SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Development Assistance Specialist (Tajikistan)
- Notice Date
- 8/19/2003
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- Agency for International Development, Overseas Missions, Kazakhstan USAID-Almaty, Dept. of State, Washington, DC, 20521-7030
- ZIP Code
- 20521-7030
- Solicitation Number
- 39-2003
- Response Due
- 9/2/2003
- Archive Date
- 9/17/2003
- Point of Contact
- Beth Salamanca , Contracting Officer , Phone +7 3272 50 76 17 , Fax +7 3272 50 76 35 , - Tatiana Rossova, Personnel Assistant, Phone 7 3272 50 76 17, Fax 7 3272 50 76 35,
- E-Mail Address
-
bsalamanca@usaid.gov, trossova@usaid.gov
- Description
- ISSUANCE DATE: 08/19/2003 CLOSING DATE: 09/02/2003 Gentlemen/Ladies: SUBJECT: Solicitation for Personal Services Contractor (PSC) No. 39/2003 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 Beth A. Salamanca, Contracting Officer, who may be reached at FAX No. 7-3272-50-76-36 or 7-3272-50-76-35, or e-mail per.almaty@usaid.gov. Offerors should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their proposals. Sincerely, Patrick Robinson, Contracting Officer ATTACHMENT TO SOLICITATION NO. 39/2003 1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: 39/2003 2. ISSUANCE DATE: 08/19/2003 3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 09/02/2003 (6 p.m. Almaty time) 4. POSITION TITLE: Development Assistance Specialist 5. MARKET VALUE: $42,976 - $55,873 per annum (GS-11 equivalent) with 20% Post Differential 6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year (unaccompanied) 7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/CENTRAL ASIA, Almaty, Kazakhstan with frequent TDY travel both to Dushanbe and throughout Tajikistan is required. 8. JOB DESCRIPTION: BACKGROUND: The USAID/Central Asia (USAID/CAR) is a regional USAID Mission with responsibility for the development and management of the U.S. Government?s assistance program for the five Central Asian Republics. This program is directed at supporting a program of policy reform, humanitarian assistance, economic recovery, democratic and social transition in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Tajikistan poses one of the most difficult development challenges in the region. This small isolated country was already the poorest of the republics when part of the Soviet Union, but civil war and economic collapse since independence have now reduced over 80% of the population to poverty. The country has begun to see a political and economic turnaround since peace accords were signed in 1997. Tajikistan is on the front line of pressing U.S. concerns in the region: narcotics and persons trafficking and terrorism, Islamic extremism, democratic transition, economic reform, and management of region's vast water resources. USAID assistance to the country initially focused on urgent humanitarian needs and supporting the peace process. Under the new assistance strategy for Central Asia, USAID is increasingly supporting the country?s longer-term development needs, while still meeting humanitarian needs. In the fall of 1998, relocation of the U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan and all U.S. employees from Dushanbe to Almaty, Kazakhstan limited USAID's capacity to support the development change. The security situation has improved to the point that a new U.S. Embassy is under construction and U.S. Government employees, including the USAID/CAR Tajikistan Country Program Officer, travel for extended temporary duty assignments in Tajikistan. With the opening of the U.S. Embassy in 2004, all U.S. Government staff assigned to Tajikistan may be assigned there on a full time basis. The Development Assistance Specialist would be resident on a limited basis in Almaty, Kazakhstan but be on long term temporary duty assignment in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, consistently with the U.S. Government?s security and staffing policies. In the event that the new U.S, embassy opens in 2004 and staff are assigned to Tajikistan full time, the present position may be transferred full time to Dushanbe. Please note: Currently, this is an unaccompanied position (i.e., members of the incumbent?s household or family can not accompany the incumbent to Kazakhstan or Tajikistan). BASIC FUNCTION: Serves as a professional Development Assistance Specialist, performing responsible work associated with delivering, monitoring and evaluating U.S. development assistance programs to Tajikistan. Also serves as deputy to the USAID/CAR Tajikistan Country Program Officer, who manages the USAID program in the Republic of Tajikistan. Work is performed primarily in the Republic of Tajikistan, but the incumbent is expected to participate in assignments throughout the Central Asian Region. The incumbent coordinates activities in all sectors (democracy and conflict mitigation, health and education, enterprise and finance, energy and water, humanitarian and social-sector programs) within the Republic of Tajikistan, at the level described below, and specifically performs the following major duties and responsibilities: MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Program/Project Development and/or Management Work 35% Accomplishes work related to the conceptualization, design, documentation, and/or management of USAID development assistance programs/projects. Works at the Tajikistan Country Office level to design, document, and evaluate development assistance programs and projects, communicating issues to superiors and partners and coordinating activities through a combination of public and private resources. Participates in the analysis of development assistance issues focusing on substance, agency policy, and USAID/CAR strategic plans. Assists in the preparation of project documentation, including concept papers, project authorizations, and project amendments, in line with Agency regulations and guidance. Recommends provision of technical expertise to programs and projects, and in the process, defines scopes of work, levels of effort, available resources, and major constraints. Analyzes recommended human and financial resources needed to meet program objectives. Participates in workshops, seminars, and conferences of cooperating agencies, other donors, and representatives of other development organizations, as assigned. Travels within country and Central Asia region to monitor project implementation and to participate in project activities. Geographic Area or Region-Wide Technical Resource 35% Serves as a technical resource and advisor on development assistance activities in Tajikistan. Supports country or regional activities: reviewing and analyzing data; developing strategies, analytical models, and