Ladies/Gentlemen: SOLICITATION NUMBER: 167-Pristina-PSC-FY04-03 ISSUED BY: Executive Office, USAID/Kosovo SUBJECT: Personal Service Contractor (USPSC)for intermittent Senior Multi -sector Advisor The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications (Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612) from qualified individuals interested in providing PSC services as described in the attached solicitation. Submittals shall be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to Human Resources Assistant, Mimoza Këpuska, at the Executive Office of USAID/Kosovo in Pristina, who may be reached by phone:(++381)(38)243673, fax:(++381) (38) 249 493, 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, internet as email attachments, or by DHL courier as follows: BY EMAIL TO: Mimoza Kepuska, Human Resources Assistant:
[email protected] BY DHL, consign documents to: Address: Attention Mimoza Këpuska, Executive Office USAID/Pristina, Kosovo Dragodan II House 1 Pristina, Kosovo Telephone 381 38 243 673 Sincerely, Signed Sean O’Leary Executive Officer 1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: 167-Pristina-PSC-FY04-03 2. ISSUANCE DATE: December 2, 2003 3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: December 23, 2003 4. POSITION TITLE: Intermittent Senior Multi-sector Advisor – USAID/Kosovo 5. MARKET VALUE: $ 85,140.00 - $ 110,682.00 per annum (GS 15 – equivalent) 6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: To be determined, but not to exceed 120 days annually 7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Pristina, Kosovo 8. POSITION DESCRIPTION: I. Background: USAID manages development and transition programs in Kosovo financed through Support for Eastern European Democracies (SEED) funds. Total SEED assistance for Kosovo is about $85 million annually, of which USAID/Kosovo manages roughly $31 million. The Mission recently completed a new five-year Strategic Plan organized around a Results Framework containing five strategic objectives (SOs) – SO 1.2, Improved Policy and Institutional Climate for Private Investment; SO 1.3, Accelerated Growth of the Private Sector, SO 2.1, Civil Society and government are more effective partners in achieving good governance, and SO 2.2, More Open and Responsive Government Acting According to the Rule of Law,and SO 4.1, Special Initiatives (health, energy, and anti-trafficking). An additional program objective, 4.2, implements cross-cutting programs such as training and education. The new strategic plan also identified five cross-cutting themes that will influence work undertaken in the strategic areas noted above. They include conflict mitigation, specifically returns and reintegration, corruption, gender, youth, and human capacity development. In order to effectively implement the newly-approved strategy, numerous project designs are contemplated for the next year. The Mission is designing, contracting and implementing these new mechanisms in a carefully phased manner to avoid lapses in the provision of key technical assistance and training to the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the Kosovar government, NGOs, and the Kosovar private sector. As an additional mechanism to strengthen Mission management under existing staffing constraints, Mission intends to contract for the intermittent services of a Senior Multi-sector Advisor (SMA) to provide a management “surge capability” to help deal with peak periods of SO management. II. Basic Function of the Position: The incumbent will serve intermittently as a SMA, who will provide program guidance and support for the design, implementation and monitoring of the portfolios associated with the primary Mission Strategic Sectors: Democracy and Governance and Economic Reform. The Advisor will assist SO teams and participate in activity development, implementation, monitoring, and results reporting. As an intermittent Advisor, the incumbent will perform the work of the assignment during a series of up to 4 TDYs totaling not more than 120 days annually. III. Major Duties and Responsibilities: Serves as an expert advisor and technical authority on complex and, often, precedent-setting policy and activity issues, developing policies, strategies, and plans for development assistance programs for Mission SO teams and implementing partners. Incumbent will provide specialized expertise to Mission Offices and SO Teams in designing and monitoring policies, strategies, and programs. For the primary SOs, provides support in drafting and finalizing activity and team reporting documents. SMA advises Mission SO teams on new developments, and the most effective approaches to problems of development assistance in the country, and articulates the benefits of interventions to effectively reach specific target audiences. Incumbent will provide technical advice, guidance, and support to Mission SO teams on technical and related program issues regarding the design, implementation, management, and evaluation of activities and activity portfolios. In role of acting SO team leader, provides technical liaison with other USG Agencies, other donor organizations, multilateral banks, PVOs/NGOs, and other organizations to coordinate their efforts with specific USAID SO programs, activity portfolios and approaches in Kosovo. SMA provides technical and managerial guidance for Mission SO research topics and activity-specific issues. S/he coordinates incorporation of the research findings into implementable interventions