Inactive

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72012119R00005 ISSUANCE DATE: April 12, 2019 CLOSING DATE/TIME: May 12, 2019 (11:59 p.m. EST) SUBJECT: Solicitation No.: 72012119R00005 for an Off-Shore Hire U.S. Personal Service... SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72012119R00005 ISSUANCE DATE: April 12, 2019 CLOSING DATE/TIME: May 12, 2019 (11:59 p.m. EST) SUBJECT: Solicitation No.: 72012119R00005 for an Off-Shore Hire U.S. Personal Services Contractor (USPSC), Senior Communications Advisor, GS-14, USAID/Ukraine 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 VIII 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, /s/ Nathan Drury Contracting Officer ? I. GENERAL INFORMATION 1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72012119R00005 2. ISSUANCE DATE: April 12, 2019 3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: May 12, 2019 (11:59 p.m. EST) 4. POSITION TITLE: Senior Communications Advisor 5. MARKET VALUE: $90,621 - $117,810 per annum, equivalent to GS-14 Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value 6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: one (1) year, with four (4) option years. Options 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 - with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties 8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret 9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES BASIC FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION: The Senior Communications Advisor reports directly to the Program Coordination and Strategy Office Director of the USAID Regional Mission for Ukraine and Belarus, or his/her designee. The Mission is responsible for the development, implementation and oversight of USAID-funded programs operating in Ukraine and Belarus. Due to the region's strategic importance to the US Government (USG), the Mission receives a high number of senior-level official visitors. The Senior Communications Advisor ("Advisor") will be a key member of the Regional Mission Senior Management Team and Program Coordination and Strategy (PCS) office, supervising the Development Outreach and Communications (DOC) team (housed within PCS) whose primary objective is to generate greater public awareness about, and support for, U.S. assistance to Ukraine and Belarus. Other major responsibilities include: developing and implementing an annual communications strategy; writing/editing all external Mission Front Office communications (in collaboration with the respective technical offices) to various external audiences; acting as/assisting the control person for high-level visitors; preparing, overseeing, and supervising the creation of high quality briefing materials, scene setters, and additional materials to effectively communicate USAID's work; developing, monitoring, and improving Mission outreach tools, including social and digital media; and planning, scheduling, and executing public events and activities. On an ad-hoc basis, the Advisor will provide expert Communications advice and support to other PSC and Mission priorities. The Advisor is required to plan and execute his/her time effectively and balance various needs across the DOC portfolio. S/he will interact on a regular basis with the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Office (PAO) and others to ensure that U.S. Embassy staffs are aware of and coordinate with USAID activities. S/he will also serve as the principal liaison with other USAID colleagues, including the Legislative and Public Affairs Bureau (LPA) in Washington, D.C. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: A. Supervision and Coordination Role The Advisor is responsible for managing and supervising the DOC unit, including: ? Supervise a DOC team comprised of four Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) professionals, including two translator/interpreters, to ensure overall quality, timeliness, and coherence of the team's communications and outreach products and initiatives. Provide leadership, mentorship, coaching, and training to DOC team members as appropriate, in order to further develop the team's skills and enhance effective team performance. ? Advise and coordinate with Mission technical offices as well as with implementing partners on DOC-related issues. While supervised at the mission, exercise complicated independent decision-making in a broad program areas, taking into consideration diverse and powerful stakeholders. ? Serve as the senior advisor to Mission leadership regarding public information, media relations, and outreach. ? Coordinate with PAS, and other USG agencies, and USAID implementing partners to achieve maximum exposure and understanding of U.S. development efforts and initiatives, as defined by the Chief of Mission and USAID Mission Director. ? Maintain up-to-date knowledge of all USAID/Ukraine activities and DOC processes, as well as a keen awareness of political and policy issues. ? Manage the DOC budget as part of the PCS budget. ? Ensure proper management and execution of USAID-attended public and media events; ensuring a cohesive, unified approach to outreach events and activities. ? Oversee the quality and publication of materials, including developing success stories, directing photo shoots, and coordinating graphic design; direct USAID digital communications work, including social media outreach, website updates, and digital photo and videography. ? Serve as resident expert on USAID branding and style guidelines, ensuring staff and partners use and apply guidance as outlined in ADS 320 and the Agency's Graphic Standards Manual; and recommending revisions as appropriate. Advise USAID staff and implementing partners regarding branding, collaboration, potential synergies in external communications, and well as on communications media strategy and relations. B. Strategic Communications ? Develop and implement a communications strategy, and concomitant measures to monitor and evaluate progress toward communication objectives, adapting to Mission or context changes, if necessary. ? Coordinate the communication strategy development to align with technical office, Front Office, and Mission strategic objectives, priorities, and goals, in a complex, interconnected, complicated, fast-paced and changing environment. ? Develop methods of performance monitoring and for evaluating the effectiveness of outreach tools. These tools may include, but are not limited to, outreach events, the Mission's website, printed collateral, social media platforms, fact sheets, newsletters, video shorts, and advertising. ? Include a strategy to promote the Mission's programs to internal and external audiences, facilitate information access across the Mission, and strengthen reporting functions. ? Prepare and/or oversee items such as daily bullets and monthly newsletter. ? Provide recommendations to Mission management on the selection and placement, and distribution of potential DOC materials in keeping with USAID's Country Development Cooperation Strategy. ? Keep up to date with communications and outreach tools, such as uses of new technology and make recommendations to Mission leadership about more effective methods of conducting outreach. ? Establish/revise and maintain effective policies and procedures for Mission communications that clarify roles within the Mission, with the Embassy, and with implementing partners, including templates for communications tools, and guidelines for Mission materials and events ? Relay related policies and achievements to key audiences in Ukraine and Belarus, the U.S. and throughout donor countries. ? Collect, research, manage, and distribute information associated with U.S. Foreign Assistance in Ukraine and Belarus, maintaining quality control over all materials ? Serve as the primary point of contact and liaison for DOC related information, though s/he may delegate some of these responsibilities to DOC team members as necessary. C. Public Events and Activities The Advisor will plan, schedule and execute activities to present Mission programs to the public, which may include site visits, field trips and media events. Public events ? As requested, accompany the Mission Director, Deputy Mission Director, and/or other Mission colleagues to public speaking engagements, conferences, public affairs activities and site visits, providing input and assistance at the event. ? Responsible for preparing schedules and briefing materials in collaboration with technical offices for events in which the Mission Director or Deputy Mission Director participates, as well as for the Ambassador and DCM for USAID events. Ensure that scene setters, backgrounders, schedules, talking points, and speeches are prepared in a timely fashion and meet quality standards. ? When requested, oversee coordination public events, including signing ceremonies, inaugurations, and/or dedications of USAID projects. As needed coordinate with other USAID or Embassy officials on logistics, scheduling, seating and other arrangements. ? Follow up with media to encourage coverage of public events. Manage the posting of all event information and materials to the Mission website and social media sites ? Submit all press releases and interview requests to appropriate entities for review and approval ? Photograph and/or shoot video and/or supervise DOC staff for USAID events for appropriate websites, social media feeds, and mission archives ? Ensure smooth planning and events in a changing environment with conflicting possible technical solutions. Outreach activities ? As part of the strategic communications plan, produce and execute public outreach events which must include grassroots outreach to key audiences. Illustrative examples include USAID Ukraine Field Days and University Days. ? Develop and present outreach opportunities to technical office teams and implementing partners. These may include contractor and grantee implementing activities; and discussions on outreach and public relations issues facing the teams (participating where possible). ? Manage USAID/Ukraine video production and social media platforms. Because public outreach efforts increasingly rely on video and social media content, the Advisor will manage production of at least two mission story videos annually as well as develop daily content for the USAID Facebook page and Twitter account. D. Writing/Editorial Responsibilities and Quality Control ? Draft/edit communication to government and regional officials, talking points, scene setters and other Mission documents, all the while ensuring that quality control standards are met. ? Appropriately manage multiple competing demands, both in terms of quantity and time pressures, for proofreading and editing throughout the year. ? Help draft or edit major mission documents including the annual Operational Plan, Performance Plan and Report, Congressional Budget Justification, and various strategic plans. ? Serve as the Mission Director's speechwriter as directed, responsible for editing and clearing background materials, presentations and talking points for events attended by the Director, the U.S. Ambassador and other officials. ? Review correspondence and reporting on Mission activities to ensure that documents are written in a clear and professional manner. ? Offer guidance on style to the Front Office, DOC team, and technical offices, conforming to the standards of USAID LPA branding and style guidelines, Associated Press (AP) Style, and professional business English. ? Where necessary, coach and prepare the Mission Director or Deputy Mission Director in advance of major speeches and media events based upon prepared materials. E. Media & Visitor Relations Liaising with the Press ? Build and maintain relationships with often conflicting international and local media entities, and public outreach staff of USAID implementing partners. ? Coordinate information dissemination and journalist outreach in collaboration with USAID technical offices, PAO, counterpart offices, and with non-USG entities. ? Provide expertise in planning, researching, drafting and/or editing press releases, fact sheets, and brochures targeting regional and international media sources. ? Lead USAID mission media activities, liaising with the PAO media team, and working closely with PAO staff and the DOC team to generate press coverage of USAID activities in Ukraine. ? Arrange and prepare for press interviews, press conferences, briefings, tours of projects/activities, and interaction with host-country and American journalists. ? Track USAID/Ukraine's project/activity milestones and events to identify activities, and assess for newsworthiness as well as anticipate the need for and ensure that appropriate press coverage is provided. Advise the Mission Front Office and staff on press outreach priorities, and whether coverage is culturally and politically appropriate. ? Track media coverage of USAID events to measure DOC effectiveness and review whether coverage is accurate and relevant to USAID's work. ? Oversee and produce media materials (including news releases, backgrounders, and fact sheets) designed to inform editors and reporters of USAID projects/activities and their achievements ? Coordinate with technical offices and PAO to produce and release timely, accurate, and useful written material for the host-country and American media; and, advise and work with PAO to expand opportunities for coverage of USAID efforts. ? Accompany the press to interviews and site locations for filming. Official Visits ? Oversee pre-visit planning, coordination with implementing partners, and more for high level Executive Branch, Congressional or Host Government visits to USAID activities, assisting or assuming the role of the designated control officer. ? As needed, advance official visits and ensure that sites properly reflect USAID aims. ? Clear necessary documents through USAID and implementing partners, and with PAO when necessary, with the goal of producing timely, accurate and useful information. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP: The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Program Coordination and Strategy Office Director of the USAID Regional Mission for Ukraine and Belarus, or his/her designee. 10. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: US Citizens only (off-shore hire) 11. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands 12. POINT OF CONTACT: All questions and offers must be submitted by email to KyivVacancies@usaid.gov II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION Education: A bachelor's (or equivalent) degree in journalism, marketing, business administration/management or a related field to the Statement of Duties is required. Prior Work Experience: Seven years of progressively responsible experience in related fields is required, with at least five years of experience in a related field such as marketing, public relations, journalism, and/or communications. Only offerors clearly meeting the above minimum qualifications will be considered for further evaluation. Security and Medical clearances: The ability to obtain the required security and medical clearances in a reasonable timeframe is considered a minimum qualification. See Section V. 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 tests, interviews, and reference checks to determine the most qualified/highest-ranked offerors. Reference checks may be conducted with the highest-ranked offerors. Reference checks may be conducted with individuals not provided by 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 offerors at the conclusion of evaluations. Education (20 points): A bachelor's (or equivalent) degree in journalism, marketing, business administration/management or a related field to the Statement of Duties is required. A master's degree or higher in one of the above fields is desirable. Prior Work Experience (30 points): Seven years of progressively responsible experience in related fields is required, with at least five years of experience in a related field such as marketing, public relations, journalism, and/or communications. Supervisory experience is a plus. Previous work experience in federal or state government or an international development organization is highly desirable. Relevant overseas work experience, especially in former Soviet republics, is highly desirable. Knowledge (20 points): Specialized knowledge related to dealing with the press/communications; a deep understanding of the local landscape as well as U.S. foreign policy considerations; high level understanding of social media mediums; excellent knowledge of English grammar; and an knowledge of how to utilize a multi-disciplinary approach that satisfies multiple stakeholders, including the USAID/Ukraine mission and inter-agency players, is essential. The position requires working knowledge of public relations and marketing-communications strategy. Broad understanding of international development issues - including transitioning economies and democracies is required. Skills and Abilities (30 points): Demonstrated Skills and Abilities in the below areas are essential: ? Superb, native-level (or equivalent) English communication skills (written and spoken) are required. ? Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work professionally in a high-stress, multi-cultural team setting with diverse stakeholders; ? Ability to professionally represent USAID before senior government officials and other level visitors and to effectively communicate USAID's development objectives and achievements. ? Ability to develop and maintain relationships with media and high-level representatives, and exercise sound judgment while representing the USG is crucial. ? Demonstrated ability to supervise staff and work flows, and to participate as a solid team member while providing leadership in his/her areas of competence, is required. ? Excellent ability to work independently with minimal supervision along with the ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize on tight deadlines. The ability to convert planning concepts into firm plans is crucial. ? Language proficiency (written and spoken) in Ukrainian and/or Russian is highly desirable. ? Abilities in publication, developing success stories, directing photo shoots, coordinating graphic design, and directing digital communications work is required, ? Demonstrated skills in social media outreach, website updates, and digital photo and videography is desirable. Total Points: 100pts For selected applicants, a writing test will be required to demonstrate professional writing ability. IV. APPLYING 1. Eligible Offerors are required to complete and submit all the following documents and information in order to be considered for the position: a. Completed and signed form AID 309-2,"Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts," available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-309-2. Only include base salary information in box 4 of sections B and C. Do not include bonuses, differentials, cost of living allowances, or other types of compensation. During negotiations, salary history may be verified through pay slips, earnings and leave statements, or other appropriate documentation. 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 of this solicitation; c. A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) of not more than 3 pages which, at a minimum, describes education, experience and career achievements relevant to the evaluation and selection factors in section III of this solicitation; 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. Late, incomplete, and/or un-signed offers will not be considered 2. Offers containing all required documents must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted electronically to the email Point of Contact in Section I, item 12. 3. To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors should prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission. V. PRE-AWARD DOCUMENTATION / LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES Once the Contracting Officer (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, needed to obtain medical and security clearances. 1. Medical History and Examination Form/ Medical Clearance Update (DS-6561/DS-3057) 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) Timely completion and submission of the required documents are needed to obtain the necessary Security and Medical Clearances. 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 offer letter and begin negotiations with the next most qualified/highest ranked offeror. Selected offerors who are unable to obtain required Security and Medical Clearances in a reasonable timeframe are considered un-qualified for this position. Within 2 weeks after written notice from the CO that all required clearances have been received, or unless another date is specified by the CO in writing, the selected offeror shall proceed to Kiev, Ukraine to perform the services specified in section I, item 9. VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, the USPSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: 1. BENEFITS: Employer's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual and Sick Leave 2. ALLOWANCES (If Applicable)*: Temporary Quarters Subsistence Allowance (Section 120) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) Post Allowance (Section 220) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) Education Allowance (Section 270) Educational Travel (Section 280) Post Differential (Section 500) Payments During Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) *Dept. of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR) (Government Civilians Foreign Areas) VII. TAXES USPSCs are required to pay Federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State Income taxes. VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources: 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, " 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. 3. Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available are at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs . 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