SOLICITATION NO: Sol: 72066920R00003
ISSUANCE DATE: January 15, 2020
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: February 7, 2020 5:30 pm Local Time
SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Services Contractor (USPSC) “Local Hire” for Private Sector Development Advisor, USAID/Liberia
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 offer.
Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in Attachment 1.
Sincerely,
Charles Knight
Acting Supervisory Executive Officer
USAID/Liberia
USAID/Liberia Mailing Address:
8800 Monrovia Pl
Dulles, VA 20189
ATTACHMENT 1
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72066920R00003
2. ISSUANCE DATE: January 15, 2020
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: February 7, 2020 5:30 pm Local Time
4. POINT OF CONTACT: sbrowne@usaid.gov, jkemah@usaid.gov
5. POSITION TITLE: Private Sector Development Advisor
6. MARKET VALUE: $78,681- $101,288 equivalent to GS-13. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.
7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year, with four one-year option periods up to a maximum of five years.
8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Monrovia, Liberia with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.
9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: United States (US) citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents (non-U.S. citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residency) residing in Liberia.
10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facility Access (USPSCs)
NOTE: ALL APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENT PERMITS ALLOWING WORK IN COUNTRY BEFORE BEING ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.
11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES
BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION:
The Economic Growth Office’s Private Sector Development Advisor will be based in the USAID/Liberia Mission in Monrovia. S/he will serve as a member of the USAID Economic Growth Office (EGO), specifically on EGO’s Policy and Private Sector Initiatives sub-team, working to provide private sector program management, and policy advice. S/he will engage in project management (i.e., conceptualizing, designing, and managing implementation) of private sector activities, as well as monitor the performance of activities under his/her management (i.e., review activity budgets; engage in performance reporting; strategic planning). The incumbent will accomplish work related to the conceptualization, design, documentation, and management of private sector development assistance programs and activities. The United States Personal Services Contractor (USPSC) locally hired Private Sector Development Advisor will work under the supervision of the USDH EGO Office Director or his/her designee.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Private Sector Development Advisor will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:
Project Management & Administration (40%)
• Serve as the Contracting Officer Representative/ Agreement Officer Representative (COR/AOR), Alternate COR/AOR, and/or Activity Manager for EGO activities, as requested;
Activities to include:
Policy Dialogue Project
Multi-donor effort to Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
Financial Inclusion Partnership with Access Bank Liberia
Private Sector Engagement with International Financial Corporation (IFC).
Development Credit Authority (DCA) loan guarantee (supporting 3 banks)
Dahlberg Investment Support Program (in collaboration with USAID/ W. Africa)
Macroeconomics (unstable exchange rate) short-term consultancy
Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES)
Establish and maintain working files on private sector programs. Job duties include ensuring up-to-date maintenance of administrative files and records of relevant programmatic activities in collaboration with the EGO Program Assistant;
Advise his/her Implementing Partners (IPs) on the preparation of annual work plans, evaluations and program modifications, and encourage timely submissions. Ensure coordination with and between both Mission Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and IPs’ M&E contacts;
Schedule and coordinate visits to program implementation sites to assess program performance, including holding meetings with key programmatic partners, stakeholders and beneficiaries in the field. Provide written field trip reports, as required, to monitor progress and to ensure work is progressing in accordance with program plans, Mission priorities, and U.S. Government private sector growth considerations.
Strategic Development & Policy Analysis (30%)
Coordination and Reporting (30%)
POSITION ELEMENTS
a. Supervision Received:
The local hire USPSC Private Sector Specialist will work under the direction of the USDH EGO Office Director or his/her designee. The Private Sector Specialist 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 employee handles the work according to governing policies and regulations.
b. Supervision Exercised:
None.
c. Available Guidelines:
USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS), especially Series 200 and 300, USAID Mandatory and Standard Provisions, the FAR and AIDAR, Agency Notices, Initiatives and Directives that emanate from regional or global USAID offices, USAID Mission Orders, Mission strategy, and other donor publications and sector analyses; sector-specific USAID strategies.
d. Exercise of Judgment:
Position requires extensive superior and independent situational assessment, interpretation, judgment and timely decision-making. Originality and creative thinking are required in projecting future sector trends and developments on a timely and accurate basis. Sound and rapid judgments in decision-making are essential when monitoring projects/ conducting site visits in order to resolve problems.
e. Authority to Make Commitments:
None.
f. Nature, Level and Purpose of Contacts:
The incumbent frequently interacts with implementing partners, officials of the Government of Liberia (GOL), development partners and Embassy staff to advance private sector development objectives. The interactions typically involve: 1) Liaising with other Mission staff, contractors, private sector development professionals, and other partners to ensure the Mission private sector program goals and objectives are realistic and achievable; 2) Developing and maintaining professional contacts with the key GOL and private sector stakeholders actively involved in finance, public private partnerships, entrepreneurship development and employment; 3) strengthening of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); and 4) investment promotion to keep them abreast of USG private sector development strategies.
g. Time Requirement to Perform Full Range of Duties:
Six Months.
12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.
II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
a. Education:
A Master’s degree in economics, business administration, economic policy, finance, trade, import and export, private sector development, international development, or a related field. Over 15 years of relevant private sector development work experience beyond bachelor’s degree may also be considered in lieu of a master’s degree (10pts)
b. Prior Work Experience:
A minimum of eight (8) years of prior work experience in project management positions in coordinating economic development, private sector development, finance or business is required. Prior working experience with international organizations or donors is required. The incumbent should have at least five (5) years of pertinent experience in private sector development including formulation and development of policies for creating enabling environment; managing access to finance interventions; leading sectoral studies; and participation in private sector related activity design, implementation and evaluation. Demonstrated experience in establishing relationships with key partners and broad understanding of Liberia’s business environment. (30pts)
c. Post Entry Training:
Orientation and on-the-job training in all aspects of USAID program management, use of ADS, and Managing for Results. Participation in local and international seminars and workshops. Completion of USAID Introduction to Project Cycle ((IPC) (formerly called Programming in Foreign Assistance) training, Program Development and Management (PDM) training, COR training, EGO-related training, M&E training, and other trainings, as necessary (e.g., PMP, area of expertise).
d. Language Proficiency: Level IV, fluent written and oral proficiency in English is required. (10pts)
e. Job Knowledge:
Demonstrated expertise in private sector development and/or policy. Knowledge of USAID policies, regulations, and processes is preferred. Project management, implementation, design and evaluation skills. The proven ability to identify problems and develop creative solutions. Ability to solve problems in a technically-sound manner. Moreover, the incumbent must have basic knowledge of development assistance principles; must know the basic norms of English business correspondence; and must be competent in reviewing budgets, reports, and financial data. (30pts)
f. Skills and Abilities:
Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision or guidance is required. H/she must be a self-starter with the ability to respond to clients’ needs and to work calmly, tactfully and effectively under pressure as a member of the USAID/Liberia team in addressing these needs. Demonstrated good interpersonal skills, and a demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment. Strong analytical, communications, leadership skills and computer management are essential. Should be proficient in standard office computer software (e.g., word processing, spread-sheets and databases), and the ability to use this software for analytical purposes and written presentations. (20pts)
Maximum Points Available: 100
III. 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. FAR provisions of this solicitation are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.
After initial screening of applications, qualified applicants will be invited for an interview. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and visa status in determining successful candidacy.
This vacancy is archived.