Solicitation Closeout Acquisition and Assistance Specialist GS12.pdf

U.S. Agency for International Development Great Massoud Road Kabul, Afghanistan

Tel: +1.301.490.1042 Email: kblaiddocinformation@usaid.gov https://www.usaid.gov/afghanistan

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SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72030622R00013

ISSUANCE DATE: April 8, 2022

CLOSING DATE/TIME: May 7, 2022 (04:30 PM ET)

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) – Closeout Acquisition and Assistance Specialist, GS-12

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking offers from qualified individuals to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation. For further information about USAID/Afghanistan please visit https://www.usaid.gov/afghanistan.

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, Julie Lamadrid Contracting Officer mailto:KBLAIDDOCInformation@usaid.gov

ATTACHMENT 1 [72030622R00013]

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72030622R00013

2. ISSUANCE DATE: April 8, 2022

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR

RECEIPT OF OFFERS:

May 7, 2022 no later than 04:30 PM (ET)

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Julie Lamadrid, email at kblaidhr@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Closeout Acquisition and Assistance Specialist

6. MARKET VALUE:

$68,299 - $88,792 equivalent to GS-12

Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

The base period will be 1 year, estimated to start on o/a June 2022. Based on Agency need, the

Contracting Officer may exercise additional 3 option periods of 1-year for the dates estimated as follows:

Base Period: June 2022 – June 2023

Option 1: July 2023 – July 2024

Option 2: August 2024 – August 2025

Option 3: September 2025 – September 2026

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Washington DC or Overseas

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: United States Citizens

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facility Access Clearance

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

1) General Statement of Purpose of Contract:

The Closeout/A&A Specialist main responsibilities will include: conducting award closeouts for the mission, tracking the mission’s property disposition and writing, editing, and reviewing material for USAID/Afghanistan’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance. The A&A Specialist may serve in a Team Leader position. S/he shall exercise leadership skills in conducting technically proficient procurement and assistance, fully complying with all relevant laws, regulations and procedures and performing in a positive, team and customer-oriented manner.

2) Statement of Duties to be Performed:

The Closeout/A&A Specialist main responsibilities will include: conducting award closeouts for the mission, tracking the mission’s property disposition and writing, editing, and reviewing material for USAID/Afghanistan’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance. The A&A Specialist may serve in a Team Leader position. S/he shall exercise leadership skills in conducting technically proficient procurement and assistance, fully complying with all relevant laws, regulations and procedures and performing in a positive, team and customer-oriented manner.

mailto:kblaidhr@usaid.gov

Pre & Post Award Services (70%)

• Can understand performance-based A&A principles with a resulting capability to meld

Acquisition and Assistance services into specific contributions to appropriate USAID objectives and lower-level indicators, outputs and inputs.

• Reviews requests for A&A actions (to include consulting on scope of work or program description documents) and manages the A&A process to ensure compliance with

Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), USAID Acquisition Regulations (AIDAR) and associated USAID policies.

• Under the guidance of the OAA Director, or designee, performs or directs all actions required to conceptualize, plan, solicit, negotiate and award many kinds of acquisition and assistance actions of varying complexity. Conducts Acquisition and Assistance planning and subsequent pre-award activities fully supportive of USAID's strategic and special objectives and related results expectations and requirements.

• Under the guidance of the OAA Director, performs all actions required to administer and closeout a variety of A&A instruments.

• The incumbent is responsible for leading the closeout process of various types of USG instruments awarded by USAID/Afghanistan. Reviews official files to ensure resolution of all administrative actions, to ensure award completeness, and to obtain approval of all closeout documentation.

• Analyzes proposed price and costs for final cost adjustments such as final indirect cost and other cost adjustments on expired instruments. Evaluates and negotiates proposals for modifications on acquisition and assistance instruments as needed for administrative closeout of expired awards. This may require resolution of incomplete or conflicting technical and contractor data.

• Exercises a proactive role during the administration phase to include coordinating with technical, controller and legal officers, conducting meetings and conferences as required, maintaining good communications with contractors, recipients and grantees, interpreting contract or award provisions, and negotiating and finalizing instrument modifications when warranted.

