SOL-72068720R00008 Program Office Director.docx

SOL-687-HR-18-001

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) Program Office Director

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 under contract as described in this solicitation.

Offers must be in accordance with the information in the Attachment 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 must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in the Attachment.

Sincerely, Debbie Jackson Contracting Officer

SOLICITATION#72068720R00008

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 35 www.usaid.gov

ATTACHMENT

Solicitation for USPSC Program Office Director, GS-15 equivalent

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER 72068720R00008

2. ISSUANCE DATE February 14, 2020

3. CLOSING DATE February 28, 2020

FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS

5. POSITION TITLE Program Office Director

6. MARKET VALUE: From $109,366 to $142,180 per annum equivalent to GS-15. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 11 months, estimated to start on April 27, 2020.

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Antananarivo Madagascar With possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: This vacancy is open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent U.S. residents.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret Security Clearance

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

A. Background

The USAID Madagascar Mission is in a phase of expansion following the 2009-13 political crisis and subsequent downgrading of USAID’s presence to Country Office status. While a limited number of emergency and development assistance awards deemed humanitarian in nature were authorized to continue during the crisis period, the number and nature of development programs has gradually increased in recent years. The resumption of full Mission status occurred in December 2016.

The Mission’s annual assistance budget is approximately $95 million. Its three primary program areas are health (including the President’s Malaria Initiative and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), biodiversity protection and natural resource management, and food security and nutrition. Governance is an important and expanding part of the Mission’s portfolio.

The Program Office supports vital mission functions and is responsible for managing project design, performance monitoring, budget planning and execution, evaluating and reporting on foreign assistance activities, donor relations, and development outreach and communication. The Program Office has the exciting and challenging task of formulating and implementing a new five-year strategy to support Madagascar on its journey to self-reliance. The Program Office works closely with the U.S. Government interagency at the U.S. Embassy in Madagascar, senior host government officials, and other international donors to coordinate USAID’s support for the Embassy’s foreign policy objectives.

B. General Responsibilities The Program Office Director (POD) manages Mission’s Program Cycle. This includes overseeing: 1) strategic planning; 2) project and activity designs; 3) program budget; and 4) monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL). S/he also coordinates the work of the Mission’s technical sectors (i.e., health, environment, food security, and governance). The POD will liaise closely with USAID’s headquarters in Washington, the U.S. Embassy’s inter-agency, and USAID’s Regional Mission in South Africa. The POD will occupy a high profile and important position in USG foreign assistance to Madagascar. S/he will provide policy recommendations to USAID/Madagascar’s senior leadership, while overseeing program planning within the Program Office.

The POD will also engage in policy dialogue with senior Government of Madagascar (GOM) officials, other donors, international organizations, local non-government organizations, and private sector enterprises. The work involves substantial coordination and engagement with representatives from these entities. The POD must function with little direction and significant independence in a challenging and restrictive work environment and be willing to strictly adhere to U.S. Embassy security guidelines.

The POD manages a diverse and talented team of nine staff members, which includes a U.S. Direct Hire and eight Cooperating Country Nationals (CCNs). S/he is a key member of the Mission's Senior Management Team and reports directly to the Mission Director. S/he may periodically serve as the Acting Mission Director during the Mission Director’s absence.

C. Duties And Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership (50%)

· Understands and applies development concepts to help Madagascar on its Journey to Self-Reliance.

· Conceptualizes and leads USAID/Madagascar’s strategic planning processes across sectors and with external partners.

· Provides strategic parameters and guidance to technical teams, based on USAID agency guidance, USAID/Madagascar priorities, and Madagascar’s country context.

· Aligns USAID/Madagascar’s programming with USAID’s agency-wide initiatives (e.g. private sector engagement, the Journey to Self-Reliance, etc.).

· Represents USAID/Madagascar to the U.S. Embassy’s inter-agency, to ensure the alignment with broad USG policies and strategies.

· Represents USAID/Madagascar in discussions with host country counterparts regarding strategic interests and priorities.

· Periodically serves as the Acting Mission Director, when the Mission Director is absent.

Technical Office Support (40%)

· Exercises intellectual leadership and operational support to align USAID/Madagascar’s programs with development objectives across sectors and ensure effective implementation.

· Serves as subject matter expert on USAID’s agency-wide programming principles.

· Actively collaborates with other senior managers to identify and leverage opportunities, respond to challenges, and solve problems.

· Works with technical offices to maximize resource use and identify and implement linkages between the Mission’s programs

· Encourages staff to collaborate with other teams and offices to promote a mission-wide team spirit and improve communication.

· Guides USAID/Madagascar’s overall monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes.

· Oversees the Mission’s development outreach and communications efforts, including the production and dissemination outreach and other publicity materials for both internal U.S. Government and external audiences.

· Takes the lead in preparing Portfolio Reviews and annual reports (e.g., Operational Plans; Performance, Plan and Reports; Congressional Budget Justifications; and other required documents).

· Represents USAID/Madagascar leadership as senior coordinator for program management and integration and liaises with key internal and external stakeholders.

· Reviews and clears a wide range of documents before they are reviewed by the Mission Director.

Budget Cycle and Resource Management (10%)

· Manages USAID/Madagascar’s annual program budget.

· Applies development knowledge and understanding to lead budget and project planning processes and negotiations with the host country (e.g. to amend bilateral agreements with the GOM).

· Coordinates with Embassy and/or inter-agency partners in all aspects of budget planning for foreign assistance resources managed by USAID.

D- Supervisory Relationship

The incumbent will report directly to the Mission Director. S/he will work with little guidance. The Mission Director will provide broad direction on outcomes to be achieved and expects the incumbent will determine the methods to attain those outcomes and assign work to subordinates or issue requests for documentation, attendance at meetings, data, etc. to other office directors or their designees. The Mission Director will expect the incumbent to address the full array of standard Program Cycle tasks and report to or consult the Mission Director on higher-level tasks or challenges that would have a broad and substantive impact on Mission operations and programming.

E- Supervision/Oversight Over Others

The incumbent will exercise the full range of normal supervision of eight Cooperating Country Nationals for the Program Office. S/he has final responsibility for the technical and managerial performance of subordinates, as well as their conformance with policy, regulations, and procedures. S/he also initiates and reviews proposals for all types of personnel actions affecting his/her subordinates.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

a. Education:

Master’s degree in a field relevant to the duties described above such as political science, law, international development, or a related discipline.

b. Relevant Work Experience:

· A minimum of five years of hands-on experience at an advanced management level, demonstrating sound and independent judgment, leadership and interpersonal skills, and ability to strategize, develop and effectively implement programs is required.

· A minimum of five years professional experience in international development is required, with strong experience and background in areas such as strategic planning and budget management.

· Professional experience demonstrating management abilities, including: management of teams; ability to prioritize activities and implement numerous assignments concurrently; respond quickly, effectively and flexibly to wide-ranging requests; and operate effectively in a cross-cultural setting.

c. Language Proficiency:

Native English language level required French language Level 2 – Limited Working Proficiency; can handle limited work requirements.

d. Clearances

· The ability to obtain a Department of State medical clearance (Class 1) in a timely manner.

· The ability to obtain Secret clearance.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The Contracting Officer (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. FAR provisions of this solicitation are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

Offerors who meet the minimum qualifications will be further evaluated, through their offer packages, based on the factors listed below. Offerors must address each factor on a separate sheet describing specifically the experience, training, and/or education that s/he has relevant to each factor. The hiring panel may conduct interviews of the most highly ranked candidates before making a selection recommendation to the CO. The successful candidate will be selected based on a review of his/her qualifications, work experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities; interview if applicable; and the results of reference checks. The hiring panel may check references that have not been specifically identified by applicants and may check references before or after a candidate is interviewed.

Education (10 points) Additional points will be given to a degree above the Master’s degree in a field relevant to the duties described above such as political science, law, international development, or a related discipline. In cases of exceptional work experience, other relevant graduate degrees and/or work experience will be taken into consideration.

Prior Relevant and Overseas Work Experience (35 points)

· Strong hands-on experience at an advanced management level, demonstrating sound and independent judgment, leadership and interpersonal skills, and ability to strategize, develop and effectively implement programs.

· Strong professional experience in international development with strong experience and background in areas such as strategic planning and budget management. Professional experience related to personnel and project management, monitoring and evaluation, and additional technical experience in any of the above areas is also highly desirable.

· Professional experience demonstrating strong management abilities, including: management of teams; ability to prioritize activities and implement numerous assignments concurrently; respond quickly, effectively and flexibly to wide-ranging requests; and operate effectively in a cross-cultural setting.

Knowledge (25 points)

· Broad knowledge of international development programs and policies;

· In-depth knowledge and skill in conceptualizing programming, policies, and plans, and developing strategies for their implementation;

· Demonstrated ability to influence government priorities and direction to ensure the emergence of a conducive enabling environment for strengthening and sustainable development in Madagascar;

· Full familiarity with USAID policies, programming and management precepts is highly desirable. Proven ability to effectively plan, direct, administer and supervise USAID country programs.

Skills and Abilities (30 points)

· Demonstrated ability to assess priority host country development assistance needs and to negotiate with highest level government officials on sensitive political, policy and country program priorities is required.

· Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multicultural setting. Strong interpersonal skills and a proven ability to engage productively with colleagues at all levels are paramount. Excellent verbal communication skills, tact and diplomacy to make and maintain productive contacts with senior GOM representatives, NGOs, and private sector officials. Verbal communication skills are also needed to advise senior USAID and U.S. Embassy officials, negotiate activity plans and resolve activity implementation issues with counterparts, partners and team members. Excellent written communication skills to prepare regular and ad hoc reports, activity documentation and briefing papers.

· Successful experience supervising and/or leading teams of professionals. The incumbent must demonstrate the ability to work on his/her own, as a member of a team or office, and as a mentor to junior staff, proactively working to achieve consensus on policy, project and administrative matters. Ability to effectively motivate and supervise staff, understand basic human needs, respect national pride and sensitivity of others.

· Good computer skills to manage activity goals and achievements, both program and financial.

· Proven skills in project design, implementation and grant and contract management, financial management, performance monitoring, and evaluation.

Total possible points = 100

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

1. AID 309-2, Offeror Information For Personal Services Contract Form

Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit a hand-signed form AID 309-2, “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 309-2 form.

3. Appendix

Supplemental document specifically addressing the selection factors 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 titles, 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 309-2 form and/or resume. The interviewing committee will delay such reference check pending communication with the offeror.

SUBMISSION OF OFFER

· Offers must be submitted to the email address: antananarivoUSAIDHR@usaid.gov

· Subject line of your email should read: “POD [your name]”

· Email attachments should be in Adobe Acrobat Reader format (.pdf) and/or Word format (.doc or .docx)

· Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3.

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

Once the CO informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms.

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

· OF-306, Declaration of Federal Employment

· SF-85, Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions, or

· SF-86, Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions for National Security

· SF-87, 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

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a USPSC hired offshore 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)

(e) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

(f) Annual and Sick Leave

2. ALLOWANCES (if applicable):

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) Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 210)

(b) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(c) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(d) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(e) Education Travel (Section 280)

(f) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

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

VII. TAXES

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

VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs

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.

Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award as described below:

LINE ITEMS

ITEM

NO

(A)

SUPPLIES/SERVICES

(DESCRIPTION)

(B)

QUANTITY

(C)

UNIT

(D)

(F)

and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

Award after

- Award Type: Cost negotiations

- Product Service Code: R497 with

- Accounting Info: 687OE20

Contractor_

PROG AREA: OE

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 18-05: Designation of USPSCs and CCNPSCs as Contracting Agreement Officers

· AAPD 18-02: Changes to the Medevac Policy for USPSCs and TCNPSCs

· AAPD 15-02: REVISED Extends Implementation Of The USAID Policy For Leave And Holidays, Including Family And Medical Leave

· AAPD10-01: Changes in USG Reimbursement Amounts For Health Insurance And Physical Examination Costs

· AAPD 06-10: PSC Medical Expense Payment

· AAPD06-08: Using the Optional Schedule to Incrementally Fund Contracts

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.

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

END OF SOLICITATION

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