Solicitation - 72067421R00024.docx

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72067421R00024

ISSUANCE DATE: April 30, 2021

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: May 29, 2021 – 17:00 – Local Time, Pretoria, South Africa

SUBJECT: Solicitation for US/TCN Personal Service Contractor (US/TCNPSC)

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, Shelby Hunt Contracting Officer

ATTACHMENT 1 72067421R00024

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72067421R00024

2. ISSUANCE DATE: April 30, 2021

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: May 29, 2021

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Thabang Mothupi

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Technical Advisor: HIV/AIDS Prevention

6. MARKET VALUE: $ 93,907- $ 122,077 equivalent to GS- 14 Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five years estimated to start on September 2021.

“The base period will be two years, estimated to start on September 2021. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise (an) additional option period(s) for three years for the date(s) estimated as follows:”

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Windhoek, Namibia with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: United States (U.S.) Citizens and Third Country Nationals (TCN)

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Employment Authorization - Facility Access

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

A. Introduction:

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the largest commitment ever by a single nation toward an international health initiative — a comprehensive approach to combating HIV/AIDS around the world. PEPFAR employs the most diverse prevention, treatment, and care strategy in the world, with an emphasis on transparency and accountability for results. In addition to providing an unprecedented commitment of resources, PEPFAR has demanded a new, results-oriented way of doing business, with high levels of accountability, establishment of measurable goals against which progress will be tracked and evaluated, and funding decisions based on performance toward these goals.

PEPFAR is a United States Government (USG) interagency effort that operates under the guidance of the Department of State’s Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) based in Washington, DC. In Namibia, PEPFAR is led by the U.S. Ambassador and programmed by an interagency management team chaired by a PEPFAR Coordinator. PEPFAR and USAID/Namibia are heavily engaged in planning and implementing a full range of HIV/AIDS programs, including HIV prevention, TB/HIV prevention, treatment and care programs, including orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).

The HIV/AIDS program is a complex and integrated response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has a 14 percent prevalence rate and an approximate HIV/TB co-infection rate of 44 percent.

B. Position Overview:

The Senior Technical Advisor in HIV/AIDS Prevention will provide technical leadership in the area of behavior change and prevention of sexual transmission of HIV, working in close collaboration with other PEPFAR team members including USAID’s Treatment, Health Systems Strengthening, Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), Care and Support, and TB Advisors, as well as technical experts from the Centers for Disease Control and other USG agencies. S/he will be responsible for overseeing the overall strategic direction, relevance, coverage and quality of the portfolio for prevention of sexual transmission of HIV, and for the design, implementation and evaluation of related prevention activities implemented by USAID. S/he will also be responsible for ensuring the coherence and coordination of USAID’s prevention activities with interventions funded by other agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense, and the Peace Corps.

The Senior Technical Advisor will be responsible for providing technical expertise in cross-cutting approaches to HIV/AIDS prevention, including the involvement of youth, the uniformed services (national police and the military), religious leaders, civil society and communities. S/he will provide technical assistance, serve as activity manager for a range of prevention activities/initiatives and serve as a resource and point person for the USG Namibia PEPFAR team. S/he will be responsible for coordinating prevention and policy issues with the Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN), the USG PEPFAR team, other donors, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the area of HIV/AIDS.

C. Duties and Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership and Expertise 60%

· Provide technical leadership to the USG and USAID/Namibia on HIV/AIDS prevention issues.

· Provide ongoing technical assistance, training and consultation on the development and implementation of HIV/AIDS sexual prevention activities to USAID activity managers and partners, including assistance in the application of new data and research findings to program activities.

· Keep abreast of new survey and research findings on the HIV epidemic in Sub Saharan Africa and Namibia; synthesize findings and implications and disseminate these to other USAID and USG staff; advise on appropriate shifts in USG prevention strategy to respond to evolving epidemiological data.

· Coordinate synergistic planning of USAID prevention portfolios with the USG and national government’s prevention strategy, other donors, and NGO prevention partners in Namibia. Initiate strategies to strengthen coordination and harmonization of prevention approaches and messages across USG-funded prevention activities.

· Develop and/or maintain linkages of prevention activities with other USAID-funded PEPFAR program areas, particularly cross-cutting programming opportunities, ensuring that prevention efforts are linked to a continuum of testing, care, and treatment programs.

· Ensure that best-practice, evidence-based approaches are incorporated into all USG-funded prevention programs. Working with USG counterparts, organize learning events to update USG partners on and build their capacity in state-of-the-art prevention approaches.

· Work with designated members of the USG prevention interagency technical team (ITT) and technical advisory committee (TAC), supporting task forces with technical guidance.

· Liaise with mid/senior level officials of the GRN, NGOs, and other implementing agencies in the specialized areas for which the incumbent is responsible.

· Prepare and/or write documents related to the assigned area of responsibility, including drafting briefing papers, Country Operational Plan (COP) entries, and reporting inputs.

Design and Management of Prevention Activities 30%

· Serve as Activity Manager and conduct day-to-day management of designated prevention activities. Provide technical input on annual work plans for implementing partners and ensure that they are consistent with current USG and GRN prevention priorities.

· Review performance reports to ensure that partners are in compliance with bilateral government agreements and with the performance expectations outlined in approved work plan and contracts/ agreement(s) with USAID.

· Ensure that implementing partners are in compliance with all relevant USAID regulations and procedures. Based on personal observations, assessment reports, performance statistics and other available data, make programmatic recommendations to the PEPFAR Team.

· Assume a leadership role in the design of new and/or innovative prevention activities, and ensure these are consistent with current USG and GRN strategic directions/documents for prevention programming..

· Conduct regular site visits to review program implementation and meet with beneficiaries. Based on the information collected during field visits, communicate findings and recommendations to the HIV/AIDS Team, implementing partner and, as appropriate, GRN counterparts. Make recommendations for adjustments of program activities as appropriate.

· Work with Strategic Information team members with updating the Performance Monitoring Plan with regard to prevention indicators on an annual basis. Assume responsibility for verifying the data quality, tracking tools and data synthesis and use of HIV/AIDS performance indicators, in particular those provided through prevention activities. Ensure all routine and ad hoc reporting requirements fully reflect USAID/Namibia’s HIV/AIDS prevention indicators and reporting against targets.

· Prepare relevant sections of the HIV/AIDS prevention sections of USAID/Namibia’s semi-annual and annual report of program performance per OGAC requirements.

· Work closely with USAID partners to ensure that program achievements and lessons learned are disseminated to sector representatives. Maintain an up-to-date summary of all program technical and geographic areas.

· Monitor the use of PEPFAR prevention funds to ensure compliance with USAID financial regulations. Assume responsibility for the financial management of assigned activities, ensuring that obligations, expenditures, and budget pipelines conform to annual work plans. Ensure appropriate and timely incremental funding of activities.

· Report any financial discrepancies to the Team Leader and as needed to the Director of the Health Office.

· Keep USAID/Namibia’s Financial Analyst informed on the liquidation of advances.

· Review and provide administrative approval for assigned activities and maintain detailed and updated project management files for each activity.

Representation/Coordination 10%

· Work closely with mid-senior level GRN officials, representatives of bilateral and multilateral agencies and other key stakeholders to strengthen collaboration of prevention activities at the national, regional and local levels to ensure greater country ownership and technical capacity.

· Represent USAID, and the USG as appropriate, on GRN and donor working groups and in technical discussions on issues related to prevention activities.

· Serve as Chair or rotating chair for PEPFAR/Namibia’s Prevention interagency technical team (ITT), ensuring effective coordination of country operational plan (COP) development, implementation strategies and evaluation plans.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Education:

· A minimum of an advanced degree in public health, behavioral or social sciences, Education or epidemiology is required.

Prior Work Experience:

· Minimum 10 years of experience in design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of international HIV and AIDS behavioral and biomedical prevention programs, with at least five years’ experience working in HIV and AIDS programming (activity management) in an international or resource challenged setting.

Language Ability:

· Level IV (fluent) ability is required in written and spoken English. Must possess strong verbal and written communication skills including a demonstrated ability to write technical documents.

Factor 2, Supervisory Controls:

The USAID/Namibia HIV/AIDS Team Leader or designee will provide overall supervision to the Senior Technical Advisor for HIV Prevention; however, the Advisor exercises the maximum degree of independent judgment in planning and carrying out tasks, resolving problems and conflicts, and taking steps necessary to meet deadlines. It is expected that relevant line Ministries will provide guidance and support to the Advisor for implementation of their programs. While the Senior Advisor will work with maximum independence in completing agreed upon work objectives and carrying out his/her responsibilities, s/he will immediately inform his/her supervisor of problems and/or issues that arise and may affect the successful implementation of USAID’s HIV/AIDS programs in Namibia.

Factor 3, Guidelines:

PEPFAR, USAID regulations, including the Automated Directive System (ADS), USAID/Namibia Health Project Appraisal Document (PAD), OGAC SI Guidance/Annual Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Indicator documents, Mission Orders and other directives provide broad guidelines as to the conduct of work related to the duties described above, International and GRN strategies, guidelines on combination prevention and HIV.

Factor 4, Supervision/ Oversight over others:

The Senior HIV Prevention advisor will provide day to day mentoring and supervision of one Prevention Advisor (FSN/CCN). In addition, the Senior Technical Advisor for HIV Prevention will provide work guidance to Short-term Technical Advisors and Administrative Temporary Duty Advisors (TDYers) and may serve as the Acting Health Office Director.

Factor 5, Scope and Effect:

The purpose of the work is to investigate, analyze, review, plan, and advise on various unusual, controversial, or technically difficult development problems or conditions.

Factor 6, Purpose of Contacts:

Frequent contact is maintained with mid and senior level government and donor officials. Good communication and ability to work with American and Namibian staff in management, technical and support offices in the Mission and with counterparts in partner institutions is required. The incumbent will be required to communicate effectively with a wide range of program staff including technical managers, financial management officers, program officers, senior USAID staff including the Mission and Office Directors, and interagency colleagues Additionally, the incumbent will maintain regular contacts with NGOs and other donors to exchange information and coordinate efforts.

Factor 7, Physical Demands:

The work is primarily sedentary, although some physical effort may be required, e.g., walking, standing, carrying light items such as manuals or briefcases, or driving or traveling by motor vehicle or aircraft on a routine basis.

Factor 8, Work Environment:

The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, training rooms, and libraries. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or during program/project and field visits.

II. 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. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

The following factors are listed in descending order of importance and will be the basis for the evaluation of 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.

Selective/Evaluation Factors:

1. Must have a sound knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention programming.

2. Must be able to develop and maintain a range of working-level and senior-level contacts with GRN.

3. Must possess strong interpersonal skills, to maintain good relations with the HIV/AIDS Office, within the broader USG Team, with the GRN, contractors/grantees and various stakeholders within the HIV/AIDS Sector.

4. Must be able to work in a team.

5. Must be able to interpret regulatory directives; computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint software are required.

6. Candidates must have demonstrated skill in the management of cooperative agreements/grants/contracts.

7. Experience leading or chairing effective technical working groups comprised of diverse stakeholders is highly desired.

8. Experience should demonstrate ability to manage mid and high level coordinator and relationships with public sector entities, bilateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector and civil society.

9. Skills in data analysis, reporting and dissemination are highly desired.

USAID policy specifies that U.S. citizens or resident aliens (USNs) are preferred over third country nationals (TCNs). Therefore, USN and TCN offers will not be evaluated together. USAID will evaluate USN offers first and if the CO determines that there are no qualified USNs, only then will USAID evaluate TCN offers.

III. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

· 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.

· An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) or resume: Your CV/resume must contain sufficient relevant information to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria. Broad general statements that are vague or lacking specificity will not be considered as effectively addressing selection criteria. Applicants are encouraged to write a brief appendix to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training addresses the minimum qualifications and evaluation criteria set forth in the solicitation.

· References: Three (3) references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about your past performance and abilities. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation of the application.

· Security Clearance: Prior to signing a contract, the selected individual will be required to obtain an “employment authorization” if a US Citizen or US Green Card Holder. This temporary security clearance will be requested while a personal background investigation is conducted. Instructions for obtaining the security clearance will be forwarded to the selected individual once negotiations have been concluded.

· Submissions shall be in accordance with the above information at the place and time specified. In order to be considered for the position a candidate must meet the minimum qualifications listed in the solicitation. Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the applications vis-a-vis the required qualifications. Applicants should note that the salary history for the purposes of the AID309-2 is the base salary paid, excluding benefits and allowances such as housing, travel, educational support, vehicle use, etc. Applicants are reminded and required to sign the certification at the end of the AID309-2.

· 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, item 12.

· To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.

Methods of application submissions:

For applicants to be considered for this position the following guidelines will be adhered to and forms completed, signed and submitted to jobapplications@usaid.gov, to allow the evaluation committee to thoroughly and objectively review your application vis-a-vis the requirements of the position.

If sent via email:

Thabang Mothupi Human Resource Contracts Assistant Telephone: +27 12 452 2198 E-mail address: jobapplications@usaid.gov

IV. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit the forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award. Forms outlined below can be found at http://www.usaid.gov/forms:

· AID 309-2

· Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62). **

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

· Finger Print Card (FD-258). **

** Forms 2 through 4 shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.

V. 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) Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 210)

(c) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(d) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(e) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(f) Education Travel (Section 280)

(g) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

(h) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), If a TCN is selected for this position the benefits will be adjusted as per Mission policy.

VI. TAXES

USPSCs are required to pay Federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State Income taxes. A TCN will be eligible to pay taxes as specified by their respective country.

VII. 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

(C)

· Award Type: Cost

· Product Service Code: R497

· Accounting Info:

· Award Type: Cost

· Product Service Code: R497

· Accounting Info:

· Award Type: Cost

· Product Service Code: R497

· Accounting Info:

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***

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