USPSC - OTI Deputy Country Representative - Ethiopia (GS-13)

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72C0T123R00024          

SYNOPSIS ISSUANCE DATE: August 17, 2023      

SUBJECT: Synopsis/Pre-Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC)

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is planning to seek offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal services as a Deputy Country Representative - Ethiopia under a personal services contract, as described in the forthcoming solicitation.

Submittals must be in accordance with the forthcoming information at the place and time specified. 

For further information, please see the forthcoming solicitation, or contact the OTI Recruitment Team. 

OTI Recruitment Team

E-Mail Address: OTIjobs@usaid.gov

Website: www.OTIjobs.net

Sincerely,

Jaclyn Humphrey 

Supervisory Contracting Officer

500 D St. SW  

Washington, D.C.  20547

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. ACTION CODE: P (pre-solicitation)

2. SOLICITATION NO.: 72C0T123R00024

3. SYNOPSIS ISSUANCE DATE: August 17, 2023

4. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: September 1, 2023, 1:00 pm Eastern Time

5. POINT OF CONTACT: OTI Recruitment Team, e-mail at OTIjobs@usaid.gov.

6. POSITION TITLE: Deputy Country Representative - Ethiopia

7. MARKET VALUE: This position will be filled at the GS-13 ($84,546- $109,908) equivalent level, non-locality pay. Salaries over and above the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

Final compensation will be negotiated within the GS-13 equivalent level based upon the selected offeror’s salary history, qualifications, previous relevant experience and work history, and educational background as reported on the AID 309-2. For selected offerors whose salary has been established on a Federal pay scale (i.e. General Schedule) or its equivalent, the base salary (not including locality pay) of their grade/step will be the basis of the salary negotiation. 

8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One (1) year, with four (4) one-year option periods

9. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Ethiopia

10. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: United States Citizens

11. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret

POSITION DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) is seeking highly motivated, highly qualified individuals who want the opportunity to help support rapid international transition programs for priority conflict-prone countries. Created in 1994 as a distinct operating unit within USAID, OTI helps local partners advance peace and democracy in politically-transitioning countries. In support of U.S. foreign policy, OTI seizes emerging windows of opportunity in the political landscape to promote stability, peace, and democracy by catalyzing local initiatives through adaptive and agile programming.

Countries experiencing a significant political transition in the midst of a disaster or emerging from civil conflict have unique needs that cannot be fully addressed by traditional disaster relief.  Timely and effective assistance to promote and consolidate peaceful, democratic advances can make the difference between a successful or a failed transition.  OTI assists in securing peace by aiding indigenous, mostly non-governmental, civil society and media organizations.  OTI uses such mechanisms as support for re-integration of ex-combatants into civilian society; development of initiatives to promote national reconciliation; identification of quick-impact community self-help projects to meet urgent economic needs; and aid to independent media outlets and community-based organizations to help promote informed debate and broaden public participation.

To respond quickly and effectively and meet its program objectives and mandate OTI retains a group of high level professionals and experts under U.S. Personal Services Contracts (USPSCs). These knowledgeable and skilled professionals make up the vast majority of the OTI work force and are at its forefront implementing and achieving the office’s programmatic goals and objectives. There are several benefits that USPSCs may participate in, such as partial reimbursement for health and life insurance costs, as well as full coverage of workers’ compensation, among other benefits. For more complete information on USPSC benefits, please see Section VI in the forthcoming solicitation.

INTRODUCTION

The OTI Deputy Country Representative – Ethiopia - is a member of the Conflict Prevention and Stabilization (CPS)/OTI South and East Africa (SEA) Regional Team, and reports to the OTI Country Representative in Ethiopia. The Deputy Country Representative principal responsibility will be development, oversight and management of USAID/OTI's Ethiopia country program. The incumbent will be called upon to support the OTI Country Representative with managing an implementing partner and may be called upon to represent OTI’s program to local partners, senior-level U.S. government officials, in-country visitors, senior officials from other international organizations, bilateral donors and local government officials. 

The OTI Ethiopia program supports the U.S. Government’s larger objective of helping Ethiopia succeed as a secure, prosperous, and democratic country. In close coordination with Embassy colleagues and other United States Government (USG) actors, the OTI Ethiopia program will seek to empower and build the capacity of communities in Ethiopia to manage conflict and change. OTI’s rapid and targeted programming addresses emerging issues and empowers local partners to leverage timely and locally driven activities that promote democratic processes. 

BASIS OF RATING: 

The offeror rating system factors are used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified offerors in comparison to the technical evaluation criteria. Offerors must demonstrate the rating factors outlined below within their resume, as they are evaluated strictly by the information provided. 

Note: Supplemental documentation with written responses is not required and will not be reviewed for this solicitation. 

Note:  Offerors are required to address each factor of the Offeror Rating System in their resume, describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, and/or awards they have received as it pertains to each factor.  Failure to address the selection factors and/or Offeror Rating System evaluation factors may result in not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards.

Evaluation Factors:  

Industry Experience (20 Points): 

• Demonstrated experience in the design, management, and implementation of post-conflict, political transition, and/or political reform programs. 
• Demonstrated experience independently managing projects in high-visibility and high-pressure environments, including transitional, crisis, or conflict zones.

Program Operations and Management (30 Points): 

• Demonstrated experience in contract and grant management of a non-Federal organization implementing an assistance or acquisition activity under a Federal contract, grant, or cooperative agreement. 
• Demonstrated experience monitoring the performance of implementing partners. 
• Demonstrated experience mentoring, guiding, training, and evaluating staff, including local staff. 

Representation (20 Points): 

• Demonstrated experience interacting with and representing an organization to U.S. Government agencies, host government counterparts, civil society, and other stakeholders. 
• Demonstrated experience building and managing relationships with local counterparts including beneficiaries.

Offeror Rating System - 70 Points

Interview Performance – 30 points
 

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

Total Possible Points: 100