Solicitation for a Project Development Advisor USAID Sudan

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72066722R00009 ISSUANCE DATE: 08/11 /2022 CLOSING DATE/TIME: 08/25 /2022 SUBJECT: Solicitation for a U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) for Project Development Advisor, GS-14. Dear Prospective Offerors: The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency forF International Development (USAID), is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation. 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 offers. Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in the Attached 1. Sincerely, Susan Easley Supervisory Executive Officer ATTACHMENT1 GENERAL INFORMATION SOLICITATION NO.: 72066722R00009 ISSUANCE ATE: 08/11 /2022 CLOSINGDATE/TIMEFORRECEIPTOF OFFERS: 08/25 /2022 (16:00) POINT OF CONTACT: Susan Easley, Supervisory Executive Officer, Wafaa Hassan, Human Resources Specialist – [email protected] POSITION TITLE: Project Development Advisor r MARKET VALUE: $95,973 to $124,764 equivalent to GS-14. The final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based on the successful candidate’s salary history, work experience, and educational background. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated . PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The period of performance is one (1) year, with the possibility of multiple one year extensions contingent on contractor performance, the needs of the Mission and availability of funding. The contract and extensions cannot exceed 5 years. Base Period: o/a October 14, 2022 to October 13, 2023 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Khartoum, Sudan with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Work. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to U.S. Citizens. For USPSC: Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (“green card holder”). Submit a complete application as outlined in the solicitation section titled APPLYING. Be able to obtain facility access authorization. Be able to obtain a Department of State medical clearance. Employment is subject to funds availability and all the required approvals obtained. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: The successful applicant shall be required to obtain a “Secret Security Clearance” as a pre-condition for employment. The final selected candidates must obtain both the appropriate security and medical clearances within a reasonable period. If such clearances are not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded. STATEMENT OF DUTIES Sudan's popular uprising and subsequent peaceful removal of President Bashir from office, the signing of the Constitutional Declaration, and the formation of the Civilian-Led Transitional Government (CLTG) in 2019 had set Sudan on a trajectory toward a more peaceful, inclusive society and an increasingly democratic government. Although the October 25, 2021 military takeover has stalled the transition to an increasingly democratic government in Sudan, the U.S. remains cautiously optimistic that the current situation can be resolved and is working to ensure that the reform process is restarted. Recognizing the extreme fragility of this moment but also recognizing the historic opportunity that the current situation can still hold after decades of authoritarian rule, and in line with both U.S. national security and foreign policy interests and USAID's prioritization of Sudan in Africa, USAID/Sudan seeks to support the reform process to realize the goals of the 2019 revolution. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract: PPDO informs and coordinates all programming efforts for the Sudan Mission. PPDO serves as principal advisor to the Director’s office on all stages of the program cycle such as strategic planning, programming, and project and activity design; strategic budget management; monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and learning; social, economic and development policy issues; environmental compliance; communications and outreach; donor coordination; results reporting, portfolio reviews, interpreting and applying program-related policies and guidelines; and implementing cross-cutting programs such as gender and inclusive development. PPDO leads, supports, and facilitates cross-team collaboration and coordination in an effort to achieve development results across the Mission. PPDO ensures that all functions across the program cycle are carried out in collaboration with staff from other support offices. Statement of Duties to be Performed: The incumbent’s primary purpose is to support the USAID/Sudan Mission with the broad range of Program Office related tasks and responsibilities. The incumbent will support the USAID/Sudan OPPD Office Director and other staff regarding issues affecting USAID/Sudan’s current portfolio including strategic programming, planning, budgeting, procurement planning, project/activity implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and results reporting. The incumbent will support PPDO through a variety of other assigned tasks and will respond to urgent information requests, tasks and other action items as needed. The incumbent will lead on project and activity design, results reporting, and collaboration, learning and adapting. The incumbent will assist the PPDO Office Director with providing project development guidance to the PPDO and technical staff in the Mission. S/he will be responsible for the direction, and monitoring of PPDO FSN staff’s work progress, deliverables, and quality of work on issues identified in this SOW. This will include delegating tasks, reviewing documents produced by staff, making edits and preparing revisions to documents, providing feedback on documents, and giving direction in concert with Agency best practices, guidance, and regulations. Overall the incumbent is expected to apply a broad knowledge of the U.S. Government and USAID regulations and procedures; and, program and sector planning and design based on a comprehensive understanding of the Agency’s Automated Directives Systems (ADS) and other Agency policies and regulations. S/he will prepare and contribute to reports and other presentations on strategy development, program planning, results reporting, portfolio reviews, mid-term strategy review, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning. S/he will interpret and provide guidance to PPDO and Mission staff on the application of the ADS and pre-obligation requirements as it relates to project and activity design and amendments. The incumbent will participate in discussions leading to the development assistance assessments, monitoring and evaluation, and project and activity design. S/he will provide guidance to technical teams and/or other groups; coordinate information and build consensus from various offices, , and support office staff; provide support in preparation for Congressional briefings, hearings and testimonies, and draft responses to congressional inquiries; review and analyze quantitative and qualitative data and performance reports and annual workplans, and perform other related duties as assigned. The incumbent will apply critical thinking and detailed analysis in contributing to reports, strategic planning documents and evaluations for internal and external audiences, including operational plans and performance reports.. USAID Consultation or Orientation (if applicable): Not required Supervisory Relationship: Incumbent is expected to act independently, in coordination with and direction from USAID/Sudan’s PPDO Office Director. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION Applications will be initially screened by the Human Resources Office to determine whether applicants have met the advertised minimum qualifications. A list of qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring office for further consideration and screening. Education: A Master’s degree in economics, public or business administration, political science, international relations or other relevant field.. Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) English is required. Ability to read and speak at a high, professional level in English on the core programmatic areas is required and will be tested. Some exposure or familiarity with Arabic would be considered highly but is not required. Technical and Professional Experience: At least 12 years of professional experience working in the field of international development on behalf of an international organization, the U.S. government, a non-government organization or private sector entity working in the international context. Of the 12 years, the incumbent must have eight years of experience and knowledge of project and activity design as well as the principles of sound program implementation, budgeting and reporting, and monitoring and evaluation is required. Skills and Abilities: : Day-to-day experience designing and managing USG-funded projects and activities that are implemented via contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants. Experience managing and/or working successfully with teams. Strong written and oral communication skills, presentation skills, and excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with a small team and diverse group of colleagues. Organizational skills and computer skills, including the development and management of spreadsheets, databases, tracking systems, etc., and the ability to interpret, organize and present data to a variety of audiences is preferred. Proven ability to mentor staff on project and activity design and implementation is required Ability to work well with teams in a support and/or leadership role is necessary. The ability to obtain a Secret level security and medical clearances required for the position 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 Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) will conduct interviews with all offerors in the competitive range and provide the final rating and ranking of the offerors based on the interview. The CO will consider findings from the reference checks as part of the responsibility determination. 1. EDUCATION (5 POINTS): This position requires a master’s level degree or higher in economics, public or business administration, political science, international relations or other related field. 2. WORK EXPERIENCE (30 POINTS): A minimum of 12 years of professional experience working in the field of international development on behalf of an international organization, the U.S. government, a non-government organization or private sector entity working in the international context. Of the 12 years, the incumbent must have eight years of experience and knowledge of project and activity design with the knowledge that some of these years have included working in a non-permissive or challenging development environment. 3. KNOWLEDGE (35 POINTS): ● Knowledge of USAID’s program cycle, strategic project and activity design processes and the principles of sound project management, implementation, budgeting and results reporting, and monitoring and evaluation, assistance and acquisition is required. ● Expert knowledge in project and activity design, project management, monitoring and evaluation and results reporting. ● Demonstrated knowledge in managerial and administrative areas, related to project teams and development activity management. ● Advanced knowledge in the aforementioned areas is desirable. 4. SKILLS AND ABILITIES (30 POINTS): ● Technical, analytical, and managerial abilities (project and staff) combined with excellent interpersonal, diplomatic, and teamwork skills. This includes learning agility and the ability to effectively adapt to new or changing situations; creative problem-solving abilities; the ability to establish and maintain effective relations with international and host-country stakeholders; sensitivity to others; and balanced judgment. ● Advanced capacity to work successfully in a fast-paced environment and capable of handling tasks with varying deadlines. Expert ability to conceptualize, both strategically and programmatically ● Excellent English writing and editing skills, as well as ability to provide cohesive oral presentations (formal and ad hoc) around complex issues in an understandable manner; ability to draft quality and clear documents including briefing papers, project design documents, powerpoint presentations, charts, graphs, and reports. ● Demonstrated skills in coordinating and collaborating between teams, offices, and or units within a larger organization. ● Proficiency in the use of MS Office suite, Gmail, and Google suite is essential. ● Advanced skills/abilities in the aforementioned areas is desirable. Total Points Available: 100 pts SUBMITTING AN OFFER For your application to be considered, the following documents must be submitted: AID 309- 2 ,“Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals, “available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms. Cover Letter addressing the Evaluation & Selection Factors (III) . Current resume. Application must be submitted ONLY via [email protected] and the email subject must say –: 72066721R00009 – Project Development Advisor. Be sure to include your name and the solicitation number at the top of each page. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered; the application must be submitted before or on the closing date at local Khartoum time 16:00. No in-person appointments or telephone calls will be entertained, unless you are required to have more information about this solicitation. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD Once the CO informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms. Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms) Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions for National Security (SF-86), or Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85) Fingerprints Card (FD-258) BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a USPSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: BENEFITS: Employer's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Leave and Holidays ALLOWANCES (if applicable): Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas) Temporary Quarters Subsistence Allowance (Section 120) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) 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), and Danger Pay Allowance (Section 650) TAXES USPSCs are required to pay federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable state income taxes. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources: 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/sit es/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf. Contract Cover Page form AID309-1 available at: https:// www.usaid.gov/forms. LINE ITEMS ITEM NO (A) SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION) (B) QUANTITY (C) UNIT (D) UNIT PRICE (E) AMOUNT (F) 0001 Base Period - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs) Award Type: Cost Product Service Code: [e.g. R497] Accounting Info: [insert one or more citation(s) from Phoenix/GLAAS] 1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD at Award after negotiation s with Contractor _ 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. 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 5CFR2635 . See https:// www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations. PSC Ombudsman The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information: https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman END OF SOLICITATION EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY : The U.S. Mission in Sudan provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. USAID/Sudan also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs. The EEO complaint procedure is not available to individuals who believe they have been denied equal opportunity based upon marital status or political affiliation. Individuals with such complaints should avail themselves of the appropriate grievance procedures, remedies for prohibited personnel practices, and/or courts for relief.