SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Food for Peace Officer - Food for Peace Officer, USAID/Liberia
- Notice Date
- 8/25/2015
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Agency for International Development, Overseas Missions, Liberia USAID-Monrovia, USAID/Monrovia, Department of State, Washington, District of Columbia, 20521
- ZIP Code
- 20521
- Solicitation Number
- SOL-669-15-000034
- Point of Contact
- Sylvester S. Browne, Phone: 231-77-766402
- E-Mail Address
-
sbrowne@usaid.gov
(sbrowne@usaid.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Solicitation for Personal Services Contractor (US/TCNPSC) for 1.SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL-669-15-000034 2. ISSUANCE DATE: August 21, 2015 3.CLOSING DATE/TIME: September 18, 2015, 4:30 PM Local time 4.POSITION TITLE: Food for Peace Officer, USAID/Liberia 5. MARKET VALUE OF POSITION (Base Pay): GS-13 ($73,115-$95,048 per annum). 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 Monrovia, Liberia (currently set at 35%), post allowance, housing, international travel, UAB, HHE, consumables and POV shipment benefits. 6.PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Six months, to start on or about December 1, 2015 with extension options for a total of two years. Extensions will depend on the need for continuation of such services, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance. 7.AREA OF CONSIDERATION:U.S. Citizens and Third Country Nationals 8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Based in Monrovia, Liberia 9.JOB DESCRIPTION: FOOD FOR PEACE OFFICER Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Affected West Africa U.S. or Third Country National (TCN) Personal Services Contractor (PSC) BACKGROUND: The current EVD epidemic is a multi-faceted humanitarian emergency with significant social, economic, political, and security dimensions. The disease and containment efforts have disrupted trade and rain-fed agriculture-two primary livelihood sources in the affected areas. Traditional cross-border and inter-country supply routes-particularly to and from Guinea-became inaccessible as entire geographic areas were cordoned off and other countries in the region closed borders and other access points (sea and air). Current conditions vary within countries, as they are in different stages of the response, and the crisis continues to evolve in a context of extreme poverty, high market dependency, poor crop yields, and low health indicators. The situation is further complicated by continued political fragility following decades of conflict and civil strife in the affected countries. Importantly, the areas most affected by the outbreak and prevention measures are also some of the most productive agricultural zones from which domestic food output normally flows to less productive areas within the countries and across borders. At the household level, EVD-related fears and official and unofficial restrictions on movement and gathering, including for employment, have contributed to: •Decreased household access to food due to significant drops in household income and above-normal food prices, resulting in decreased purchasing power; •Decreased availability of food due to shortfalls in agricultural production and market disruptions, particularly in regard to imported food and food flows to/from inland markets; and •Increased disease burden due to decreased access to basic health services, particularly among pregnant women and young children. In early FY 2015, the U.S. Congress provided USAID's Office of Food for Peace (FFP) with US$190 million in supplemental International Development Assistance (IDA) resources to address the acute food security impacts of EVD. As of July 1, 2015, FFP has made awards totaling approximately $111 million. Of this amount, approximately $34.5 million has been awarded to the World Food Program (WFP) for the Ebola Emergency Operation (EMOP) to support the medical response to EVD (Pillar I of the USG EVD Strategy), and $76 million has been awarded to WFP, UNICEF and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners to address the secondary impacts of EVD (Pillar II). FFP has also awarded approximately $2.5 million to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) to establish in-country monitoring presence in each of the three Ebola Affected Countries (EACs), and to increase its monitoring, analysis, and reporting on the food security impacts of EVD, at least through the end of the 2015-2016 harvest season. FFP continues to focus its EVD IDA resources on helping affected households to maintain and/or restore their pre-crisis food consumption levels, livelihoods, and/or productive assets; partially by rapidly stimulating the local production and marketing of staple foods so that the volumes of food available and accessible to vulnerable households are restored to pre-EVD levels. Therefore, in all interventions, FFP has been favoring an approach that actively supports local market systems. FFP-supported food assistance interventions in the EVD context include unconditional and/or conditional cash transfers, food vouchers, and/or market-based livelihoods support, such as agricultural input vouchers. Food assistance interventions also include conditional and/or unconditional in-kind distributions of locally/regionally procured food commodities - largely through WFP - where such a modality is the most appropriate. The distribution of specialized nutrition products [Corn-Soya Blend Plus (CSB+), SuperCereal+, and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF)] in combination with locally/regionally purchased food commodities is also being employed by both WFP and UNICEF as a strategy for addressing the acute nutritional needs of specific populations (children under five, and pregnant and lactating women). Please refer to the 2015 FFP Annual Program Statement Amendment 1 for the EVD response, which can be found here: http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/3 25 15 - APS - Ebola Response_FINAL.pdf Including planned new programming beginning in the fourth quarter of FY15, FFP expects to have made approximately $150 million in EVD response awards by the end of FY15. The results of the main 2015-2016-harvest season and transmission trends at that time will help determine the need to program the remaining $40 million in EVD supplemental IDA resources in FY16 to address any lingering food security impacts of the epidemic. Please see Annex 1 for the funding breakdown for the FFP EVD Portfolio. FFP currently has three development food assistance programs in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The OIC International's $38 million Health, Agriculture and Nutrition Development for Sustainability Program (HANDS) program in Liberia will end in December 2015, having received a six-month extension pre-EVD. The ACDI/VOCA-led programs in Liberia (approximately $45 million) and Sierra Leone (approximately $70 million) will close out June 2016, both having received a one-year extension by FFP in response to the EVD emergency. To more effectively and regularly monitor, report on, and coordinate FFP EVD interventions, investments and strategies among key USG and non-USG stakeholders and partners across the three affected countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, USAID requires the services of a FFP Officer, to be hired through a U.S. or Third Country National (TCN) Personal Services Contract, for a period of at least six months, with extension options for a total of two years, subject to continued need and availability of funds. The primary roles and responsibilities of this FFP Officer are outlined in greater detail in the following section. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: The USAID Food for Peace Officer (FFPO) will be based in Monrovia, Liberia and is a subject matter expert (SME) on the delivery and management of U.S. food assistance programming in emergency and development contexts. The FFPO will have a regional scope, and focus on the food security impacts of EVD, and FFP's response to it. The FFPO will be responsible for promoting and supporting the effective management and implementation of FFP's EVD supplemental IDA resources and projects across the affected countries. The FFPO will work primarily with the FFP staff in the Missions; however, close coordination with USAID and USG Mission staff, including the Ebola Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), will also be required to ensure consistency of approach, promote synergies, and avoid duplication of effort. On a broader level, the FFPO will be expected to work closely with other key actors in the response and recovery sector to ensure that FFP's humanitarian and development investments effectively promote household food consumption, support market recovery, and facilitate livelihood recovery for vulnerable populations. An important secondary responsibility is the assessment of food security conditions as they relate to the FFP EVD portfolio and food assistance needs. This includes coordination with other U.S. Government programs, host government counterparts, implementing partners, other donors, civil society organizations, and the private sector, among others. The FFPO will be expected to assist with emergency/recovery activities and programs as they occur, including those supported by other U.S. Government agencies and offices. The FFP Officer is expected to work closely with all U.S. Government staff in accomplishing his/her job, and represent its interests on food assistance policies and programs with host country officials, donors, and other stakeholders whenever needed. S/he will also be expected to take part in and recommend actions that inform FFP and USG's decision making and reporting capacities. This includes, for example, taking part in food security, crop, and/or nutritional assessments and surveys, etc. The position is based at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, with approximately 70 percent of the FFPO's time/level of effort (LOE) spent within Liberia, and the remaining 30 percent will be spent serving as the FFPO in Guinea (20 percent LOE), and in supporting the FFPO in Sierra Leone (10 percent LOE). The FFPO is expected to spend approximately 30 percent of her/his time in the field monitoring FFP projects, assessing food security conditions, and participating in assessments as possible. The FFPO may also travel to Dakar for meetings with FFP/WA, or to participate in meetings with key stakeholders there. The FFPO will report directly to the USAID/Food for Peace Officer in Liberia, with additional technical support from FFP/West Africa (WA). SPECIFIC DUTIES: The FFP Officer will undertake the following duties: •Serve as the primary point of contact for all issues pertaining to FFP EVD food assistance for USAID/Washington, USAID/Guinea, FFP/WA, the U.S. Embassy in Freetown, other parts of the U.S. Government, Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs), international organizations, host nation governmental ministries and agencies, and others in Liberia and Guinea. •Work closely with the Liberia DART and other USAID bureaus, to layer, sequence and integrate FFP's humanitarian and development investments in a manner that promotes household food consumption, supports market recovery, and facilitates livelihood recovery for vulnerable populations. •Liaise with the DART -- including providing updates/input to DART informational/reporting products, sharing and reviewing funding applications and reporting as requested, and participating in meetings and site visits as appropriate -- in order to ensure smooth coordination of efforts on the USG's emergency and recovery response to EBV. •Ground truth analysis and reporting on the food security impacts of the Ebola crisis -- including food production levels, staple food import flows, food consumption rates, household food production and consumption gaps, food security impacts of trade and travel restrictions, household income trends, food distribution networks. The results of these efforts should be shared within FFP, the USAID Missions, the DART, and other key stakeholders, as appropriate, to inform FFP decision-making. •Review and comment on emergency/recovery food security-related concept notes, applications, and reporting submitted to FFP or the Liberia DART, as requested. •Conduct field monitoring and assessments to partner field sites and interventions to support effective roll-out, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation FFP funded investments; track and provide feedback on performance to FFP, relevant USAID Missions, DART, and partners at field level; •Provide updates and reporting on food security context and FFP-supported interventions to FFP, the relevant USAID Missions, and the DART, as requested and appropriate for information products, taskers and general coordination purposes. •Represent FFP at, participate in, and report out on EVD related meetings and consultations with key stakeholders at the national and sub-national level - including, but not limited to, host government officials, USAID/Embassy staff, UN/PVOs/NGOs/IOs, other donors, and relevant national level working groups on food security, nutrition and cash programming. •Provide information and guidance to FFP assistance award recipients on FFP regulations, policies and procedures. •Participate regularly and actively in conference calls and meetings with the FFP EVD Team. •Supervise USAID/Liberia-contracted third party monitors as required. Provide orientation, training, and mentoring; assign work, explain how duties are to be performed to meet expectations, and communicate how the successful performance of those duties will be measured; evaluate staff performance; and approve administrative and programmatic requests. •Other duties as assigned. SUPERVISION: The incumbent's official supervisor will be the USAID Foreign Service FFPO in Monrovia, with technical support from the Liberia-based Foreign Service National FFP Specialist, FFP/WA and the USAID/Sierra Leone Country Program Manager. The TCN/USPSC FFPO is expected to be in regular contact with FFP/Washington, USAID/Guinea, the U.S. Embassy in Freetown, and FFP/WA to report any information pertaining to ongoing FFP programs. The FFPO's performance will be evaluated by the FS FFPO including feedback from the range of USAID stakeholders involved both in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Washington, DC. The FFPO is the primary liaison on all communications with FFP/WA on FFP-related technical issues. All financial and administrative issues, including local and international travel, time and attendance, and other USPSC support costs are processed and approved by USAID/Liberia. In addition, s/he will coordinate closely with FFP/Washington, FFP/WA and USAID/Guinea and Sierra Leone to ensure to the extent possible and appropriate the complementarity of development programs and a single USAID voice on FFP's Ebola response. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The incumbent is expected to take initiative and act independently, consistent with USAID and USG policies, rules and laws, with little direction. The FFPO is expected to take the lead in the reporting of information on issues pertaining to ongoing FFP programs as well as administrative issues related to FFP. FFP/W and FFP/WA are available to provide guidance on technical food assistance issues and support through regular visits. The FFPO is expected to work collaboratively and directly with donor and government officials and on a frequent basis assist with outreach and reporting efforts. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR HIRING: •Bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. or internationally recognized institution with significant study in public health and/or nutrition, agriculture, community development, or other related field. The incumbent is required to also have a total of at least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian assistance and/or international development, ideally related to health and/or nutrition programming. At least two (2) years of this experience should preferably be overseas; OR •A Master's degree from an accredited U.S. or internationally recognized institution with significant study in public health and/or nutrition, agriculture, community development, or other related field. The incumbent is required to also have a total of at least three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian assistance and/or international development. At least one (1) year of this experience should preferably be overseas; •Background in health and nutrition, such as maternal and child health, food and nutrition programming, and community nutrition is preferred; •Advanced computer skills, to include knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel, e-mail, and the internet; •Proven experience in conceptualizing programming, policies and plans and developing strategies for their implementation as well as in tracking and evaluating program implementation. •Working understanding of the legislative and policy mandates, objectives and functions of USG food assistance programs desirable; •Ability to gather, analyze and interpret complex data and financial information related to food assistance programs and prepare reports on commodity import data and financial information. Must also be able to prepare reports based on data collection, field analyses and assessment of food assistance activities; •Experience with building sustainability into programs; •Ability to form and solidify networks with government and the private sector; •Advanced English language skills and