Senior Judicial Advisor (SJA)

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: Senior Judicial Advisor (SJA) Location: Tbilisi, Georgia Salary Level: FS-02 - $95,225 - $139,841 (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: February 16, 2023 Closing date: March 10, 2023 Closing Time: 3:00 PM ET Solicitation Number: PSC-23-019-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: Form SF 171 (Completed and signed) Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your offer your resume must include: 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. Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work. Names and contact information (phone and email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments. 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. 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. 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: Cecille Washington U.S. Department of State INL/EX/GAPP contact@example.gov Sincerely, Katelynn 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): Form SF 171 (Completed and signed) Resume Evaluation Factor Responses 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/Cecille Washington E-mail: contact@example.gov Direct questions regarding this solicitation to: INL/Cecille Washington E-mail: contact@example.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 (DOS): 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. INL's Office of Europe and Asia (INL/EA) develops and manages criminal justice sector reform programs and contributes to policy formation on civilian security issues in both regions. INL/EA and INL personnel in Embassy Tbilisi's INL Section administer U.S. government assistance to Georgia to develop its criminal justice sector, reform its security sector, and disrupt transnational organized crime. The purpose of this position is to provide an INL Senior Judicial Advisor (SJA) to U.S. Embassy Tbilisi who will serve as the central role in implementing INL programming to strengthen the rule of law and support Georgia's goal for Euro-Atlantic integration. This position will focus on mentoring, advising, and developing the capacity of the Georgian judiciary. Specific areas of focus will include, but are not limited to, courtroom management, juvenile justice, the use of jury trials, the use of continuous trials, and public outreach. The INL Senior Judicial Advisor will be expected to formulate innovative, targeted, and sustainable approaches for engaging with and building the capacity of the judiciary in Georgia, as well as recommend systemic and institutional reforms to improve the integrity, transparency, and accountability of the Georgian judiciary. The INL Senior Judicial Advisor will coordinate activities with the INL Director and the INL Office of Europe and Asia (INL/EA) Program Officer in Washington, DC. The SJA will also advise the Embassy Front Office and INL staff on judicial reform. DUTIES & RESPONSBILITIES Under the direct supervision of Post INL/Tbilisi Director or his/her designee, the INL Senior Judicial Advisor will perform the following duties: Serves as the INL Senior Judicial Advisor within INL/EA's assistance mission in Georgia and collaborates with existing INL criminal justice programs. Develops and maintains a comprehensive knowledge of the Georgian legal system with a particular focus on the criminal justice sector and the judiciary. Reviews Georgian judicial needs on a regular basis. Provides policy analysis and program guidance, as requested, to INL, Embassy Tbilisi, and other U.S. government entities on effective mechanisms for, progress in, and impediments to, achieving justice sector reform objectives in Georgia, particularly as they relate to the judiciary. Advises the INL Director and INL/EA on developments in the Georgian judiciary. Provides advice to INL and the Embassy Tbilisi Front Office on judicial reform, including recommended institutional and systemic reforms, recommended U.S. policies and messaging, suggested shifts in assistance to support and encourage requisite reforms, and analysis of Georgian capacity and willingness to undertake reform efforts. Establishes and maintains relationships with judges and other Georgian judicial actors. Ensures adequate follow-up with study groups and trainings (train-the-trainer, alumni conferences) to encourage participants to put the skills they have learned to use in practice and maintain the advisory relationship long-term. Develops and coordinates program activities with the INL Director and ensures that the program and administrative budgets are monitored routinely and that the projects fall within program guidelines notified to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Ensures compliance with INL program management policies and procedures, which will include monitoring procurements, end use monitoring, and drafting program planning documents, such as work plans, budget plans, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks. Provides mentoring and technical assistance to Georgian judges at all levels on a range of issues, including courtroom management, juvenile justice, the use of continuous trials, and the use of jury trials. Mentoring activities could include courtroom observation and subsequent constructive advice for judges. Ensures program activities develop local capacity. Facilitates trainings for the Georgian judiciary and serves as a trainer, when appropriate. Trainings should reflect issues identified through mentoring and advising activities and include, but are not limited to, issues of courtroom management, juvenile justice, use of continuous trials, use of jury trials, and public outreach. Identifies Georgian and outside experts, when appropriate, to serve as trainers. Collaborates, as appropriate and feasible, with the High School of Justice on trainings to build local capacity and institutionalize trainings to ensure sustainability. Identifies opportunities for public outreach by the judiciary to explain concepts such as the role of a judge in the justice system and the procedure of a criminal case under Georgian law. Public outreach activities can also focus on the importance and use of jury trials in Georgia and provide educational materials for Georgian citizens called for jury duty. Provides guidance on the development of standard operating procedures and organizational structure reform to establish judicial integrity, accountability, and transparency, including but not limited to, the development of standard procedures for randomized case assignments, and judicial recruitment, selection, promotion, and discipline. Liaises, as directed by the INL Director, with U.S. government agency representatives involved in criminal justice reform, including but not limited to, the Department of Justice and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Develops and maintains relationships with other donors, members of the international community, non-governmental organizations, and Georgian judicial actors to ensure activities are complementary and not duplicative. Manages and oversees justice sector reform programs, including developing program design, monitoring and evaluation related plans and documents in compliance with INL program design, monitoring and evaluation standards. Prepares regular reports for the INL Director, the Political/Economic Chief, the Deputy Chief of Mission and INL Washington on various program requests, cables, Congressional Notifications, and briefings, as requested. Participates in visits by senior officials and arranges itineraries and logistical support for official visitors. When required, performs the role of Duty Officer. Performs other duties as requested and assigned that are directly related to this Statement of Work. CONTRACT DELIVERABLES The Contractor shall prepare and submit two copies of each technical report required by the schedule of this contract (e.g., progress reports, final reports, etc.), to the Embassy INL Section and to the Program Officer, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), Department of State Washington, DC. The title page of all reports forwarded pursuant to this paragraph shall include a descriptive title, the author's name(s), contract number, project number, and title, contractor's name, name of the State Department project office, and the publication or issuance date of the report. When preparing reports, the Contractor shall refrain from using elaborate artwork, multicolor printing, and expensive paper/binding, unless it is specifically authorized in the Contract Schedule. Wherever possible, pages should be printed on both sides using single spaced type. The following deliverables are required: Annual Work Plan: The SJA, in cooperation with the INL/EA program officer, shall prepare a work plan within 90 days of the beginning of the date of the contract. Work plans must be approved by the INL Director, INL/EA and the DCM. Three-Year Program Strategy: The SJA, in cooperation with the INL Director and INL/EA, shall prepare a three-year program strategy, outlining the priorities and proposed activities. Monthly Status Reports: Monthly reports shall be submitted to the INL Director and INL/EA. Items that shall be reported upon include: Major achievements and impediments to reform identified during the reporting period. Updates on noteworthy policy and political developments impacting the rule of law. Feasible opportunities to train and equip criminal justice sector actors with a in line with INL Bureau and Embassy goals. Readouts and analysis of meetings with key Montenegrin interlocutors, to include those attended with other Embassy personnel. Updates on program activities, to include grant monitoring, donor coordination, and demonstrating implementation of the work plan. Ad hoc tasks completed for the Embassy. Updates on major criminal and corruption cases, which involves tracking successful prosecutions. Readouts of trainings conducted by both the PSC and the LES staff. Description of upcoming activities. Per FAR Part 4, the above referenced documents shall be incorporated, and copies stored in the PSC's hard file under Section V.; Tab E - Receiving Reports. 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. Completes the INL PREP course prior to deployment to Post. Consultations with the INL Program Office may be required. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS The SJA will be stationed in Tbilisi, Georgia. Frequent travel to local locations will be required. Occasional travel to other countries in the region, travel to training sites outside Tbilisi, and/or travel to the United States may also be required. RELATIONSHIPS The SJA will report to the INL/Tbilisi Director in the INL Section at Post and liaise and coordinate with INL/EA staff in Washington, D.C. The SJA will provide general administrative and policy direction concerning overall program priorities and objectives, as well as work with INL/EA to develop and manage programs and related issues. The SJA will liaise with other agencies/governments active in the fields of rule of law and administration of justice, and with host government contacts. The SJA will monitor INL programs in Georgia, analyzing their effectiveness and suggesting improvements. The SJA will present these approaches to INL/EA for discussion and final approval. The Contract Administrator shall be the INL Contracting Officer in Washington. In no instance shall the INL Director or any other individual be authorized to alter or modify the terms and conditions of the contract or waive the Government's requirements, price, delivery, or other terms and conditions. The Contracting Officer must authorize such changes in writing. The INL/Tbilisi Director will provide yearly performance reviews to the INL/EX/GAPP 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 & EFFECTIVENESS The PSC performs broad and extensive assignments related to a complex administrative/financial program spanning the full range of rule of law programs in Georgia, 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 U.S. citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain Department of State Secret level security clearance, medical clearance, and ethics clearance (if applicable). (Security clearance upgrade to Top Secret level may be required). J.D. degree from an accredited U.S. institution. Demonstrated ten (10) years of professional legal experience as a U.S. prosecutor, defense attorney, or judge. Demonstrated experience developing and managing long-term rule of law programs, including experience writing assessments, and conducting project design, monitoring and evaluation. Minimum of five (5) years of successful supervisory and leadership experience, preferably in a multicultural or international environment. Demonstrated experience drafting program reports/documents, annual budgets, and strategic plan submissions. Demonstrated experience drafting analytical briefing papers, memoranda, letters, and reports for review and/or signature by senior-level officials. Excellent oral and written English communication skills. Demonstrated ability to write for and orally communicate with senior officials. Demonstrated experience working with host-nation counterparts, departments, and ministries to further program objectives. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite. 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 & International Experience (30 Points) Demonstrated judicial sector work experience, including serving as a judge, mentoring, and training judges and judicial staff, and/or developing critical analysis and recommendations for procedural reform within a judicial system. Experience working and living in an international environment; liaising with foreign government officials; working with U.S. government agencies and other partner governments; working with translators; and operating effectively in multicultural situations. Factor 2: Program Experience (20 points) Demonstrated experience in managing programs, preferably foreign assistance programs, including program design, development, implementation, and oversight. Experience designing and managing complex projects, preparing budgets, working with implementing partners, conducting program monitoring and evaluation, and reporting on judicial sector issues. Factor 3: Management & Communication Experience (20 points) Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in a timely and concise manner; to interact effectively with others at all levels to prepare, analyze, explain, and defend determinations and requirements with respect to conformance to applicable laws, policies and other regulatory guidelines; and to advise program officials. Demonstrated experience working effectively within a group, including collaborating with staff, and cultivating a positive work environment, soliciting ideas and views from staff, and sharing recommendations with leadership. Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills and experience resolving conflict. 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 - 30 Factor #2 - 20 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-02 equivalent level ($95,225 - $139,841 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 Employer's FICA/Medicare Contribution Contribution toward Health & 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 Separate 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