GENERAL INFORMATION

USAID DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING) AND DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANT’S BANK ACCOUNTS.

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72061524R10069
2. ISSUANCE DATE: October 09, 2024
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: October 23, 2024 (4:30 PM East Africa Time).
4. POINT OF CONTACT: USAID Kenya and East Africa Human Resources, e-mail at [email protected]
5. POSITION TITLE: USAID Project Management Specialist (Family Planning/ Reproductive Health)
6. MARKET VALUE: Ksh. 5,565,120.00 to Ksh. 9,460,674.00 KSH per year (including 13th month bonus), equivalent to FSN-11 grade level in accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/Kenya and East Africa. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.
7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five (5) years estimated to start o/a April 27, 2025. The services provided under this contract are expected to be of a continuing nature that will be executed by USAID through a series of sequential contracts, subject to the availability of funds, the continued need for services and successful performance.
8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya; with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.
9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to qualified Cooperating Country National (CCN) (an individual who is a cooperating country citizen or a non-cooperating country citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the cooperating country). Employees presently on probation are ineligible to apply.
10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Security certification issued by the US Embassy RSO.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES:
1. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract
The Project Management Specialist – Family Planning/Reproductive Health (FP/RH) leads efforts to expand access to and improve the quality of voluntary family planning and reproductive health services in Kenya. The Specialist facilitates communication and ensures collaborative working relationships with high-level decision makers, as well as technical staff, in the Ministry of Health, with USAID/Washington counterparts, with other government entities, and with other donors, development partners and non-governmental organizations working in the health sector. The Specialist delivers analytical and technical assistance services to other bilateral/multilateral agencies, Government of Kenya and civil society in developing and implementing policies and programs based on best practices and innovations in family planning and reproductive health. Representing the U.S. Government (USG), the jobholder participates on national technical working groups, builds alliances with development partners, and provides essential communication and liaison within USAID offices and with other USG agencies.

The jobholder will be a senior-level resource in voluntary family planning practices and principles, with broad experience working with national stakeholders including government, professional associations, and faith-based organizations. The jobholder provides strategic and technical leadership in the design and implementation of USAID/Kenya and East Africa family planning and reproductive health activities in Kenya. The Specialist has an understanding of global health issues, as well as the entire USAID/USG health portfolio, and serves as an Agreement Officer’s Representative/Contracting Officer’s Representative (AOR/COR) or Activity Manager for selected programs/projects/activities. As an AOR/COR, the Specialist monitors program performance, progress, and compliance with USG family planning and reproductive health statutory requirements and policies, identifies implementation achievements as well as problems in performance, and initiates appropriate actions in consultation with his/her supervisor, other Health Office staff, and/or the Deputy and Office Director, as appropriate.

The Specialist is a key member of the Health Office, Family Health Centre of Excellence. The jobholder reports to the Project Management Specialist (Maternal Child Health/ Reproductive Health, Team lead), and has no formal supervisory responsibility.

2. Statement of Duties to be Performed.
Technical And Strategic Leadership - 50%

1. Serve as a technical advisor on voluntary family planning and reproductive health, providing high level technical guidance to the Mission, the cooperating-country Government, and other development partners.
2. Provide strategic and technical guidance and input on voluntary family planning and reproductive health activities and ensure that activities are appropriately integrated with Health Office and larger Mission activities.
3. Work closely with leadership across the Health Office and USAID Mission to ensure the quality of programs implemented by implementing partners is of high level and incorporates known high impact family planning and reproductive health interventions.
4. Through literature review, research, and regular communication with local and international stakeholders, keep abreast of emerging developments in voluntary family planning approaches. Advise accordingly on how these policies and strategies can most effectively be incorporated to enhance USAID’s approaches.
5.  In collaboration with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning colleagues participate in the development of innovative monitoring and evaluation approaches and tools to support measuring the impact and outcomes of family planning activities.
6. Provide technical expertise in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents including the Operational Plan, Congressional Budget Justifications, Technical Notifications, Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports and other ad hoc requests for information.
7. Identify short-term technical assistance (STTA) and ensure that objectives and outcomes of the STTA are consistent with and support the furtherance of the Mission family planning and reproductive health portfolio.
8. Organize site visits and prepare orientation materials for delegations from USAID Headquarters (HQ), Department of State, other agencies and Congress.

Program/Project/Activity Management - 30%

1. Serve as Contracting or Agreement Officer’s Representative (COR/AOR) or Activity Manager for the Mission’s family planning and reproductive health activities, including: reviewing and approving annual implementing partners (IPs) work plans, facilitating IP relationships and coordinating with local stakeholders (e.g. other IPs, cooperating country-government counterparts, non-governmental organizations, other donors, etc.) maintaining a schedule for and conducting regular site visits to review program implementation, compliance with USG family planning statutory requirements and policies, and meet with beneficiaries, and based on the information collected during such visits, adjusting or recommending adjustments to programs/projects/activities as appropriate; overseeing IP compliance with bilateral government agreements, and with performance expectations; ensuring IPs are in compliance with all relevant USAID regulations and procedures, communicating regularly with IPs regarding USAID rules and regulations as well as their obligations to USAID; and, taking a lead role in the preparation of the strategic and operational planning processes such as the USAID Country Development Cooperation Strategy and USAID Operational Plan. Keep the Team Lead regularly informed of program implementation progress, results, and issues/problems on a timely basis.
2. Participate in the design of project mechanisms and activities for improved service delivery or the enabling environment for family planning and reproductive health.
3. Participate in and ensure the effectiveness of site and other field visits to ensure successful activity implementation and ensure that sub-partners (sub-awards and sub-contracts) are given appropriate monitoring and oversight.
4. Provide leadership and oversight in ensuring compliance with U.S. family planning legislative and policy requirements.

Representation And Reporting - 20%

1. Represent USAID at designated national, regional and international meetings that relate to family planning and reproductive health, including regular participation in national level technical working groups, professional associations, and related committees.
2. As a member of the Health Team, respond flexibly and capably to a wide range of work-related requirements including responding to requests for information from USAID/Washington and Congress.
3. As requested by the Mission Director, Health Office Director and/or Unit Leader, represent USAID at meetings outside of the family planning and reproductive health field when needed.
4. Establish strategic working relationships with senior Ministry of Health and other relevant Ministry officials at the national and district level, development partners, civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, private sector health counterparts, and professional associations to enhance regular and timely sharing of information on issues related to family planning and reproductive health , including changes in key policies, and legal and regulatory environments that could affect the implementation of USAID programs.

The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the United States, or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the "Foreign Service National" Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

Prior Work Experience

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in public or private sector family planning and reproductive health. Prior experience working with or for bilateral or multilateral donors/stakeholders such as the World Bank, the Global Fund, UN agencies, or national-level public or private sector projects and ensuring compliance with U.S. Government rules and regulations.

Supervisory Relationship

The Specialist will report to the Project Management Specialist (Maternal Child Health/ Reproductive Health, Team lead) in the Health Office in USAID. S/he is expected to work independently in carrying out responsibilities. S/he is expected to develop annual work objectives in consultation with his/her supervisor. The supervisor makes assignments in terms of overall objectives and resources available. Completed work is reviewed in terms of achievement of program/project/activity goals, effectiveness in meeting cooperating country and USAID objectives, and integration with other initiatives in the Office and Mission portfolio. Some technical direction may come from other professionals in the Office; in general, however, the Specialist will be expected to exercise considerable autonomy and best judgment in discharging the duties of the assignment.

Supervisory Controls

Continuing supervision of other Health Office and/or Mission staff is not contemplated.

Physical Demands

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

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.  The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

Offerors who meet the minimum qualifications listed above will be evaluated and ranked according to the following job-related criteria. Top-ranking candidates will be invited for a skills test and an oral interview.

• Job Knowledge (60 Points)

Expert-level knowledge and understanding of voluntary family planning and reproductive health approaches and interventions.
Demonstrated senior-level knowledge of the overall health sector context as well as the key aspects of US Government foreign assistance to the country. Working knowledge of USG’s strategic direction, its chief accomplishments and its challenges.

• Skills and abilities (40 Points)

The jobholder must possess strong technical and analytical skills in family planning and reproductive health. The jobholder must possess strong skills in communication, advocacy and networking. S/he must have strong conceptual and analytical skills to be able to quickly grasp and translate new concepts into operational plans and results.
This position requires an outstanding ability to exercise flexibility to be able to accept and react to evolving planning and implementation contexts. The jobholder must demonstrate excellent computer skills including skills with Microsoft Office, web-based databases, and electronic filing. S/he exercises individual judgement in his/her roles. S/he takes initiative and offers leadership in reviewing the progress of programs and projects under his/her responsibility, including performance reports, pipeline management, program implementation reviews, as well as fulfilling other USG reporting requirements. The jobholder demonstrates timely decision-making ability and extensive judgment in planning and carrying out tasks, using diplomacy and tact.

Total possible points:  100

SUBMITTING AN OFFER

Step 1: Register in MyJobsInKenya at www.myjobsinkenya.com

Step 2: Complete the job application at www.myjobsinkenya.com

Step 3: Internal Offerors/Current USG Employees: Attach an updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages), a copy of your most recent Performance Evaluation Report, and copies of all relevant certificates. Scan and attach all the documents and upload them to MyJobsInKenya.

                        OR

External Offerors/Not Current USG Employees: Attach an updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages) and copies of all relevant certificates. Scan and attach all the documents and upload them to MyJobsInKenya.

Note to Applicants:

1. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted through myjobsinkenya.com.
2. Submissions will only be accepted through myjobsinkenya.com. Late and incomplete applications (those that do not contain the applicant’s most current and up to date detailed CV and relevant education certificates) will not be considered for the position.
3. All Applicants must provide at least three professional references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about your past performance and abilities. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation of the application.

LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD 

The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit any required forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award.

BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

Benefits and allowances are offered in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan (LCP).

TAXES

CCNPSCs are required to pay PAYE and statutory deductions. All applicable taxes will be deducted from the stated gross market rate.

USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs 

USAID regulations and policies governing CCN 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/ads/policy/300/aidar
2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms. Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award as described below:

LINE ITEMS

ITEM NO (A) - 0001
SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION) (B) - Base Contract FSN - 09 Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)
- Award Type: Cost
- Product Service Code: [ R497]
- Accounting Info: [insert one or more citation(s) from Phoenix/GLAAS]
QUANTITY (C) - 1
UNIT (D) - LOT
UNIT PRICE (E) - $ TBD
AMOUNT (F) - $_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 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/resources_standards-of-conduct.
   
   
5. PSC Ombudsman
   The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information: https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman. The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: [email protected].
6. FAR Provisions Incorporated by Reference

52.204-27 - PROHIBITION ON A BYTEDANCE COVERED APPLICATION - JUN 2023