intermediate-level spoken French; •Proven capacity to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; •Ability to obtain a SECRET level security clearance; and •Ability to obtain a Department of State medical clearance for Sierra Leone. In addition, the Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen (see definitions below) or Third Country National and must state his/her nationality and, additionally, state country of residence immediately prior to the time of USAID job offer under this solicitation, if one is made. Applicants not meeting these minimum qualifications will not be evaluated further. QUALITY RANKING FACTORS: Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and selective factors will be further evaluated based on the Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) listed below. A. Professional Experience - 50 points (i)Knowledge and experience with international development and relief (20 points) (ii)Knowledge and experience with Food for Peace food assistance programs (20 points) (iii)Technical expertise in public health and/or nutrition (10 points) B. Program Management - 30 Points (i)Ability to manage programs, to include programmatic and financial issues (10 points) (ii)Ability to monitor and evaluate programs, to include programmatic and financial issues (10 points) (iii)Ability to review, evaluate and apply complex policies and regulations (10 points) C. Interpersonal and Communication Skills - 20 Points (i)Ability to provide rapid, concise, accurate reporting in English, both verbally and in writing (10 points) (ii)Ability to analyze data and information and prepare reports to inform program development and management decisions (5 points) (iii)Ability to work effectively as a team member and in diverse cultures (5 points) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ACQUISITION AND ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRECTIVES (AAPDs) contain information or changes pertaining to USAID policy, regulation and procedures concerning acquisition and assistance including Personal Service Contracts. Please refer to the USAID website http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solicit/ to locate relevant AAPDs. As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits. 1. ALLOWANCES: as applicable.* Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120). Living quarters allowance (Section 130) or government furnished housing. Post Allowance (Section 220). Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230). Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260). Education allowance (Section 270). Educational Travel (Section 280). Post differential (Chapter 500). Payments during Evacuation/authorized Departure (Section 600), and 2. BENEFITS: Employee's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Annual Increase Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual & Sick Leave Access to Embassy medical facilities, and pouch mail service Note: If a US citizen, the Contractor's salary will be subject to employee's FICA and Medicare contribution. FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal Income Taxes. 3. Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs) Pertaining to PSCs. 97- 16Class Justification for Use of Other Than Full & Open Completion 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 97-11(Corrected) 1997 FICA & Medicare Tax Rates for Personal Services Contracts 97-6Contractual Coverage for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Services 97-3New USAID Contractor Employee Physical Examination 96-23Unauthorized Provision in Personal Services Contract 96-19U.S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) - Leave 96-11PSC's Annual Health Insurance Costs 96-8Determining a Market Value for PSCs Hired Under Appendix D, Handbook 14 94-9Sunday Pay for U.S. Personal Services Contracts (PSCs) 93-17Financial Disclosure Requirements Under a Personal Services Contract (PSC) List of Required Forms for PSCs 1. Form AID 302-3 **2. Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62). **3. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86), or **4. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85). **5. Finger Print Card (FD-258). Note: Form 5 is available from the requirements office. _____________ *Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). **The forms listed 2 thru 5 shall only be completed upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job. INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS: All Applicants must address how they meet the Minimum Qualifications, as described below: a.Submit a fully completed and hand-signed copy of an Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts (AID 302-3), cover letter and a current resume/curriculum vita (CV) containing the following information which clearly demonstrates your education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities as they relate to the evaluation criteria. Forms are available at the USAID website, http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ or internet http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/formslibrary.do?formType=ALL or at Federal offices). b.Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet (AID 1420-17) All applications packages are to be submitted to: Sylvester Browne Deputy Executive Specialist USAID/Liberia Email: sbrowne@usaid.gov and kpaudel@usaid.gov Please cite the solicitation number and position title within the subject line of your email application. Any attachments provided via email shall be Microsoft Word or PDF and should not be zipped. Note that attachments to email must not exceed 3 MB.
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- Place of Performance
- Address: USAID/LIBERIA, MONROVIA, Liberia
- Record
- SN03855764-W 20150827/150826000657-b76616d3f6137cc099ceafd04649464e (fbodaily.com)
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