Acquisition and Assistance Specialist (Career Ladder) – Re-advertisement

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.: 22-90
2. ISSUANCE DATE: June 3, 2022
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: June 16, 2022 (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: Acquisition and Assistance Specialist (Career Ladder) – Multiple positions.
6. MARKET VALUE: Regardless of prior work experience, all successful applicants will be hired at the entry level FSN-9 grade. This position offers the successful incumbents the potential to advance to the FSN-10 and FSN-11 grades. However, promotion will be based on individual demonstration of attainment of requisite competencies for a position at the higher level. Failure to advance to the next higher grade within a three-year period will constitute grounds for termination of contract. The market value of this position is equivalent to FSN-9 Step 1 (2,687,399 KSH per annum) to Step 13 (4,568,578 KSH per annum) of the Local Compensation Plan (LCP) of USAID/Kenya and East Africa. Contracts will be written in accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the LCP. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.
7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 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. It is anticipated that the selection of the successful candidate will be completed within an estimated six-month period from the closing date of this solicitation. The base period will be for one year with the commencement date based upon successful medical clearance and security certification. Contingent on Agency needs, the Contracting Officer may exercise four additional option period from the contract commencement date.
8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya;with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.
9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to qualified Kenyan Citizens, including current locally hired employees of the US Government in Kenya. USG Employees presently on probation are ineligible to apply.
10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Security certification issued by the US Embassy RSO.
11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

The Acquisition and Assistance Specialist (Entry Level/EL) is located in the Regional/Mission Office of Acquisition and Assistance. The function of the Office is to provide Acquisition and Assistance (A&A) support to Technical Offices and Development Objective (DO) Teams in the Mission, and in any Offices that may be supported by the Mission. The primary purpose of this position is to support the cognizant Mission Contracting/Agreement Officer, by performing a variety of A&A duties including, writing grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and other procurement instruments, and preparing amendments/modifications to such instruments in support of the Mission. The Specialist reviews and recommends approval or revision of requisitions in the Global Acquisition and Assistance System (GLAAS); reviews and recommends approval or revision of statements of work (SOW); drafts A&A solicitation documents; performs cost and price analysis; analyzes A&A offers or applications received; drafts A&A award instruments and modifications; analyzes budgets; recommends special A&A award requirements; writes memoranda of negotiation; and, prepares other required documentation. The Specialist maintains up-to-date A&A files and records, manages Contractor Performance Assessment Reports (CPARs), and supports award closeout. The Specialist provides guidance to supported Teams related to A&A award modifications. The Specialist is responsible for carrying out day-to-day activities under the mentorship of more senior Office employees.

This is a Standard Position Description covering A&A Ladder positions worldwide. Contract “ladder” awards are typically made at a level below the full performance level, where the selected CCNPSC demonstrates high potential to achieve the full performance grade level but cannot meet the full training and/or experience requirements of the full-performance position description at the time of award. The following Major Duties and Responsibilities are representative of the occupation and not a specific description of any one job.

Statement of Duties to be Performed

a. The Specialist (Entry Level/EL) is responsible for providing basic acquisition and assistance (A&A) support to Mission Technical Offices, DO Teams, and any designated regional clients. USAID programs/projects/activities are diverse and multi-sectoral. These programs/projects/activities are implemented through complex A&A mechanisms, including but not limited to purchase orders, competitively negotiated contracts, task orders, cooperative agreements, Inter Agency Agreements (IAA), and sole source or limited competition awards, requiring the Specialist to become familiar with the full range of USAID instruments. Assignments are designed to provide diversified experience as a foundation for future responsibility. The Specialist performs complete A&A transactions for activities involving few complexities. The Specialist is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the US, or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the “Foreign Service National” Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

b. The Specialist (EL) is assigned work in such a manner as to enhance the knowledge and skills of the individual to work independently in the selection of the appropriate A&A instrument types to meet the Mission’s needs, and to accurately apply United States Government (USG) A&A laws, regulations, policies, and procedures governing each type of instrument. The developmental nature of the assignments provides exposure to the acquisition of goods and various types of services. The Specialist will become equally familiar with the procedures for acquisition of goods, for managing personal services and non-personal services contracting actions and managing and awarding assistance agreements.

c. The Specialist (EL) performs assignments under the guidance of higher-level Specialists/Officers, and with technical specialists/activity managers in DO Teams throughout the Mission and/or the Region, assisting in the preparation of annual A&A plans, clear and concise statements of work/statements of objectives/program descriptions, and supporting documentation. The Specialist will develop the ability to provide well supported guidance to technical specialists/activity managers pertaining to their A&A-related responsibilities and procedures.

