Solicitation - Senior Budget Advisor.pdf

ATTACHMENT 1 72066020R00011

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72066020R00011

ISSUANCE DATE: June 04, 2020 CLOSING DATE AND TIME: June 25, 2020, 5:00 PM, DRC Time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for a U.S./Third Country National Personal Service Contractor (US/TCNPSC) – Senior Budget Advisor, 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.

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/

Priscilla Sampil Contracting Officer

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72066020R00011

2. ISSUANCE DATE: June 04, 2020

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: June 25, 2020 before and/or on 5:00 PM

(DRC local time)

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Christiane Lemba at usaidhrkinshasa@usaid.gov.

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Budget Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: $78,681 – $102,288 equivalent to GS-13. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 12 months, estimated to start on October 2020.

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with possible regional and international travel.

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

(TCN).

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: The final selected candidate must obtain Facility Access authorization within a reasonable period of time (USAID will provide details regarding this clearance 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clearance is not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded.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

USAID/DRC’s five-year Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) was approved in 2014. The team is in the process of developing a new CDCS that is due at the end of 2020 during which the budget team’s support will be essential.

Over the past 17 months, USAID/DRC has been responding to the largest ever Ebola outbreak in the DRC and second largest in the world. Since that time, USAID/DRC continues to host multiple OFDA/DART teams. Since November 2018, the Mission has managed complex effects of the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) restrictions, dealt with a credible and imminent terrorist threat, the Ordered Departure of all but 15 USDH, the U.S. Government shutdown, and delays in obligating FY 2018 funding due to TIP and rescission of FY 2018 development funds.

Given the complexity, size and scope of the Missions’ integrated portfolio, as well as the fact that Kinshasa remains among the most difficult to staff USAID Missions, the Senior Budget Advisor position is a priority for the Mission.

Mission Kinshasa’s budget team includes a USDH, and FSN Junior and Senior budget specialists.

Anticipating upcoming staff turn-over, the Mission would like to hire a Senior Budget Advisor to ensure sufficient support and responsible management of funds while the Mission identifies a long-term solution.

1. General Statement of Purpose of Contract

The Senior Budget Advisor will (i) assist with routine budget tasks until the FSN Junior Budget Specialist is at full capacity; (ii) help train a new junior budget specialist; and (iii) also apply his/her experience in other Missions to help the Program Office improve and execute its budgeting tools, procedures, and outreach to teams.

2. Statement of Duties to be Performed

Strategic advice on budget management (20%): Advises the Program Office Director, the Deputy Program Officer, and Mission management on a wide range of issues related to the planning, design and execution of the Mission’s development resources which are nearly $400 million per annum.

Serves as the principal advisor to the Program Office Director, the Deputy Program Officer, and the Mission senior management on all issues related to the planning, design and execution of the most cost-effective approaches to development assistance that maximize sustainable impact. Assess Program Office budget management, identifies areas of weakness, and provides suggestions for improvement. Assess the Program Office’s current budget management practices, and suggest methods for improvement.

Budget implementation support (40%): Advises and assists with all program-budgeting planning, requesting, tracking and reporting processes, including major Post deliverables such as the Mission Resource Request, the Congressional Budget Justification, and the Operational Plan. S/he coordinates with all technical teams to identify funding needs and ensure timely utilization of funds; analyze and determine obligating approaches; develop strategies for managing earmarks and directives;

participate in and provide budget data for all portfolio and financial reviews. Ensures that funding requests are accurate and take into account programmatic needs, pipeline analysis, congressional notification, and availability of funding. Coordinates closely with the Office of Financial Management to undertake pipeline analysis and project out-year funding scenarios and needs. Support utilization and maintenance of PRO’s existing budget tools such as the Mission Budget, and Portfolio Analysis and multi-year Budget (PAB) tool.

Capacity-building (40%): Mentors and trains the Junior Budget Specialist in USAID budgeting practices, policies and procedures. Guides the Junior Budget Specialist to build positive relationships with technical teams and provide targeted, proactive support. Additionally, provides suggestions on how to improve the capacity of technical teams to understand and manage their budgets. Develops training curriculum tailored to the needs of both the Program Office budget team, and the Mission staff. Delivers training and provides ongoing capacity-building for budget points of contact embedded with the Mission technical teams.

3. Supervisory Relationship

The Senior Budget Advisor is expected to demonstrate independence, professionalism, judgment, and responsibility. This position works under the general supervision of the Deputy Program Officer. The Deputy Program Officer sets the overall assignment objectives in broad terms that determine emphasis and resources available.

4. Supervisory Controls

This position is non-supervisory.

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 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. 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 visits.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

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

1. Education:

University graduate degree or equivalent in a relevant field (e.g. international development, budget, finance).

2. Prior Work Experience:

Minimum 10 years of relevant prior work experience in budget and program management with international development, professional accounting, auditing, or other financial management organizations. Minimum of two (2) years of “supervision exercised”, including training, mentoring and guiding staff.

Applicants not meeting minimum qualifications will not be evaluated further.

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.

Applicants who do not meet all of the selection factors are considered NOT qualified for the position. Selection factors include:

Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs)

Applicants who meet the Education/Experience requirements will be further evaluated based on the two 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.

SKILLS & ABILITIES (30 points):

Communication: Must be fluent in speaking, reading and writing English. Excellent communication skills in both French and English languages, including ability to analyze budgets and figures, and to summarize findings to managers and non-budget specialists. Strong communication skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment is essential.

Computer Skills: The Applicant is expected to have the following minimum computer skills requirements: 1) Fully functional in Windows, MS Outlook, word processing, PowerPoint, and spreadsheet software is required; 2) Fully functional in using the internet to solve problems and research information, such as regulatory guidance.

KNOWLEDGE (40 points): Expert knowledge of the USAID program cycle, budget tools, processes, and practices. Superb excel skills, including the use of pivot tables. Demonstrable critical thinking and analytical skills, and capacity to train USAID personnel at all levels - entry-level personnel, budget specialists, project managers, senior managers - in USAID budgeting and financial analysis.

Interview Performance – 30 points https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

Rating System 1.Skills and Abilities: 30 points

2. Knowledge: 40 points

3. Interview: 30 points

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 be convened to review applications and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Applications from candidates who do not meet the minimum required qualifications will not be evaluated and scored. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants. As part of the selection process, the most qualified candidates may be requested to complete a writing sample and be interviewed either in person or by telephone at USAID’s discretion. USAID will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews.

Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for offerors being considered for selection.

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. Negotiations may be conducted with the most qualified/highest-ranked offerors 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.

http://www.usaid.gov/forms

5. Current resume/CV.

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

7. Application must be submitted ONLY via usaidhrkinshasa@usaid.gov and the email subject must say –: 72066020R00011 Senior Budget Advisor, USAID/DRC.

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

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:

● Security Eligibility/Facility Access

● Medical Clearances and Certifications

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC 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) Annual and Sick Leave

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/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

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]

1 LOT $ _TBD__ $_TBD at

Award after negotiations with

Contractor_

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

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