Solicitation No. 72052223R00009 (FO) Senior Strategic Advisor.pdf

Avenida La Paz

Frente a La Embajada Americana

P.O. Box 3453 Tegucigalpa, Honduras

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72052223R00009

ISSUANCE DATE: September 29, 2023

CLOSING DATE/TIME: October 19, 2023

(Midnight Local Time - Tegucigalpa, Honduras)

SUBJECT: Solicitation for a short-term, off-shore U.S. Personal Service

Contractor (USPSC) – Senior Strategic Advisor

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Honduras, is seeking applications from qualified U.S. Citizens or U.S. Resident Aliens to provide services under a short-term, off-shore U.S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) as described in this solicitation.

Submissions shall be in accordance with the information provided below and sent electronically to tegucigalpahr@usaid.gov by the date and time specified above.

To ensure consideration of the application for the intended position, the applicant must prominently submit and sign the Application Form AID-309-2 and comply with the requirements as established below. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

All e-mail submissions must contain the Solicitation Number, SOL-72052223R00009, in the subject line.

It is recommended that the applicant retain copies of all application materials for their records.

Please note that USAID/Honduras does not accept responsibility for delays in transmission or receipt of any application. Applications received after the Closing Date and Closing Time specified above will not be considered.

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

This solicitation in no way obligates USAID/Honduras to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit

USAID/Honduras to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the application. Also, USAID/Honduras reserves the right to award, or not to award the contract herein contemplated, subjec t to availability of funds.

Any questions must be directed in writing to tegucigalpahr@usaid.gov.

Sincerely, Alejandro P. Mora Contracting Officer mailto:tegucigalpahr@usaid.gov https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-309-2 mailto:tegucigalpahr@usaid.gov

SOLICITATION No.: 72052223R00009

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72052223R00009

2. ISSUANCE DATE: September 29, 2023

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS:

October 19, 2023 (Midnight Local time, Tegucigalpa, Honduras)

4. POINT OF CONTACT:

USAID/Honduras – Human Resources Office:

E-mail: tegucigalpahr@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Strategic Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: $ 117,518.00 – $ 152,771.00 equivalent to GS-15. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value. Other benefits/allowances will be granted as applicable in the Cooperating Country.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Full-time, short-term. Employment under this contract is for a period not to exceed eleven (11) months. The estimated start date will be contingent upon the successful outcome of a security and medical clearance of the selected candidate.

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Honduras, Mission Director’s Office (MD). The incumbent must be willing and available to fulfill the terms of this contract in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: All applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Resident Aliens in order to be eligible for consideration. U.S. resident alien means a non-U.S. citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States. Additionally, all interested candidates must have the required work permit or documentation that allows the applicant to work legally in the country in order to be eligible for consideration.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret Clearance.

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

1. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract:

The contractor will support the Mission Director in overseeing USAID/Honduras’ complex programs ensuring CDCS alignment with the U.S. Root Causes Strategy for Central America (RCS) with focus on improving security, prosperity and governance (the key drivers of irregular migration).

USAID/Honduras partners with a wide array of local and international partners, including leading local business leaders and civil society organizations, to design and implement its activities. USAID programs aim to support Honduras on its Journey to Self-Reliance, allowing the country the ability to plan, finance and implement its own solutions to their development challenges.

USAID programs in Honduras represent top United States (U.S.) foreign policy priorities, and as aforementioned, address the drivers of irregular migration to the U.S., including high levels of violence and insecurity, pervasive poverty, lack of opportunities for youth, and chronic malnutrition. Honduras mailto:tegucigalpahr@usaid.gov has one of the highest murder rates in the world; and while relations with the host country government are positive, getting the Government of Honduras (GOH) to act on commitments to provide local funding, implement policy changes, address corruption, and provide space for civil society continue to be major constraints. Other compelling development challenges in Honduras include corruption, food insecurity, youth development, natural resource management, and justice and rule of law.

To address these challenges, USAID/Honduras manages one of the most politically visible USAID programs in Latin America. With an active project portfolio, the Mission addresses the following U.S.

Government (USG) initiatives: (a) increase the security of vulnerable populations in urban, high-crime areas; (b) reduce extreme poverty in western Honduras; and (c) create a more transparent and accountable national government.

USAID manages its complex assistance and development portfolio with a growing staff of 151, which currently includes 26 U.S. direct hires (USDH), 115 cooperating country nationals’ personal services contractors (CCNPSCs), and 10 U.S. personal service contractors.

2. Statement of Duties to be Performed:

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

The contractor shall serve as the Senior Strategic Advisor for the USAID/Honduras Mission and shall report to the USAID Mission Director. The contractor shall serve as a principal advisor to the Mission Director and is responsible for providing guidance on the sound day-to-day management of the Mission. In addition, the contractor shall be able to represent the Mission in senior donor meetings with minister-level government officials, heads of other donor international agencies, financial institutions, private sector partners, and non-governmental organizations, in the absence of the Mission Director.

