ISSUANCE DATE: March 30, 2015 CLOSING DATE: April 13, 2015 SUBJECT: Solicitation No. SOL-538-15-000001 (US Personal Services Contract - USAID/ESC - Supervisory General Development Specialist located in Georgetown, Guyana - GS-15 Ladies and Gentlemen: The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal services as described in the attached solicitation. The length of the position is estimated to be two (2) years or through November 2016, with an option to extend up to five years. Submittals shall be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to: Soraya Morillo USAID/Dominican Republic Telephone Number: 809-368-7101 E-mail address:
[email protected] Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosure which accompany their applications. All applications and the required documents should be submitted to the following POC by April 13, 2015, 4:00pm Eastern Time: Soraya Morillo/Ana Diaz USAID/Dominican Republic Telephone Number: 809-368-7101 / 809-368-7449 E-mail:
[email protected] E-mail:
[email protected] Sincerely, Ken A. Seifert Regional Executive Officer SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL-538-15-000001 ISSUANCE DATE: March 30, 2015 CLOSING DATE: April 13, 2015 POSITION TITLE: Supervisory General Development Specialist MARKET VALUE: GS-15 ($101,630 -$132,122) PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two years (renewable) PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/ESC (Georgetown, Guyana) AREA OF CONSIDERATION: US Citizens USAID/EASTERN AND SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN SUPERVISORY GENERAL DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST - GS-15 INTRODUCTION : The USAID Mission to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean (USAID/ESC) supports citizen security, climate change, and HIV/AIDS programs throughout the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, a region covering 10 countries and four U.S. Embassies. Since the management transition of USAID/Guyana programs to USAID/ESC in 2012, activities in Guyana and a small number of activities in Suriname have been managed jointly by a technical team spread between Bridgetown, Barbados and Georgetown, Guyana with overall management responsibility held in Bridgetown. To support these efforts, USAID/ESC requires contracted services of a development assistance professional with strong leadership and management skills to guide USAID activities in Guyana and Suriname. The Supervisory General Development Specialist (S-GDS) would oversee daily management of health, citizen security, and governance activities in Guyana and Suriname. Additionally a key responsibility of the S-GDS would be to coordinate with the U.S. Embassies in Georgetown and Paramaribo and keep the Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission informed of USAID programs. The S-GDS would also be responsible for liaising with implementing partners, Government of Guyana and Government of Suriname officials, as appropriate. The S-GDS reports to the USAID Mission Director for USAID/Eastern and Southern Caribbean. The contract for the Guyana S-GDS position will be for a period of two years with an option to renew contingent on need and funding availability. The position will be based in Georgetown, Guyana and will require regular travel to Suriname and to Bridgetown, Barbados for coordination with USAID/ESC Mission leadership. POSITION DESCRIPTION The contractor is required to possess an extremely high degree of competence, professional maturity, and well-rounded experience in performing a variety of program and project management functions. USAID assistance to Guyana is overseen by USAID/ESC, with everyday management of activities by a team of four USAID staff in Embassy Georgetown. This program requires a strong manager with well-developed inter-personal skills who is able to function well within a dispersed operational and management structure. The programming and implementation of USAID programs in Guyana and Suriname is complex. The paramount requirements of the position are a high degree of managerial, analytical, interpersonal, and leadership skills. This position requires a broad knowledge of development assistance management, placing a premium on the incumbent's ability to identify and develop linkages and synergies among various sectors of the program. The Specialist serves as the on-the-ground principle officer and as the senior member of Mission staff with responsibility for the management of Guyana and Suriname activities. S/he participates directly in Mission policy discussions, and program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Working under the direct supervision of the Mission Director of USAID/Eastern and Southern Caribbean (or designee), and in coordination with Technical Sector leads, the contractor will participate in and provide substantive input to project implementation, monitoring, and reporting. S/He will also provide active program coordination with counterparts and implementing agencies; NGOs, including those receiving USAID funds and others; international organizations; representatives of the international donor community; Government of Guyana and Suriname counterparts, Department of State, CDC, and Peace Corps; and USAID/Washington cognizant staff. S/he will also work closely with USAID/Eastern and Southern Caribbean Technical Sector Offices and the Program Office to ensure that projects planned and implemented remain consistent with the USAID/ESC Regional Development Cooperation Strategy and Embassy Georgetown and Embassy Paramaribo Integrated Country Strategies. S/He will also represent the USAID/ESC Mission Director to the US Embassy Georgetown Country Team and engage closely with Embassy senior personnel. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES As a member of USAID/ESC staff, the incumbent assists the Mission Director in the continued formulation of the USG's development strategy for Guyana in the context of Caribbean regional development, and the elaboration of USAID program priorities required to implement and achieve the strategy. The S-GDS will be responsible for liaising with USAID/ESC and regional platform staff in the Dominican Republic to ensure proper management and oversight of grants, contracts, and purchase orders that serve as implementation mechanisms for USAID activities and programs in Guyana. The S-GDS will serve as the Mission advocate for program performance impact in all areas of assistance, and will help set priorities for guidance of contractors, grantees, and other activity implementing agencies. The S-GDS represents the USAID/ESC Mission Director as required, and briefs the US Ambassadors to Guyana and Suriname; Guyana and Suriname government officials; bilateral and multinational donors; private individuals; and others as needs of the USG development assistance program dictates, thus ensuring coordination and achievement of maximum development impact with USAID resources. This requires articulating USAID's strategy for the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, brokering consensus, providing immediate response to fast-breaking developments, and facilitating information flows on critical policy and other issues. The S-GDS will provide daily supervision to four USAID/ESC staff based in Guyana. Technical oversight will be provided from the Mission's General Development and Health Office Chiefs. As such s/he manages, monitors, and approves actions of said staff and, in consultation with the Mission Director and Technical Sector leads, provides strategic program guidance in the technical sectors encompassed by the USAID portfolio in Guyana: HIV/AIDS, citizen security, and democracy and governance. As such, the S-GDS should have familiarity with these technical areas of focus and represent USAID to the interagency. Additionally, as the day-to-day manager of Guyana's health and citizen security teams, the S-GDS is expected to be fully knowledgeable about these sector areas, as well as fully conversant on programming principles from concept to evaluation. S/he will provide vision, strategic direction and leadership to USAID staff overseeing the implementation of all projects/activities in the HIV/AIDS, citizen security and political processes portfolio. The S-GDS will engage closely with senior USG embassy personnel and Government of Guyana officials on HIV/AIDS programs and activities. The S-GDS will be expected to garner and guide organizational and programmatic support to new program areas such as the environment. Specific functions include, but are not limited to: •1. Advises USAID/ESC Mission Director on strategic and policy-related issues concerning USAID's strategy, program implementation, or other issues in Guyana and Suriname. Participates in strategy design and project development efforts of USAID/ESC. Monitors and performs assessments in support of development assistance functions regarding existing or proposed programs. •2. Represents USAID/ESC to the Embassy Georgetown Country Team and advises the U.S. Ambassador on issues relevant to foreign assistance in Guyana. •3. Supervises the preparation and processing of program and project documentation. Contributes to reporting, planning, budget, and project design processes as required. This includes significant substantive input to USAID/ESC annual report and other submissions. •4. In conjunction with Technical Sector leads, reviews and/or prepares procurement-related documentation, including statements of work, budgets, waivers, etc., for new contracts and grants as well as for modifications of existing contacts and grants. Participates on contractor and grantee selection panels. •5. Maintains liaison with government officials and private sector counterparts to encourage open communication and to help ensure proper project/program design, implementation, and closeout. •6. Coordinates USAID program activities with bilateral and multilateral donors that support similar activities. S/he ensures that USAID is appropriately informed of, and advised on, policy and programmatic decisions made by other donors and the Governments of Guyana and Suriname •7. Conducts necessary research and prepares analysis and documentation in response to requests for information from USAID/Washington, the U.S. Embassy, Guyanese and Surinamese counterparts, contractors and grantees, and other sources. •8. Provides analyses and advice on the evolving political and economic conditions in Guyana and Suriname that is relevant to the development and implementation of USAID's programs. This includes reporting routinely - in writing and verbally - to USAID/ESC on these political and economic developments. •9. Undertakes monitoring visits to activity sites and prepares corollary monitoring reports, and organizes program events. •10. Prepares correspondence, cables, and reports in response to inquiries or routine reporting requirements regarding project matters. Drafts communication pieces: briefing papers, success stories, articles for the website, and speeches and remarks for public events. •11. Attending, and in some cases, organizing, meetings and conferences and preparing follow-up cables and reports. •12. Coordinates with and informs the U.S. Ambassadors and the Deputy Chiefs of Mission in Georgetown and Paramaribo on USAID activities. Represents USAID/ESC in discussions with the USG Guyana country team, with the Governments of Guyana and Suriname, and with other donors on the entire mission portfolio. •13. Works with the USAID/ESC Program Office to prepare program budget and activity information. This includes input to the Annual Operating Plan & Results Report submission, Budget Justification, Congressional Notification, OYB reporting, etc. Provides recommendations on budget allocation levels for Guyana development assistance activities. The contactor will perform other appropriate duties, as assigned by the Mission Director, (or designee) that are consistent with the duties and responsibilities described herein. This position falls under Chief of Mission/Guyana authority. The S-GDS is a member of the USAID/ESC Mission management team and reports directly to the USAID/ESC Mission Director in Bridgetown. The S-GDS provides direct supervision to one Foreign Service National (FSN) staff and daily oversight of three FSN technical staff. Responsibility for Decision Making: The incumbent performs under broad administrative direction, with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment, work of significant difficulty and responsibility and is generally understood to enjoy "alter ego" status with the USAID/ESC Mission Director. Performs work such as planning and directing/executing specialized programs of marked difficulty, responsibility, and of major foreign policy significance, along professional, technical, administrative, and fiscal lines, requiring extended training and experience which has demonstrated leadership and exceptional attainments. Level of Complexity: Duties are significantly varied and require many different unrelated processes and methods that are applied to a broad range of problems/situations that require a substantial depth of understanding and analysis. Decisions involve largely undefined areas and issues and require extensive probing and analysis to determine the scope of the problem. There are continuing changes in program, technological developments, unknown phenomena, or conflicting requirements. The work requires originating new techniques, establishing criteria, or developing new information. Assignments are of considerable breadth and intensity and require the participation and support of others. The work requires a continuing effort to establish concepts, theories, or programs or to resolve unyielding problems. Knowledge Level Required: Requires mastery of a very broad professional or administrative field of expertise to apply experimental theories and new developments to problems not susceptible to accepted methods, and make decisions or recommendations that significantly change important public policies or scientific programs. Knowledge level is characteristically acquired through education equivalent to the graduate or higher degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field, as distinguished from general education, or five years of progressive responsible experience equivalent to this level in the professional or technical field. Generates and develops new hypotheses and theories. In-depth understanding of management principles and an ability to supervise staff and engage closely with USAID staff operating from regional platforms in both Barbados and the Dominican Republic. Technical knowledge in the areas of citizen security, democracy and governance and health is preferred. Supervisory Controls: The Supervisory General Development Specialist will work under the overall guidance, direction and supervision of the Mission Director. Supervisor provides administrative and policy direction in terms of broadly defined missions or functions and exercises recognized authority. The incumbent has broad responsibility and authority to independently plan, design, and carry out projects and programs. The incumbent has wide but not unlimited discretion and judgment in determining whether to broaden or narrow the scope of tasks. Results of the work are considered technically authoritative. Judgment and extensive experience is required to translate policy direction into program documentation that adheres to Agency policy and represents the Mission's activities comprehensively and accurately. Guidelines: Guidelines consist of broadly stated and non-specific public policy statements, Congressional statutes and decisions, etc., that require extensive interpretation. The incumbent uses judgment and ingenuity in determining the intent, and in interpreting and revising existing policy and regulatory guidance. Complexity of Work Environment: Duties are significantly varied and require many different unrelated processes and methods that are applied to a broad range of problems/situations that require a substantial depth of analysis. Decisions involve largely undefined areas and issues and require extensive probing and analysis to determine the scope of the problem. There are continuing changes in program, unknown phenomena, or conflicting requirements. The work requires originating new techniques, establishing criteria, or developing new information. Assignments are of considerable breadth and intensity and require the participation and support of others. The work requires a continuing effort to establish concepts, theories, or programs, or to resolve unyielding problems. Scope and Effect of Work Performed: The work involves isolating and defining unknown conditions, and resolving critical problems. The incumbent is recognized as a known expert to the experts in his/her field. The incumbent resolves disputes that arise when leading experts disagree. The work directly affects the development of major aspects of professional programs of the Eastern and Southern Caribbean Mission. The work involves planning, developing, and carrying out vital programs which are essential to the mission of USAID, or affect substantial numbers of people. Key responsibility of the work is to lead, direct (directly/indirectly), and otherwise affect a substantial number of other professional or technical staff. Level and Purpose of Contacts: Contacts include those with high ranking offices (SES/corporate executive and above) at the national and international levels from outside USAID. Officials contacted are relatively inaccessible. Various parties may be unclear as to the role and authority of the other parties. Contacts are conducted under differing ground rules. Contacts typically include counterpart State Department Offices and Bureaus, Embassy counterparts, Congressional staff and legislators, leading representatives of foreign governments, and officials or representatives of large national and international firms and organizations, representatives of the news media, union representative, and U.S., Guyanese, and Surinamese public officials. The purpose of contacts is to justify, defend, negotiate, and settle matters involving significant or controversial issues among decision makers. The work usually involves active participation in conferences, meetings, hearings, or presentations involving problems or issues of considerable consequence or importance. The people contacted typically have diverse viewpoints, goals, or objectives and therefore the employee is required to achieve a common understanding among the various parties and a satisfactory solution that addresses their various objectives and concerns. QUALIFICATIONS •A. General The S-GDS must be a U.S. citizen capable of securing a U.S. government "secret" security clearance. Must be willing and able to travel periodically to the United States and extensively throughout the Caribbean as required by the program and on a limited basis world-wide. The work is primarily sedentary, although some physical effort may be required and there may be occasional exposure to moderate risks during program/project visits. The successful candidate must be sufficiently experienced to understand the needs of LAC/CAR, the USAID/ESC Mission, the U.S. Embassies in Guyana and Suriname, the USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), and the foreign assistance policy objectives of the U.S. Government in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean generally and in Guyana and Suriname specifically. S/he will demonstrate understanding of the theory and practice of HIV/AIDS PEPFAR programming and democracy and governance/citizen security activities and have a broad understanding of socio-economic development principles. •B. Education and Knowledge Required by the Position: The technical scope of the program is complex and requires the services of a senior program manager with knowledge of development assistance. Required professional qualifications and skills include: A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as social science, history, economics, business, public policy, international affairs or in a technical/sector relevant area from an institution of higher learning (US university equivalent). A Master's degree in a similar field is required. Recent experience in international development and relevant experience in the Caribbean is preferred. Experience managing health, democracy or governance/citizen security programs is required. Experience managing two or more of these sector areas will confer a higher overall ranking. Broad-based experience managing the programmatic and administration aspects of inter-disciplinary or multi-sector programming from concept to evaluation, including budget and management audit controls. Knowledge Skills and Abilities: A thorough knowledge of USG and/or international organizations policies, procedures, reporting and systems is required (and US Foreign Assistance). Current knowledge of political and economic conditions in Guyana, Suriname and the Caribbean generally is highly desirable. The contractor should have demonstrated professional ability though assuming increasing senior management and leadership roles. S/he should be resourceful, exercise sound judgment, and have the ability to work well with all levels of personnel. The contractor must have strong management, interpersonal, teamwork, conceptual, analytical, negotiating, problem-solving, and communication (written and verbal) skills. User-level ability to work with computers and common software programs is also required. SELECTION CRITERIA: Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following selection criteria; Education (20 Points): A university degree in a field relevant to economic development. Experience (20 points): Relevant experience in international development. Knowledge Skills and Abilities (45 points): Knowledge of USG policies, procedures, reporting and systems. Demonstrated professional ability, including relevant senior management leadership. Experience supervising subordinates is required. Language (15 points): Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) and English proficiency at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) 5 level. OTHER REQUIREMENTS : 1. Applicant must have US citizenship; 2. Must be in possession of, or able to obtain a security clearance. The successful applicant must be able to receive USAID security clearance that involves applicant's comprehensive background investigation performed by a US Government Agency. 3. In possession of, or able to obtain, a medical clearance. The successful applicant must receive medical clearance for serving in Guyana. Details of how to obtain US Department of State Medical Unit medical clearance will be provided once a job offer is made and accepted. 4. Accompanying eligible family members, must also obtain medical and security clearances, if applicable. Applying Applications must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter. Qualified individuals are required to submit: - A complete U.S. Government Optional Form 612 with hand-written signature (downloadable forms are available on the USAID website, http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms . - Resume - Cover letter 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 application. List of Required Forms for PSCs Forms outlined below can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ •1. Optional Form 612 •2. Medical Histoy and Examination Form (DS-1843) ** •3. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (SF-86) ** or •4. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)** •5. Finger Print 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. Benefits/Allowances As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: BENEFITS: Employer's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health and Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual and Sick Leave ALLOWANCES (if Applicable): * •(A) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120) •(B) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) •(C) Post Allowance (Section 220) •(D) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230) •(E) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) •(F) Education Allowance (Section 270) •(G) Education Travel (Section 280) •(H) Post Differential (Chapter 500) •(I) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and •(J) Danger Pay (Section 650) * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas) FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are required to pay Federal Income Taxes, FICA and Medicare. ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, COLOR, SEX, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, LAWFUL POLITICAL AFFILIATION, NON-DISQUALIFYING HANDICAP, MARITAL STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND AFFILIATION WITH AN EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION OR OTHER NON-MERIT FACTOR.