Inactive

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72D0T120R00030 ISSUANCE DATE: May 8, 2020 CLOSING DATE AND TIME: June 2, 2020, 1:00 PM Eastern Time (Deadline Extended) SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor ... SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72D0T120R00030 ISSUANCE DATE: May 8, 2020 CLOSING DATE AND TIME: June 2, 2020, 1:00 PM Eastern Time (Deadline Extended) SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) Dear Prospective Offerors: The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal services as a Financial Management Assistant/Specialist – Washington, D.C. (Tandem/Ladder) under a personal services contract, as described in the attached solicitation. Submittals must be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Offerors interested in applying for this position MUST submit the following materials: Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your offer, your resume must include: (a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Dates (month/year) and locations for all overseas field experience must also be detailed. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements. (b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work. (c) Names and contact information (phone and email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). (d) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments. (e) U.S. Citizenship. Note: Your resume should contain explicit information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. Offerors must specify in their offer materials whether they would like to be considered for the GS-9 or GS-11. Offerors who would like to be considered for both the GS-9 and GS-11 positions should submit separate offers specifying which grade level in the submission. Offerors will only be considered for the grade level specified in the submission. The offer will be considered for the lower grade level if the offeror does not specify the grade level in the submission. Offerors who are unsure of which grade level they meet the minimum qualifications for should submit separate offers for the GS-9 and the GS-11 positions. This information should be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide explicit information to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration. USPSC Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete and sign the form. This form must be physically signed. Electronic signatures will not be accepted. NOTE ABOUT THE DATA UNIVERSAL NUMBERING SYSTEM AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS All USPSCs with a place of performance in the United States are required to have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to receiving an offer. You will be disqualified if you either fail to comply with this requirement or if your name appears on the excluded parties list. The selectee will be provided with guidance regarding this registration. Additional documents submitted will not be accepted. Incomplete or late offers will not be considered. Your complete resume and the AID309-2 form must be mailed or emailed to: Office of Transition Initiatives 529 14th Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20045 E-Mail Address: OTIjobs@usaid.gov Offerors can expect to receive a confirmation email when offer materials have been received. Offerors should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their offers. 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. Offeror resources are available at www.otijobs.net/#!guidance-for-applying/c1ggu. Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to: OTI Recruitment Team Telephone Number: (202) 836-7487 E-Mail Address: OTIjobs@usaid.gov Website: www.OTIjobs.net Sincerely, Cristina Sylvia Contracting Officer 72D0T120R00030 I. GENERAL INFORMATION 1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72D0T120R00030 2. ISSUANCE DATE: May 8, 2020 3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: June 2, 2020, 1:00 pm Eastern Time (Deadline Extended) 4. POINT OF CONTACT: OTI Recruitment Team, (202) 836-7487, e-mail at OTIjobs@usaid.gov. 5. POSITION TITLE: Financial Management Assistant/Specialist 6. MARKET VALUE: This position has been designated as a “tandem-ladder” position that, depending on the qualifications of the candidate, can be filled at either the GS-9 ($59,534 - $77,396 per annum) or GS-11 ($72,030 - $93,638 per annum) equivalent level, DC-locality pay. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon qualifications, previous relevant experience and work history, salary and educational background. Salaries over and above the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated. Offerors who live outside the Washington, D.C. area will be considered but no relocation expenses will be reimbursed. Following at least one year at the GS-9 grade, the candidate may have the opportunity for advancement to the GS-11 equivalent grade. Following two years at the GS-11 grade, the candidate may have the opportunity for advancement to the GS-12 equivalent grade. In order to be advanced to the higher grade, the incumbent must meet the minimum qualifications of the higher grade and receive an excellent performance rating in their most recent annual performance evaluation. The evaluation must include a statement by the supervisor that the employee is performing successfully at the current grade and is considered ready to perform at the higher-grade level. Neither advancement nor extension of the contract is guaranteed. Note: Offerors who submit an application for the GS-11 grade level, but do not meet the minimum qualifications as outlined in this solicitation and as reviewed by the Technical Evaluation Committee, will not be considered for the GS-9 positions if they have not submitted a separate application for the GS-9 level. Similarly, Offerors who apply for the GS-9 position even though they might meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-11 position will not be considered for the higher graded position if they have not submitted a separate application for the GS-11 position. Offerors who are unsure of which grade level they meet the minimum qualifications for should submit separate applications for the GS-9 and the GS-11 positions. 7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year, with four one-year option periods. START DATE: Within 45 days of receiving notification that required security clearance has been obtained. 8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Washington, D.C. 9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: United States Citizens 10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret 11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES POSITION DESCRIPTION BACKGROUND USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) is seeking highly motivated, highly qualified individuals who want the opportunity to help support rapid international transition programs for priority conflict-prone countries. Created in 1994 as a distinct operating unit within USAID, OTI helps local partners advance peace and democracy in politically transitioning countries. In support of U.S. foreign policy, OTI seizes emerging windows of opportunity in the political landscape to promote stability, peace, and democracy by catalyzing local initiatives through adaptive and agile programming. Countries experiencing a significant political transition in the midst of a disaster or emerging from civil conflict have unique needs that cannot be fully addressed by traditional disaster relief. Timely and effective assistance to promote and consolidate peaceful, democratic advances can make the difference between a successful or a failed transition. OTI assists in securing peace by aiding indigenous, mostly non-governmental, civil society and media organizations. OTI uses such mechanisms as support for re-integration of ex-combatants into civilian society; development of initiatives to promote national reconciliation; identification of quick-impact community self-help projects to meet urgent economic needs; and aid to independent media outlets and community-based organizations to help promote informed debate and broaden public participation. To respond quickly and effectively and meet its program objectives and mandate OTI retains a group of high-level professionals and experts under U.S. Personal Services Contracts (USPSCs). These knowledgeable and skilled professionals make up the vast majority of the OTI work force and are at its forefront implementing and achieving the office’s programmatic goals and objectives. There are several benefits that USPSCs may participate in, such as partial reimbursement for health and life insurance costs, as well as full coverage of workers’ compensation, among other benefits. For more complete information on USPSC benefits, please see Section VI of this solicitation. For more information about OTI and its country programs please see: http://www.usaid.gov/political-transition-initiatives Introduction The Financial Management Assistant/Specialist reports directly to the OTI Finance Team Leader. The incumbent of the position is OTI’s financial expert and must possess knowledge of financial systems, especially those employed by USAID, to support OTI’s transition programs. As the OTI financial expert, the Financial Management Assistant/Specialist is the office’s financial analyst and budget professional and must have the presence and ability to identify and articulate financial issues that impact OTI programs to counterparts. The Financial Management Specialist will efficiently manage all OTI financial resources, ensuring that program funding for OTI activities is readily available. Approximately 95% or more of OTI’s resources are program funds, and 5% or less are operational expenses. The Financial Management Assistant/Specialist must be able to quickly master OTI and USAID budget and finance systems, and be able to guide program and operations staff, including senior management, in their use when required. The Financial Management Specialist must be readily available to advise and train OTI/Washington, DC field staff, and implementing partner staff on financial issues. OTI is a fast-paced office with frequently changing priorities, and staff must be able to multitask and move quickly from one activity to another. Effective organizational skills, attention to detail, and understanding of financial management systems and processes are required. Ledgers, records and relevant financial documentation must be current and accurate. This is a key position in a very demanding office that responds rapidly to numerous complex activities and provides OTI staff with financial services and support, including training. The demands of this position require a Financial Management Specialist with superb customer service and work ethic, and with the ability to operate independently and anticipate the needs of a complex organizational unit. CORE FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The work of the Financial Management Assistant/Specialist requires teamwork, the exercise of discretion, judgment, and personal responsibility. As a member of an operational office, the incumbent is willing and able to perform a wide range of administrative functions to help ensure programmatic success. The incumbent has a high level of integrity and attention to detail to ensure the use of OTI systems and procedures to maintain effective and efficient management of funds, programming, and monitoring and evaluation. The incumbent is flexible and willing to work under conditions of ongoing change and remains professional and respectful of colleagues and authority in a diverse workforce. She or he places a premium on the building of positive relationships with his or her respective team both in the field and in Washington, and with key stakeholders both in and outside of USAID. The incumbent is able to prioritize and complete tasks without follow-up by the supervisor, while also filling in gaps as needed to ensure the responsiveness of the team. The Financial Management Specialist is a strategic thinker, articulates innovative ideas, presents solutions, and is a positive role model for colleagues both in and outside of OTI. Under the direct supervision of the OTI Finance Team Leader or his/her designee, the Financial Management Assistant/Specialist will perform the following duties: At the GS-9 “Financial Management Assistant” Level: Support program budgets and assist with financial planning, management and reconciliation; Provide general administrative support such as scheduling and facilitating meetings, drafting meeting minutes, drafting and tracking memos, ensuring that action items are followed up, filing, correspondence control, and other administrative services; Maintain the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA)/OTI official accounts for OTI program funds, including commitments and obligations for the current year and carryover funds. Monitor prior year obligation balances. Perform regular account reconciliation and determine necessary adjustments to balance accounts accordingly; Provide support to the development and maintenance of DCHA/OTI’s budget and finance database; Maintain continuous liaison and effective working relationships with all OTI teams, particularly OTI’s Program Office, Workforce Planning, and Contracts Teams; Maintain continuous liaison and effective working relationships with Agency counterparts such as the DCHA Bureau Controller, Policy and Program Coordination, Office of Acquisition and Assistance, Office of Financial Management, and USAID Missions overseas on matters relating to procurement, financial issues, obligations and de-obligations of program-funded activities. [Note: 95% or more of OTI funding is from program funding sources, and 5% or less of OTI funding is from operational expense funding]; Maintain accurate records of all DCHA/OTI budget and finance activities supporting transition programs; Prepare Acquisition and Assistance Requests and support documentation for the management and administration of procurement in support of OTI country program activities. Process USPSC contract actions in the agency’s Global Acquisition and Assistance System (GLAAS), monitor funding levels, and review contract budgets and modifications; After an initial learning period, provide orientation, training, and mentoring for new staff that have since on-boarded as delegated; communicate with supervisor to recognize good performance and communicate where performance needs to be improved; and Serve on short-term with other USAID offices or bureaus in support of OTI programs. These placements assignments shall not exceed three months. At the GS-11 “Financial Management Specialist” Level: Prepare accurate financial and budget reports. Conduct regular and special financial analyses that cover reimbursements and special appropriations; Prepare and monitor financial reports for program-funded activities. Monitor OTI's resource availability, prepare reports on disbursements and use of funds and manage the obligation/de-obligation process to maximize use of available funds; Manage program funds for the Office. Control the allocation of approximately $90 million of OTI funds as well as additional program funds from other sources per year (ranging from $15 million to $200 million or more). Coordinate and work closely with the DCHA Bureau controller’s office, as well as with other Bureaus when additional funds are received or transferred to OTI for OTI managed programs; Conducts the day-to-day operation and maintenance of OTI program financial accounts. These statements are required under legislation to assure compliance with laws and regulations affecting the expenditure of funds, control of the budget, and reports on the status of obligations and expenditures; Review financial proposals to adhere to financial procedures, conformance to agency requirements and/or limitations to generally accepted accounting principles and standards. Assure approved documents are within established guidelines and are readily retrievable from country or project files; Utilize funding analysis to recommend program budget and staffing levels based on management decisions and/or changes in the program goals, objectives, and priorities and as back-up material for requests for budget increases/decreases; Prepare funding requirements for inclusion in a variety of budgetary and programmatic submissions, e.g., Annual Budget Submission, Congressional Budget Justification, Quarterly Accrual Reports, Monthly reports to OMB, Annual Report, etc.; Advise country team program managers on the preparation of budget requests; consolidate supporting budget data and justifications; Maintain continuous liaison and effective working relationships with all OTI teams, particularly OTI’s Program Office, Workforce Planning, and Contracts Teams; Perform Section 1311 Review of Unliquidated Obligations for all years, e.g., contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, inter-agency agreements, International Cooperative Administrative Support Services (ICASS), Congressional Notifications (CNs) and memorandum of understandings (MOUs). Ensure that required documentation supports the analysis and determination. Work with Financial Management (FM) and DCHA/Program, Policy, and Management (PPM) to help ensure that program funds deobligated are immediately reprogrammed and available for other program priorities; Prepare Acquisition and Assistance Requests and support documentation for the management and administration of procurement in support of OTI country program activities. Process USPSC contract actions in the agency’s GLAAS, monitor funding levels, and review contract budgets and modifications; Maintain continuous liaison and effective working relationships with all OTI teams, particularly OTI’s Program Office, Workforce Planning, and Contracts Teams; Provide orientation, training, and mentoring for new staff that have since on-boarded as delegated; communicate with supervisor to recognize good performance and communicate where performance needs to be improved; and Serve on short-term assignments with other USAID offices or bureaus in support of OTI programs. These placements shall not exceed three months. At the GS-12 “Financial Management Specialist” Level: Prepare accurate financial and budget reports. Conduct regular and special financial analyses that cover reimbursements and special appropriations; Prepare and monitor financial reports for program-funded activities. Monitor OTI's resource availability, prepare reports on disbursements and use of funds and manage the obligation/de-obligation process to maximize use of available funds; Manage program funds for the Office. Control the allocation of approximately $50 million of OTI funds as well as additional program funds from other sources per year (ranging from $15 million to $200 million or more). Coordinate and work closely with the DCHA Bureau controller’s office, as well as with other Bureaus when additional funds are received or transferred to OTI for OTI managed programs; Conducts the day-to-day operation and maintenance of OTI program financial accounts. These statements are required under legislation to assure compliance with laws and regulations affecting the expenditure of funds, control of the budget, and reports on the status of obligations and expenditures; Review financial proposals to adhere to financial procedures, conformance to agency requirements and/or limitations to generally accepted accounting principles and standards. Assure approved documents are within established guidelines and are readily retrievable from country or project files; Utilize funding analysis to recommend program budget and staffing levels based on management decisions and/or changes in the program goals, objectives, and priorities and as back-up material for requests for budget increases/decreases; Prepare funding requirements for inclusion in a variety of budgetary and programmatic submissions, e.g., Annual Budget Submission, Congressional Budget Justification, Quarterly Accrual Reports, Monthly reports to OMB, Annual Report, etc.; Advise country team program managers on the preparation of budget requests; consolidate supporting budget data and justifications; Maintain continuous liaison and effective working relationships with all OTI teams, particularly OTI’s Program Office, Workforce Planning, and Contracts Teams; Perform Section 1311 Review of Unliquidated Obligations for all years, e.g., contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, inter-agency agreements, ICASS, CNs and MOUs. Work with FM and DCHA/PPM to help ensure that program funds deobligated are immediately reprogrammed and available for other program priorities; Act as the OTI expert on OTI and USAID financial operating systems in support of OTI program funding. Provide reports, advice, guidance, instructions and training to OTI staff, including funded procurement actions; Serve as Acting Team Leader for the OTI Finance Team in his/her absence; Prepare Acquisition and Assistance Requests and support documentation for the Prepare Acquisition and Assistance Requests and support documentation for the management and administration of procurement in support of OTI country program activities. Process USPSC contract actions in the agency’s GLAAS, monitor funding levels, and review contract budgets and modifications; Maintain continuous liaison and effective working relationships with all OTI teams; Provide orientation, training, and mentoring for new staff that have since on-boarded as delegated; communicate with supervisor to recognize good performance and communicate where performance needs to be improved; Mentor and train at least one financial backstop ensuring that the backstop will be able to provide OTI with full finance services in the absence of any Finance Team Member; and Perform services under this scope of work at physical locations other than Washington, D.C. OTI headquarters, including within other USAID offices, bureaus or other USG agencies for a period not to exceed six months. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP: The Financial Management Assistant/Specialist will be supervised by the OTI Finance Team Leader, as a member of the Program, Learning and Innovations Division (PLI). SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: At the GS-9 level, the supervisor will assign priorities, deadlines, and work to be accomplished. The incumbent is expected to use initiative in carrying out recurring assignments independently, while referring deviations, problems and unfamiliar situations to the supervisor. At the GS-11 level, the supervisor will create assignments by defining objectives, priorities and deadlines, and will work with the incumbent on situations that do not have clear precedents. The incumbent is expected to plan and carry out successive steps, and handle problems and deviations in accordance with instructions, policies, previous training or accepted practices. The supervisor will evaluate work for technical soundness, appropriateness and conformity to policy requirements. At the GS-12 level, the supervisor will set overall objectives and resources available, and work with the incumbent to develop deadlines, methodology, and work to be accomplished. The incumbent will be responsible for carrying out assignments and consulting with the supervisor on policy interpretations. The supervisor will evaluate work for technical soundness in meeting work objectives. 12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work is generally sedentary and does not pose undue physical demands. 13. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed in an office setting. Overseas deployments are not required for this position. II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION (Determines basic eligibility for the position. Offerors who do not meet all of the education and experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position. See detailed instructions for demonstrating Education/Experience under “Submitting an Offer”) At the GS-9 level: A Master’s Degree with one (1) year of relevant work experience; OR A Bachelor’s Degree with two (2) years of relevant work experience; OR A High School diploma with four (4) years of relevant work experience; AND Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining financial management and information systems; AND Demonstrated experience with U.S. Government rules and regulations pertaining to budget and financial resources. At the GS-11 level: Master’s Degree with three (3) years of relevant work experience; OR Bachelor’s degree with four (4) years of relevant work experience; OR High School Diploma with six (6) years of relevant work experience; AND One (1) year of experience developing and maintaining financial management and information systems; AND Demonstrated experience with U.S. Government rules and regulations pertaining to budget and financial resources. At the GS-12 level: A Master’s Degree with four (4) years of relevant work experience; OR A Bachelor’s Degree with five (5) years of relevant work experience; OR A High School diploma with seven (7) years of relevant work experience; AND Two (2) years of experience developing and maintaining financial management and information systems; AND Demonstrated experience with U.S. Government rules and regulations pertaining to budget and financial resources. III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS (Determines basic eligibility for the position. Offerors who do not meet all of the education and experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position. 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. SELECTION FACTORS: (Determines basic eligibility for the position. Offerors who do not meet all of the selection factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.) Offeror is a U.S. Citizen; Complete resume submitted. See cover page for resume requirements. Experience that cannot be quantified will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements; Ability to obtain a SECRET level security clearance (NOTE: Dual citizens may be asked to renounce second-country citizenship); Satisfactory verification of academic credentials. A USAID Secret level security clearance is required prior to issuance of the contract for this position. NOTE: If a full security investigation package is not submitted by the selected within 30 days after it is requested, the offer may be rescinded. If a security clearance is not able to be obtained within four months after the selected submits the initial security clearance documentation, the offer may be rescinded. OFFEROR RATING SYSTEM The offeror rating system factors are used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified offerors in comparison to the technical evaluation criteria. Offerors must demonstrate the rating factors outlined below within their resume, as they are evaluated strictly by the information provided. Note: Supplemental documentation with written responses is not required and will not be reviewed for this solicitation. Note: Offerors are required to address each factor of the Offeror Rating System in their resume, describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, and/or awards they have received as it pertains to each factor. Failure to address the selection factors and/or Offeror Rating System evaluation factors may result in not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards. The evaluation factors are as follows: Financial (30 Points) Demonstrated experience supporting budgets and ability to maintain a financial database. Demonstrated experience with financial planning, management, and reconciliation. Demonstrated experience using Microsoft Access and/or Excel. Demonstrated experience developing solutions to financial problems Demonstrated experience gathering, analyzing, and evaluating budgets. Organization (25 Points) Demonstrated customer service experience. Demonstrated experience cultivating and maintaining professional relationships. Demonstrative experience balancing a wide variety of tasks and working independently under pressure, with extremely short deadlines Demonstrated experience with high attention to detail, time management and organizational skills. Administrative (15 Points) Demonstrated experience providing administrative support such as scheduling and facilitating meetings, drafting meeting minutes, drafting and tracking memos. Demonstrated experience with records keeping. BASIS OF RATING: Offerors who clearly meet the Education/Experience Requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated in accordance with the Offeror Rating System. Those offerors determined to be competitively ranked may also be evaluated on interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks. In the event that a offeror has fully demonstrated his/her qualifications and there are no other competitive offerors, OTI reserves the right to forego the interview process. The Offeror Rating System is as follows: Evaluation Factors – 70 Points Interview Performance - 30 Points Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks - Pass/Fail (no points assigned) Total Possible Points: 100 The most qualified offerors may be interviewed, required to provide a writing sample, and demonstrate an ability to operate commonly used office applications. OTI will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. In addition, offers (written materials and interviews) will be evaluated based on content as well as on the offerors writing, presentation, and communication skills. In the event that an offeror has fully demonstrated his/her qualifications and there are no other competitive offerors OTI reserves the right to forego the interview process. Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for offerors being considered for selection. OTI reserves the right to contact previous employers to verify employment history. IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER Offers must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I, item 4. Qualified offerors are required to submit: Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your offer, your resume must include: (a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Dates (month/year) and locations for all overseas field experience must also be detailed. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements. (b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work. (c) Names and contact information (phone and email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). (d) Education a...