Solicitation-USPSC Financial Management Specialist GS-14.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72052721R00002

ISSUANCE DATE: 04/06/2021

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: 04/20/2021 at 17:00 (Lima time)

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

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. 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 Attachment I.

Sincerely, Marty George Contracting Executive Officer USAID/Peru

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72052721R00002

2. ISSUANCE DATE: 04/06/2021

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: 04/20/2021 at 17:00 (Lima time)

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Human Resources Office, email at limausaidhr@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Financial Management Specialist

6. MARKET VALUE: $93,907-$122,077 equivalent to GS-14. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The contract duration will be for nine (9) months with a possibility of extending to a maximum of one year beginning on or about (o/a) June 2021.

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Peru Regional Financial Management Office

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to all U.S. citizens

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Ability to obtain Facility Access security clearance is required.

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

A. BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION:

The Financial Management Specialist is the principal Certifying Officer and serves as the focal point for all accounting functions including budgeting, accounting, payroll, payments, and support services to mission management and staff on funding issues and benefit and allowances. Additionally, the incumbent will be involved in the full range of Financial Management functions, including Phoenix accounting, financial analysis, and financial reporting. The contractor will provide mentoring and guidance to the Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) in the Office of Financial Management and serve as an expert resource concerning matters relating to financial management. Serves as Acting Office Director or Regional Controller as needed.

B. MAJOR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Portfolio Management. (55%) Incumbent will be responsible for the financial management of a portfolio comprising a portion of the responsibilities of the Regional Financial Management Office. The scope and effect of the work performed will include two or more client missions and one or more technical offices for actions in the following areas:

Assistance to accounting. Incumbent will be responsible for all accounting actions for the portfolios under their responsibility. This includes signing for funds availability, overseeing the review of existing obligations, and overseeing establishment of budgets and spend plans for quarters throughout the fiscal year for the operating units.

Assistance to financial analysis. Incumbent will be responsible for all aspects of financial analysis performed for the portfolio under their responsibility. This includes reviewing and approving any financial reviews, pre-award surveys, and ad hoc financial analytics performed for the portfolio.

Financial management. Incumbent will be responsible for managing the financial relationship with the client mission. They will organize agendas and attend meetings that relate to the financial management of the client, representing RFMO to mission management in this capacity.

Payments Function. (35%) In addition to managing the entirety of the financial relationship with client missions and offices assigned to the incumbent’s portfolio, the incumbent will serve as the main authorized certifying officer of the mission.

Functional oversight. The incumbent will oversee the function of payments in the mission from voucher submission through payment. This includes understanding, applying, reviewing, enforcing and reforming as necessary the controls in place that process all payments in the regional platform.

Payment certification. The incumbent will certify all payments that come through the regional platform and ensure that all controls are operating from voucher submission through payment.

Benefits and Allowances. (10%) As a regional mission managing the movement of 25 to 30 USDH and USPSCs and over 100 FSNs in the region, the incumbent will serve as the focal point for the financial aspects of benefits and allowances questions and expertise. These questions are made more complicated in the COVID-impacted environment, requiring constant updating of knowledge of changing regulations.

C. SUPERVISION AND RELATIONSHIPS:

1. While the incumbent will serve under the direction of the Deputy Regional controller, in the exercise of their duties on a day-to-day basis, they must be able to perform their duties with little to no direct supervision. They must be able to make solid financial management decisions independently from day one.

2. While the position will not supervise staff directly, the incumbent will have approval authority over many of the work objectives of staff working on their portfolio. As a result, the incumbent must exercise a high degree of leadership to achieve mission objectives.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Education: A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (accounting, economics, finance or business administration) is required.

Work Experience: At least 10 years of professional accounting and/or financial analysis experience with a U.S. government organization.

Only offerors clearly meeting the above minimum qualifications will be considered for further evaluation.

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. FAR provisions of this solicitation are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

Offerors who clearly meet the minimum education and work experience qualification requirements may be further evaluated through review of the offeror’s submitted required documents and ranked based on the below evaluation and selection factors. A competitive range will be established of the highest-ranked offerors, who may be further evaluated through technical tests and interviews to determine the most qualified/highest-ranked offerors.

Reference checks will be conducted with the highest-ranked offerors. Reference checks may be conducted with individuals not provided by the 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 who have successfully passed the responsibility determination process.

Education (maximum 15 Points): A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (accounting, economics, finance, or business administration) is required.

Work Experience (maximum 15 Points): At least 10 years of professional accounting and/or financial analysis experience with a US government organization.

Knowledge (maximum 35 Points): Must have a comprehensive and thorough knowledge of U.S. professional accounting principles, standards, theories, practices, procedures, and terminology. Position requires an in-depth knowledge of the ADS, USAID accounting policies, procedures and reporting requirements, USG auditing standards, Phoenix policies and procedures, and familiarity with other relevant USG (DOS, GAO, IRS, and Treasury) policies and regulations.

Skills and Abilities (maximum 35 Points): Must possess a high level of managerial, analytical, and decision-making skills to lead and provide services to a wide range of clients. Carries out assigned duties effectively and independently and must have the ability to provide formal and informal training. Strong leadership and management skills are required. Must be able to create and conceptualize innovative solutions to increase efficiency, improve customer service and meet changing work demands. Must possess the ability to work under high pressure with tight deadlines and have excellent interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills with ability to communicate clearly and effectively with external and internal key officials.

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. A cover letter of no more than 1 page that demonstrates how the Offeror’s qualifications meet the evaluation and selection factors in section III of this solicitation;

3. A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which, at a minimum, describes education, experience and career achievements relevant to the evaluation and selection factors in section III of this solicitation;

4. Names of three professional references that have knowledge of the offeror’s ability to perform the duties set forth in the solicitation, including current and accurate contact information. This information may be included in in cover letter, resume/CV, or in a separate document.

5. Proof of U.S. Citizenship

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

7. Offeror submissions must clearly reference the number of this Solicitation to ensure the offer is for the position of this Solicitation.

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.

Forms outlined below can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms

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

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

3. Medical History and Examination Form (DS-1843) **

4. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (SF-86) ** or

5. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85) **

6. Finger Print Card (FD-258) **

** Forms 3 through 6 shall be completed ONLY upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

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

[If the solicitation is also open to TCNs, the CO must insert the benefits and allowances specifically approved by the Mission Director for a TCN offeror in accordance with AIDAR Appendix J, sec. 4(c)(2)(ii)(B).]

1. BENEFITS:

(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

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

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

AAPDs/CIBs specifically applicable to this position include:

AAPD 16-03: Expanded Incentive Awards for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals

AAPD 15-02 REVISED - Continuation of Deviation from the ‘Leave and Holidays’ clause, including Family and Medical Leave, for U.S. Personal Services Contractors

AAPD 10-03 Amendment 1: AIDAR, Appendix D: Implementing Benefits For Same-Sex Domestic Partners of USPSCs

AAPD 10-01: Personal Services Contracts -- Changes in USG Reimbursement Amounts for Health Insurance and Physical Examination Costs

AAPD 06-10: PSC Medical Expense Payment Responsibility

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]