Program Development Advisor

ISSUANCE DATE: May 4, 2009 CLOSING DATE: Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 1:00 PM EDT SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (PSC) Senior Program Development Advisor, Office of Strategic Planning, Budgeting and Operations. Bureau for Global Health (GH/SPBO) in Washington, DC. Ladies/Gentlemen: The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications (Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612 only) from qualified U.S. citizens interested in providing Personal Services Contract (PSC) services for the Senior Program Development Advisor position located in the Strategic Planning and Budgeting Division of the Strategic Planning, Budgeting and Operations Office in the Global Health Bureau, as described in the attached solicitation. More than one position may be filled by this solicitation. Submittals shall be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Send three (3) sets of U.S. Government SF 171 or OP 612 forms (resumes and cover letters may be attached to the form). Also please provide your e-mail address, if available. Incomplete or unsigned applications will not be evaluated. These signed forms should be emailed, mailed, delivered, hand carried, or faxed with the applicant's signature on the form to: Tim Macfarlane US Agency for International Development Office of Acquisition and Assistance M/OAA, RRB, Room 7.09.086 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20523 (202) 712-0833 or (202)712-1427 Hand Carry: call from 14th Street lobby. FAX: 202-216-3396 (please email us to look for a fax) Applicants should retain for their records copies of their applications and any documents which accompany their applications. Award of this contract is contingent on availability of funds and USAID reserves the right not to award any contract as a result of this solicitation. Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to Tim Macfarlane who may be reached by email at tmacfarlane@usaid.gov. Sincerely, Jamie Beck Contracting Officer Solicitation for U.S. Personal Services Contractor (PSC), Senior Program Development Advisor position is based in the Strategic Planning and Budgeting Division of the Strategic Planning, Budgeting and Operations Office in the Global Health Bureau (GH/SPBO/SPB) 1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: M-OAA-GH-09-852 2. ISSUANCE DATE: May 4, 2009 3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 1:00 PM EDT, 4. POSITION TITLE: Senior Program Development Advisor 5. MARKET VALUE: For comparison purposes, the salary for this position is comparable to the basic rate of pay for the Senior Executive Service (SES) for agencies without a certified SES appraisal system (approximately $117,787 to $162,900). Final compensation will be based upon the candidate's past salary, work history and educational background. Candidates who live outside the Washington, D.C. area will be considered for employment, but no relocation expenses will be reimbursed. 6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two years (with Three One-Year Options). Exercise of options dependant on need for services, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance. 7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Washington, D.C. with possible domestic and/or international travel and field trips. 8. STATEMENT OF WORK Summary The Bureau for Global Health (GH) is the USAID/Washington operating unit charged with providing technical support to improve the health of people in the developing world by expanding health services, including family planning/reproductive health (FP/RH) and maternal/child health (MCH); strengthening health systems; and addressing HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis (TB), avian influenza (AI), and other public health threats (OPHT). GH's primary role in the health program area is to strengthen field operations, promote research and technical innovation, provide leadership and training. Within GH, the office of Strategic Planning, Budgeting and Operations (GH/SPBO), serves as the staff office for GH's Assistant Administrator; provides the Controller function and the regional, country and donor coordination; and has primary responsibility for the Bureau's strategic planning, budgeting, programming, and procurement functions. The Office provides leadership, advice, and support for overall strategic direction, resource allocation, and procurement planning. It also works across the Bureau's technical offices to promote program integration and coordination. It further supports efforts to monitor and promote the effectiveness of programs and the achievement of GH objectives, and is integrally involved in performance monitoring as well as appropriate evaluations. The Office provides critical advice and support for the Bureau's donor coordination activities and serves as a technical point of contact for bilateral and multilateral donors and foundations, universities, and the commercial sector. Major Duties and Responsibilities The incumbent will assist and facilitate program design and strategic planning in the technical offices of the Bureau for Global Health, and assist the GH Front Office in revising and issuing related policies for the GH Bureau and the Agency. Key responsibilities include: - Advising the GH Front Office on actions under discussion at the Deputy Assistant Administrators Committee, the Agency Cabinet, and the various Interagency Policy Committees (IPCs) and Sub-IPCs in which the GH Bureau participates; - Monitoring issues, both internal and external to USAID, that affect strategic planning in health, to provide seasoned advice to senior management in the GH Bureau and the Agency on needs for internal related policy change; - Leading the development and revision, as needed, of GH Bureau Operating Procedures related to program design and strategic planning to enhance the bureau's strategic planning and programming processes; - Providing seasoned advice on program design principles and Agency policies, including strategic plans, to program designers in the GH technical offices and in USAID overseas Missions; - Reviewing concept papers for new awards and unsolicited proposals to ensure their consistency with established policies and program objectives, and making recommendations on whether to fund or revise the concepts; - Monitoring GH programs for performance and leading the annual portfolio review of at least one health element; - Representing the GH Bureau in certain Agency Policy Coordinating Committees; - Integrating results of various studies and analyses into comprehensive technical briefings, reports, and technical papers; and - Preparing reports and/or written analyses regarding USAID policies and positions on difficult or complex international public health matters. Position Location and Supervisory Controls The incumbent for the Senior Program Development Advisor position is based in the Strategic Planning and Budgeting Division of the Strategic Planning, Budgeting and Operations Office in the Global Health Bureau (GH/SPBO/SPB), and reports to the Chief of that Division. The incumbent works with the Office Director, and the Chief of the Strategic Planning and Budgeting Division, as well as a wide variety of other staff involved in program design, implementation or revision within Global Health and USAID offices. The incumbent has no supervisory responsibilities. Contacts and Purpose of Contacts The incumbent works on a daily basis with GH and Mission colleagues, as well as senior-level officers at USAID and the Department of State. The incumbent also has frequent contact with other USG agencies, other donors, and private sector institutions, both national and international. The purposes of contacts are to learn how health assistance policies are performing, to advise on health program and policy design, and to communicate and interpret current Agency and sector policies. Contacts can consist of planned or unplanned briefings and telephone calls, including with senior officers in the field or unannounced visitors requiring assistance or guidance. The incumbent maintains these contacts to facilitate the implementation and monitoring of programs, and to identify opportunities for synergy between USAID and other donor programs. Work Environment Work is primarily performed in an office setting. The need for short-term domestic and international field trip assignments to consult with Mission and cooperating sponsor managers of health programs may, however, expose the incumbent to difficult working surroundings and security risks during the course of travel. 9. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: ? A four-year degree in a field relevant to international development or public health from an accredited college or university and either a masters degree or five years of directly relevant experience ? At least twenty years experience working with the U.S. Government, with at least five of those years successfully performing as a senior manager or advisor to senior managers on international public health matters. ? U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a SECRET security clearance ? Skills in the use of Microsoft Office Suite software ? Ability to travel overseas 10. SELECTION CRITERIA: The following selection factors and required skills are listed below and will be the basis for the evaluation of all applications. Applicants must address each selection criteria listed below separately to demonstrate how he/she meets each. All applications will be evaluated and scored based on the documentation submitted with the application, the following factors, and the performance in the interview. In two (2) pages or less for each item below, describe your experience and knowledge of each of the criteria listed below. Show how your experience relates to the duties and responsibilities listed in section 8. Cite examples where appropriate: 1. Knowledge of current U.S. foreign policy objectives and programs to assess the relevancy and implications of global social, political, economic, geographic and military issues, developments and events affecting the formulation and execution of U.S. foreign policy (10 points) 2. Extensive knowledge of the laws, policies and regulations of international assistance sufficient to initiate recommendations for revisions of Agency or Bureau policies and procedures, and to present those recommendations in compelling fashion to decision makers (15 points) 3. Successful experience representing home Bureau positions with other Bureaus within USAID, and with other U.S. Agencies implementing foreign assistance (5 points) 4. Successful experience planning, budgeting, designing, or assessing international health programs, both with US-based and field staff (5 points) 5. Successful experience drafting U.S. Government Agency policies or procedures relating to strategic planning (10 points) 6. Extensive knowledge of a wide range of methods for the assessment and improvement of complex health programs, processes and systems (5 points) 7. Ability to plan, organize and implement assistance programs involving substantial agency resources or that require extensive changes in established procedures (5 points) 8. Initiative and ability to manage competing work priorities (5 points) Communication and Interpersonal Skills: 9. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing (15 points) 10. Ability to work as a team member and to lead a team to make recommendations or undertake actions that for which team members accept joint responsibility (10 points) 11. Ability to negotiate effectively with other Bureaus and other U.S. Agencies over interpretation or revision of policies or procedures for implementing foreign assistance (15 points) At USAID's discretion, reference checks and interviews may be conducted as part of the evaluation process. 11. START DATE: Immediately, once necessary clearances are obtained. 12. POINT OF CONTACT: See Cover Letter. APPLYING Qualified individuals are requested to submit: 1. Three (3) sets U.S. Government Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612 (OF 612). The OF 612 is available at the USAID website, http://www.usaid.gov/forms or http://fillform.gsa.gov, or at Federal offices. (The SF 171 is no longer available at some government offices.). 2. Narratives requested in Section 10, Selection Criteria. Applications must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified at the top of the cover letter. 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. The highest ranking applications, based on the criteria listed in Section 10, may be selected for an interview. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS 1. Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612. 2. Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62). ** 3. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86), or ** 4. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85). ** 5. Finger Print Card (FD-258). ** ** Forms 2 through 5 shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job. ACQUISITION & ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRECTIVES (AAPDs) Please refer to website http://www.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/ under the heading - Recent Directives for the most recent USAID Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives (AAPD's) that will apply to this contract. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES: As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: BENEFITS: Employee's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Annual Increase Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual and Sick Leave ALLOWANCES (if Applicable).* (A) Post Differential (See Section 500 of Department of State Standardized Regulations) (B) Danger Pay (See Section 650 of Department of State Standardized Regulations) * Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR). FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes.