Solicitation 7200AA20R00073 .pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 7200AA20R00073

ISSUANCE DATE: September 16, 2020

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: September 30, 2020 (11:59 PM ET)

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) - Infectious Diseases Senior

Advisor

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International

Development (USAID), Bureau for Global Health, Office of Infectious Diseases, Emerging Threats Division (GH/ID/ETD) is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services as an Infectious Diseases Senior Advisor under contract as described in this solicitation.

Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1 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 Attachment

1.

Sincerely, Patricia E. Bradley

Supervisory Contracting Officer

M/OAA/GH/ID

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20523

ATTACHMENT 1

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 7200AA20R00073

2. ISSUANCE DATE: September 16, 2020

3. CLOSING DATE AND

TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: September 30, 2020 (11:59 PM ET)

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Tanya Ronning, e-mail at tronning@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Infectious Diseases Senior Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: $142,701-$170,800 equivalent to GS-15

Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

Offerors who live outside the Washington, D.C. area will be considered for employment, but no relocation expenses will be reimbursed.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two (2) years from the date of contract award, with three

(3) one-year option periods, subject to availability of funds, continued need for the services, and quality of contract performance.

Base Period o/a April, 2021 – March, 2023

Option Period 1 o/a April, 2023 – March, 2024

Option Period 2 o/a April, 2024 – March, 2025

Option Period 3 o/a April, 2025 – March, 2026

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Washington, D. C., with possible travel as stated in the Statement of

Duties.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to U.S. Citizens only.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret.

11. WORK HOURS: 40 HOURS/WEEK.

12. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

A. BACKGROUND

The U.S. Government’s (USG) Global Health Security portfolio enables USAID—in partnership with other nations, international organizations, and public and private stakeholders—to prevent avoidable epidemics, mailto:tronning@usaid.gov detect threats early, and respond rapidly and effectively to infectious disease outbreaks. In May 2019, the

USG approved the Global Health Security Strategy (GHSS)1, outlining the USG’s approach to strengthening global health security (GHS), including accelerating the capabilities of prioritized countries to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. The GHSS was developed with input from multiple agencies, including USAID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Defense, and the Department of State. The Strategy pursues three interrelated goals: 1) strengthened partner country global health security capacities; 2) increased international support for global health security; and 3) a homeland prepared and resilient against global health threats. Over time, and as the impact of USG GHS support grows, USAID will work with its partner countries, in conjunction with the other USG collaborators, to outline strategies and criteria for transitions to host-country sustainment of GHS activities.

Given its foreign affairs mandate, USAID contributes directly to the first two goals in the GHSS. USAID’s

GHS portfolio focuses on: addressing the health security capacity gaps in countries at high risk of infectious disease threats and outbreaks (USAID’s major contribution to the Global Health Security Agenda [GHSA] international initiative); applied GHS research; and critical policy and advocacy support for global health security. This funding is critical to address the alarming increasing frequency and severity of infectious disease outbreaks now occurring globally.

As approximately 70 percent of new outbreaks in humans emanate from animals, a major focus of USAID’s

GHS portfolio will be to address and contain zoonotic diseases and strengthen animal health services. These efforts include:

• strengthening animal health surveillance systems to detect and report high priority zoonotic diseases and to link these efforts with Ministries of Health, Livestock, Wildlife, Agriculture, and others to forge multi-sectoral responses;

● strengthening veterinary and other national labs in GHSA countries, including quality assurance, and sample collection and transport services;

● preparing the next generation of health, agricultural, and environmental professionals to address zoonotic diseases with a multi-sectoral, One Health approach; and

● strengthening health security-focused antimicrobial resistance (AMR) programs in both the public health and animal health sectors, especially infection prevention and control (IPC) in health facilities

(to prevent health-care associated infections) and to promote the rational use of antimicrobial drugs in both livestock production and healthcare settings.

Promoting health security and building capacity in high risk communities are also priorities within the GHS portfolio. USAID supports efforts to expand the number of communities with strengthened capacity in health security through: the training of community health volunteers in epidemic control, designing of community preparedness plans, conducting simulation exercises to prepare for future outbreaks, and developing or upgrading active community-based surveillance systems. Other examples include:

● establishing risk communication programs that provide individuals and communities with the information needed to reduce the spread of infectious diseases and associated outbreaks;

● strengthening infection prevention and control in community-based health facilities;

● helping to establish or strengthen emergency supply chain programs, specially designed to deliver critically needed commodities (e.g., personal protective equipment) to affected communities during outbreaks; and

● developing and implementing programs to engage nongovernmental organizations more broadly in

1 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/GHSS.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/GHSS.pdf health security efforts.

In addition to global health security, USAID works extensive in other areas of infectious disease, notably tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases, and is the lead for the effort to End Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths. USAID is also a partner in the USG President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

(PEPFAR) effort. USAID often remains the USG lead on infectious disease outbreaks and has led efforts to respond to recent outbreaks of pneumonic plague, Ebola, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

B. INTRODUCTION

The Senior Infectious Disease Strategy Advisor (Senior Advisor) will work with the Bureau for Global

Health’s Office of Infectious Disease, Emerging Threats Division (GH/ID/ETD). In particular, s/he will work in the ETD to support implementation of the GHSA, respond to infectious disease outbreaks, and strengthen the overall global health security portfolio within the office. S/he will also work across elements on strategic questions related to antimicrobial resistance, and biosecurity.

The Senior Advisor will provide advice and guidance to USAID staff in headquarters and in the field on key strategic questions related to infectious diseases and help design effective methods for preventing, detecting and controlling infectious disease outbreaks. The incumbent will be expected to work closely with interagency partners and through short term travel, will work with in-country partners and USAID mission staff.

C. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Advisor will primarily be responsible for follow-up and guidance on the implementation of several lines of work in addition to providing advice to infectious disease staff on Global Health Security portfolio-related issues. More specifically, the Senior Advisor’s duties and responsibilities will include:

Global Health Security Agenda Team Lead

• engage interagency leadership and technical staff on GHSA implementation and oversight;

• lead USAID’s technical engagement for GHSA interagency planning in several countries;

• advise country teams and staff in Washington on GHSA implementation and technical issues;

• maintain, establish and build contacts with senior officials from outside the Agency including from other USG agencies (CDC, DOD, etc.), and government officials (Ministry of Health, Agriculture, etc.);

• engage with senior representatives of private sector corporations and entities;

• represent USAID in meetings and discussions with senior officials and be required to achieve common understanding among the various parties and satisfactory solutions that address various objectives and concerns and meet USAID’s needs;

• brief USAID senior leadership on GHSA related policies and priorities; and,

• operate with limited guidance and demonstrate high level judgement and understanding of sensitive policy issues.

Emergency Response to Infectious Disease Outbreaks

• provide advice, guidance and strategic inputs for response efforts to major infectious disease outbreaks that merit USAID support to contain and control the event(s);

• provide input into USAID strategy(ies) for infectious disease response efforts; and,

• engage interagency leadership and technical staff on infectious disease response efforts.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and biosecurity

• implement USAID AMR programs and policies within the GHSA portfolio;

• provide senior leadership, advice, guidance and strategic inputs into the GH Bureau AMR policy discussions and overall program efforts;

• provide technical assistance and support to the GH Bureau AMR technical lead; and,

• provide input and strategic guidance for USAID to implement the National Biodefense Strategy2.

Infectious disease and health cross-cutting advice and guidance

• provide advice, guidance and strategic inputs to the implementation and oversight of USAID’s infectious disease and health programs and partnerships.

D. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP

The Senior Advisor will take direction from and report directly to the Division Chief of the Emerging Threats

Division or his/her designee.

E. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

The Senior Advisor is expected to take initiative, act independently, and perform with minimal direction in planning and carrying out assignments, resolving conflicts, coordinating with others and interpreting policy in terms of established objectives as part of a fast-paced office environment.

13. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is sedentary in nature. No unusual physical demands are placed upon the incumbent.

14. WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is primarily performed in an office setting, though the contractor may travel to areas where site visits and extraordinary travel time is involved and that may entail working out of temporary duty residences or hotel rooms. Over the course of a year, short term travel would account for approximately 30% of the time.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

A Master’s degree from any accredited college or university in public health, international relations, or related field.

AND

At least 20 years of significant responsible professional experience in international development and health including work in infectious diseases, and management of complex programs, with at least 10 years of experience in an international or resource-challenged setting.

2 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/National-Biodefense-Strategy.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/National-Biodefense-Strategy.pdf

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

Selection Factors:

• Complete resume submitted. Experience that cannot be quantified will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements

• Supplemental document specifically addressing the Evaluation Factors (EFs) submitted

• References submitted.

• Ability to travel internationally up to 30% of the time.

• U.S. Citizenship

• Ability to obtain a SECRET level security clearance

• Application form AID 309-2 submitted. Application form must be signed.

• Satisfactory verification of academic credentials.

Evaluation Factors:

Applicants must address each Evaluation Factor listed below separately to demonstrate how s/he meets each one of them. Unless stated otherwise, all sub-criteria within each Evaluation Factor will be weighted equally.

In no more than three (3) pages total (8 ½” x 11” paper only; no less than 11-point font) describe your experience and knowledge of each Evaluation Factor listed below. When responding to the Evaluation Factor below, demonstrate how your experience relates to the duties and responsibilities listed. Cite examples where appropriate.

Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following evaluation criteria:

1. Technical Knowledge (20 points):

• Level of demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the core components of the Global Health

Security Agenda (GHSA), including: the current GHSA programs and interventions and a demonstrated understanding of the USG Global Health Security Strategy. (7 points);

• Level of demonstrated knowledge and understanding of infectious disease issues in the developing world, particularly Africa and Asia (7 points);

• Level of demonstrated knowledge and understanding of AMR programs and policies within the GH

Bureau and the GHSA portfolio. (6 points).

2. Work Experience (30 points):

• Level of demonstrated experience leading, designing and managing public health programs in the developing world, including experience with infectious disease efforts (8 points);

• Level of demonstrated experience in working effectively in a large bureaucracy, in a collegial environment, and on a large number of tasks simultaneously (8 points);

• Level of demonstrated ability and experience of working on complex issues with high level contacts of different agencies (7 points);

• Level of demonstrated experience managing budgets and funding (7 points).

3. Interpersonal, Management and Communication skills (30 points):

• Level of demonstrated excellent leadership, management, interpersonal and communication skills (10 points);

• Level of demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary and multicultural team (10 points);

• Level of demonstrated judgment, maturity, ingenuity, and originality to interpret strategy, data and program results and identify and communicate solutions (10 points).

BASIS OF RATING/SELECTION CRITERIA:

All applications will be evaluated and scored based on the documentation submitted with the application.

Applicants who meet the Education and Experience requirements will be further evaluated based on scoring of the Evaluation Factor (EF) responses. Those applicants determined to be competitively ranked will also be evaluated on interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks. USAID reserves the right to invite the highest and/or competitively ranked candidates for an interview and/or conduct reference checks only on those individuals.

Applicants are required to address each of the EFs in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received that are relevant to each factor. Be sure to include your name and the solicitation number at the top of each additional page. Failure to address the selective and/or Evaluation Factors may result in you not receiving credit for all of your pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards.

The Applicant Rating System is as Follows:

Master’s degree from any accredited college or university in public health, international relations or related field. – Pass/Fail

At least 20 years of significant responsible professional experience in international development and health and management of complex programs, with at least 10 years of experience in an international or resource-challenged setting. – Pass/Fail

Evaluation Factors have been assigned the following points:

EF #1 – 20 points

EF #2 – 30 points

EF #3 – 30 points

EF Total – 80 points

Interview Performance (only applicable if you are invited for an interview) – 20 points

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – Pass/Fail

Total Possible Points: 100

The applicants determined to be competitively ranked may be interviewed and may be required to provide a writing sample. Face-to-face interviews will be conducted in Washington D.C. GH/ID will not pay for expenses associated with the interviews but will conduct telephone or videoconference interviews for those not able to interview in person. Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for applicants being considered for selection.

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 current resume. Experience that cannot be quantified will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.

5. Written statement that responds to the requirements in the Evaluation Factors.

6. A minimum of three and maximum of five references.

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:

(1) Medical History and Examination (DS-1843).

(2) Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86).

(3) Finger Print Card (FD-258).

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a USPSC 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:

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 http://www.usaid.gov/forms 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

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:

ITEM NO

(A)

SUPPLIES/SERVICES

(DESCRIPTION) (B)

Base

PERIOD

OPTION

PERIOD 1

OPTION

PERIOD 2

OPTION

PERIOD 3

0001 Base Salary

Award Type: Labor Hour

Product Service Code: R497

Accounting Info: TBD

$ TBD $ TBD $ TBD $ TBD

0002 Civilian Personnel Benefits

Award Type: Labor Hour

Product Service Code: R497

Accounting Info: TBD

$ TBD $ TBD $ TBD $ TBD

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.

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 .

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/forms http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations