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 this solicitation. Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records.

USAID will evaluate all offerors based on the stated evaluation criteria. USAID encourages all individuals, including those from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups, to respond to the solicitation.

This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an offer.

Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in this solicitation.

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72061524R10068

2. ISSUANCE DATE: September 24, 2024

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: October 21, 2024 (16:30 hours Nairobi local time)

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Executive Office/Human Resources, Noel Sikasa and Patrick Bii, e-mail: [email protected]

5. POSITION TITLE: U.S. Personal Services Contractor (USPSC) Resident Hire Risk Management Group Director, GS-15

6. MARKET VALUE: $123,041 to $159,950 annually equivalent to GS-15. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value. USPSCs performing overseas are not entitled to Locality Pay.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID Kenya and East Africa, Nairobi.

   Overseas USPSCs may be authorized to telework or remote work only from a location within the country of performance, in accordance with Mission policy. Telework or remote work from outside the country of performance may only be authorized in certain situations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.

8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The base period will be two years, estimated to start in December 2024. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise an additional three (3) one-year option periods.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to U.S. Nationals (U.S Citizens and/or U.S Resident Aliens). Citizenship, if dual, must be clearly stated.

Resident Hire U.S. Personal Services Contractor means a U.S. citizen or resident alien who, at the time of contract award, –

(i) resides in the cooperating country for reasons other than U.S. government or non-U.S. government employment, or under any contract or other arrangement, that provides repatriation to the U.S.; or

(ii) is a spouse or dependent of a U.S. citizen or resident alien who resides, or will reside, in the cooperating country for the purpose of U.S. government or non-U.S. government employment, or under any contract or other arrangement that provides repatriation to the U.S.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facilities/Computer Access

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

i) General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

The Risk Management Group Director directs the Risk Management Group (RMG) with responsibility for overseeing the risk management (RM) function within USAID/KEA. In coordination with lifeline offices (Strategic Planning and Analysis, Office of Financial Management, Office of Acquisition and Assistance, Resident Legal Office, Executive Office) and technical offices, including Contracting Officer Representatives and Agreement Officer Representatives (CORs/AORs), 1) develops a risk-based annual RM plan and budget for evaluating the effectiveness of building the capacity of local partners, 2) develops controls and safeguards to manage the full spectrum of risk exposures, and 4) coordinates with other Mission offices to ensure compliance with both US and Kenyan laws and regulations by all but primarily USAID/KEA’s local awardees, 5) suggests new initiatives, controls, and procedures to ensure good business practices related to international and local partner awards are in place, 6) schedules and facilitates quarterly Risk Management meetings with Mission stakeholders, including management and Department Directors, 7) prepares and, in coordination with other offices, provides input into RM training materials, 8) schedules and facilitates regular (at minimum quarterly meetings) with implementing partners and other stakeholders to build trust relationships and learn about partners’ issues and proposed solutions, including support needed to work with USAID, 9) facilitates and coordinates training programs for USAID local partners and USAID management and staff directly engaged with them, 10) works with all implementing partners to ensure that such training programs are extended to sub-awardees, and 11) selects, develops, and evaluates personnel in the RMG to ensure the efficient operation of the function.

ii) Statement of Duties to be Performed

1. Coordinate with the Office of Financial Management (OFM), the Strategic Planning and Analysis (SPA) Office, technical offices and other applicable and appropriate offices to develop an annual risk management plan and budget for evaluating the effectiveness of program and activity designs, building the capacity of local partners, risk management controls by all of the Mission’s implementing partners to minimize significant financial, programmatic, operational, reputational and other risk exposures, safeguard USAID resources, and ensure compliance with US and Kenyan applicable laws and regulations.
2. In coordination with the rest of the Mission:
   1. Work with all of USAID/KEA’s partners to identify and address all risks including related to finance, procurement, and governance, programmatic, operational, and other risks as described in the USAID Risk Appetite Statement.
   2. Provide implementing partners with tools and resources to address corrective actions and other requirements in their awards.
   3. Provide strategic leadership within the Mission on matters pertaining to RM. Prepare operational plans, goals and policies for the RMG coordinated with the Program Office, CORs/AORs, and relevant sector/technical offices working on locally-led strategies and issues.
   4. Secure support and buy-in from lifeline and technical offices and all relevant offices/functions to ensure productive collaboration that nurtures a culture of risk management and promote a holistic approach.
   5. Regularly evaluate portfolios and projects/activities to determine if they are performing in compliance with recommended practices, processes, procedures and business controls; as well as whether training and other support provided to partners are effective and meet their needs, or need to be modified.
   6. Suggest new initiatives, controls, and procedures to ensure good business practices are in place.
   7. Generate and disseminate “best practices” and ensure RM and compliance training programs for management and staff are established and regularly updated.
   8. Coordinate with the Mission and African Bureau’s Enterprise Risk Management structure to share best practices and risk information.
   9. Develop and evaluate personnel to ensure the efficient operation of the function. Establishes strategic workflow plans and Portfolio Risk Reviews.
   10. Design and provide training, and/or identifies and recommends, relevant training to technical and support offices, as required, to develop internal capacities pertaining to risk management.
   11. Build and lead a “whole-of-mission” risk management team that is inclusive of all offices/functions/staff to incrementally establish the enabling environment to change the current mindset from 1) compliance to USAID’s award requirements to commitment to building trust relationships with all but particularly local partners to meet their priorities and jointly address their risks in working with USAID, and 2) from being risk-averse to developing a more mature risk posture and risk-intelligent organization that proactively practices “anticipatory intelligence” with actions to prevent/mitigate emerging threats and turn these situations as opportunities to amplify development results. See, e.g., USAID’s Capability Maturity Model.
3. Oversee the RMG’s budget.
4. Execute the RMG’s operational plan and is responsible for its performance. Collaborate with senior leadership on critical and complex aspects of RM and make operational recommendations.
5. Coordinate Mission responses to Social Environmental and Economic (SEE) allegations arising from all Mission & Washington activities.
6. Provide SEE risk management services on all Mission activities.
7. Liaise with Washington SEE Accountability Mechanism
8. Manage risks arising from responsibility, safeguarding, and compliance (RSC) (including but not limited to sexual exploitation and abuse, trafficking in persons, and child abuse, exploitation, and neglect) as well as partner procedures and compliance with safeguarding and award administration for all Mission awards
9. Assist Contracting Officers with sensitive fraud-related actions.

Supervisory Relationship:

• The Risk Management Group Director will work under the supervision of the Deputy Mission Director who oversees Support Offices.

Supervisory Controls:

• Decisions and actions have a direct impact on the USAID/KEA’s performance and reputation.
• Problems encountered are often complex, broad in scope, and implications are often unprecedented with no clear solution.
• Must be able to provide accurate, expert level advice to reach outcomes that will enable achievement of overall organizational goals.
• Has considerable latitude for independent action.

Supervision Exercised:

• Motivate, mentor, and empower individuals to achieve expectations and goals set for the functional unit.
• May supervise other staff if/when the Risk Management Group grows.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work is generally sedentary and does not pose undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

The incumbent must meet the following requirements in education and professional experience:

1. Education: Master’s Degree or its International Equivalent in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, International Development or equivalent, Public Policy/Administration, safeguarding, human rights or Related Field; Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Risk Manager (CRM); Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or PMI Risk Mgt Professional (PMI-RMP from Project Mgt Institute (PMI)), International Certificate in Risk Mgt from Institute of Risk Mgt (IRM) designations.
2. Professional Experience: Minimum five (5) years of progressive responsible experience equivalent to this level in the professional or technical field at the corporate or organization level; work experience in internal audit/risk management that includes supervisory responsibilities. Proven experience in internal and external coordination and negotiation, fostering trust-based relationships with USAID offices and implementing partners. Experience working in an operating environment similar to Kenya.

III. 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.

The technical evaluation committee may conduct reference checks, including references from individuals who have not been specifically identified by the offeror, and may do so before or after a candidate is interviewed.

Offerors who meet the aforementioned minimum education and work experience qualification requirements may be further evaluated through review of the offeror’s submitted required documents and ranked based on the below evaluation and selection factors.

Offerors are required to address each of the following Evaluation Factors in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received that are relevant to each factor. The evaluation factors will be used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified applicants i. Be sure to include your name and the Solicitation number at the top of each additional page. Failure to specifically address the Evaluation Factors may result in your not receiving credit for all of your pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards.

Applicants should cite specific, illustrative examples for each Evaluation Factor. Responses must be limited to 500 words per factor. Any words above the limit will neither be read nor scored.

Evaluation Factor #1: Demonstrated experience in internal audit/risk management.

Evaluation Factor #2: Demonstrated experience managing a department responsible for program, project, or activity management or financial accounting.

Evaluation Factor #3: Demonstrated experience working with U.S. Government agencies and host governments, corporate and/or development-focused organizations.

Evaluation Factor #4: Demonstrated experience working in an operating environment similar to Kenya with ability to liaise and work with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Evaluation Scoring:

Factor #1 – 15 points

Factor #2 – 15 points

Factor #3 – 15 points

Factor #4 – 10 points

Interview Performance – 45 points

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – Pass/Fail (no points assigned)

Total Possible Points: 100

USAID will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. In the event that a candidate has fully demonstrated his/her qualifications and there are no other competitive applicants, USAID reserves the right to forgo the interview process.