Solicitation-Senior FPRHA Advisor.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72061221R00001

ISSUANCE DATE: November 24, 2020

CLOSING DATE/TIME: December 24, 2020, 5pm Lilongwe Time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for a U.S or Third Country National Personal Service

Contractor for Senior Family Planning/Sexual Reproductive Health Advisor, GS-14 equivalent. USAID/Malawi

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, Sections I through V of this solicitation.

All application packages are to be submitted via email to: malawijobs@usaid.gov.

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 attached information.

Sincerely, Shawn Phillips

Supervisory Executive Officer

72061221R00001

Solicitation for a Personal Service Contractor (PSC)

Senior Family Planning/Sexual Reproductive Health Advisor GS 14

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72061221R00001

2. ISSUANCE DATE: November 24, 2020.

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: December 24, 2020 no later than 17:00 Hrs. Lilongwe Time.

4. POSITION TITLE: Senior Family Planning/Sexual Reproductive Health Advisor

5. MARKET VALUE: $92,977.00 to $120,868.00 per annum (GS-14 equivalent). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The Personal Services Contract will be for an initial

(2) year period. with one (3) option years. Option years may be exercised based upon satisfactory Contractor performance, mutual agreement between the Contractor and USG, continued Mission requirements and the continued availability of funds. Tentative start date is o/a February 2021.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Lilongwe, Malawi; with possible travel as stated in the

Statement of Duties.

8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: USPSCs - Secret; TCNPSCs - Employment

Authorization

9. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Hiring preference - Reference: ADS 309.3.3

U.S. Nationals

Third Country Nationals

U.S. citizen or permanent resident/registered alien (“green card holder”); offerors will be evaluated in isolation first, and only when there is no USN and US Legal resident alien qualified and "responsible" (including SAM and OFAC verifications), can the CO give the technical evaluation committee (TEC) any TCN offers for review.

10. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

Background

With approximately 17.6 million people in 2018, Malawi is one of the most populous nations in Southern Africa with an annual population growth rate estimated at 2.9 percent. One in four teenagers is pregnant or has started childbearing. By 2050, the population will increase to over 33.6 million. Many of the health problems of women and children are related to high fertility, estimated to be about 4.2 births per woman in 2018. Contraceptive use is well established in Malawian culture, but access to services particularly for rural communities and youth remains a challenge. Malawi has made notable progress in family planning and sexual reproductive health (FP/SRH) services over the last decade, as demonstrated by a modern contraceptive prevalence rate of 58.6 percent among married women (15-49). Nonetheless, one in five women (19 percent) continue to report unmet FP needs. Further, approximately 52 percent of 15-19-year-olds and 37 percent of 20-24 year-olds report unmet FP needs. The adolescent pregnancy rate increased from 26 percent in 2010 to 29 percent in 2016. Early pregnancy is a leading cause of school dropout and contributes to child, early, or forced marriage. Delaying sexual debut and ensuring the FP needs of young women are met, including providing first-time mothers with birth-spacing support, is a critical priority. The

Government of Malawi’s (GOM’s) commitment to increase access to FP/SRH during the

London FP Summit in July 2012, is aligned with USAID’s goals of increased access to

FP/SRH, with a particular focus on adolescents.

In partnership with the GOM, donors, and select non-governmental organizations (NGOs), USAID supports national level advocacy and policy in FP/SRH, contraceptive security, the expansion of access to quality FP/SRH services in urban and remote, hard-to-reach rural populations, expansion of private sector FP service delivery, and the integration of FP with

HIV/AIDS and maternal child health. Malawi is a USAID Family Planning priority country, and as such, expects to receive approximately $12 million dollars in funding in Fiscal Year

2021.

BASIC FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION

The Senior FP/SRH Advisor will provide leadership and advisory services on the full range of FP/SRH activities, incorporating the Agency’s seven core values in all aspects of her/his work. These core values are: (1) Passion for Mission, (2) Excellence, (3) Integrity, (4)

Respect, (5) Empowerment, (6) Inclusion, and (7) Commitment to Learning. The incumbent will work at a senior level in a high-priority USG foreign assistance program that requires a high degree of knowledge, experience, maturity, and an ability to function independently under a complex, highly demanding, frequently changing environment.

The position will be based in USAID/Malawi, Lilongwe, in the Health Population and

Nutrition (HPN) Office. The Senior FP/SRH Advisor will be expected to work independently, take initiative, and flexible to work under demanding and frequently changing environments. S/he will advise USAID/Malawi on all aspects of FP/SRH and Social

Behavioral Change (SBC). The Senior FP/SRH Advisor will also be called upon to serve as the point of contact (POC) for SBC across the HPN Office. The incumbent will represent

USAID at the highest government and donor levels. Per ADS 103.3.1.1b(4), s/he will not be authorized to sign (1) obligations that require a warrant, and (2) grants to foreign governments and public international organizations, thereby prohibiting her/him from obligating USG funds in these instances. The incumbent will supervise one Senior Technical

Foreign Service National (FSN).

The FP/SRH Advisor will provide strategic and technical advice to support the implementation of HPN’s FP/SRH program and serve as a point of contact for SBC across the HPN Office. Additionally, s/he will be the designated Development Objective-2 (DO2):

Youth Development - Champion for the HPN Office. These activities range from training in the provision of FP/SRH methods, working with the host country to improve contraceptive security, developing private sector partnerships, behavior change communication intended to increase utilization of modern contraceptive methods, expanding growth of social franchises, policy, and advocacy activities aimed at repositioning FP/SRH in Malawi’s national agenda.

Additionally, as HPN’s designated DO2 Champion for Youth development, the incumbent will support and uphold the objectives of the USAID/Malawi’s integrated Country

Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) under DO2 and meaningfully advocate for their attainment.

The Senior FP/SRH Advisor will also work closely with other USAID staff to ensure a comprehensive FP/SRH integration into maternal and child health, Adolescent Girls and

Young Women (AGYW) activities, malaria, water and sanitation, HIV/AIDS, health systems strengthening, and education. Because of the integrated nature of the program and the importance of HIV/AIDS within reproductive health, the incumbent will work closely with the HIV/AIDS Team, Education, and Sustainable Economic Growth Offices.

MAJOR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. STRATEGIC AND TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP 45%

As the Senior FP/SRH Advisor, s/he will carry out a full range of consultative, advisory, strategic, and planning responsibilities to ensure technical and programmatic soundness of

USAID investments in FP/SRH as well as compliance with USAID/Washington policy and

U.S. Federal legislation. The Advisor will provide strategic direction and technical leadership in FP/SRH to USAID/Malawi's management and Development Objective Team on Youth

Development, HPN Office, Family Health/Health Systems Strengthening (FH/HSS) Team

Lead, and FSN FP Specialist. S/he will keep abreast of current and new family planning issues and innovations to advise the Mission on implications and implementation options for the

Mission and the broader Malawi FP/SRH community. S/he will provide guidance to HPN regarding FP/SRH investments and future programming, including design and modification of program activities, the determination of program direction, monitoring and evaluation and corrective action, where needed. The incumbent will interface within USAID/Malawi and with

USAID/Washington on the mission’s FP/SRH portfolio and keep current on health, population, and nutrition trends in Malawi and other parts of Africa. In addition, s/he will keep current on relevant state of the art global research and best practices and use this information to inform

FP/SRH program design and management in Malawi. The Senior FP/SRH Advisor will work with staff and counterparts to update them with the state of-the-art practices. The Advisor will be responsible for developing a research agenda for the FP/SRH program, including “state of the art” approaches and operations research, including project evaluations. S/he will also advise and manage USAID/Malawi’s integrated SBC activities and/or serve as a POC for SBC across the HPN office.

B. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

20%

The Senior FP/SRH Advisor will maintain and strengthen relationships with high-level

GOM, donors, stakeholders, and private sector officials. The Advisor will play a leadership role with these actors to advance FP/SRH in the country as per the Malawi Growth and

Development Strategy III, National Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy, FP2020

Country Action Plan and other key national strategies and policies. The Advisor will play a leadership role in the roll-out of the FP2020 Country Action Plan in line with the Global

Health Initiative and keep the GOM and stakeholders informed of the program status and future development to ensure harmonization, coordination, and collaboration. S/he will play a lead role with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other stakeholders in mobilizing investments for contraceptive security including the implementation of the Essential

Contraceptive Logistics System and the Integrated Health Logistics System.

C. PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT/ADMINISTRATION 20%

The Senior FP/SRH Advisor will monitor and provide technical oversight to USAID’s FP/SRH portfolio of activities and budget, including input for the preparation of program and budget documentation requirements from the Mission, USAID/Washington, and the GOM. The

Advisor will also ensure that FP/SRH activities are of good quality and implemented in a timely manner. The Advisor will also be responsible for submitting the final draft of FP/SRH-related sections of the Mission's annual reports. S/he will liaise with USAID/Washington FP/SRH technical experts to inform them of Mission FP/SRH activities and coordinate mutual activities accordingly. The Advisor will also assume Contracting Officer’s Representative/Assistance

Officer’s Representative (AOR/COR)/Activity Manager responsibilities as required. In addition, s/he will monitor the development of new policies and their impact on programming in the country. Coordinating the analysis and synthesis of key technical lessons learned and best practice recommendations based upon the research and documentation of experiences.

This level of coordination will necessitate work with other technical staff on sub-sector activities contributing to program objectives to ensure complimentary, synergy, and integration. In addition, the advisor will champion HPN’s DO2 youth development goal for strategic integration and accountability within the integrated CDCS. S/he will ensure HPN technical area, earmark, and initiative equities are linked to the CDCS goal and DO2 objectives.

The Senior FP/SRH Advisor will ensure that the following activities are designed, implemented, evaluated, and documented in an appropriate manner:

• Integration of FP into HIV and MCH service delivery, emphasizing the development of quality services and provision of national level technical assistance in training and supervision, especially in long term and permanent methods, in close coordination with the MOH’s Reproductive Health Directorate (RHD).

• Expanded social marketing of FP/SRH services, including behavior change communication, development of new products, and coordination with condom sales for

HIV/AIDS control.

• Manage an integrated SBC award and/or serve as a POC for SBC across the HPN office.

• Critical contraceptive security issues, including working with the RHD, USAID contractors and grantees, and other key development partners supporting assistance to family planning commodity logistics. This will include working closely with the USAID

Supply Chain Advisor on forecasting, ordering, warehousing, distribution, and reporting.

• FP/SRH policy advocacy to strengthen FP/SRH in the Malawi national agenda by working with government officials at all levels.

• Development and implementation of a comprehensive communications platform for

FP/SRH to deepen public knowledge about FP/SRH, increase demand and uptake of

FP/SRH, and strengthen community support for FP/SRH.

• Contribute to development, ensuring technical office equities are appropriately represented and that both sector-specific and integrated approaches are synergistically included.

• Serve as the HPN technical/subject matter expert and apply the DO2 - Youth development - lens during activity development related to concept and design reviews within the technical office and support the DO2 Team Lead on a rotational or as-needed basis for designs emerging from other offices.

• Support the DO2 team in implementing and monitoring activities aligned to the DO and sharing Positive Youth Development approaches relevant to technical office teams and

IPs.

D. SUPERVISION AND CAPACITY BUILDING 15%

The Senior FP/SRH Advisor directly supervises one Senior Technical FSN and will build the

FP/SRH knowledge and learning across the Mission on the following areas:

• Family planning/contraception,

• Condom education and promotion,

• SBC,

• FP/SRH and HIV linkages, particularly FP/SRH for HIV+,

• FP/SRH and MCH linkages,

• FP/Environment linkages, and

• Adolescent and youth health.

POSITION ELEMENTS

Supervision received:

Direct supervision and general guidance will be received from the FH/HSS Team Lead or her/his designee. Once general assignments are set, the incumbent is required to exercise extensive judgment in planning and carrying out tasks, including the specific approach to be taken, the resolution of problems and conflicts, and the meeting of deadlines. Completed work is considered technically authoritative and only reviewed for conformance.

Supervision exercised

Provides direct supervision to one Locally Engaged Staff (LES) Family Planning and

Reproductive Health Specialist.

11. AREA OF CONSIDERATION:

For USPSC:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident/registered alien (“green card holder”).

• Submit a complete application as outlined in the solicitation section titled

APPLYING.

• Be able to attain a Secret security clearance.

• Be able to obtain a Department of State medical clearance.

• Be willing to travel to work sites and other offices as/when requested.

For TCNPSC:

• Be a Third Country National Personnel Service Contractor (TCNPSC). “Third Country

National” shall mean an individual (i) who is neither a citizen of the United States nor of the country to which assigned for duty, and (ii) who is eligible for return travel to the

TCN’s home country or country from which recruited at U.S. Government expenses, and

(iii) who is on a limited assignment for a specific period of time.

• Submit a complete application as outlined in the section titled APPLYING.

• Be able to attain employment authorization.

• Be able to obtain a Department of State medical clearance.

• Be willing to travel to work sites and other offices as/when requested.

• If a third country national (TCN) PSC is selected for award, during the period of this contract, the TCN contractor must provide at least two years of training to a cooperating country national (CCN) designated by USAID. The PSC Supervisor will establish a training plan with benchmarks to measure the contractor's progress toward achieving this training deliverable.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The primary location of work will be in Lilongwe, Malawi. The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

13. POINT OF CONTACT:

Any questions about this solicitation may be directed to Fiskani Mbeya, Human Resources

Assistant fmbeya@usaid.gov All application packages are to be submitted via email to:

malawijobs@usaid.gov

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

In order to be considered for the position, a candidate must meet the Minimum Qualifications listed below. Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the Evaluation

Factors. Please note that not all applicants will be interviewed or contacted. USAID will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews unless expenses are preauthorized.

Reference checks may be conducted on those candidates selected for an interview. The applicant's references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities. Applicants are required to write a brief cover letter to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training addresses the Minimum Qualifications and Evaluation

Criteria listed below.

The following factors will be the basis for the evaluation of all applications. All applications will be evaluated based on the documentation submitted with the application. Applicants are required to provide resume/curriculum vitae, include a cover letter addressing how they meet the requirements of each criterion below, and submit three to five professional references with complete contact information. Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following evaluation criteria:

Education (10 Points):

A Medical or Nursing degree with a Masters of Reproductive Health, or Public

Health/Community Health required.

Work Experience (40 Points):

• At least eight years of continuous work in FP/SRH in the developing world is required with significant experience in management and advisory roles.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (40)

Demonstrated technical expertise in FP/SRH in the developing world is required. The qualified person must possess broad FP/SRH operational planning experience, analytical ability, excellent communication skills, and the capacity to convert state-of-the-art evidence into achievable results to meet a variety of strategic and programmatic needs. The candidate must possess good interpersonal skills and an ability to work effectively as a member of a team, as well as a strong ability to coordinate groups. The qualified person must possess poise, be assertive and proactive, yet sensitive to any given situation when working with partners, beneficiaries and other agencies. The candidate must exemplify a high degree of personal initiative, organizational skills, the ability to work independently, and the capacity to present information articulately and professionally.

Communication Skills: (10 Points)

Excellent proven written and oral English communication skills are required.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

After an initial application screening, the best qualified applicants may be invited for a written examination and to an oral interview.

Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs):

1. Education – 10 Points

2. Professional Experience – 40 Points

3. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities- 40 Points

4. Communication Skills – 10 Points

TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 100 points

The successful candidate will be selected based on a review of his/her qualifications, work experience, skills, and abilities; an interview; and the results of 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.

NOTE: Due to the high volume of applications received, we will only contact applicants who are being considered.

IV APPLYING

For an offeror to be considered for this position, s/he must adhere to the following guidelines and complete, sign and submit the following documents by email to malawijobs@usaid.gov .

This will enable the evaluation committee to review the offer thoroughly and objectively against the requirements of the position

1. AID 309-2, Offeror Information for Personal Services Contract Form

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

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

2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae

3. Reference Persons

Offerors are required to provide three (3) to five (5) reference persons who are not family members or relatives, with working telephones and email contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about offerors past performance and abilities.

Reference checks will be made only for offerors considered as finalists. If an offeror does not wish for the current employer to be contacted as a reference check, this should be stated in the offeror’s AID 309-2 form and/or resume. The interviewing committee will delay such reference check pending communication with the offeror.

4. 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, item 13.

5. To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

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

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

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

3. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)

4. Fingerprint Card (FD-258)

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

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 mailto:malawijobs@usaid.gov http://www.usaid.gov/forms

(d) Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

(e) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

(f) Annual and Sick Leave

2. ALLOWANCES:

Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations

(Government Civilians Foreign Areas)

(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

VII. TAXES

USPSCs are required to pay Federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State

Income taxes. TCNPSCs are required to abide by local laws with regards to applicability of local income tax to their contract.

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.

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 .

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/forms http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations