Regional Program Coordinator

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: Regional Program Coordinator Location: Cotonou, Benin Salary Level: FS-02 - $89,505 - $131,441 (Equivalent GS-14) 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: September 8, 2021 Closing date: September 22, 2021 Closing Time: 3:00 p.m. EST Solicitation Number: PSC-21-077-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 receive 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 V. Stewart E-mail: StewartVV@state.gov Direct questions regarding this solicitation to: INL/Victoria V. 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 THE 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): The INL Bureau is part of the Under Secretariat 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, and instability that threatens the United States and its interests. INL's Office of Africa and the Middle East Programs (AME) develops and manages criminal justice sector reform programs and contributes to policy formation on civilian security issues in both regions. INL/AME's priorities in West Africa are to reduce instability, counter transnational organized crime, particularly drug trafficking, improve maritime security, and promote regional cooperation and coordination. INL/AME collaborates with embassies in West Africa to design and implement INL programs that enhance the criminal justice sectors in the region. In Benin, the INL Regional Program Coordinator's (IRPC) serves as a criminal justice subject matter expert, providing advice and guidance to the embassy and to INL/AME, and develops, manages, and oversees INL programs that support the Beninese government and other West African institutions and governments in the fight against transnational crime and drug trafficking. The purpose of this Personal Services Contract is to perform the responsibilities of IRPC. The IRPC will oversee management aspects of programs in Benin and other West African countries where INL programs are being implemented as needed. The IRPC will develop and manage criminal justice sector reform and coordinate with the INL/AME Program Officer on programmatic tasks, including budget and strategic planning, program management (design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation), and reporting. The IRPC will also provide internal control and accountability for the delivery of equipment, technical assistance, training, and other INL assistance. The INL Coordinator will reside in Cotonou but also occasionally travel and work in three to five other countries in West Africa, as circumstances dictate and allow. RELATIONSHIP: The INL Coordinator will report to the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), and also will coordinate with INL/AME and the AME program officer for Benin or other relevant country on matters related to INL programs. The IRPC will send reports to the DCM and INL/AME. The IRPC will also liaise with actors in the region working to combat transnational crime and drug trafficking. These actors include U.S. government officials, host government contacts, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and/or international organizations or commissions. The IRPC will consult with INL/AME to manage programs to produce results. The INL Coordinator will exercise independent judgment and recommend new and improved methods to analyze and review INL programs throughout the West Africa region, noting new and unforeseen gaps and opportunities as circumstances evolve. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Under the direct supervision of the Embassy Cotonou Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) or his/her designee, the IRPC will perform the following duties: - Advise/assist Embassy Cotonou, respective embassies, and INL/AME with planning and developing assistance programs that meet host nation development needs and advance U.S. and INL goals. Ensure programs are coordinated with other U.S. programs and assistance efforts. - Advise Embassy Cotonou, respective U.S. embassies as needed, and INL/AME on developments in the criminal justice sector in subject areas including, but not limited to, anticorruption, transnational crime, rule of law, and the law enforcement, justice, and corrections sectors. Identify potential areas of development for future programs that will fulfill INL's goals and objectives. Ensure that the U.S. government is fully informed on the capabilities, capacity, performance, and opportunities with regard to all elements of the host governments criminal justice sectors. - Advise Embassy Cotonou, respective embassies, and INL/AME on the performance of host government agencies and implementing partners operating in conjunction with INL assets and resources. Evaluate progress towards results and recommend program improvements. - Consult with host government officials to help them determine how best to develop their institutions to contribute to a more just society. Generate support for and actively advance U.S. policy objectives with key stakeholders, including host government officials, civil society, the media, and other influential leaders in the private sector. - Maintain necessary professional relationships with implementers, host government agencies, international organizations and commissions, civil society actors, and other important partners in the fight against transnational crime and drug trafficking. Act as liaison between these entities and other components of the U.S. Mission(s). - Liaise with and assist implementers, as well as potential implementers, to develop results-oriented proposals to advance INL goals while ensuring that no commitments of USG funds are made prior to the proposal evaluation process. - Ensure compliance with Leahy Vetting requirements for INL projects that include security forces. - Facilitate Embassy Cotonou's compliance with end-use-monitoring (EUM) regulations for INL-funded sensitive and high-value items donated to the host government. - Assist in the preparation of strategic and planning documents such as the annual budget request for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE) funds and the Mission Resource Requests. Coordinate annual reporting requirements for INL (e.g., the INCSR parts I and II, the End-Use Monitoring Report, etc). Prepare program documentation and procurement requirements for assistance projects. Help prepare and ensure quality of regular programmatic reporting, including a monthly status report as required by INL. - Brief Department officials, interagency partners, Congressional representatives, and other international dignitaries orally and in writing on INL programs in host countries. Prepare documents for presentation to the U.S. Congress, or audit entities. - Assist official travels by developing appropriate itineraries, coordinating with embassy and host nation officials, ensuring appropriate travel and lodging arrangements, and accompanying them to meetings, as necessary. - Ensure that the U.S. Embassy is effective in channeling and coordinating INL assistance, and responding to programmatic tasks and efforts in consultation with INL/AME. - Establish and maintain appropriate internal management control systems. Ensure that INL programs are not subject to waste, fraud, or mismanagement. Help manage and monitor the use of all U.S.-provided commodities intended for criminal justice sector purposes. - Provide analysis and guidance in project budget preparation as well as program planning. - Conduct or commission field surveys, evaluations, and special studies, as directed. - Maintain security awareness and properly handle classified and controlled items and information. - Supervise locally employed staff - 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 1. Completes the mandatory Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Course (OT650) prior to deployment to Post. 2. Completes the required distance learning course(s) to become certified as a Grants Officer Representative (GOR) or Contracting Officer Representative (COR) through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) within 120 days of arriving at Post. 3. 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. 4. If applicable - Consultations with the INL Program Office in Washington will generally be required prior to deployment. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS U.S. Embassy Cotonou, Benin. The incumbent will also occasionally travel and work in other countries in West Africa, as circumstances dictate and allow. COMPLEXITY: This position involves planning, organizing and completing financial and organizational analysis of significant 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 IRPC Coordinator 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 IRPC 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 counternarcotic programs in Cotonou, 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 and maintain Department of State Top Secret level security and medical clearance. Department of State Ethics clearance (if applicable). 2. Graduate degree from an accredited institution and eight (8) years of practical experience in one or more of the following areas: law, criminal justice, business management, international development, international affairs, political science, public administration, or a related field; or a. An undergraduate degree with a minimum of ten (10) years of practical experience in one or more of the listed fields above. 3. A minimum of five (5) years experience in program design/execution, program management, monitoring and evaluation on assistance programs or international development. 4. A minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in a developing country, preferably in West Africa. 5. Demonstrated experience in drafting complex, analytical briefing papers, memoranda, letters, and reports for review and/or signature by senior-level U.S. government officials or equivalent. 6. Demonstrated experience in working with international development programs, including drafting related reports/documents, annual budgets, and strategic plan submissions. 7. Demonstrated oral and written French communication skills, at the FSI 3/3 equivalent level. 8. Demonstrated experience in planning, strategizing, implementing and reporting on projects, including familiarity with basic requirements and mechanisms for contract management and procurement. 9. A minimum of two (2) years experience working on criminal justice issues or working within the criminal justice system. 10. A minimum of four (4) years experience working within the U.S. government in a foreign affairs role, within an international organization or equivalent. 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 Program Management (20 points) Demonstrated experience in program management, especially in international programs involving multiple agencies that include foreign government entities; to include experience involving analytical, planning, management, advisory, operational, or evaluative duties. Experience managing U.S. government programs is preferred. Substantive knowledge of and experience within African rule of law or law enforcement programs, and with Francophone civil code systems is highly valued. Factor 2 International Experience (20 points) Demonstrated experience-managing programs in foreign, post-conflict environments; to include ability to live, work, and travel in difficult conditions with limited support, manage programs in a complex and fluid environment, and show good judgment in challenging security situations. Experience in Africa generally, and West Africa in particular, is preferred. Factor 3 Interpersonal Relations (15 points) Demonstrated experience in conducting meetings and discussions that justify, defend, and overcome resistance/settle highly significant or controversial issues; to include experience coordinating and/or integrating the work of participating groups with conflicting or undefined priorities, requiring accomplishment of major compromises in the project goals, techniques and methodologies prior to substantial progress. Factor 4 Written Communication (15 points) Demonstrated independent experience in preparing and writing reports, audits, memoranda, etc., in English and French, in a subject area related to the duties of the position; to include reports and decision papers requiring independent analysis and having a significant impact in the program area on an international level. 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 - 20 Factor #2 - 20 Factor #3 - 15 Factor #4 - 15 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-02 equivalent level ($89,505 and $131,441 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 or 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