Solicitation_-_Senior_Advisor_for_Innovation_and_Partnership_-_Final.pdf

USAID/India/386-18-101

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: USAID/India/386-18-101

2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 09, 2018

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: March 23, 2018, Indian Standard Time (IST)

4. POSITION TITLE: Senior Advisor for Innovation and Partnership

5. MARKET VALUE: $105,123 - $136,659 equivalent to GS-15.

Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The period of performance will be two years.

USAID/India expects to award an Off-shore U.S. Personal Services Contract for a two-year period commencing as early as practically possible subject to security and medical clearances and funds availability. Extensions will depend on the need for continuation of such services, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/India, New Delhi with possible travel as applicable as per the Statement of Duties.

8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret

9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

The incumbent will serve as the Senior Advisor for Innovation and Partnership to the Mission Director, USAID/India. S/he will report directly to the Mission Director. In that capacity, the incumbent will serve as the chief advisor to the Mission Director on all aspects of the Indo-US strategic partnership as it relates to innovations and technologies in health, food security, energy/climate change, and related development areas. S/he will be responsible for identifying innovations (technology-based and otherwise) that can help to promote effective, efficient, socially and financial viable, accountable, sustainable development intervention to help reduce poverty and improve the quality of lives of citizens. These interventions may be green field pilots in nature or proven interventions that require replication or can be taken to scale. Further, innovations that help monitor, evaluate, build evidence and disseminate lessons learned become critical tools to advance development efforts. This will require careful tracking of existing and emerging innovations considered international and/or Indian best practice.

To do so, s/he will become conversant in the range of USG and other partnerships and modalities currently employed to jumpstart the U.S.-India innovation partnership. Externally, s/he will be expected to reach out aggressively to the U.S. and Indian private sector with the goal of increasing alliances with the Indian private sector, and between Indian and U.S. private sectors as appropriate, to identify convergence of interests, better leverage resources, scale our programs, and foster a peer relationship with senior public and private sector leaders.

Internally, s/he will serve as a critical resource to office directors, technical staff, and project designers generating and guiding the Mission’s development objective teams with actionable, and timely approaches, strategies, and partnerships to integrate innovation and technologies with new and ongoing programs. The incumbent will exercise his/her own judgment and ingenuity to interpret and carry out guidance from Mission executive management, exercising a high degree of autonomy and independence. The incumbent will generate strategies for driving innovation across USAID/India’s programming.

Specific duties and responsibilities:

To be fully successful in carrying out the responsibilities listed below, the incumbent will maintain open and frequent communications with the USAID/India Mission Director, and provide relevant leadership and management guidance to USAID/India programs/activities and operations in India. To do so, the incumbent will be responsible for:

a) Identifying and tracking international and Indian innovations (technological and otherwise) which will address global development challenges, especially in food security, health, and energy/climate change;

b) Identifying key private sector leaders, financiers, and associations interested in partnering in financing innovation in India;

c) Guiding USAID/India’s overall strategic thinking in terms of integrating innovation and public-private alliances into USAID/India’s strategy, program direction, as well as USAID/India’s individual development objective teams and activities;

d) In collaboration with individual Mission development objective teams and activities, developing alliances and alliance platforms that result in the development and/or scaling up of innovations and technologies in priority areas of both bilateral and trilateral development cooperation between the U.S. and India;

e) Projecting USAID/India as a dynamic leader in innovation and partnerships for development through speaking engagements, representational functions, briefings for host country government officials, bilateral and multi-lateral donors, private individuals and others as needed. It is expected that the position will require considerable in-country travel and public speaking;

f) Developing and managing a Mission-based fund for development innovation in an effort to identify and test potential high-risk/high-return innovations and technologies;

leading efforts to take successful innovations and technologies to scale; and strengthening the capacity of local institutions to innovate.

10. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to U.S. citizens. A U.S. citizen for purposes of this definition also includes persons who at the time of contracting are lawfully admitted permanent residents of the United States.

11. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

12. POINT OF CONTACT: Ms. Vandana Sharma, Human Resources Specialist, email at vsharma@usaid.gov

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Education: A Master’s degree in a technical, development, business and/or financial management discipline is required.

Work Experience: The successful candidate will have a minimum ten years of progressively responsible professional-level experience in public and/or private sector organizations working directly on innovations and technologies for practical (and/or profitable) application, particularly related to India’s development challenges in food security, health, or energy.

Job Knowledge: Demonstrated coordination, management, and organizational skills within multi-cultural work environments, ideally in an international setting in a developing country or emerging economy.

Skills and Abilities: Ability to complete multiple tasks simultaneously and to work effectively under pressure; exceptional conceptual, analytical, and reasoning skills, as well as ability to analyze disparate information and compile it into information messages targeting a variety of audiences; experience performing at the highest levels, with minimal supervision and daily direction, and a strong sense of initiative; ability to address conflict in a constructive, non-threatening manner, including the ability to build consensus among differing groups; and demonstrated leadership and teamwork skills, plus solid, proven interpersonal abilities.

Language Proficiency: Strong written and oral proficiency in English is required (Level 5). Knowledge of Hindi is desirable.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

To be considered for this position, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications noted above. For those who do, further consideration and selection will be based on panel mailto:vsharma@usaid.gov assessment of the Selection Criteria listed below. Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following selection criteria to a maximum score of 100 points:

1. Technical Knowledge and Relevant Experience (40 points)

The incumbent is required to have a minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional-level experience in public and/or private sector organizations working directly on innovations and technologies for practical (and/or profitable) applications, particularly related to India’s development challenges in food security, health, or energy.

2. Academic Qualifications (10 points)

A Master’s degree in a technical, development, business and/or financial management discipline is required.

3. Alliance Building Skills (25 points)

The successful candidate will demonstrate through past work experience strong ability to forge alliances with private partners while integrating new technologies and innovations into development-related activities. Proven, demonstrated ability to work independently within agreed upon parameters, with minimal supervision or guidance and while exercising sound judgment is required. The position requires an entrepreneurial, results-oriented approach to assistance, and the ability to diplomatically and tactfully confront and resolve institutional and interagency bureaucratic challenges while maintaining collaborative relations. S/he must also demonstrate flexibility; effectively manage multiple activities simultaneously; and work calmly and effectively under pressure.

4. Communications and Interpersonal Skills (25 points)

The incumbent will also require excellent communication, interpersonal and teamwork skills, and the ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with a broad range of internal and external colleagues and stakeholders. S/he must be able to demonstrate an ability to work effectively, both independently and as a member of a team, with a wide variety of individuals, groups, institutions, and technical organizations and be a proven self-starter who is highly motivated, able to work with minimum supervision, and committed to addressing innovation and partnership issues. Finally, the incumbent must have excellent writing, editing and computer skills and the ability to prepare and present professional quality reports and presentations for both technical and general audiences.

IV. APPLYING

1. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the USPSC Application Form (including AID 302-3, Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts), which can be accessed through the link below:

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1861/USPSC%20Application %20Form%20-%20Cover%20Form%20and%20Form%20AID%20302-3.docx

2. Eligible offerors must attach a most up-to-date resume.

3. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3.

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

SUBMIT APPLICATION TO

Submit electronic copies of applications to: indiaper@usaid.gov (preferred)

Or

Print copies of applications to:

Human Resources United States Agency for International Development U.S. Embassy Shantipath, Chanakyapuri New Delhi – 110 021

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

The successful offeror selected for the contract will be provided instructions on 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. Finger Print Card (FD-258)

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

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

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1861/USPSC%20Application%20Form%20-%20Cover%20Form%20and%20Form%20AID%20302-3.docx https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1861/USPSC%20Application%20Form%20-%20Cover%20Form%20and%20Form%20AID%20302-3.docx mailto:indiaper@usaid.gov

1. BENEFITS:

a) Employer's FICA and MEDICARE Contribution

b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

c) Shipment and Storage of Household Effects

d) Pay Comparability Adjustment

e) Annual Step Increase except if at the top step of the grade (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

f) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

g) Annual and Sick Leave

2. ALLOWANCES:

Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas)

a) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120)

b) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

c) Post Allowance (Chapter 220)

d) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230)

e) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

f) Education Allowance (Section 270)

g) Education Travel (Section 280)

h) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

i) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and

j) Danger Pay Allowance (Section 650)

VII. TAXES

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

VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING

TO PSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources:

1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix D, “Direct USAID Contracts with a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf.

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.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The U.S. Mission in India provides equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, caste, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.

END OF SOLICITATION

https://www.usaid.gov/forms http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations