SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Solicitation USPSC - Program Coordinator HIV/AIDS
- Notice Date
- 3/29/2007
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Agency for International Development, Overseas Missions, South Africa USAID-Pretoria, Dept of State, Washington, DC, 20521-6120, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- 674-07-004
- Response Due
- 4/27/2007
- Archive Date
- 4/27/2007
- Description
- ISSUANCE DATE: March 29, 2007 CLOSING DATE: April 27, 2007 SUBJECT: Solicitation No. 674-00-07-004 Ladies/Gentlemen: The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications from qualified individuals interested in providing the PSC services as described in the attached solicitation. Submission shall be in accordance with the attached information and applications should be submitted electronically to gwarshaw@usaid.gov , Contracting Officer, Pretoria, South Africa. This solicitation will remain open until April 27, 2007. Late applications shall not be accepted. This solicitation does not represent a commitment on behalf of USAID. The U.S. Government not obliged to make any award or pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of an application in response to this solicitation. USAID reserves the right to award all or none of the contracts contemplated herein, subject to the availability of funds. Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to the above email address. Sincerely Gail H. Warshaw Contracting Officer USAID/Pretoria UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) United States Government (USG) HIV/AIDS Program Coordinator - SWAZILAND PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACTOR (PSC) 1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: 674-07-004 2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 28, 2007 3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: April 27, 2007 at 12.00 noon, local time, Pretoria, South Africa time. 4. POSITION TITLE: United States Government (USG) HIV/AIDS Program Coordinator 5. MARKET VALUE OF POSITION: (GS 14 - $79,115 - $102,848 per annum). The salary to be paid within this grade will depend on experience, qualifications, and salary history. The standard compensation package also includes a contribution for life and health insurance and a contribution to FICA. If the selected candidate qualifies as an off-shore hire under USAID regulations, the employee will additionally receive post differential approved for Swaziland (currently set at 10% of base pay), housing, international travel, shipment benefits and education allowances. 6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two years to start on or about September 2007 or as soon as the contract is ready for signature, with the possibility of extensions. Extensions will depend on the need for continuation of such services, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance. 7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Mbabane, Swaziland. 8. SECURITY ACCESS: Secret level clearance required. 9. JOB DESCRIPTION: A. Position Title: United States Government (USG) HIV/AIDS Program Coordinator B. Organizational Location of the Position: U.S. Embassy, Mbabane, Swaziland C. Position Title of Direct Supervisor: USAID Regional HIV/AIDS Program Director, Pretoria, South Africa D. Supervisory and Administrative Controls The USAID/Swaziland PEPFAR Coordinator will work under the leadership and day to day oversight of the Ambassador/DCM, as part of the USG HIV/AIDS Team in Swaziland. The Ambassador/DCM also shall have a leading role in evaluating the performance of the individual selected for the PEPFAR Coordinator position. Given that the PEPFAR Coordinator will be based in the US Embassy, time and attendance forms will be approved by the DCM. In accordance with USAID rules and regulations governing USAID programs and operations, USAID shall administer most administrative and human resource requirements of the PEPFAR Coordinator, including but not limited to, payroll, personnel files, managing the USAID contractor evaluation process, and any required formal approval of travel. The USAID RHAP Director will be the overall supervising officer for purposes of the USAID PSC contract with the PEPFAR Coordinator, with the understanding that the Ambassador/DCM shall provide day to day oversight of the individual selected. E. Introduction and Background: Swaziland is a non-focus but high priority country under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Emergency Plan), a unified USG initiative that from 2004 to 2008 is contributing globally to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Swaziland has the most severe national HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis crisis in the world, with an adult HIV prevalence rate at 42.6 percent. This unprecedented crisis requires an emergency response. Under the President?s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Emergency Plan), the United States Government (USG) employs strategies, principles and resources to assist Swaziland in containing, reversing, and mitigating the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The USG Emergency Plan program works closely with the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland (GKOS) at all levels to address the policy, advocacy, financial, and technical challenges which constrain Swaziland?s ability to halt the epidemic. Close collaboration is a feature of the significant financial and technical support provided by USG. Additionally, the USG is by far the single largest and most significant contributor to Swaziland?s national response, both through the Emergency Plan and through the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM). USG Emergency Plan resources for Swaziland were $7 million dollars in FY 2006. The Emergency Plan in Swaziland is lead by the U.S. Ambassador and the USG inter-agency HIV/AIDS Task Force, which currently consists of the Emergency Plan Coordinator, CDC Technical Program Manager, members of the USAID/Regional HIV/AIDS Program, members of the CDC/Southern Africa Regional AIDS Program, Swaziland Peace Corps Director, and Department of Defense staff members. The U.S. Mission, the Task Force, and the Emergency Plan program partners have worked collaboratively over the past two years to achieve quality and rapid scale-up of USG-funded HIV/AIDS programming. The next two years, however, mark an important transition period for the Emergency Plan in Swaziland with a greater in-country staff presence. F. Basic Functions: The incumbent is designated by the Chief of Mission (Ambassador) or his/her designate, to serve as principal point of contact and coordinator of activities related to the U.S. President?s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (the Emergency Plan / PEPFAR) in Swaziland. The incumbent will facilitate the development and implementation of a unified PEPFAR program for Swaziland that makes best use of the comparative advantages and competencies of participating USG agencies, achieves maximum results related to the PEPFAR 2-7-10 targets, aligns with the Kingdom of Swaziland National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS, and is optimally responsive to the needs of Swazis infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS. G. Duties and Responsibilities: ? Convening, chairing, and disseminating and retaining records of regular meetings of the Embassy PEPFAR Team. ? Providing updates from OGAC?s weekly News to the Field and leading the discussion on its implications for EP work in Swaziland. ? Facilitating meetings and disseminating and retaining records of meetings of technical working groups. ? Managing operational and strategic planning processes to assure development of a balanced and focused PEPFAR program in Swaziland, supporting positive relationships across agencies and mediating interagency or interpersonal conflicts that may occur. ? Facilitating and enforcing timely financial and programmatic reporting by all participating USG agencies and their implementing partners. This would specifically include providing leadership, coordination, and oversight with the preparation and electronic submission of the Mission's mini-Country Operational Plan (mini-COP) or HIV/AIDS segment of FY08 OP, and liaising with USG agencies to ensure timely completion of the necessary data entry. ? Managing TDYs essential to the above as well as coordinating clearance for TDYs specific to the programs of individual USG implementing agencies to promote inter-agency benefits from TDYs wherever possible/appropriate. ? Supporting efforts by USG implementing agencies to recruit, qualify, and successfully engage new, especially indigenous, partners in PEPFAR activities. ? Preparing and disseminating periodic internal and external updates/status reports on PEPFAR in Swaziland. Internal audiences shall be limited to USG participants, including HQ. External audiences shall include Swazi partners and stakeholders, non-governmental implementing partners, and less frequently Swazi media and the general public. ? Supervising staff deemed essential to effective coordination of the PEPFAR program in Swaziland. ? Liaising with the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), and particularly with the Swaziland ?Support Team? named by OGAC. ? Liaising with interested/affected units at the Embassy to assure that COM/DCM and others are current on key PEPFAR accomplishments, challenges and timelines. ? Liaising with named representatives of the USG PEPFAR implementing agencies, i.e., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Peace Corps, US Agency for International Development (USAID), US Department of Defense (DOD) and US Department of Labor (DOL). ? Liaising with specified Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland ministries/offices to promote maximum complementarities and collaboration between GKOS HIV/AIDS programs and those being planned and implemented by USG agencies and their partners. Act as primary liaison with the PEPFAR task force and Technical Steering committee. ? Liaising with donors active in HIV/AIDS, and with the Country Coordination Mechanism and administrative agents of the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria to assure optimal integration of USG efforts with those of others. ? Supporting representational activities by the following illustrative examples, among others o preparing speeches for delivery by the COM/DCM and requested background materials for public as well as sensitive diplomatic events, o preparing written materials in collaboration with the PAO including press releases and Op-Ed materials for local and international media, o supporting CoDels, StafDels, and visits by international dignitaries. H. Qualifications: The following are REQUIRED: ? An advanced degree (Masters or higher) in a relevant professional discipline. ? At least 5 years of progressively more senior experience managing HIV/AIDS programs, ideally in a developing country context. ? Excellent written and oral English communication skills. ? Demonstrated ability to develop and coordinate implementation of detailed work plans and timelines for major time-sensitive and complex work projects that are dependent on contributions from five US government agencies and dozens of individuals. ? Proven experience leading large US government health programs under high-stress conditions. ? Ability to interpret and coordinate implementation of complex and evolving policy and programmatic guidance. ? Highly effective interpersonal skills that can be applied to optimal coordination of the efforts of technically proficient expatriate and Swazi staff of five US government implementing agencies with different corporate cultures and core competencies ? Demonstrated ability to mediate inter-personal and inter-agency conflicts and facilitate consensus decisions on complex technical, programmatic, strategic and financial issues. I. Available Guidelines: The incumbent is required to understand Mission and Agency specific policies and procedures which govern project activity management in addition to State established administrative operating procedures, policies and formats. Oral guidance from the immediate Supervisor and specific detailed instructions will be given (when necessary) for carrying out unique assignments. The incumbent will be required to be proactive in keeping abreast of evolving guidelines and policies which affect overall EP initiative and keeping abreast of evolving development on HIV/AIDS issues in Swaziland. J. Exercise of Judgment: In instances not clearly covered by written guidelines, the incumbent will use her/his own personal, well informed judgment in devising innovative approaches to resolving technical, administrative, managerial and/or policy problems. Excellent (balanced) judgment must be exercised in setting priorities. The use of initiative, discretion and patience is expected from the incumbent in dealing with USG Swaziland and representatives from donor organizations to resolve problems that arise during the course of work for which there is often no clear or immediate solution. K. Authority to Make Commitments: The incumbent will have no independent authority to commit U.S. Government (USG) funds on behalf of the U.S. Government. L. Nature, Level and Purpose of Contacts: The incumbent will be required to maintain solid working relationships with U.S. Embassy, USAID RHAP, U.S. Peace Corps, CDC, DOL and DoD to function effectively. The incumbent will be required to work closely with OGAC in Washington, Swaziland USG Interagency Task Force, foundations, NGOs, other foreign donor institutions (i.e. WHO, DFID, JICA, etc.) and other local and international groups. M. Other Requirements: In addition, the incumbent must also be: 1) A U.S. Citizen; 2) Able to obtain US Government medical and security clearances; 3) Available and willing to work outside the regular 40-hour workweek when required/necessary; 4) Willing to travel to work sites and other offices as/when requested. N. Selection Criteria: Applicants meeting the required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and obtained through reference checks. Following are the evaluation criteria for this position for a total of 100 points: EDUCATION (20 points): ? An advanced degree (Masters or higher) in a relevant professional discipline. WORK EXPERIENCE (30 points): ? At least 5 years of progressively more senior experience managing HIV/AIDS programs, ideally in a developing country context. ? Proven experience leading large US government health programs under high-stress conditions. ABILITIES AND SKILLS (50 points): ? Excellent written and oral English communication skills. ? Demonstrated ability to develop and coordinate implementation of detailed work plans and timelines for major time-sensitive and complex work projects that are dependent on contributions from five US government agencies and dozens of individuals. ? Ability to interpret and coordinate implementation of complex and evolving policy and programmatic guidance. ? Highly effective interpersonal skills that can be applied to optimal coordination of the efforts of technically proficient expatriate and Swazi staff of five US government implementing agencies with different corporate cultures and core competencies O. Selection Process: After the closing date for receipt of applications, a committee will be convened to review applications and evaluate them in accord with the evaluation criteria. Applications from candidates which do not meet the minimum educational and work experience requirements will not be scored. As part of the selection process, final candidates may be interviewed either in person or by telephone at the US Ambassador?s discretion. Reference checks will be made only for applicants considered as finalists. If an applicant does not wish for the current employer to be contacted as a reference check, this should be stated in the applicant?s cover letter. The interviewing committee will delay such reference check pending communication with the applicant. Only finalists will be contacted by the interview committee with respect to their applications. The final selected candidates must obtain security and medical clearances within a reasonable period of time (USAID will provide details regarding these clearances to the selected candidate). A substantial delay in obtaining either required clearance will make the applicant ineligible for selection. AS A MATTER OF POLICY, AND AS APPROPRIATE, AN OFFSHORE USPSC IS NORMALLY AUTHORIZED THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES: BENEFITS (1) Employee's FICA Contribution (2) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance --50% of Health Insurance Annual Premium (not to exceed $7,750 for a family and $3,410 for employees without dependents) --50% of Life Insurance Annual Premium ( not to exceed $500) (3) Pay Comparability Adjustment --Annual across the board salary increase for USG employees and USPSCs (4) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation (5) Vacation & Sick Leave ALLOWANCES* (If Applicable): As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a USPSC qualifying as off-shore is normally authorized the following allowances: (1) Post Differential (Section 500) (2) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) (3) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120) (4) Post Allowance (COLA)(Section 220) (5) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230) (6) Payments During Evacuation (Section 600) (7) Education Allowance (Section 270) (8) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) (9) Danger Pay (Section 650) (10) Educational Travel (Section 280) * Dept. of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR) (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). OTHER BENEFITS: Additional benefits are available for individuals hired from outside Swaziland in accord with the AIDAR, e.g. post differential, international airfare from place of residence, R&R, international shipment of personal effects, furnished housing and educational allowances for dependent children. Federal Taxes: USPSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes. List of REQUIRED Forms for USPSCs a. Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612. (U.S. Government Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612 are available at the USAID web site, http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms or internet http://fillform.gsa.gov, or at USG offices.) Forms (b) through (e) shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the position. b. Medical History and Examination (DS-1843). c. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86), or d. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85). e. Finger Print Card (FD-258). (NOTE: Form is available from the requirements office.) Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs) and Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives (AAPDs) pertaining to PSCs . Please refer to this website http://www.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/psc_solicitations.html
- Place of Performance
- Address: USAID/South Africa, 100 Totius Street, P.O. Box 43, Groenkloof, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
- Zip Code: 0027
- Country: SOUTH AFRICA
- Zip Code: 0027
- Record
- SN01261675-W 20070331/070329220120 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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