SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Presidential Malaria Advisor and Program Manager
- Notice Date
- 9/21/2007
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Agency for International Development, Overseas Missions, Ghana USAID-Accra, Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-2020, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 20521-2020
- Solicitation Number
- 641-07-011
- Response Due
- 10/21/2007
- Archive Date
- 11/4/2007
- Point of Contact
- James Athanas, Contracting/Assistance Officer, Phone 233-21-780-580, Fax 233-21-231-937, - James Athanas, Contracting/Assistance Officer, Phone 233-21-780-580, Fax 233-21-231-937,
- E-Mail Address
-
jathanas@usaid.gov, jathanas@usaid.gov
- Description
- Solicitation for a Personal Services Contractor (PSC) Malaria Advisor/Program Manager Accra, Ghana SOLICITATION NUMBER 641-07-011 SOLICITATION NUMBER: 641-07-011 ISSUANCE DATE: September 21, 2007 CLOSING DATE/TIME: October 21, 2007 POSITION TITLE: Malaria Advisor/Program Manager MARKET VALUE: GS 14 ($79,115 - $102,848) PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 2 years with option to extend for one year PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Accra, Ghana SECURITY ACCESS: Secret AREA OF CONSIDERATION: USPSC Background: The health sector in Ghana faces many challenges including stagnating under-five mortality, high maternal and neonatal deaths, high HIV prevalence among most-at-risk groups and lack of access to quality services. Malaria causes a significant burden of disease and is a key contributor to poverty. It accounts for over 44 percent of outpatient visits and an estimated 22 percent of mortality for children under age five. In 2005, more than 3 million suspected cases of malaria were seen in government health facilities with over 110,000 patients admitted. Ghana has been identified as a US Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI) focus country beginning in 2008. This will bring significant new resources to the program. To prepare for the new program, in 2007 USAID will conduct operational research in indoor residual spraying, and community based diagnosis and treatment. In close collaboration with the MOH and the GHS, USAID/Ghana is currently developing a new malaria strategy that will guide our assistance under this initiative, in close collaboration with CDC and other USG partners. The sub elements will include: improved equitable access to and appropriate use of ACT to treat malaria, including procurement and provision of drugs; improve access and use of ITNs, especially for pregnant women and children under-five through public-private partnerships; expand access and use of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) with Sulfadoxine Pyrimethanine in order to address malaria in pregnancy. Other interventions will focus on introducing the use of indoor residual spraying to prevent malaria outbreaks; designing and developing of communication messages to promote ACT, ITNs and IPT. USAID works with the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Services and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), other development partners (particularly DfID, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, DANIDA), UNAIDS, the Global Fund for HIV/TB/Malaria, and U.S.-based Co-operating Agencies to assure appropriate orientation, coordination and implementation of all USAID-funded support for health activities, including malaria control efforts. The Government of Ghana (GOG) is committed to the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Initiative, supported by the Global Fund (GF) and managed by the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP). The RBM Initiative strengthens health services and makes prevention and treatment strategies widely available. The GF provides $38.2 million to the NMCP to fight malaria. UNICEF, with funding from the United Kingdom (UK), supports the distribution of free nets during national immunization campaigns and supports a community-based child health strategy including a malaria component in the three northern regions. The World Bank provides small grants for emergency commodity procurement and works with the GOG to develop malaria policies. The Malaria Consortium, consisting of major health donors, assists the NMCP in implementing their bed net programs. This is funded by the UK, with technical assistance from the World Health Organization and implementation through a network of local NGOs. With GF resources, Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies are procured for most of the country. Position Duties and Responsibilities: The Malaria Advisor/Program Manager, in collaboration with the PMI CDC Technical Advisor, shall provide leadership, guidance and overall direction on the development and execution of the PMI in Ghana. The Malaria Advisor/Program Manager, in collaboration with the PMI CDC Technical Advisor, shall provide managerial and technical support to Ghana?s National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) Director and the staff; and help to build capacity within the NMCP. Specific Responsibilities: 1. Collaborate with senior staff of the NMCP and other partners, such as the Global Fund (GF), WHO, UNICEF, World Bank (WB) and NGOs and FBOs to design, plan and implement malaria prevention and control activities consistent with the malaria control coverage needs identified by the strategy and plans of the NMCP and PMI. 2. Ensure that all activities are consistent with internationally accepted best practices and relevant to the specific malaria epidemiology of Ghana; 3. Coordinate with other partners and support efforts to address malaria control delivery gaps and help build technical and managerial capacity within the NMCP at the national, district and lower levels; 4. Provide technical support to all partners and managerial support as needed during the designing and implementation phases of the project to ensure the quality of interventions supported and that programmatic targets are met; 5. Work with suppliers and partners to ensure that programmatic commodities are purchased in a timely and cost effective manner. Also, ensure that the absorptive capacity exists in implementation sites to receive, manage and distribute these items effectively. 