methodologies; and, providing assistance and advice on sectoral issues. Assists in gathering technical resource data to assist the USAID/CAR/Tajikistan Country Office on a broad range of development assistance projects, grants, and contracts. Assists in program/project design activities, drafting strategies and integrating Tajikistan development assistance program with sectoral programs, Mission and country-specific policies and guidelines. Drafts reports reflecting country perspectives on development assistance projects, grants, contracts, etc. Analyzes sector-wide and country-specific constraints to development, and proposes courses of action. Reviews operating unit planning documentation, and assists in the determination of baseline information. Participates in developing ?issues papers,? so that final activity approval is expedited. Assists higher-level managers and other Specialists in drafting talking points, briefing memoranda, and other documents relating to country and sectoral strategy, objectives, and accomplishments in the region. Establishes effective relationships with counterparts in other donor organizations, NGOs, and with country and sector experts to exchange information on USAID strategies in the sector, and obtains their assessments of program activities and objectives in the development assistance area. May attend task forces, conferences, and meetings with other USG agencies, international aid donors, host government, and the public on the issues and developments in the sector. Under specific guidance, prepares implementation documents, decision papers, and Congressional Notifications, and coordinates information involved in preparation of programs. Updates a budget tracking system for managed portfolio, and assists in preparation of the Annual Budget Submission, Congressional Presentations, etc. for managed portfolio. Shares information to other USAID organizations, Missions, the Department of State, other USG agencies, and the private sector. Travels within the region to monitor and participate in project activities. Centralized Project Management Activities 30% Manages assigned aspects of USAID/Central Asia administered development assistance programs/projects. Programs/projects are targeted toward a specific country/situation, or to a specific development problem and provide for Mission ''buy-in.'' Analyzes and evaluates the implementation of projects, grants, and other USAID/CAR assistance. Assists in program/project design activities, suggesting resolution of problems, and furthering project implementation. Serves as deputy officer to the Tajikistan Country Program Officer and assists in the overall management of the USAID Tajikistan program as delegated authority to do so. Performs other duties as assigned. POSITION ELEMENTS: Factor 1-7 Knowledge Required by the Position Knowledge of program principles and procedures applicable to a wide range of duties in one or more program and/or functional areas, and a high level of skill in applying this knowledge in solving complex problems involving diverse aspects of development assistance programs/projects (e.g. performing investigations, or oversight activities of greater than average difficulty, as in a new program or a program that is being redefined, where procedures require frequent modification and change in order to incorporate revised theories and techniques); modifying or adapting established methods and procedures or making significant departures from previous approaches to solve similar problems; revising standard methods to improve or extend management systems; and evaluating, modifying, or adapting new methods to meet the requirements of particular situations. Knowledge of statutes, regulations, requirements, and precedent decisions governing program/project operations sufficient to use in planning, implementing, or monitoring development assistance programs and services (e.g., determining needs, evaluating program effectiveness, assuring compliance with regulations). Management, and administrative knowledge and skill sufficient to provide advisory, reviewing, evaluating, educating and/or training, negotiating, or problem-solving services (as a ''troubleshooter,'' specialist, or coordinator) on specific problems, projects, programs, or functions (e.g., developing, coordinating, reviewing, and evaluating the implementation of scopes of work, including estimates of staffing needs, equipment, and supplies, and detailed instructions necessary to carry out plans). Factor 2-4 Supervisory Controls The supervisor sets the overall assignment objectives, program emphasis, and resources available. The Development Assistance Specialist and supervisor, in consultation, develop the deadlines, projects, and work to be done. The Development Assistance Specialist, having developed expertise in a particular program or functional area, has continuing responsibility for independently planning and carrying out important development assistance programs or projects; determining the approach to be taken and the methods to be used; resolving most of the conflicts that arise; coordinating the work with others as necessary; and interpreting policy in terms of established objectives. The Specialist keeps the supervisor informed of progress, potentially controversial matters, and problems with far-reaching implications. Completed work is reviewed for conformance to overall requirements, compatibility with other work, and effectiveness in meeting objectives. Factor 3-3 Guidelines Guidelines are available, including standard references, handbooks and procedural manuals, ADS Chapters, FAM, FAR, and textbooks and other resources of the field; Federal regulations relating to development programs; and agency regulations and directives. Guidelines are not always completely applicable to specific work assignments, but precedent materials are available for reference (e.g., development reports, plans, and records illustrative of similar projects or assignments). The Development Assistance Specialist uses judgment in choosing, interpreting, and adapting guidelines and precedents to specific issues or problems in accordance with established policies and accepted practice; researching regulations and determining the relationship between the guidelines and USG and Agency needs and requirements; and in recommending changes to procedures to improve the reliability of data, enhance services, correct deficiencies, etc. Factor 4-4 Complexity The work typically involves full responsibility for well-established aspects of one or more development programs/projects and/or functional areas and includes a wide variety of duties involving diverse and complex technical and/or program or administrative problems and considerations. Decisions regarding what needs to be done depend on the assessment of unusual facts or conditions. Variations in approach depend upon the development and political setting, available resources, impact on the Mission and the host-government, etc.; and incomplete or conflicting data (e.g., inadequate program information from contractors or grant applicants, new methodologies or new programs for which only a minimum of information is available). The work requires making many decisions concerning such things as interpreting considerable data, planning the work, refining existing criteria, or extending or modifying conventional methods and techniques. Factor 5-3 Scope and Effect The purpose of the work is to plan and carry out a variety of development assistance projects or programs or to improve the process for analysis of project and country-specific constraints to development. The work involves identifying, analyzing, and making recommendations to resolve conventional compliance problems with development assistance projects, and situations that are covered by established precedents and procedures. Assignments may include portions of broader activities or complete projects of limited scope. The work affects the success of USAID development assistance programs/projects, the adequacy of such activities as progress reviews; research/study conclusions; or, through the success of programs/projects, the well-being of persons in affected regions or communities. Factor 6-3 Personal Contacts The persons contacted include persons from outside USAID in a moderately unstructured setting. Typical of contacts at this level are those with persons in their capacities as contractors, attorneys, company executives, host-country officials, or representatives of other Federal agencies, professional organizations, or organized or ad hoc groups. This level may also include contacts with high-level Agency or program officials, several managerial levels removed from the employee, when such contacts occur on an ad-hoc basis. Factor 7-2 Purpose of Contacts The purpose of contacts is to plan or coordinate work efforts or to resolve operating problems by influencing or motivating individuals or groups who are working toward mutual goals and who have basically cooperative attitudes (e.g., discussing contract requirements or resolving problems with contractors; advising others on the need for or the results of evaluations; discussing program/project progress). Factor 8-1 Physical Demands The work is primarily sedentary, although some physical effort may be required, e.g., walking, standing, carrying light items such as manuals or briefcases, or driving or traveling by motor vehicle. Factor 9-1 Work Environment The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, training rooms, and libraries. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or during program/project and country visits. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Education: A Masters Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Political Science, International Relations, Diplomacy, Development or related field such as Economics, Law, Social Sciences, or Development is required. Experience: This is a mid-level position that requires maturity and a minimum of four years of relevant experience working with the US Government or in the field of development assistance. The ability to function in complex, frequently changing political and economic conditions is required. The candidate must have demonstrated practical experience in multi-tasking on a wide range of reform issues. Experience in Central Asia and/or the Newly Independent States and a strong understanding of the region?s political environment is essential. At least three years experience in a team environment and ability to work in a collegial, but fast-paced, diversified environment is required. Skills and Abilities: Native speaker (level 5) in both written and spoken English required and good working knowledge (level 3) in both written and spoken Russian is preferred. Computer literacy (MS Office, Windows?2000, internet/intranet, Word/Excel, etc.). Exceptional oral and written communication skills are required. Exceptional interpersonal skills and diplomacy are required to maintain excellent working relationships with all Mission personnel, internal/external contacts, counterparts, stakeholders and clients. OTHER REQUIREMENTS: The incumbent must be: 1) a U.S. citizen; 2) available and willing to commit to a contract period of performance of 12 months; 3) Able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance at ?SECRET? level and to secure a medical clearance to serve in Central Asia; 4) available and willing to additional hours beyond the established 40-hour work week and outside the established Monday-Friday work week as may be necessary; and 5) willing to travel extensively through the country and Central Asia region as required. 9. Selection Criteria: Applicants will be evaluated against the following criteria: Technical Knowledge and Experience: 30 points Managerial and Leadership Experience: 20 points Academic Qualifications: 15 points Language and Communication Skills: 15 points Relevant NIS Experience: 15 points Computer Skills: 5 points Total: 100 points 10. APPLYING Qualified individuals are requested to submit a U.S. Government Application for Federal Employment SF-171 including experience, salary history and references, and writing sample (one page analytical essay) no later than COB (6 p.m. Almaty time) September 2, 2003. Applications which do not include explicit references, including their contact information, will not be considered. The form is available at the USAID website, http://www.info.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: Beth Salamanca Contracting Officer Personnel Office USAID/CAR Almaty 41 Kazibek Bi Street Almaty, Kazakhstan Tel: 7 3272 507612 ext. 345, Email: per.Almaty@usaid.gov 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 September 12, 2003. USAID/CAR expects to award a personal-services contract for an off-shore or resident hire US Citizen for one-year period from on or about September 29, 2003 to on or about September 28, 2004. The contract will be signed by September 20, 2003. On or about September 29, 2003, 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, however, the majority of time the contractor will be on TDY status in Dushanbe, Tajikistan (15% Danger Pay for the period of stay in Tajikistan). 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.
- Place of Performance
- Address: 41 Kazybek Bi Street,, Almaty
- Zip Code: 480100
- Country: Kazakhstan
- Zip Code: 480100
- Record
- SN00405697-W 20030821/030819213058 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |