Senior Health Financing Advisor.

GENERAL INFORMATION SOLICITATION NO.: 72066321R00024 ISSUANCE D ATE: September 8, 2021 CLOSINGDATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: October 7, 2021 (5:00pm EAT) POINT OF CONTACT: Linda Gregory, Supervisory EXO and Fekadu Tamirate, HR Specialist, e-mail at [email protected] . POSITION TITLE: Senior Health Financing Advisor. MARKET VALUE: $ $ 93,907 to $ 122,077 equivalent to GS-14. The final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based on the successful candidate’s salary history, work experience, and educational background. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated . PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: For two years, with one more year option to extend. Estimated to start on 03/01/2022. The base period will be 03/01/2022– 03/01/2024, estimated to start on 03/01/2022. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise (an) additional option period(s) for a period for three years for the date(s) estimated as follows: Base Period: 03/01/2022 – 03/01/2024 Option Period 1: 03/01/2024 – 03/01/2025 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Work. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens, Resident Aliens, and Third Country National. Applicant must: Submit a complete application as outlined in the solicitation section titled SUBMITTING AN OFFER . Be able to obtain facility access authorization. Be able to obtain a Department of State medical clearance. Be willing to travel to work sites and other offices as/when requested. Note: Although open to both U.S. and TCN candidate, preference will be given to offers received from U.S. candidates, and TCN offerors will only be considered if there are no qualified U.S. candidates available. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facility Access. The final selected candidates must obtain both the appropriate security and medical clearances within a reasonable period. If such clearances are not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded. STATEMENT OF DUTIES General Statement of Purpose of the Contract: With a projected population of over 100 million people, Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite impressive economic growth, Ethiopia remains a low-income country with a real per capita income of US $550 and 33.5% of the population living below the international poverty line of $1.90/day. According to the 2015 UN Human Development Index, Ethiopia ranks 174 out of 188 countries on both the overall index and the per capita Gross National Income, with a gross domestic product of $1,428. It is also one of the least urbanized countries, with 80% of the population living in rural areas. The Health Office in USAID/Ethiopia Mission is one of the largest offices in the Mission managing over $200 million funding every year for Maternal and Child Health, Family Planning and Reproductive Health, HIV, Malaria, TB, Nutrition and WASH programs. The Senior Health Financing Advisor will provide technical expertise to USAID/Ethiopia’s Health team, USAID supported programs and projects and the Government of Ethiopia in all areas of health care finance. Specific focus will be on the financial and economic aspects of the design of health policies, financial interventions and the analysis of related financial and economic impact. The incumbent will direct, manage and/or support the health care financing -related projects, including the project supporting the national level scale-up of Community-based and Social Health Insurance, which are groundbreaking programs for the country in realizing the host government’s goal of universal health coverage. Under the overall leadership of the Health System and Resilience (HSR) Team Leader, the advisor will help develop and expand USAID’s healthcare finance activities within the HSS portfolio. Broad responsibilities will include providing technical leadership to USAID, interagency partners, Ministries of Health and Finance, The Ethiopian Health Insurance Agency and implementing partners through recommendations in the design, development, and improvement in health care financing activities that strengthen service quality, effectiveness, and efficiency. . Technical Assistance and capacity building of Health team members in health care financing systems, analysis, design and oversight for activity management, development, piloting/testing, implementation and evaluation will also be key components of the position. The position requires both advisory and administrative ability, including hands-on health care financing technical expertise, results-oriented analysis, strong project management experience, clear communication skills, and close collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders including host ministries, implementing partners, interagency teams, USAID Headquarter personnel and other donors. The incumbent must ensure the presence and use of adequate administrative controls, information and data quality, procedural efficiencies and professional rigor. S/he will be expected to develop strategies and technical approaches for better USAID, USG, and partner coordination and improve integration of vertical programs related to health financing activities e.g., PEPFAR, maternal & child health, malaria control, vaccination, etc. Statement of Duties to be Performed: Provide technical expertise to USAID/Ethiopia’s Health team, USAID supported programs and projects and the Government of Ethiopia in all areas of health care finance. Specific focus will be on the financial and economic aspects of the design of health policies and interventions and the analysis of related financial and economic impact. Direct, manage and/or support the healthcare financing-related projects under the overall leadership of the HSR Team Leader. The advisor will help develop and expand USAID’s health care financing activities within the health sector. OVERSEE IMPLEMENTATION OF HEALTHCARE FINANCING ACTIVITIES IN USAID/ETHIOPIA’S HEALTH PROGRAM (40%): Review and contribute to the development of annual project work plans. Serve as COR/AOR/Activity Manager for assigned health care financing specific projects. Lead development of USAID Ethiopia strategies in health care financing and economics. Work with project technical leads and project coordinators to identify opportunities to implement health economics (including costing and cost-effectiveness) analyses in Health portfolio of programs. Collaborate with Health team members to develop and implement finance and economic components into existing and future health projects. Lead the development of proposals specific to health care finance and provide technical assistance to proposals with health care finance elements. Provide leadership to develop and conduct areas of operational research on health care finance and economic topics through USAID projects. Work closely with USAID staff involved in health system strengthening and other health activities support those activities and ensure the integration of healthcare finance with the programs. Lead the public health emergency management programs and engagement with other offices to coordinate the Mission’s resilience programs from the health side Lead the Health Office’s increased private sector engagement programs, in supporting the private sector strategies and interventions in health in the areas of service delivery Serve as the primary point of contact for the Health Office with regards to ensuring integration of journey to self-reliance principles across the health office programs. PROVIDE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO USG, GOE AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS (35%) Provide health economics and finance technical assistance to USAID Health Team members and implementing partners in all areas of health care finance and health economics, including the design, implementation and evaluation of health insurance schemes and performance-based finance schemes. Provide specific training and technical assistance in cost modeling and analysis of health economic data. Lead USAID Technical Assistance in health care financing and economics to GOE through development leadership, and mentoring of GOE counterparts, including but not limited to, the newly graduated and assigned Health Economists at all RHBs. Develop and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, partners, and collaborators in the Ethiopia health care finance and public health arena. Identify opportunities to apply health finance and costing tools, approaches, best practices, and lessons learned across USAID and GOE programs and projects. Participate in the design and development of new tools and approaches as needed. Interact and network with donors, potential partners, and working groups to keep up on the latest developments in health economics trends and research. Stays informed on current health care finance initiatives and experiences and provide related guidance to USAID Health team, partners and government counterparts. MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF HEALTH SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING ACTIVITIES (20%) Ensure timely completion of all relevant program deliverables and reporting requirements. Maintain a regular schedule of activity site visits to document activities of USAID-supported implementing partners, establish routine communications and maintain up-to-date information and files on the status of partner activities, resources and work plans. Assist the Health Office Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist in evaluating selected health care financing activities, ensuring that performance monitoring systems are in place, and that periodic, reliable measures of impact indicators are established. Ensure implementing partners are in compliance with all relevant USAID regulations and procedures. Communicate with partners regarding USAID rules and regulations, as well as their obligations to USAID. Apply specific and in-depth knowledge of applicable USG laws, legislative directives, and regulations, particularly regarding the allowable use of Health funds. Work closely with implementing partners to ensure program achievements and lessons learned are disseminated to sector representatives. Maintain and share an up-to-date summary of program technical areas and geographic areas of implementation. In collaboration with other team members, monitor activities undertaken by implementing partners implementing health care financing activities; track progress against program descriptions, implementation plans, and work plans; assess progress and barriers to achievement; recommend action for improvement or modifications to address problems; and document and highlight results. PROJECT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (5 %) Responsible for the financial management of assigned activities, which includes ensuring obligations, expenditures, and budget pipelines conform to action plans. Ensure appropriate and timely incremental funding of activities. Ensure program activities are in compliance with USAID financial regulations. Report financial discrepancies to the HSR Deputy Team Leader and Financial Analyst. Update the Mission Controller and Financial Analyst on the liquidation of advances. Review and provide administrative approval for assigned activities as required. Ensure compliance with Non-Federal Audits (NFAS) and closure of open recommendations. Maintain a monthly project financial management tracking system. Supervisory Relationship The USAID Health Office Director or her/his designee will provide overall supervision to the Senior Health Financing Advisor; however, he/she will exercise independent judgment in planning and carrying out tasks, resolving problems and conflicts, and taking steps necessary to meet deadlines. While the HSR Senior Health Financing Advisor will work with maximum independence in completing agreed-upon work objectives and carrying-out his/her responsibilities, s/he will keep his/her supervisor informed of problems and/or issues that arise that may affect the successful implementation of the USAID Health program in Ethiopia. At least once during each twelve-month cycle for the duration of the contract the Senior Health Finance Advisor will work with the Health Office Director or her/his designee to establish standards and performance measures upon which performance will be based. Once agreed upon, these work objectives and performance measures will be reviewed at least semi-annually and be revised as necessary to reflect changing circumstances. An evaluation of the incumbent will be completed annually and will serve as the basis for any personnel actions. Supervisory Controls: None PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands. Note: No in-person appointments or telephone calls will be entertained unless you are required to have more information about this solicitation. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION Applications will be initially screened by the Human Resources Office to determine whether they have met the minimum qualifications listed below. A list of qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring office for further consideration and screening. EDUCATION: Master’s Degree in a health systems-related discipline, such as Public Health, Public Health Finance, Health Economics, Public Policy, Economics, Business, or equivalent degree. WORK EXPERIENCE: A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in providing technical assistance, implementing, managing, analyses and/or evaluation of health finance and economics programs in developing countries. 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. EVALUATION FACTORS EDUCATION (10 points): Additional points will be given for (1) education above the minimum level and/or (2) specialized education pertinent to the position. WORK EXPERIENCE (40 points): Additional point will be given for (1) expertise and experience in the design, implementation and evaluation of health care finance and health economic policies and strategies; (2) experience and skills in financial and economic modelling and analysis of health programs; (3) experience in the design and analysis of insurance programs and performance-based financing programs; (4) experience with government allocation, budgeting and financial management systems; and (5) experience in leading, managing and working with technical teams. KNOWLEDGE (30 points): Knowledge of health economics and health finance research, program implementation and analysis. Knowledge of insurance practices in low-income settings and performance-based financing program theory and operational knowledge. Familiarity with current mobile technologies that can be leveraged to further public health objectives. Understanding of health care financing research and analytical approaches. A good knowledge and understanding of public health emergency management, resilience programming and private sector engagement strategies. SKILLS AND ABILITIES (20 points) : Excellent writing, editing and presentation skills. Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills. Excellent skills in oral and written communications. Demonstrated skills at writing clearly and succinctly. Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel) . Demonstrate analytic thinking on complex issues related to social, economic, or political systems. Ability to produce thorough, high quality work within a tight timeframe. Flexibility and ability to handle multiple tasks and work collaboratively within a data driven environment. Ability to build successful relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders in developing and the global health systems community. Willingness and ability to travel domestically. The position requires good organizational, management and supervision skills. The incumbent must have excellent judgment, maturity, ingenuity and originality to interpret strategy, analyze, develop and present work in English and to monitor and evaluate implementation of programs; an open professional style, blending teamwork and participation with individual initiative as well as having a can-do orientation and service mindset; effective team building, strategic thinking, leadership, appreciative listening, and achieving results in cross-cultural and multi-level settings. The incumbent must have the ability to work collaboratively in cross cutting teams, direct the work of consultants, interact effectively with mid and senior level government officials and high-level members of the business community. The selected candidate must be capable of producing high quality work, often under time pressure and in complex situations with little direction. Demonstrated flexibility and openness in responding to changing work priorities and environment. BASIS OF RATING: The initial evaluation of applications will be based on the weight assigned for education and experience that will be out of 50 points. The weight assigned for education and experience will be used to set a competitive range. Those candidates in the competitive range will be contacted for the interview (50 points). The overall assessment based on weight assigned for the evaluation criteria during the initial evaluation and the interview will determine the final candidate. Therefore, the final rating and ranking for the offerors will be base on the initial evaluation of applications and the interview. The Offeror Rating System is as Follows: Evaluation Factors have been assigned the following points: Education – 10points Experience – 40 points Initial evaluation – 50 points Knowledge – 30 points Skill and ability – 20 points Interview Performance – 50 points Total possible points: 100 points Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – Pass/Fail (no points assigned) SUBMITTING AN OFFER For your application to be considered, the following documents must be submitted: Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2 , “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals, “available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms. Letter of Application and current resume. Further Guidance: Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3 , and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I. To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission. Application must be submitted ONLY via [email protected] and the email subject must say –: 72066321R00024 - Senior Health Financing Advisor. Be sure to include your name and the solicitation number at the top of each page. Please submit the application only once; and Late and incomplete applications will not be considered; the application must be submitted before or on the closing date at local Ethiopia time 5 p.m. (Local Ethiopia, Addis Ababa Time). LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD Once the CO informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms. Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms) Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions for National Security (SF-86),or Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85) Fingerprint Card (FD-258) BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: BENEFITS: Employer's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual and Sick Leave ALLOWANCES (if applicable): Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas) Temporary Quarter Subsistence Allowance (Section 120) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 210) Post Allowance (Section 220) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) Education Allowance (Section 270) Education Travel (Section 280) Post Differential (Chapter 500) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and Danger Pay Allowance (Section 650) Note: The above allowances have been approved for TCNPSC. Amounts will be determined following selection. TAXES USPSCs are required to pay federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable state income taxes. TCNPSCs are responsible for their own tax payments in accordance with home country and host country laws. No deductions for tax purposes will be made by USAID. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC a wards are available at these sources: USAID Acquisition Regulation(AIDAR),Appendix D, “Direct USAID Contracts with a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien for Personal Services Abroad,” including contractclause“GeneralProvisions,” availableat https:// www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 availableat https:// www.usaid.gov/forms. LINE ITEMS ITEM NO (A) 0001 SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION) (B) Base Period - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs) - Award Type: Cost - Product Service Code: [e.g. 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_ 1001 Option Period 1 – Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs) - Award Type: Cost - Product Service Code: [e.g. R497] -Accounting Info: [insert from Phoenix/GLAAS] 1 LOT $ _TBD__ $_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor_ Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins( AAPDs/CIBs ) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs. 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 5CFR2635 . See https:// www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations. 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]. END OF SOLICITATION EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY : The U.S. Mission in Ethiopia provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. USAID/Ethiopia also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs. The EEO complaint procedure is not available to individuals who believe they have been denied equal opportunity based upon marital status or political affiliation. Individuals with such complaints should avail themselves of the appropriate grievance procedures, remedies for prohibited personnel practices, and/or courts for relief.