Solicitation 72052723R00001- Resident Hire USPSC Local Certifying Officer_signed.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72052723R00001

ISSUANCE DATE: October 21, 2022

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: November 18, 2022 at 17:00 (Lima time)

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) Resident Hire Local Certifying Officer, GS-13 equivalent

Dear Prospective Offerors:

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

Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1, Sections I through V of this solicitation. Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all Offer materials for their records.

USAID will evaluate all offerors based on the stated evaluation criteria. USAID encourages all individuals, including those from disadvantaged and under-represented groups , to respond to the solicitation.

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 I.

Sincerely, Magdalena Maxwell Contracting Officer USAID/Peru

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72052723R00001

2. ISSUANCE DATE: October 21, 2022

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: November 18, 2022 at 17:00 (Lima time)

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Human Resources Office, email at limausaidhr@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Local Certifying Officer

6. MARKET VALUE: $81,216 - $105,579 equivalent to GS-13 Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value and will include Locality Pay for domestic USPSCs based on the location of the Official USAID Worksite, or the approved alternative worksite if approved for remote work. USPSCs performing overseas are not entitled to Locality Pay. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated. This is a resident-hire position. It does not include offshore benefits such as housing, post differential, and post allowance.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Peru. Overseas USPSCs may be authorized to telework or remote work only from a location within the country of performance, in accordance with Mission policy. Telework or remote work from outside the country of performance may only be authorized in certain situations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.

8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

The base period of performance will be from o/a December 2022 to November 2023.

Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise an additional option period (OPs) as follows:

Base Period: o/a December 2022 to November 2023 Option Period 1: o/a December 2023 to November 2024 Option Period 2: o/a December 2024 to November 2025 Option Period 3: o/a December 2025 to November 2026 Option Period 4: o/a December 2026 to November 2027

Part-time 20-30 hours per week, or Full-time 40 hours per week. Work schedule will be a mutual decision, based on Offeror availability and that she/he can fully perform the Statement of Duties.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident/registered alien

(“green card holder”). This solicitation is open to Resident-Hire U.S. Nationals who are currently residing in Peru and legally permitted to work in the country without needing a mailto:limausaidhr@usaid.gov work permit.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facility Access

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

A. BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION:

USAID/Peru’s Regional Financial Management Office (RFMO) is responsible for the accounting, financial, and audit management covering Peru and the client missions of

Brazil, Ecuador, and Paraguay. RFMO is organized into three sections - Accounting, Financial Analysis, and Payment. RFMO is focused on managing financial and accounting data, processing payments, preparing reconciliations, and reporting, while also providing oversight and ensuring accountability.

The incumbent will be responsible for certifying all payments covering the four missions described above approximating $110 million annually. The incumbent will provide training as necessary to USAID staff, as well as to local implementing partners (IP), to help facilitate implementation of mission-funded activities. The incumbent will draft and implement procedures to ensure timely payments, while monitoring that adequate internal controls are in place to safeguard USAID funding to prevent fraud, waste and/or abuse, and assist the Financial Analysis, Accounting, and Payment sections, as needed. The incumbent will report to the Controller or designee and will work closely with the Payment

Section consisting of a Supervisory Voucher Examiner and five Voucher Examiners.

B. MAJOR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

a) Work to be Performed: The incumbent serves as RFMO’s Authorized Certifying

Officer (ACO). The ACO is central to ensuring the integrity of the USAID payment process. The ACO must be driven to provide excellent customer service to all clients, and possess effective communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively across all offices and with IP personnel. He or she must possess the requisite technical financial skills and high ethical professional standards necessary to ensure timely and proper payments. The core function of the ACO is to make sure that payments are made timely, accurately, and in compliance with legal requirements.

The incumbent will oversee the function of payments from voucher submission through disbursement, monitor the issuance of reporting pertaining to payments, including advance reports, travel reports, and payment data call, assure recordkeeping of documentation pertaining to payments, and serve as the point of contact for any auditing questions to payments. The function includes understanding, applying, reviewing, and making recommendations as necessary for the internal controls in place related to the entire process of all payments in the region.

b) Specific tasks and duties include, but not limited to:

(i) Payment Controls and Certification (65%)

1. The incumbent will be responsible for certifying all payments processed by RFMO, and maintain the appropriate internal controls to ensure proper payments are made within the timeframe established by Prompt Pay Regulations.