• Coordinates special requirements with other U.S. Government offices and agencies, including the Office of Inspector General (OIG), Defense Contract Audit Agency

(DCAA), General Accounting Office (GAO), and Small Business Administration.

Responds to Freedom of Information Act requests.

Mission Support Services (30%)

• Ensures ASIST filing compliance for OAA. The incumbent will work with the CO/AO, A&A Specialist, Agreement Officer Representatives (AORs) and Contracting Officer

Representatives (CORs) and implementing partners to acquire the required documentation. S/he will ensure that all critical documentation is filed in ASIST.

• The incumbent will support the OAA Office Director with responses to front office data calls, inspector general requests, and other taskers as needed.

• The incumbent will track property disposition status for OAA awards to be closed out.

3) USAID Consultation or Orientation:

The selected applicant might be required to proceed to Washington, D.C. for at least two (2) weeks of mandatory training to complete the Foreign Affairs Counter Threat CT-650 (FACT) and the Afghanistan Familiarization RS-415 (FAM) courses (if FAM was not completed within the past five (5) years and if FACT training did not include the ESCAPE Module) prior to proceeding to Almaty to commence duties as outlined in the statement of work.

4) Supervisory Relationship:

Supervisor sets overall objectives. Incumbent and supervisor together develop deadlines, projects and work to be done. Incumbent independently plans, designs, and carries out projects, studies, and programs. Completed work is reviewed only from an overall standpoint in terms of feasibility, compatibility with other work, or effectiveness in meeting requirements, or expected results.

5) Supervisory Controls:

The incumbent will be responsible for managing the closeout process. This may involve supervising the activities of other staff as it relates to closeouts.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

In order to be considered for the position, a candidate must meet the minimum qualifications.

Offers will be pre-screened and only those that meet the minimum qualifications will be considered. The minimum qualifications necessary to be considered for the position are as follows:

a) Education: A Bachelor's degree in any combination of the following fields:

accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, organizational management and any other related social science field. (Education requirements must be met at the time of application for the subject position).

b) Work Experience: The incumbent must demonstrate that they have relevant past performance and work experience of five (5) years with progressive responsibilities in an area relating to A&A work (including auditing, financial analyses, legal analyses, etc.). At least two years of previous employment or interaction with U.S. Government departments or agencies or other international development organizations. (Work experience requirements must be met at the time of application for the subject position).

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with

FAR 52.215-1. The Contracting Officer (CO) reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. FAR provisions of this solicitation are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

After the closing date for receipt of applications, applications will be reviewed for basic eligibility (quality check, submitted all required documents, meeting the set requirements, education and experience). A committee will then convene to review applications that meet the minimum requirements and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation factors as described below. Applications from candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements will not be scored. As part of the selection process, finalist candidates may be interviewed.

Reference checks will be made only for applicants considered as finalists. The applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities.

Applicants who meet the minimum education and experience qualifications will be evaluated based on the content of their application as well as on the applicant’s writing, presentation, and communication skills.

FACTOR #1: Skills and Abilities (45 points):

The incumbent must demonstrate strong organizational skills, the ability to plan and provide required support for OAA in a timely and effective manner, and an ability to quickly assimilate information and quickly learn required procedures. Good analytical, negotiating, and time management skills are required, with strong proofreading skills and attention to detail is required. The ability to work calmly, tactfully, and effectively under pressure is essential, as well as the ability to maintain strict confidentiality and high ethical standards throughout all phases of acquisition and assistance actions. In addition, the incumbent must be able to lead meetings at all levels, provide effective and tactful procurement ethics guidance to senior management personnel, and senior executives of private sector and non-governmental organizations and must be prepared to enforce ethical standards on these individuals if necessary. The incumbent must demonstrate current knowledge of Federal regulations. The incumbent must demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills as well as excellent oral and written communication skills.

FACTOR #2: Technical and Professional Experience (35 points):

The incumbent must demonstrate that they have relevant past performance and work experience of five years with progressive responsibilities in an area relating to A&A work

(including auditing, financial analyses, legal analyses, etc.). At least two years of previous employment or interaction with U.S. Government departments or agencies or other international development organizations.

FACTOR #3: Education (20 points):

A Bachelor’s degree, in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, organizational management and any other related social science field.

BASIS OF RATING

Applicants who clearly meet the Education/Experience requirements and basic eligibility requirements will be further evaluated based on scoring of their Evaluation Factor responses.

Those applicants determined to be competitively ranked will also be evaluated on their interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks. The Applicant rating system is as follows:

Evaluation Factors:

Factor #1 - 45 points

Factor #2 - 35 points

Factor #3 - 20 points

Interview Performance: 100 points

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – Pass/Fail (no points assigned)

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

All applications must be submitted electronically by e-mail with the subject line SOL-

72030622R00013 – Closeout Acquisition and Assistance Specialist to:

Afgpscjobs@usaid.gov

Attention: Executive Officer

USAID/Afghanistan

Human Resources Office

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

Eligible offerors are required to submit the following documents to be considered for this position:

1. Cover Letter

2. Form AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contract with Individuals,” available at: https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-309-2

3. A current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.

4. 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 an approved reasonable accommodation to the

CO. If the contract or does not meet this requirement the contract may be terminated.

Short-listed candidates will be requested to provide educational documents such as degrees, diplomas, certificates and other pertinent documents as needed. Failure to provide the required documentation will result in removal from further consideration.

Any attachments provided via email must be compatible with Microsoft Word or PDF and not compressed (.rar/.zip etc).

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The Agency retains the right to cancel or amend the solicitation and associated actions at any stage of the recruitment process.

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

mailto:Afgpscjobs@usaid.gov https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-309-2

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

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

2. Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306);

3. Medical History and Examination Form (DS-6561);

4. Pre-Deployment Physical Exam Acknowledgement Form (DS-6570);

5. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions for National Security (SF-86), or Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85);

6. Finger Print Card (SF-87);

7. Statement of Prior Service (SF-144A).

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

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

1. BENEFITS:

1) Employer’s Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) Contribution

2) Contribution towards Health & life insurance

3) Pay Comparability Adjustment

4) Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

5) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

6) Annual & Sick Leave

7) Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service as per post policy

2. ALLOWANCES (If Applicable) *:

1) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120)

2) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

3) Post Allowance (Section 220)

4) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230)

5) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

6) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600)

7) Danger Pay (Section 650)

8) Education Allowance (Section 270)

9) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

10) Education Travel (Section 280)

* Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas).

*Eligibilities for allowances are in accordance with Standardized Regulations (Government

Civilians Foreign Areas) based on the type of appointment and Mission Policy.

VII. TAXES

USPSC’s 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,” https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf

2. PART 52—SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

Subpart 52.2—Text of Provisions and Clauses

5 52.223-99 Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors, Alternate 70.

ENSURING ADEQUATE COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL

CONTRACTORS (OCT 2021)-Alternate 70 (OCT 2021) (M/OAA-DEV-FAR22-01c)

(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.

1. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms. Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award as described below:

LINE ITEMS

ITEM NO

(A)

SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION)

(B)

QUANTITY

(C)

UNIT

(D)

UNIT

PRICE

AMOUNT

(F) https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/forms

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

Type: Cost - Product Service Code: [e.g.

R497] - Accounting Info:

Appropriation: 7215/161037

Fund Code: ES-OCO/2015/2016

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

1001 Option Period 1 – Compensation, Fringe

Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs) -

Award Type: Cost - Product Service Code:

[e.g. R497] - Accounting Info: To be incrementally funded

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

2001 Option Period 2 – Compensation, Fringe

Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs) -

Award Type: Cost - Product Service Code:

[e.g. R497] - Accounting Info: To be incrementally funded

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

3001 Option Period 3 – Compensation, Fringe

Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs) -

Award Type: Cost - Product Service Code:

[e.g. R497] - Accounting Info: To be incrementally funded

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

2. Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins

(AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs.

- AAPD 21-05

- AAPD 21-04

- AAPD 18-02

- AAPD 10-01

- AAPD 06-10

3. 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.

4. 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.

http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/AAPD-21-05.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/AAPD21-04_Revision3.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/AAPD-18-02-Rev2.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aapd10_01.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aapd06_10.pdf https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman mailto:PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov