SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72066321R00006   

                                                ISSUANCE DATE: 12/22/2020                  

                                                           

CLOSING DATE/TIME: 1/21/2021          

SUBJECT:    Solicitation for a U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) – Disaster Risk Management Coordinator

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation.

Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1 of this solicitation.  Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered.  Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records.

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 offers.

Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in the Attached 1.

Sincerely,

James Cerwinski

A/Supervisory Executive Officer

ATTACHMENT1                                                                   72066321R00006

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. 1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72066321R00006

1. 1. ISSUANCED ATE: 12/22/2020

1. 1. CLOSINGDATE/TIMEFORRECEIPTOF OFFERS: 1/21/2021 (5:00pm Ethiopia’s local time.)

1. 1. POINT OF CONTACT: Annmarie McGillicuddy, Supervisory EXO and Fekadu Tamirate, HR Specialist, e-mail at [email protected].

1. 1. POSITION TITLE: Disaster Risk Management Coordinator

1. 1. MARKET VALUE: $ $78,681 to $102,288 equivalent to GS-13. The final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based on the successful candidate’s salary history, work experience, and educational background.  Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

1. 1. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: For two years, with three renewable one-year option periods up to a maximum of five years. Estimated to start on 03/01/2021.

The base period will be 03/01/2021 – 03/01/2023, estimated to start on 03/01/2021. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise (an) additional option period(s) for a time for three years for the date(s) estimated as follows:

Base Period:

03/01/2021 – 03/01/2023

Option Period 1:

03/01/2023 – 03/01/2024

Option Period 2:

03/01/2024 – 03/01/2025

Option Period 3:

03/01/2025 – 03/01/2026

1. 1. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Work.

1. 1. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens.

          

            For USPSC:

• Be a U.S. citizen and U.S. Permanent Resident (green card holders).
• U.S. resident alien means a non-U.S. citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States.
• Submit a complete application as outlined in the solicitation section SUBMITTING AN OFFER.
• Be able to obtain facility access.
• Be able to obtain a Department of State medical clearance.
• Be willing to travel to work sites and other offices as/when requested.
• Employment is subject to funds availability and all the required approvals obtained.

1. 1. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facility Access. The final selected candidates must obtain both the appropriate security and medical clearances within a reasonable period. If such clearances are not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded.

1. 1. STATEMENT OF DUTIES
      1. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract:

As a member of USAID/Ethiopia’s Office of Assets and Livelihoods in Transition (ALT), the incumbent will serve as the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Coordinator to the Mission. The DRM Coordinator will provide strategic direction to USAID activities in support of U.S. foreign policy objectives, the USAID Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) and the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (GOE)’s disaster risk management initiatives. The DRM Coordinator will be the primary point of contact for DRM matters in the ALT office, serve as the Disaster Risk Management Team Leader and Development Objective 1 lead, and will represent USAID/Ethiopia in broader donor and government fora covering DRM issues.

GOE DRM Overview

Ethiopia is vulnerable to recurrent and increasingly severe natural and manmade shocks and stresses. As a result, the GOE has multiple guiding documents for multi-hazard disaster risk management, mainly the National Policy and Strategy on Disaster Risk Management and DRM Strategic Programme and Investment Framework (DRM SPIF).  Ethiopia also has a well-established national platform on DRM which is driven primarily by the National Disaster Risk Management Committee (NDRMC). NDRMC is responsible for coordination of emergency response and relief efforts (food and non-food) through a series of committees and task forces, as well as with other line ministries. Primarily this is through the DRM Technical Working Group (DRMTWG), a multi-stakeholder consortium of key government and non-government actors in the humanitarian and development sectors. The DRMTWG is linked to the Development Assistance Group and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and Council of Ministers and aligns with the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.  NDRMC is also engaged in all aspects as the technical lead of the DRM cycle, including early warning, assessments, and internally displaced persons (multi-sectoral response)

More broadly, Ethiopia’s DRM efforts increasingly support and link to the country’s Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP[1]) and the annual humanitarian appeal (Humanitarian Response Plan , or HRP[2]). The DRM cycle of early warning, prevention & mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation spans the nexus between the development focused PSNP and the humanitarian HRD response. The incumbent will be the focal point in coordinating these efforts between USAID and the GoE.

