Solicitation No. RFP-279-05-013ISSUANCE DATE: March 1, 2005 CLOSING DATE: 4:30 pm Cairo time on April 4, 2005 SUBJECT: USAID/ Sanaa, Yemen - Solicitation for U.S. Personal Services Contractor [USPSC] For Senior Democracy & Governance Advisor Ladies/Gentlemen: The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications from U.S. citizens or U.S. resident alien, interested in providing PSC services as described in the attached solicitation. Applicants must be able to obtain a secret security clearance. Submissions shall be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified and must include signed SF-171 or OF-612 and a written statement that responds to the requirements of the position (Education/ Experience required for the position). Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to Samia Joseph, Human Resources Officer, USAID/Egypt, EXO, who may be reached at fax#: 011-202-522-7197 or 011-202-516-0388, tel.#: 011-202-522-7180, and email address:
[email protected]. Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications. All applications and the required documents should be submitted to: EXO/HR - USAID/ Egypt U.S. Mail Virginie Gabra Human Resources Clerk EXO/HR USAID/ Egypt- Unit 64902 APO AE 09839-4902 Air courier Virginie Gabra Human Resources Clerk EXO/HR USAID/ Egypt Plot 1/A off Laselki St, New Maadi, Cairo, Egypt Postal Code 11435 For those who wish to send their application via pouch, please also send your application & CV by Email attachment (
[email protected]) or FAX [(202) 522-7197 or (202) 516-0388] to ensure receipt of your application before the closing date. Application forms, USG Standard Form 171(SF-171) and Optional Form 612(OF-612) can be located at: SF-171: http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms/SF171/sf171.pdf SF-171a: (continuation sheet) http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms/SF171/sf171a.pdf OF-612: http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms/OF612/ Offerors are requested to provide their full mailing address and contact information (telephone, fax or email). The U.S. Government is under no obligation to award a contract based on this notice. Sincerely, Samia Joseph HR Officer SOLICITATION NUMBER: RFP-279-05-013 ISSUANCE DATE: March 1, 2005 CLOSING DATE/TIME: 4:30 pm Cairo time on April 4, 2005 POSITION TITLE: Senior Democracy & Governance Advisor MARKET VALUE: GS-14 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 2 years with possibility of extension. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Sanaa, Yemen. SECURITY ACCESS: SECRET AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. Citizens or U.S. resident aliens who are able to obtain a secret security clearance. Note: A candidate who is otherwise qualified, but does not meet full requirements of the position, may be appointed as a trainee and be required to serve at a lower grade level for the period of one year. A. ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION OF POSITION: USAID Representative Office, US Embassy, Sanaa, Yemen B. POSITION TITLE OF DIRECT SUPERVISOR: The Senior Democracy & Governance Advisor will be supervised by, and will report to, the Deputy USAID Representative to Yemen, US Embassy, Sanaa. C. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The USAID/Yemen Senior Democracy & Governance Advisor will supervise and support the Democracy & Governance Specialist (FSN) to form the USAID/Yemen Democracy & Governance SO-008 Support Team. The Deputy USAID Representative will review and approve the FSN-PSC’s work plan and performance measures. The incumbent will be expected to work independently, take initiative, and be responsible for advising on all aspects of USG supported Democracy & Governance program activities. In carrying out specific assignments, the incumbent will work closely with senior representatives from The Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG), international donor organizations, local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and senior U.S. Government (USG) officials at the US Embassy/Sanaa, USAID/Cairo and USAID/Washington. S/He will be expected to coordinate and collaborate with the Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), the Embassy/Sanaa Pubic Diplomacy and POL/ECON Sections, the Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), the US Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Democracy & Governance Offices in the USAID/Washington ANE and DCHA Bureaus. D. WORK DESCRIPTION There is a pressing need to support democratization and to increase its credibility in Yemen. Democratic governance is essential to both the economic growth that Yemen desperately needs and to managing the conflicts that threaten to destabilize its internal equilibrium. It is therefore imperative for the USG to prioritize activities to encourage Yemen’s movement towards increased democracy and governance by strengthening representative institutions and the capacity and roles of their reform-minded members, and supporting more representative participation and a more representative environment. The Democracy and Governance Special Objective (DG SpO) (Expanded Democracy and Governance in Yemen,) amends the USAID/Yemen Interim Strategy (May 5, 2003 - September 30, 2006) that was approved on May 5, 2003. The DG SpO includes two Intermediate Results: IR 1.0, (Representative Institutions Strengthened,) and, IR 2.0, (Opportunities for Increased Democracy and Governance Supported.) IR 1.0, (Representative Institutions Strengthened,) corresponds to USAID/Yemen’s core DG activities that will address key development challenges in the DG sector and that directly support other elements of the USAID development program in Yemen. Activities under IR 1.0 will focus on the roles, capacity, processes and interrelationships among members of parliament, local councils, line ministries and community organizations and will include the allocation and oversight of funds in the national and local fiscal process. IR 2.0, (Opportunities for Increased Democracy and Governance Supported,) provides a mechanism for USAID/Yemen, if requested, to address targets of opportunity jointly agreed to by Embassy/Sanaa and USAID/Yemen, that are funded by bilateral ESF allocations to USAID/Yemen, and are cleared by the USAID Bureau for Asia and the Near East (ANE). The DG SpO will maintain the cross-cutting theme of special attention to the needs and empowerment of women that is a key objective throughout the USAID Interim Strategy for Yemen. Special Objective: (Expanded Democracy and Governance in Yemen) IR 1.0: Representative Institutions Strengthened 1. Local Councils Illustrative Activities: Train local council members in their basic roles and responsibilities; support the technical capacity of local council committees to identify community needs, plan and provide oversight of local projects; assist local councils engage with communities and ROYG line ministries in participatory mechanisms; train community groups to identify and articulate interests; increase the level of fiscal decentralization and local budgeting, planning and responsibility for public services Illustrative Indicators: Percentage of local council members actively engaged in committee work; percentage/number of targeted local government units implementing projects identified with citizen input; numbers of people attending town meetings organized by local councils; percentage of citizens in targeted communities who feel the local councils seek to address their priority concerns; increased resources directly allocated to and controlled by local councils; number or percentage of women participating in local councils. 2. Parliament Illustrative Activities: Train reform-minded Parliament members to increase their role in legislation, budgeting, monitoring ROYG expenditures and oversight of the executive; convene consultations for committee members with experts, NGOs and government officials; train women to campaign for and participate in parliament. Illustrative Indicators: Frequency of MP-civil society and legislative-executive interaction; frequency of MPs making policy-oriented interventions; frequency of committee members engaging in policy deliberation and consultation via committee activities; legislation with MP input; increased frequency and effectiveness of party caucuses; number of bills sponsored by reform-minded members; number of women who receive training to run for parliament and are elected. IR 2.0: Opportunities for Increased Democracy and Governance Supported Given the attention to DG programming in the Middle East generally, and opportunities in Yemen particularly, USAID/Yemen may be called on to expand its DG portfolio beyond its core program (IR 1.0). If requested, this second Intermediate Result (IR 2.0) will allow USAID/Yemen to address targets of opportunity jointly agreed to by Embassy/Sanaa and USAID/Yemen that are funded by bilateral ESF allocations to USAID/Yemen, and are cleared by the USAID Bureau for Asia and the Near East (ANE). The following activities for IR 2.0 are illustrative: - Political Parties: Train party leaders and activists in crafting policy positions on major issues and public outreach; train women to participate in political parties. - Civil Society: Integrate NGOs into Parliamentary policy dialogues; train NGOs in public hearings; increase capacity of Human Rights NGOs; increased prosecution of Human Rights abuses; encourage ROYG to promote human rights and educate the public - Women: Foster public dialogues for more women candidatures; convene “town hall” meetings between party leaders and women’s NGOs; provide opportunities for women to increase their participation in government and public policy - Elections: Technical assistance to the Supreme Council for Elections and Referenda (SCER) on electoral law; stake-holder consultations over reforms to law; reform election laws; build a civil registry - Media and Communications: Enhance journalists’ coverage of Parliament and the executive; train journalists in their role in a free and democratic state; produce communications products to increase public awareness and commitment to democratic processes and objectives - Rule of Law: Support reform to improve the quality of rule-of-law in Yemen. E. Duties and Responsibilities of the Position The USPSC will serve as the Senior Democracy & Governance Advisor to USAID and to the U.S. Embassy/Sanaa as well as support and supervise the USAID/Yemen Democracy & Governance Specialist (FSN). This DG program is anticipated to receive $3-$5 million in annual funding over the next 3-5 years of USAID ESF plus significant added funds from USAID/DCHA/DG and the State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. In tandem with the Democracy & Governance Specialist (FSN), the incumbent will be expected to coordinate with senior level ROYG officials at the national and provincial levels, local Democracy & Governance institutions, local and international non-governmental organizations, and other donors to achieve program objectives. The Senior Democracy & Governance Advisor will be expected to, in order of priority: a. Serve as the Senior Advisor for the USAID/Yemen Democracy & Governance Program: - Insure that planned results are being achieved in an efficient and timely manner, consistent with USAID regulations and policies. Identify and work with partners to seek resolution of issues affecting the achievement of results. - Monitor program implementation through site visits and close contact with groups involved in implementing educational activities. Advisor will work with partners to develop relevant indicators and to develop data collection systems and monitoring strategies for ongoing and new activities. - Develop strategies and programs for new activities. - Prepare all requisite USAID documentation including semi-annual program reports, annual R4 reports, and scopes or statements of work and/or program descriptions. Incumbent will also prepare additional reports, as required, to brief the US Embassy and USAID on specific issues or situations impacting program success. In addition to the U.S. Embassy, the incumbent will provide copies of all reports to the Deputy USAID Representative to Yemen, the Chief, Program Management team, USAID/Asia Near-East Bureau, and to the USAID/ANE DG team leader. b. Carry Out and Support Policy Dialog with Senior Government and Donors officials: In concert with the U.S. Embassy, the contractor will work with implementing partners to identify key policy constraints/issues that impede the success of USG, other donor and the Government’s programs to improve the Democracy & Governance system in Yemen. Working with USAID-funded implementing partners, the contractor will raise these issues and recommended courses of action in discussions with senior ROYG representatives, donor coordination meetings, and discussions with key advocacy networks emerging in Yemen. Effort will focus on enlisting support from other donors, senior government officials, and from civil society organizations for policy changes that will overcome program implementation issues or facilitate replication of positive program results to other provinces in the country. c. Provide Technical Guidance and Support: The Senior Democracy & Governance Advisor will provide technical guidance and support to USAID-funded implementing partner organizations in the development, implementation, and monitoring/evaluation of program activities and will serve as the USAID Activity Manager (CTO) for contractors, grantees and cooperating agencies implementing USAID’s DG programs in Yemen. Other Relationships: The incumbent will be expected to develop and maintain a collaborative, professional relationship with senior members of the US Embassy in Sanaa, senior ROYG officials at both the national, governorate, district, and local levels, and with representatives of other donor organizations supporting Democracy & Governance programs in Yemen, and with USAID-funded implementing partners. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION The Senior Democracy & Governance Advisor shall have the following qualifications. Note that in order to be considered those marked “required” must be met. 1. At least 8 years of experience in designing and implementing Democracy & Governance programs that includes at least three years working in developing countries. Experience should include Democracy & Governance program design, management and administration, policy reform, and evaluation, - especially related to basic Democracy & Governance. Relevant education beyond the Master’s Degree level may be substituted for up two years of experience (REQUIRED) 2. Proven familiarity with international Democracy & Governance development issues – work experience in international Democracy & Governance development programs is preferred. 3. Demonstrated satisfactory program management and problem solving skills. 4. Demonstrated satisfactory interpersonal and communication skills, especially related to policy dialog with senior government officials and program coordination with other donors. 5. First-hand experience of Yemen and facility in the Arabic language is preferred. 6. Understanding of USAID policies, procedures, regulations, and reporting requirements is preferred. 7. A Masters Degree in a field related to Democracy & Governance. (REQUIRED) 8. Demonstrated ability to communicate (spoken and written) at a university level in fluent English. 9. Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien and be able to obtain a secret security clearance. (REQUIRED) SELECTION CRITERIA To be considered, the applicant shall meet those qualifications marked required. Candidates will be evaluated according to the following criteria: 1. Experience (40 points): a) At least eight years of experience designing and implementing Democracy & Governance or closely related development programs, of which at least three years have been working in developing countries. (Required) Knowledge of the range of best practices from prior donor Democracy & Governance development experiences from around the world will be considered a significant strength. b) Demonstrated satisfactory experience managing complex programs in complex development environments. Demonstrated ability to successfully cultivate and maintain a wide range of contacts with senior government, donor and NGO counterparts. c) Prior experience assisting governments identify and implement alternative approaches to the provision of Democracy & Governance services. 