within the Mission SO portfolios. Provides expert advice and state-of-art professional assistance and support on policy, activity and SO portfolio implementation planning issues in development assistance. Incumbent provides assistance to SO teams and their partners in the organization and management of performance reviews and assessments. Based on the outcomes, SMA assists SO teams in developing or modifying annual procurement plans and in adjusting the design of new/ongoing activities, as appropriate. Over the course of the assignment, the Advisor will organize and conduct internal performance reviews of the activity portfolios of each Mission SO. SMA assists selected SO Teams in the design and oversight of sectoral and multi-sectoral assessments, and special topic analyses. Maintains knowledge of current literature in order to advise USAID/Kosovo to facilitate and coordinate activities in selected SO development assistance areas. Attends conferences and meetings for the purposes of professional interchange, and establishes and maintains effective working relationships with colleagues and institutions in related fields. Prepares, or oversees the preparation of activity and SO authorizations, funding documentation, and related implementation letters. Incumbent participates, as requested, in the review of contractor selection and approval, including preparing related documents such as invitations for bid, and plans and specifications for professional services. Coordinates, as required, the evaluation of activities and activity portfolios to ascertain impact and cost effectiveness, including implications for future activities. Advisor plays a key role in development and review of USAID/Kosovo SO activities and activity portfolios. Ensures all phases of project and non-project activity are developed to meet technical, legal, financial, statutory, regulatory and policy requirements. As needed, assists SO Teams in developing SOWs for sector-level assistance initiatives and interventions. Incumbent utilizes research findings to assist respective SO teams to refine overall efforts to achieve SOs and associated intermediate results, taking into consideration decreased budgets and other constraints. Analyzes trends with respect to the implications for selected Mission SOs and makes recommendations for action to SO teams and team leaders. As directed, organizes and leads internal SO team exercises to identify the parameters of new assistance initiatives and interventions. Performs other duties as assigned. IV. Management Controls The Advisor will report to the Program Officer or his/her designee. S/he will be expected to function with a high degree of autonomy within general USAID policies and management guidelines. When functioning as acting SO team leader, the SMA will exercise the same supervisory functions as the team leader. V. Desired Qualifications: In order to perform the duties described above, the SMA should have the following qualifications: • A demonstrated record of increasing responsibility and experience in the design, management and implementation of activities and SO activity portfolios. A combination of activity design and management skills is highly desirable. • Familiarity with technical issues in democracy and governance and economic growth is a plus. Familiarity with USAID policies and procedures relating to activity design, budgeting implementation, and evaluation. Basic familiarity with USAID acquisition regulations is highly desirable. At least 15 years of experience working in developing countries, including 10 years USAID experience in the design, management and implementation of development activities. • Familiarity with SO activity and portfolio management, results frameworks and performance measurement. • Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a range of professional counterparts. • Superior written and oral communication skills. The ability to meet tight deadlines with concise documents and oral interpretation is required. • Demonstrated persuasiveness, cross cultural sensitivity, tact and poise. 9. OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Applicants who apply for this position must obtain USAID security clearance and medical clearance. 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 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 or SF 171. 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 00-5 Personal Service Contracts (PSCs) Annual Health Insurance Costs 00-3 2000 FICA & Medicare Tax Rates for Personal Services Contracts (PSCs) 99-7 Contractual Coverage for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Services 98-25 Defense Base Act (DBA) Coverage and DBA Waiver List 98-24 Use of Compensatory (Comp) Time by PSCs 98-23 Guidance Regarding Classified Contract Security and Contractor Personnel Security Requirements 98-16 Annual Salary Increase for USPSCs 98-14 Change in Required Application Form for USPSCs 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 97-3 New USAID Contractor Employee Physical Examination 96-23 Unauthorized Provision in Personal Services Contract 96-19 U. S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) - Leave 96-8 Determining a Market Value for PSCs Hired Under Appendix D, Handbook 14 94-9 Sunday Pay for U.S. Personal Services Contractors (PSCs) 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 or SF 171. 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 (AID 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