MODIFICATION
R -- FOOD FOR PEACE OFFICER
- Notice Date
- 8/24/2009
- Notice Type
- Modification/Amendment
- NAICS
- 812990
— All Other Personal Services
- Contracting Office
- Agency for International Development, Overseas Missions, Guatemala USAID-Guatemala City, Amer Emb/Guatemala, Unit #3323, APO, 34024
- ZIP Code
- 34024
- Solicitation Number
- 520-09-PSC-02
- Archive Date
- 9/26/2009
- Point of Contact
- Sofia de Hernandez, Phone: 502-24224103
- E-Mail Address
-
shernandez@usaid.gov
(shernandez@usaid.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- BACKGROUND U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of Food for Peace (FFP) provides grants for food assistance to private voluntary organizations (PVOs) and the UN World Food Program (WFP) under Title II of Public Law 480. In FY 2008, FFP provided more than 2.6 million metric tons of food, valued at more than $2.6 billion, benefiting people in 49 countries worldwide. FFP provides both emergency food aid (which aims to address food aid needs arising from natural disasters, such as floods or droughts, and complex emergencies often characterized by insecurity and population displacement) and non-emergency food aid (which aims to address the underlying causes of chronic food insecurity). Guatemala faces a host of complex food security issues requiring Title II food assistance. Chronic malnutrition among children under five is 49% and is at 69% for indigenous children, the 4 th worst in the world. The World Bank reports that 51% of the Guatemalan population lives in poverty. The Title II program focuses on increasing the production of basic corps, diversifying both agricultural and livestock production; improving biological utilization of food; organizing food demonstration sessions and incorporating behavior change messages on agricultural, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, and food distribution, and increasing family income. In FY 2008, Guatemala received nearly $l4 million in non-emergency Title II food assistance. The current program is implemented through Catholic Relief Services (CRS), SHARE/Guatemala and Save the Children, and has a life of portfolio funding of approximately $80 million from October 2007 to September 2011. In FY 2009, it is anticipated that there will be one new five year non-emergency program managed by a partner yet to be determined, valued at $50 million, which will focus on the nutritional status of children under two years of age. Title II food aid grants are signed by the Director of FFP in Washington, and the FFP/Washington Country Backstop Officer is usually the Cognizant Technical Officer (CTO) who is responsible for the technical oversight of the grants. The USAID Mission has overall responsibility for assistance programs in the country. To help determine the need for and improve, monitor, and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the assistance provided under the Title II Food aid program in Guatemala, the USAID Mission in Guatemala City requires the services of a FFP Officer hired through a Personal Services Contract. The position is based in the capital, but the FFP Officer may be expected to spend a significant percent of his/her time traveling throughout the country to monitor program activities and assess food aid needs. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES The FFP Officer will work with other Mission staff to ensure effective management of FFP resources in Guatemala. His/her primary responsibility is to monitor Title II-funded non-emergency food aid programs and report on their implementation to FFP/Washington, and the USAID Mission. SPECIFIC DUTIES The FFP Officer will undertake the following duties: 1. Serve as one of the primary points of contact for issues pertaining to Title II food aid in Guatemala for the USAID Mission, USAID/Washington, other parts of the U.S. government, PVOs, international organizations, host nation governmental ministries and agencies, and others in the country. 2. Monitor and report on implementation of ongoing Title II programs, including progress and problems encountered by grantees, as well as commodity management, including following up with cooperating sponsors on the status of loss claims. 3. Provide information and guidance to Title II assistance award recipients on Title II regulations, policies and procedures. 4. Report on all food security issues, to include changes in the food security situation and food aid requirements, government policies and actions affecting food aid programs, government food aid programs, and donor pledges and programs. 5. Coordinate with the U.S. Government Country Team, host government, PVOs, international organizations, donors, and others to address issues impacting Title II food aid. 6. Undertake and report on assessments to inform Title II food aid funding decisions or modifications to ongoing programs. 7. Work with PVOs on preparation of annual workplans and program modifications, and with WFP and FFP staff on new appeals or revisions to existing ones. 8. Work with other parts of the U.S. government and other donors to promote integration of food aid with other programs to increase the effectiveness of the programs overall. 9. When delegated authority to do so by the FFP Director, serve as CTO for Title II programs (when delegated by the FFP Director). 10. Supervise assigned FSN staff, as designated. 11. Undertake other tasks, as assigned. <u> Minimum Qualifications: </u> - Bachelor's degree plus at least eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in international development or relief (two of which must be related to food aid; experience in rural agricultural development is desired); or - Master's degree with significant study in a pertinent field (including, but not limited to international relations, agriculture, economics, public health,) plus at least six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in international development or relief (two of which must be related to food aid; experience in rural agricultural development is desired); - At least two (2) years of experience working on development or relief issues in the field' - Language skills in English (Level IV Fluent) and Spanish (Level III Professional Level Proficiency); - Basic computer skills, to include knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel, e-mail, and the internet; - U.S. or Third Country Nationals (TCN) Citizens; Applicants not meeting minimum qualifications will not be evaluated further. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP : The FFP Officer will be supervised on a day-to-day basis by the Deputy Mission Director in the USAID Mission, but is expected to be in regular contact with FFP/Washington, and report any information to them on issues pertaining to ongoing Title II programs. The incumbent may be asked to supervise one or more FSN staff. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The incumbent is expected to take initiative and act independently with little direction, but will have no authority to make financial commitments on behalf of the U.S. government unless such authority is specifically delegated. Authority to Make Commitments : The incumbent will have no independent authority to commit U.S. Government (USG) funds on behalf of the U.S. Government. 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. Applicants are strongly encouraged to address each of the factors on a separate sheet describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, and/or education that are relevant to each factor. Be sure to include your name, social security number, and the announcement number at the top of each additional page. A. Professional Experience - 50 pts •(i) Knowledge and experience with international development and relief (10 points) •(ii) Knowledge and experience with Title II food aid programs (20 points) •(iii) Technical expertise in a food aid related field, such as nutrition, agronomy, economics, or public health (20 points) (experience in agronomy desired) 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, both verbally and in writing (10 points) •(ii) Ability to work effectively as a team member and supervise staff in diverse cultures (10 points) Selection Process : After the closing date for receipt of applications, a committee will be convened to review applications and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Applications from candidates which do not meet the minimum educational and work experience requirements will not be scored. As part of the selection process, final candidates may be interviewed either in person or by telephone at the discretion of the selection panel. Reference checks will be made only for applicants considered as finalists. If an applicant does not wish for the current employer to be contacted as a reference check, this should be stated in the applicant's cover letter. The interviewing committee will delay such reference check pending communication with the applicant. Only finalists will be contacted by the interview committee with respect to their applications. The final selected candidates must obtain security and medical clearances within a reasonable period of time (USAID will provide details regarding these clearances to the selected candidate). A substantial delay in obtaining either required clearance will make the applicant ineligible for selection. Applying : Qualified individuals are requested to submit a U.S. Government Application for Federal Employment SF-171 OR Optional Form 612 including experience, salary history and references, and a recent sample of his/her written work (maximum 1-3 pages, i.e. report on food issues) no later than COB September 11, 2009 (12:00 p.m. Guatemala time). The forms are 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, or air courier by the closing date above to: Sofia de Hernandez Administrative Specialist USAID/Guatemala E-mail: shernandez@usaid.gov Fax : (502) 2422-4585 All applications should be received by the closing date and time previously specified. 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/business/business_opportunities/psc_solicitations.html 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). ** ** 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 AAPDs and CIBs contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and contracts. Please refer to this website http://www.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/cib/subject.html#psc to determine which AAPDs and CIBs apply to this contract. BENEFITS, ALLOWANCES AND PAYMENT OF TAXES As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: 1) BENEFITS Employee's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Annual Increase Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual and Sick Leave Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service Cost of Travel to/from Post Shipment of Unaccompanied Baggage Shipment and Storage of Household Effects Shipment of POV (Privately Owned Vehicle) 2) ALLOWANCES (as applicable as found in the Standardize Regulations for Government Civilians Foreign Areas) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) Post Allowance (Section 220) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) Educational Allowance (Section 270) Educational Travel (Section 280) Post Differential (Chapter 500) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and Danger Pay (Section 650) FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are required to pay Federal Income Taxes, FICA, and Medicare. Additional information: MARKET VALUE: GS-14 ($83,445-$108,483). PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two years IMPORTANT NOTE: The award of this contract is subject to NSDD-38 approval and availability of funds.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/AID/OM/GUA/520-09-PSC-02/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USAID/GUATEMALA, Km. 6.5 Final Blvd. Los Proceres, Santa Catarina Pinula, Guatemala, GUATEMALA, Guatemala
- Record
- SN01924273-W 20090826/090825002622-cd12aecb743ce2386f307cad75f86e77 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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