Senior Agriculture Advisor

Ladies/Gentlemen: SOLICITATION NUMBER: 167-Pristina-PSC-FY10-03 ISSUED BY: Executive Office, USAID/Kosovo SUBJECT: Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) - Senior Agriculture Advisor The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications (Optional Form 612) from qualified individuals interested in providing USPSC services as described in the attached solicitation. Submittals shall be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Any questions regarding this solicitation may be directed to the Supervisory Executive Officer, Mr. Michael B. Stewart, or the Human Resources Specialist, Ms. Mimoza Këpuska, at USAID/Kosovo's Executive Office in Pristina by: phone: (++381)(38)243673, fax: (++381) (38) 249 493, email: [email protected] email: [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 via fax or internet as email attachments or by DHL courier as follows: BY EMAIL TO: Michael B. Stewart, Supervisory Executive Officer: [email protected] Mimoza Këpuska, Human Resources Specialist: [email protected] , BY DHL, consign documents to: Address: Attention Mimoza Këpuska, Executive Office USAID/Pristina, Kosovo Arbëria I, Ismail Qemali Street, House No.1 Pristina, Kosovo Telephone 381 38 243 673 Sincerely, Michael B. Stewart Supervisory Executive Officer Please ensure that your application form is signed, otherwise it will not be taken into consideration. 1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: 167-Pristina-PSC-FY10-03 2. ISSUANCE DATE: August 30, 2010 3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: September 27, 2010 4. POSITION TITLE: Senior Agriculture Advisor - USAID/Kosovo 5. MARKET VALUE: $ 99,628 - $ 129,517 per annum (GS 15 - equivalent) 6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: November 2010 - November 2012 7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Pristina, Kosovo 8. POSITION DESCRIPTION: A. Background The USAID Mission in Kosovo was opened in July 1999 and much of the work has been in preparing Kosovo for independence and establishing basic institutions necessary for a democracy to function. During this period, Kosovo was an established an internationally administered region, administered by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Since 1999, over $1.2 billion in U.S. assistance has been committed to the reconstruction of Kosovo and to building self-governing institutions and a viable economy. In February 2008, Kosovo declared independence. The creation of Europe's newest state has proceeded on a forward path despite setbacks. Starting from virtually zero, Kosovo today is a functioning state, with a functioning government and a society that is growing stronger and more self-confident. The process of handover of Kosovo's nascent institutions from UN control to the new Government of Kosovo (GOK) has highlighted the young state's growing maturity and capacity. Nonetheless, much remains to be done. Kosovo, as an independent country, is only 25 months old and lack human and institutional capacity, which reduces the effectiveness and efficiency of government services. Kosovo is also currently undergoing a major process of decentralizing power and resources from the central to the municipal level. Concurrent with greater powers for municipal governments is greater responsibility for the delivery of public services. The quality of municipally-provided services is low and weak human resource management in schools leads to poor education outcomes for Kosovo's citizens. Two years after independence, Kosovo has scored important successes but is faced with new challenges. With a population of about 2.2 million, is the poorest country in Europe with an average annual per capita income of about $2,500. Unemployment, running at 45 - 75%, is a significant problem with rates of job growth in recent years too low to address the problem. An estimated 44% of the population falls below the poverty line with the majority in rural areas. The trade gap exceeded €1.7 billion Euros in 2009 and continues to grow. Kosovo's road and rail network is improving but in disrepair, while electricity and water supply is unreliable. One sector of the economy with the potential to absorb a large number of workers and counter the massive trade deficit is agriculture. This sector, too, has challenges of its own, including small landholdings (small farms of 0.5 to 2 hectares making up 86% of land farmed); uncertain property rights; weaknesses in government policies and practices; a financial system that does not service the agricultural sector very well (only 4% of all loans go to the agriculture sector); an enormous gap in agricultural exports compared to agricultural imports (€453 million in 2008); a limited range of crops produced and exported; an estimated 15% of arable land not being cultivated; an exceedingly small number of active producer associations and cooperatives; low and/or improper input use; an ineffective extension service; no real market information system; shortages of cold and dry storage; and inadequate agricultural education and training facilities and poorly functioning value chains. Despite the constraints the agricultural sector has recently shown significant progress. From very low bases, exports of horticultural products grew nearly 260% from 2004 to 2008 while processed fruit and vegetable exports grew by over 700%. Export destinations also expanded dramatically although Albania and Macedonia still absorb about 50% of Kosovo's agricultural exports. Between November 2009 and April 2010, USAID/Kosovo funded a series of assessments of the agriculture sector aimed at identifying both constraints to, and new opportunities for, growth in agriculture and agribusiness. The resulting reports include: the Kosovo AgCLIR Diagnostic (December 2009); Kosovo Agricultural Opportunities Strategy (February 2010); Kosovo AgStrat Animal Products Study (April 2010); Kosovo Go To Market Crop Studies; (April 2010); and Kosovo Donor Mapping Summary (April 2010). A range of recommended interventions and opportunities were identified in these studies which would assist in making the agriculture sector more productive, more responsive to market demands, and more able to provide new employment opportunities. Activities could include: linking farmers to markets through activities such as trade fair attendance, market information systems, and study tours; increasing and diversifying the types of crops produced through activities such as demonstration plots, commodity-specific extension activities, or introducing new crops/production technologies; improving food quality and safety through training on standards and improving testing center capacities; increasing access to affordable credit through activities such as introducing new financial products to smallholder farmers, assisting in loan applications, or providing business plan assistance; and, developing institutional initiatives to facilitate and build capacity in the GOK to coordinate activities in the agriculture sector. Agriculture activities will contribute to the IR 2.1 under the Assistance Objective (AO), "Increasing Private Sector-Led Economic Growth", under the new five-year strategy (2010-2014). This AO is structured as follows: AO 2: Increasing Private Sector-led Economic Growth Private Sector Growth and Investment is Increased Kosovo Has a Reliable Energy Supply Economic Institutions Ensure Fiscal Sustainability The candidate selected under this statement of work will lead the Mission's newly procured New Opportunities for Agriculture (NOA) project and provide strategic vision to the Mission's work in this sector. As such, s/he will coordinate closely with the directors and staff of the Program Office, Economic Growth, and Democracy and Governance plus the Regional Contracts Office based in Budapest and as appropriate, with the Contracts Officer Technical Representative (COTR) for any Washington-based procurement instruments, and especially with the COTR of the Kosovo Private Enterprise Program (KPEP) which also has an agriculture component. S/he is expected to keep senior management, particularly the EG Office Director, the Deputy Mission Director, and the Mission Director apprised of major developments and issues. S/he will have wide latitude to exercise independent judgment in directing the Mission's agriculture program(s) which will have a nation-wide reach and be of national importance. Travel within Kosovo will be routinely required. S/he will report to the Economic Growth Office Director and will directly supervise one (1) FSN. The successful candidate must be able to establish productive relationships with a wide range of senior counterparts, USAID staff, Embassy personnel and the international donor community. S/he must be able to manage competing interests and demands specifically related to agriculture, business development, market access, and the introduction of new crops in Kosovo. II. OBJECTIVE The Senior Agriculture Advisor will be expected to work independently, with minimal oversight, based on a general assignment of responsibilities. The Advisor will provide expert advice and guidance in implementing, managing and monitoring the new agriculture program (New Opportunities for Agriculture - NOA) as well as planning and developing new activities in the agriculture sector as needed to meet the Mission's needs. S/he will serve as the Mission's subject matter expert and will inform and consult with the Office Director, Mission Director, and U.S. Embassy Front Office, as necessary, on Mission-critical activities. The Advisor will oversee, coach, lead, direct, and manage one (1) FSN who serves as the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) for the NOA project. III. DETAILED DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Senior Agriculture Advisor will provide leadership, guidance, and overall direction in the development of USAID-financed activities related to agriculture and agribusiness development in Kosovo. Specifically, s/he will oversee the new agriculture project and provide strategic direction to the Mission's future initiatives in this sector. Specific job duties are as follows: 1. Serves as the Senior Advisor to Mission management and USG officials on policy and programs related to agriculture, including the development of new products and markets, policies that facilitate agribusiness development in a transparent and open manner, needed skills among producers, processors, and others involved in this sector, and financial products that conform to the vagaries of agricultural cycles. His/her decisions or recommendations will shape USG and GOK policies as they relate to the agricultural sector in Kosovo. 2. Pursues a wide range of contacts with government, private sector, voluntary institutions as well as other multilateral and bilateral donors on matters related to agriculture to ensure proper activity design and implementation. Attends donor coordination meetings and other events on issues related to the agriculture sector. 3. Participates in consultations and negotiations with host country government officials at the highest levels, and development and coordination of all Embassy-related initiatives in this field. 4. In the development of the project, s/he (a) reflects economic, political, and other trends affecting agriculture (production, processing, trade) and agribusiness development; (b) identifies ways to further meet both USG foreign policy and GOK policy objectives in Kosovo as they pertain to agriculture, and (c) ensures that cross-cutting issues embodied in the 2010-2014 Strategy are reflected in the project(s) being managed and closely coordinates with colleague in the Mission offices (Program Office, Economic Growth, Democracy and Governance offices, Executive Office, and Front Office), and especially with the COTR of the KPEP project where the potential for overlap is high. 5. Ensures that all required USAID documentation related to his/her project is completed and time and filed accordingly. May serve as principal or COTR/AOTR as needed. 6. Plans and designs agriculture-related activities under established and/or proposed program objectives, as needed. Identifies and implements necessary actions related to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of agriculture-related projects related. Promotes production and trade of agricultural and agriculture-related commodities and the establishment of linkages between farmers, farmer groups, and agribusinesses and new markets, whether in Kosovo or in neighboring countries. Provides analytical leadership and contributes to Mission strategy development and implementation to enhance the long-term impact of the USAID agriculture investments. Exercises independent judgment and applies broad technical knowledge of agricultural business conditions and trends in daily activities. S/he assists the Mission in advancing demand-driven agricultural production in Kosovo and the acquisition or improvement of technical skills in the sector. Presents and defends positions, as required, before annual strategy/Operational Plan and closeout plan reviews. S/he coordinates all activities with relevant non-USAID entities and GOK officials, particularly those in the MAFRD, to share ideas and information, coordinate activities, and track results. 7. Advises and assists the Mission in addressing implementation and programmatic issues related to projects in his/her portfolio. These may include resolving current impediments to assistance delivery in agriculture, liaising with the various stakeholders', and overseeing the installation of requirements for long-term sustainability and host-country ownership. 9. Interacts with all other USAID offices on all issues related to agriculture, business development, and enabling environment, including reporting, budgeting, and outreach functions. Seeks and applies lessons learned from other Missions. 10. Performs any other tasks as assigned by the Economic Growth Office Director. IV. QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION CRITERIA Experience (50 POINTS): A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible and relevant work experience is required. This must include some combination of agribusiness development, technical application of agricultural best practices, market development, and technical agricultural training. Six years experience working in developing countries is required. Experience in the Balkans or with other multi-ethnic countries is desirable. Prior knowledge of managing contracts and/or grants is required. Experience working with donor institutional structures is required. Knowledge and/or experience in SWAP arrangements with other donors are highly desirable. Education (10 POINTS): A master's degree and at least 10 years of experience in agronomy, agricultural economics/development or managing/establishing agribusinesses are required; or a PhD and at least 8 years of experience in supporting similar efforts and related planning and management are required. Interpersonal and Communication Skills (40 POINTS): Excellent interpersonal skills are required; the candidate should have a good record of establishing and maintaining relationships with counterparts, government officials, and international organization representatives. Excellent English writing, editing and speaking skills, as well as an ability to process information from a wide variety of sources into cohesive, polished documents are required. Albanian and/or Serbian language skills are desirable. V. SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES The Senior Agricultural Advisor will serve as key manager for ensuring the smooth implementation of this new $15.9 million program over the 2010-2014 strategy period. S/he will report directly to the Economic Growth Office Director. This Senior Advisor position will be a lead officer in discussions with senior Mission management and high level GOK leaders, especially the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development. S/he will directly supervise one senior FSN at the FSN-10 grade and oversee the management of up to 20 contract employees working on a full-time basis in two or more partner organizations. B. Length of contract : 2 years, with the option for Renewal (Mutually agreed to by USAID and selected applicant). LOGISTICAL SUPPORT Assignments of U.S. personnel to Kosovo may be accompanied: Spouses and dependents over 21 years of age are authorized to travel to and/or reside at post. Children under five (5) years of age may also travel to and/or reside at post. While all dependent children may travel to post, those from age five (5) to 21 may not reside at post. Current post danger pay for Pristina is 15% and current post differential pay is 20%. Please note that all allowances are subject to change. FICA and federal income tax will be withheld by USAID. In addition, employees will be authorized the standard household effects (HHE) limited shipment allowance for furnished post (7, 200lb), standard airfreight (250 lb. for the employee; 200 lb. for an accompanying spouse or other EFM) and shipment of POV. USAID/Kosovo will provide the contractor with suitable housing and office space and equipment, consistent with mission standards and requirements. The Contractor will have post privileges, such as check cashing, medical care, and in-coming and out-going personal mail service in accordance with USEP rules and regulations. PERIOD OF SERVICE The target start date for this position is o/a November 2010. Within 15 days after written notice from the Contracting Officer that all clearances have been received or, unless another date is specified by the Contracting Officer in writing, the Contractor shall proceed to Pristina to perform the above services. 9. OTHER REQUIREMENTS: This position is opened to U.S. Citizens only. The selected candidate must obtain a security clearance (Secret) and all required medical clearances. 10. BENEFITS: AS A MATTER OF POLICY, AND AS APPROPRIATE, A PSC IS NORMALLY AUTHORIZED THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS: 10-1. BENEFITS Employee's FICA Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Annual Increase Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual & Sick Leave Access to medical facilities Pouch mail service as per post policy 10-2. 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) (J) Danger Pay (Section 650) * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). C. FEDERAL TAXES: PSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes under the foreign earned income exclusion. 11. APPLYING Qualified individuals are requested to submit a U.S. Government Optional Form 612. This form is available at the USAID website, http://www.info.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms or http://fillform.gsa.gov , or at local US Federal offices. OF 612 shall be submitted by fax, e-mail, DHL air courier by the closing date. 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. 12. CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs and AAPDs) PERTAINING TO PSCs AAPD 10-01 Personal Services Contracts - Changes in USG reimbursement amount for health insurance and physical examination costs (2010) AAPD 06-12 Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12) Implementation (2006) AAPD 06-11 Home Leave and Revised General Provision 5, Leave and Holidays (August 2006) AAPD 06-10 PSC Updated Medical Expense Payment Responsibility (October 2006) AAPD 06-07 AIDAR, Appendix D: Contract budget, salary determination and salary increase AAPD 06-03 Updated Contractor Salary Approval Threshold Policy/Procedures AAPD 06-01 Medical Evacuation Update AAPD 05-10 Calculation of Vacation Leave for U.S. Personal Services Contractor's (USPSC) AAPD 05-08 Personal Service Contracts (PSCs) Annual Health Insurance Costs AAPD 05-02 Clarification of Policy for Personal Services Contracts with Anticipated Contract Performance periods Exceeding Five (5) Years AAPD 04-15 Cash Awards for USPSCs and TCNPSCs CIB 01-07 Clarification of the Extension/Renewal Policy Regarding Personal Services Contracts CIB 01-10 Revision of Medical Clearance Process - Personal Services Contracts ("PSC") with U.S. Citizens CIB 00-08 Revision of Competitive Process - Personal Services Services Contracts ("PSCs") with U.S. Citizen CIB 00-3 FICA & Medicare Tax Rates for Personal Services Contracts (PSCs) CIB 99-7 Contractual Coverage for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Services CIB 98-25 Defense Base Act (DBA) Coverage and DBA Waiver List CIB 98-24 Use of Compensatory (Comp) Time by PSCs CIB 98-23 Guidance Regarding Classified Contract Security and Contractor Personnel Security Requirements CIB 98-16 Annual Salary Increase for USPSCs CIB 98-14 Change in Required Application Form for USPSCs CIB 97-16 Class Justification for Use of Other Than Full & Open Competition for Personal Services Contracts with U.S. Citizens Contracted with Locally with CCNs and TCNs Subject to the Local Compensation Plan, and for Overseas Contracts of $250,000 or Less CIB 97-3 New USAID Contractor Employee Physical Examination CIB 96-23 Unauthorized Provision in Personal Services Contract CIB 96-19 U. S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) - Leave CIB 96-8 Determining a Market Value for PSCs Hired Under Appendix D, Handbook 14 CIB 94-9 Sunday Pay for U.S. Personal Services Contractors (PSCs) CIB 93-17 Financial Disclosure Requirements Under a Personal Services Contract (PSC) 13. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs For initial consideration: 1. Optional Form 612. Resume or CV may be attached. Upon advice by the Contracting Officer that the applicant is successful the following forms will be needed: 2. Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet (AID 1420-17) 3. Contractor Physical Examination ( Form DS 1843) 4. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86) 5. Finger Print Card (FD-258). ** (Available from the law enforcement offices or in USAID/Washington). * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). ** 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. SUBJECT TO FUNDS AVAILABILITY