SOL-OAA-15-000081_Global_Health_OCS_Rover_PSC-Revised_per_Amendment_01.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL-OAA-15-000081

ISSUANCE DATE: May 1, 2015 CLOSING DATE/TIME: June 15, 2015; 10:00 AM (EST) POSITION TITLE: Senior Health Development Specialist (Rover 1), Bureau for Global Health, Office of Country Support (GH/OCS) Washington, DC.

MARKET VALUE: GS-14 Equivalent ($107,325-$139,523) per annum inclusive of Washington DC locality pay. The final compensation will be based upon the candidate's past salary, work history, and educational background. No relocation expenses will be reimbursed.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Three years from the start date of the contract. This contract may be renewed in one year increments for up to two additional years, for a period not exceeding five years total, by mutual agreement of both parties, and subject to the following conditions: the satisfactory performance of the contractor, the requirements of the requiring office, and the availability of funds.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Primarily in developing countries (75% of the year) with base in Washington, D.C.

SECURITY ACCESS: Secret Clearance AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to all U.S. Citizens

INTRODUCTION

USAID’s Office of Country Support (GH/OCS) is the Bureau of Global Health’s hub for providing integrated technical and programmatic assistance to USAID Mission health teams.

Serving as a bridge between USAID/Washington and Missions, GH/OCS coordinates across the Global Health Bureau (GHB), Regional Bureaus, and interagency colleagues to streamline support to Missions and facilitate Washington/Mission alignment on USAID priorities. GH/OCS also leads and supports the GHB’s Country Health Team System, which draws on GHB staff expertise across offices to monitor and address cross-cutting issues in the field and improve country and regional programming throughout the program cycle. Over the past 5 years, one of the most challenging issues that the field has faced has been the staffing shortages in missions.

USAID is striving to become a nimble and agile organization when addressing staffing shortages throughout the Agency, especially in the field missions. To respond quickly and effectively and meet mission needs, OCS plans to retain a group of high level professionals and experts as part of a group of “Rovers” who will be housed in OCS. These knowledgeable and skilled professionals will be rapidly available to missions to expand their capacity, augment their existing capability, fill in gaps, and replace staff that are on home, maternity, or other leave.

I. PRINCIPAL ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Health Development Specialist (“Specialist”) will serve as a “Rover”, providing services overseas on a temporary, but medium- to long-term basis (1 – 8 months) to cover health officer absences, including posting gaps; home, sick, annual and maternity leave; and other reasons that create medium- to long-term vacancies in health officer positions. The incumbent would primarily cover the Health Director, Deputy, or Team Lead positions, managing and leading the mission health program and team, including supervising, and mentoring staff; developing strategies, programs and projects; providing technical assistance; and undertaking the many tasks of a USAID Director/Deputy/Team Lead of a health program.

The position requires an experienced health professional with the knowledge and skills to lead and manage large complex USAID health programs. The incumbent must have the flexibility to travel to a range of geographic areas. Assignments can vary from 1 to 8 months with time in the field potentially adding up to at least 75% of the year. The remainder of the incumbent’s time would be to undertake work for OCS which could include working on the Global Health Road Map, Country Team leadership/participation, assisting with the roll-out of the Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Death (EPCMD) effort, and working to promote other OCS mandates.

II. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As a key member of the Office of Country Support (OCS)/ Global Health Bureau (GHB) Team, the Specialist will work to ensure that USAID missions have the coverage and management/leadership support needed. Acting as a USAID Mission Health Director/Deputy/Team Lead, the incumbent will exercise, with Mission supervision, independent judgment in managing, planning and carrying out tasks, including the following:

● Manage an office of local and expatriate personnel, excluding direct hire staff, who are responsible for a range of programs.

● Manage directly, or manage personnel managing contracts, grants, and/or cooperative agreements, to implement programs within the Mission portfolio in a range of sectors, with Mission Director waiver approval.

● Report, monitor, advise, and evaluate USAID programs in health areas of responsibility, and work to modify current programs or design new ones, as required.

● Oversee, coordinate, and evaluate selected program operations for the Mission.

● Undertake the planning, designing, developing, negotiating, and implementing of projects as needed.

● Serve as USAID’s health representative by establishing and maintaining contacts with representatives of local government and communities, including civil society organizations, implementing partners, other NGOs, and international organizations.

● Oversee administrative and accountability requirements related to USAID office operations and ensure these are handled in accordance with established policies and procedures.

● Handle logistics, administration and preparation of materials related to health responsibility for the Mission.

● Maintain contact with senior management officials of the US Embassy, other USG agencies, bilateral and multilateral organizations, and diplomatic missions.

● Ensure USAID is appropriately represented at health functions and meetings; work with stakeholders to further their understanding, appreciation, ownership, and participation in USAID supported programs.

● Consult, advise, and mentor local government health officials on development issues.

● Advance USAID Global Health priorities, and depending on other assignments, maintain engagement with Mission teams to continue to assist virtually, keeping the GH Country Team engaged, or turning over assistance to the GH Country Team.

As the Specialist will work across Missions and regions, the incumbent will gain a wealth of information and lessons from Missions to undertake the following with OCS, regional bureaus, and GH Country Teams:

• Identify critical issues across Missions that need recognition and solutions by OCS, GH, and/or the regional bureau Front Office.

• Identify opportunities for strategic learning and sharing of key lessons learned between Missions/country programs, GH Country Teams and USAID/Washington health sector.

• Work with the OCS and the OCS Communications Advisor to facilitate Mission-to- Mission learning and exchange of experience through practical and innovative forums.

• Document evidence from Mission experiences (for global consumption), working with the Country Team, OCS and the OCS Communication Specialist to ensure broad dissemination and promotion of key findings to appropriate stakeholders.

During Mission assignments, the incumbent will maintain engagement with the GH Country Team and ensure that the Team is aware of key issues and health programming in country and respond to requests for information about mission programs. Critical Mission issues will be raised to the Front Office through OCS and the GH Country Team will be kept informed.

Guidelines Guidelines include foreign assistance legislation, federal statutes, and Agency policies, criteria and directives relating to a variety of public health development programs in developing countries.

Guidelines are either very broad and require extensive interpretation or have only limited applicability to the Office’s objectives. The incumbent must use judgment and ingenuity to interpret and adapt these guidelines to the specific projects and specialized situations existing in partner countries. The incumbent must exercise judgment in advising OCS and Mission staff, cooperating agencies and other senior U.S., international, and developing country public health experts and representatives, on the interpretation and application of Agency policies, guidelines, and regulations.

Complexity The position requires substantial integration and coordination of different bodies of knowledge, skills, and programmatic approaches.

The work requires the continuing application of innovative and advanced thinking to the solution of public health challenges in developing countries. For this reason, promising innovations must be designed and field tested, requiring extensive analysis to assess the technological and economic feasibility of numerous specific uses. Furthermore, the state- of- the-art is constantly changing as concepts and methodologies evolve, adding to the level of complexity. An additional complicating factor is that many projects and/or studies in several discrete areas are typically being pursed concurrently.

Scope and Effect The purpose of the Specialists’ work is to help the Global Health Bureau’s Office of Country Support provide mid- (1 month) to long-term (2-8 months) temporary duty assignments (TDYs).

This support will be based on well-defined scopes of work with clear deliverables. Support will involve technical expertise for the many areas of public health implemented by USAID:

operations; social science research; policy, governance, and finance oversight; information and training; monitoring and evaluation; project design, implementation and management; and provision of leadership in all areas of responsibility.

The Specialists’ work has an influence on bilateral (Mission) decisions that affect the nature and direction of the Global Health Bureau’s assistance efforts to end preventable child and maternal deaths and create an AIDS free generation.

III. POSITION LOCATION AND SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

The Director of the Global Health Office of Country Support (GH/OCS) will supervise the selected applicant.

The OCS Director or designee will provide guidance to the Specialist in the form of policy, program, and administrative directives. While on TDY, the Specialist will report to and receive guidance from a designated TDY supervisor within the Mission. The Specialist will function with a high degree of independence, including taking actions to identify and resolve problems, identify needs and/or opportunities, and develop appropriate strategies to address them. The Specialist will keep the OCS Office Director, or designee, informed of progress of projects and TDYs within their area of operation.

IV. CONTACTS AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

Personal contacts are made both inside and outside the Agency. Typically, they include high-ranking representatives of other U.S. agencies, universities, foundations, private voluntary organizations, international organizations, consultants and contract professionals, and foreign officials from public and private sectors. Typical contacts at this level are leading representatives of foreign governments, including bilateral and multilateral donors, and directors of large national and international firms and foundations.

Persons contacted typically have diverse viewpoints concerning the solution to their problems and often must be convinced that new or innovative approaches may be required to find satisfactory solutions. Similarly, successful advocacy of technical solutions to strategic obstacles depends on the ability of the incumbent to promote consensus and coalition formulation among competing bureaucratic entities and different executive levels.

V. WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work is performed primarily in overseas Mission office settings, most often within US Embassy compounds. Field trips within the various TDY locations are made and often involve exposure to tropical diseases and other health hazards. Fieldwork may also require travel to areas where political or economic unrest can result in risks to personal security.

The work is mostly sedentary. Some walking, bending and carrying light items may be required.

TDYs and field trips usually involve substantial physical stamina to cope with poor transportation and long work hours.

VI. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• US Citizenship and the ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.

• An advanced degree (MPH, MA, or above) in a field relevant to the Agency’s work in public health or public policy.

• Strong management and leadership skills and experience.

• Minimum of seven (7) years of recent project management experience with USG foreign affairs missions, international assistance organizations, or non-governmental organizations, in international development.

• Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and methodologies of public health development programs and their direct application to a wide range of critical issues and problems.

• Knowledge and skills to assist in leading and managing expatriate and Foreign Service National (FSN) staff to effectively plan and coordinate activities.

• Project design skills to improve quality and cost-effectiveness; management skills to analyze and resolve a wide range of challenges arising in program and activity implementation.

• Strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills to present ideas and persuade others of their merit, to report on the status of activities and projects, and to establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of stakeholders and constituencies in the U.S. and in developing countries.

• Fluency in English (speaking/reading/writing) is required. Additional languages (notably French, Portuguese, and/or Spanish) are desired.

VII. EVALUATION CRITERIA

The selection factors and required skills are listed below and will be the basis for the evaluation of all applications. Applicants must address each selection criteria listed below separately to demonstrate how he/she meets each. All applications will be evaluated and scored based on the documentation submitted with the application, the following factors, and the performance in the interview, if selected for an interview.

Show how your experience relates to the duties and responsibilities listed in this section. Cite examples where appropriate:

EVALUATION CRITERIA POINTS

Knowledge 20 Professional Experience & Technical Skills 40 Communication & Interpersonal Skills 30 Education & Experience 10

TOTAL 100

A. Knowledge (Total 20 points)

i. Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and methodologies of public health development programs and their direct application to a wide range of critical issues and problems. (10 points)

ii. Knowledge and skills to assist in leading and managing expatriate and FSN staff to effectively plan and coordinate activities. (10 points)

B. Professional Experience & Technical Skills (Total 40 points)

i. Successful experience representing an organization implementing foreign assistance. (10 points)

ii. Successful experience designing, managing, budgeting, and assessing international health programs, both with US-based and field staff to improve program quality and cost-effectiveness.

(15 points)

iii. Ability to plan, organize and implement development assistance programs involving substantial agency resources or that require extensive changes in established procedures. (10 points)

iv. Initiative and ability to manage competing work priorities. (5 points)

C. Communication & Interpersonal Skills (Total 30 points)

i. Strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills to present ideas and persuade others of their merit. (10 points)

ii. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of stakeholders and constituencies in the US and developing countries. (10 points)

iii. Ability to work as a team member and to lead a team (to make recommendations or undertake actions for which team members accept joint responsibility). (10 points)

D. Education & Experience (10 points)

i. An advanced degree (MPH, MA, or above) in a field relevant to the Agency’s work in public health or public policy. (5 points)

ii. Minimum of seven (7) years of recent project management experience with USG foreign affairs missions, international assistance organizations, or non-governmental organizations, in international development. (5 points)

At USAID’s discretion, reference checks and interviews may be conducted as part of the evaluation process.

VIII. START DATE: Immediately, once necessary clearances are obtained.

IX. POINT OF CONTACT: See Cover Letter.

X. HOW TO APPLY:

Qualified individuals are required to submit:

1) A U.S. Government Optional Form (OF-612) with hand-written signature (available at the USAID website, http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ or internet http://fillform.gsa.gov , or at Federal offices);

http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ http://fillform.gsa.gov/

2) A resume must be attached to the OF-612.

3) A brief appendix or cover letter that demonstrates how prior experience and/or training directly address the evaluation criteria.

4) Names and current contact information of three (3) professional references that have knowledge of the applicant’s ability to perform the duties set forth in this solicitation.

5) Professional writing sample, of no more than five (5) pages, preferably on a subject relevant to the position.

Applications must be received by the closing date and time at the e-mail address specified in the cover letter.

XI. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCS

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

1. Optional Form 612 (To be submitted with application).

2. Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62). **

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

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

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

6. Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9). **

** Forms 2 through 6 shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.

http://www.usaid.gov/forms/

CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs) and ACQUISITION & ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRECTIVES (AAPDs) PERTAINING TO PSCs

CIBs and AAPDs contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and contracts. Please refer to http://transition.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/cib/subject.html#psc.

to determine which CIBs and AAPDs apply to this contract.

AAPD 06-10 - PSC MEDICAL PAYMENT RESPONSIBILITY is hereby incorporated as Attachment 1 to the solicitation.

AAPD-06-12 - HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE-12 (HSPD-12)

IMPLEMENTATION is hereby incorporated as Attachment 2 to the solicitation.

BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES:

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

A. Benefits:

(1) Employee's FICA Contribution

(2) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance—72% of Health Insurance Annual Premium (not to exceed $20,339 for a family and $7,266 for employee without dependents) -50% of Life Insurance Annual Premium (not to exceed $500)

(3) Pay Comparability Adjustment-Annual across the board salary increase for US Government employees and USPSCs

(4) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

(5) Annual and Sick Leave

Federal Taxes: USPSC’s are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes.

B. Allowances (if Applicable).*

(1) Post Differential (See Section 500 of Department of State Standardized Regulations)

(2) Danger Pay (See Section 650 of Department of State Standardized Regulations)

* Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR).

ACQUISITION & ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRECTIVES (AAPDs)

Please refer to website http://www.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/ under the heading “Recent Directives” for the most recent USAID Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives (AAPD’s) that will apply to this contract.

http://transition.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/cib/subject.html%23psc

ATTACHMENT 1 – USPSC PROVISION “MEDICAL EXPENSE PAYMENT

RESPONSIBILITY (OCTOBER 2006)”

MEDICAL EXPENSE PAYMENT RESPONSIBILITY (OCTOBER 2006)

(a) Definitions. Terms used in this General Provision are defined in 16 FAM 116 (available at http://www.foia.state.gov/REGS/fams.asp?level=2&id=59&fam=0). Note: personal services contractors are not eligible to participate in the Federal Employees Health Programs.

(b) The regulations in the Foreign Affairs Manual, Volume 16, Chapter 520 (16 FAM 520), Responsibility for Payment of Medical Expenses, apply to this contract, except as stated below. The contractor and each eligible family member are strongly encouraged to obtain health insurance that covers this assignment. Nothing in this provision supersedes or contradicts any other term or provision in this contract that pertains to insurance or medical costs, except that section (e) supplements General Provision

25. “MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC) SERVICES.”

(c) When the contractor or eligible family member is covered by health insurance, that insurance is the primary payer for medical services provided to that contractor or eligible family member(s) both in the United States and abroad. The primary insurer’s liability is determined by the terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions of the insurance policy. When the contractor or eligible family member is not covered by health insurance, the contractor is the primary payer for the total amount of medical costs incurred and the U.S. Government has no payment obligation (see paragraph (f) of this provision).

(d) USAID serves as a secondary payer for medical expenses of the contractor and eligible family members who are covered by health insurance, where the following conditions are met:

(1) The illness, injury, or medical condition giving rise to the expense is incurred, caused, or materially aggravated while the eligible individual is stationed or assigned abroad;

(2) The illness, injury, or medical condition giving rise to the expense required or requires hospitalization and the expense is directly related to the treatment of such illness, injury, or medical condition, including obstetrical care; and

(3) The Office of Medical Services (M/MED) or a Foreign Service medical provider (FSMP) determines that the treatment is appropriate for, and directly related to, the illness, injury, or medical condition.

(e) The Mission Director may, on the advice of M/MED or an FSMP at post, authorize medical travel for the contractor or an eligible family member in accordance with the General Provision 10, Travel and Transportation AAPD 06-10 PSC Medical Expense Payment Responsibility 6 Expenses (July 1993), section (i) entitled “Emergency and Irregular Travel and Transportation.” In the event of a medical emergency, when time does not permit consultation, the Mission Director may issue a Travel

Authorization Form or Medical Services Authorization Form DS-3067, provided that the FSMP or Post Medical Advisor (PMA) is notified as soon as possible following such an issuance. The contractor must promptly file a claim with his or her medevac insurance provider and repay to USAID any amount the medevac insurer pays for medical travel, up to the amount USAID paid under this section. The contractor must repay USAID for medical costs paid by the medevac insurer in accordance with sections (f) and (g) below. In order for medical travel to be an allowable cost under the corresponding General Provision, the contractor must provide USAID written evidence that medevac insurance does not cover these medical travel costs.

(f) If the contractor or eligible family member is not covered by primary health insurance, the contractor is the primary payer for the total amount of medical costs incurred. In the event of a medical emergency, the Medical and Health Program may authorize issuance of Form DS-3067, Authorization for Medical Services for Employees and/or Dependents, to secure admission to a hospital located abroad for the uninsured contractor or eligible family member. In that case, the contractor will be required to reimburse USAID in full for funds advanced by USAID pursuant to the issuance of the authorization. The contractor may reimburse USAID directly or USAID may offset the cost from the contractor’s invoice payments under this contract, any other contract the individual has with the U.S. Government, or through any other available debt collection mechanism.

