Solicitation- Global Fund Liaison_Resolicit_Final_.pdf

ATTACHMENT 1 72066024R00005

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72066024R00005

ISSUANCE DATE: March 11, 2024

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: March 25, 2024, 5:00 PM, Kinshasa Time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) and Third Country National

Personal Service Contractor (TCNPSC) – Global Fund Liaison, USAID/DRC.

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.

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 the Attachment 1.

Sincerely, /S/

Sanoussi Traore

Contracting Officer

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72066024R00005

2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 11, 2024

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: March 25, 2024 before and/or on 5:00 PM (Kinshasa local time)

4. POINT OF CONTACT: USAID/DRC, Executive Office/Human Resources Unit, email at usaidhrkinshasa@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Global Fund Liaison

6. MARKET VALUE: $104,604 – $135,987 equivalent to GS-14. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value. USPSCs performing overseas are not entitled to

Locality Pay.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with possible regional and international travel. Due to the size of the country, location of project sites, and logistical challenges, field visits can take anywhere from three to seven days.

Overseas USPSCs and TCNPSCs not subject to the local compensation plan 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 will be Two (2) years, estimated to start o/a August 2024 or earlier if required clearances are obtained. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise three (3) additional option periods for one (1) year for the dates estimated as follows:

Base Period: o/a December 2024 - o/a December 2026

Option Period 1 o/a December 2026 - o/a December 2027

Option Period 2 o/a December 2027 - o/a December 2028

Option Period 3 o/a December 2028 - o/a December 2029

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens, Resident Aliens (USNs) and Third Country

Nationals (TCN).

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: The final selected candidate must obtain both the appropriate security (HSPD-12/Facility Access authorization) and medical clearances within a reasonable period of time (USAID will provide details regarding these clearances to the selected candidate). If such clearance is not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded.

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

BACKGROUND

The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (GDRC) and its partners are working closely to strengthen the DRC health system. Although the country budget allocated to health remains below the international target of 15 percent, the GDRC has slowly increased its allocation each year. Additionally, the GDRC, in 2019 became a first-time donor to the Global Fund to Fight

AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GFATM) through a pledge of $6 million. In order to optimize the effort of the GDRC and its partners to improve the DRC health system, effective coordination and communication among all donors is critical. A Global Fund Liaison (GFL) position is key to ensuring coordination and optimal communication between U.S. Government (USG) programs and the GFATM as well as other stakeholders. This will ensure that all stakeholders capitalize on opportunities to leverage collaboration and identify critical technical assistance needs.

HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB Profile

The USG activities in each of the disease areas are aligned with the National Health Development

Plan. The National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) reports that malaria accounts for 19 percent of child under-five mortality contributing to approximately 21,601 deaths a year. The DRC is the

10th largest contributor to the world’s tuberculosis (TB) burden and has an estimated incidence rate of 392 cases per 100,000 people. HIV/TB co-infection rates are estimated at 16 percent and multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB cases represent two percent of the TB infected population. The DRC’s

HIV epidemic is generalized, with a prevalence of 1 percent to 1.2 percent (ages 15-49) based on

2012 UNAIDS estimates.

President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

The U.S. Government (USG) through PEPFAR is one of two primary donors addressing the

HIV/AIDS epidemic in the DRC, the other being the GFATM. The GDRC began receiving

PEPFAR funding in 2004 at $3 million per year. Funding has increased over time to $117 million in fiscal year (FY) 2023. The success of the PEPFAR program and the ultimate management and control of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the DRC is linked to the successful implementation of

GFATM programming. In the DRC, PEPFAR is implemented by the U.S. Department of State

(DOS), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Health and

Human Services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC), and the Department of

Defense (DOD). PEPFAR supports the three highest burden geographical provinces of Kinshasa, Haut-Katanga, and Lualaba.

The generalized HIV epidemic in the DRC has resulted in an estimated 515,385 people living with

HIV out of an estimated population of 117 million (calculated based on UNAIDS estimates [version

6.26]). Prevalence is higher in urban areas (1.6 percent) versus rural areas (0.9 percent) and the burden of HIV is higher among women than men 25 years and older (268,896 female PLHIV v.

97,979 male PLHIV). According to UNAIDS, a majority of HIV transmission in DRC is through heterosexual contact, exacerbated by high-risk sexual practices (such as having multiple concurrent partners) and low or inconsistent condom use.

The President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI)

Malaria prevention and control are major foreign assistance objectives of the USG. The President’s

Malaria Initiative (PMI) was launched in June 2005 to rapidly scale up malaria prevention and treatment interventions and reduce malaria-related mortality by 50 percent in 15 high-burden countries in sub-Saharan Africa. On Nov. 16, 2010, the DRC became the 16th PMI country and funding has more than tripled in five years from $18 million to $54.5 million in FY 2022.

Malaria continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the DRC, with more than

27 million malaria cases and 24,368 malaria deaths reported in 2022. Globally, the DRC accounts for an estimated 12 percent of all malaria cases and 13 percent of all malaria deaths. Approximately

97 percent of the population lives in zones with stable malaria transmission lasting 8 to 12 months per year. PMI focuses on targeted technical assistance to the National Malaria Control Program

(NMCP) and field implementation of activities in nine out of twenty-six provinces covering approximately 33.4 million people. Since 2010, the mortality rate for children under five years of age has fallen by 34 percent, and the incidence rate has fallen by 40 percent.

USG Tuberculosis Program in DRC

The DRC is a high burden TB country and ranked third in Africa. Data from 2022 showed that the country has notified 81% of estimated TB cases, notified only 25% of estimated drug resistant TB cases, and achieved a treatment success rate of 84% drug resistant TB cases.

USAID/DRC support to the GDRC for TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment is at the national, provincial and health zone levels with a portfolio of more than $16 million, including for TB/HIV activities. USAID supports TB activities in nine provinces, strategically leveraging other USAID investments. USAID is the national lead on MDR and XDR activities. Additional activities include

DOTS expansion (including community-based DOTS and pediatric TB treatment), TB drugs management, TB/HIV infection detection and treatment, MDR TB management and new diagnostic tools introduction. A threat to the progress made in TB activities has been the development of MDR-

TB and HIV/TB co-infection, both of which are priorities for the GDRC.

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM)

The GFATM is an international financing institution that funds countries to implement programs aimed at reducing the morbidity and mortality related to these three infectious diseases: AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. It was created in 2002 to dramatically increase resources for the fight against the three pandemics. GFATM does not manage or implement programs on the ground; it relies instead on local implementing partners (Principal Recipients (PRs)) with expertise in program management and/or the three diseases. GFATM works with partners to ensure that funding serves the men, women and children affected by these diseases in the most effective way. The USG is the largest contributor to the GFATM’s annual budget (30%), hence there is a large responsibility on in-country USG teams to ensure the success of GFATM programming.

In the DRC, the government, civil society, the private sector, and affected communities partner to implement programs and work in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts dealing with the three diseases.

The GFATM is providing up to $659 million between 2021 and 2023 across six active investments.

Grants of up to $17 million for HIV, $19 million for TB and $198 million for HIV and TB have been signed for DRC for 2021-2023. Two malaria grants of up to a combined $378 million for

2021-2023 will support DRC’s malaria control goals. A grant of up to $45 million will play a pivotal role in supporting the Ministry of Health to build a resilient and sustainable health system.

The following results were achieved in 2021: 444,000 people living with HIV (PLHIV) are receiving antiretroviral treatment, 231,000 tuberculosis cases have been treated, 18.5 million patients diagnosed and treated for malaria and 8.4 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets were distributed. Health donors in the DRC, including WHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF and the European

Union, are keenly interested in the success of the GFATM. The Global Fund Liaison plays a critical role in ensuring that GFATM programs are implemented effectively to provide the Congolese population with the needed drugs and services financed through the GFATM.

1. General Statement of Purpose of Contract

The Global Fund Liaison (GFL) is the USG focal point on GFATM activities, working under the direction of the USAID/DRC Mission Director for CCM-related matters, and under the direction of the PEPFAR Coordinator and the USAID Health Office Director for daily matters concerning HIV, TB, and malaria. The GFL will be directly supervised by the Health Office Director or his/her designee. In addition, s/he will consult regularly with other key membership of the USG interagency health team, including the USAID/DRC HIV Team Leads, CDC Country Director, DoD Public Health Lead, PMI Advisors, TB/Infectious disease advisor and the Health Systems

Strengthening Team Lead on strategic, technical, and programmatic matters.

The GFL will assume responsibility for coordinating critical communications between the USG and several stakeholders, including the PRs for GFATM activities in the DRC; the GFATM Local Fund

Agents (LFA); and the USG CCM member and alternate. S/he will also ensure coordination among

USG-funded technical support for the CCM or GFATM implementation efforts, including support from USG staff and implementing partners.

The GFL will assume responsibilities for: (1) coordinating ongoing and critical communications among the USG PEPFAR Country Team, the CCM, the Global Fund Secretariat, the GDRC, and other strategic partners regarding the management and implementation of the GFATM program;

(2) coordinating and ensuring complementarity between GFATM and USG supported programs;

and (3) identifying PRs and CCM technical assistance needs, making the necessary recommendations to address those needs, and ensuring follow-up on implementation of the technical recommendations. The GFL will ensure that there is no duplication in requested support from bilateral and multilateral entities.

The Liaison is expected to have a strong technical background in at least one of the three Global

Fund focal areas and at least some knowledge of health systems strengthening principles.

2. Statement of Duties to be Performed

The USG interagency team recognizes the importance of strong coordination between the GFATM and USG resources, specifically PEPFAR and USAID’s TB and malaria programs, to ensure optimal efficiency and effectiveness of these resources. The GFL will be an integral member of the interagency team.

Specific responsibilities for the Global Fund Liaison include:

Advisor and Coordinator of USG Linkages with GFATM activities, including CCM General

Assembly and Bureau, Technical Area Committees, and PRs for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria

– 50%

● Inform and advise USG participation in the CCM General, Bureau and Committee meetings, particularly advising the USG representative on the CCM (currently serving as alternate to the French bilateral CCM representative for voting), USG technical staff representatives on the CCM committees, and the PEPFAR Executive Team.

● Work closely with government, donors, and private and civil society counterparts to ensure effective coordination and timely implementation of GFATM programs.

● Facilitate joint meetings between HIV, TB, and malaria principal recipients (PR), national disease control programs, and the GDRC MOH Technical and Financial Support Office (in

French, Cellule d’Appui à la Gestion). This includes assisting in developing a coordination forum to discuss and monitor tasks that are critical to program implementation.

● Strengthen communication between the USG, CCM, Global Fund Secretariat, PRs, other donors, and implementing partners.

● Maintain ongoing communication with CCM representatives, the Global Fund Secretariat, the Global Fund Portfolio Management Team (Geneva), and other stakeholders to ensure that all parties are well-informed on the status of GFATM and USG activities.

● Evaluate need and coordinate technical assistance requests to GFATM implementation and management, including the improvement of CCM governance and oversight. This may involve coordinating with U.S. bilateral and headquarters-based technical assistance as well as local entities such as UNAIDS, WHO and other multi- and bilateral agencies.

Program Management and Coordination Functions – 30%

● Ensure that GFATM and USG resources are effectively used for increased program impact.

This includes coordinating the joint engagement of USG implementing partners and PRs in the implementation of USG- and GFATM-supported interventions in the three focal areas.

● Participate in technical committee meetings, site visits (for both GFATM and USG), and

GFATM grant monitoring activities as appropriate to strengthen program implementation, ensure accurate reporting, and identify technical assistance needs.

● Provide technical and programmatic support to grants, committees or CCM, both directly and through coordination with other USG expertise, USG mechanisms or donors.

● Ensure coordination on commodity quantification, procurement, distribution, and reporting between the USG and GFATM programs.

● Facilitate regular communication and transparency between PRs and USG to ensure donor systems are aligned and minimum package of services is maintained across donors.

● Strengthen the capacity of the CCM and PRs to coordinate, manage, and implement programs by identifying technical assistance needs and facilitating access to the appropriate support.

● Liaison with USG-funded technical assistance partners to ensure coordination with the

GFATM. Manage USG resources for technical assistance to the CCM and PRs, including coordinating technical support from the USG at country and headquarter levels.

● Work with host government ministries/offices and other donors supporting HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria programs to promote collaboration with USG agencies and their partners towards health systems strengthening.

● Identify and implement innovative approaches that improve the collaboration with host country, other donors, and implementing partners in support of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria programs in order to achieve Agency goals.

● Review USG implementing mechanisms for HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria to understand overall program implementation and ensure complementarity with GFATM programming.

● Coordinate and provide input to GFATM concept note and review.

Monitoring and Reporting – 10%

● Provide regular updates to the USAID Health Office and the PEPFAR Executive Team, and

USG technical staff, to ensure coordination between USG and the GFATM and apprise relevant parties of key GFATM accomplishments, challenges, and timelines.

● Ensure that partner reporting information is appropriately shared between the GFATM

(PRs, Secretariat, CCM, LFA) and the USG.

● Participate in the preparation and writing of key USG planning and budgeting documents that relate to GFATM activities, such as the multilateral sections of the PEPFAR Country

Operational Plan (COP), PEPFAR Semi-Annual Progress and Annual Progress reports, Malaria Operational Plan, Annual USAID Health Operational Plan and Performance

Report, and cables and parallel review processes.

● Help coordinate and monitor the development and implementation of GDRC Ministry of

Health-led rationalization of HIV and malaria support, particularly the transition between the GFATM and PEPFAR.

Other Duties and Responsibilities (10%)

● Participate in PEPFAR Country Team meetings and PEPFAR Executive Team meetings.

● Participate in National Malaria Program weekly coordinating meetings if GFATM issues are discussed.

● Participate in USAID Health Office and USAID mission-wide meetings.

● Assist participating USG agencies to prepare ad hoc communication materials (speeches, press releases, talking points, briefers, etc.) on the progress of GFATM program implementation and the USG involvement as its largest contributor.

● Provide or assist with training of USG staff regarding GFATM processes and policies, including changes as appropriate.

● Serve as secretariat for USG on meetings related to GFATM.

● Organize, disseminate, and retain records of meetings, regular communications with the

CCM, GFATM Secretariat with relevant USG staff.

● Work with the USG Communication Specialists, including the Office of Public Affairs and the Development Outreach and Communication Officer, and USG technical staff to prepare and disseminate periodic internal and external reports on the collaboration of USG and

GFATM for effective program implementation.

● Upon request, support efforts by USG implementing agencies to recruit, qualify, and successfully engage new partners in GFATM activities.

● Perform other duties as assigned by the USAID Health Office Director and/or in consultation with the USAID Mission Director and PEPFAR Coordinator, or their designee.

3. Supervisory Relationship

Incumbent will work under the general policy and technical guidance of the USAID Health Office

Director or his/her designee. S/he will develop a personal annual performance plan, in coordination with his/her supervisor and will be evaluated annually on the basis of the performance plan. The

GFL should be able to work independently, selecting the appropriate technical and managerial approaches to be used depending on the context. However, s/he should inform the supervisor of progress and significant challenges and remedies.

4. Supervisory Controls

No direct supervision exercised. In terms of general work guidance, s/he will function as the “go-to” person for all matters related to GFATM in the DRC. S/he will provide technical input which will guide the work of the PMI, PEPFAR, and TB programs in the USAID Health Office portfolio as it relates to the GFATM. In this role, the job holder will have the authority to designate members of the USG, in conjunction with the individual’s supervisors, to undertake tasks or provide documentation and justification required for the preparation of strategy and work plan development and performance reporting. The incumbent will be supported by USG technical staff involved in

TB, HIV, Malaria and HSS activities.

POSITION ELEMENTS

AVAILABILITY OF GUIDELINES

Guiding documents will include the USAID Automated Directives System (ADS), respective national strategic plans for TB, HIV/AIDS, and malaria, implementing mechanism narratives, the

MOH Road Map for TB/HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment, Global Fund grant documentation, USAID program documentation, and different operational documents available at the mission, including mission orders, mission notices, sector/programmatic operational plans, and periodic reports.

EXERCISE OF JUDGMENT

In instances not clearly covered by written guidelines, s/he will use her/his own professional judgment in devising innovative approaches to resolving technical, administrative, managerial, and/or policy challenges. Excellent (balanced) judgment must be exercised in setting priorities.

Personal initiative, discretion, and patience is expected in dealing with Mission and host country personnel, as well as representatives from other donor organizations, to resolve problems that arise during the course of work for which there is often no clear or immediate solution. In addition, considerable judgment is required in working effectively with officials in the government and the private sector; coordinating multi-sector efforts in support of USAID/DRC development objectives;

collecting, analyzing, and reporting on progress of activities; and recommending project actions.

He/she will also be required to follow and adhere to the Agency's Code of Ethics and Conduct.

AUTHORITY TO MAKE COMMITMENTS

The incumbent has no independent authority to make resource commitments on behalf of the U.S.

Government.

NATURE, LEVEL AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

S/he will be required to establish and maintain solid working relationships with all categories of

Mission personnel to function effectively. S/he will be required to work closely, coordinating with:

organization personnel, technical staff of USG agencies, host government officials, non-governmental private sector representatives, and other foreign donor institutions. The purpose of contact will be to maintain open lines of communication: 1) in support of GFATM program implementation; 2) regarding the timely management of activities; 3) to collect, obtain, and verify factual information pertaining to program/project planning and implementation; 4) to monitor and evaluate existing activities on a regular basis; and 5) to gather information needed for reporting.

The purpose of contacts will range from simple information gathering to assisting in the development of complex programs and documents with various partners.

POST ENTRY TRAINING

Periodic training consistent with role as a Personal Services Contractor, e.g., annual ethics training;

diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) trainings; and other similar training sessions.

COMPLEXITY

The multiplicity of actors with sometimes divergent priorities and interests make reaching consensus agreement difficult. The incumbent will have to be an experienced negotiator. This position requires that the person be able to work independently and effectively with minimal supervision in a highly complex, fast-paced work environment. The job holder is frequently faced with work that is psychologically demanding. As the “go-to” person coordinating the USG collaboration with a growing GFATM presence in three distinct funding areas, the volume of routine work (emails, phone calls, meetings) will require a high degree of motivation and personal organization to prioritize actions and to meet deadlines. As the USG “face” of technical assistance to the GFATM/DRC CCM, s/he will be confronted with sometimes unrealistic demands from the host country and partners and will have to manage expectations of USG assistance. This person should be skilled in diplomacy, negotiation, and group decision-making, working to improve collaboration and program coordination in an environment where agreement among stakeholders can be difficult to achieve

“If a third country national (TCN) is selected for award, during the period of this contract, the TCN personal services contractor must provide at least 10 hours/week of training to a cooperating country national (CCN) designated by USAID. The PSC Supervisor will establish a training plan with benchmarks to measure the TCNPSC's progress toward achieving this training deliverable”.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

The education, experience and language factors below determine basic eligibility qualifications for the position. Applicants who do not meet all the education and work experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.

1. Education: Possession of a Master's degree (or the host-country equivalent formal education) or higher qualification in a relevant field such as Public Health, Medicine, International Health or Development, or related social science or clinical field is required.

2. Prior Work Experience: More than 8 years of progressive and responsible experience in public health, including experience in strategic planning, activity design, program planning and budgeting, and monitoring and evaluation. Experience managing and implementing one of the three following programs, malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS programs in DRC or in developing country contexts.

3. Language Proficiency: Requires Level IV English; level III French.

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

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

QUALITY RANKING FACTORS (QRFs)

Applicants who meet the Education, Work Experience and Language requirements will be further evaluated based on the three (3) Quality Ranking Factors listed below. The applicant will address each factor on a separate sheet describing specifically and accurately the experience, training, and/or education they have that is relevant to each factor. Please provide a word count after each response.

PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE (30 Points):

● Experience working with disaffected populations including people living with HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis, countries with weak governance, communities in conflict and/or recovery from conflict, and coordination with multiple actors in a fast-paced and dynamic environment is necessary for this position.

● Strong strategy development experience is desired.

● Demonstrated skills dealing with high level government officials desired.

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

JOB KNOWLEDGE (30 points):

● Knowledge of humanitarian and development principles and US strategic interests are necessary to be successful in this position.

● Knowledge of the basic theories and concepts of health systems, epidemiology, infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB that enables the Liaison to serve as a USG representative and active liaison to GF Geneva-based team and Country Coordinating

Mechanism (CCM) is required.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES (40 points):

● Organizational skills, financial management, strategy development, and interaction with other agencies, organizations, and governments are necessary to perform at the desired level.

● Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative and negotiate complex relationships with numerous stakeholders at technical, administrative and senior leadership levels of the interagency USG, plus private sector, civil society, academia, and host government membership constituting the CCM board is required.

● Demonstrated computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook, Access, GIS and other statistical and other relevant software) are required for effectively operating in this position.

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

Total Possible Points: 100

SELECTION PROCESS:

After the closing date for receipt of applications, a committee will convene to review applications that meet the minimum requirements and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria.

Applications from candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements will not be evaluated and scored. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

As part of the selection process, the most qualified candidates may be requested to complete a writing test and be interviewed either in person, by telephone or videoconference at USAID’s discretion. USAID will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews.

Reference checks will be made only for applicants considered for selection. The applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities. Note: Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an offeror. Any offeror not receiving satisfactory reference checks will no longer be considered for the position.

The security clearance and medical clearance are required for the top-ranking candidate, after conducting and receiving the positive reference checks at the conclusion of evaluations.

“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”.

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

1. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror

Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals,” available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms

2. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I.

3. Offeror submissions must clearly reference the Solicitation number on all offeror submitted documents.

4. Letter of application/cover letter.

5. Current resume/CV.

6. Supplemental document specifically addressing the three QRFs (Prior Work Experience, Skills & Abilities and Knowledge).

7. List of minimum three (3) professional references with contact information (telephone numbers and e-mail addresses). The applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities.

8. Application must be submitted ONLY via usaidhrkinshasa@usaid.gov and the email subject must say –: 72066024R00005 Global Fund Liaison

9. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered; the application must be submitted before or on the closing date.

10. Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors – Please be advised that upon award, the contractor will be required to show proof that the contractor 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 contractor does not meet this requirement the contract may be terminated. USPSCs/TCNPSCs performing overseas must follow the Mission policies and/or directives from the U.S. Department of State regarding

COVID-19 requirements.

* 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:

http://www.usaid.gov/forms

● Security Eligibility/Facility Access

● Medical Clearances and Certifications

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

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

1. BENEFITS (if applicable):

(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) Leave and Holidays

2. ALLOWANCES (if applicable):

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) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(e) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(f) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(g) Education Travel (Section 280)

(h) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

(i) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and

(j) 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:

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/ads/policy/300/aidar.

https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/ads/policy/300/aidar

USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts with a

Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/ads/policy/300/aidar.

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.

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. Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award as described below:

LINE ITEMS

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/ads/policy/300/aidar https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/

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: [e.g. R497]

- Accounting Info: [insert one or more citation(s) from Phoenix/GLAAS]

2 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: [insert from Phoenix/GLAAS]

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: [insert from Phoenix/GLAAS]

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: [insert from Phoenix/GLAAS]

1 LOT $ _TBD__ $_TBD at

Award after 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.

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.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman