SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Civil Engineer
- Notice Date
- 3/24/2010
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 923120
— Administration of Public Health Programs
- Contracting Office
- Agency for International Development, Overseas Missions, Ethiopia USAID-Addis Ababa, Dept. of State, Washington, District of Columbia, 20521-2030
- ZIP Code
- 20521-2030
- Solicitation Number
- 663-S-10-002
- Point of Contact
- Wondwossen Bekele, Phone: 251115510088, Robert Appiah, Phone: 251-011-551-0088 ext. 279
- E-Mail Address
-
Wbekele@usaid.gov, rappiah@usaid.gov
(Wbekele@usaid.gov, rappiah@usaid.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- A. BACKGROUND T he Mission's Office of Health, AIDS, Population and Nutrition (HAPN) is the largest office within the Mission. HAPN is responsible for programs in tuberculosis, maternal-child health, malaria, HIV/AIDS and family planning/reproductive health. HAPN's average budget exceeds $270 million, with $200 million for HIV/AIDS. Cumulatively, HAPN intends to expend over $50 million on construction and renovation activities. Coordination of Ethiopia's infrastructure program is complex and includes other USG agencies, other donors, and several Government of Ethiopia (GOE) ministries. The U.S. Government provides considerable support through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). As part of this support, USAID will construct new health centers, renovate existing health centers and build or expand commodity warehouses. In addition, USAID provides technical assistance to assist Ethiopia's public sector in planning, constructing and maintaining health facilities. The United States is the largest bilateral donor to Ethiopia, and USAID manages the vast majority of this USG support. The Mission has sector programs in economic growth, agriculture and trade, assets, livelihoods and transitions (including a large food security program), health, education, democracy and governance. A major Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) program is also part of the Mission portfolio. B. BASIC FUNCTION The Civil Engineer will be based in USAID Ethiopia Office of Health, AIDS, Population and Nutrition (HAPN) in Addis Ababa. The Civil Engineer will be required to travel throughout Ethiopia to conduct site visits to satisfy reporting requirements in conjunction with quality assurance and project acceptance inspections for ongoing contracted work. During field visits to work sites, at times the Civil Engineer may live and work in rustic conditions. The Civil Engineer will participate in the planning, design and execution of new construction, renovation and improvement projects, providing engineering expertise and guidance, analyzing contract plans and specifications to identify problem areas or potential problems with planned construction and activities, and making recommendations to resolve problems. In addition, the incumbent will serve as a Quality Assurance Representative performing contract administrative functions with responsibility for the quality assurance and inspection of construction projects for compliance with plans, specifications, acceptability of materials, methods and workmanship, and required safety and labor law regulations. Projects may include, but are not limited to general vertical construction of health centers, and commodity warehouses. The Civil Engineer will be housed in HAPN and will report to the HIV/AIDS Team Leader, or his/her designate. C. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The incumbent will have the following specific duties and responsibilities: •1. Scheduling and coordinating inspection visits and all logistical and equipment support requirements with contractors and key partners, including the Ministry of Health/Public Health Infrastructure Development (MOH/HKID) Project Management Unit (PMU), regional and zonal engineers, and district officials responsible for maintenance and operations. This will include requests for information, materials, equipment, security personnel, and transportation assets per guidance from HAPN and in accordance with established procedures. •2. Assisting in the development, scheduling, and execution of field site, quality assurance inspections by completing documentation of deficiencies noted (both written and photographic) and by completing and submitting reports to higher officials regarding the status of contracted work and in accordance with established designs, engineering practices, workmanship, and safety and environmental protection requirements. •3. Receiving and reviewing field project reports for completeness of established requirements, and completing daily administrative and operational reporting requirements for submission to higher officials. •4. Gathering and reviewing contract documents, project costs and fee estimates, and daily project status reports for contracted work, processing automated program progress and status reports, obtaining and validating original and contractor submitted bills-of-materials, and maintaining and validating a current list of contracted work projects detailing their status and cumulative costs with regards to the status of bills of materials purchased and expended. •5. Tracking and compiling all project reporting and documentation requirements to include the receipt and filing of project designs, as- built drawings, test data, engineering field and analysis reports, all