USAID regulations, policy, and requirements. The Senior A&A Specialist will not write a statement of work or a program description as this is a responsibility of the requesting office. Emphasis should be placed on defining contractible, performance-based, results-oriented statements of work or program descriptions.

4. Working in tandem with technical teams, ensure that all A&A planning documents are completed, such as the Individual Acquisition Plan, the Source Selection Plan, and the Assistance Selection Plan. Ensure that technical offices use M/OAA’s mandatory A&A templates. Advise Mission management and technical office personnel concerning the selection of appropriate A&A instruments to use in order to accomplish the Mission’s programmatic objectives. Working with technical counterparts and OAA, make choice of instrument recommendations to the Mission and to the CO/AO Officer. Identify A&A issues/potential problems that require guidance or concurrence from the RLO or ROAA in Pretoria and/or Washington and obtain such guidance and/or concurrence. Provide expert guidance to technical office members in the preparation of required descriptions of the proposed project including, as appropriate, statements of work, specifications, program descriptions, program announcements, evaluation criteria, etc.

This guidance may take the form of directing them to the appropriate Automated Directive System (ADS) and/or to any other agency guidance, reviewing drafts, providing periodic training on the preparation of such documents or on Federal and USAID regulations, policy, and requirements. The Senior A&A Specialist will not write a statement of work or a program description as this is a responsibility of the requesting office. Emphasis should be placed on defining contractible, performance-based, results-oriented statements of work or program descriptions.

5. Carefully review incoming requisition documents to ensure they adequately reflect and protect U.S. Government interests in the accomplishment of the programmatic objective and comply with pertinent statutory, regulatory, and policy requirements and to ensure compliance with Agency and Mission requirements and appropriateness for the proposed action. Ensure proper recording of requisitions in Agency management information systems, such as ASIST and GLAAS. Analyze requisition and other documents and obtain necessary clarifications from the requesting technical office. Make recommendations for corrections to requesting documents when they are inadequate, inappropriate, or significant documentation is missing.

6. Depending on the action type, draft and/or review required pre-solicitation and solicitation documents, including determinations and findings, synopses, Justification and Approval (J&A) requests, Justification to Restrict Eligibility (JRE) requests, Request for Proposals (RFPs), and Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) which reflect Federal and USAID regulations, policies, and procedures governing A&A instruments, as applicable. Determine adequacy and choice of evaluation criteria, type of mechanism, the extent and mechanisms of advertising solicitation documents, the appropriateness of the time permitted for proposal or application preparation, the need for a pre-solicitation or pre-proposal conference, and any special terms and conditions that may be required, particularly if their use would require a deviation from governing regulations. Issue amendments, when necessary, to clarify questions or correct errors. Control the flow of information from the Mission to the offering community during the proposal/application preparation stage, ensuring that all competition requirements are met and that the integrity of the procurement process is upheld.

7. Prepare the Technical Evaluation Committee Instructions/Selection Committee Instructions and provide guidance to the evaluation/selection committees regarding rules and procedures in conducting source selection. Analyze proposals/applications, ensuring compliance with all published evaluation criteria and factors and Federal and USAID regulations, policies, and procedures. Coordinate and provide expert guidance in the technical and cost evaluations.

8. Obtain pricing assistance as necessary and available and perform such cost evaluations as are necessary, reasonable, and appropriate to the circumstances. Document the results of these reviews in writing for use in source selection. Determine the need for further discussions. Prepare requests for confirmation of the results of the negotiation, including requests for proposal revisions, and revised financial or program plans, as applicable. Make competitive range determination recommendations to the cognizant CO/AO for competitively negotiated acquisitions. Take all reasonable steps necessary to determine the financial responsibility of any party to whom an award is expected to be made. This may include performing or requesting pre-award financial and program management reviews, as circumstances dictate or permit.

9. Prepare for the Regional CO/AO’s signature the award documents, modifications, and administrative procurement documents that reflect the results of all discussions, any special needs of the project, and all required terms and conditions and applicable provisions and clauses.

10. Distribute award documents to relevant offices and provide all required notifications to unsuccessful offerors and applicants.

11. Provide notifications to U.S. Government award publication points (such as the Congressional Liaison Office and the Federal Business Opportunities). Provide debriefings when requested.

b. Post Award Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Research issues contained in, and draft responses to, miscellaneous items of correspondence on a wide variety of A&A awards. Examples include, and are not limited to: subcontract consent requests, salary approvals, equipment approvals, etc. Perform procurement administration functions such as providing review, recommendation, and drafting of correspondence on administrative award approvals, and clarifying award terms and provisions to awardees and AORs/CORs. Monitor performance, as required by the terms and conditions of the award and by Agency policy; through report reviews, site visits, correspondence, and other mechanisms. Provide expert A&A guidance to Agency technical monitoring personnel to assist them in the performance of their programmatic duties and the avoidance of legal/contractual impropriety.

