USPSC Resident Hire Communications Advisor, GS-13

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO: 72061524R10062
2. ISSUANCE DATE: August 26 , 2024
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: September 16 , 2024, 1700 hrs Nairobi local time
4. POINT OF CONTACT: Noel Sikasa and Patrick Bii, e-mail: nairobipscjobs@usaid.gov
5. POSITION TITLE: U.S Personal Services Contractor (USPSC) Resident Hire, Communications Advisor
6. MARKET VALUE: $88,520 – $115,079 equivalent to GS-13 base rate. 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 October 2024. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise an additional three (3) one-year option periods for the dates estimated as follows:

Base Period: October 2024 – September 2026

Option Period 1: October 2026 – September 2027

Option Period 2: October 2027 – September 2028

Option Period 3: October 2028 – September 2029

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

1. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

The employee will develop and help manage communications throughout the Health Population and Nutrition (HPN) Office’s technical areas of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH), nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). In addition, the employee will promote USAID/Kenya and East Africa (KEA)’s health platform that cut across several technical offices within KEA and the interagency space, or across missions within the region. The employee will manage all communications to numerous internal and external stakeholders including bilateral USAID Missions, USAID/Washington, PEPFAR Coordination Office, and other U.S. Agencies or Departments. Using various resources and tracking programs to produce both internal and external communications, the employee will ensure messages are consistent with the overall USAID/KEA objectives to explain, promote, and raise awareness of HPN’s health activities. This will include developing communication materials, case studies, white papers, newsletter content, social media content, remarks, speeches, briefing checklists (BCLs), and other tools as necessary to raise awareness of the portfolio and highlight success stories to ensure that all stakeholders are well informed of HPN activities and to maximize opportunities for coordinated programming, sharing of best practices, and improved knowledge management. In addition, the employee will develop and provide training for HPN staff and its implementing partners to strengthen communication skills and practices and will support, as requested, a broad range of communication approaches including public events and social media.

USAID/KEA is a large, full-service Mission. Sectors targeted are health, governance, agriculture, private sector development, environmental conservation, and education. The HPN Office programs are expansive, providing quality health care to millions of Kenyans nationwide through a mix of integrated and vertical services designed to strengthen local capacity. It offers life-saving treatment to over one million HIV/AIDS patients on antiretroviral drug therapy. Kenya is one of the largest recipients of resources through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

2. Statement of Duties to be Performed

Outreach and Communications: 65%

• Update HPN’s strategic communication strategy and support messaging to highlight the progress of HPN-funded activities towards the achievement of their overall goals and USAID/KEA objectives. The communications strategy should also advance policy and strategic engagements under USAID’s Journey to Self-Reliance agenda.
• Coordinate with the USADI/KEA Development Outreach Coordinator (DOC) to leverage local, regional and international media relationships that will ensure HPN events/stories are covered on a timely basis with appropriate content and that USAID and Embassy Nairobi staff are well informed of HPN’s activities.
• Establish excellent working relationships and strategic engagement with a wide range of senior figures within the development and USG community related to communications, including communications officials in other USAID Missions, AID/Washington, the USAID/KEA DOC team, the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section (PAS) in Kenya, PEPFAR Coordination Office, the Kenya and regional donor community, and HPN’s implementing partners throughout Kenya and the East Africa region.
• Support and advise HPN leadership to ensure uninterrupted proper internal and external messaging for all HPN’s activities. The employee will need to be thoughtful, diplomatic, consensus-building, strategic, analytical, and a leader. The employee must be able to use excellent judgment and can deal with ambiguity at all levels.
• Support logistics for HPN and USAID/KEA health conferences, training events, press interviews, VIP visits, launches of project activities, or other events to ensure events run smoothly and meet USAID messaging goals.
• Write and/or edit briefing checklists (BCLs), speeches, talking points, blogs, success stories, press releases and other communications materials as needed by HPN, the USAID/KEA health platforms, USAID/KEA senior management, the U.S. Ambassador to Kenya, or other VIPs as directed, in support of USAID-sponsored public events.
• Develop external communication materials, case studies, white papers, regional newsletter content, social media content, and other tools as necessary to raise awareness of HPN and USAID/KEA health activities and success stories, and ensure that stakeholders, including bilateral missions in the region, are well informed of HPN activities.
• Advise and make recommendations to USAID staff, the USAID Mission Director, technical offices, implementing partners, and others to communicate about the work and achievements of the health office. Ensure that all activities are well-coordinated with other donor activities through regular updates given to USAID stakeholders and external development partners, including Annual Reports, Portfolio Reviews, Congressional Budget Justifications, briefings, newsletters and talking points.
• Assist HPN staff to periodically review implementing partner communication strategies and practices and provide guidance on USAID branding and marking requirements as required by each award.

General Management: 35%

• Maintain a current database with all relevant communications contacts that are involved in the implementation of HPN and USAID/KEA’s health related activities (i.e., spokespersons and programmatic focal points from implementing partners, USAID/KEA, Missions in East Africa, AID/Washington, Embassy Nairobi agencies, other donors, etc.).
• Proofread and edit HPN materials to provide quality control.
• Maintain an HPN repository of publications, fact sheets and briefers and work with the DOC to ensure periodic publications are completed and submitted on time.

3. Supervisory Relationship

The Communication Advisor will work under the supervision of the Senior Development Outreach Communications Specialist.

4. Supervisory Controls

The employee will exercise independence and decision making authority in carrying out duties, subject to final review by the Senior Development Outreach Communications Specialist and the HPN Office Chief. The supervisor will set overall objectives and resources available, and work with the employee to develop deadlines, projects, and work to be accomplished. The employee will be responsible for planning and carrying out assignments, resolving most conflicts, coordinating with others, and interpreting policy in terms of established objectives. Keeping the supervisor informed of progress, the employee may determine the approach to be taken and the methodology to be used. The supervisor will review completed work from an overall standpoint of feasibility, compatibility with other work, or effectiveness in meeting requirements. The supervisor will review and approve the employee’s work plan and performance measures. The employee is expected to work independently with limited guidance, take initiative where appropriate, and support the writing, coordination, and communication needs of HPN staff members, as appropriate.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

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

1. Education: A Master’s degree in a relevant professional discipline such as media, journalism, communications, international relations, marketing and/or public health degree.
2. Professional Experience: The candidate is required to have a minimum of seven (7) years of experience directly involved in media, outreach and communications in development partner and/or donor contexts. The candidate must have excellent interpersonal and networking skills and the ability to liaise authoritatively with representatives from the development sector, local media, local government, USG, and other relevant actors. Clear understanding and demonstrated skills in outreach and coordination of organizational messaging is required.

The candidate must have demonstrated experience in leading consultations and facilitation of various teams with diverse backgrounds and development perspectives; applying broad USG (or similar development organizations) principles, policies and strategies; leading effective USG interagency, partner country, and donor coordination; and working with USG leadership at the working- and senior-levels.

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.

Applicants should cite specific, illustrative examples for each Evaluation Factors #1-#4. 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 designing and managing strategic communication programs related to health and development.

Evaluation Factor #2: Demonstrated experience preparing outreach materials for a wide range of outlets and audiences including print, video, and social media. Demonstrated familiarity and expertise with a diverse range of communications software.

Evaluation Factor #3: Demonstrated experience coordinating with U.S. Government agencies, international organizations, national or local governments, and/or other high-profile entities supporting health programming.

Evaluation Factor #4: Demonstrated content, writing, presentation and communication skills in written materials and interview. Ability to lead meetings and presentations with internal and external stakeholders

Evaluation Scoring:

Factor #1 – 40 points

Factor #2 – 25 points

Factor #3 – 25 points

Factor #4 – 10 points

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.

How to apply

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Offeror submissions must clearly reference the Solicitation number on all offeror submitted documents.
4. Offerors must submit an up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) or resume (no more than five pages), cover letter explaining your qualification and evaluation criteria for the position**, copies of all relevant certificates** and include three (3) referees, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts.
5. Applicants are required to address each of the listed 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. 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.
6. Applications must be submitted electronically via email to nairobipscjobs@usaid.gov by the closing date and time.

LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

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

• Medical History and Examination (DS 1843)
• Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)
• Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306)

BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a USPSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

BENEFITS:

1. Employer’s FICA Contribution
2. Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance
3. Pay Comparability Adjustment
4. Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)
5. Eligibility for Worker’s Compensation
6. Leave and Holidays

This position is a Resident Hire U.S PSC. Any contract offered under this solicitation will not offer benefits that are available to Offshore Hire U.S PSC. Benefits that the successful candidate will not receive include, but are not limited to:

1. Access to Embassy medical facilities, Cash Checking, AEA Commissary Access, Pouch Mail Service (DPO/APO)
2. Cost of Travel to and from Post;
3. Shipment and storage of UAB and HHE;
4. Shipment of POV (Private Own Vehicle);
5. R&R and Home Leave Travel; and
6. Housing

ALLOWANCES:

Resident Hire U.S. Personal Services Contractors are subject to U.S. Federal Income Tax, and are not eligible for expatriate fringe benefits including differentials and allowances, travel and transportation expenses, repatriation, rest and recuperation travel, or home leave of any kind. Such contractors may be eligible for certain differentials and allowances when in travel status for temporary duty (TDY.)

TAXES

USPSCs are required to pay Federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State Income taxes.

USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources:

1. 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 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:

3. 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.

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: PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov.

6. FAR Provisions Incorporated by Reference

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