2. He or she will review and certify payments covering the full range of operating expenses and project-funded vouchers.

3. The incumbent will certify payments using the USAID accounting system.

4. For each payment certified, the ACO will a) ensure compliance with legal requirements; b) determine whether funding is available at the time of payment for the intended purpose; c) review for documented confirmation that USAID has received the goods and services, according to the requirements of the order or agreement with the required administrative approvals; and d) confirm numerical calculations are allowable and accurate.

5. Provide oversight over the Payment Section and monitor the full cycle of the payment process from inception to the final certification, including serving as the POC for payment audits.

6. Ensure that all payment vouchers and bill of collections documentation related to project activities, audits, financial reviews, overpayments, employees’ advances, and others are processed in an adequate manner, as specified by rules and regulations.

7. Assist the Controller and the Chief Accountant in evaluating existing practices and procedures to ensure that proper internal controls are in place and being systematically applied; and those operations related to budgeting and cash management are being carried out efficiently and effectively.

8. Collaborate with the Payment Section staff on establishing and maintaining internal controls over disbursements further guaranteeing to compliance policies.

9. The Certifying Officer will implement systems to avoid duplicate payments and work with staff to submit any improper payment as per the Improper Payment Act reporting.

10. He or she will ensure that proper reports are issued as required to monitor and review payments, advances and reimbursements submitted through required channels.

11. The Incumbent functions as the primary mission liaison with the

U.S. Disbursing Office (USDO) to provide procedural guidance, identify system issues, and troubleshoot local bank payment issues as they arise.

(ii) Benefits and Allowances Subject Matter Expert (15%)

1. The region consists of approximately 25 to 30 USDH and USPSC personnel and over 100 locally employed staff. The incumbent will serve as a subject matter expert on matters related to benefits and allowances and therefore must be knowledgeable of the associated rules and regulations.

(iii) Value Added Taxes (VAT) Monitoring and Reporting (10%)

1. The incumbent will be the RFMO point of contact for matters concerning VAT collection and annual reporting, as it concerns Mission implementing partners. The incumbent will work closely with Mission colleagues to help resolve VAT matters.

(iv) Special Projects (10%)

1. The job holder will work on projects as assigned by the Controller or designee, including internal controls and reporting related to the area of payments and collections.

C. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

While the incumbent will serve under the direction of the Deputy Regional controller, in the exercise of their duties on a day-to-day basis, they must be able to perform their duties with little to no direct supervision. They must be able to make solid financial management decisions independently from day one.

D. SUPERVISORY CONTROL:

While the position will not supervise staff directly, the incumbent will have approval authority over many of the work objectives of staff working on their portfolio. As a result, the incumbent must exercise a high degree of leadership to achieve mission objectives.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The position will be located in Lima, Peru. Travel could occur to support a client mission. However, it is unlikely under normal circumstances.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Education: A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (accounting, economics, finance or business administration) is required.

Experience: 5 years of relevant professional experience, such as accounts payables or audit management, is required.

Job Knowledge: Knowledge of accounting payable/receivable and/or audit principles is expected. Familiarity with financial management automated systems, including MS Word and Excel is required. Desired qualifications include knowledge of US federal procurement practices and standardized regulations, US governmental accounting and auditing principles and procedures, Prompt Payment Act requirements, Foreign Affairs Manual, Federal Acquisition Regulation, and Automated Directives Systems Series 600 on Budget and Finance.

Skills and Abilities:

A high level of interpersonal and communication skills with peers, colleagues, and staff, as well as external stakeholders is expected. Must be able to create and conceptualize innovative solutions to increase efficiency, improve customer service and meet changing work demands. Must possess the ability to work under high pressure with tight deadlines.

Only offerors clearly meeting the above minimum qualifications will be considered for further evaluation.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

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

The technical evaluation committee may conduct reference checks, including references form individuals who have not been specifically identified by the offeror, and may do so before of after a candidate is interviewed.

1. Offerors who clearly meet the aforementioned minimum education and work experience qualification requirements may be further evaluated through review of the offeror’s submitted required documents and ranked based on the below evaluation and selection factors. A competitive range will be established of the highest-ranked offerors, who may be further evaluated through technical tests and interviews to determine the most qualified/highest-ranked offerors.

