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USAIDI AZERBAIJANFROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ' ^

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72011218R10001

ISSUANCE DATE: 08/24/2018

CLOSING DATE/TIME: 09/07/2018

SUBJECT: Solicitation for a Cooperating Country National Personal ServiceContractor - AID Project Management Specialist (Democracy and Governance)

Dear Prospective Offerors:

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

Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1, Sections I through V of thissolicitation. Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered. Offerors should retaincopies of all offer materials for their records.

This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commitUSAID 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 theattached information.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Rogers,Supervisory Regional Executive Officer

U.S. Agency for International Development96 Nizami Street, The Landmark BuildingBaku AZl010,

AZERBAIJAN

ATTACHMENT 1 [Solicitation #72011218R100017

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72011218R10001

2. ISSUANCE DATE: 08/24/2018

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: 09/07/2018 at 17:30 Baku

time

4. POSITION TITLE: AID Project Management Specialist (Democracy andGovernance)

5. MARKET VALUE: USD 57,127-USD 79,987 equivalent to FSN-11in accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan ofthe US Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan. Final compensation will be negotiated withinthe listed market value.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Initial contract will be for two years (withoptional years included for extension, not to exceed five years), based on theprogrammatic needs and funding availability

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Baku, Azerbaijan with possible travel as stated inthe statement of duties.

8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facility and computer access

9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

The AID Project Management Specialist (Democracy and Governance) position involvesaward and contract management responsibilities, monitoring and evaluation of awardsand contracts, data collection and analysis, the ability to represent the Mission to a varietyof stakeholders, including government officials, U.S. government and interagencypersonnel and NGO representatives, as well as performing Democracy and Governance(DG) consultative and advisory services to Mission personnel. The incumbent advises oncivil society, preventing violent extremism, anti-corruption, media and women'sempowerment and gender issues. As an expert in civil society, media, and genderdevelopment, s/he formulates assistance concepts and strategies to enhance theeffectiveness of civil society development, NGO capacity building, sustainability andpublic outreach. S/he must demonstrate a high degree of competence in program design,evaluation and assessment. The AID Project Management Specialist (DG) is located inthe Office of Governance and Economic Resilience (OGER) in USAID/Azerbaijan andworks under the general supervision of the OGER Office Director/Team Leader. Thecontractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the U.S., or to other Missionsabroad, to participate in the "Foreign Service National" Fellowship Program, inaccordance with USAID policy.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

a. Project Management (50%)The incumbent oversees and manages a portfolio of up to three agreements andassures their technical quality, integrity and effectiveness throughout the projectlife cycle; serves as Contracting/Agreement Officer's Representative (COR/AOR)for assigned DG programs and maintains responsibility, with theContracting/Agreement Officer (CO/AO), for ensuring that US AID exercisesprudent management over its assistance funds. Duties include, but are not limitedto, reviewing and approving work plans, providing recommendations for programchanges and adjustments in order to fully meet program goals, monitoringdeliverables, reporting performance problems to the AO/CO reviewing vouchersand accruals, providing technical guidance for the successful implementation ofthe programs, and making recommendations about future resource allocations.

b. Technical Expertise and Representation (15%).The incumbent establishes and maintains high level contacts with Azerbaijanicivil society organizations and actors, Azerbaijani government officials andregional municipal authorities to communicate USAID's strategy, plans andapproaches. S/he gathers the latest information to facilitate USAID'sunderstanding of civil society and governance developments, the state of mediafreedom and vulnerable populations, as well as government policies regardingNGOs. S/he serves on program design and technical evaluation committees forother offices. S/he maintains contacts with foreign and domestic donors to ensurebetter coordination and cross fertilization of local implementers' activities. Theincumbent makes frequent presentations in Azerbaijani and English to high levelaudiences and helps to organize meetings of high level officials, andAmbassador's visits.

c. Alliance Building (15%)The incumbent identifies opportunities for public and private partnerships across awide range of civil society-related issues, conceptualizes ways to leverageresources and find common interests with partners, initiates contacts withpotential partners, participates in the design and development of new partnerships,and serves as a OGER office representative to US Mission democracycommission.

d. Strategv Formulation and Program Development (10%)The incumbent formulates assistance concepts, strategies and new programdesigns to encourage NGO capacity-building, self-regulation, public outreach,cross-sectoral collaboration, and the empowerment of women and othervulnerable groups. S/he carries out research, monitoring and analytical dutiesassessing NGO sector development needs and constraints in order to enhance theeffectiveness of the Mission's civil society support in Azerbaijan; plays a key rolein developing and articulating strategic priorities and direction, designing newprogram activities and developing the scope of work for sector-wide assessments;

provides expert advice and guidance on the development of new programs, toensure cutting-edge technologies and approaches are applied. The incumbentparticipates in office strategic budgeting and initiates actions related to programdesign and strategy implementation; advises the USAID Mission andgrantees/contractors in planning and monitoring other Mission NGO activities,including those related to local governance, conflict mitigation, policy andadvocacy initiatives, rule of law, and others; provides technical advice andrecommendations to the OGER office, other technical teams, and DG and MissionManagement to improve USAID's efforts to strengthen civil society, localgovernance and independent traditional and new media development.

e. Gender Issues (5%)The incumbent researches and tracks the situation in Azerbaijan and the regionregarding gender equality and women's rights compliance, domestic violence andtrafficking of women, and legislative developments to provide expert advice totechnical offices. Mission management and U.S. Embassy staff. S/he highlightsgender issues and addresses them through programming, including managing andinitiating new activities and events to address gender equity, women'sempowerment and other issues affecting women; identifies resources for newprograms, serves as alternate USAID Point of Contact for the State DepartmentOffice of International Women's Issues Compiles reports and data to the Office ofInternational Women's Issues as requested, prepares cables as necessary onwomen's issues; provides suggestions for the inclusion of women activists in awide range of DG related programs both at the USAID and the U.S. Embassy.

f. Team Management (5%)The incumbent will serve as civil society strengthening, local governance andcommunity development, and media advisor for US Mission offices requestingsuch expertise and assistance. S/he closely collaborates with the other ProgramManagement Specialists ensuring they stay attentive to programmatic synergyopportunities, and abreast of developments in DG promoting local governanceand community development, new media sectors. S/he may be called upon toserve as Deputy OGER Director or Acting Office Director and that assumes allleadership, administrative, reporting, representational and supervisoryresponsibilities.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

Under the direction of the OGER Office Director, the incumbent plans and carriesassignments with high degree of independence. The incumbent is expected toestablish priorities and carry out his/her duties with a minimum of direction andcontrol. OGER Office Director (Direct Hire) for USAID/Azerbaijan as well as otherUSG staff will provide technical guidance as/when necessary.

10. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to All Interested CCNs (CooperatingCountry Nationals).

AIDAR, Appendix J. 1 (b) Definitions:

(6) "Cooperating country "means the country in which the employing US AIDMission is located.

(7) "Cooperating country national" ("CCN") means an individual who is acooperating country citizen or a non-cooperating country citizen lawfully admittedfor permanent residence in the cooperating country.

NOTE: ALL CCNs MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/ORRESIDENCY PERMIT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION. THE

MISSION DOES NOT SPONSOR WORK PERMITS.

11. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

12. POINT OF CONTACT:

- USAID/Caucasus HR office, e-mail at HR-Baku@usaid.gov- Cynthia Rogers, Supervisory Regional Executive Officer, email:

crogers@usaid.gov

H. MINIMUM OUALIFICATIONS REOUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

a. Education:

Possession of University/College Degree (i.e. Bachelors Degree) and advancedDegree (MA, JD, LLM, LLB, MBA, MPA, MPP) in a professionally relevantfield - including development studies, sociology, political science, internationalrelations, public policy and administration - is required.

b. Prior Work Experience:The incumbent is required to have worked a minimum of seven years (7) inprogressively more responsible project management roles in the fields ofdemocracy, governance, civil society and human rights with at least five (5) ormore years of this experience with a U.S. Government Agency or otherinternational/local organization or donors. Prior direct project managementexperience and technical knowledge in the field of democracy, governance, civilsociety and human rights is required.

c. Post Entry Training:

The incumbent will be expected to possess the necessary technical training andskills required to perform the duties/responsibilities required of the position. Postentry training will be focused primarily on the Agency's established policies,procedures, and regulations that govern: (1) USAID-specificAgreement/Contracting) Officer's Representative (AGR/COR)responsibilities/duties; (2) USAID-specific activity management and procurementsystems; and, (3) USAID-sponsored training in Project Design and ActivityManagement. In addition, the incumbent will be required to work within the

existing DG team management structure. Organized/formal training (bothinternal & external) may be provided from time-to-time depending on theavailability of Program funds and when determined to be in direct support of DGactivities.

d. Language Proficiencv:

Level IV, strong written and oral proficiency in English and Russian is required.Level V (Native Speaker) in Azeri is also required. Given the nature of theposition, effective written and oral communications are absolutely critical toperform successfully. Incumbent must be able to communicate effectively andaccurately with (1) all categories of Mission employees; (2) local governmentofficials at the Senior Minister level and lower (as applicable); (3) numerousinternational and local democracy and governance organizations, donors and otherembassies; (4) the US AID/Washington Bureau for Democracy, Conflict andHumanitarian Assistance, and the Europe and Eurasia Bureau; and, (5) the generalpublic. The incumbent must also be able to prepare reports, correspondence, anddocuments in a professional and competent manner requiring little or no editorialchanges (in English).

e. Job Knowledge:

A thorough understanding of the concepts, principles, techniques, and practices ofdemocratic development and good governance is required. Must have a thoroughknowledge of political, economic, and social current events in Azerbaijan and theregion; and of political and developmental realities, prospects, and priorities inAzerbaijan. Knowledge of NGO regulatory and operating environment isessential. Knowledge of U.S. Government legislation, USAID programmingpolicies, activity design methodology, procedures related to U.S. Governmentprocurement preferred.

f. Skills and Abilities:

The incumbent is required to be able to: (1) obtain, analyze, and evaluate a varietyof data; (2) organize and present technical information in concise written and oralform; (3) plan, develop, manage and evaluate important and complex programsindependently; (4) furnish information and advice in assigned areas objectively;(5) follow oral instructions, and organize, prioritize and follow through on allassignments with minimal oversight; (6) type accurately; (7) edit documents, (8)focus on details; and, (9) demonstrate proficiency in word processing,spreadsheets, databases and other computer applications (i.e. Microsoft Office,Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). The incumbent must also have the ability to establishand maintain contacts at all levels of the host government (i.e., from thecommunity level to the national level) and with stakeholders in the nongovernmental arena in order to explain USAED project/program policies,objectives and procedures. The incumbent must be able to transmit and interprethost country government and non-govemmental sector program-related concernsto senior USAID officials and Mission Management. The incumbent must alsohave demonstrated potential to acquire knowledge of U.S. Government legislation

relating to humanitarian and development assistance; USAID programmingpolicies, regulations, procedures, and documentation; and, demonstrate a thoroughunderstanding of the objectives, methodology, and status of the Mission's overallStrategic Objectives. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to workeffectively as a team member are required. The incumbent must be willing andable to travel extensively throughout Azerbaijan and the region as/when necessaryor requested in direct support of OGER Strategic Objectives and Goals. S/heshould be able to establish and maintain contacts with senior-level officials of theGoAJ, regional government representatives, local government, PVOs/NGOs,independent media, and the donor community; to explain and defend USAIDproject policies, objectives and procedures; to plan, develop, manage, andevaluate important programs/projects. The incumbent will be required to be ableto prepare briefing documents (as/when required), including participation in thedrafting of annual Technical, Programmatic and Fiscal reports and (once USAIDtraining is received) to use the online Global Acquisition and Assistance System(GLAAS).

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

A competitive range of offers will be established based on the following criteria:

1) All applicants must meet the minimum qualifications required for the position;

2) A writing sample, not to exceed two pages, will be reviewed by the TEC(Technical Evaluation Committee) and will be scored. This review will determinewho meets the competitive range;

3) Applicants within the competitive range will be invited for a writing test.

Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs):

Education: 5 points;Experience: 25 points;Knowledge, Skills and Ability: 25 points;Interview Performance (including Language Proficiency): 25 points;Writing Test: 20 points

TOTAL: ICQ points

The successful candidate will be selected based on a review of his/her qualifications,education, work experience, skills, and abilities; writing samples review, writing test andan interview; and the results of reference checks.

The TEC will do the reference check for the top two-three candidates, the TEC maycheck the references that have not been specifically identified by applicants.

The candidate with the highest overall score will be selected based on the criteria above.

NOTE: Due to the high volume of applications received, we will only contactapplicants who are being considered. Thank you for understanding.

IV. PRESENTING AN OFFER

1. Eligible Offerors are required to complete and submit the signed offer form DS-174form in English, standard resume and a cover letter.

DS-174 in English is available on the following link:httDs://www.usaid.gov/forms/ds-174/pdf

Additionally applicants are required to submit the writing sample, not to exceed twopages, the proof of the required education level and any other documentation(certificates, awards,) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position aslisted above.

2. 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, item 12.

3. To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors mustprominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

Once the Contracting Officer (CO) informs the successful Offeror about being selectedfor a contract award, the CO will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how tocomplete and submit the forms required to obtain medical and security clearances.

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

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

1. BENEFITS:

- Health Insurance Coverage for the selected candidate and immediate familymembers (spouse/children)

- Defined Contribution Fund 12%

VII. TAXES

Local Employee Staff is subject for paying local income taxes.

VIII. USAID REGULATIONS. POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

PERTAINING TO PSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing CCN/TCN PSC awards are available at thesesources:

1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, "Direct USAID ContractsWith a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for PersonalServices Abroad," including contract clause "General Provisions," available athttDs://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar O.pdf

2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms

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

- AAPD 16-03, REVISED AIDAR Deviation from Appendices D and J for thecontinuation of Expanded Incentive Awards for Personal Services Contracts withIndividuals

- AAPD 06-08 AIDAR, Appendices D AND J: using the optional schedule toincrementally fund contracts-June 23, 2006

- AAPD 03-11 Revision of Contracts/Contract Procedures for Personal Services

Contracts with Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) to Work in Iraq and Afghanistan- 12/02/03

Ethical Conduct. By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as anindividual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the "Standards ofEthical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch," available from theU.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5CFR 2635. See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The U.S. Mission provides equalopportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people withoutregard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, politicalaffiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.