Social Sector Advisor

ISSUANCE DATE: 08/04/2011 CLOSING DATE: 08/18/2011 Gentlemen/Ladies: SUBJECT: Solicitation for Personal Services Contractor (PSC) No. 36-2011 USPSC Social Sector Advisor, USAID/Central Asian Republics/Tajikistan Country Office, Dushanbe, Tajikistan The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking proposals (Optional Form 612) from persons interested in the PSC services described in the attached. Submissions shall be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Any questions may be directed to Markus Dausses, Contracting Officer, and Tatiana Rossova, Personnel Specialist, who may be reached at FAX No. 7-727-250-76-34/35/36, or e-mail per.almaty@usaid.gov Offerors should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their proposals. Sincerely, Markus Dausses Contracting Officer ATTACHMENT TO SOLICITATION NO. 36-2011 1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: 36/2011 2. ISSUANCE DATE: 08/04/2011 3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 08/18/2011 (6 p.m. Almaty Time) 4. POSITION TITLE: USPSC Social Sector Advisor 5. MARKET VALUE: $71,674 - $110,104 per annum (GS-13 equivalent) with 35% Post Differential (currently) 6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year (extension optional) 7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Central Asian Republics/Tajikistan Country Office, Dushanbe, Tajikistan 8. JOB DESCRIPTION: A) BACKGROUND USAID's program in Tajikistan is part of the USAID Regional Mission for Central Asian Republics which is headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with country offices in Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Ashgabat, Turkmenistan; and Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Tajikistan is bordered by Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China. Due to its fragility on the border with Afghanistan, Tajikistan is a country of considerable strategic interest to the United States. The Regional Mission for Central Asia (USAID/CAR) is responsible for the strategic planning, program design and implementation, achievement of results, and reporting for the USAID assistance programs for the five Central Asian republics. The U.S. Government's program of assistance in the region is focused on the growth of small-scale enterprise and trade; building a more open, democratic culture; better management of environmental resources, including energy; and improved primary healthcare and education. The Mission implements its programs together with more than 80 contractor and grantee teams. The Mission currently has three technical offices: the Economic Development Office (EDO), the Democracy and Governance Office (DGO) and Health and Education Office (HEO). The HEO is responsible for the management of a large portfolio under Objective 3 Investing in People with eight Program Elements: - 3.1.1 HIV/AIDS - 3.1.2 Tuberculosis - 3.1.5 Other Public Health Threats - 3.1.6 Maternal and Child Health - 3.1.7 Family Planning and Reproductive Health - 3.1.8 Water Supply and Sanitation - 3.2.1 Basic Education - 3.2.2 Higher Education B) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Personal Services Contractor shall serve as the Social Sector Advisor and perform the functions of a technical team leader for the health and education portfolio in USAID/Tajikistan, While technical expertise is required for the position, the main job focus will be on portfolio and project management. The incumbent will supervise and mentor four locally-engaged staff (LES) and work closely with technical and service departments in Almaty. Clear mentoring skills are necessary to successfully complete this job. The SSA will work under the direction of the Country Office Director or his/her designee. S/he will serve as a high level decision-maker and provide guidance and recommendations to senior USAID and U.S. Embassy staff. The incumbent will take part in all parts of program life from concept development to implementation, evaluation, and close out. Demonstrated expertise in management and evaluation of programs, with extensive knowledge of USAID/State regulations governing all areas of program development and procurement is highly desired. Also preferred is work experience in Central Asia and Tajikistan in particular. Local language, either Tajik or Russian, is preferred but not required. Program Development and Management (60%) The Social Sector Advisor (SSA) will play a leading role in the design, oversight, and management of assistance programs to achieve CAR strategy objectives and intermediate results of the Health and Education portfolio. In fulfilling these duties, the incumbent develops, oversees, manages, and evaluates health and education development programs. S/he will supervise COTRs, AOTRs, and activity managers for USAID activities in Tajikistan, and serve as COTR, AOTR and/or activity manager for selected activities. The SSA will provide guidance and direction for proposals and implementation of grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. S/he will assist implementing partners to ensure understanding of the performance monitoring system and their role in the process and advises them on specific measurement techniques appropriate for their programs. The incumbent will develop concept papers, project authorizations, and project amendments, in line with agency regulations and guidance and will lead or be a key member of technical selection committees for the award of procurement instruments. Designing programs in line with CAR strategy will require the incumbent to monitor, analyze, and report on political and social conditions in Tajikistan to assess assistance needs and priorities. The incumbent will provide support for monitoring and evaluation of social sector programs, this will include the plan and design of evaluation instruments as needed to make informed program design and management decisions. S/he will conduct or lead data gathering, research and analysis, and dialogue with counterparts necessary to inform program design decisions. The incumbent will also evaluate the costs, benefits and effectiveness of projects. The SSA will also support the development of the Investing in People section in the Operational Plan, Performance Monitoring Plan, and other key documents. Technical Advice and Special Projects (20%) The SSA will be a senior advisor to USAID and other USG agencies on social sector development issues in Tajikistan and will actively foster and facilitate USG interagency collaboration and cooperation. S/he will perform a variety of duties related to special projects involving social sector development. In particular, the SSA will lead USAID or USG discussions related to health and education reforms in Tajikistan. The incumbent will participate in regular and ad hoc donor and government coordination meetings and will provide expert technical advice to all stakeholders on social sector issues as well as advising USAID and US Embassy senior management on appropriate actions. The incumbent will represent USAID as a technical specialist to a variety of formal and informal coordination groups. These responsibilities will include, but not be limited to: co-chairing a donor coordination group on health, sitting on the national CCM for grants from the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, representing USAID on the PEPFAR country team, and participating in a variety of other health and education-related groups. As needed, s/he may be asked to represent USAID at meetings, with partners and to the Regional Mission in Almaty, Kazakhstan. When required, the SSA will also prepare technical white papers, implementation and action plans, progress reports, press release, public speeches, and professional correspondence on social sector topics. As relevant, the SSA will also conduct research and advise other sector teams to inform strategy and program design and management. S/he will work with other offices within the Mission to generate synergies and complementary activities. Mentorship (20%): A crucial piece of the incumbent's job will be mentoring local staff. The SSA will advise, train and otherwise support the career development of professional staff responsible for managing social sector activities. S/he will contribute to and oversee the development of health and education competencies in the USAID Tajikistan Country Office in strategy and activity development and program monitoring and evaluation. C) REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 1) General: Must be a U.S. citizen, must be able to obtain a U.S. Government "SECRET" security clearance. Must be able to secure a medical clearance to serve in Tajikistan. Must be willing to travel throughout Tajikistan and occasionally to other countries in Central Asia. 2) Prior Work Experience: This is a position that requires maturity and a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in management of health and/or education programs, grants, or cooperative agreements, with a proven track record of programmatic accomplishment and professional achievement. The position also requires the ability to function in complex, frequently changing political and economic conditions. The candidate must have at least three years of effective international program development/management experience while residing in a transitional or developing country. At least three years of successful leadership experience in a team environment is required. Experience in USAID or knowledge of USAID systems highly desirable. Prior work experience in the Central Asian Republics is also highly desirable. 3) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Excellent project management skills are required. The candidate should have strong analytical and writing skills as evidenced by previous experience. Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work in a collegial and persuasive fashion in a team environment are required. The incumbent must have fulfilled mentorship roles in the past and have the strong interpersonal skills necessary to support a team member's development. The incumbent must be able to interact effectively with a broad range of internal and external partners and USAID clients, international organizations, and host country government officials or NGO counterparts. S/he must be able to function collaboratively and productively as a member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-functional team, and must have the ability to work effectively in a team environment to achieve consensus on policies, activities and administrative matters. The incumbent must be fluent in English (working knowledge of Russian or Tajik highly desired) and have proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely, both orally and in writing, including technical reports. S/he must have demonstrated ability to produce professional quality statements of work, white papers, and other professional documents in the specified technical areas. The incumbent must be able to make oral presentations logically and persuasively to senior officials, other donors, the NGO community, and to USAID and other USG officials. 4) Education: A minimum of a Master's Degree in a relevant development-related field (ie: public health, medicine, nursing, education, international development) is required. D) Selection Criteria: Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria: Prior Work Experience: 20 points Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 50 points Knowledge of health sector development issues and best practices: 15 points Knowledge of education sector development issues and best practices: 5 points Education: 10 points Total: 100 points Bonus: Language (level II or above) Tajik or Russian: 5 points. Grand Total: 105 points (100 required plus 5 bonus points) Notice to Applicants: The USAID reserves the right to obtain from previous employers relevant information concerning the applicant's past performance and may consider such information in its evaluation. F) OTHER REQUIREMENTS 1) Must be an U.S. Citizen and possess or be able to obtain a U.S. Government-issued security clearance at the level of SECRET. 2) Must be able to obtain a State/Med medical clearance to serve in Central Asia. 3) Must be available and willing to commit to the Contract Performance Period of 12 months; 4) Available and willing to work additional hours beyond the established 40-hour workweek and outside established Monday-Friday workweek, as may be required or necessary; and 5) Must be willing to travel throughout the Central Asia Region. 9. APPLYING Qualified individuals are requested to submit a Optional Application for Federal Employment OF-612 including experience, salary history, list of references, and recent sample of his/her written work (maximum 1-3 pages, i.e. policy memo) no later than COB (6 p.m. Almaty time) August 18, 2011. The form is available at the USAID website, http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ or Internet http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/formslibrary.do?formType=OP, or at Federal offices. Applications, recent supervisor reference and three (3) personal references, and writing sample may be submitted by e-mail, fax, DHL or FedEx air courier by the closing date, above, to: Tatiana Rossova Personnel Specialist Personnel Office USAID/CAR Almaty 41 Kazibek Bi Street Almaty, Kazakhstan Email: per.almaty@usaid.gov Fax: 7 727 2507634/35/36 Email or faxed documentation is preferred as mail delivery may be untimely. 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. USAID/CAR expects to award a personal services contract for an off-shore US Citizen for one-year period commencing as early as practically possible (preferably before September 30) subject to security and medical clearances and funds availability. The duty post for this contract is Dushanbe, Tajikistan. 10. Benefits include post differential, housing, and other benefits per USAID regulations. Basic household furnishings will be available in quarters to be provided by USAID. 11. Tajikistan is a fascinating place to live and work. It is easy to get to know Tajiks, who are extremely hospitable and open. Tajikistan is home to some of the highest mountains in the world. Dushanbe is surrounded by snow-capped peaks and is minutes from once-in-a lifetime outdoor adventures. The city itself is noted for tree-lined streets and a walkable center with a selection of cultural opportunities and growing number of quality restaurants. Although the country does face energy shortages in the winter, all USAID housing includes a generator that ensures constant power. There is an international school that provides an American curriculum for children grades K-8. 12. For more information about USAID/Central Asian Republics see Mission's website http://centralasia.usaid.gov/ Attachment 3 AS A MATTER OF POLICY, AND AS APPROPRIATE, A PSC IS NORMALLY AUTHORIZED THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS: 1. BENEFITS Employer's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Annual Increase Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual & Sick Leave Eligibility for 401(k) 2. ALLOWANCES (if Applicable). (A) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120). (B) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130). (C) Post Allowance (Section 220). (D) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230). (E) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260). (F) Education Allowance (Section 270). (G) Education Travel (Section 280). (H) Post Differential (Chapter 500). (I) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and (J) Danger Pay (Section 650). LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs 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). NOTE: Form 5 is available from the requirements office. * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). ** The forms listed 2 through 5 shall only be completed upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job. 3. CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs) PERTAINING TO PSCs CIBs contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and contracts. Please refer to this website http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solicit/ to determine which CIBS apply to this contract. 01-10 Revision of Medical Clearance Process - Personal Services Contracts ("PSC") with U.S. Citizens 01-09 Competitive Process - Personal Service Contracts ("PSCs") with U.S. Citizens for Support of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Initiatives 01-07 Clarification of the Extension/Renewal Policy Regarding Personal Service Contracts (PSCs) 00-08S Revision of Competitive Process - Personal Service Contracts ("PSCs") with U.S. Citizens 00-08 Revision of Competitive Process - Personal Service Contracts ("PSCs") with U.S. Citizens 00-05 Personal Service Contracts (PSCs) Annual Health Insurance Costs 00-03 2000 FICA and Medicare Tax Rates for Personal Services Contracts (PSCs) 99-15 Changes to AIDAR Concerning Resident Hires and Deviations 99-7 Contractual Coverage for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Services 98-25 Defense Base Act (DBA) Coverage and DBA Waiver List 98-24 Use of Compensatory (Comp) Time by PSCs 98-23 Guidance Regarding Classified Contract Security and Contractor Personnel Security Requirements 98-16 Annual Salary Increase for USPSCs 98-14 Change in Required Application Form for USPSCs 98-12 Advertisement of and Requirements for Evaluating Applications for PSCs 98-11 Determining a Market Value for PSCs 98-3 Class Deviation to 31.205-6(g)(3), Foreign National Severance Pay Under Professional Services Contracts 97-17 PSCs with U.S. Citizens or U.S. Resident Aliens Recruited from the U.S. 97-16 Class Justification for Use of Other Than Full & Open Competition for Personal Services Contracts with U.S. Citizens Contracted locally with CCNs and TCNs Subject to the Local Compensation Plan, and for Overseas Contracts of $250,000 or Less 97-3 New USAID Contractor Employee Physical Examination 96-23 Unauthorized Provision in Personal Services Contract 96-19 U. S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) - Leave 94-9 Sunday Pay for U.S. Personal Services Contractors (PSCs) 93-17 Financial Disclosure Requirements Under a Personal Services Contractor (PSC) LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs 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). NOTE: Form 5 is available from the requirements office. * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). ** The forms listed 2 through 5 shall only be completed upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.