2. Reference checks will be conducted with the highest-ranked offerors.

3. Evaluation and Selection Factors. Applicants meeting the required qualifications of the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and obtained through reference checks. The following is the evaluation criteria for this position:

a) Education: 10 points

b) Work Experience: 30 points

c) Technical Knowledge: 20 points

d) Abilities and Skills: 30 points

e) Language 10 points

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – Pass/Fail

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. A cover letter of no more than 1 page that demonstrates how the Offeror’s qualifications meet the evaluation and selection factors in section III of this solicitation.

3. A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which, at a minimum, describes education, experience, and career achievements relevant to the evaluation and selection factors in section III of this solicitation.

4. Names of three professional references that have knowledge of the offeror’s ability to perform the duties set forth in the solicitation, including current and accurate contact information. This information may be included in in cover letter, resume/CV, or in a separate document.

http://www.usaid.gov/forms

5. Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency

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

7. Offerors submissions must clearly reference the Solicitation number on all offeror submitted documents.

8. Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors- The Offeror will be required to show proof that the Offeror is fully vaccinated against COVID- 19 on or before the first date of onboarding, or submit and approved reasonable accommodation o the CO. If the contractor does not meet this requirement the contract may be terminated. *

*See Notice Regarding Any Court Order Affecting the Implementation of E.O. 14042 in Section VIII below.

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

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

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

1. Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet (AID 1420-17)

2. Form AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals”

3. Medical History and Examination Form (DS-1843) **

4. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (SF-86) ** or

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

6. Fingerprint Card (FD-258) **

** Forms 3 through 6 shall be completed ONLY upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

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

[If the solicitation is also open to TCNs, the CO must insert the benefits and allowances specifically approved by the Mission Director for a TCN offeror in accordance with AIDAR Appendix J, sec. 4(c)(2)(ii)(B).]

1. BENEFITS:

(a) Employer's FICA Contribution http://www.usaid.gov/forms

(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) Leave and Holidays

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. ENSURING ADEQUATE COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL

CONTRACTORS (OCT 2021)-Alternate 70 (OCT 2021) (M/OAA-DEV-FAR-22-01c)

(a) Definition. As used in this clause - United States or its outlying areas means—

(1) The fifty States;

(2) The District of Columbia;

(3) The commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands;

(4) The territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands; and

(5) The minor outlying islands of Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Palmyra Atoll, and Wake Atoll.

(b) Authority. This clause implements Executive Order 14042, Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors, dated September 9, 2021 (published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2021, 86 FR 50985).

(c) Personal Services Contracts with individuals. As a matter of policy, the contractor must comply with the USAID’s guidance applicable to direct-hire federal employees.

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf

(End of clause)

Notice Regarding Any Court Order Affecting the Implementation of E.O. 14042 USAID will take no action to enforce the clause (FAR 52.223-99) implementing the requirements of Executive Order 14042, absent further written notice from USAID, where the place of performance identified in the contract is in a U.S. state or outlying area subject to a court order prohibiting the application of requirements pursuant to the

Executive Order (hereinafter, “Excluded State or Outlying Area”). In all other circumstances, USAID will enforce the clause, except for contractor employees who perform substantial work on or in connection with a covered contract in an Excluded State or Outlying Area, or in a covered contractor workplace located in an Excluded State or Outlying Area. A current list of such Excluded States and Outlying Areas is maintained at https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.

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

ITEM NO

(A)

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: to be specified in the award

1 LOT $TBD $TBD at award after negotiations with contractor

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

- Award Type: Cost negotiations with contractor

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

- Award Type: Cost negotiations with contractor

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

- Award Type: Cost negotiations with contractor

4001 Base Period - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost negotiations with contractor

4. 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 https://www.usaid.gov/forms http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs

AAPDs/CIBs specifically applicable to this position include:

AAPD 16-03: Expanded Incentive Awards for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals

AAPD 15-02 REVISED - Continuation of Deviation from the ‘Leave and Holidays’ clause, including Family and Medical Leave, for U.S. Personal Services Contractors

AAPD 10-03 Amendment 1: AIDAR, Appendix D: Implementing Benefits For Same-Sex Domestic Partners of USPSCs

AAPD 10-01: Personal Services Contracts -- Changes in USG Reimbursement Amounts for Health Insurance and Physical Examination Costs

AAPD 06-10: PSC Medical Expense Payment Responsibility

5. 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

6. PSC Ombudsman The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information:

https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman

The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov.

[End of Solicitation] https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations