U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT T+ (809) 567-7775 Avenida República de Colombia #57 RNC: 4-30-00171-6 Altos de Arroyo Hondo, Santo Domingo, D.R.,
[email protected] Dominican Republic, 10605 USAID.GOV | @USAID SOLICITATION NUMBER : 72051720B000021 ISSUANCE DATE : July 28th, 2020 CLOSING DATE AND TIME : August 14th, 2020, 04:30pm AST SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) Dear Prospective Offerors: The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation. A U.S. citizen for purposes of this definition also includes persons who at the time of contracting are lawfully admitted permanent residents of the United States. Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1 of this solicitation. Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all Offer materials for their records. This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the offer. Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in the Attachment 1 . Sincerely, Samuel Carter Contracting Executive Officer I. GENERAL INFORMATION 1. SOLICITATION NO .: 72051720B00002 2. ISSUANCE DATE : July 28th, 2020 3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS : August 14th, 2020, 04:30pm AST 4. POINT OF CONTACT : Farah Canaan / Soraya Morillo USAID/Dominican Republic Telephone Number: 809-368-7709/ 809-368-7101 E-mail:
[email protected] E-mail:
[email protected] 5. POSITION TITLE : Senior Advisor to the Sustainable Environmental and Economic Development Office 6. MARKET VALUE : $92,977.00 - $120,868.00 equivalent to GS-14 Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value. 7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE : One year, estimated to start on September 2020, with the possibility of extensions, not to exceed five (5) years, pending the approval from HCTM, need for the position, performance and funds availability. 8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE : Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties. 9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS : United States Citizens, U.S. permanent resident aliens. 10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED : Facility Access 11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES : Introduction: USAID/Dominican Republic is seeking the services of an off-shore U.S. citizen to provide assistance as a Senior Advisor for the Sustainable Environment and Economic Development office (SEED) under a Personal Services Contract (PSC) for a period up to two years beginning on or about September, 2020.. The Senior Advisor will serve as support to the SEED team and be responsible for managing, providing guidance, overseeing the portfolios, supervising, coach and mentor selected staff members. The Dominican Republic (DR) is the largest economy in the Caribbean and shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. The 11.5 million inhabitants of the DR include nearly 500,000 Haitians, and the two countries are major trading partners. Despite its classification as a middle-income country, 41 percent of the DR's population lives in poverty. Major development challenges include a high incidence of violent crime and narcotics, human, and wildlife trafficking, vulnerability to climate change, weak institutions, poor education, and lack of job opportunities for youth. Vulnerable groups, such as women, people with disabilities, people of Haitian descent, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, are often subject to discrimination. The Dominican Republic ranks 140 out of 148 countries for quality of the educational system and is the 11th most vulnerable country in the world to climate change. Transparency International ranks the Dominican Republic as in the 22nd percentile for corruption and 25th percentile for rule of law, demonstrating a high level of corruption and violence. The goal of the 2014-2018 USAID/DR CDCS is to improve citizen security to promote economic growth. Crime prevention is promoted by increasing opportunities for at-risk youth, improving basic education, and strengthening the criminal justice system. Climate change adaptation and HIV/AIDS prevention are also focus areas, with inclusion of marginalized social groups and transparency as cross-cutting themes. USAID/DR also advances several important U.S. Presidential Initiatives: the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the Global Climate Change Initiative. To support crime prevention, USAID works with at-risk youth by encouraging them to stay in school or helping them go back to school if they have dropped out. Vocational training and job placement services are also provided, as well as assistance in obtaining the identification documents that are required to study and work. USAID also focuses on improving the quality of education, by strengthening the ability of students in the early grades to read and develop other basic skills. USAID assists entities like the police, prosecutors, judges, and civil society organizations, to improve law enforcement’s effectiveness in fighting crime. To achieve an AIDS-free generation, USAID, in coordination with PEPFAR, is collaborating with the Dominican Government to achieve HIV epidemic control. USAID’s efforts are focused on the development of community and facility-based service delivery models that provide quality health services for key populations with the highest HIV prevalence. These include female sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgendered individuals and undocumented Dominicans of Haitian descent. Through improved case finding, quality clinical services, community-based support combined with focused efforts to improve supply chain management and human resources for health, USAID expects to establish models in the public sector that can be transferred for national scale-up. To further climate change resilience and disaster preparedness, USAID is integrating climate change-related information into municipal land use planning to undertake adaptation measures with a particular focus on water source protection and disaster risk reduction on Haitian border municipalities. These planning efforts will be complemented by strengthening the capacity of local governments to gather, manage, and use climate information and the implementation of on-the ground adaptation measures. In addition, USAID is implementing a regional program that includes: A regional Biodiversity portfolio and the Caribbean Energy Initiative. In 2018, USAID/Dominican Republic (USAID/DR) was awarded $8 million from the Economic Growth, Education, and Environment Bureau’s legislative initiative, Local Works program, to design and implement a community led development program along the border between the Dominican Republic (DR) and Haiti. In addition to advancing locally-owned development, the program is designed to enhance the Agency’s ability to empower local actors to take the lead in addressing development challenges to ensure long-term sustainability. To fulfill these objectives, USAID/DR will implement activities over the next five years based on identified needs and assessments to improve livelihoods and the economic integration of communities. To be able to effectively manage and implement the Local Works/DR and the other programs in the SEED Office, the Mission will need to staff a Senior Advisor that will be dedicated to ensure the management of the three large portfolios. Local Works project implements in partnership with local organizations to actively listen and better understand the complex dynamics and barriers to development progress in the Border Region. These efforts will be utilized to identify community needs, priorities and accompany groups in the design and implementation of locally-driven initiatives. Local assets, including youth networks, cooperatives, private sector entities, non-profit and community-based organizations will be harnessed to inform and lead this process. Individuals respected in the community by an array of groups, “bridge leaders,” will also play a key role in convening and ensuring buy-in from communities that have often been divided by differences in language, culture and politics. In addition, the SEED office provides expert technical assistance pertaining to biodiversity conservation, energy, sustainable natural resources management, locally-led development and water and sanitation to partner Missions and stakeholders in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti, Barbados, and the Eastern Caribbean region, which serves ten Eastern Caribbean islands. The senior advisor will provide leadership in the design, implementation, assessment and reporting on biodiversity and natural resources management programs for the regional Caribbean Development Program (CDP) Operating Unit, Local Works program, and the Dominican Republic’s bilateral environment program. S/he will mentor and coach staff. Frequent travel to the border region and Caribbean region will be required. The office anticipates receipt of at least $2 million in new funding this year to cover additional cross-border activities that will require an increase in management and oversight, and support Mission and country activities in Haiti. The initiation of the Local Works programming will increase the AGE office from its current 7 staff to 12 full-time personnel. For this reason, the addition of a full-time USPSC Senior Advisor is critical. The senior advisor will be an added member of the Mission that consists of 84 staff with a mix of local staff, personal services contractors, and U.S. Direct Hire staff. USAID/DR provides regional support services to USAID Missions in Jamaica and Eastern and Southern Caribbean. Duties and Responsibilities: The USPSC is assigned to serve as Senior Advisor in the USAID/DR Sustainable Environment and Economic Development office (SEED). Responsibilities include: leading and providing new guidance to project and activity design for the three portfolios, drafting content for the USAID/DR website that includes all portfolios, designing and implementing the program, and managing the resulting mechanisms. The individual will need to develop a new theory of change and logic models based on the assessments that have been conducted. Further, this individual will be required to lead programs and represent the Office in National and local government meetings. The USPSC will lead the preparation of the Project Appraisal document that reflects a wide, broad and varied program area for the newly awarded Local Works, Water and Sanitation and Caribbean Development program. The first year of the program will have an emphasis on analysis, preparing and finalizing documents with team consultation based on local, National and the current administration's priorities that will have a national to regional impact. The individual should have knowledge on how to develop and award new initiatives, award new local partners, and with the principles surrounding the Journey of Self-Reliance. They will be applying this knowledge to interpret and adapt guidelines, regulations and precedents to analyze results and recommend changes and deviations. This work requires continuing efforts to establish concepts, theories, or programs or to resolve unyielding problems especially in regards to the Border program which is seen as politically controversial. The position will be technically responsible for independently administering projects and serve under the management of the Office Chief of the SEED Office. The USPSC will provide and develop guidance and mentorship to SEED Office in the implementation, management, monitoring, and evaluation of new awards including purchase orders. This will require originating new techniques, establishing criteria and information and having flexibility in their approach This will include identifying opportunities for developing and, in some cases, streamlining processes and solutions in the office. The individual will also provide actionable recommendations on optimizing organization, and coordination on bi-national efforts and provide coaching and mentoring to staff. The individual will be meeting frequently with the Interagency, partners in and outside of the Agency, representatives of professional organizations and foreign governments, private sector and civil society groups to find synergies and collaboration opportunities. They must use their strong skillset to determine approach and motivate in negotiating with others to establish a strong rapport to relay information and find synergies and opportunities and to gain compliance of established policies and regulations especially in regards to environmental compliance. The work usually involved active participation in conferences, meetings, or presentations involving problems or issues of considerable consequence or importance. The individual will be representing at the Border roundtable with contact with diverse viewpoints, goals or objectives and justify, defend, negotiate, or settle matters involving significant or controversial issues. Overall, the USPSC is expected to: Be fluent in Spanish and English Apply a broad knowledge and expertise of U.S. Government, USAID regulations and procedures, international development, community organization and coordination to the development and management of SEED Office Independently plan, analyze and evaluate the planning, design and implementation, results and accomplishments of current project activities for their effectiveness, efficiency and significance Provide and develop guidance on best practices in addressing gender equality, female empowerment, and social inclusion and find opportunities for integration Mentor team staff where needed in USAID planning, strategy development, budgeting, program development, project design and monitoring and evaluation. Provide proposed recommendations for the Office Chief to consider concerning any adjustments needed to increase program efficiencies. Lead the Project and Activity Design for Local Works, Caribbean Development Program, Conflict Mitigation and Management, and WASH Guide, coordinate and lead the work of the technical staff and team. Use Google Suites to track all the components Major Duties and Responsibilities Leads the Activity design for the next five years for Local Works, WASH and Biodiversity programming. Assist in the management of both the staff and portfolio of SEED Office. Responsibilities will include assisting the Office Director in the management of 12 full-time personnel, coordinating with other USAID Missions in the Caribbean region, including Haiti and respond to taskers relating to Disaster Preparedness from the Mission Disaster Relief Officer. The position will serve under the management of Agriculture, Environment and Local Works Office Director and will provide expert technical assistance to partner Missions and stakeholders in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Barbados, and the Eastern Caribbean Regional platform which serves ten non-USAID presence countries. The successful candidate will provide leadership in the design, implementation, assessment, and reporting on programming, requiring frequent travel within the region. Further, the individual will assist in the management and coordination of current and future private sector engagement activities that are key in prioritizing stable, resilient, inclusive self-reliance that will support the DR in its journey to self-reliance. Supporting the Mission in completing the required steps, in accordance with the revised ADS 201, to develop timelines and log frameworks for the Project and Activity Design and Implementation of the three portfolios. Facilitating internal and external discussions to inform the approach, priorities and sectoral focus of the Office. Highlighting any perceived weaknesses or inefficiencies of staffing structure or workflow/organization of the office. Facilitating an office retreat for the SEED office. Identify opportunities, isolating and defining unknown conditions, resolving critical problems, and developing new theories for cross-collaboration between the portfolios. Assisting the Office in identifying new partners in the region and assessing their capacity and commitment. Utilize language skills in Spanish and English to coordinate and collaborate in cross-border activities and new partners, host government and USAID/W. Lead the approval process for the PADs and Activity Appraisal documents. The USPSC will independently assist in the management of new awards and purchase orders and coordinate across technical and support offices. The USPSC will also be responsible for managing the donor, partner and private sector coordination between the two countries. The USPSC will also provide guidance to the Office Chief on program budget formulation, project implementation, tracking, and reporting. S/he will conduct a review of the organization and structure with actionable recommendations to optimally align roles and responsibilities when necessary of the three portfolios. The USPSC will support the growing Office and other staff regarding issues affecting programming, planning, budgeting, procurement, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, accelerating Journey to Self-Reliance and Assistance and Acquisition strategy implementation. The work of this individual will directly affect the development of major aspects of the administration of these programs and staff. S/he will provide strategic recommendations and leadership in the design and development of the Office’s strategy and structure. Under the direction of the Office Chief the USPSC will collaborate with the Mission’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) contractor and team to lead, develop and implement practical information tracking systems. S/he will also advise on the design of planned evaluations. The USPSC will support the Mission through a variety of other tasks as assigned and will respond to urgent information requests and action items as needed. 12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS : The work requested does not involve undue physical demands. II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION In order to be considered for this position a candidate must meet the Required Minimum Qualifications listed below. Consideration and selection will be based on panel evaluation of Required Minimum Qualifications, Desired Qualifications and Evaluation Factors. Additionally, interviews and writing samples may be requested. Prior Work Experience : A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in project design and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation, preferably for U.S. Government agencies is required. Formal team leader responsibilities for coordinating/directing the work of other professional staff required. Education : Bachelor’s degree in environment, geography, economics, public or business administration, political science, international relations or a related field is required. Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) in English and Level III (advanced) Spanish Knowledge : Knowledge of U.S. Government laws, policies, regulations and procedures related to international development assistance. Mastery and expert in development project design as well as the principles of sound program oversight, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation, and assistance and acquisition is required. Experience working on complicated interconnected issues, multi-disciplinary approaches, conflict, gender equality, female empowerment, and social inclusion in the international development context, including integration of the same in the design and implementation of assistance programs is preferred. A working knowledge of the Latin America and Caribbean region, its institutions, and peculiar development challenges is preferred. Demonstrated ability to work across multiple technical sectors and provide technical solutions is required. Skills, and Abilities : Excellent written and oral communications skills; analytical; management; and interpersonal/teamwork skills required. Computer skills, including the development and management of spreadsheets, tracking systems, etc., and the ability to interpret, organize and present data to a variety of audiences preferred. Ability to multi-task Ability to work in teams is necessary. III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far. The following factors will be the basis for the evaluation of applications meeting the required minimum qualifications. All applications will be evaluated based on the documentation submitted with the application. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation. The successful candidate will be selected based on his/her qualifications, results of reference checks and an interview. Education (15 points) : Professional experience in project design and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation, preferably for U.S. Government agencies is required. Detailed experience in developing IGCEs, Gaant charts and work plans is preferred Prior Work Experience (25 points) A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in project design and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation, preferably for U.S. Government agencies is required. Previous experience in managing regional portfolios preferred. Formal team leader responsibilities for coordinating/directing the work of other professional staff required. Language Proficiency (10 points): Level IV (fluent) in English and Level III (advanced) Spanish Knowledge (25 points): Knowledge of U.S. Government laws, policies, regulations and procedures related to international development assistance. Knowledge of USAID mission, strategies, and initiatives. Mastery of development project design, the USAID Program Cycle and project design guidance as well as the principles of sound program oversight, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation, and assistance and acquisition is required. Experience working on complicated interconnected issues, multi-disciplinary approaches, conflict, gender equality, female empowerment, and social inclusion in the international development context, including integration of the same in the design and implementation of USAID programs is preferred. A working knowledge of the Latin America and Caribbean region, its institutions, and peculiar development challenges is required. Demonstrated ability to work across multiple technical sectors is required. Skills, and Abilities (25 points): Excellent written and oral communications; analytical; management; and interpersonal/teamwork skills required. Computer skills, including the development and management of spreadsheets, tracking systems, etc., and the ability to interpret, organize and present data to a variety of audiences preferred. Ability to multi-task Ability to work in teams is necessary. 1. Degree of responsibility for decision-making: Incumbent is expected to work independently on work of significant difficulty with formal decision-making authority aligned with the office’s program’s areas. A high degree of independent judgment is required to provide guidance to the Office Chief, support office staff and technical teams on policies and practices related to program budget formulation, tracking, and reporting. 