2. Ensure that contractors submit required subcontracting plans, inventory reports, and quarterly financial reports. Responses to contractor performance reports, follow extension needs, follow funding needs, and ensure new requirements/clauses are incorporated in current awards as required and necessary. Disseminate performance reporting procedures to A/CORs and follow-up to ensure that reports are completed with input of contractors, cognizant Contracting Officer and AORs/CORs. Take appropriate action and prepare documentation on any issues that may arise in the course of performance, including changes, disputes, work stoppages, problems with Government Furnished Property or Materials, changes in scope or direction, replacement of key personnel, failure to make acceptable progress, default, payment problems, or unacceptable performance/deliveries.

3. Working with the Financial Management Office (FMO), prepare responses to audit findings. Conduct desk audits of A&A instruments pursuant to Agency policy and procedures. Via the AOR/COR, ensure payment vouchers are processed in a timely manner and that outstanding invoice issues are resolved. Review procurement files to ensure that documents (such as, memorandum of negotiation, class justifications, and other relevant documentation) are included in procurement files and that the files are maintained in accordance with Agency policies and standards. Close out completed contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements in a timely manner following Agency procedures and prepare all relevant close-out documentation. Meet regularly with Mission offices to remain current on pending actions and issues. Work closely with Mission offices in developing procurement plans and responses to award implementation and administrative issues. Participate in special projects, as assigned, and contribute regularly to the office's participatory management structure.

c. Additional Responsibilities:

The Senior A&A Specialist shall supervise the employees within the Mission’s OAA. As the head of the unit, s/he is responsible for the day-to-day technical and administrative supervision of employees including assigning work, monitoring workload, evaluating performance, monitoring compliance with OAA training requirements for A&A, and establishing training programs. The Senior A&A Specialist is a valued member of Senior Staff, advising the Mission on all policy, project planning, design, implementation, and evaluation matters with an A&A lens and participating in daily leadership and decision-making. As a development professional, s/he will provide strategic advice on how to leverage the tool of procurement to advance local capacity and USAID’s development objectives, will be a key participant in the creation of a Country Development Coordination Strategy, and may be called up to provide expert advice to other Agencies and the Embassy Front Office.

E- SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

S/he will receive on-site supervision from the USAID/Madagascar Mission Director, policy guidance and technical oversight from the Regional CO/AO in Pretoria, and PSC management guidance from the Executive Office in Madagascar.

F- SUPERVISION EXERCISED

S/he will provide supervision and training of the Mission Office of three local A&A staff, including mentoring, coaching, and implementation of continuous improvements that will ensure the office meets the needs of its customers.

12. POINT OF CONTACT

Dany Randrianatoavina antananarivoUSAIDHR@usaid.gov Phone: + (261) 33 44 320 00

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

EDUCATION

A bachelor's degree is required, preferably in law, accounting, marketing, business administration, or other related field. Individuals with advanced degree are encouraged to submit their offers.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in the field of A&A execution, administration, termination, cost and price analysis, procurement planning, and analysis and evaluation of proposals is required, of which five or more years must be overseas experience working on complex pre-award, award, and post-award responsibilities in an international organization or USG agency. Demonstrated experience in supervising, coaching and training A&A staff is required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

· Certification or substantial completion of the requirements for the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Level II, or their equivalent required;

· Knowledge of U.S. Government A&A regulations, policies and practices, including the FAR, AIDAR, relevant sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and ADS is required;

· Leadership and supervisory management skills, strong interpersonal skills, and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with Mission staff at all levels, implementing partners, and business and industry officials are required;

· The ability to exercise tact and diplomacy and the ability to maintain strict confidentiality and high ethical standards relating to all areas of A&A matters is required;

· The ability to independently organize, prioritize, and follow through on all assignments in an efficient manner is required;

· A demonstrated ability to provide leadership and management while introducing innovations and best practices is essential.

COMMUNICATION

The incumbent must demonstrate excellence in oral and written communication, including the ability to obtain, evaluate, and interpret reports, and to effectively communicate USAID/Madagascar’s mission and policies to the USAID staff and to its development partners.

Fluency in English: A minimum of full professional proficiency in English, including an ability to use the language fluently and accurately on all levels normally pertinent to professional speaking, reading, and writing needs, is required.

This means that if the incumbent is not a native English speaker, s/he can:

a) Understand and participate in conversations within the range of his/her own personal or professional experience with a high degree of fluency and precision of vocabulary;

b) Can respond appropriately even in unfamiliar situations;

c) Only makes rare errors of pronunciation and grammar;

d) Can handle informal interpreting from and into the language; and

e) Can write with sufficient skill for professional purposes to produce documents which do not require extensive editing and are generally free from errors in mechanics, usage, and sentence structure.

COMPUTER SKILLS

Excellent computer skills, including ease and skill in using MS-Office Suite of Applications and Google G Suite apps are required. The incumbent must be fully functional in using the internet to solve problems and research information, such as regulatory guidance. The incumbent must be fully versed in US Government and Agency mandated applications and software related to A&A is required.

III – QUALITY RANKING FACTORS (QRFs)

Offerors who meet the minimum qualifications on education and prior work experience will be further evaluated based on the Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) listed below. Offerors are strongly encouraged to address each of the factors on a separate sheet, describing specifically the experience, training, and/or education that s/he has relevant to each factor.

A. Professional Experience – 40 Points B. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities – 30 Points C. Communication – 20 Points D. Computer skills – 10 Points

Total possible points = 100

IV. APPLYING

For an offeror to be considered for this position, s/he must adhere to the following guidelines and complete, sign and submit the following documents. This will enable the evaluation committee to thoroughly and objectively review the offer against the requirements of the position.

A. PRESENTING OFFER

1. AID 302-3, Offeror Information For Personal Services Contract Form

Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit a hand-signed form AID 302-3, “Offeror Information For Personal Services Contracts”, available at the USAID website, on www.usaid.gov/forms. Offerors are required to sign and scan the certification at the end of the form.

2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae

Offerors will submit a resume or a curriculum vitae containing the following information:

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

b) Education: 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 each of your paid and non-paid work experience related to the job for which you are applying: job title (include series and grade if federal job), duties and accomplishments (do not send job descriptions), 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. In addition, offerors should highlight or make special note of relevant significant awards and achievements. This may include information that was listed in the AID 302-3 form.

3. Appendix

Supplemental document specifically addressing the QRFs listed in the solicitation. Include other pertinent information related to the qualifications required for the position, such as job-related training courses (title and year), job-related skills, 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).

4. Reference Persons

Offerors are required to provide five (5) reference persons who are not family members or relatives, with working telephones and email contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about offerors past performance and abilities. Reference checks will be made only for offerors considered as finalists. If an offeror does not wish for the current employer to be contacted as a reference check, this should be stated in the offeror’s AID 302-3 form and/or resume. The interviewing committee will delay such reference check pending communication with the offeror.

B. SUBMITTING OFFER

1. Document Format

Offers must be received by February 28, 2018, 18:00 local time via email at the address:

antananarivoUSAIDHR@usaid.gov

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

2. Marking Offer

To ensure consideration of offerors for the intended position, please mark on your e-mail subject line:

720687-18B00002 [your name]

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs

· AID 302-3. Available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms

Once the CO informs the successful offeror about being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide the successful offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms, when applicable. Other additional forms may be required to be completed.

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

· AID 6-1, Request for Security Action

· OF-306, Declaration of Federal Employment

· SF-86, Questionnaire for National Security Positions or

· SF-85, Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions

· Finger Print Card

· AID 500-4, Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970, as Amended

· AID 6-85, Foreign Activity Data

· OF-126, Residence and Dependency Report

· SF-144, Statement of Prior Service - Worksheet

CLEARANCES

i) Medical Clearance: Prior to signing a contract, the selected individual will be required to obtain a medical clearance. Instructions for obtaining the medical clearance will be forwarded to the selected individual once negotiations have been concluded.

ii) Access Clearance: Prior to signing a contract, the selected individual will be required to obtain a Computer/Facility Access Certification. Temporary clearances will be requested while a personal background investigation is conducted. Instructions for obtaining clearance will be forwarded to the selected individual once negotiations have been concluded.

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

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

1. Benefits:

1. Employer’s FICA and Medicare Contributions (for US citizens)

1. Annual Contribution toward Health and Life Insurance

1. Annual Contribution toward Medical Evacuation

1. Eligibility for Worker’s Compensation

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

1. Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

1. Annual and Sick Leave

1. Access to USG Health Unit for employee and dependents

1. Shipment of Private Own Vehicle

1. Shipment of household effects

1. Storage of personal effects

2. Allowances (if applicable)*:

* See Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR) (Government Civilians Foreign Areas)

3. In-Kind Allowances:

The U.S. Government will provide the following in-kind allowances, on par with U.S. 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

VII. TAXES

USAID does not withhold taxes from compensation payments.

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

· TCNPSCs are required to apply local law and regulations.

VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

PERTAINING TO USPSCs

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

1. 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

2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms

3. 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 AAPD/CIB No. Title/Issued Date

USPSCs – April 12, 2010 AAPD 10-01 Changes In USG Reimbursement Amounts For Health Insurance And Physical Examination Costs – January 08, 2010 AAPD 06-10 PSC Medical Expense Payment Responsibility – October 30, 2006

4. 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

IX. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO TCNPSCs

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

1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf .

2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms .

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

AAPD/CIB No. Title/Issued Date

Examination Costs – January 08, 2010 AAPD 06-10 PSC Medical Expense Payment Responsibility – October 30, 2006

4. 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

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