R -- Counternarcotics Project Coordinator

Counternarcotics Project CoordinatorISSUANCE DATE: 03/22/04 CLOSING DATE: 04/22/04 SOLICITATION NUMBER: PSC-04-019 (INL) Gentlemen/Ladies: SUBJECT: Solicitation for Personal Services Contractor (PSC), Department of State, Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. The United States Government, represented by the Department of State, is seeking proposals (Standard Form 171's or OF 612’s) from U.S. citizens interested in providing the PSC services described in the attached. Submissions shall be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Any questions may be directed to Linda Gower, Contracting Officer, INL/RM/MS, DOS, who may be reached at FAX No. (202) 776-8775 or E-Mail [email protected]. All applications shall be submitted by facsimile or e-mail and originals sent via mail. If sent via courier to: Linda Gower, INL/RM/RM, Navy Hill South (SA-4) Department of State 2430 E. Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20520 Late applications shall not be accepted, unless there was a mishandling once received in DOS. Along with the SF171 or OF 612, applicants shall provide CV and three written references including contact information. Applicants are also requested to provide their full mailing address (fax, telephone and/or e-mail where applicable). Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures that accompany their proposals. Please reference the number of this solicitation when sending your application. Any submissions made via e-mail must be in WordPerfect 5.1 or Word 97. Sincerely, Linda G. Gower, Contracting Officer 1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: PSC-04-019 (INL) 2. ISSUANCE DATE: 03/22/04 3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED: 04/22/04 FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 16:00 PM local time 4. POSITION TITLE: Counternarcotics Project Coordinator 5. MARKET VALUE: FP-2, Step 1-7 ($70,851-$84,600) 6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 5/30/04-5/29/05, with an option for six months 7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Kabul, Afghanistan 8. JOB DESCRIPTION: See below A.1. GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONTRACTOR BACKGROUND This position is located at the Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Section (NLEA) of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan with policy oversight and funding from the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). The NLEA Section administers bilateral counternarcotics (CN), border security, and civilian police programs in Afghanistan with funding provided through International Narcotics and Crime accounts. The contractor shall assist in (1) determining and validating CN program requirements; (2) implementing and monitoring progress on specified demand reduction, public diplomacy and alternative development projects; (3) reporting on CN, border security, counter-terrorism and other law enforcement issues. The Counternarcotics Project Coordinator will provide advice and support to the NLEA Section Director and colleagues, and representatives of development and law enforcement agencies at the Embassy. The Counternarcotics Project Coordinator will work closely with officials at the Afghan Ministries of Interior, Public Health, Agriculture and Rural Rehabilitation and Development. All these entities have roles in coordinating or implementing CN and anti-crime measures. The Counternarcotics Project Coordinator will also work closely with counterparts from other Missions including the Embassies of the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy, which are contributing to the coalition effort to rebuild security and law enforcement institutions in Afghanistan. The Counternarcotics Project Coordinator will also work closely with coalition partners who are implementing development programs in Afghanistan. PURPOSE The purpose of this Personal Services Contract (PSC) position will be to provide a Counternarcotics Project Coordinator for the NLEA Section in Afghanistan. This individual will serve as the in-country program coordinator, responsible to the Director of the NLEA, for providing program implementation, direction, and execution oversight in support of U.S. and Afghan entities involved in CN. The Counternarcotics Project Coordinator will manage the NLEA alternative development, eradication, public diplomacy and demand reduction program and provide advice to Afghan officials involved in such projects. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS The Counternarcotics Project Coordinator will work under the direct supervision of the Embassy’s NLEA Section Director. This individual will coordinate closely with other Personal Services Contract (PSC) Program Coordinators, particularly those involved in police and justice capacity building, infrastructure development, and border security programs. The Counternarcotics Project Coordinator will initiate projects and execute approved new programs under general supervision. The Director (NLEA) will review the timeliness and effectiveness of the Project Coordinator’s work. 2. STATEMENT OF WORK 1. Manages CN projects under the guidance and direction of the NLEA Section Director, and keeps him/her informed of the details of such implementation, including progress and problem areas. 2. Provides strategic planning and development of all phases of the CN program in the areas of demand reduction, eradication, public diplomacy, and alternative development. Such efforts include project execution from study period and development, through acquisition, and implementation, including planning, scheduling, budgeting, monitoring, and coordination among vendors, contractors, and Afghan Government officials. These duties will include resolution of conflicts and other issues. 3. Serves as a liaison with representatives of other U.S. Embassy agencies involved in CN, development, and counter-terrorism projects, including but not limited to, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. 4. Provides advice and assistance on other CN projects related to counter-terrorism, law enforcement, and alternative development efforts. Provides technical review and recommendations for alternative development, eradication, and demand reduction projects. 5. Provides advice and assistance in preparation of documentation for procurement of systems and equipment, including drafting of electronic Purchase Authorization (PA/T) requests, bid solicitation, statements of work, requests for source-origin waivers, sole-source justifications, and delivery and acceptance of systems, supplies and equipment procured. 6. Drafts and provides advice and assistance in the preparation of reports, including to the U.S. Congress, INL Bureau, and other U.S. federal agencies. 7. Attends and reports on general CN and law enforcement meetings, national and international conferences and seminars, and meetings with Afghan Government officials. 8. Provides advice and assistance in end-use monitoring of U.S. Government-supplied commodities and provides input for the annual End-Use Monitoring Report. 9. Provides advice and assistance in the formulation of input of the NLEA Section for the Mission Performance Plan. 10. Participates in visits by senior officials and serves as an escort or control officer, including arranging itineraries and logistical support for official visitors. 11. Briefs State Department, Congressional and other visiting officials and Embassy staff on the role of the NLEA Section and the status of U.S.-Afghanistan CN projects and related initiatives. 3. COMPLEXITY Individual must be able to manage CN projects in a foreign country, including promoting U.S. interests with host government officials, ensuring sustainability of projects through provision of appropriate training and maintenance, and have the ability to integrate competing needs of U.S. law enforcement, development, and security agencies, and Afghan government entities involved in CN, development and security activities. Current projects involve CN eradication, demand reduction, public diplomacy, and alternative development efforts. The Project Coordinator must be able to transform CN ideas into tangible projects that simultaneously reduce cultivation of illicit opium and offer incentives to develop economically viable alternative livelihoods. 4. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The CN Project Coordinator’s work is both physical and sedentary in nature and involves activity at both the main and field locations. Travel to the United States and to remote regions within Afghanistan will be required. Travel to locations in mountainous and arid regions will involve physical exertion. 5. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work of the CN Project Coordinator occurs in the office and in the field for meetings, program implementation, activity reviews, and field inspection or program evaluation. Individual must be able to work independently in remote areas for short periods. Some field sites may be in regions known for hostile reactions from drug lords, terrorists, or other criminal elements. B. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Minimum Qualifications: Candidates must meet the following basic educational, training, and experiences requirements to be considered for this position: 1. U.S. citizen, eligible for a Department of State security clearance at the Top Secret level. 2. Minimum of a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts Degree from an accredited institution, or twenty years of related experience in the fields of international development, CN law enforcement, international relations, and/or public administration. A Master’s Degree in project management, public administration, law enforcement, international relations, or related fields is desirable. 3. Extensive experience in management of programs, including preparation of budgets, procurement of goods and services, and implementation and oversight of projects, preferably involving alternative development, demand reduction, eradication, public diplomacy, and/or training initiatives. 4. Ability to follow guidance and instructions on implementation of CN projects, analyze and determine true requirements, and propose feasible solutions for problems in implementation of projects. 5. In-depth knowledge of U.S. Government procurement and contract administration procedures, including U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and/or International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau procurement procedures. 6. Strong interpersonal and communications skills, and extensive experience in liaison work, particularly in dealing with officials of foreign governments. Previous overseas experience, preferably working in Afghanistan, is highly desirable. 7. Experience and skill in operation of desktop computer-based word processing, spreadsheet and data-base management applications. 8. Proficiency in English, both verbally and in writing. 9. Physically and medically able to live in Kabul and to travel frequently to remote areas with rugged terrain and varied conditions within Afghanistan. C. EVALUATION CRITERIA Factor One: Individual’s ability to plan and analyze international CN requirements. Duties require application of sound management and program management expertise. Changes in legislation and national strategy, coupled with foreign political uncertainties, complicate work. Individual must cope with diverse factors such as competing national interests, foreign assistance legislation, bilateral agreements, U.S. policies, and available U.S. Government funding. Factor Two: Individual’s knowledge and understanding of INL Bureau, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and other U.S. Federal Government provisions on procurement, end-use monitoring , and contract management. Factor Three Individual’s experience in program management, procurement guidelines, budget development, and program planning, execution, and monitoring. Individual should be able to grasp complex program management issue. These include, but are not limited to, CN operations, alternative development, security operations, procurement of commodities and equipment, construction projects, training, maintenance and logistics support. Factor Four Individual’s experience and ability to use computer programs, spreadsheets, electronic-mail systems, and Internet resources to conduct research and to manage projects. Factor Five Individual’s experience in converting ideas into workable physical infrastructure and systems that promote counter-drug, anti-crime, alternative development, demand reduction, and public affairs projects. Factor Six Individual’s experience in preparing CN and/or anti-crime budgets, advance acquisition plans, statements of work, procurement orders, electronic purchase authorization requests, sole-source justifications, requests for source origin waivers, and/or inputs for Mission Performance Plans, the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, End-Use Monitoring Reports, and Congressional Budget Justifications. Factor Seven Individual’s experience in dealing with Washington policy makers: representatives of U.S. development, security and law enforcement agencie; officials of foreign governments at both the senior and medium levels; and private contractors. Factor Eight Individual’s ability to communicate in English, both orally and in writing. Individual’s experience in preparing well-written reports. Factor Nine Individual’s ability to work in the rugged and dangerous environment of Afghanistan, and willingness to travel frequently to border and other strategic locations. Factor Ten Individual’s experience working overseas, either in Afghanistan or other countries of southwest Asia. D. COMPENSATION: Compensation for the position will be negotiated as follows: Level of experience will dictate the salary level within the grade range. Entry level salary will normally be at the first step of the grade range for the position. However, consideration will be given to the successful applicant’s experience that is specifically relevant to the position to be filled. Number of years of relevant experience will determine at what step within the grade range the successful applicant will be compensated. E. AS A MATTER OF POLICY, A PSC IS NORMALLY AUTHORIZED THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS: 1. BENEFITS Employee's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Annual Increase Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual & Sick Leave 2. ALLOWANCES (if applicable, and except for U.S. resident hires). * (A) Temporary Quarters Subsistence Allowance (Section 120). (B) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130). (C) Post Allowance (Section 220). (D) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230). (E) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260). (F) Education Allowance (Section 270). (G) Education Travel (Section 280). (H) Post Differential (Chapter 500). (I) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and (J) Danger Pay (Section 650). 3. CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs) PERTAINING TO PSCs 99-09 PSC's Annual Health Insurance Costs 99-07 Contractual Coverage for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Services 98-16 Annual Salary Increase for USPSCs 98-19 Home Leave under USPSCs 98-24 Use of Compensatory (Comp) Time by PSCs 98-25 Defense Base Act (DBA) Coverage and DBA Waiver List 97-16 Class Justification for Use of Other Than Full & Open Competition for Personal Services Contracts with U.S. Citizens Contracted with Locally, with CCNs and TCNs Subject to the Local Compensation Plan, and for Overseas Contracts of $250,000 or Less 97-11 1997 FICA & Medicare Tax Rates for Personal Services Contracts 97-03 New USAID Contractor Employee Physical Examination 96-19 U. S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) - Leave 94-09 Sunday Pay for U.S. Personal Services Contractors (PSCs) 93-17 Financial Disclosure Requirements Under a Personal Services Contract (PSC) LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs 1. Standard Form 171 (see www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms. **2. Contractor Physical Examination (DS-1622, 08-2001). **3. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86), or **4. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85). **5. Finger Print Card (FD-258). NOTE: Form 5 is available from the requirements office. _______________ * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). ** The forms listed 2 through 5 shall only be completed upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.