Specific developmental duties include:

i. Pre-Award Duties: The Specialist participates in meetings on A&A planning; collects and analyzes data and prepares and updates tracking tools in order to monitor pending actions; works with clients to assist in the preparation of justifications, waivers, deviations, and other necessary approvals, as needed; and reviews GLAAS Requisitions (REQs) for completeness and clarity before endorsing them to higher-level Specialists/Officers. The Specialist prepares solicitation documents in GLAAS, and electronically posts solicitations; and works with higher-level Specialists/Officers to ensure compliance with FAR and AIDAR publicizing requirements, including publication of synopses and solicitations, as prescribed. The Specialist works with higher-level Specialists/Officers to prepare Requests for Proposal and Notices of Funding Opportunities. The Specialist assists higher-level Specialists/Officers in pre-award activities for competitive solicitations, and with pre-award assessment surveys of potential contractors or recipients, in order to ensure eligibility prior to an award being made. The Specialist directly performs simple procurement actions for supplies or services below the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) that require limited use of negotiation techniques and analysis.

ii. Post-Award Duties: The Specialist assists higher-level Specialists/Officers in monitoring performance as required by the terms and conditions of the award, through reviews of performance and reviews of financial reports. The Specialist administers the awards in the assigned developmental portfolio, monitoring funding levels and preparing incremental funding modifications; and, under the guidance of higher-level Specialists/Officers, works with CO/AO Teams/CORs/AORs to assure targets/milestones are set and being met (or that remedial action is taken), and that the overall goals of the program/project/activity are met. As assigned, the Specialist conducts site visits and attends meetings. The Specialist provides guidance to technical personnel and assists in programmatic duties as required to avoid contractual/legal improprieties, seeking guidance from higher-level Specialists/Officers as required. The Specialist assists in researching and resolving issues that may arise during contract performance, including changes, work stoppages, disputes, implementation problems, defaults, cost overruns, unacceptable performance, and payment problems.

iii. Award Closeout: The Specialist assists in the closeout process for acquisition and assistance awards (i.e., contracts, task orders, grants, cooperative agreements) after completion. These include ensuring contract audits are conducted in a timely manner, preparing performance documentation, and resolving outstanding issues noted in audits.

Supervisory Relationship

The Acquisition and Assistance Specialist works under the general supervision of the CO/AO or a higher-level Acquisition and Assistance Specialist, who makes assignments with general instructions about what is to be done, time frames, and priorities, including discussing anticipated problems. When aspects of the work are new or unusual, the Supervisor specifies sources of information or precedents. The Specialist will independently initiate necessary coordination with requesting Mission Contracting Officer and/or Agreement Officer Representatives (CORs/AORs), technical offices, Office of Financial Management (OFM), and DO Teams, providing basic policy guidance on how to best fulfill requirements, but must obtain advice from the supervisor or senior specialist about unanticipated problems. The Specialist will keep the higher-level Specialist/Officer, and/or the CO/AO, updated through status reports and verbal briefings. The supervisor or a higher-grade contract specialist monitors the work in progress, and reviews the recommendations made by the Specialist to ensure that adequate analysis has been made, and that the recommendations are supported by sound judgment and adequate justification.

Supervisory Controls

This is a non-supervisory position.

1. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Any application that does not meet the minimum requirements stated below will not be evaluated.

1. Education:

Possession of a Baccalaureate Degree or the equivalent of a four-year US college/university (or equivalency accreditation if a non-US institution) degree is required. Note: Additional education will NOT be substituted for Experience.

1. Prior Work Experience:

A minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in acquisition and assistance, development assistance, or a position that requires closely related skills, such as program management, law, or financial management, is required. One year of this experience must have been gained working in a position equivalent to no less than the next lower level of FSN responsibility in this or an occupation that requires similar skills, within a USG organization, the Host Government, the private sector, or within an international or donor organization. Note: Additional experience will NOT be substituted for Education.

1. Language Proficiency: ADS 438 and Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) Level 4 (advanced professional proficiency, speaking and reading; see https://www.govtilr.org/) English and local language proficiency (if appropriate), both oral and written, is required.

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.

– Job Knowledge (50 points)

Knowledge of public and/or private-sector business processes, or the ability to quickly gain such knowledge, is required. An understanding of USG A&A regulations and policies, and/or knowledge and understanding of how to execute and administer a complex acquisition and assistance portfolio, and/or the ability to quickly gain such understanding, is required, particularly as it relates to acquisition through methods of negotiation, sealed bidding, simplified acquisition procedures, and that result in standard and established contract types.

– Skills and abilities (50 points)

The ability to plan and administer simple A&A activities and provide A&A support for Agency programs and projects in a timely manner, is required. The ability to apply contracting and assistance regulations, procedures, and policies to acquisition and assistance programs involving few complexities, is required. Skill in solving practical problems relating to A&A is required. An ability to deal effectively with mid- to high-level representatives of the US, local, and regional business community, and with colleagues in USAID Missions and/or host governments throughout the region, is required. Skill in the use of most elements of the Microsoft Office suite is required. Good analytical, negotiating, and time management skills, along with strong proofreading skills and attention to detail, are required. The ability to work calmly, tactfully, and effectively under pressure is essential, as well as the ability to maintain strict CONFIDENTIALITY, and meet all STANDARDS OF CONDUCT/ETHICS STANDARDS in accordance with US law throughout all phases of the A&A process, is required.

Total possible points: 100