SOLICITATION 72052120R00015 - Senior CO AO - final.pdf

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

U.S. Embassy Tel: (509) 2229-8000 Boulevard de 15 Octobre Fax: (509) 2229-8066 HT-6123 Tabarre 41, HAITI https://www.usaid.gov/haiti P.O. Box 1634, Port-au-Prince, HAITI

SOLICITATION NUMBER 72052120R00015

ISSUANCE DATE: July 24, 2020

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: August 24, 2020

SUBJECT: Solicitation for Senior Contracting & Agreement Officer:

Office of Acquisition & Assistance

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 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, Natalie J. Thunberg Contracting Officer

USAID/Guatemala

ATTACHMENT 1 72052120R00015

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.:

2. ISSUANCE DATE: July 24, 2020

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: August 24, 2020 at 17:00 hrs. Haiti time

4. POINTS OF CONTACT: 1. Natalie J. Thunberg, Contracting Officer; e-mail at nthunberg@usaid.gov and 2. Rossana Garcia, A&A Specialist; e-mail at rgarcia@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Contracting & Agreement Officer (Office of Acquisition & Assistance)

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

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The duration of the US Personal Services Contract

(USPSC) will be for a base of one (1) year, estimated to start on October 15, 2020.

Based on Agency need, availability of funds and requisite approvals, the Contracting Officer may exercise (an) additional option period for one (1) year for the date(s) estimated as follows:

Base Period: 10/15/2020 - 10/14/2021 Option Period 1: 10/15/2021 - 10/14/2022

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

USAID/HAITI, Port au Prince with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens.

For USPSC:

• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (“green card holder”);

• U.S. resident alien means a non-U.S. citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States;

• Submit a complete application as outlined in the solicitation section, section IV;

• Be able to obtain facility access authorization;

• Be able to obtain a Department of State medical clearance;

• Be willing to travel to work sites and other offices as/when requested;

• Employment is subject to funds availability and all the required approvals obtained.

mailto:nthunberg@usaid.gov

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facility Access. The final selected candidates must obtain both the appropriate security and medical clearances within a reasonable period. If such clearances are not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded.

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

a. SPECIFIC TASKS AND DUTIES

1. Procurement Planning

• Develop long-range acquisition plans for new or complex programs. Responsible for procurement planning activities for assigned pillar Offices, which may include reviewing and clearing procurement plans and procurement documents and representing the A&A perspective at program and procurement planning meetings.

• Develop acquisition plans, source selection plans, and contract terms, conditions, or financial arrangements that serve as models for future major system acquisitions.

• Prepare and maintain current acquisition plans, appropriate milestone charts, and related schedules and keep superiors informed of anticipated workload demands.

• As part of the Office of Acquisition and Assistance team, analyze and collate approved annual procurement plans.

• Identify within assigned sector programs those significant subsystems, components, equipment and services to be acquired by contract, grant, cooperative agreement, interagency agreement, or public international organization, or other USAID A&A mechanism.

• Act as advisor to program officials in activity planning meetings, and advise program officials on the procurement instruments to be used.

• Provide counseling and training to staff on USAID regulations and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) requirements. Provide on-the-job training to junior staff and assist management in selecting appropriate developmental assignments.

2. Design and Solicitation Processes

• Collaborate in the development of evaluation criteria and preparation of contractual statements of work.

• Develop objectives for programs in terms of competition and price range, and prepare contractual i.e., Requests for Proposal (RFP), or assistance i.e., Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), Request for Applications (RFA), Annual Program Statement (APS) documents, which includes the use of pricing arrangements, subcontracting policy, set-aside polices, and similar considerations.

• Provide backstopping services to sectoral personnel by advising on resolution of special procurement problems associated with waiver requests, expediting of deliveries, apparent overlapping responsibilities, and resolution of claims.

• Perform detailed analyses of all elements of price and cost in contractor proposals. Determine the competitive range and prepares defensible justifications as required.

• Conduct pre-proposal conferences with prospective contractors to arrive at a clear understanding of what is required under the proposed contract.

• Is available for consultation on contracting issues with Mission staff, other in-country U.S. Government officials and representatives, Government of Haiti (GOH) officials, implementing partners, and others, as required by the needs of the acquisition.

• Obtain appropriate data from all sources. Issue necessary modifications to clarify questions concerning such topics as specification changes, language ambiguities, or clarification of contract or agreement clauses/provisions or sub-awards.

• Explore new or innovative contracting approaches to arrive at an equitable contract arrangement. In the absence of meaningful cost and price information, develop creative approaches to developing the necessary comparative data.

3. Award Negotiation

• Serve as lead A&A negotiator responsible for significant program or major procurements, which include the range of USAID A&A instruments.

• Plan, lead, and coordinate the strategy for negotiations with contractors/grantees to develop the award price and terms.

• Edit, review, and execute award documents.

• Negotiate Participating Agency Services Agreements (PASA) and Participating

Agency Program Agreements (PAPA) in accordance with statutory and procedural regulations and general agreements with other Federal agencies. Negotiations include prices, terms, special conditions, and amendments. Coordinate PASAs and PAPAs with officials in participating Federal agencies and with Mission officials as necessary.

4. Award Compliance Monitoring, Administration, and Audit

• Conduct in-depth compliance reviews and evaluation of complex, unusual, or unique award actions requiring higher-level approval.

• Ensures that contract terms and conditions are met and that the contractor delivers the required goods or services as agreed and in a timely manner in order to achieve award and Agency objectives.

• Conduct and review analysis and finalizes required documentation for various award actions, including: incremental funding, rate and cost adjustments, redirection of effort, time extension, incorporation of change orders, stop work orders, cure notices, show cause, or termination letters, approval of progress payments, final payment to the contractor, and contract closeout.

• Evaluate the adequacy of the awardee's business management systems in areas such as personnel compensation, insurance subcontracting and/or sub-granting procedures, and financial management. Ensure compliance with applicable cost principles, and Cost Accounting Standards and requirements. Perform work associated with the analysis of automated contracting systems, or with providing advice and guidance on contracting and procurement issues including procurement using small/disadvantaged businesses.

• Review grantee's procurement systems and procedures. In response to requests for review by grantees for the purpose of certifying their procurement system and procedures, conduct in-depth on-site evaluations of grantees contracts, contracting procedures, contract planning, competition, cost analysis, organizations, employee qualifications, procurement and contract administration systems, and similar functions.

• Perform assessments of potential local contractors and recipients to determine appropriate award types and to make responsibility determinations. Meet with local partners to inform them of USAID requirements and to assist them in improve compliance with USAID requirements.

• Interpret award provisions for awardees and for officials of the agency, and provide appropriate advice and guidance. Advise sectoral office counterparts and awardee contractors and recipients on their administrative responsibilities contained in the award.

• Anticipate problems and provide advice to Mission personnel on effective implementation and timeframes.

• Research issues contained in award documents, and draft and issue responses to correspondence, including but not limited to, subcontract consent requests, salary approvals, equipment approvals, on a wide variety of contract and assistance awards.

• Terminate contracts and agreements for the convenience of the Government or default by the awardee. The Contracting Officer is responsible for the preparation of all documentation necessary to support and defend termination decisions. Negotiate termination claims settlements.

• Resolve audit findings on post-award audits. Respond to protests by researching and developing necessary analysis, documentation, and history. Work with the other Contracting/Agreement Officer, Mission Controller and Regional Legal Officer, as appropriate, in supporting the Mission’s position.

5. Supervision, Training and Other Duties

• The Contracting Officer will supervise and train A&A Specialists on all aspects of acquisition and assistance procedures, policy and document formation to include:

procurement planning, design and solicitation processes, negotiation and award, contract compliance monitoring and administration, design of tools and templates to utilize in training and other topics as assigned.

• The Contracting Officer will be required to obtain a warrant.

• Recommend new or improved processes in functional areas of procurement, e.g., pre-award or price and cost analysis, including responsibility for formulating guidelines, implementing best practice, and providing USAID and A&A policy interpretation.

• Respond to protests by researching and developing necessary analysis, documentation, and history. Work with the Legal Officer in preparing the Agency's position and Contracting Officer reports to support the Government's defense on protests to the GAO. Provide ongoing technical advice and recommendations to both contracting and technical office personnel. Act as a liaison to various offices.

• Recommend, develop, and maintain contracting policies to ensure consistency in implementation.

b. CHARACTERISTICS OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Degree of responsibility for decision-making assigned to the position: Ability to work independently with little supervision, ability to work calmly, tactfully and effectively under pressure and to demonstrate flexibility to manage more than one activity at a time is essential. Ability to guide others in decision-making.

• Level of complexity of work assignments: The Contracting Officer shall provide a wide range of acquisition and assistance support services to the Mission, including procurement planning, solicitation design, negotiation of awards and award administration. The Contracting Officer must have sufficient expertise to make well-founded decisions regarding awards and recommendations to the Mission.

• Knowledge level required: This position requires extensive knowledge of federal contracting and assistance principles, laws, statues, Executive Orders, regulations and procedures applicable to pre-award and/or post-award actions sufficient to procure and/or administer contracts, grants and cooperative agreements for a variety of specialized equipment, services, and/or construction, or to conduct studies of problem areas and develop standard methods and operating procedures.

Familiarity with business practices and market conditions applicable to program and technical requirements is required sufficient to evaluate such actions as bid responsiveness, contractor responsibility, and/or contractor performance.

Applicants should demonstrate knowledge of team management strategies, mentoring and knowledge transfer to provide training to junior staff members.

• Supervisory Controls: The Contracting Officer will be supervised and evaluated by the Supervisory Contracting Officer, or designee. The Contracting Officer is expected to exercise considerable independent judgment and initiative as s/he performs many assignments independently, providing leadership to others involved in the management of the OAA portfolio, and in the development, design, and drafting of acquisition instruments. Performance is evaluated in terms of overall A&A achievements and success.

• Complexity of the work environment/effect on the position’s responsibilities: The Mission’s activities, particularly infrastructure activities, receive high levels of attention and oversight from the press, the White House, and the U.S. Congress; are critical to Haiti’s reconstruction; and are complicated by demands on limited Mission staff. Further, given the unreliable communication infrastructure in Haiti, meetings often occur in person at the work sites or other venues. The Mission’s OAA activities require quick turnaround times, and regular and hands-on administration of awards.

• Scope and effect of the work performed: The incumbent’s work products and services will impact a wide range of Mission activities. The primary purpose of this position is to provide Acquisition and Assistance (A&A) support to USAID/Haiti programs in four economic development pillars: Infrastructure and Energy, Food and Economic Security, Health and Other Basic Needs, and Democracy and Rule of Law. The work includes support to all aspects of A&A negotiation, administration and close-out relating to and affecting USAID assistance programs in Haiti, including project planning, project design, implementation, and evaluation of programs.

• Level and purpose of contacts: To effectively function and succeed in this position, the contracting officer will be required to establish and maintain solid, cohesive and effective working relationships with all USAID/Haiti personnel. The contracting officer will interact and communicate on a regular basis with the Mission A&A Specialists, Mission Contracting Officers, Strategic Objective Team leaders and members (SOT), Contracting/Agreement Officer Representatives (COR/AORs). In addition, the contractor will be required to maintain outside/external contacts in support of the program's overall strategic objectives and goals to include but not limited to: (1) Chiefs of Party for grantees and contractors; and (2) appropriate institutional contractor and grantee personnel.

The purpose of these contacts will be to provide accurate procurement advice.

• Supervision/oversight over others: General guidance will be provided by the

Supervisory Contracting Officer (SCO). The Contracting Officer will have direct or shared supervision/oversight over A&A Specialists, as assigned by the S/CO.

• Guidelines: FAR and AIDAR, Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs), Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives (AAPDs), Procurement Executive Bulletins (PEBs), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Office of Management & Budget Circulars (OMB Circulars), Automated Directive System (ADS). The Contracting Officer is also provided guidance/instructions by the other OAA Contracting officers and USAID/Washington OAA.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (four-year university degree). Preferred areas of study include business administration, public administration accounting, law, banking, finance, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, and organization management.

• Relevant Work Experience & Knowledge: A minimum of 8 (eight) years professional experience in acquisition and assistance functions, at least five years as a warranted Contracting Officer. FAC-C Level II certification is required. Demonstrated prior experience and ability to exercise independent judgement in a full range of pre-award, award and post award responsibilities including: procurement planning, solicitation, analysis and evaluation of proposals, negotiation.

Applicant must have or be eligible and able to obtain Agreement and Contracting Officer warrant, as determined by USAID/Haiti in consultation with M/OAA. At least $5million (Level I) warrant or higher level requested.

• Language Proficiency: Fluency in English, both spoken and written, is required.

• Abilities & Skills: The Contracting Officer must be able to work independently in a highly demanding environment and capable of handling tasks with varying deadlines.

The ability to plan, organize and manage complex negotiations and meetings is very important. Strong organizational skills; ability to work independently with little supervision, ability to work calmly, tactfully and effectively under pressure and to demonstrate flexibility to manage more than one activity at a time is essential.

Interpersonal skills – demonstrated ability to work collegially with technical officers, peers, and supervisors with good interpersonal skills and past performance in working effectively in a team environment is required. S/he must be able to adhere to high standards of professional conduct and to maintain strict confidentiality and high ethical standards relating to all areas of acquisition and assistance.

Demonstrated ability to lead team(s) and provide strategic advice on highly complex, time sensitive procurements. Must be able to communicate complex and difficult policy and programmatic issues understandably by knowledgeable laypersons without over simplifying and be able to transfer knowledge/mentor other team members.

Proven ability in the following: negotiation, issuance of fixed-price contracts, issuance of cost reimbursement contracts, issuance of special-purpose contracts and agreements, business evaluations, administration, termination, award and administration of grants and cooperative agreements. Demonstrated skills in managerial and coordinative activities sufficient to conduct a variety of contractual actions occurring concurrently, is essential.

Demonstrated excellence in oral communication in English and strong writing skills.

Proven ability to evaluate and interpret policy directives and regulations, produce technical documents and to effectively communicate to internal and external stakeholders and produce technical documents in 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 https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far 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 the 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 (20 points): A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (four-year university degree). Preferred areas of study include business administration, public administration accounting, law, banking, finance, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, and organization management.

• Prior Work Experience & Knowledge (40 points): A minimum of 8 (eight) years professional experience in acquisition and assistance functions, at least five years as a warranted Contracting Officer. FAC-C Level II certification is required. Demonstrated prior experience and ability to exercise independent judgement in a full range of pre-award, award and post award responsibilities including: procurement planning, solicitation, analysis and evaluation of proposals, negotiation.

Applicant must have or be eligible and able to obtain Agreement and Contracting Officer warrant, as determined by USAID/Haiti in consultation with M/OAA. At least $5million (Level I) warrant or higher level requested.

• Language Proficiency (10 points): Fluency in English, both spoken and written, is required.

• Abilities & Skills (30 points): The Contracting Officer must be able to work independently in a highly demanding environment and capable of handling tasks with varying deadlines. The ability to plan, organize and manage complex negotiations and meetings is very important. Strong organizational skills; ability to work independently with little supervision, ability to work calmly, tactfully and effectively under pressure and to demonstrate flexibility to manage more than one activity at a time is essential.

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 https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far 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 number of this

Solicitation to ensure the offer is for the position in this Solicitation.

4. Letter of Application and current resume. The resume must contain sufficient relevant information to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria. Complete dates (month/year) are also required on resume.

5. Application must be submitted ONLY via email according to the information provided in Section I, item 4 – Points of Contact.

Email subject must say: Solicitation No. 72052120R00015 – Senior Contractor & Agreement Officer Position. Any attachment provided must be in a format compatible with Microsoft Word or PDF and not zipped.

6. Offeror also must address the above Section III: Evaluation and

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

7. Offeror must provide a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of five (5) references within the last five years from the Offeror’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 Offeror’s work knowledge and professional experience. Offerors must provide e-mail addresses and/or working telephone numbers for all references.

8. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered; the application must be submitted before or on the closing date, August 24, 2020 at 17:00 hrs. Haiti time.

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:

http://www.usaid.gov/forms

1. Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms)

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

3. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)

4. Finger Print Card (FD-258)

All forms can be found at: http/www/usaid.gov/forms/ Forms shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer than an Offeror is the successful candidate for the job.

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

(a) Temporary Quarter Subsistence Allowance (Section 120)

(b) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

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

(d) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(e) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(f) Education Travel (Section 280)

(g) Post differential (Chapter 500)

(h) Payment during evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and

(i) 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

PERTAINING TO PSCs

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

http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=231&menu_id=92 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

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

SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION)

(B)

QUANTITY

(C)

UNIT

(D)

UNIT

PRICE

(E)

AMOUNT

(F)

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

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: R497

- Accounting Info: TBD

1 LOT $ TBD $TBD at Award after negotiatio ns

Option Period 1 - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: R497

Accounting Info: TBD

1 LOT $ TBD $TBD at Award after negotiatio ns

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 .

[End of Solicitation] 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