Solicitation - Senior Financial Management Specialist.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

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72030622R00028

ISSUANCE DATE: August 31, 2022

CLOSING DATE/TIME: September 30, 2022 / 16:30 (ET)

SUBJECT: Solicitation for a U.S Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) – Supervisory Financial Management Specialist, GS-14

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 offers.

Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in the Attached 1.

Sincerely, Julie Lamadrid Contracting Officer mailto:KBLAIDDOCInformation@usaid.gov https://www.usaid.gov/afghanistan

ATTACHMENT 1 72030622R00028

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72030622R00028

2. ISSUANCE DATE: August 31, 2022

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: September 30, 2022 no later than 16:30 (ET)

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Julie Lamadrid, e-mail at kblaidhr@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Supervisory Financial Management Specialist

6. MARKET VALUE: $95,973 - $124,764 equivalent to GS-14

Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value and will include Locality pay for domestic USPSCs based on the location of the Official USAID Worksite, or the approved alternative worksite if approved for remote work. USPSCs performing overseas are not entitled to Locality Pay.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 1 year estimated to start on November 20, 2022.

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Washington D.C or any location within the continental

United States (CONUS). Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed for U.S-based positions.

This position has been designated as suitable for remote work. The contractor will be authorized to perform the services under this contract from an approved alternative worksite within the Continental United States. For PSCs authorized to remote work, the alternative worksite determines the locality pay for compensation purposes. Specific hours of work will need to accommodate staff working in Washington D.C, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: United States Citizens (including Permanent Residents) with eligibility to work in the United States.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facility Access

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

1) General Statement of Purpose of Contract:

The incumbent serves as the Supervisory Financial Management Specialist (FMS) within the Office of Financial Management (OFM). The FMS manages the day-to-day financial operations of the USAID/Afghanistan mission. The incumbent provides direction and oversight for complex financial operations, including, but not limited to, financial analysis, audit management and resolution, budgeting, accounting, disbursements, funds control, payroll, and financial reporting.

The FMS is responsible for securing the highest degree of accountability and transparency in the mailto:kblaidhr@usaid.gov management and control of the Mission’s active development portfolio valued at over $800 million, as well as the Mission’s Operating Expense (OE) budget amounting to about $21 million per annum in coordination with the Supervisory Executive Officer. The incumbent provides audit advisory and technical financial management support, to include capacity building support to implementing partners and Mission staff. During the absence of the Controller, the Deputy Controller may be required to serve in that capacity. This position requires an experienced contractor with demonstrated skills in financial management, staff development, operational planning, implementation, as well as an in-depth knowledge of the financial management policies and procedures utilized by USAID.

2) Statement of Duties to be Performed:

The FMS provides leadership, direction, and coordination of all financial management functions of USAID/Afghanistan. Specifically, S/he is expected to perform duties in the following areas:

Audit The Audit Management Program in Afghanistan consists of a high volume of performance and financial audits, as well as other reviews conducted by USAID's Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). The FMS

• Coordinates closely with other Mission and Washington staff to respond to the oversight agencies on the USAID/Afghanistan’s programmatic and financial activities.

• Oversees the preparation and implementation of the Mission’s Audit Management and Resolution Program. Tracks audits included in the audit plan.

• Supervises the acquisition process for Agency or recipient-contracted audits of implementing organizations, including developing, reviewing, and approving audit scopes of work.

• Develops management decisions for audit recommendations and follow-up on the close-out of audit recommendations.

Operations The FMS shares responsibility with the Controller and the Chief Accountant in the day-to-day management of the Mission’s financial operations and providing direction and oversight to the accounting, financial analysis, and vouchering sections. The FMS

• Serves as one of the Mission's authorized certifying officers ensuring compliance with provisions of the Prompt Payment Act and other applicable guidance. Directs the review and payment of invoices, billings, and collections.

• Oversees the formulation and implementation of the annual operating expense (OE) budget and program administration and oversight budgets.

• Assures effective management and funds controls are applied over OE and program funds.

• Routinely monitors internal operations to effect greater efficiencies and improve internal controls mission-wide.

• Coordinates presentation of quarterly pipeline/implementation reviews to Mission management. Presentations include an analysis of the current financial status of individual acquisition and assistance instruments, including burn rates and future funding requirements.

• Monitors partner organizations’ financial and accounting performance and Mission compliance with forward funding guidelines.

• Works closely with partner’s staff to strengthen their financial management and internal controls and advises implementing partners on the rules and regulations of managing US Government funds.

• Responds to requests for research on complex financial issues and questions, documenting results, including drafting Mission Orders and reports, as necessary.

• Develops and delivers presentations and training on financial management issues to Mission staff and development partners.

Management

• Serves with the Chief Accountant and Controller as a member of the Mission’s management team and provides the Mission with uniform guidance and expert technical advice on practices, procedures, reporting requirements, and status of activities relating to the Mission’s financial activities.

• Coordinates periodic MCRC meetings and leads discussions of status reports tracking audit and FMFIA results.

• Assists the OFM in implementing the office strategy, including OFM’s efforts to improve service quality and customer satisfaction.

• During the absence of the Controller, the Deputy Controller may be required to serve in that capacity.

3) USAID Consultation or Orientation:

The selected applicant may be required to proceed to Washington, D.C. for mandatory training or consultation.

4) Supervisory Relationship:

The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Controller. Work is assigned in broad, general terms and the incumbent is expected to be independent and fully accountable for their work. The incumbent is often called upon to serve as the alter ego of the Controller during his/her absence. The Guidance provided is normally limited to interpretations of policies and the setting of work priorities. From time to time, the incumbent's supervisor may make special assignments and provide advice on unusual situations, but daily tasks are normally accomplished without technical review. The incumbent principally performs duties with little or no direct supervision.

5) Supervisory Controls:

The current supervision is primarily remote and through MOUs with other missions (e.g USAID/Pakistan) providing limited FSN support.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

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 accounting, finance, business administration or a related field a related field is required. (Education requirement must be met at the time of application for the subject position).

b) Work Experience: At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, budgeting, auditing, or financial management is required. (Work experience requirement 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.

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). Successful Applications will be forwarded to the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) for review. The TEC will review and score the application based on the evaluation factors as described below. 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. If an applicant does not wish USAID to contact a current employer for a reference check, this should be stated in the applicant’s cover letter; USAID will delay such reference checks pending the applicant’s concurrence.

Applicants will be scored based on the documentation submitted within the application.

EVALUATION FACTORS

Education (5 points) A Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, finance, business administration or a related field a related field is required.

Technical and Professional Experience (30 points) At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, budgeting, auditing, or financial management is required.

Skills and Abilities (15 points) 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

The incumbent must demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities to serve as a role model for OFM and other Mission staff. The incumbent must have the ability to train, develop, mentor, and supervise subordinate staff and coordinate among the many units at USAID/Afghanistan and USAID/Washington, including M/CFO and the Asia Bureau. The incumbent must have the ability to perform sophisticated analysis of complex management controls and must maintain effective working relations at all levels across USAID/Afghanistan, the U.S. Embassy, USAID/Washington, vendors, implementing partners, and host government officials. The incumbent must have excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to make formal presentations to senior management and other Mission staff, host government officials, and implementing partners.

Interview (50 points)

The Evaluation Factors listed will be the basis for evaluating and ranking applicants for the position. Only the highest-ranked applicants may be interviewed.

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 may also be evaluated on their interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks. The Applicant Rating System is as follows:

Evaluation Factors: 50 points

Education: 5 points Technical and professional experience: 30 points Skills and abilities: 15 points

Interview Performance: 50 points

If the selection committee determines an interview will be part of its selection process, interview questions will revolve around the candidate’s propensity to:

Address the technical and professional requirements with clear examples from past experiences, particularly related to personnel and audit management.

Demonstrate use of technical expertise by providing examples of success in a professional setting.

Articulate robust knowledge of the USAID audit management process.

Ability to provide clear examples of how the candidates “skills and abilities” meet the articulated requirements.

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

Total Possible Points: 100 points

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

All applications must be submitted electronically by e-mail with the subject line 72030622R00028 – Supervisory Financial Management 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.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted Any attachments must be compatible with Microsoft Word or PDF and not compressed (.rar or .zip etc) Eligible offerors are required to submit the following documents to be considered for this position:

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

Information for Personal Services Contract with Individuals,” available at:

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

2. Cover Letter

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.

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:

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

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

3. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions for National Security (SF-86), or Questionnaire for

Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85);

4. Fingerprint Card (FD-258);

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

VI. BENEFITS AND 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 (for USPSC’s only) mailto:Afgpscjobs@usaid.gov https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-309-2

2) Contribution toward Health & life insurance

3) Pay Comparability Adjustment

4) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

5) Annual & Sick Leave

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

7) Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

2. ALLOWANCES:

Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas), available at https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&amp%3Bmenu_id=101

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 CCNPSC and TCNPSC awards are available at these sources:

1. 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/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf

2. PART 52—SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

Subpart 52.2—Text of Provisions and Clauses

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;

mailto:http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=231&menu_id=92 mailto:http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=231&menu_id=92 https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&amp%3Bmenu_id=101 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf

(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

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: R497 - Accounting Info:

Appropriation: 7215/161037 Fund Code: ES-OCO/2015/2016

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

4. Acquisition & 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 22-02

- AAPD 21-05

- AAPD 21-04

- AAPD 18-02

https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/ https://www.usaid.gov/forms http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs mailto:https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/AAPD-22-02.pdf 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

- AAPD 10-01

- AAPD 06-10

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.

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 about:blank

SUBJECT: Solicitation for a U.S Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) – Supervisory Financial Management Specialist, GS-14