SOLICITATION NUMBER: AID-18-05
ISSUANCE DATE: March 21, 2018
CLOSING DATE/TIME: April 13, 2018
SUBJECT: Solicitation for a Cooperating Country National Personal Service Contractor (CCN PSC)
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, Sections I through V 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 information.
Sincerely,
Patrick Kollars
Contracting Office
GENERAL INFORMATION
SOLICITATION NO.: AID-18-05
ISSUANCE DATE: March 21, 2018
CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: April 13, 2017 at 17.00 Kinshasa time
POSITION TITLE: Budget Specialist
MARKET VALUE: FSN-10
In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of
[USAID/Democratic Republic of the Congo]
Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 5 years renewable depending on funds availability
PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Work authorization/certification of employment
STATEMENT OF DUTIES
Basic functions of the position
The basic function of this position is to perform a budgetary support role for all programmatic funds managed by USAID/Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the focal point in the Mission for maintaining, analyzing, and reporting budget and financial information covering the Mission program portfolio, which includes three operating units (DRC, Central African Republic, and Central Africa Regional). This information is used to keep the Mission’s budget tracking and reporting systems current, in order to ensure the appropriate program analysis and planning. The quality of this data is critical to the Mission’s ability to manage current programs, plan new initiatives, comply with mandatory reporting, coordinate with the host government, and assess the impact of changes to budgets. In addition to maintaining Mission budgeting systems and a series of regularly-updated files that are used by the Mission to report budget and financial information, the incumbent also guides staff across the Mission on required budgeting procedures throughout the program cycle. S/he assists staff at all levels of seniority to analyze, understand, and plan their budgets, ensuring effective use of funds. S/he also ensures all requirements are met to obligate funds. S/he is expected to establish effective relationships with local and international USAID staff at all levels of seniority, including financial analysts and senior USAID budget staff in USAID Africa Bureau’s Office of Development Planning. S/he is expected to develop expert knowledgeable in USAID’s policies, procedures, and regulations, including the substantive and administrative elements of USAID’s development assistance and to advise staff across the Mission on these items.
Major duties and Responsibilities
Budget Reporting: 40%
Manages the Operating Year Budget (OYB) reporting process.
Maintains up-to-date records of relevant budget and other financial information (past and present) for internal and external briefings on USAID assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Responds to ad hoc budget related requests from USAID/Washington and Mission management.
Reviews program budget inputs in to annual Operational Plan, Mission Strategic Resource Plan, and other planning related documents.
Actively coordinates and engages with Mission management and technical teams on all budget issues.
Budget Analysis and Management: 30%
Develops and manages a system of initiating and tracking the Mission’s current-year OYB.
Conducts , in conjunction with the Financial Management Office, Mission quarterly financial reviews. Records and tracks status of follow-up actions.
Maintains up-to-date and accurate official files on Mission allowances, obligations, expenditure, pipeline, and mortgage levels, as well as complete hard-copy files of major program documents, including the Mission Strategy, bilateral grant agreements and their amendments, and other program financial documents in accordance with Mission filing policies. Ensures that electronic files are regularly maintained.
Manages budget related databases and reporting systems.
Prepares Field Support budget requests in coordination with technical teams and Senior Program/Budget Specialist.
Documents and analyzes budget trends for all development and humanitarian funds.
Tracks the payment of parking fines, I.T. support costs, and program support costs.
Assists the Senior Program/Budget Specialist in preparing the annual Operational Plan’s program support budget and Development Objective Agreements and amendments for signature and obligation.
Budget Allocation: 15%
Prepares program budget requests for the Congressional Budget Justification.
Provides analysis of program pipelines, expenditures, mortgages, and historic trends to Mission management for consideration in budget formulation.
Assistance to Program Office: 15%
Provides backup support on to Program Office staff on systems and services, such as TraiNet database and website when principle officer is unable to perform duties.
Assists the Senior Program/Budget Specialist in collecting information and performing analyses on host country annual budgets and budget execution.
Assists the Senior Program/Budget Specialist in collecting information on host country strategic plans and progress in implementation.
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: All interested candidates
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.
POINT OF CONTACT: [email protected]
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
a. Education:
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in administration, finance, accounting, economics, or a related field is required.
b. Prior Work Experience:
At least three to five years of closely related professional experience. Experience in budgetary and financial analysis as well as general interpretation of program data.
Knowledge of development programming terms and implementation, USAID programs, and USAID priorities desirable. Prior experience in a heavily regulated policy environment is preferable.
c. Language:
Fluency (level IV) in French and in English is required for the precise and accurate reporting
EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS
Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following selection criteria:
1. Knowledge and Abilities (50 points): Technical background in budgeting or finance. Demonstrated capacity in managing complex budget tools; expertise in excel, including pivot tables. Demonstrable critical thinking, analytical, and skills required. Must be able to manage multiple and competing tasks at the same time. Knowledge of USAID project development, budgeting and management, or examples of international organizations that have similar complex budgeting reporting and oversight is desirable. Must be able to provide cogent and thoughtful presentations.
Prior Work Experience (20 points): Minimum five years of relevant prior work experience. Demonstrated ability to work in a highly complex and fast‐paced work environment with minimal support.
Communication (30 points): Must be fluent in speaking, reading and writing English. Excellent communication skills in both French and English languages, including ability to analyze budgets and figures and to summarize findings to managers and non-budget specialists. Strong communication skills, including email, and ability to work in a multicultural environment is essential.
PRESENTING AN OFFER
Eligible Offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form- DS-174 Application for U.S. Federal Employment along with a cover letter and a CV written in English.
The DS-174 Application form can be found in the US embassy website https://cd.usembassy.gov/embassy/jobs/job-opportunities/
Offers must be received by April 13, 2018 at 17.00 via email to [email protected].
To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.
LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES
Once the Contracting Officer 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:
Authorization for release of information
BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES
The incumbent will benefit from following benefits and allowances: Housing, Transportation,
Meals, Family, and Miscellaneous; 13th and 14th month bonuses; annual and sick leave and medical coverage
TAXES
The employees are responsible for calculating and paying local income taxes. The U.S. Mission does not withhold or make local income tax payments.
USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs
USAID regulations and policies governing CCN/TCN PSC awards are available at these sources:
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 .
Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms .
Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs .
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 .
