Combine Solicitation – US Personal Services Contract for Population Health and Nutrition Officer GS-15 Guyana

Notice Type: Combine Solicitation

Posted Date: 18-NOV-11

Office Address: Agency for International Development; Overseas Missions; Dominican Republic USAID-Santo Domingo; Unit #5541 APO AA 34041-5541

Subject: US Personal Services Contract for Population Health and Nutrition Officer GS-15 Guyana

Classification Code: R - Professional, administrative, and management support services

Solicitation Number: SOL-504-12-000001

Contact: Soraya A Morillo, Human Resources Supervisor, Phone 809-731-7042, Fax 809-221-0023, Email [email protected]

Setaside: N/AN/A

Place of Performance (address): USAID/GuyanaAmerican Embassy 100 Duke and Young Street Georgetown, Guyana

Place of Performance Country: GY

Description: Agency for International Development

Overseas Missions

Dominican Republic USAID-Santo Domingo

Solicitation Number: SOL-504-12-000001

Notice Type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

Synopsis:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications to fill a U. S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) Population Health and Nutrition Officer position in the USAID/Guyana Mission as described in the attached solicitation. Only applications of qualified individuals will be considered.

Applications received that are incomplete or without a signature, may not be considered for the position. Applicants are responsible for submitting required documents that are in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Late applications will be considered at the sole discretion of the Contracting Officer. Applicants must provide their full mailing address with telephone number(s) and email address. Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications.

Any questions on this solicitation may be directed in writing to Soraya Morillo at USAID/DR email address mailto:[email protected] and/or to Ana Diaz at mailto:[email protected].

Please note that this solicitation is open only to U.S. citizens.

Place of Performance:

USAID/Guyana

All applications and the required documents should be submitted to:

Primary Point of contact Secondary Point of contact:

Soraya Morillo Ana Diaz

USAID/DR/HR USAID/DR/HR

Email Address: mailto:[email protected] Email Address: mailto:[email protected]

POPULATION HEALTH AND NUTRITION OFFICER

I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is providing the largest amount of resources for a single disease in history, and seeks to expand prevention, treatment and care to millions of HIV-affected people worldwide. Over the past eight years, it employed a multifaceted approach to combating HIV/AIDS in more than 100 countries around the world. The first five year goals were to treat 2 million HIV-infected individuals, prevent 7 million new infections and provide care and support for 10 million HIV-infected and affected individuals and orphans. In July 2008, the President of the United States signed into law a bill which re-authorized PEPFAR for five more years (2009-2013), increasing the commitment to $39 billion for PEPFAR HIV/AIDS programs and U.S. contributions to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and UNAIDS. The new 10-year goals are: treatment for at least 3 million people; prevention of 12 million new infections; and care for 12 million people, including 5 million orphans and vulnerable children. To meet these goals, PEPFAR plans are to support training of at least 140,000 new health care workers in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care.

The Global AIDS Coordinator based in Washington, reports directly to the Secretary of State and oversees and directs all U.S. Government (USG) international HIV/AIDS activities in all departments and all agencies of the U.S. federal government. The Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) also coordinates with non-USG stakeholders host-country governments and multi-lateral institutions such as the World Bank, World Health Organization, Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS),- in order to strengthen the coordinated global effort to fight the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.

In Guyana, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/Guyana) is an integral partner in the PEPFAR initiative and plays a key role in the joint USG, Government of Guyana, NGO, and other national and international efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. In partnership with the Guyana Ministry of Health (MOH), the USAID PEPFAR program currently focuses on prevention, treatment, care and support in order to strengthen public health systems, and enhance the government, civil society and private sector responses to HIV and AIDS. Principal activities focus on reducing HIV transmission, mitigating the impact of HIV-related illness and strengthening the health system. Present program priorities to reduce HIV transmission include: prevention programming that ensures safe motherhood, targeted approaches for most-at-risk populations, and promotes counseling and testing. Comprehensive care and support programs focus on improving the quality of life of persons living with HIV and their family members. Lastly, USAID activities designed to strengthen the overall health system include developing health information systems and promoting data use for decision making, improving health commodity management systems, and building health care worker capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS and other diseases and conditions that impact the health of Guyanese.

The PEPFAR program in Guyana is going through a critical stage insofar as after years of substantial and growing support, the program's 2012 budget has been slashed and all USG agencies will be required to strategically cut back on the support they provide. USAID, the major recipient of funding and managing the largest portfolio of activities, will have to take a leadership role in reshaping the entire program. Another change involves the guidance from OGAC that country programs need to move to a strategy of sustainability in the near future as the resources decline. Because Global Health Initiative (GHI) funds are not available to Guyana, the budget cuts place even more pressure on the country to adopt the policy framework to take aboard the substantial programming of HIV/AIDS activities that accrued since 2003. This financial burden is a significant national budget issue for Guyana and will require close coordination with the Ministry of Finance</org>. Finally, the USAID Personal Service Contractor will be the most senior USAID official in-country to manage this very complex and difficult process.

