SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Solicitation for a Personal Service Contractor (PSC), Ethiopia HIV/AIDS Emergency Plan (ETAEP) Coordinator
- Notice Date
- 3/3/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Agency for International Development, Overseas Missions, Ethiopia USAID-Addis Ababa, Dept. of State, Washington, DC, 20521-2030
- ZIP Code
- 20521-2030
- Solicitation Number
- 663-E-054-003
- Response Due
- 3/31/2005
- Archive Date
- 4/15/2005
- Description
- The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications (Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612) from U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or third-country nationals (TCNs) interested in providing the services as described in the solicitation that follows. Submittals shall be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified above. . POSITION DESCRIPTIONS: A. Background: Ethiopia Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa, with a 2003 population estimated at 70 million people from 83 ethnic groups and languages, living in an area almost twice the size of Texas. There are nine regions and two special administrative areas: the cities of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. Eighty-five percent of the population lives in rural areas. Almost 4% of the population lives in Addis Ababa, the capital, and another 11% in other urban regional capitals and trade hubs. In the early 1990?s the government of Ethiopia devolved power to ethnically based regions. Decentralization remains an important focus of the government and its donor partners. Financial and other resource allocations to regions from the federal government are based on formulae that recognize need. Religion plays a major part in the lives of most Ethiopians and religious networks reach even the most remote parts of the country, although there is not a strong tradition of religious health care or education networks. Approximately 45% of the population adheres to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church; approximately 45% of the population is Muslim; and Evangelical and Pentecostal Protestantism and other religious traditions constitute approximately 10% of the population. There is a long tradition of religious tolerance and harmony. Basic living conditions in terms of health, sanitation and nutrition are extremely poor for the majority of the population. Maternal mortality rates are 871 per 100,000 live births and under-five mortality rates are 188 per 1000. Half of Ethiopia?s children are underweight for their age and over half are stunted. Access to health care is limited to 61.3% for public facilities, with an increase to 70.2% when services provided by private facilities are included. The primary school gross enrollment rate has increased to 65% (40% girls). This increase in students has affected the quality of education. The adult literacy rate is 32.8% (26.4% females; 39.3% males). GDP is under US$100 per capita in the past 10 years, making Ethiopia one of the poorest countries on the continent. The political and economic environment is fluid and moving forward, albeit at an uneven pace. The GOE?s recent achievement of highly indebted poor country completion points has significantly reduced external debt, which bodes well for future economic growth. Continued progress on food security policies and programs affords cautious optimism about improved impact on poverty reduction. Progressive implementation of decentralization in different sectors yields a constant ebb and flow of center-periphery tensions that affects all sector programs. National parliamentary elections are scheduled for May 2005, with local elections scheduled for 2006. The President?s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Ethiopia Recognizing the emergency that exists in Ethiopia due to the prevalence and impact of HIV/AIDS, the joint partners within the U.S. government?the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Department of Defense, under the auspices of the Department of State?have formed an interagency working group for Ethiopia?s AIDS Emergency Plan (ETAEP). The mission statement of this group is to: Take responsibility for providing the leadership, management and oversight of the U.S. government programs which will address the treatment, care and support, and prevention of HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. We are committed to achieving, in concert with Ethiopian and other partners, within and outside of the government, specific targets which will result in the achievement at a minimum of the five-year goal to provide treatment to 210,000 people; care and support services to 1.05 million people; and prevent 552,000 new infections of HIV/AIDS. To this end we will operate as a team to develop and implement a unified strategy which utilizes our comparative strengths to make the best use of resources and maximize results for the people of Ethiopia. Additional agencies that are involved but not represented in Addis Ababa are the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which provides millions of dollars of P.L. 480 Title II food aid to Ethiopia each year, which is managed by USAID and partners to complement care programs for OVCs and PLWHA; and the U.S. Department of Labor, which has provided approximately US$1 million to the MOLSA for workplace programs, as part of an International Labor Organization program). The U.S. Peace Corps/Crisis Corps sent an exploratory team to Ethiopia in mid-FY 2004, but was unable to participate in strategy or program formulation due to budgetary restrictions. It is hoped that Peace Corps will be able to mobilize in future years. The four lead agencies undertook a team building retreat in August 2004 to establish an organizational structure for coordination and decision making at which they established the following structure (ref. Organization Chart on next page): The U.S. Ambassador is the overall leader of the ETAEP group and provides the ultimate decision-making. All official communications concerning ETAEP are cleared through the Ambassador?s office. The Ambassador also acts as the point of contact for communications with the highest levels of Ethiopian Government concerning ETAEP activities. The ETEAP council is chaired by the deputy chief of mission (DCM) and comprised of section and agency heads, including the director of USAID, the director of CDC, the DOD security assistance office (SAO) director, and the USAID HIV/AIDS officer. The council functions as the central point of contact for ETAEP activities. In its role as advisor to the Ambassador, the council focuses on providing executive summaries on ETAEP activities and seeks the Ambassador?s guidance on issues which cannot be resolved at a lower level. Specific issues at the strategic level which come from OGAC will be responded to by the DCM (as council chair) with guidance from the other council members as appropriate. The ETAEP coordinator, who serves as the council secretary, handles communications to and from the council to the collaborative team. The council is also responsible for developing and delivery a coherent message, both for the broader public (in tandem with the Embassy?s Public Affairs Section (PAS)) and for communications with ETAEP partners (although day-to-day partner communications will be handled by the agencies with which the partner is working). The executive council meets monthly at a minimum, and as needed to provide overall policy guidance and decision-making. The collaborative team is chaired by the ETAEP coordinator. Collaborative team members include the ETAEP coordinator; a representative from the refugee coordinator?s office; a representative from SAO; a representative from PAS; one or more representatives from CDC; and one or more representatives from USAID. (The collaborative team membership fluctuates depending on need.) The collaborative team manages communication with the working groups and serves as a distribution channel for general OGAC communications. The collaborative team meets weekly and is responsible for operational collaboration for ETAEP design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. A political/economic officer is currently ETAEP coordinator, and serves as secretary of the council and the collaborative team. An ETAEP support coordinator position has been established. Seven topic-specific working groups also have been formed to help implement ETAEP. Working group chairs are distributed among the ETAEP agencies ? USAID chairs prevention and care; CDC chairs treatment and SI; and State chairs management and public diplomacy. Core membership includes representatives from all four agencies; cooperating agencies and partners are invited to meetings on an as-needed basis. Four of the working groups ? prevention, care, treatment, and SI ? have been key to development of relevant sections of the Five Year Strategy and the 2005 COP. They have ensured input from implementing partners as necessary to strategy development. The management working group is an internal group that is working to streamline management and administrative issues associated with the inter-agency ETAEP effort. Key management and administrative staff from the four agencies participate according to specific agendas. The public diplomacy working group, chaired by the public affairs officer, focuses on integrated communication messages. A partnerships working group may be developed, subject to needs articulated by other groups. B. ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION OF POSITION: The incumbent is designated by the Chief of Mission to serve as operational coordinator for the President?s Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) activities in Ethiopia, known as Ethiopia?s HIV/AIDS Emergency Plan (ETAEP). The ETAEP Coordinator will be based at the US Embassy, within the Office of the Ambassador. C. SUPERVISION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS: The ETAEP Coordinator will report to the Deputy Chief of Mission, who leads the ETAEP implementation effort. The Coordinator will supervise one FSN ETAEP Projects Coordinator. D. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Specific responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following: Facilitate development and implementation of a unified ETAEP program for Ethiopia 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 and GOE objectives for HIV/AIDS, and is optimally responsive to the needs of Ethiopian citizens at risk for or infected with HIV; Serve as the primary liaison for the Ethiopia in-country team with the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (S/GAC), and particularly with the Ethiopia interagency collaborative team. Ensure that COM/DCM and other interested/affected units at the Embassy are apprised of key ETAEP developments and timelines; Coordinate with named representatives of the USG PEPFAR implementing agencies, i.e., the Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Health, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID; and, Coordinate with leadership in selected Government of Ethiopia ministries/offices - initially to include the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO), the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Ministry of Youth, and the Office of the Minister in the Ministry of Health, to ensure consistent communication related to ETAEP, and to promote maximum complementarities between GOE HIV/AIDS programs and those being planned and implemented by USG agencies and their partners. In addition, the incumbent?s duties will include: Organizing, disseminating and retaining records of regular meetings of the ETAEP collaborative team; Attending, disseminating and retaining records of meetings of the ETAEP Working Group; Coordinating and facilitating the production of COPs, semi-annual progress reports and other documents as needed for the design, implementation, and monitoring of ETAEP plans and program implementation; Managing TDY?s essential to the above (not to include TDYs specific to the programs of individual USG implementing agencies) and, at times asking that agencies reschedule individual TDY?s; Supporting efforts by USG implementing agencies to recruit, qualify, and successfully engage new, especially indigenous, partners in ETAEP activities; Preparing and disseminating periodic internal and external updates/status reports on ETAEP. Internal audiences shall be limited to USG participants, including HQ. External audiences shall include GOE partners, non-governmental implementing partners, and the Ethiopian and, less frequently, international media and the general public. Drafting and maintaining ETAEP background material. In conjunction with PAS, drafting texts, providing support to principal officers for public and press events, and acting as ETAEP spokesperson at such events in the absence of a principal officer. Overseeing essential logistic activities; and Serving as secretariat for Ambassador?s co-leadership of the USG-GOE ETAEP Steering Committee; E. QUALIFICATIONS: In order to perform the duties described above, the ETAEP coordinator must have the following qualifications and professional experience: 1. Education: Bachelor?s degree in Management/Administration, public health, or related field. Master?s degree in any of these would be an advantage. 2. The successful candidate will have at least five years of directly related management experience. Experience coordinating and managing multi-agency teams will be an advantage. 3. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a range of professional counter-parts at all levels, including those from host country governmental and non-governmental organizations, U.S. government agencies, and other donors. The candidate must demonstrate cross cultural sensitivity, tact and poise, as he/she will be called upon to interact with high level officials from a range of cultural backgrounds. 4. Fluency in the use of the Microsoft Office suite of software applications is required. Knowledge of database and desktop publishing programs would be an advantage. 5. The ability to work on teams and value teamwork is required. Proven record of effective, team-based working relationships, from staff to policy-making levels, with a wide range of individuals and organizations, including technical experts and contractors, host country partners (public and private sector), and international organizations are required. 6. Strong leadership, management, interpersonal and communication skills are essential. The ability to meet tight deadlines with concise documents and verbal interpretation is required. 9. OTHER REQUIREMENTS: The selected applicant must be able to obtain USAID security and medical clearances. 10. BENEFITS: As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: A. 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 B. 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) * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). C. FEDERAL TAXES: US Citizen PSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes under the foreign earned income exclusion. 11. APPLYING Qualified individuals are requested to submit a letter of application, a curriculum vitae/resume, and U.S. Government Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612 (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), by fax, e-mail or separate post by the closing date, above, to: Attn: R. Douglass Arbuckle Executive Officer USAID/Ethiopia P.O. Box 1014 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Phone (251)(1) 510088 Fax (251)(1) 510043 E-mail: darbuckle@usaid.gov U.S. Mail: Executive Office USAID/Ethiopia 2030 Addis Ababa Place Washington, D.C. 20521-2030 Courier: Executive Office United States Agency for International Development Mission to Ethiopia Riverside Building, off Haile Gebre Selassie Avenue and Democratic Republic of Congo Street Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 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. 12. CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs) PERTAINING TO PSCs 99-9 Personal Services Contracting (PSC) Annual Health 99-7 Contractual Coverage for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Services 98-25 Defense Base Act (DBA) Coverage and DBA Waiver List 98-24 Use of Compensatory (Comp) Time by PSCs 98-23 Guidance Regarding Classified Contract Security and Contractor Personnel Security Requirements 98-16 Annual Salary Increase for USPSCs 98-14 Change in Required Application Form for USPSCs 98-10 Personal Services Contracts (PSCs) Annual Health Insurance Costs 98-3 Class Deviation to 31.205-6(g)(3), Foreign National Severance Pay Under Professional Services Contracts 97-16 Class Justification for Use of Other Than Full & Open Competition 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 & Medicate Tax Rates for Personal Services Contracts 97-3 New USAID Contractor Employee Physical Examination 96-23 Unauthorized Provision in Personal Services Contract 96-19 U. S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) - Leave 96-8 Determining a Market Value for PSCs Hired Under Appendix D, Handbook 14 94-9 Sunday Pay for U.S. Personal Services Contractors (PSCs) 93-17 Financial Disclosure Requirements Under a Personal Services Contract (PSC) LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs 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). ** NOTE: Form 5 is available from the requirements office. ____________________ * 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. Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to Doug Arbuckle, Executive Officer, USAID/Ethiopia, who may be reached by phone at (251-1) 510088, fax at (251-1) 510043, or by e-mail at darbuckle@usaid.gov. Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications.
- Place of Performance
- Address: Address: USAID/Ethiopia, c/o U.S. Embassy, River Side Building, Off Democratic Republic of Congo Road, Postal Code: 1014, City/Country: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Record
- SN00761552-W 20050305/050303211512 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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