(g) When USAID pays medical expenses (e.g., pursuant to Form DS-3067, Authorization for Medical Services for Employees and/or Dependents), repayment must be made to USAID either by insurance payment or directly by the contractor, except for the amount of such expenses USAID is obligated to pay under this provision. The Contracting Officer will determine the repayment amount in accordance with the terms of this provision and the policies and procedures for employees contained in 16 FAM 521.

When USAID pays the medical expenses, including medical travel costs (see section (e) above), of an individual (either the contractor or an eligible family member) who is covered by insurance, that individual promptly must claim his or her benefits under any applicable insurance policy or policies. As soon as the individual receives the insurance payment, the contractor must reimburse USAID for the full amount that USAID paid on the individual’s behalf or the repayment amount determined by the Contracting Officer in accordance with this paragraph, whichever is less. If an individual is not covered by insurance, the contractor must reimburse USAID for the entire amount of all medical expenses and any travel costs the contractor receives from his/her medevac provider

(h) In the event that the contractor or eligible family member fails to recover insurance payments or transfer the amount of such payments to USAID within 90 days, USAID will take appropriate action to collect the payments due, unless such failure is for reasons beyond the control of the USPSC/dependent.

(i) Before departing post or terminating the contract, the contractor must settle all medical expense and medical travel costs. If the contractor is insured, he or she must provide proof to the Contracting Officer that those insurance claims have been submitted to the insurance carrier(s) and sign a repayment agreement to repay to USAID any amounts paid by the insurance carrier(s).

End of Provision

ATTACHMENT 2 - HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE-12 (HSPD-12)

(SEPTEMBER 2006)

HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE-12 (HSPD-12) (SEPTEMBER 2006)

In response to the general threat of unauthorized access to federal facilities and information systems, the President issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12. HSPD-12 requires all Federal agencies to use a common Personal Identity Verification (PIV) standard when identifying and issuing access rights to users of Federally-controlled facilities and/or Federal Information Systems.

USAID will begin issuing HSPD-12 “smart card” IDs to applicable contracts, using a phased approach.

Effective October 27, 2006, USAID will begin issuing new “smart card” IDs to new contractors (and new contractor employees) requiring routine access to USAID controlled facilities and/or access to USAID’s information systems. USAID will begin issuance of the new smart card IDs to existing contractors (and existing contractor employees) on October 27, 2007. (Exceptions would include those situations where an existing contractor (or contractor employee) loses or damages his/her existing ID and would need a replacement ID prior to Oct 27, 2007. In those situations, the existing contractor (or contractor employee) would need to follow the PIV processes described below, and be issued one of the new smart cards.)

Accordingly, before a contractor (including a PSC* or a contractor employee) may obtain a USAID

ID (new or replacement) authorizing him/her routine access to USAID facilities, or logical access to

USAID’s information systems, the individual must provide two forms of identity source documents in original form and a passport size photo. One identity source document must be a valid Federal or state government-issued picture ID. (Overseas foreign nationals must comply with the requirements of the Regional Security Office.) USAID/W contractors must contact the USAID Security Office to obtain the list of acceptable forms of documentation, and contractors working in overseas Missions must obtain the acceptable documentation list from the Regional Security Officer. Submission of these documents, and related background checks, are mandatory in order for the contractor to receive a building access ID, and before access will be granted to any of USAID’s information systems. All contractors must physically present these two source documents for identity proofing at their USAID/W or Mission Security Briefing.

The contractor or his/her Facilities Security Officer must return any issued building access ID and remote authentication token to USAID custody upon termination of the individual’s employment with the contractor or completion of the contract, whichever occurs first.

The contractor must comply with all applicable HSPD-12 and PIV procedures, as described above, and any subsequent USAID or government-wide HSPD-12 and PIV procedures/policies, including any subsequent related USAID General Notices, Office of Security Directives and/or Automated Directives System (ADS) policy directives and required procedures. This includes HSPD-12 procedures established in USAID/Washington and those procedures established by the overseas Regional Security Office. In the event of inconsistencies between this clause and later issued Agency or government-wide HSPD-12 guidance, the most recent issued guidance should take precedence, unless otherwise instructed by the Contracting Officer.

The contractor is required to include this clause in any subcontracts that require the subcontractor or subcontractor employee to have routine physical access to USAID space or logical access to USAID’s information systems.