USAID, in its support to these programs, has entered into eight (8) separate agreements (contracts and grants) with NGOs, universities, private contractors and international organizations requiring extensive knowledge about contracting to support the achievement of its goals. These agreements are:

1) Contract to implement the Guyana HIV/AIDS Reduction and Prevention Project (GHARP II), an approximate US$ 8M project, focused on providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and civil society partners in the delivery and implementation of HIV prevention, care and support programs. Under this contract, Management Sciences for Health is the Prime Partner, and Howard Delafield International and AIDS Health Care Foundation are sub-partners. This contract ends in December 2012. There may be a follow-up project to this activity depending upon the availability of FY 2012 funds which would require the USPSC to develop a Request For Applicaion and oversee the entire procurement process, in close coordination with the Regional Contracting Office in USAID/Dominican Republic...

2) Contract for Supply Chain Management System (SCMS) project, an approximately US$ 2 million annual activity, to undertake procurement, warehousing, information systems and distribution of critical HIV/AIDS treatment and clinical management commodities. This contract ends in September 2013 but will likely continue depending on the availability of funding. 3) Agreement with Measure Evaluation for strategic information support for capacity building at the Ministry of Health (MOH) which totals approximately US$ 400,000 annually, and ends September 30, 2012. 4) A contract to implement a one-year safe injection project, valuing US$ 300,000. This contract commenced September 7, 2011 and will end on September 6, 2012.

5) A grant with UNICEF supports the Childcare and Protection Agency of the Ministry of Human Services to develop safety nets for the protection of all children, including orphans and vulnerable children, through the establishment of legislation, a foster care program, and a legal aid system. This grant valued at $350, 000 will end on January 13, 2012.

6) A grant with the Pan American Health Organization (approximately US$ 400,000) supports Health Systems Strengthening. Project implementation is expected to commence September 2012. 7) A contract with a local Guyanese organization at approximately US$ 2 million annually, which provides financial and administrative management support to 14 local non-governmental organizations, which provide prevention, care and support services for persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS at the community level.. The end date of this contract is January 2013.

8) A contract with John Hopkins University to implement a US$ 200, 000 (annually) cervical cancer screening and treatment program to HIV positive women and high risk groups. This contract ends September, 2012.

9) A new contract is espected to be started in the next two months called Powering Health in Guyana which is designed to improve health facility infrastructure and reduce energy costs. It will continue for at least one year.

II. BASIC FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION

The U.S. Personal Services Contractor (USPSC) Health Officer is responsible for the successful achievement of the U.S. Government's (USG) HIV/AIDS portfolio in Guyana. The USPSC's major responsibilities as the principal officer representing USAID in the health sector in Guyana are to serve as the Health Team Leader, and work closely with the Ministry of Health, NGOs, other national and international agencies, contractors and grantees, and other program partners to facilitate and monitor the final design and effective implementation of the portfolio.

The USPSC Health Officer serves as a member of the USAID/Guyana staff and reports directly to the USAID/Guyana Acting Mission Director. Following closure of the USAID/Guyana Mission in September 2012, the USPSC will report to the USAID/Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Mission Director. Until that occurs, this position has direct supervisory responsibility for two Foreign Service National (FSN) employees. Once the Guyana Mission closes, s/he will oversee one FSN technical employee. As the health team leader, the USPSC is expected to be fully knowledgeable about PEPFAR, GHI, Global Fund and USAID regulations and strategies, policies, reports, communications, and procedures. The USPSC Health Officer will lead in coordinating the strategic restructuring of US Embassy activities as their funding is reduced and perhaps eventually eliminated and enter into a significant policy dialogue in conjunction with senior officials from USAID/Barbados and Eastern Caribbean and the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown to encourage the Government of Guyana to find space in its national budget to continue the essential HIV/AIDS activities being funded by a variety of USG agencies. The USPSC will be the lynchpin in development of the policy framework to be developed and negotiated and serve the key interlocutor between the USG and the Government of Guyana on Health Sector policy and the sustainability of HIV/AIDS programs and activities.. Among the other partners that the USPSC will be working with are (but are not limited to) the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, National AIDS Programme Secretariat, Health Sector Development Unit, UN agencies, the Global Fund and its Country Coordination Mechanism and Secretariat, other USG and bilateral and multilateral agencies, and national and international NGOs, community-based organizations and foundations.

The USPSC Health Officer will represent USAID in Government, Donor, NGO forums as required, and is also responsible for maintaining effective relations with designated program partners, as well as key stakeholders involved in health sector activities in Guyana. In addition, the USPSC Health Officer monitors and reports on the status of designated health sector activities nationwide, including via field visits, and attending/representing USG/USAID interests at workshops, conferences, the Health Sector Thematic Group, and other health sector coordinating committees. This will include giving speeches and writing speeches and talking points for others.

The USPSC Health Officer also acts as the primary point of contact for USAID activities under the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), through collaboration with other US government agencies to jointly design, plan and implement all US-funded HIV/AIDS programs in Guyana. The two major USG agencies working in HIV/AIDS in Guyana are USAID and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with active participation of the Peace Corps, Military Liaison Office of the Department of Defense, Department of Labor, and the State Department. Given the integrated nature of the PEPFAR program, the USPSC will be in charge of ensuring effective interagency collaboration, and strong linkages with the Government of Guyana, civil society, the private sector, and other national and international bodies working on HIV/AIDS and related areas. It will be essential for the USPSC Health Officer to demonstrate strong technical and management skills, complemented by outstanding negotiating, communication and interpersonal skills. Donor collaboration is a critical, vital function of this position.

III. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The USPSC Health Officer, will:

** 1. Manage and lead the USAID/Guyana Health Team, including:

** a. Serve as USAID's focal point on the USG PEPFAR interagency team.

** b. Supervise/provide management oversight to the HIV/AIDS team member(s) in USAID.

** c. Provide vision, strategic direction and leadership to the HIV/AIDS team in the design and implementation of all projects/activities in the HIV/AIDS portfolio.

** d. Prepare official correspondence, and reports covering site visits, meetings, or significant program events for Mission and Bureau use.

** e. Along with HIV/AIDS team member (s), actively support management and program integration opportunities in strategic and cost-effective ways.

** f. Liaise with the USAID/Washington Global Health (GH), Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Bureaus, including the Office of HIV/AIDS, the GH Team, the PEPFAR Support team, and the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), as well as with the USAID/Barbados-based Caribbean Regional HIV/AIDS Partnership Framework.

** 2. Supervise and manage USAID funded contractors, grantees and activities, including:

** a. Develop and manage the USAID HIV/AIDS budget in coordination with the Mission Program Office and Controller and/or regional staff in the USAID/Dominican Republic and/or USAID/Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, ensuring up-to-date PEPFAR budgets, timely obligations, well- documented accruals, and quarterly pipeline analyses.

** b. Oversee the management/administration of program-funded grants and contracts within the HIV/AIDS portfolio, including advising partner implementing organizations about regulations covering the administration of USAID funds, commodities and program resources.

** c. Ensure quality monitoring and reporting on HIV/AIDS activities for USAID and PEPFAR including completion of the PEPFAR Country Operational Plan (COP), PEPFAR Annual/Semi-Annual Performance Reports, and the HIV/AIDS section of the USG Mission Strategic Plan (MSP) report and other key documents.

** d. Identify/trouble-shoot problems related to program administration and implementation, and recommend solutions/proposals to USAID and PEPFAR team.

** e. Manage program-funded strategic assessments, audits and evaluations; review findings with mission management, team members and program partners, implement appropriate corrective actions, and ensure that audit recommendations are finalized and implemented.

** 3. Represent USAID and US Government interests in strengthening health activities in Guyana, through:

** a. Coordinating implementation activities with USG Agencies, host-country government, bilateral donors, GFATM, UN and other international agencies and donors, NGOs and private sector partners.

** b. Representing USAID on various bilateral and regional program management structures and facilitate the effective management and coordination of program activities.

** 4. 4. Lead in the development and execution of a major policy dialogue effort to have the Government of Guyana assume ownership of an extensive set of critical HIV/AIDS activities that will be part of the new sustainability phase the Guyana PEPFAR program is entering.

** 5. Perform other duties as assigned by the Acting Mission Director, Officer-In-Charge or his or her designee or, after USAID/Guyana closes, by the USAID/Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Mission Director or designee.

IV. POSITION ELEMENTS

Supervisory Controls: The USPSC Health Officer will report directly to the Acting Mission Director and after USAID/Guyana is closed, to the USAID/Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Mission Director.

Supervision Exercised: The USPSC Health Officer is expected to provide oversight of one to two Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs), including the provision of policy guidance and coordinating the work of these employees to achieve program objectives.

Available Guidelines: The USPSC Health Officer is guided by OGAC, PEPFAR and USAID policies and procedures which govern program financial management and support thereto including: USAID Handbook; Automated Directives System; guidance specific to PEPFAR, and USAID/Guyana and USAID/Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Mission orders.

Exercise of Judgment: The person will need to exercise the highest professional, ethical, financial and managerial judgment in managing budgets, maintaining procurement integrity and discretion with contractors, and preparing budgets used for obligation. As a recognized expert and highly qualified professional, substantial reliance will be placed on the incumbent to independently plan, prioritize and carry out the specific activities entailed in fulfilling major duties and responsibilities. He/she is also expected to resolve problems that arise by determining the approaches to be taken and methodologies to be used, using independent judgment that can be defended, as necessary. He/she will have to exercise exceptional tact and diplomatic skills in ensuring that difficult policy discussions are conducted effectively and successfully.

Authority to Make Commitments: As a personal services contract position, the incumbent cannot make financial commitments on behalf of the U.S. Government, but can make recommendations to his/her supervisors.

Nature, Level and Purpose of contacts: The USPSC Health Officer will interact regularly with the Minister of Health, Minister of Finance, US Ambassador, USAID/Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Mission Director, Chiefs of Party of the various USG partners, contractors and their staff, to ensure that they provide necessary programmatic and financial information and reports and to inform them about new requirements, meetings, events, etc. Considerable interaction will also be made with USAID/Washington senior Global Health Bureau staff, senior USAID/Washington officials, USAID/LAC Bureau staff, the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, the Caribbean Regional HIV/AIDS Program leadership and others on policy and procedural guidance and to obtain information relative to programs and activities.

V. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

A. Education:

a. Must possess an advanced degree (Masters or Ph.D.) or the equivalent in international public health, social sciences or health care development related field.

B. Technical Experience:

** a. At least ten (15) years of progressively more responsible professional experience is required in designing, implementing, managing and monitoring large-scale public health programs, including programs related to HIV/AIDS, and should include at least three (7) years of substantive supervisory experience.

** b. Direct work experience with an international organization and/or donor agency, is required. Extensive familiarity with USG policies would be preferred, but is not required.

** c. Demonstrated experience working with highest-level host country counterparts, in-country senior program managers, policy makers and a broad array of international health service providers, community, other donors and international organization leaders is required.

C. Communication/interpersonal Skills:

** a. Exceptionally strong interpersonal skills and abilities to work in a multi-cultural setting are required. Demonstrated ability to work across agencies, and with high-level senior-ranking host country government and international agency officials, is required. Ability to work effectively on his/her own and as a mentor to local professional staff.

** b. Strong computer, verbal and writing skills required. Must be fluent in English and have proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely in both speech and writing. Able to facilitate meetings and make oral presentations logically and persuasively to senior officials and partners. Able to produce concise, clear reports and utilize word processing, spreadsheet and database programs.

D. Sound Professional Judgment: After the closure of the USAID/Guyana office, the incumbent will be the sole senior USAID person in Guyana and will necessarily need to serve under circumstances where sound professional judgment and strong diplomatic skills will be required. Therefore the USPSC must have a proven track record of accomplishment in difficult settings and in complicated policy contexts.

Population Health and Nutrition Officer

USAID/Guyana

Solicitation No.: SOL-504-12-000001

Description:

Issuance Date: November 21, 2011

Closing Date: December 30, 2011

Market Value: GS-15 ($99,628 - $129,517)

Period of Performance (estimated): March 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013

Place of Performance: USAID/Guyana

Area of consideration: US Citizens

Applying:

Applications must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter. Qualified individuals are required to submit:

** - Copy of his/her resume and a complete U.S. Government Optional Form 612 with hand written signature, downloadable forms are available on the USAID website.

This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the application.

Benefits/Allowances:

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

BENEFITS:

Employer's FICA Contribution

Contribution toward Health and Life Insurance

Pay comparability adjustment

Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

Annual and Sick Leave

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)

&l;(F) Education Allowance (Section 270)

** (G) Education Travel (Section 280)

** (H) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

** (I) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and

** (J) Danger Pay (Section 650)

*Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas)

FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are required to pay Federal Income Taxes, FICA and Medicare.

ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, COLOR, SEX, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, LAWFUL POLITICAL AFFILIATION, NON-DISQUALIFYING HANDICAP, MARITAL STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND AFFILIATION WITH AN EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION OR OTHER NON-MERIT FACTOR.

Link/URL: https://www.fbo.gov/spg/AID/OM/DOM/SOL-504-12-000001/listing.html