USAID DRM Priorities

Against the backdrop of increasingly common billion-dollar humanitarian appeals, the USAID Mission in Ethiopia has programmed on average over $600 million in humanitarian assistance each year since FY16.  In addition to humanitarian assistance, USAID/Ethiopia prioritizes strategic investments in disaster risk management to build systems and capacity at all levels (federal, regional, community, household) to effectively manage shocks, reduce humanitarian needs, and protect development gains.  USAID activities are across the DRM spectrum – from disaster prevention, preparedness and response with institutional development, early warning systems, contingency planning, human resources and organizational capacity building, vertical and horizontal coordination systems, vulnerability and risk assessments to disaster mitigation and recovery cycles with climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, food security, livelihoods, natural resource management systems, conflict mitigation and responsive health systems.  Under the Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs, USAID DRM and humanitarian programs are now housed as one unit, and DRM principles and the application of a resilience lens cut across technical sectors and reflect the reality of vulnerability in Ethiopia.       

B. ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION OF POSITION:

           

The DRM Coordinator will be a part of USAID/Ethiopia’s ALT Office  and serve as the DRM Team Leader. The DRM Coordinator will directly support senior Mission management as well as relevant offices in formulating and articulating appropriate DRM strategies, policies, and activities that: a) reduce vulnerability of chronic and transitory food-insecure households; b) address disaster prevention, preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery; and c) build Ethiopia’s disaster risk management system.  S/he will work with all appropriate Mission offices and contribute to related crosscutting theme activities, including Mission working groups. The incumbent will manage a team ( up to5 personnel) of DRM professionals    

1. 1. 1. Statement of Duties to be Performed:

Specific responsibilities will include:

Technical Expertise (25%)

• Stay abreast of current GOE and donor strategies, investments, and priorities along the DRM cycle (humanitarian, early warning, prevention & mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation).
• Provide strategic direction and technical guidance on DRM-specific activities managed by ALT. Support the design and procurement of USAID DRM and resilience-oriented programming to reduce household, community and country exposure to all hazards and risks (natural, man-made and technological) and strengthen Ethiopian systems to manage risk along the DRM cycle.
• Ensure strategic coherence and programmatic coordination with important USG initiatives and requirements, including the Global Food Security Strategy/Feed the Future, Emergency Response portfolios (BHA food and non-food), and the Mission resilience, water and nutrition working groups.  Lead Mission efforts to incorporate DRM as a cross-cutting priority that impacts all technical and support offices. 

• Lead USAID/Ethiopia’s Development Objective 1 as set out by the CDCS in DRM, ensuring the ability to plan, prepare and respond to disasters.     .

• Manage directly and indirectly newly designed activities and procurement processes for the DRM portfolio, and in support of DO1.     . 
• Stay abreast of the latest research and trends in disaster risk reduction (DRR), disaster risk management (DRM), community engagement of DRR, and resilience literature, specifically regarding reducing risks at the household and community levels. Familiarity with policy and program discussions on Humanitarian Response, Emergency Management, Social Protection, Climate Change and Food Security, and their relationship and related interventions to DRM is essential.
• Analyze and draft briefing documents, program descriptions, scopes of work, reports, speeches, responses to queries, inputs for annual reporting and progress updates on USAID programs and progress in the sector.

• Coordination and Collaboration (40%)

• Provide strategic DRM engagement with the GOE, including aligning USAID’s DRM portfolio to DRM policy and DRM SPIF, to build comprehensive and integrated DRM system with capacity to better predict, prevent, and mitigate risks, and prepare for and respond to the disasters.      

• Provide strategic engagement as it relates to DRM across the humanitarian system and actors. This includes engaging with inter and intra-office humanitarian stakeholders, as well as externally. Incumbent should be a secondary focal point for emergency and response initiatives inside USAID.    

• Serve as the primary technical USAID representative to the GOE’s Disaster Risk Management Technical Working Group (DRMTWG) and fully participate and represent USAID in technical working groups and other coordination meetings. The DRM Coordinator will keep the ALT Office Chief and Deputy Chief apprised of all developments within the donor community and GOE.
• Organize and maintain USAID/Ethiopia’s engagement with DRM stakeholders, including the GOE.  This will entail representing USAID/Ethiopia in several fora such as the DRMTWG, DRM Strategic Program and Investment Framework Technical Committee, Humanitarian and Resilience Donor Working Group, and others.  It will also entail initiating a broad range of bilateral and multilateral stakeholder meetings inside and outside of USAID as required.
• Represent USAID at workshops, forums and meetings advocating for USAID DRM related objectives and programming. The incumbent will represent USAID/Ethiopia at DRM forums, including but not limited to the DRMTWG, technical working groups, and in other GFDRE meetings on DRM. Incumbent will be expected to attend additional forums in humanitarian and development architecture.
• Identify, support, and provide technical guidance to learning and programming opportunities across the ALT Office and broader Mission. Liaise with other ALT teams, including the Program and Resource Management Team, the Food Resource Management Team, and the Program Management and Monitoring Team, to support ALT’s and the broader Mission’s efforts in collaboration, learning and adaptation as they relate to the DRM portfolio.  The DRM Coordinator will seek to share USAID lessons learned and assimilate lessons from other donors through engaging with partners and the GOE.
• Coordinate with USAID technical offices and teams including the Office of Economic Growth and Transformation (EG&T), Health, AIDS, Population and Nutrition (HAPN), and Democracy and Governance (DG) for disaster risk management efforts.    

• Activity Management (20%)
• Serve as an Project and Activity Manager, Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) or Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for one or more ALT Office activities. 
• Manage the overall Mission DRM portfolio including projects and engagements for USAID/Ethiopia. This includes reviewing budget requests for appropriateness, monitoring use of funds and burn rates to ensure timely spending, reviewing quarterly pipeline reviews/budget status reports, following up on irregular audit findings, providing advice for realignments of budgets, and reviewing accruals.
• As necessary, the incumbent prepares progress reports on Disaster Risk Management activities. These include the annual USAID Operational Plan and the Annual Performance Report.

• Administrative Management and Supervision (15%) 
• The DRM Coordinator is responsible for overall administrative management of the DRM Team, including supervision of at least one senior Foreign Service Nationals (FSN).  S/he oversees all related administrative processes for employees in his/her team, including day to day management and completion of annual performance reviews, reviews of position descriptions, professional development plans and leave requests.  The incumbent will also advise, consult, and notify ALT Office management on personnel matters that require action. 
• The USPSC      will be responsible for understanding and incorporating USAID core values and USAID Ethiopia’s Leadership Behavior Charter in all aspects of his/her work. 

1. 1. 1. Supervisory Relationship:

The Disaster Risk Management Coordinator directly reports the Deputy for Development      Programs in the ALT Office at USAID/Ethiopia. As required, s/he will provide in-depth briefings on disaster risk management issues relating to the HRP and PSNP and aspects resilience programming for the Mission Director and Ambassador, as well as Mission staff.  S/he may receive guidance from senior Mission management as the situation warrants.  The DRM Coordinator will be expected to show strong independent initiative and work with minimal supervision

1. 1. 1.  Supervisory Controls:

Supervise one (1) direct report.

1. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Note: No in-person appointments or telephone calls will be entertained unless you are required to have more information about this solicitation.

1. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Applications will be initially screened by the Human Resources Office to determine whether applicants have met the advertised minimum qualifications. A list of qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring office for further consideration and screening.

EDUCATION: A minimum of a master’s degree directly related to international development and/or assistance, public administration, business administration, agriculture, social protection, public health,  food security and nutrition or another related field is required. 

WORK EXPERIENCE: A minimum of seven years’ experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, project management, budget management, international development or related area is required. 

1. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1.  The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c).  In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers.  The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far. The TEC will conduct interviews with all offerors in the competitive range and provide the final rating and ranking of the offerors based on the interview. The CO will consider findings from the reference checks as part of the responsibility determination.

EDUCATION (15 points): A minimum of a master’s degree directly related to international development and/or assistance, public administration, business administration, agriculture, social protection, public health,  food security and nutrition or another related field is required. 

EXPERIENCE (25 points): A minimum of seven years’ experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, project management, budget management, international development or related area is required.  Experience in the support of donor-government relations will be given extra weight. Experience designing and implementing food assistance, public health,  social protection and gender mainstreaming considered a plus.

.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE (20 points): Demonstrated knowledge of and expertise in strategy, policy and programs related to humanitarian affairs, disaster risk management, resilience, emergency preparedness or crisis/emergency relief management.  Specific expertise in designing, implementing, or monitoring activities at any point along the DRM cycle including humanitarian response. Specific experience with health and nutrition programming in either humanitarian or development settings.    

PROGRAM COORDINATION (20 points): Demonstrated experience in operating effectively in cross-cultural environments and working with host country government officials and other donors and development partners. This includes experience in donor coordination, and/or ability to design, develop and manage programs, coordinate the work of multiple implementing partners, align programs with host country policies and programs, and/or support collaboration, learning and adapting among staff, implementing partners and host government officials. 

COMMUNICATION and OUTREACH (20 points): Demonstrated experience in chairing and facilitating meetings and/or public speaking and presentation experience.  Highlight relationship development, negotiation, advocacy, and consensus building experience with donors, development partners, and host government officials. 

    

1. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

For your application to be considered, the following documents must be submitted:

1. 1. 1. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2,“Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals, “available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.

1. 1. 1. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I.

1. 1. 1. To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.

1. 1. 1. Letter of Application and current resume.

1. 1. 1. Application must be submitted ONLY via [email protected] and the email subject must say –: 72066321R00006 Disaster Risk Management Coordinator. Be sure to include your name and the solicitation number at the top of each page.

1. 1. 1. Please submit the application only once; and

1. 1. 1. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered; the application must be submitted before or on the closing date at local Ethiopia time 5 p.m. (Local Ethiopia, Addis Ababa Time (GMT+3).

1. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

Once the CO informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms.

1. 1. Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms)
   2. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions for National Security (SF-86),or
   3. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)
   4. Finger Print Card (FD-258)

1. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

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

1. 1. BENEFITS:

1. Employer's FICA Contribution
2. Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance
3. Pay Comparability Adjustment
4. Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)
5. Eligibility for Worker's Compensation
6. Annual and Sick Leave

1. 1. ALLOWANCES (if applicable):

Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas)

1. Temporary Quarter Subsistence Allowance (Section 120)
2. Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)
3. Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 210)
4. Post Allowance (Section 220)
5. Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)
6. Education Allowance (Section 270)
7. Education Travel (Section 280)
8. Post Differential (Chapter 500)
9. Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and
10. Danger Pay Allowance (Section 650)

1. TAXES

USPSCs are required to pay federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable state income taxes.

1. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC a wards are available at these sources:

1. 1. USAID Acquisition Regulation(AIDAR),Appendix D, “Direct USAID Contracts with a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien for Personal Services Abroad,” includingcontractclause“GeneralProvisions,”availableathttps://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf.

1. 1. Contract Cover Page form AID309-1availableathttps://www.usaid.gov/forms.

LINE ITEMS

ITEM NO

(A)

SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION)

(B)

QUANTITY

(C)

UNIT

(D)

UNIT PRICE

(E)

AMOUNT

(F)

0001

Base Period - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: [e.g. R497]

- Accounting Info: [insert one or more citation(s) from Phoenix/GLAAS]

1

LOT

$ _TBD__

$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor_

1001

Option Period 1 – Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: [e.g. R497]

- Accounting Info: [insert from Phoenix/GLAAS]

1

LOT

$ _TBD__

$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor_

2001

Option Period 2 – Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: [e.g. R497]

- Accounting Info: [insert from Phoenix/GLAAS]

1

LOT

$ _TBD__

$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor_

3001

Option Period 3 – Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: [e.g. R497]

- Accounting Info: [insert from Phoenix/GLAAS]

1

LOT

$ _TBD__

$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor_

1. 1. Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins(AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs.

1. 1. Ethical Conduct. By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of  Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5CFR2635. See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations.

END OF SOLICITATION

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The U.S. Mission in Ethiopia provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. USAID/Ethiopia also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.

The EEO complaint procedure is not available to individuals who believe they have been denied equal opportunity based upon marital status or political affiliation. Individuals with such complaints should avail themselves of the appropriate grievance procedures, remedies for prohibited personnel practices, and/or courts for relief.

Bid Protests Not Available