Core responsibilities of the position include:

- Support the Mission Director to manage all on-going and proposed U.S. development and assistance programs in Honduras.

- Provides strategic guidance to eight USAID/Honduras offices including the Offices of Economic

Growth, Programs, Democracy and Governance, Education Development, Office of Transition Initiatives, Financial Management, Acquisition and Assistance, and the Executive Office.

- Participates with Mission staff in the development of sound and integrated program and project development activities, and proposals as appropriate. Supports the Mission Director and Embassy leadership in making final determination of USAID/Honduras program and project levels for submission to Washington.

- Coordinates with USAID technical staff in monitoring approved country programs and projects;

keeps the U.S. Ambassador and Mission Director briefed on problem areas which may require resolution at higher levels.

- Provides continuing policy and program guidance to the Mission Director and senior Mission staff.

Advises on and informs Mission management decisions on project design, program budgets, and overall project implementation. Provides Washington with all required program and reporting documentation and submission of special reports as warranted.

- Provides regular updates and hosts frequent calls with LAC leadership, both on operational and programmatic priorities.

- Identify priorities, program plans, and ongoing programs of other bilateral and multinational donors.

As a senior representative of one of the most significant donors in Honduras, s/he works closely with minister-level government officials, heads of other donor international agencies, financial institutions, private sector partners, and non-governmental organizations, providing advice on development challenges, and negotiates area of responsibility and levels of funding to ensure against duplication of activities as appropriate.

- Provides strategic guidance to senior mission staff in the planning, designing, implementing and reviewing of programs, projects, and mission activities. Helps to establish priorities and works at the highest levels within GoH ministries.

- May supervise non-US and US direct hire staff up to sixty days to cover the temporary absence of a

US direct hire. If approved by the Assistant Administrator for Management, additional supervisory duties may be considered.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands. During site visits, there may be some additional physical exertion, including long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain or the carrying of moderately heavy material.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Education: A Master's degree or higher in management, resource strategy, development or related disciplines is required.

Experience: The candidate should have at least six years of experience working in a senior role in an international development organization.

Language proficiency: Highly professional levels of speaking, reading, and technical writing abilities in English. Spanish language proficiency, speaking and reading, is required.

Job Knowledge: Good command of the principles, concepts, and methodologies involved in the design, development, implementation, management, and evaluation of technical assistance programs.

Demonstrated expertise of leading teams including performance evaluations. Experience working with

USG or USAID’s partners and understanding of USG policies and procedures.

Skills and abilities and other requirements: Ability to analyze and evaluate complex development issues across sectors. Sound judgment, ingenuity, and demonstrated ability in program design and evaluation, strategic planning, and program coordination/implementation. Strong interpersonal and team-building skills and ability to work with tact, diplomacy, and resourcefulness cross-culturally with diverse teams, as well as across USG and other agencies, institutions, and contacts, including inter-agency teams, high-level officials, and grassroots organizations and civil society contacts. Excellent strategic, analytical, written, and oral communication skills. Ability to deliberate and work independently with minimal to no supervision.

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.

Candidates that meet the minimum requirements, as outlined in this solicitation, will be evaluated and ranked based on the following evaluation criteria and characteristics:

EVALUATION CRITERIA / ADJECTIVE DEFINITION

Exceptional

− A comprehensive and thorough application of exceptional merit.

− Candidate meets and fully exceeds the Government expectations and presents very low risk or no overall degree of risk of unsuccessful contract performance.

− Strengths significantly outweigh any weaknesses that may exist.

Very Good

− A candidate demonstrating a strong grasp of the requirements of the position.

− Candidate meets position requirements and presents a low overall degree of risk of unsuccessful contract performance.

− Strengths significantly outweigh any weaknesses that exist.

Satisfactory

− A candidate demonstrating a reasonably sound application and a good grasp of the position requirements.

− Candidate meets position requirements and presents a moderate overall degree of risk of unsuccessful contract performance.

− Strengths outweigh weaknesses.

Marginal

− The candidate shows a limited understanding of the requirements.

− Candidate meets some or most of the position requirements but presents a significant overall degree of risk of unsuccessful contract performance.

− Weaknesses equal or outweigh any strengths that exist.

Unsatisfactory

− The candidate does not meet the position requirements.

− Presents an unacceptable degree of risk of unsuccessful contract performance.

− Deficiencies and significant weaknesses demonstrate a lack of understanding of the Government’s needs.

− Weaknesses and or deficiencies significantly outweigh any strengths that exist.

Neutral Not applicable.

Applicants meeting the above required minimum qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and obtained through reference checks. The hiring panel may check references that have not been specifically identified by applicants and may check references before or after a candidate is interviewed. USAID/Honduras reserves the right to conduct interviews with the most highly ranked applicants and make the interview a deciding factor in selection.

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

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

a) Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit a complete and signed Application Form

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

AID 309-2 forms will not be accepted and therefore will not be considered for this solicitation.

b) Most current Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume. The CV or resume must contain sufficient relevant information to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated selection criteria. Broad general statements that are vague or lacking specificity will not be considered as effectively addressing particular selection criteria.

c) Offers must be received by the closing date and time at the e-mail address specified in the cover letter of this solicitation. To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the subject line of the e-mail.

d) USAID/Honduras reserves the right to obtain relevant information concerning the applicant’s past performance from previous employers and may consider such information in its evaluation.

USAID/Honduras may seek performance information beyond the reference names provided in the application forms.

e) By submitting the application materials, the offeror certifies that all the information on and attached to the offer is true, correct, complete, and made in good faith. The offeror agrees to allow all information on and attached to the offer to be investigated. False or fraudulent information on or attached to the offer may result in being eliminated from consideration for this position, or being terminated after award, and may be punishable by fine or imprisonment.

f) 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 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 applicant must be able to obtain a Secret Clearance, which involves the applicant's comprehensive background investigation performed by a U.S. Government Agency.

The applicant selected to fill the position must also receive a medical clearance to work worldwide stating that the applicant is able to engage in the type of activities required for the position and that is also physically fit and able to reside in the Cooperating Country.

Details of how to obtain such clearances will be provided after selection and acceptance of the job offer has been made.

The CO, or his/her designee, will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms, as applicable:

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

2. Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet (AID 1420-17) https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-309-2 https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-309-2 https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-309-2

3. Questionnaire for National Security Positions (SF-86), or Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85) submitted through e-Qip

4. Fingerprint Cards

5. e-QIP signature forms

6. AID 6-85 Foreign Activity Data

7. AID 500-6 Dual Citizenship Questionnaire (if applicable)

8. OF-306 Declaration for Federal Employment

9. Other forms as appropriate

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

Eligibility for benefits and allowances depends on the type of position and contract issued at the time of employment. As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC 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. Eligibility for Worker's Compensation.

e. Eligibility for Family and Medical Leave (FML).

f. Annual and Sick Leave (no vacation shall be earned if the tour of duty is less than 90 days).

2. ALLOWANCES:

Allowances and Differentials are applicable as per AIDAR Appendix D and type of PSC. Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilian Areas):

a) Post Differential beginning with the 43rd day at post (Chapter 500 and Tables in Chapter 900).

b) If available at the time of arrival, Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120) and Living Quarters

Allowance (Section 130) will be provided. Otherwise, per diem (in lieu of Living Quarters

Allowance) will be provided at rates prescribed by the Federal Travel Regulations, as from time to time amended, during the time such short-term employee spends at post of duty in the Cooperating Country under this contract.

c) Payments During Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600).

d) Payment of MEDEVAC Insurance (to be eligible for Medevac services covered by the Department of State Medevac program, the contractor must obtain and maintain international health insurance coverage).

https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101 https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101

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”.

2. PART 52—SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

Subpart 52.2—Text of Provisions and Clauses

3. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1. Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award as described below:

4. All applicable Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins

(AAPDs/CIBs) for PSCs with Individuals. Available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs.

AAPD 06-08 AIDAR, Appendices D and J: Using the Optional Schedule to incrementally fund contracts (June 23, 2006)

AAPD 06-10 PSC Medical expense payment responsibility (Oct 30, 2006)

AAPD 10-01 Personal Services Contracts: Changes in USG Reimbursement Amounts for Health Insurance and Physical Exam Costs (01/08/2010)

AAPD 18-02 Revisions to Medevac Policies for USPSCs and TCNPSCs (Feb 15, 2022)

AAPD 21-01 Applicability of FAR 4.21 to USAID Personal Services Contracts with Individuals under the AIDAR Appendices D and J (Mar 26, 2021)

AAPD 21-05 Revised and Expanded Fringe Benefits for USPSCs (Nov 23, 2021)

AAPD 22-01 Telework and Remote Work Policy for U.S. Personal Services Contracts with

Individuals (Jul 13, 2022)

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.

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 the Personal Services Contracts Ombudsman webpage for additional information. The PSC Ombudsman may also be contacted via email at: PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov.

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/aidar.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-309-1 https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.oge.gov/Web/oge.nsf/0/5438912F316A0D26852585B6005A1599/$FILE/SOC%20as%20of%2081%20FR%2081641%20FINAL.pdf https://www.oge.gov/Web/oge.nsf/0/5438912F316A0D26852585B6005A1599/$FILE/SOC%20as%20of%2081%20FR%2081641%20FINAL.pdf https://www.oge.gov/Web/oge.nsf/home https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman file:///C:/Users/saguilera/Desktop/FSN%20Recruitment/PO%20USAID%20PMS%20(MEL)%20FSN-11/PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov

The US Mission in Tegucigalpa, Honduras provides Equal Opportunity Employment (EEO) and fair and equitable treatment to all people without regard to race, color religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. The Department of State also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.

See https://www.usaid.gov/honduras for additional information on USAID’s work and programs.

https://www.usaid.gov/honduras