Solicitation for a Project Management Specialist (Health Systems)

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72012121R22

2. ISSUANCE DATE: 10/05/2021

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: 11/08/2021 at 11:59 p.m. Kyiv Time

4. POSITION TITLE: Project Management Specialist (Health System)

5. MARKET VALUE: Basic Annual rate (in U.S. Dollars): $42,286-54,969

In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and ADS 309, the Local Compensation Plan (in effect at the time) of the U.S. Embassy to Ukraine forms the basis of compensation. The LCP consists of the salary schedule, which includes salary rates, authorized fringe benefits, and other pertinent facets of compensation. Final basic compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated. This salary range is not inclusive of other benefits and allowances.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 

Employment under any contract issued under this solicitation is of a continuing nature. Its duration is expected to be part of a series of sequential contracts; all contract clauses, provisions, and regulatory requirements concerning availability of funds and the specific duration of the contract shall apply. The initial CCNPSC contract will be for five years, with the possibility of renewing. The renewal may be exercised based upon satisfactory contractor performance, mutual agreement between the Contractor and USG, continued Mission requirements and the continued availability of funds.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Kyiv, Ukraine

8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Foreign Service National Security Certification

9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

The Project Management Specialist Health Systems serves as a key resource to the USAID Mission and the United States Government (USG) in policy, strategic, and technical engagements with the Ministry of Health (MOH), USG interagency, international and bilateral organizations and development partners to address technical issues and coordinate efforts in the implementation of health sector reform and health system strengthening (HSS) activities. These include USAID-supported efforts related to health care financing, human resources for health, health sector governance, eHealth / digital platforms and improving the enabling environment for private sector engagement in health service delivery. In addition, the Health Systems Specialist serves as a Contracting/Agreement Officer’s Representative (COR/AOR) and/or Activity Manager, providing technical and management oversight of USAID activities that support health reforms and health system strengthening in Ukraine. The Specialist also is expected to play a technical and management role in supporting recovery and strengthening of the health system in response to COVID-19.  The Health Systems Specialist is a key member of the USAID/Ukraine, Office of Health (OH). The jobholder reports to the OH Director or his/her designee. 

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technical and Strategic Leadership

• Provide high level technical guidance to the Mission, the USG interagency team, the host country government, and to other development partners on issues pertaining to health reform and HSS.
• Stay abreast of state-of-the-art knowledge, programming and policies related to health reform and HSS and utilize this information to improve host country health systems.
• Coordinate exchanges and sharing of best practices among USAID, USG and other stakeholders to strengthen health reform and health systems.
• Provide technical support to the MOH and partners in coordinating health reform and HSS support.
• Guide USAID and the Government of Ukraine (GOU) on strategic decisions and policy formulation to strengthen health reform and health systems, especially regarding governance, transparency and accountability.
• Provide technical guidance and coordination to OH colleagues to ensure complementary of HSS investments that benefit the entire health portfolio (including infectious disease control, mental health, disabilities and other USAID health sector programming) and relevant linkages to other portfolio work within the USAID Mission (e.g. democracy governance, economic growth).
• Provide guidance to OH colleagues to monitor the achievement of milestones of IPs supporting health reform and HSS project implementation.
• Advance the availability and use of health reform and HSS data in portfolio reviews and annual and mid-term planning, and quarterly activity reporting.
• Stay abreast of emerging developments in health reform and HSS approaches and advise accordingly on how these policies and strategies can most effectively be incorporated to enhance USAID programming.

Program/Activity Management

• Serve as COR/AOR or Activity Manager for OH activities related to health sector reform and improved health systems, and other relevant projects as assigned, with responsibility for providing financial and programmatic oversight to ensure the activities achieve anticipated results and contribute to USAID/Ukraine development objectives.
• Conduct site visits as required in order to monitor progress, and to provide technical and programmatic recommendations to ensure effectiveness, efficiency, and judicious use of USG funding.
• Advance metrics and data systems for monitoring of health reform and HSS activities and use of data by implementing partners in achieving anticipated results.
• Perform other duties as required.

Representation and Reporting

• Represent the USAID OH, USAID Mission, and USG at national and international technical and programmatic meetings, within various working groups, and in consultations with other health sector donors, government officials, and implementing partners.
• Provide technical input in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents including the USAID Operational Plan and Health Implementation Plan, Congressional Budget Justifications, Technical Notifications, Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports.
• Prepare ad hoc reports for the USAID Mission, USAID/Washington, donor coordination groups, and others as required.
• Drafts talking points and/or speeches for the Office Director, Mission Director, Ambassador and others, as required, and prepares briefing papers and presentations on health reform and HSS.
• Participate in workshops, special committees, and other fora as a technical advisor on health reform and HSS.
• Organizes site visits and prepare orientation materials for delegations from USAID Headquarters, State Department, and other USG agencies.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP: The Health Systems Specialist will be supervised by the OH Director or his/her designee.  S/he is expected to develop annual work objectives in consultation with his/her supervisor.  Work is reviewed in terms of effectiveness in meeting cooperating country and USAID objectives, and effective integration with other initiatives in the Office and Mission portfolio.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: None.

10. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to All Interested CCN (Cooperating Country National) Candidates.

“Cooperating country” means the country in which the employing USAID Mission is located.

“Cooperating country national” (“CCN”) means an individual who is a cooperating country citizen or a non-cooperating country citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the cooperating country.

NOTE: ALL CCNs MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS 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: Completed offers (including all required documents – see section IV below) must be submitted electronically to: [email protected]. When submitting an application, the solicitation number and the title of the position are to be mentioned in the subject line of the email.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Education: Minimum of bachelor’s degree in a relevant profession: public health, public administration, international development, business, economics, or a related field.

Prior Work Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible, professional-level experience in developing, implementing, and/or monitoring health systems strengthening activities (such as health financing, human resources for health, task shifting, health care quality improvement; eHealth / digital health platforms, governance, public and private sector engagement and/or other health systems areas) is required. Experience collaborating with and/or working for the donor agencies, host country government, private-sector institutions or other related organizations is required. 

Language Proficiency: Level IV fluency in English and Ukrainian business language, both written and spoken, is required. Language competence may be tested.

Only offerors clearly meeting the above minimum qualifications will be considered for further evaluation.

Foreign Service National Security Certification and Medical Clearances: The ability to obtain the required foreign national security certification and medical clearances for the position is considered a minimum qualification. See section V below.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

Selection Process and Basis of Evaluation: Offerors who clearly meet the aforementioned minimum education and work experience qualification requirements may be further evaluated through review of the offeror’s submitted required documents (see section IV below) and ranked based on the below evaluation and selection factors. A competitive range may be established of the highest-ranked offerors, who may be further evaluated through technical/language tests, interviews, and reference checks to determine the most qualified/highest-ranked offeror. Reference checks may be conducted with individuals not provided by the offeror, and without prior notification to the offeror. Any offeror not receiving satisfactory reference checks will no longer be considered for the position. Negotiations may be conducted with the most qualified/ highest-ranked offeror at the conclusion of evaluations.                                

10 points – Education: Minimum of bachelor’s degree in a relevant profession: public health, public administration, international development, business, economics, or a related field. Additional education in the aforementioned areas is desired.

20 points – Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible, professional-level experience in developing, implementing, and/or monitoring health systems strengthening activities (such as health financing, human resources for health, task shifting, health care quality improvement; eHealth / digital health platforms, governance, public and private sector engagement and/or other health systems areas) is required. Experience collaborating with and/or working for the donor agencies, host country government, private-sector institutions or other related organizations is required. Additional experience in the aforementioned areas is desired.

30 points – Knowledge: The Specialist must have in-depth professional-level knowledge of development principles, concepts, and practices, especially as they relate to public sector reform, public and health sector financing and health systems strengthening. Advanced knowledge in one or more of the aforementioned areas is desired.

40 points – Skills and Abilities: The job holder must possess strong technical and analytical skills in health systems strengthening technical areas such as financing, governance, human resources for health, ehealth, and/or healthcare quality improvement and related policies. The job holder must possess strong skills in communication, advocacy and networking and be able to work collaboratively on multicultural teams. This position requires an outstanding ability to exercise flexibility to be able to accept and react to evolving planning and implementation contexts. S/he takes initiative and offers leadership in reviewing the progress of activities under his/her responsibility, including performance reports, pipeline management, program implementation reviews, as well as fulfilling other USAID and USG reporting requirements. S/he demonstrates timely decision-making ability and extensive judgment in planning and carrying out tasks, using diplomacy and tact. Advanced skills/abilities in one or more of the aforementioned areas are desired.

TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 100 points

IV. PRESENTING AN OFFER/APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION

1. Eligible Offerors are required to complete and submit through email all the below documents in English in order to be considered for the position.

a. Completed DS-174 (application for Employment as Locally Employed Staff) which can be retrieved here: https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds174.pdf

Offerors must thoroughly complete the DS-174 form in English and are advised to include all of their current and previous work experience related to this position. Offerors may use continuation pages to further explain their relevant work experience, if needed.

An Internal Offeror’s experience acquired before/after joining the U.S. Government should correspond to the information provided in the Official Personnel Folder (OPF). Any discrepancy found between the current application form (DS-174) and the information provided in the OPF related to the offeror’s qualifications could make the offeror ineligible for the position.

b. A cover letter of no more than 2 pages that demonstrates how the Offeror’s qualifications meet the evaluation and selection factors in section III. Excess pages (beyond 2) will not be read or considered.

c. A CV or standard resume of no more than 4 pages. 

Offerors who do not include all above required documents in their offer submission will not be considered for this position.

d. Names of three professional references, including at least one current/former supervisor, that have knowledge of the offeror’s ability to perform the duties set forth in the solicitation. This information may be included in the cover letter or resume/CV.

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 by email with appropriate attachments. Documents/offers received through links to Google Drive, Sky Drive, and/or any other private cloud computing database/websites will not be considered.

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

NOTE:  Due to the high volume of applications received, we may only contact applicants who are being considered. Thank you for your understanding.

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

Once the Contracting Officer (CO) informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract award, the HR unit will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms, needed to obtain medical and security/facility access.

1. Questionnaire for Employment Authorization (U.S. Embassy Kyiv form)
2. Authorization for Release of Information (U.S. Embassy Kyiv’s form)
3. Certificate of Criminal Records (obtained from the pertinent authorities)

Failure of the selected offeror to accurately complete and submit required documents in a timely manner may be grounds for the CO to rescind any conditional pre-contract salary offer letter and begin negotiations with the next most qualified/highest ranked offeror.

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

The local compensation plan (LCP) is the basis for all compensation payments to locally employed staff /CCNPSCs. The LCP consists of the salary schedule, which includes salary rates, authorized fringe benefits, and other pertinent facets of compensation such as health and life insurance, and retirement allowance. As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

BENEFITS:

1. Health and Life Insurance coverage
2. Defined Contribution Fund 12%

ALLOWANCES (as applicable):

1. Meal Allowances: The annual amount is currently $853 for employees working on a full time basis.
2. Family Allowances: The mission provides a child allowance. Grants amounts are subject to change as determined by the Ukrainian State Budget Law.

Additional information may be provided to the selected offeror at time of salary offer.

VII. TAXES

Locally Employed Staff are responsible for paying local income taxes. The U.S. Mission does withhold year-end local income tax payments.

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

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

1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf.

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

ITEM NO (A)	SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION) (B)	QUANTITY (C)	UNIT (D)	UNIT PRICE (E)	AMOUNT (F)
0001	Year 1 – Compensation and Fringe Benefits/Other Direct Costs (ODCs) Award Type: Cost Product Service Code: R497 Accounting Info:	1 year	LOT	$ _TBD__	$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor
1001	Year 2 – Compensation and Fringe Benefits/Other Direct Costs (ODCs) Award Type: Cost Product Service Code: R497 Accounting Info:	1 year	LOT	$ _TBD__	$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor
2001	Year 3 – Compensation and Fringe Benefits/Other Direct Costs (ODCs) Award Type: Cost Product Service Code: R497 Accounting Info:	1 year	LOT	$ _TBD__	$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor
3001	Year 4– Compensation and Fringe Benefits/Other Direct Costs (ODCs) Award Type: Cost Product Service Code: R497 Accounting Info:	1 year	LOT	$ _TBD__	$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor
4001	Year 5 – Compensation and Fringe Benefits/Other Direct Costs (ODCs) Award Type: Cost Product Service Code: R497 Accounting Info:	1 year	LOT	$ _TBD__	$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor

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

• AAPD 16-03 Expanded Incentive Awards for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals
• AAPD 06-08 AIDAR, Appendices D and J: Using the Optional Schedule to Incrementally Fund Contracts

4. 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 5 CFR 2635.  See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. Management may consider the following when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.