2. Education and Training (30 points): a) A Masters Degree in a field related to Democracy & Governance (Required) b) Training and experience in operational research and/or data analysis. 3. Communication and Interpersonal Skills (30 points): a) University level English speaking, reading and writing proficiency (Required). Candidates will be expected to provide a recent sample of their writing and their ability to write in English will be tested. b) An ability to speak Modern Standard Arabic at the Speaking-2, Reading-2 proficiency, based on the Foreign Service Institute scale, would be very desirable. c) Demonstrated ability to work collegially, and effectively communicate with senior government and other officials and to successfully lead and work with a multi-cultural team. d) Demonstrated ability to cultivate and maintain a wide range of contacts with senior counterparts. Total points: 100 points APPLYING: Qualified individuals are requested to submit: (1) A cover letter of no more than 3 pages that demonstrates how the candidate’s qualifications meet the work requirements; (2) A curriculum vitae which at a minimum, describes education, latest experiences and career achievements; (3) A completed and signed SF-171 or OF-612; (4) A relevant writing sample of not more than 10 pages; (5) Names, contact numbers, and addresses of three professional references; (6) A written statement certifying the date and length of time for which the candidate is available for the position. The U.S. Government Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612 is available at the USAID website, http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solicit/ or at Federal offices (Note: applicants who submit the SF-171 will be considered as having submitted the proper forms for consideration. However, since the SF-171 has been updated through the OF-612, candidates should strive to submit using the OF-612 and attaching a resume). 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. The highest ranking applicants may be selected for an interview. Applicants may choose any of the methods in the Cover Page to submit their applications but USAID accepts no responsibility for delay in transit, mis-routing, etc. Submissions shall be in accordance with the above information at the place and time specified. Given the often intermittent problems people experience in the world with fax and email, all candidates are notified that, should they choose to utilize this method, they should confirm with the USAID/ Cairo Human Resources office that all documentation submitted was received prior to the closing date of this notice. Equipment failures at USAID or by the applicants’ network are not acceptable reasons for late submission, as candidates have the option of sending their application hard copy by courier. No, repeat no, applications will be considered after the closing time and date, and it is the applicant’s full responsibility to ensure that all their documentation has been received by our office. Yemen is currently an “accompanied post” for spouses and children 3 years of age and under. At present, dependant children above the age of 3 are not permitted at post. Nevertheless, education and/or separate maintenance allowances will be provided. TYPE AND DURATION OF APPOINTMENT: Employment shall be through an A.I.D. Personal Services Contract for a period of two years with possibility of extension. This Personal Services Contract is subject to the availability of funds. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES: As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, an offshore USPSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: BENEFITS: Employee's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual & Sick Leave Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service Annual Increase APO mail service as per post policy ALLOWANCES (If Applicable):* (1) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120) (2) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) (3) Post Allowance (Section 220) (4) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230) (5) Post Differential (Chapter 500) (6) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and (7) Danger Pay (Section 650) (8) Educational Allowance (Section 270) (9) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) (10)Educational Travel (Section 280) * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCS Forms outlined below can be found at http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solicit/ 1. Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612. Application for Federal Employment (SF-171) Optional Application For Federal Employment - (OF612) 2. Contractor Physical Examination: (DS-1843) for persons 12 years and over and (DS-1622) for children 11 years and under Contractor Physical Examination For children 11 years and under (DS-1622) (PDF - 2.6mb) Contractor Physical Examination For persons 12 years and over(DS-1843) (PDF - 3.4mb) 3. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86), or ** Questionnaire for National Security Positions (SF-86) 4. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85). ** Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85) 5. Finger Print Card (SF-87). ** ** 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. 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.