Procurement Analyst

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AFFAIRS (INL) You have received this "Personal Services Contractor (PSC) solicitation through the Department of State (DOS) Internet site. If you have any questions regarding this PSC, you may contact the DOS Official named in this solicitation. The Department is not responsible for any data and/or text not received when retrieving this document electronically. Amendments to solicitation documents generally contain information critical to the submission of an application. Position Title: Procurement Analyst Location: Mexico City, Mexico Salary Level: FS-03 - $72,526 - $106,507 (Equivalent GS-13) Period of performance: The period of performance for this contract is twelve (12) months from the date of award with four (4) optional one-year extensions. Issuance Date: May 25, 2021 Closing date: June 18, 2021 Closing Time: 3:00 p.m. EST Solicitation Number: PSC-21-057-INL Job description: See below Dear Prospective Offerors: The Department of State is seeking offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal services for the subject position under a personal services contract, as described in this solicitation. Submittals must be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Applicants interested in applying for this position MUST submit the following materials: 1. Form SF 171 (Completed and signed) 2. Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your offer your resume must include: a. Paid a non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Dates (month/year) and locations for any overseas experience must also be detailed. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements. b. Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work. c. Names and contact information (phone and email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). d. Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments. e. U.S. Citizenship Note: Resume must contain explicit information to make a valid determination that the candidate meets the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information needs to be clearly identified in the resume. Failure to provide explicit information to determine qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration. 3. Evaluation Factor document specifically addressing: Each of the Evaluation Factors shown in the solicitation below. Responses must be limited to 500 words per Evaluation Factor. Any additional words above the limit will neither be read nor scored. Note: The Evaluation Factors are worth 70 out of 100 points. Offerors are required to address each of the Evaluation Factors in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received that are relevant to each Factor. 4. Professional References: Three (3) names and contact information (phone and email) of current and/or previous supervisors to serve as professional references. Additional documents submitted will not be accepted. Incomplete or late offers will not be considered. Complete applications must be emailed to: Victoria V. Stewart U.S. Department of State INL/EX/GAPP StewartVV@state.gov Sincerely, Katelynn E. Barham Contracting Officer U.S. Department of State SUBJECT A solicitation for a Personal Services Contractor (PSC), Department of State (DOS), Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). The United States Government (USG), represented by the DOS, seeks applications from US citizens interested in providing PSC services as described in this solicitation. PRE-AWARD ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF PSC (JUN 2011) This solicitation may result in the award of one or more personal services contracts as defined in FAR 2.101. Prior to contract award, all offerors or quotes must advise the cognizant Contracting Officer if they have a personal conflict of interest, such as a financial conflict, that would prevent them from either meeting the requirements of the clause entitled, - Post-Award Ethical Responsibilities of Personal Services Contractors, or otherwise objectively performing their contractual duties upon contract award. HOW TO APPLY Offerors proposal shall be in accordance with the requirements stated in this solicitation at the place and time specified. A proposal will be determined non-responsive and ineligible for consideration unless all required documents and information are included in the submission. Offerors shall ensure their resume demonstrates their possession of the minimum qualifications outlined in this Solicitation, as well as their ability to fulfill all required duties. The Government is not responsible for any costs incurred by the offeror during the solicitation process. NOTE REGARDING GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS FOR THIS SOLICITATION This solicitation in no way obligates the Department of State to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit the Department of State to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the application. Proposals must include the following and not exceed twenty (20) pages (additional pages will not be accepted or reviewed): 1. Form SF 171 (Completed and signed) 2. Resume 3. Evaluation Factor Responses 4. Three (3) names and contact information (phone and email) of current and/or previous supervisors to serve as professional references. Note: Your resume should contain explicit information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information should be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide explicit information to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration. Additional documents submitted beyond the requirements will not be accepted or reviewed. *** ONE PDF ATTACHMENT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED VETERAN'S PREFERENCE Veteran's preference is not applicable to this position therefore do not submit DD-214. ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, COLOR, SEX, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, LAWFUL POLITICAL AFFILIATION, NONDISQUALIFYING DISABILITY, MARITAL STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AFFILIATION WITH AN EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION, OR OTHER NON-MERIT FACTOR. Submit proposal via e-mail to the attention of: INL/Victoria Stewart E-mail: StewartVV@state.gov Direct questions regarding this solicitation to: INL/Victoria Stewart E-mail: StewartVV@state.gov INL will not accept proposals beyond the closing time/date; unless it can be determined DOS mishandled the proposal. GENERAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT Mission of the U.S. Department of State: The U.S. Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy and the Secretary of State is the President's principal foreign policy advisor. The Department of State's mission is to advance U.S. national security interests, fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, and implement foreign policy initiatives that build a freer, prosperous and secure world. Mission of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL): INL is under the Under Secretary for Democracy and Human Rights (J) and works to keep Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores. The International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Section (INL) at the US Embassy Mexico City manages assistance activities that help design, build, and nurture the capabilities of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in Mexico by investing in the professionalization of host government personnel and improvements to the infrastructure of host government agencies through the provision of professional training, equipment, technical assistance, and other needed goods and services. INL Mexico manages the $2.5 billion bilateral Merida Initiative. The INL Management/COR and Procurement Teams in Mexico are administering approximately $300 million dollars of foreign assistance under the auspices of the INL Bureau within the DOS, and under the direction of an FS-01 Deputy Director, FS-02 Management Officer, and FS-02 PSC COR. The purpose of this Personal Service Contract is to fill the position of Procurement Analyst at the Embassy Mexico City, Mexico. The Analyst will have primary responsibility in assisting the programs and the bureau more broadly with providing recommendations related to equipment and services procurements and logistics. The Analyst will provide assistance in assessing, monitoring, advising, and mentoring pre-award contractual agreements of the multiple INL procurement actions, working closely with the different INL teams and other Mission agencies, evaluating, implementing and monitoring progress on specified procurement actions throughout the Mission, as well as reporting on any contractual issues. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Under the direct supervision of the Mexico INL Supervisory Contracting Officer Representative or his/her designee, the Procurement Analyst will perform the following duties: - Work closely with project stakeholders to analyze program needs, define and document the program's contractual scope, schedule, site-specific considerations, work requirements, milestones, budget and activities. - Provide comprehensive knowledge of U.S. Government contracting laws and policies including techniques of contracting operations, detailed procedures of contracting requirements, and familiarity with the practices of business and industry sufficient to develop policies and provide guidance to program offices; - Assist program managers and COR team from inception to completion of the contract to develop clear, accurate, current, and detailed contractual requirements. Assist the Team Leads, Program Officers and other program staff with research and analytical support for INL pre-award contractual processes and procedures. - Assist in planning, soliciting, evaluating, and/or administering complex, high visibility procurement/acquisition actions. - Assist in coordination of program activities with other key stakeholders, offices/agencies in Washington, DC and overseas, related to equipment procurement, shipping and delivery. - Assist in logistical coordination related to INL programs before and during the acquisition process. Assist programs in preparing donation documents upon knowledge of the plan to procure equipment for the Host Nation. - Participate in assessments, site visits, and evaluations in the field related to equipment storage requirements, equipment training, end-use monitoring of equipment, and logistical components of INL programs. - Outline program logistical components, provide guidance to program teams in market research, and provide relevant programmatic recommendations. - Respond to highly technical inquiries from the program officers and program management staff, especially as they relate to logistics procurements. - Maintain records and files relating to acquisition, maintenance, storage, transport, and delivery of equipment, supplies, services and materials. - Evaluate plans, develop and assure the implementation of corrective actions and changes to reflect new requirements and processes pertaining to the procurement of equipment within and outside of Mexico City. - Coordinate with representatives of other components and organizations concerning precedent-setting, controversial, sensitive, and/or complex logistics issues. - Lead working groups for planning and strategic initiatives. Synchronize planning with internal and external stakeholders to provide effective and efficient ways of getting equipment into Mexico City. - When required, perform the role of Duty Officer. - Perform other duties as requested and assigned that are directly related to this Statement of Work. TRAININGS & DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES - Completes the Introduction to Working in an Embassy (PN113) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) within the first six (6) months of arriving at Post. - Completes the mandatory Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Course (OT650) prior to deployment to Post. - Successfully completes the Contracting Officer Representative (PA296) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) prior to arrival at Post. - If applicable - Consultations with the INL Program Office may be required. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS U.S. Embassy Mexico City, Mexico. Travel up to 25% of the time to Regional Security Officer (RSO) authorized locations in Mexico, the United States and occasionally to other countries in the region. RELATIONSHIPS The Analyst reports to the PSC Senior Contracting Officer Representative (S/COR) and will be physically located within the INL Mexico City office. All employees under Chief of Mission (COM) authority-assigned management duties work with INL leadership to ensure oversight and non-duplicative efforts in the Mission. The Analyst shall also maintain open, timely, and effective communications with all of the Merida Initiative program officers, INL Management, Embassy and Government of Mexico (GOM) officials and other offices and programs as assigned, resulting in a relationship that proactively addresses potential contractual problems with flexible, workable solutions. The Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) is delegated the authority to act for the Contracting Officer in matters concerning technical clarification, inspection and, after concurrence by the Contracting Officer, acceptance of Contractor performance under the contract, including preparation of receiving reports, and the authorization of progress payments when appropriate. The COR will coordinate all work with the Contractor and review Contractor's performance at significant stages of its development. In no instance, however, shall the COR be authorized to alter or modify the specifications or the contract terms and the conditions or waive the government's requirement, price, delivery, or other terms and conditions. Such changes must be authorized, in writing, to the Contracting Officer. The Senior COR and INL Management Officer will provide yearly performance reviews to the Contracting Officer in Washington, D.C. to contribute to the incumbent's official yearly review. COMPLEXITY This position involves planning, organizing and completing financial and organizational analysis of enormous complexity. Due to the high visibility and political sensitivity of the issues in which INL is involved, there is extreme difficulty in identifying the nature of the issues and planning, organizing and determining the scope and depth of studies/audits to be undertaken. The PSC is expected to address difficult scenarios by separating the substantive nature of the programs or issues into their components and determining the nature and magnitude of programs or issues, as well as in discerning the intent of the legislation and policy statements and determining how to translate the intent into program actions. SCOPE AND EFFECTIVENESS The PSC performs broad and extensive assignments related to a complex administrative/financial program spanning the full-range of citizen safety, law enforcement, rule of law, and counter narcotics programs in Mexico, which is of significant interest to the public and to Congress. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance for this contract is twelve (12) months from the date of award with four (4) optional one-year extensions. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 1. U.S. citizenship; able to obtain/maintain Department of State Secret Security Clearance, medical clearances, and ethics, if applicable. (Security clearance upgrade to TS level may be required). 2. Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution: or, a A minimum of five (5) years of equivalent professional experience working on contracts; or, b A minimum of three (3) years of professional experience as a COR on other U.S. Government contracts. 3. A minimum of two (2) years of professional experience physically working in international, post-conflict or emerging state environments. 4. A minimum of two (2) years of experience managing highly complex, high dollar value projects/programs, of which one (1) year must be equivalent to the GS-12 level in the federal service. 5. A minimum of two (2) years of demonstrated experience in equipment and logistics field within the past seven (7) years. 6. Demonstrated experience writing Statements of Works (SOWs), Performance Work Statements, Independent Government Cost Estimates, Acquisitions Plans, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and detailed instructions. 7. Demonstrated knowledge of U.S Government contracting rules and regulations covered in the FAR/DFAR. 8. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in English both orally/written. Ability to provide detailed presentations to leadership within INL and other stakeholders. EVALUATION FACTORS (Used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified offerors in comparison to other offerors.) Offerors should cite specific, illustrative examples for each factor. Responses must be limited to 500 words per factor. Any additional words above the limit will neither be read nor scored. Factor 1: Work Experience (25 Points) Demonstrated work experience in managing complex projects and ability to identify, research, and analyze technical specifications for equipment, training and logistical procurements and draft statements of work and performance work statements resulting from effective market research. Experience working with U.S. foreign assistance programs/activities. Experience living or working overseas in an austere environment. Experience in assisting in development of budgets as well as government cost estimates. Factor 2: Federal Acquisition (25 points) Demonstrated comprehensive understanding of contract administration principles, policies, regulations and procedures, including U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Sound knowledge of sources for conducting market research for goods and services. Factor 3: Communication & Program Needs Assistance (20 points) Proven ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in a timely and concise manner. Demonstrated experience working with subject matter experts and program staff to determine their needs and assisting in defining their requirements. Demonstrated the ability to assist program officers in creating Statements of Work, Performance Work Statements, Market Research Memorandums, Independent Government Cost Estimates and Acquisition Plans. BASIS OF RATING: Offerors who clearly meet the Education/Experience Requirements will be further evaluated based on scoring of the Evaluation Factor responses. Offerors are required to address each of the Evaluation Factors in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received that are relevant to each factor. Failure to specifically address the Evaluation Factors may result in your not receiving credit for all of your pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards. The Offeror Rating System is as Follows: Evaluation Factors have been assigned the following points: Factor #1 - 25 Factor #2 - 25 Factor #3 - 20 Total Possible - 70 Points Interview Performance - 30 points Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks - Pass/Fail (no points assigned) Past performance evaluation of applicant's ability to perform under the contract. In conducting the evaluation, the U.S. government reserves the right to utilize all evaluation information available at the time of evaluation, whether provided by the applicant or obtained from other sources. Total Possible Points: 100 The most qualified candidates may be interviewed, required to provide a writing sample, and demonstrate an ability to operate commonly used office applications. INL will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. In addition, applications (written materials and interviews) will be evaluated based on content as well as on the applicant's writing, presentation, and communication skills. In the event that an applicant has fully demonstrated his/her qualifications and there are no other competitive applicants, INL reserves the right to forego the interview process. Professional references will be evaluated for applicants being considered for selection. COMPENSATION (BASE PAY) This position has been designated at the FS-03 equivalent level ($72,526 and $106,507 per annum). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon qualifications, previous relevant experience and work history, salary, and educational background. Salaries, including any recruitment supplemental pay that exceeds the listed pay range, will not be entertained nor negotiated. For award, INL will negotiate for this contract based on the market value as outlined above and overall experience relevant to the solicitation requirements. BENEFITS & ALLOWANCES AS A MATTER OF POLICY, INL NORMALLY AUTHORIZES THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES BENEFITS - IF APPLICABLE - Employee's FICA/Medicare Contribution - Contribution toward Health and Life Insurance - Pay Comparability Adjustment - Annual Increase - Eligibility for Worker's Compensation - Annual, Sick and Home Leave - 401K Plan - MEDVAC (provided by DOS Med) ALLOWANCES IN ACCORDANCE WITH DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARDIZED REGULATIONS (DSSR) - IF APPLICABLE - Temporary Quarters Subsistence Allowance (TQSA) or Per Diem upon arrival at Post - Housing Allowance - Post Allowance - Supplemental Post Allowance - Maintenance Allowance (SMA) - Education Allowance - Educational Travel (full-time United States based secondary) - Post Hardship Differential - Danger Pay - Shipment of HHE, UAB, POV and Consumables