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ISSUANCE DATE: MAY 8, 2002CLOSING DATE: JUNE 7, 2002 AT 5:00 PM (Honduran Time) REFERENCE: USAID/HONDURAS SOLICITATION NO. 522-02-022 NON-PSC CHIEF- ENGINEER POSITION FOR HONDURAS SALARY RANGE BEGINNING AT: $75,000 The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development in Honduras (USAID/Honduras) is seeking applications (Optional Form 612, Standard Form 171, or Resume) for a Personal Service Contractor (NON-PSC) of a U.S. Chief-Engineer for the Municipal Infraestructure Rehabilitation and Constructiong through FHIS in Honduras. Submissions shall be in accordance with Scope of Work herewith to the following address: Office of Contract Management, USAID/Honduras, Unit 2927, APO AA 34022 or by fax no. 011 (504) 236-7776. SCOPE OF WORK U. S. Engineer ("Chief Engineer") FHIS Executing Unit Municipal Development Activity Background: Municipal Development Activity Devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch in late-October 1998, and the associated flooding which continued through January 1999, resulted in the deaths of thousands of Hondurans, left nearly a million people temporarily homeless and caused incalculable crop, equipment, and infrastructure damage. The impact on water, drainage, and sanitation systems in Honduras was particularly severe. The Municipal Development Activity (MDA INFRASTRUCTURE) of USAID's Hurricane Reconstruction Program is supporting the construction of works related with the repair, rehabilitation, improvement and expansion of water, drainage, sewerage and landfill systems damaged by Hurricane Mitch as well as the establishment of new systems in sites where families displaced by the hurricane have been relocated. It is expected that approximately 30 municipalities will benefit from major repair, rehabilitation, improvement and expansion of their basic water, drainage and sanitation systems. Design and construction of the systems will be contracted by the FHIS Executing Unit in close collaboration with municipal governments. Expected results include: 1) rehabilitation and expansion of approximately 24 urban water supply and 27 urban sanitation systems that will be operated by municipal governments; 2) construction of eight new water and sanitation systems for resettled populations; and 3) comprehensive storm drainage systems constructed in five secondary cities. Private sectors firms will be contracted to execute reconstruction and regular assistance activities; day-to-day supervision will be provided primarily by individual contract consulting engineers and supervisors. An estimated 20 firms are expected to be involved, including contractors and supervisory firms. FHIS Executing Unit The implementation of these construction projects had originally been undertaken by the Directorate for Major Infrastructure (DIM) of the Honduran Fund for Social Investment (FHIS). Under the direction of the DIM/FHIS, approximately 12 water systems, 15 sanitation systems, 5 new water and sanitation systems for resettled populations, and 3 drainage systems have been contracted and completed for a value of US$40 million. In an effort to improve the timely contracting and execution of the remainder of the water and sanitation systems (with an expected cost of US$30 million), implementation responsibilities have been transferred to an executing unit within FHIS ("FHIS Executing Unit"). This executing unit has been given the necessary authority to contract the remaining water and sanitation construction, and manage existing construction contracts within the established timeframe. Under the direction of its U.S. citizen Manager (the "Manager"), the FHIS Execution Unit, which responds directly to the FHIS Minister or his designee is the entity responsible for the tendering process, supervision of construction contracts, and completion of the established objectives. A similar executing unit was established to contract and build the roads and bridges activities of USAID's Hurricane Reconstruction Program. Through approximately May 31, 2002, this executing unit will be responsible for closing out the roads and bridges component while assuming responsibility for the MDA INFRASTRUCTURE. On or about June 1, 2002, the FHIS Executing Unit will be solely responsible for the implementation of the MDA INFRASTRUCTURE. This executing unit is unique because of its special authority to manage and execute construction contracts. It is a unit entirely within the supervision of the Minister of FHIS, but is also unique in that all staff, both U.S. and Honduran nationals, are contracted with USAID program funds (i.e., MDA INFRASTRUCTURE funds). Headed by a U.S. citizen Manager, the FHIS Executing Unit will be comprised of MDA INFRASTRUCTURE-financed Honduran staff to implement the contracting, field supervision, financial administration, and concurrent auditing activities. A U. S. citizen will also be contracted for the position of Chief Engineer and will serve as the FHIS Executing Unit's chief technical, scientific and engineering expert. Under the supervision of the Manager, the Chief Engineer will insure that the FHIS Executing Unit inspects, measures and monitors all construction activities and provides regular assistance to assure contract compliance and adherence to acceptable engineering practices; that the engineering staff are effecting proper technical oversight and payment certifications; and that they are dedicating approximately 60% of their time to field inspections during both design and contract implementation phases. To facilitate the engineering oversight, the Manager, with input from the Chief Engineer, will develop standard formats for supervision record keeping and maintenance of daily staff activity and travel records. The remainder of FHIS Executing Unit staff will include approximately xx senior Honduran water and sanitation engineer experts, xx middle-level Honduran field engineers, two contracts specialist engineer, xx financial officer, and a complement of administrative and support staff. The FHIS Executing Unit will also include a two-person Internal Concurrent Audit Team (CAT), which unlike the rest of the staff, will report directly to the FHIS Controllers and USAID controllers. Role of Chief Engineer The Chief Engineer is the chief technical, scientific and quality-control officer for the MDA INFRASTRUCTURE. He/she shall be a senior, widely experienced and recognized water, drainage and sanitation engineering expert with the independent technical judgment and initiative necessary to exercise technical authority to insure the long-term success of the MDA INFRASTRUCTURE. He/she is responsible to assure adherence to the technical terms and conditions of the descriptions of the MDA INFRASTRUCTURE as stated in the agreements, amendments and implementation letters (which may be amended from time to time), and of individual construction and supervisory contracts. He/she will conduct sustained, vigorous, hands-on management of all technical elements, and is expected to dedicate approximately 40% of his/her time to field and site visits. The Chief Engineer will be a vigorous, pro-active advocate and control officer who ensures that the MDA INFRASTRUCTURE's ambitious technical objectives are met in a transparent and cost-effective manner. Responsibility for the MDA INFRASTRUCTURE's technical success resides in the Chief Engineer. The Chief Engineer will report directly to the Manger and, if required, will act in place of the Manager in the latter's absence. The Chief Engineer should be sufficiently familiar not only with the science and engineering of water, drainage and sanitation solutions, but equally as important, should be familiar with the application of appropriate technologies and standards in a Central American or developing world context. The Chief Engineer will apply his/her technical and scientific knowledge to guide and integrate the results of scientific studies and designs towards reasonably cost-effective systems. These water, drainage and sanitation systems should not only be operational within the local context, but should demonstrate a reduced susceptibility to future disasters. The Chief Engineer will: - Oversee all technical, scientific and engineering functions of FHIS Executing Unit personnel, contractors, consulting engineers and supervisors. - Insure that the MDA INFRASTRUCTURE's technical objectives are provided for in a cost-effective manner in all specifications and designs and assure through aggressive oversight that MDA INFRASTRUCTURE contractors effectively comply with these specifications and designs. - Supervise the technical activities of (a) FHIS Executing Unit staff, including approximately xx senior Honduran engineer experts, and xx middle-level Honduran engineers; and (b) contract firms and consulting engineers/supervisors. The Chief Engineer will design and conduct training and seminar sessions as required to achieve uniformly durable results. - During the design phase, visit all sites where MDA INFRASTRUCTURE-financed systems will be constructed. - Participate actively in the proceedings and adjudication of all construction, design and construction supervision contracts, including pre-qualification and bidding phases. He/she will evaluate the qualifications of engineers proposed by contractors for MDA INFRASTRUCTURE-related responsibilities. He/she will also insure verification by FHIS Executing Unit staff that the title to heavy equipment proposed for use in these activities is in proper order and that the machinery is in adequate operational condition for the tasks to be undertaken. - Critically review, approve and forward to the Manager all contractor invoices and certified vouchers. - Maintain a close working relationship with the USAID's Chief Engineer in the MDDI Office. - Liaise with scientists, technical experts and engineers of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, and with FHIS Engineers and non-governmental organizations to solicit their technical advice and joint oversight of activities, and to gather such experiences, studies, designs and technical data which may be useful to enhance MDA INFRASTRUCTURE effectiveness. - Liaise with and insure that municipal engineers and environmental units are actively involved in construction activity oversight, to the degree that their expertise and interest permit. - Insure that the FHIS Executing Unit inspects, measures and monitors all construction activities to assure contract compliance and consistency with acceptable engineering practices and security measures. - Work with the Manager to insure that FHIS Executing Unit staff are effecting proper technical oversight and payment certifications and that they dedicate approximately 60% of their time to field inspections during both design and contract implementation phases. - Insure that vigorous supervision and quality control systems are enforced by Senior Inspectors, who will in turn do the same with contract consulting engineers/supervisors. Through personal field inspections, insure compliance with environmental protection provisions, contract designs, specifications, regulations and procedures, use of specified quality materials, correct measurement of construction activities/advances, and other contract provisions. - He/She must be able to recommend technically sound and financially viable solutions to complex engineering problems related to water, drainage and sanitation infrastructure. - Adhere, and assure that staff under his/her supervision observe and strictly comply with confidentiality and integrity requirements throughout the design, contracting and execution process in accordance with a written professional code of ethics established by the Manager. - Promptly recommend in writing to the Manager and CAT the termination of any MDA INFRASTRUCTURE contractor or staff whose performance demonstrates a violation of transparency, or any contractor or staff who exhibits, in the Chief Engineer's opinion, substantial technical deficiencies and/or irregularities. - Review and provide approval to the accuracy of designs and specifications of projects. Suggest design adjustments deemed cost effective and practical. - Assure that municipalities receiving projects constructed with USAID funds are ready to operate and maintain them. (This may include coordination with local beneficiary communities as well.) - Assure that required environmental studies are prepared and approved by USAID and Honduran authorities before starting construction of works. Duration The duration of this contract will be twenty (20) months, with an option to extend for an additional six (6) months. Reporting relationships As currently contemplated, this is a USAID direct contract with an individual for non-personal services (non-PSC). The Contractor shall provide the services described in this Scope of Work to FHIS to assist it in accomplishing the MDA INFRASTRUCTURE. The Contractor will report directly to the Manager. This position is subject to availability of funding for MDA INFRASTRUCTURE implementation. Qualifications B.S. degree in civil engineering Registered civil engineer, licensed in a State or Territory of the United States. A senior, widely experienced and recognized water, drainage and sanitation engineering expert with independent technical judgment and initiative to exercise executive technical authority necessary to insure success of the MDA INFRASTRUCTURE. Fifteen years of successful hands-on international infrastructure engineering construction experience, of which five should be exclusively in water, drainage and sewer systems in Spanish-speaking Latin America. Demonstrated ability and versatility to methodically oversee technical dimensions of a large, complex activity in a wide geographic area involving numerous special challenges (i.e., acute transparency vulnerabilities, design for durability and hazard mitigation, political complexities, shortages of qualified personnel, hardship conditions, security risks, etc.). Specific public infrastructure reconstruction experience following disasters is desirable. Knowledge of engineering contracting procedures, such as pre-qualification, publicly advertised bidding, bid adjudication, payment and liquidation methods; and extensive experience in field supervision of infrastructure engineering activities, including, if possible, demonstrated experience with USAID or multi-lateral donor grant and loan requirements. Fluency in spoken and written Spanish required, FSI-S 3+ desirable; minimum FSI-S 2+. Polished speaking and writing skills in English also required. Computer literacy in MSWord, Excel and activity management software, such as MSProject. Demonstrated commitment to a field-oriented, hands-on dynamic style of technical management involving approximately 40% of time in field travel. Demonstrated ability to use independent judgment and initiative to insure compliance with designs and specifications, and resolve problems as they arise. Demonstrated ability to mobilize and technically oversee results-oriented staff committed to integrity, quality and excellence. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with host country and international counterparts, strong inter-personal skills and the ability to create consensus without compromising the integrity and results of MDA INFRASTRUCTURE objectives. Demonstrated ability to work under pressure. U.S. citizen.