SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Senior Economic Policy Specialist
- Notice Date
- 10/19/2005
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Agency for International Development, Overseas Missions, Kazakhstan USAID-Almaty, Dept. of State, Washington, DC, 20521-7030
- ZIP Code
- 20521-7030
- Solicitation Number
- 35-2005
- Response Due
- 11/18/2005
- Archive Date
- 12/3/2005
- Description
- ISSUANCE DATE: 10/19/2005 CLOSING DATE: 11/18/2005 Gentlemen/Ladies: SUBJECT: Solicitation for Personal Services Contractor (PSC) No. 35-2005 USPSC Senior Economic Policy Specialist, USAID/Central Asian Republics, Almaty, Kazakhstan The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking proposals (Standard Form 171's) from persons interested in the PSC services described in the attached. Submissions shall be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Any questions may be directed to Margaret McCarthy, Contracting Officer, and Tatiana Rossova, Personnel Specialist, who may be reached at FAX No. 7-3272-50-76-34/35/36, or e-mail per.almaty@usaid.gov. Offerors should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their proposals. Sincerely, Margaret McCarthy, Contracting Officer ATTACHMENT TO SOLICITATION NO. 35-2005 1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: 35-2005 2. ISSUANCE DATE: 10/19/2005 3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 11/18/2005 (6 p.m. Almaty Time) 4. POSITION TITLE: SENIOR ECONOMIC POLICY SPECIALIST 5. MARKET VALUE: $76,193 - $99, 053 per annum (GS-14 equivalent) with 25% Post Differential 6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two years (renewable) 7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/CENTRAL ASIA, Almaty, Kazakhstan 8. JOB DESCRIPTION: A) BACKGROUND The USAID Regional Mission for Central Asian Republics is headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with country offices in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Central Asia is bordered by Russia, China, Iran and Afghanistan. Due to its substantial oil and gas reserves, it is a region of considerable geopolitical and strategic interest to the United States. The Regional Mission for Central Asia (USAID/CAR) is responsible for the strategic planning, program design and implementation, achievement of results, and reporting for the USAID assistance programs for the five Central Asian republics. The U.S. Government?s program of assistance in the region is focused on the growth of small-scale enterprise and trade; building a more open, democratic culture; better management of environmental resources; and improved primary healthcare. It ranks as one of the Agency?s largest programs, with funding levels that have averaged over $139 million annually. The Mission implements its programs together with more than 80 contractor and grantee teams. The staff manages a program that addresses six Strategic Objectives (SO) principally focused on assisting these former communist states in making the transition to Western-style democracies with viable market economies. The Mission currently has four technical offices: Enterprise and Finance (EF), Democracy and Conflict Mitigation (DM), Health and Education (HE), and Energy and Water (EW). The Enterprise and Finance (EF) office is responsible for the management of a large portfolio that is currently comprised of one Strategic Objective, SO1.3 ? An Improved Environment for the Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises. EF Mission pursues three intermediate results (IRs) to achieve SO 1.3: Increased Access to business information, knowledge, and skills (IR 1.3.1) More responsive financial institutions, instruments, and markets (IR 1.3.2) Increased implementation of laws and regulations (IR 1.3.3) B) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Under the general guidance of the Director of the Enterprise and Finance Office, the Senior Economic Policy Specialist (SEPS) will have the following duties and responsibilities. Program Management: The SEPS will serve as a core member of SO1.3. The SEPS will be responsible for overseeing management and implementation of the Mission?s key economic policy and economics and business education programs, including: - Tax policy and tax administration; - Budget reform - Monetary policy - Financial sector development and SME lending; - Competition policy; - Pension reform - Economic policy research and advocacy; and - Economics and business education (including educational reform) New program management duties may be included in the SEPS?s scope of duties if/as required by evolving U.S. foreign policy and assistance strategic priorities in Central Asia. The SEPS will monitor and report on political and economic conditions in each of the five Central Asian countries to assess assistance needs and priorities to inform program management decisions. In collaboration with Contract Office, the SEPS will design contract or assistance instruments to execute assistance programs (including drafting scopes of work or program descriptions). Responsibilities also include management of contracts and grants to achieve program objectives and intermediate results, as well as tracking and reporting on progress. Supervision and Staff Development: The SEPS will supervise and support the career development of 3 professional staff with responsibility for managing the programs listed above and other programs as developed and designated. Strategy and Program Development: Provide professional and programmatic leadership to design and implement programs to achieve the CAR strategy objectives and intermediate results of the Enterprise and Finance Office portfolio, particularly those which support improved economic policy conditions for market and business development. Monitor and report on political and economic conditions in each of the five Central Asian countries to assess assistance needs and priorities. Conceptualize and design projects and program activities that achieve identified priorities and objectives. Evaluate the costs, benefits and effectiveness of proposed projects. Conduct or lead data gathering, research and analysis, and dialogue with counterparts necessary to inform program design decisions. Lead or serve on technical selection committees for the award of procurement instruments. Plan and design evaluation instruments as needed to make informed program design and management decisions. Work with other offices within the Mission to generate synergies and complementary activities. Technical leadership: Serve as principal expert in the US Mission in Almaty on the development, utilization and management of economic policy reform projects and activities throughout the region. Provide overall conceptual guidance to USAID?s economic policy assistance to Central Asia, and guide the design, implementation and monitoring of USAID?s economic policy programs. Develop working relationships with host country officials and with other donors and provide independent analysis of political and economic developments affecting financial, fiscal, and regulatory reform in Central Asia. Lead and provide technical assistance on request to the mission team and implementing partners on aspects of basic economics and business education development. Illustrative examples of areas of importance to the team are: community participation in economics and business education; curriculum development; improving the public/private policy dialogue; and coordination and synergy of basic economics and business education activities with other USAID and U.S. government activities in Central Asia. Donor and contractor coordination Identify and develop linkages with other donor programs, particularly the World Bank, EBRD, International Monetary Fund, and EU-TACIS. Lead and coordinate the work of USAID?s contractors, technical assistance advisors, and grantees to assure that activities are consistent with USAID?s economic policy and economics and business education development strategies. Liaison with Central Asian governments and business leaders Meet regularly with senior officials of the five governments of the region as well as leaders of the private sector to promote the programs and overcome problems and difficulties that arise in the planning and implementation of program activities. Defend, justify, and promote, as appropriate, USAID?s position, and negotiate amicable resolution of issues to the benefit of the program?s major objectives. Liaison within the US Government Lead discussions, negotiations, and other contacts at senior policy and technical levels of the US Embassies in Central Asia and other US Government entities, to develop and implement the US Mission?s economic policy reform strategy. Prepare and conduct regular and special briefings to Mission and EE Bureau leadership, the State Department, Commerce, Treasury, National Security Council and to other high level officials of the USG, including Congressional staff. C) REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS 1. General: Must be a U.S. citizen, must be able to obtain a U.S. Government ?SECRET? security clearance. Must be able to secure a medical clearance to serve in Central Asia. Must be willing to travel throughout the five Central Asian Republics. 2. Prior Work Experience: This is a senior level position that requires maturity and a minimum of ten years of relevant experience with a proven track record of programmatic accomplishment and professional achievement as well as the ability to function in complex, frequently changing political and economic conditions. The candidate must have demonstrated practical experience in the management of programs to support development of banking and financial institutions and fiscal policy reform. Experience with education programs and educational reform is preferred. The candidate must have at least five years of economic policy consulting experience of relevance to international development. Project or program management experience while residing in a transitional or developing country is required. At least five years of successful leadership experience in a team environment is required. 3. Skills and Abilities: The candidate should have strong management skills as evidenced by previous experience, preferably including contract management. Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work in a collegial and persuasive fashion in a team environment are required. Must be fluent in English and have proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely, both orally and in writing, including technical reports. Must have demonstrated ability to produce professional quality analytical pieces. Must be able to make oral presentations logically and persuasively to senior officials, other donors, the NGO community, and to USAID and other USG officials. Ability to communicate in Russian is preferred. 4. Teamwork/Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional leadership, communications and inter-personal skills are critical. In addition, the incumbent must be able to interact effectively with a broad range of internal and external partners and USAID clients, international organizations, and host country government officials or NGO counterparts. S/he must be able to function collaboratively and productively as a member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-functional team, and must have the ability to work effectively in a team environment to achieve consensus on policies, activities and administrative matters. Technical skills are not sufficient to be selected for this position. 5. Education: Master?s degree in a relevant field, such as economics or business, is required. A Ph.D. is highly desirable. D) Selection Criteria: Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria: Technical Knowledge and Experience: 30 points Project Management and Leadership Experience: 30 points Relevant International Experience: 15 points Language and Communication Skills: 15 points Academic Qualifications: 10 points Total: 100 points 9. APPLYING Qualified individuals are requested to submit a U.S. Government Application for Federal Employment SF-171 including experience, salary history and references, and recent sample of his/her written work no later than COB (6 p.m. Almaty time) November 18, 2005. The form is available at the USAID website, http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms/ or Internet http://fillform.gsa.gov, or at Federal offices. Applications, recent supervisor reference and three (3) personal references, and writing sample may be submitted by e-mail, fax, DHL or FedEx air courier by the closing date, above, to: Tatiana Rossova Personnel Specialist Personnel Office USAID/CAR Almaty 41 Kazibek Bi Street Almaty, Kazakhstan Tel: 7 3272 507612 ext. 345, Email: per.Almaty@usaid.gov Fax: 7 3272 507634/35/36 Email or faxed documentation is preferred as mail delivery may be untimely. 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. Selection will be made by a Mission committee no later than December 5, 2005. USAID/CAR expects to award a personal-services contract for an off-shore US Citizen for two-year period from on or about January 22, 2006 to on or about January 20, 2008. The contract will be signed by December 20, 2005. On or about January 22, 2006, the incumbent shall proceed to Almaty, Kazakhstan to commence performance of the duties specified, subject to medical and security clearance. The duty post for this contract is Almaty, Kazakhstan. 10. Benefits include post differential, housing, and other benefits per USAID regulations. Basic household furnishings, will be available in quarters to be provided by USAID. 11. Almaty is a beautiful city nestled against mountains, bursting with parks and fountains, with tree lined streets and flower gardens. The city has the excitement of Kazakh culture with its nomadic and warrior heritage as well as the benefits of the Russian culture ballet, museums, opera, choirs, and circus. It has the charm and challenges of colorful native markets, as well as the convenience of modern supermarkets. Located at an altitude of 650 meters, where steppe meets mountain, Almaty is backed by the snow capped Tien Shan to the South and faced by a vast plain which stretches to Siberia in the North. There are many places for skiing, skating, hiking, rafting, helicopter trips, camping, and other outdoor activities outside the city. The Almaty International School provides American curriculum for children in grades K 12. 12. For more information about USAID/Central Asian Republics see Mission?s website www.usaid.kz
- Place of Performance
- Address: USAID/CAR Almaty, 41 Kazibek Bi Street, Almaty,
- Zip Code: 050010
- Country: Kazakhstan
- Zip Code: 050010
- Record
- SN00917619-W 20051021/051019211515 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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