2. Level of resources allocated to this assignment: USAID/Dominican Republic Operational funds will be used to cover expenses of this position for the first year. Subsequent years, if approved by HCTM, will be funded by Program funds. 3. Complexity of the host government’s organizational structure and its effect on the incumbent’s responsibilities: Very complex. The individual will need to implement multi-disciplinary approaches to complicated interconnected issues. 4. Level of management expertise in host-country offices: The employee is expected to have broad knowledge of Haiti, Dominican Republic and cross-border issues. Sound expertise and knowledge of development projects in the Dominican Republic is required. 5. Stage of activity (formative or established): Formative 6. Level and purpose of contacts: The employee will work closely with Office Chief for the purposes of providing overall guidance to programming, planning, development, coordinating, budgeting, procurement, implementation, monitoring, managing for results, accelerating journey to self-reliance. In addition, the incumbent will represent USAID/DR and meet with NGOs, think tanks, local partners universities and private organizations to get a sound knowledge of local development needs. 7. Level of work of assignments: Mid-level technical and high policy and programmatic. The level of analysis for accomplishing work is high and will require original and unique thought to identify sound alternatives to expand U.S. Government programming in-country. 8. Level of supportive work in a professional or administrative field: A high level of supportive programmatic work will be required. This includes programming, planning, development, budgeting, procurement, implementation, monitoring, coordination and evaluation. 9. Level of knowledge or experience required to perform work assigned: Professional knowledge of program management, project design and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. Knowledge of international development is required, and the Dominican Republic, Haiti and cross-border and regional context is required. Previous knowledge preferably for U.S. Government agencies is required. Specifically, knowledge of U.S. Government laws, policies, ADS regulations and procedures related to international development assistance. Knowledge of USAID’s strategic program and project development process and the principles of sound program oversight, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation, assistance and acquisition is required. 10. Level of supervision required over the position: Minimal. The employee is expected to work independently and report to the Office Chief. IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER 1. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2 , “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts,” available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms. 2. Offers must be received by the closing date and time and submitted to the Point of Contact specified in Section I. 3. Offeror submissions must clearly reference the number on all offeror submitted documents. 4. An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) or resume : Your CV/resume must contain enough relevant information to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria. Broad general statements that are vague or lacking specificity will not be considered as effectively addressing selection criteria. 5. Cover Letter V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award. Forms outlined below can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ 1. Form AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals,” 2. Medical History and Examination Form (DS-1843) ** 3. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (SF-86) ** or 4. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85) ** 5. Fingerprint 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. VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a USPSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: 1. BENEFITS: (a) Employer's FICA Contribution (b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance (c) Pay Comparability Adjustment (d) Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation) (e) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation (f) Annual and Sick Leave 2. ALLOWANCES: Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas) Temporary Quarter Subsistence Allowance (Section 120) Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 210) Post Allowance (Section 220) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) Education Allowance (Section 270) Education Travel (Section 280) Post Differential (Chapter 500) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), VII. TAXES USPSCs are required to pay Federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State income taxes. VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources: 1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix D, “Direct USAID Contracts with a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/s ites/de fault/files/do c uments/1868/aidar_0.pdf . 2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-2 available at https://www.usaid.gov/form s 3. Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins ( AAPDs/CIBs ) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs . 4. Ethical Conduct. By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “ Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, ” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635 . See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations END OF SOLICITATION