A -- Program Officer

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: 29/2004 (amended to extend closing date and to remove any references to requiring specific "prior USAID experience")2. ISSUANCE DATE: 09/02/2004 3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 09/02/2004 (6 p.m. Almaty Time) 4. POSITION TITLE: PROGRAM OFFICER 5. MARKET VALUE: $62,905 - $81,778 per annum (GS-13 equivalent) 6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Short-term (one month) 7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/CENTRAL ASIA, Almaty, Kazakhstan 8. JOB DESCRIPTION: A) Background The Regional USAID Mission for the Central Asian Republics (USAID/CAR), located in Almaty, Kazakhstan, is responsible for the development and management of the USG regional assistance program directed at improving livelihoods through support to economic, democratic, social sector, and natural resources reform and development in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The Program Support Office provides traditional programmatic support to the USAID/CAR Mission. The office's principal functions include: a) management of the program budget; b) monitoring/evaluation of program performance and analyses of program strategic relevance and direction; c) oversight of the program approval process; d) oversight and final preparation of Mission reporting requirements, principally the annual report; e) preparation and dissemination of public information material; and f) management of the Participant Training Program and the Eurasia Foundation grant. The FY 04 program budget is approximately $109 million, with a carryover FY 03 budget of approximately $25 million. The USAID/Central Asia Republic Mission is headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with offices in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Dushanbe, Tajikistan and Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The technical programs in the Mission focus on energy/water, health, enterprise development, democracy/conflict mitigation, and education. There is strong Washington interest in the program, including close scrutiny by Congress as well as by the State Department. Funding for the program is authorized through the Freedom Support Act. The State Department is responsible for implementation of the Act, and USAID programming is done in very close coordination with the embassies in each of the countries and the State Department's Coordinator's office in Washington, D.C., which has oversight responsibility for implementation of the Freedom Support Act. The Program Support Office is responsible for management and/or oversight of Strategic Objective 4.2 (the cross-cutting SO), which includes one contract (Participant Training), two cooperative agreements (the Arizona-Kazakhstan Partnership and Eurasia Foundation), carryover budgeting for basic education and conflict prevention, and funding for program development and support. B) Major Duties and Responsibilities The contractor will provide short-term expertise to the Program Support Office from on/about September 27 through on/about October 22. The contractor will report to the Project Development Officer, Acting Program Support Office Director; and, manage the Program Support Office from October 4-8 during the Project Development Officer's absence. During the Project Development Officer's absence, the contractor will report to the Deputy Mission Director, and be responsible for all aspects of programming oversight, including the program budget, cross-cutting activities, activity approval, policy-related questions, preparation of information products, and an office of five personnel. The contractor's other responsibilities, to be performed during the contractual period include: 1. Assisting with programmatic and budget support services to Mission technical offices and country offices, particularly as this pertains to the FY 04 and FY 05 budgets. 2. Providing necessary follow-up to intensive reviews for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, scheduled at the end of September. 3. Managing the Mission's preparation for a semi-annual review, to be scheduled in October or November. 4. Assisting with planning for and preparation of the Mission's FY 04 Annual Report, including drafting a summary of Annual Report guidance for SO teams and organizing and delivering, in cooperation with the Project Development Officer and the FSN Project Management Specialist, a session with SO teams to explain changes in the Annual Report application and guidance. 5. Consulting donor and host country strategies for the Central Asia region and developing a summary of non-USG programming. Review with the Project Development Officer strategic focus and direction of the USAID/CAR strategy and programs and provide recommendations for the Mission's future strategy development. 6. Assisting with the finalization of concept papers for the E&E Bureau's GDA Incentive Fund. 7. Other duties as assigned. C) Supervision and Relationships The contractor will be supervised by the Project Development Officer, and by the Deputy Mission Director during the Project Development Officer's absence. The contractor will supervise the following program support office staff during the Project Development Officer's absence: 1 US Resident PSC Information Specialist - GS-12 1 FSN Program Budget Specialist - FSN-11 1 FSN Project Management Specialist - FSN-12 1 FSN Project Management Specialist - FSN-10 1 FSN Administrative Assistant - FSN-7 Although direct supervision of the Participant Training Program and the two cooperative agreements rests with the FSN-12 Project Management Specialist, the contractor will provide appropriate technical direction and leadership during the Project Development Officer's absence. D) Other Factors A high degree of tact, firmness, and creativity is required at all times. Interpersonal skills are also at a premium, given the large number of people both within and outside the U.S. Mission with which the Program Support Office must engage. Mission technical offices operate with a high degree of autonomy and program support functions must be adaptive to a value-added approach. E) Required Qualifications Five or more years as a program/project development officer with international development organization is required. Supervisory management experience is preferred. Specific experience in working with program budget management is required. Excellent analytical and team building skills are essential. References are required. 9. EVALUATION CRITERIA A. Prior Work Experience: 50 points Five or more years as a program/project development officer with international development organization is required. Supervisory management experience is preferred. Specific experience in working with program budget management is highly desirable. Excellent analytical and team building skills are essential. B. Skills and Abilities: 30 points Strong operational, analytical, and management skills; ability to manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision. Excellent analytical and team building skills are essential. C. Education and Training: 20 points Masters degree in business administration, international business, or other relevant subject area is preferred. Training (or experience) in relevant administrative policies and procedures is required. Total: 100 points D. OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Must be an U.S. Citizen and possess or be able to obtain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance. Must be able to obtain a medical clearance to serve in Central Asia. Minimum Level V (Native) English Language ability (written and spoken) is required. Must be willing to travel throughout the Central Asia Region. 10. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE This contract shall be valid for a period of approximately four weeks'from September 27 through October 22. 11. APPLYING Qualified individuals are requested to submit a U.S. Government Application for Federal Employment SF-171 including experience, salary history and references, no later than COB (6 p.m. Almaty time) September 2, 2004. The form is available at the USAID website, http://www.info.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms or Internet http://fillform.gsa.gov, or at Federal offices. Applications, recent supervisor reference and three (3) personal references, may be submitted by e-mail, fax, DHL or FedEx air courier by the closing date, above, to: Patrick L. Robinson Contracting Officer Personnel Office USAID/CAR Almaty 41 Kazibek Bi Street Almaty, Kazakhstan Tel: 7 3272 507612 ext. 345, Email: per.Almaty@usaid.gov Email or faxed documentation is preferred as mail delivery may be untimely. To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application, and as the subject line in any cover letter. Selection will be made by a Mission committee no later than September 9, 2004. USAID/CAR expects to award a personal-services contract for an off-shore US Citizen for one-month period from on or about September 26, 2004 to on or about October 23, 2005. The contract will be signed by September 15, 2004. On or about September 26, 2004, the incumbent shall proceed to Almaty, Kazakhstan to commence performance of the duties specified, subject to medical and security clearance. The duty post for this contract is Almaty, Kazakhstan. 12. Benefits include M&IE portion of per diem ($75 per day for Almaty), housing, and other benefits per USAID regulations (see Attachment 3). Basic household furnishings will be available in quarters to be provided by USAID. 13. Almaty is a beautiful city nestled against mountains, bursting with parks and fountains, with tree lined streets and flower gardens. The city has the excitement of Kazakh culture with its nomadic and warrior heritage as well as the benefits of the Russian culture ballet, museums, opera, choirs, and circus. It has the charm and challenges of colorful native markets, as well as the convenience of modern supermarkets. Located at an altitude of 650 meters, where steppe meets mountain, Almaty is backed by the snow capped Tien Shan to the South and faced by a vast plain which stretches to Siberia in the North. There are many places for skiing, skating, hiking, rafting, helicopter trips, camping, and other outdoor activities outside the city.