6. Ensure that malaria activities are integrated into overall USAID-supported health activities and to coordinate these activities with the NMCP and MOH to avoid duplication of effort and programming gaps; 7. Assist the PMI administrative manager to ensure full accountability and value for money of funds provided by the President?s Initiative on Malaria; 8. Assist the NMCP and Ministry of Health (MOH) in ensuring effective communication and coordination between Roll Back Malaria and Global Fund partners, including donor agencies and other stakeholders working on malaria control in Ghana; 9. Ensure effective coordination between MOH and Ghana Health Services (GHS) departments related to malaria prevention and control in Ghana. These departments include MOH and GHS Senior Management, NMCP, GHS Public Health divisions concerned with Child Health, Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI), Reproductive Health, Nutrition, School Health, Health Education and Promotion, Planning, and others as appropriate; 10. Work with the NMCP and other partners to develop and execute a monitoring and evaluation plan to be implemented through existing MOH/GHS systems and existing USG supported mechanisms. Carry out monitoring and evaluation visits to implementation sites to ascertain all quantitative and qualitative data is collected properly and ensure programmatic quality and value for money are maintained. 12. Assist PMI administrative manager to ensure that financial and technical reports on the President?s Malaria Initiative in Ghana are prepared and submitted as required. Nature, Level and Purpose of Contacts: Contacts will be USG staff at post, Government of Ghana technical Ministry colleagues, international and local NGO partners and civil society leaders. Incumbent will also report to the PMI program and to the Health office on program progress, obstacles and opportunities for improvement - particularly on any budgetary or contractual obstacles or delays. The Malaria Advisor/Program Manager shall work with the PMI CDC Technical Advisor as a team, within the USAID/Ghana Health, Population and Nutrition Office that oversees the Mission?s broader health activities related to malaria control; liaising with backstops for the PMI in USAID Washington and counterparts in CDC Atlanta; and representing the USG in interactions with Ghana?s National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) Director and staff. In addition, the Malaria Advisor/ Program Manager shall represent USAID and the USG on various national and international technical and policy forums. Supervisory Controls: All PMI staff members will be part of a single inter-agency team led by the USAID/Ghana Health, Population and Nutrition Officer (HPNO), who is the designee of the USAID Mission Director. The Malaria Advisor/Program Manager is directly supervised by the HPNO and performs under general instructions from his/her supervisor, with programmatic guidance from the PMI Unit in the Global Health Office of USAID/Washington. The Advisor is expected to work with a minimum of supervision and in a collaborative fashion with the PMI CDC Technical Advisor; other professional staff inside and outside the Mission; other senior health advisors from other donor partners and the Ministry of Health. The Advisor is required to exercise comprehensive judgment in planning and carrying out tasks, including the specific approach to be taken, the resolution of problems and conflicts, and the meeting of deadlines. He/she will keep supervisors apprised of progress in assigned activities. Professional Responsibilities: The approximate breakdown of these responsibilities is as follows: A) Activity Development and Design (25%) The incumbent, working in collaboration with the NMCP and PMI staff in the US and the PMI CDC Technical Advisor, will be responsible for developing annual work plans in line with PMI objectives and goals. This will include but is not limited to case management of malaria in health facilities and at the community level, distribution of ITNs through health facilities, large-scale campaigns, and the private sector, intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women, indoor residual spraying, and developing information, education and communications materials to promote the use of these interventions. B) Management of Activity Implementation (30%) The incumbent, in collaboration with the PMI CDC Technical Advisor and the NMCP, will be responsible for the overseeing the management of projects being implemented under the PMI. This includes but is not limited to malaria prevention and control activities such as behavior change and communication activities, bednet purchase and distribution through the existing health services and at the community level, antimalarial drug purchase and distribution through the existing health services, IPT coverage and the diagnosis and treatment of acute malaria, and the indoor residual spraying conducted under the initiative. The incumbent, in collaboration with the PMI CDC Technical Advisor, will also be responsible for monitoring and reporting the results of all PMI activities. The Malaria Advisor/Program Manager shall manage and oversee services and deliverables provided by contractors and grantees, in accordance with USAID program management regulations and procedures, and practices. C. Partner Relationships (25%) Successful performance in this position depends upon establishing and maintaining productive collaborative relationships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, the MOH, provincial governments, World Bank, Global Fund, WHO, UNICEF, other Donors, and NGOs dealing with issues focusing on malaria, The Advisor shall, therefore, develop and maintain relationships with these partners and stakeholders in order to effectively assure that all of USG PMI?s activities are complementary and enhance all other malaria activities being implemented in Ghana. The incumbent will participate in meetings hosted by the NMCP on malaria. D. Coordination with Other PMI Personnel (10%) The incumbent will be required to communicate regularly and work jointly with other members of the USAID/Ghana Health team, USAID/Washington Global Health Bureau, and CDC Atlanta. E. Monitoring and Evaluation (10%) Monitoring and evaluation is a key component of the PMI. The Malaria Advisor/Program Manager shall be responsible for working with the PMI CDC Malaria Advisor to develop monitoring and evaluation plan in line with the PMI targets, and to ensure that PMI partners develop project monitoring plans and report in a timely manner on their activities. It is also expected that the Malaria Advisor/Program Manager shall provide expert advice and practical experience to help the MOH, GHS, the NMCP and other partners monitor inputs and outcomes, progress towards RBM goals, and to help them execute it jointly. Qualification, Experience and Evaluation Criteria Applicants meeting the required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and obtained through reference checks. USAID reserves the right to conduct telephone interviews with the most highly ranked applicants and make the interview a deciding factor in selection. 1. Education ? 20% Minimum of a Masters Degree in public health international health, or social sciences from a recognized institution and/or clinical qualifications. Specialized experience in malaria is required in areas including but not limited to vector control, entomology, clinical case management of malaria, and epidemic surveillance and forecasting. 2. Experience ? 45% The incumbent will have at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in designing, implementing and managing malaria and other health programs in developing countries, with a preference given to candidates with African experience. Demonstrated technical leadership, program management, strategic planning, policy experience and problem solving skills working on complex projects in a highly sensitive environment are required. Preference will be given to those candidates with proven knowledge and experience with USAID programs, procedures and systems for program design, procurement, implementation, management and monitoring. The incumbent will also have the following: (a) Analytical ability to interpret public policies and assist in the development of revised policies as required improving the policy environment related to malaria in Ghana. Management skills required to develop and implement effective malaria prevention and treatment program activities involving financial and human resources. Administrative skills are required to assist in the oversight of cooperating agency technical advisors and institutional contractors. (b) Skill in conceptualizing programs, policies, and plans and developing strategies for their management and implementation. The candidate must be able to integrate short and long range objectives of the USAID Health Team and the PMI with the cultural/organizational needs of the government. (c) Knowledge and skills in quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods; experience in designing and evaluating malaria activities in Africa. The incumbent must have proven skills in capacity building and mentoring local staff in a developing country. (d) Demonstrable skills are required in working effectively with health personnel of diverse cultural backgrounds, negotiating agreements on matters of program strategy and performance, writing, administration, and management. Ability to navigate and manage politically sensitive issues related to malaria control. 3. Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills ? 20% Excellent leadership, communications and interpersonal skills are critical to this position. The incumbent must have the following: (a) Ability to work effectively with a broad range of USG personnel and partners, and have demonstrated skills in donor coordination and collaboration. Ability to work both independently and in a team environment to achieve consensus on policy, program and administrative matters is a must. (b) Ability to work effectively in a team environment and communicate highly technical health information to both health and non-health audiences, and achieve consensus on policy, project, research, and administrative matters. 4. Language, Communication, and Computer Skills - 15% The incumbent must have the following: (a) Must have proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly and concisely ? both orally and in writing in English. Must have demonstrated ability to make sensitive oral presentations, logically and persuasively, to senior USG and Government of Ghana officials and other donors. (b) Excellent verbal communication skills, tact and diplomacy are required to establish and develop sustainable working relationships at the highest level and a high level of trust with public/private organizations. Verbal communication skills are also used to negotiate activity plans and resolve activity implementation issues with counterparts, partners and team members Ability to communicate technical information to health and non-health audiences. Excellent written communication skills are required to prepare regular and ad hoc reports, activity documentation and briefing papers. (c) Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook, Access, SPSS and other statistical and other relevant software) are required for effectively operating in this position. Good computer skills are required to implement, analyze, and monitor, and manage activity goals, inputs, outcomes, and achievements, both program and impact. NOTICE TO APPLICANTS: USAID reserves the right to obtain from previous employers relevant information concerning the applicant?s past performance and may consider such information in its evaluation. Terms of Appointment and Compensation Subject to the availability of funds, this will be a two-year contract, with an option to USAID of one-year extension depending upon continuing need of the services, availability of funds and satisfactory or better performance, pursuant to FAR 52.217-9. The intended start date is on or about July 30, 2007. The position has been classified at a U. S. Government GS-14 level. The actual salary of the successful candidate will be negotiated within that range depending on qualifications and previous earning history. Applying: Qualified individuals are requested to submit: U.S. Government Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612 (available at the USAID website, http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms, or http://fillform.gsa.gov, or any Federal office); Applications must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter. To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application, and as the subject line in any cover letter. The highest ranking applicants may be selected for an interview. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCS Forms outlined below can found at: http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solicit/ 1. Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612. 2. Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62). ** 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). ** ** Forms 2 through 5 shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job. CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBS) PERTAINING TO PSCS CIBs contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and contracts. Please refer to this website http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/psc_solicit, to determine which CIBS apply to this contract. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES: As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a USPSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: (NOTE: An individual defined as a Resident Hire employee will only be eligible for those benefits listed under item A below.) For a Third Country National (TCN), benefits shall be in accordance with the USAID/West Africa Mission Order policy. A: BENEFITS: * Employee's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual & Sick Leave Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service B: ALLOWANCES (If Applicable): * (1) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120) (2) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) (3) Post Allowance (Section 220) (4) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230) (5) Post Differential (Chapter 500) (6) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and (7) Danger Pay (Section 650) (8) Educational Allowance (Section 270) (9) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) (10) Educational Travel (Section 280) * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). Security & Medical Clearances The Contractor will be required to obtain a medical clearance prior to service overseas. Also, a temporary employment authorization security clearance must be initiated prior to travel to post of duty. FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes. NOTE: THIS NOTICE WAS NOT POSTED TO FEDBIZOPPS ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THE NOTICE ITSELF (21-SEP-2007); HOWEVER, IT DID APPEAR IN THE FEDBIZOPPS FTP FEED ON THIS DATE. PLEASE CONTACT fbo.support@gsa.gov REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
- Web Link
-
Link to FedBizOpps document.
(http://www.fbo.gov/spg/AID/OM/GHA/641-07-011/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USAID Ghana P.O. Box GP 194 Accra Ghana
- Country: GHANA
- Country: GHANA
- Record
- SN01414121-F 20070923/070921223603 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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