Deputy Program Officer

Solicitation for U.S. /TCN Personal Service Contractor Position Title Deputy Program Officer Solicitation Number: 669-10-005 Issuance Date: October 21, 2009 Closing Date: November 18, 2009 Closing Time: 4:00PM (Liberian time) Dear Prospective Applicants: The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications from qualified U.S. citizens/Third Country National (TCN) to provide services under a Personal Services Contract (PSC), as described in the attached solicitation. Submittals shall be in accordance with the attached solicitation at the place and time specified above. Applicants interested in applying for this position must submit the application materials required by the solicitation (see Section VI Instructions to Applicants). To be considered for the position, a candidate must meet all of the eligibility requirements specified in the solicitation (see Sections III and IV). Complete application must be submitted in accordance with the submission instructions specified in the solicitation (see Section VI Instructions to Applicants). Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the applications in accordance with the Evaluation Criteria in the solicitation (see Section IV Selection Criteria). Applicants should retain for their record copies of all documents submitted. Questions regarding this solicitation should be directed to Mr. Sylvester S. Browne at sbrowne@usaid.gov. This solicitation does not represent a commitment on behalf of USAID. The U.S. Government is not obligated to make an award or to pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of a proposal in response to this solicitation. USAID reserves the right to award all or none of the contracts contemplated herein, subject to availability of funds. Sincerely, Don Brady Contracting Officer Solicitation for US/TCN Personal Services Contractors (US/TCNPSC): DEPUTY PROGRAM OFFICER SOLICITATION NUMBER: 669-10-0005 ISSUANCE DATE: October 21, 2009 CLOSING DATE/TIME: November 18, 2009, 4:00pm (Liberian time) POSITION TITLE: Deputy Program Officer MARKET VALUE: GS-13 ($70,615 - $91,801). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon the successful candidate's salary history, work experience and educational background. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two (2) years, renewable, subject to availability of funds and continued need for the services. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Monrovia, Liberia AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. citizen or Third Country National I. POSITION DESCRIPTION A. Overview and Background The Deputy Program Officer (DPO) will assist the Supervisory Program Officer with the management of the Program Office. Responsibilities include assisting the supervisory program officer with strategic planning, program budgets, policy formulation, and interacting with Washington officials. The DPO will also assist the project development officer with project design, portfolio reviews, monitoring and evaluation and Mission compliance with ADS regulations. The incumbent will advise technical teams on PMP issues and ensure that the Mission's performance monitoring systems comply with agency requirements. S/he will play a key role in the Mission's performance reviews, including the Semi-Annual Reviews for the Operational Plan for each technical team and any special performance reviews or evaluation exercises. S/he will provide advice to the technical teams and recommend monitoring and evaluation exercises. S/he will provide advice to technical teams and recommend technical evaluation methodologies. The DPO will contribute to the Mission's assessment of program objectives and the review of performance progress. S/he will play a key role managing results reporting and coordinating Mission reporting. S/he may provide briefings and presentations to internal and external audiences on evaluation findings, budgets, policy and performance issues. B. Duties and Responsibilities A. Program Planning: (25%) Contribute to the preparation of the results sections of the Operational Plan and Congressional Budget Justification; Under the supervision of the PDO, direct the portfolio review process, set deadlines and manage internal reviews. Follow-up to ensure that inputs and discussions from the portfolio analysis are incorporated into the final products; Participate in the Mission's Strategic Planning Process, and Country Strategic Statement; Establish annual plans for design and approval of activities. Identify and schedule actions required to develop, design, and authorize new and modify on-going activities. Report and track gender issues. B. Program and Activity Design (10%) Coordinate and prepare design schedule for the mission portfolio review. Manage and follow-up plans and time-tables for designs to ensure timely completion and obligation of funds. Assist PDO in providing substantive input to activity design teams. Oversee the design process to ensure completeness of supporting analysis, efficiency of design methodology and logistics, adequacy of technical design, and compliance with Agency regulation and policies. Facilitate Mission review of all unsolicited proposals submitted for USAID funding and serve as contact point for these proposals. Provide backstopping support to technical teams and their partners to ensure compliance with Mission internal procedures and USAID regulations and guidelines. Draft issues papers and decision memoranda. C. Program Monitoring and Evaluation: (35%) Assist in the development of strategic plans including monitoring and performance plans, and insure that these plans are methodologically sound and reflect USAID Liberia and Agency priorities and policies. Provide technical support to implement performance monitoring plans and re-targeting program strategies. Analyze evaluation findings for applicability to future programs, and insure these findings are communicated effectively. Assist in the conducting and/or managing of mid-term and final evaluations. Serve as the reviewing officer for purchase orders or other contracting mechanisms for evaluations as necessary. Design and adapt training programs in strategic planning and performance monitoring. Serve as the Mission's liaison on monitoring and evaluation within the overall program of the USG. Manage selection and work of contractors who assist the Mission with M & E projects such as staff retreats, staff orientation, evaluations and research and conduct other duties as assigned. D. Implementation Support: (10%) Provide support to technical teams to help facilitate activity implementation and ensure compliance with Agency, AFR/Bureau, Mission regulations, policies, and procedures governing implementation actions. Identify actual or potential problem areas and recommend corrective action, with particular emphasis on helping to identify areas of analytical inquiry that should be pursued to strengthen activity implementation. Help to ensure satisfactory structure, form, content and quality of mission documentation for all implementation actions. Provide advice and guidance on implementation and closing of audit recommendations in coordination with the Office of Financial Management. E. Environmental Compliance (20%) Apply ADS Chapter 204 Environmental Procedures: Role as spelled out therein with respect to Reg. 216. Serve as the "environmental conscience" of the Mission, to help "mainstream" environmental awareness in decision making, promoting integration of environmental values, enhance program design, impact and sustainability, helping to ensure that unintended consequences are avoided, and positive outcomes enhanced. Review Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) submitted by USAID/Liberia Implementing Partners (IPs). Coordinate with the Contracts Office to ensure that the environmental compliance language is contained in all procurements. Work with technical teams/contracting officer technical representatives (COTRs) to ensure that USAID/Liberia IPs implement environmental mitigation actions specified in their respective IEEs and their Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP). Coordinate with the Regional Environmental Advisor (REA) and the Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO) regarding IEE, EMMP and other environmental compliance issues. Monitor the Mission's portfolios of activities, capturing three main functions, as follows i. responsibility for monitoring new mission portfolio activities to ensure that those activities have been covered in a Reg.216 and ADS 204 review: ii. provide oversight and tracking of existing portfolio implementation to ensure that monitoring and mitigation actions specified are being addressed; iii. Ensure mitigation and monitoring actions agreed to by the Missions as a condition of Reg. 216 approval by BEO. Support PPR preparation: i. Analyze and prepare the required "Environmental Compliance section of the PPR. ii. Contribute environmental results to the Results section of the PPR.