design and contractor bills-of-materials, and all project close out and facility acceptance documentation. •6. Attending all required meetings, scheduled events, and conferences related to assigned program and project activities. This will involve interacting with national, regional, zonal, district and other local government and community officials regarding facility/project completion and modification issues, including inspection, security, maintenance, operations and logistical support requirements. •7. Anticipating requirements, monitoring operations, taking actions to keep operations on track, managing the flow of information, making timely recommendations, coordinating operations with other relevant officials and engineering staff elements, and synchronizing and maintaining the continuity of operations within assigned areas of responsibility. This may involve development of agreements with GOE officials to ensure that Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) 611(e) requirements are implemented. •8. Identifying required actions, making decisions and recommendations, and executing activities as they pertain to assigned areas of responsibility, and providing timely information, assistance, and recommendations to HAPN Office staff and USAID Mission Management. •9. Continuously monitoring operations as well as the actions of outside forces that could potentially disrupt or desynchronize program efforts. This includes working to identify unforeseen obstacles and problems, implementing measures to reduce their effects whenever possible, and reporting problems and recommendations to HAPN staff when situations exceed the incumbent's ability to control or influence them. •10. Continuously conduct risk management to identify hazards affecting plans and operations, and recommend control measures. •11. Effectively manage time and resources within assigned areas of responsibility, to include the synchronization of program activities with those of the USAID FSN Construction Specialist, the USAID/Washington Office of Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade/Infrastructure and Engineering (EGAT/I&E) unit, and other supported teams and agencies as appropriate. •12. Supervise the USAID FSN Construction Specialist. •13. Obtaining, providing, and processing input and recommendations from staff members, and establish, monitor and control timelines, and identify critical operational events affecting operations. •14. Provide daily input and advice to his/her Supervisor regarding all matters pertaining to proposed, planned, and ongoing contracted work and activities, and the completion of other activities as assigned by the Supervisor and/or the Contracting Officer. •15. Develop relevant sections of the PEPFAR Country Operational Plan (COP) and other relevant program documents and reports as needed. D. EVALUATION CRITERIA: I. Education (10 Points): Masters level degree required. Master's degree or equivalent in Public Health (MPH), Pharmacy (MSc), or international health is highly preferred. Post graduate training in Health Care Financing is highly preferred. II. Prior Work Experience (50 Points): Seven to ten years of progressive and responsible experience in public health, including experience in strategic planning, activity design, program planning and budgeting, and monitoring and evaluation is required. Minimum five years experience in pharmaceutical management, health care financing and management in developing country contexts is required. Experience working with health systems and Health Care at the national and local (district/community/service facility) level is required. Experience managing HIV/AIDS and/or health related programs, particularly in a decentralized context in the developing world, is required. Experience in developing and implementing innovative approaches and best practices in health care management is required. Experience in design, implementation and monitoring is required. Experience with PEPFAR and USAID health programs or health programs of other donors and collaborating partners is desirable. Familiarity with, and sensitivity to, socio-cultural and institutional factors affecting program development and implementation in Sub Saharan Africa, preferably in East Africa, is desirable. III. Knowledge and Skills - all required (40 Points): Understanding of public health challenges in the Ethiopian context or comparable setting. Demonstrated knowledge of policy, technical and operational aspects of Health Care; knowledge of basic issues, best practices and innovations in supply chain services. Ability to readily understand, analyze and discuss issues. Demonstrated ability to identify priority actions, generate and complete work plans within short time frames. Demonstrated excellent representation, liaison, and coordination abilities with all levels of counterparts. Demonstrated organizational, managerial and decision making abilities. Excellent written and spoken English, with the ability to clearly communicate program and technical concepts, including the ability to make concise and effective oral and written presentations (required). Amharic language skills useful. Excellent computer skills, particularly with Microsoft Office software (word processing and spreadsheets), and databases (ACCESS or web-based - preferred); ability to produce concise well-written reports in English. Ability to work effectively in a team situation, and to negotiate difficult issues and build consensus to achieve results with a wide range of program partners. Ability to work independently with little supervision. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with a wide range of partners in a complex cultural and bureaucratic environment. E. TERMS OF PERFORMANCE, COMPENSATION AND LIVING CONDITIONS: The term of the contract will be for two years from on/about December 1, 2008 (earlier if clearances can be completed) to on/about December 1, 2010 (unless otherwise agreed). Within 2 weeks after written notice from the Contracting Officer that all clearances have been received or, unless another date is specified by the Contracting Officer in writing, the incumbent shall proceed to Addis Ababa to perform the above services which may be extended upon mutual agreement and subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds. The salary range for this position has been established in the GS-13 range. The actual salary of the successful candidate will be negotiated depending on qualifications and previous salary history, but will not exceed the top of the range. In addition, the Mission has a 25% Post Differential allowance. FICA and federal income tax will be withheld by USAID. F. Position Elements a) Supervision Received : The Health Care Financing Advisor will work under the direction of the Health Team Leader and HIV/AIDS Team Leader or his/her designee. S/he will develop a personal annual performance plan, in coordination with his/her supervisor, and will be evaluated annually on the basis of the performance plan. The Advisor independently plans and carries out the work, selecting technical and managerial approaches and techniques to be used, and informs the supervisor of progress and significant challenges and remedies. Regular consultation with other members of USAID's HAPN Team, as well as USG PEPFAR and PMI Teams is expected. b) Available Guidelines: Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM), Foreign Affairs Handbook (FAR), Automated Directives System (ADS), Mission Orders and Mission Notices. c) Exercise of Judgment : Excellent judgment is critical to successful performance by the incumbent and to successful implementation of USAID/Ethiopia's HIV/AIDS commodity and logistics program. S/he must be able to negotiate sensitive issues with GOE officials and other partners and to analyze and solve difficult problems related to program formulation and implementation. The Advisor must be able to provide rapid independent analysis of problems, issues, and opportunities as they arise, and make recommendations to senior management. S/he must be able to review and appraise the quality of reports, evaluations and other technical services procured by USAID. Considerable reliance is placed by USAID on the judgment of the Advisor to make critical program decisions. d) Authority to Make Commitments : The incumbent has no independent authority to make resource commitments on behalf of the U.S. Government. e) Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The Incumbent must provide consistent, credible and diplomatic representation of USAID to high level GOE, donor, and other partner contacts for technical, policy and program management issues related to Health Care Financing. S/he will have frequent contacts with high level officials of the MOH, donors, and other partners to facilitate smooth functioning of systems for USG financed commodities. S/he will negotiate with MOH and other partners at State (Deputy) Minister, National Program Director and program manager level on the implementation and monitoring of USAID- or PEPFAR-funded activities, and will advocate to ensure that Health Care issues are taken into account in MOH budget and strategic plans. S/he will negotiate and coordinate with GFATM, GAVI, GAIN and others as needed for HIV- and health-related activities. The Advisor will represent USAID/Ethiopia with multi-lateral donor coordination bodies and in defining donor technical, policy and program support to the MOH and other Ministries. f) COMPLEXITY: The technical scope and management responsibilities of the position are complex, requiring the services of a highly qualified person with strong technical skills in Health Care Financing. The ability to work collaboratively within teams is essential for success in this position, as is the ability to work proactively and independently. The Advisor must be able to function effectively and efficiently with limited supervision in a highly complex, fast-paced environment. The needs of multiple stakeholders in Ethiopia and the U.S. must be considered, while balancing performance and resource priorities. The Advisor will be responsible for managing the contracts/grants, addressing the Health Care Financing requirements of USAID/Ethiopia's and coordinating with multiple public and private agencies and organizations. The need for decisive leadership in managerially complex and often sensitive, high pressure situations requires that the incumbent exercise good judgment and tact, and operate with substantial responsibility and authority. f) POST ENTRY TRAINING: The Specialist will receive on-the-job training regarding PEPFAR, USAID and USG policies, procedures and regulations, including the Automated Directives Systems (ADS) and Mission Orders. S/he will also receive training in USAID project management and implementation, and auditing and financial management when available and as needed. The Advisor will receive mandatory training as a Cognizant Technical Officer (CTO) and become certified for that function. Guiding documents will include the PEPFAR Country Operational Plans, the MOH Road Map for HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment 2007-2010, the PLMP, and Global Fund Grants for Rounds 4, 7, and the Rolling Continuation Channel (RCC) extension of Round 2, if approved. g) Medical and Security Clearance: If a USPSC is selected, s/he must be able to obtain a USG secret level security clearance and a Department of State medical clearance. TCN candidates must be able to obtain a Security certification for employment and a medical clearance. h) Benefits: AS A MATTER OF POLICY, AND AS APPROPRIATE, AN INDIVIDUAL MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF AN OFFSHORE HIRE USPSC IS NORMALLY UTHORIZED THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS. [TCNPSCs WILL BE AUTHORIZED THE USUAL TCNPSC BENEFITS AS STIPULATED IN APPENDIX J OF THE AIDAR UNLESS ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCES ARE AUTHORIZED BY THE MISSION DIRECTOR]: 1. Benefits (1) Employee's FICA Contribution (2) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance --50% of Health Insurance Annual Premium (not to exceed $7,750 for a family and $3,410 for employees without dependents) --50% of Life Insurance Annual Premium (not to exceed $500) (3) Pay Comparability Adjustment--Annual across the board salary increase for USG employees and USPSCs (4) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation (5) Vacation & Sick Leave 2. Allowances* (If Applicable): As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, an offshore USPSC is normally authorized the following allowances: (1) Post Differential (Section 500) (2) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) (3) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120) (4) Post Allowance (COLA)(Section 220) (5) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230) (6) Payments During Evacuation (Section 600) (7) Education Allowance (Section 270) (8) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) (9) Danger Pay (Section 650) (10) Educational Travel (Section 280) * Dept. of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR) (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). 3. Other Benefits: Additional benefits are available for individuals hired from outside Ethiopia in accord with the AIDAR, Federal Travel Regulations and Standardized Regulations, e.g., international airfare from place of residence, R&R, international shipment of personal effects, unaccompanied baggage allowance, consumables allowance, POV Shipment, Repatriation Travel, furnished housing and educational allowances for dependent children. I. FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes under the foreign earned income exclusion. J. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs: For initial consideration: 1. OF-612 or SF-171 Upon advice by the Contracting Officer that the applicant is the successful candidate: 2. Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet (AID 1420-17) 3. Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62). 4. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86) 5. Finger Print Card (FD-258). **(Available from the law enforcement offices or in USAID/Washington). The list of required PSC forms above can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ K. APPLICATION PROCESS: Qualified individuals are requested to submit a U.S government OF-612 which is available at the USAID website http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/forms.asp, or at Federal Offices. Alternatively, the old SF-171 may be submitted in lieu of the OF-612. All application forms must be signed and dated prior to transmittal. Applicant's detailed CV and a cover letter of application should also be included. All applications should be submitted electronically to Wbekele@usaid.gov To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application and as the subject line of cover letter. The highest ranking applications may be selected for interview. Applications must be received before the closing time and date in item number three of this solicitation. Applications received after that date and/or time may not be considered. ACQUISITION AND ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRECTIVES (AAPDs) PERTAINING TO PERSONAL SERVICE CONTRACT (PSC) : AAPDs contain information or changes pertaining to USAID policy, regulation and procedures concerning acquisition and assistance. A number of AAPDs pertain to Personal Service Contracts. Please refer to the USAID website http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solicit/ to locate relevant AAPDs. Additionally, AIDAR Appendix D or J also applies to PSCs and can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/aidar.pdf L. Points of Contact 1. Robert Appiah, Executive Officer, USAID/Ethiopia, E-MAIL: RAppiah@usiad.gov 2. Wondwossen Bekele, HR Specialist: wbekele@usaid.gov
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/AID/OM/ETH/663-S-10-002/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USAID/Ethiopia, P.O.BOx 1014, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Record
- SN02102151-W 20100326/100325012335-a90aee3602ee0bc1e36fea5b49a3d6e8 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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