SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- USPSC SENIOR EDUCATION ADVISOR
- Notice Date
- 3/4/2003
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Agency for International Development, Overseas Missions, India USAID-New Delhi, Dept. of State, Washington, DC, 20521-9000
- ZIP Code
- 20521-9000
- Solicitation Number
- 386-03-009
- Archive Date
- 4/15/2003
- Point of Contact
- Naveen Srivastava, Acquisition & Assistance Specialist, Phone 91-11-419-8547, Fax 91-11-419-8390, - Jerry Kryschtal, Contracting Officer, Phone 91-11-419-8796, Fax 91-11-419-8390 or 8612,
- E-Mail Address
-
nsrivastava@usaid.gov, jkryschtal@usaid.gov
- Description
- ISSUANCE DATE: 03-04-2003 CLOSING DATE: 03-31-2003 Ladies/Gentlemen: SUBJECT: Solicitation for Personal Services Contractor (USPSC) 386-03-009 - Senior Education Advisor, New Delhi-India The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications of qualified individuals interested in providing Personal Services Contract (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: Naveen Kumar Srivastava Acquisition & Assistance Specialist Regional Contracting Office USAID-New Delhi, India TELEPHONE NUMBER: 91-11-2419-8547 FAX NUMBER: 91-11-2419-8390 E-MAIL ADDRESS: nsrivastava@usaid.gov Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications. All applications and the required documents should be submitted to: RCO Regional Contracting Office USIAD 9000, New Delhi Place Washington DC 20521-9000. Sincerely, J. J. Kryschtal Regional Contracting Officer SOLICITATION NUMBER: 386-03-009 ISSUANCE DATE: 03-04-2003 CLOSING DATE/TIME: 03-31-2003 AT 1600 hrs, New Delhi Time POSITION TITLE: Senior Education Advisor MARKET VALUE: GS-14 plus Post Differential PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 2 years with possibility of extensions PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: New Delhi, INDIA SECURITY ACCESS: SECRET AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. Citizens POSITION DESCRIPTION SENIOR EDUCATION ADVISOR The position has been classified as GS-14 with a salary range of $74,697 to $91,265 plus overseas allowances. The period of performance will be two years with possibility of annual extensions for a maximum of five years provided that there is a continuing need for the services, funds are available and satisfactory or better performance by the Contractor. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for consideration. I. ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION OF POSITION: USAID/India, New Delhi, India II. POSITION TITLE OF DIRECT SUPERVISOR: The Senior Education Advisor will be supervised by and report to the Director, Office of Social Development, USAID India. III. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The Senior Education Advisor will work under the general supervision and policy guidance of the USDH-FEOC Director, Office of Social Development, USAID, India. The Director will review and approve the contractor?s work plan and performance measures. Supervision will be generally confined to weekly staff meetings and informal daily and/or weeklly consultations. In carrying out specific assignments, the incumbent will consult and work closely with senior representatives from the Government of India, international donor organizations, local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and senior U.S. Government (USG) officials (USAID, State and Dept. of Labor). The Senior Education Advisor is expected to work independently with limited guidance, to take initiative, to supervise direct professional staff and to lead the education sector team activities. IV. POSITION DESCRIPTION: Introduction USAID-India recently completed its five year strategic plan for 2003-2007, which outlines its strategic objectives and priorities for the next five years. More information on USAID/India?s strategy can be received from the website www.usaid.gov/india <http://www.usaid.gov/india>. The goal of USAID India's Vulnerable People Strategic Objective (SO 5) is consonant with the Agency's Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance pillar and consistent with India's constitution that guarantees equality across gender, caste and religion, and promotes a rights-based, democratic framework. Notwithstanding this impressive framework, large elements of the population are regularly denied their rights. Social acceptability of this discrimination and abuse, combined with weak or non-enforcement of the democratic framework, limits opportunities for vulnerable populations, especially women and children. Creating and increasing access for the poor and marginalized to education and the country's judicial systems are critical to breaking the vicious cycle of abuse, discrimination and poverty, and realizing economic development. Education is key to enabling the future workforce of men and women to embrace technological changes that can boost their productivity and earnings, and provide escape routes from poverty. Education is also critically important in furthering democratic values such as tolerance and equality. India?s primary education sector faces considerable challenges to realize the "universal education" goals of enrolling all children in school by 2003 and increasing the literacy rate to 75% by 2007. About half of the states and territories, as well as urban areas, were untouched by the educational reform process, resulting in a tremendous diversity in performance. Performance gaps exist across and within states; between groups of children, with educational outcomes differing considerably between girls and boys; between the poor and the better-off; and between children of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and other children. Studies in low-literacy districts in 8 states found that the gender gap in elementary-level achievement was exacerbated by the absence of female teachers, the absence of single-sex schools, the location of schools more than two kilometers from home, inadequate teaching/learning materials, and lack of separate toilets for girls. Parental attitudes discriminate against girls' education. Underscoring these challenges, India's Tenth Five-Year Plan concludes, ?Our performance in the field of education is one of the most disappointing aspects of our developmental strategy.? The challenges of India?s basic education sector are broad and deep. They include finding ways and means to address: Impacts of rapid urbanization; High drop-out rates as children are needed to earn income for family support; Large numbers of rural villages without reasonable access to schools; Stubbornly high rates of child illiteracy (56% of females and 31% of males age 6 and above) that threaten to continue the legacy of high rates of rural adult illiteracy; Inadequate school infrastructure; High rates of teacher absenteeism; Low competence, motivation, and performance among teachers; Outdated textbooks, syllabi, and curricula; and Weak or non-existent community linkages. Within USAID?s new SO 5, the two intermediate results which will work with the education sector are: 5.1., Improved Access to Education for Vulnerable Children and 5.3., New and Expanded Opportunities for Vulnerable Groups. The target group for USAID?s education activities are envisioned to be: 1) out-of-school children in rural and urban areas, with a special focus on girls; 2) school administrators and policy makers in the education sector; and 3) teachers and teacher training facilities and local communities. As the program grows, it is possible that these target groups will shift and/ or additional groups will be added. Under Washington-based field-support arrangements, in 1997 USAID/New Delhi initiated modest support in the basic education sector investing in development of gender-sensitized teachers? training module and establishment of a girl?s education resource center in the State of Uttar Pradesh. Starting in 1999 USAID also provided grant assistance for umbrella arrangements with a U.S. PVO and UN agency with the aim of preventing and eliminating child labor through quality education activities. The Mission is currently dialoguing with the GOI to define a potential role for USAID support to the GOI?s sponsored universal basic education program called ?Sharva Shikshan Abhayan? (SSA). The Mission is also initiating a series of pre-implementation activities. For example, it is promoting use if information and communication technology (ICT)-mediated education to enhance quality including radio interactive instructions. Possible support to school water and sanitation program to boost girls? participation in schools is also contemplated. Some discrete research on decentralization and school quality and a companion SSA initiative to engage Indian NGOs/foundations in promoting education in underserved districts and urban areas with high drop-out and rates are also planned for direct support arrangements. Development of activities under the new education strategy will require extensive collaborative analyses and planning, discussions and negotiations with the GOI, as well as with the other major donors in education, given USAID?s newer substantive involvement in this sector. Duties and Responsibilities of the Position A USPSC Senior Education Advisor will serve as the senior technical and policy advisor, as well as Team Leader for the USAID/New Delhi Education Sector programs and projects to be designed and implemented under the recently approved new Mission five-year strategy. USAID expects to support a combination of financing arrangements for these activities, e.g., bilateral grant with the GOI, direct umbrella arrangements, grants/cooperative agreements to international organizations and NGO?s, direct contacts, as well as to rely on global field support arrangements where relevant and practicable. The specific duties and responsibilities of the Senior Education Advisor will be: Technical and policy advisor to the Mission for the Education program As the Mission expert on education, advise USAID and other USG officials of trends and constraints (e.g., financing, political will and administrative capacity) and provide technical recommendations on opportunities that can promote the education sector agenda in India. Lead in planning/design, negotiation, management, monitoring and evaluation of education program activities (and any related technical/vocational training and higher education initiatives). The scope of this advice includes issues related to qualify as well as access. Carry-out and support policy dialogue on issues such as financing and quality with GOI (central, state and municipal) officials and donors in consultation with Mission staff. Prepare technical and other reports and draft speeches, concept papers, position papers, talking points and briefs for the Mission Director, other senior USAID officials and the Ambassador on education sector issues. Draft or oversee the drafting of project scopes of work and program descriptions to compete and award acquisition and/or assistance instruments to implement technical programs in the areas highlighted above. Program Management and Oversight Provide leadership to a multidisciplinary team as well as to partner implementing organizations in achieving Strategic 5, IR 1 to ensure that planned development results are achieved in a highly efficient, timely manner, consistent with USAID regulations and policies. Supervise the education sector team and the FSN-Education Officer?s monitoring of program and project implementation activities. Provide policy and operational guidance to contractors and grantees. Review, critique and approve annual work plans and related financial documentation for compliance with USAID requirements. Identify and work with contractors/grantees and GOI counterparts to resolve issues affecting the achievement of results. Supervise the development of data collection systems for monitoring of program/project impacts. Review and supervise preparation of requisite USAID documents, e.g., semi-annual and annual program performance reports. Provide substantive input in establishing performance monitoring systems for results frameworks. Perform or supervise the conduct of program evaluations and assessments. Coordination i) Ensure effective coordination of USAID-funded activities with those of other donors working with the GOI. Promote convergence and expansion of effective strategies and approaches that can expand coverage and quality of education services (including those being promoted through the use of information and communication technologies) especially for vulnerable populations (poor/females/out-of-school?s). ii) Develop, nurture and sustain close collaborative, professional relationships with senior (secretary-level) GOI central, state and municipal level officials, other mainline donors like the World Bank and the European Community, corporate philanthropic foundations (in the US and in India), international organizations and leading education research institutions. iii) Enlist support from other donors, senior government officials, and non-government organizations for policy changes that will overcome program implementation issues or facilitate replication of positive program results. Carryout and support policy dialogue with senior GOI officials and other bilateral and/or multilateral donor officials in consultation with the USDH director, OSD and the USAID/Director. iv) Develop and maintain a collaborative, professional relationship with, senior members of the US Embassy, senior host government officials at both the national and provincial levels, representatives of the U.S. Department of Labor, the US Customs Service and other donor organizations supporting human rights programs in these countries and with USAID-funded implementing partners. v) Represent USAID at donor and other international forums on education issues. V. SEND APPLICATIONS TO: Regional Contracting Officer, RCO, Agency For International Development, (India), 9000 New Delhi Place, Dept. Of State, Washington, DC, 20521-9000. Email: nsrivastava@usaid.gov <mailto:nsrivastava@usaid.gov>; jkryschtal@usaid.gov <mailto:jkryschtal@usaid.gov> QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION: This is a senior level position. The successful candidate is expected to have the following qualifications. 1. Education and Technical Knowledge: At least a Masters degree (a Ph.D. is strongly preferred) in the field of Education. Specialized training or education in strategic approaches to addressing international education issues and approaches including quality concerns financing, decentralization/community participation, expanded access of poor families to education, information communication, gender-based programs, technology and distance learning is highly desirable. 2. Prior work experience: At least 10 years of experience designing, implementing and negotiating donor-funded education programs, of which a minimum of eight should have been spent residing and working outside the U.S. in the design and implementation of Education programs. Demonstrated satisfactory program management and problem solving skills working on complex projects in a highly sensitive environment. Proven ability to identify, promote and apply new cutting-edge concepts of education, especially girls? education. Preference will be given as well to those candidates with demonstrated strategic planning and analysis skills. International development experience is required; preference will be given to those with experience in South Asia. Preference will be given to individuals with some knowledge of USAID procedures and systems for strategic planning, results frameworks, activity design, program monitoring and evaluation. 3. Teamwork/Interpersonal skills: Excellent leadership, communications and interpersonal skills are critical to this position. The incumbent must be able to interact effectively with a broad range of internal and external partners, as well as to engage in policy dialogue on program planning and support with senior government officials and assure strong program coordination with other donors. Ability to lead and to work effectively in a multifunctional/multidisciplinary team environment and proactively work to achieve consensus on policy, project and administrative matters is a must. 4. Supervisory Skills: The incumbent of this position will be directly supervising at least one full-tie FSN professional Education Officer. Strong supervisory and mentoring skills are required. 5. Language and Communication Skills: Must be fluent in English and have proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly and concisely - both orally and in writing including in preparation of technical reports. Demonstrated ability to produce professional quality analytical pieces. Ability to make sensitive oral presentation logically and persuasively to senior USG officials, other donors and most importantly to the GOI. Tact and diplomacy are required to establish and sustain effective working relations at the highest levels of government. 6. Be a U.S. citizenship and be able to obtain a medical and USG secret security clearance. 7. Excellent computer skills (MS word, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, MS Outlook) are required for effectively operating in this position. 8. Willingness to live in New Delhi and travel extensively in the country. SELECTION CRITERIA Candidates will be evaluated according to the following criteria: Technical Knowledge and Experience: 40 points Academic Qualifications: 20 Points Managerial and Leadership Experience: 25 points Language and Communication Skills: 15 points Total points: 100 points Applications should include the following documentation: (1) A curriculum vitae which demonstrates how the candidate's qualifications meet the work requirements; (2) A completed and signed SF-171 or OF-612; (3) A relevant writing sample of not more than 10 pages; (4) Names, contact numbers, and addresses of three professional references; (5) A written statement certifying the date and length of time for which the candidate is available for the position. (6) A letter of application highlighting your reasons for applying for the position and key qualifications for the position. APPLYING: Qualified individuals are requested to submit: For USPSCs a U.S. Government Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612 (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 must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter. 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. The highest ranking applicants may be selected for an interview. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCS Forms outlined below can found at http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solicit/ 1. Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612. 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). ** * 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. CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBS) PERTAINING TO PSCS CIBs contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and contracts. Please refer to this website http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solicit/ to determine which CIBS apply to this contract. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES: As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: (NOTE: An individual defined as a Resident Hire employee may only be eligible for those benefits listed under item A below.) BENEFITS: Employee's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual & Sick Leave Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service ALLOWANCES (If Applicable): (1) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120) (2) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) (3) Post Allowance (Section 220) (4) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230) (5) Post Differential (Chapter 500) (6) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and (7) Danger Pay (Section 650) (8) Educational Allowance (Section 270) (9) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) (10) Educational Travel (Section 280) * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes. NOTE: THIS NOTICE WAS NOT POSTED TO FEDBIZOPPS.GOV ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THE NOTICE ITSELF (04-MAR-2003). IT ACTUALLY FIRST APPEARED ON THE FEDBIZOPPS SYSTEM ON 08-MAR-2003. PLEASE CONTACT fbo.support@gsa.gov REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
- Place of Performance
- Address: OFFICE OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, USAID - NEW DELHI,
- Zip Code: 110021
- Country: INDIA
- Zip Code: 110021
- Record
- SN00275062-W 20030310/030308214715 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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