SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Food for Peace Specialist- USPSC GS-13 - Cover page
- Notice Date
- 8/28/2014
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 812990
— All Other Personal Services
- Contracting Office
- Agency for International Development, Overseas Missions, Nepal USAID-Kathmandu, Department of State, Washington, District of Columbia, 20521-6190
- ZIP Code
- 20521-6190
- Solicitation Number
- SOL-367-14-000023
- Archive Date
- 10/4/2014
- Point of Contact
- Roshan Kafle, Phone: 977-1-4007200 ext. 4489
- E-Mail Address
-
rkafle@usaid.gov
(rkafle@usaid.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Cover page for solicitation of USPSC Food for Peace Specialist- GS-13- USAID/Nepal SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL-367-14-000023 Solicitation for a US Personal Services Contractor (PSC): Food for Peace Specialist (FFP), USAID/Nepal, Kathmandu •1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL-367-14-000023 •2. ISSUANCE DATE: 09/02/2014 •3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 09/19/2014 (5 P.M. Kathmandu Time) •4. POSITION TITLE: Food for Peace Specialist •5. MARKET VALUE: GS- 13 ($ 72,391 to $94,108 per annum ). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon the candidate's past salary, work history and educational background. •i PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two years base with option to renew for up to three annual option years not to exceed 5 years. •6. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Nepal, Kathmandu, with possible travel as stated in the position description. •7. JOB DESCRIPTION: A. INTRODUCTION AND 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 Public International Organizations (PIOs) such as the UN World Food Program (WFP) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) under Title II of the Food for Peace Act of 2008 and under the International Disaster Assistance (IDA) Account of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. FFP is the largest provider of food assistance in the world, delivering nearly $2 billion of food annually to approximately 45 million beneficiaries in more than 50 countries. This includes approximately 1.5 billion metric tons (MTs) of U.S.-sourced food, as well as $300 million for local and regional purchase of food, cash transfers and food voucher programs. In addition to emergency assistance, FFP also supports multi-year development programs - which contribute to the President's Feed the Future Initiative - addressing the underlying drivers of chronic poverty and malnutrition among vulnerable communities. Taken together, these in-kind and cash-based programs comprise an increasingly diverse and flexible toolkit with which to combat hunger and malnutrition overseas. Programming is facilitated by state-of-the-art early warning systems through the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), an improved in-kind food aid basket that includes more nutritious products, and a modern supply chain management system that allows for rapid movement of commodities. FFP works closely with other parts of USAID and the U.S. government, including the Bureau for Food Security (BFS), Bureau for Global Health, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM). Nepal has one of the highest poverty rates in South Asia, with 25 percent of the population living on less than $1.25 per day. Despite great strides in maternal and child health and nutrition, 41 percent of children under 5 are stunted, and 11 percent are wasted - with wasting rates as high as 15 percent in some areas where proposed new FFP activities will be implemented. More than 25 percent of rural Nepalis holding less than 0.2 hectares are estimated to have an inadequate diet. Nepal ranked 17th out of 100 countries against a weighted index of stunting, poverty and under-nutrition criteria that FFP used to identify new development food assistance program start-ups with Fiscal Year 2014 funding (see Tab 2). Between Fiscal Years 2008 and 2011, FFP provided more than $45 million in Title II emergency food assistance funding to Nepal in response to floods, conflict-related displacement and the emergency food assistance needs of refugee populations, ranking Nepal 14 th highest among countries receiving FFP emergency funding during this period. This combination of chronic nutritional deficiencies and persistent humanitarian caseload - along with USAID's designation of Nepal as a resilience focus country - supports FFP's decision to shift resources in support of a more sustainable, resilience-focused development approach in Nepal to reduce the need for continued high levels of emergency assistance. Title II food aid grants are signed by the Director of FFP in Washington, and a FFP/Washington Country Backstop Specialist is the Agreement Specialist's Representative (AOR) responsible for the technical oversight of the grants. EFSP agreements are signed by the Office of Acquisition and Assistance/Washington and a FFP/Washington Country Backstop Specialist is usually the AOR for the technical oversight of the grants. The USAID Mission has overall responsibility for assistance programs in the country. As one of USAID's resilience focus countries in Asia, Nepal is a country of high political interest both regionally and in Washington. The USAID Mission in Kathmandu requires the services of a FFP Specialist hired through a Personal Services Contract to serve as the focal point for USAID/Nepal to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of all FFP-supported programming in Nepal, working closely with Mission staff to ensure that activities are appropriately sequenced, layered and integrated with other programs under the Country Development Cooperation Strategy; of particular relevance in this regard are the three programs to implement Presidential Initiatives: KISAN (Feed the Future), Suaahara (Global Health) and Hariyo Ban (Global Climate Change). The FFP Specialist is expected to spend up to 30% of his/her time in the field, actively engaged in assessing food assistance needs, recommending effective interventions, monitoring the effectiveness and efficiency of FFP-funded program activities in Nepal and liaising with relevant stakeholders. A) Basic Functions of the Position: The FFP Specialist will direct activities to ensure effective management of FFP resources in Nepal. His/her primary responsibilities are to direct and manage a team of employees who together will assess and monitor the need for emergency food assistance, monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of FFP-funded activities, reporting both to the USAID Mission and FFP/Washington, while ensuring appropriate coordination with relevant stakeholders. B) Major Duties and Responsibilities: The FFP Specialist will undertake the following duties with regard to FFP-supported development and emergency food assistance in Nepal: •1. Serve as the primary point of contact for issues pertaining to Title II and EFSP food assistance in Nepal for the USAID Mission, USAID/Washington, other parts of the U.S. government, PVOs, international organizations, and host nation governmental ministries and agencies (as determined appropriate by the USAID Mission and Embassy), and other relevant stakeholders. •2. Actively participate in coordinating with other USAID/Nepal staff and projects during the development of relevant annual work plans (especially for Suaahara, Hariyo Ban and KISAN) to ensure alignment with existing and future USAID/Nepal projects. •3. Serve as a key liaison between the multiple Government of Nepal ministries (health, agriculture, etc.) that work in food security, especially during the development of their Annual Workplans and Budgets. •4. Undertake and report on assessments, making recommendations to inform Title II and EFSP food assistance funding decisions or modifications to ongoing programs. •5. Monitor and report on the implementation of ongoing Title II and EFSP programs, including progress, compliance to USG regulations, coordination with other stakeholders, and problems encountered by grantees. •6. Provide information and guidance to Title II and EFSP assistance award recipients on pertinent regulations, policies and procedures. •7. Collaborate with relevant stakeholders and USAID Mission staff to analyze and report on food security issues, to include changes in the food security situation, monitoring food security shocks or emergencies and subsequent food aid requirements, government policies and actions affecting food aid programs, government food aid programs, and donor pledges and programs. •8. Coordinate with the U.S. Government Country Team, host government, PVOs, international organizations, donors, and other relevant stakeholders to address issues impacting Title II or EFSP food assistance. •9. Work with PVOs on preparation of annual workplans, program modifications, and any surveys and assessments. Review annual workplans, program modifications, and any surveys and assessments for approval. Work with WFP and regional FFP staff on new appeals or revisions to existing ones. •10. Work with other parts of the U.S. government and other donors to promote integration of food assistance and resilience activities with other programs to increase the effectiveness of the programs overall. •11. Supervise, advise and mentor at least one FSN staff member fully supporting FFP activities in Nepal. •12. Undertake other tasks, as assigned. The employee is expected to exercise a high level of autonomy and require minimal supervision. 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. D) Required qualifications: •· Bachelor's degree (including, but not limited to international relations, agriculture, economics, public health, and/or nutrition) plus at least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in international development or relief (three of which must be related to food aid) ; OR •· Master's degree with significant study in a pertinent field (including, but not limited to international relations, agriculture, economics, public health, and/or nutrition) plus at least six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in international development or relief (three of which must be related to food aid); •· At least five (5) years of international field experience working on development or relief issues in developing countries, preferably South Asia; •· Basic computer skills, to include knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel, e-mail, and the internet; •· Proven experience managing staff and building a team in a multi-cultural context; •· Prior Nepal experience would be a plus, but is not required; •· U.S. Citizen; •· Ability to obtain a SECRET level security clearance; and •· Ability to obtain a Department of State medical clearance for Nepal. Applicants not meeting minimum qualifications will not be evaluated further. 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, last four digits of your 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 (15 points) •(ii) Knowledge and experience with Title II or other food aid programs (15 points) •(iii) Technical expertise in a food aid related field, such as nutrition, agronomy, economics, or public health, with demonstrated success in soliciting information relevant to food security from members of diverse cultures (20 points) B. Program Management - 20 Points •(i) Ability to manage programs, to include programmatic and financial issues (5 points) •(ii) Ability to monitor and evaluate programs, to include programmatic and financial issues (5 points) •(iii) Ability to review, evaluate and apply complex policies and regulations (10 points) C. Interpersonal and Communication Skills - 30 Points •(i) Ability to provide rapid, concise, accurate reporting, both verbally and in writing (15 points) •(ii) Ability to work effectively lead a team from diverse cultures (15 points) INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS: Qualified individuals are requested to submit: 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. Attachment: AS A MATTER OF POLICY, AND AS APPROPRIATE, A PSC IS NORMALLY AUTHORIZED THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS: 1. BENEFITS 1. Employer's FICA Contribution 2. Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance (72% of health insurance annual premium (not to exceed $ 20,339 for a family and $7,266 for employees without dependents - 50% of life insurance annual premium (not to exceed $500) 3. Pay Comparability Adjustment, Annual Increase 4. Eligibility for Worker's Compensation 5. Annual & Sick Leave 6. U.S Government holidays and selected local holidays 2. ALLOWANCES (if Applicable). (A) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120). (B) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130). (C) Post Allowance (Section 220). (D) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230). (E) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260). (F) Education Allowance (Section 270). (G) Education Travel (Section 280). (H) Post Differential (Chapter 500). (I) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are required to pay Federal Income Taxes, FICA, and Medicare. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs •a. OF-612 3. 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.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/AID/OM/NEP/SOL-367-14-000023/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USAID/Nepal- Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Non-U.S., Nepal
- Record
- SN03484513-W 20140830/140829022114-1a0110202c883ae215c64f7cb7eb0dcf (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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