SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- PSC-NAS Assistant Program Coordinator for IT (APCIT), Mexico City
- Notice Date
- 2/23/2009
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, INL RM MS, 2430 E Street, N.W., South Building, SA-4 Navy Hill, Washington, District of Columbia, 20520
- ZIP Code
- 20520
- Solicitation Number
- PSC-09-022-INL
- Archive Date
- 4/6/2009
- Point of Contact
- Yvette P. Williams, Phone: 202-776-8506, Mary Pat Hayes-Crow,, Phone: 202-776-8373
- E-Mail Address
-
williamsyp@state.gov, hayes-crowmp2@state.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- You have received this "Personal Services Contractor (PSC)" solicitation through the Department of State (DOS) Internet site. If you have any questions regarding this PSC, you may contact the DOS Official named in the cover letter of this solicitation. The Department is not responsible for any data/text that may not be received when retrieving this document electronically. If the recipient does not notify the contact person that they have obtained this document then any amendments to the document may not be available to the recipients. Amendments to solicitation documents generally contain information critical to the submission of an application. NAS Assistant Program Coordinator for IT (APCIT), Mexico City ISSUANCE DATE: 02/23/2009 CLOSING DATE: 03/22/2009 SOLICITATION NUMBER: PSC-09-022 (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 (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 Yvette P. Williams, INL/RM/MS, DOS, who may be reached at FAX No. (202) 776-8686 OR E-Mail at williamsyp@state.gov. If mailed, applications should be sent via Fed Ex or DHL, facsimile, OR E-Mail. The use of US Mail is not recommended and may NOT be received in time prior to the closing date of this announcement. All applications shall be submitted by email OR Fax OR courier to: Yvette P. Williams US Department of State 2430 E. Street, NW INL/RM/MS, Navy Hill South, Room 104 Washington, D.C. 20037 Late applications shall not be accepted, unless there was a mishandling once received in DOS. Along with the OF 612, applicants shall provide a resume 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. There is one position that will be filled from this solicitation. 1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: PSC-09-022-INL 2. ISSUANCE DATE: 02/23/2009 3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED: 03/22/2009 FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 16:00 PM ET 4. POSITION TITLE: NAS Assistant Program Coordinator for IT (APCIT) 5. MARKET VALUE: FS-04: $52,221-$76,688 FS-03: $64,447-$94,643 6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year from the date of award 7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Mexico City, Mexico 8. JOB DESCRIPTION: See below US Personal Services Contract American Embassy Mexico City, Mexico Narcotics Affairs Section NAS Assistant Program Coordinator for IT (APCIT) GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONTRACTOR A. BACKGROUND: The Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) is the office within the U.S. Embassy to Mexico that manages assistance activities funded through the State Department's Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). In the Mexican context, NAS manages a bilateral assistance program that helps design, build and otherwise nurture the capabilities of Mexico's law enforcement agencies (LEAs), by investing in the professionalization of their personnel, the creation of their infrastructure and the provision of other needed goods and services. Planned future programming may support Mexican LEAs across a wide range of initiatives involving sophisticated information technologies, including inter alia: assisting the Immigration Service with its digitalization of forms, expansion of databases, and automating of document & identity verification; expanding the Attorney General's prosecutorial case management system, the capabilities of its intelligence analysis center and expansion of its OASISS program; developing with the Secretary of Public Security a national criminal information system; creating a National Network for Technological Transfers in Addictions for the Ministry of Health; and, providing data management and analysis software to the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Treasury Secretariat. B. PURPOSE: The Assistant Program Coordinator for Information Technologies (APCIT) will be responsible for supporting the identification, conceptual development, costing, justification, coordination and completion of sophisticated information technology projects and their associated infrastructure. This responsibility will require oversight of all aspects of projects, to include setting deadlines, assigning tasks, and monitoring the progress of any project to include responsibilities as either a Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR) or a Government Technical Monitor (GTM) for assigned projects. A key part of the responsibility involves identification of potential projects that support U.S. and Mexican government policy objectives and championing of these projects to NAS management. Another responsibility is report preparation for NAS management regarding the status of ongoing projects. The APCIT also will also develop short- and long-range plans for the NAS, in cooperation with the Director, Deputy Director, Program Coordinator for Information Technology and the Deputy Program Coordinator for IT. I. STATEMENT OF WORK ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The APCIT supports the Program Coordinator for Information Technology (PCIT) in her/his role as the NAS's principal advisor and project manager in the area of information technologies (IT), playing a complementary role both in determining the strategic direction for the IT projects in conjunction with the Government of Mexico (GOM) and in seeking to ensure effective operational execution of information technology plans across the GOM. The APCIT will be both visionary and pragmatic in her/his approach to addressing the needs of the key constituents. The incumbent will share the responsibility for comprehensively integrating the projects that NAS undertakes to ensure interconnectivity across GOM organizational lines and internationally, including with USG law enforcement agencies (LEAs), as appropriate. Specific duties and responsibilities will include: 1. Identify, develop and implement IT projects for the GOM that support USG and GOM policy objectives. Included in this task is the responsibility for developing the written justification seeking NAS management approval for the project funding which will cite the needed references to INL programmatic documentation as well as Government of Mexico requests for the project. This activity will also include the development of a statement of work describing the project. This will be developed in conjunction with the appropriate Contracting Officer in INL or RPSO. 2. Serve as either a Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR) or a Government Technical Monitor (GTM) for assigned projects in accordance with the COR. 3. Establish a strategic and supporting operational technology plan that supports the NAS’s short-term and long-term objectives. 4. Establish appropriate advisory and governance mechanisms to ensure productive interaction among constituents and customers. These mechanisms could include establishing formal advisory mechanisms. 5. Influence and build alliances with IT entities and resources that fall outside her/his direct authority to ensure IT resources available to projects that NAS may elect to support are optimized to manage the execution of major information systems projects, as well as to ensure a competitive and efficient cost structure. 6. Evaluate the costs/benefits of systems development projects, oversee the selection and development of software and hardware and ensure IT activities and resources add value while economically meeting NAS’s needs. 7. The APCIT reports to the assigned Deputy Program Coordinator for Information Technology (DPCIT). II. QUALIFICATIONS A. SPECIFIC CORE COMPETENCIES: 1. Building and Leveraging Relationships: Readily connects with others and proactively solicits their views before making key decisions. Naturally builds effective support to move the agenda forward. Rapidly gains the respect and trust of team members and colleagues. Can adapt strategies to get things done within a given situation. 2. Interpersonal Acumen: Displays cultural astuteness in understanding both the implicit and explicit decision-making processes of an organization. Is savvy and pragmatic relative to effecting change in a new organizational culture, such as that which currently exists within most Mexican LEAs. Has significant patience and political savvy but can drive real results in a timely fashion. 3. Leadership Presence: Personally visible to the organization; communicates key messages and listens well. Highly articulate and makes points in a compelling manner. Conveys genuine belief in the organization’s ability to succeed despite the toughest obstacles. Has leadership presence that will set a new standard to the external information technology academic community. 4. Driving Results: Demonstrates the ability to translate an organization’s mission into an overall IT strategy focused on meeting client and customer needs as the basis for actionable, measurable plans. Combines tenacity with a sense of urgency to drive issues to closure. 5. Building and Motivating Teams: Capable in assessing and leveraging the strengths, weaknesses and working styles of team members in inter-office, inter-agency and inter-governmental situations. Forges strong diverse teams through actively sourcing, selecting, developing and retaining top talent for key positions. Delegates significant responsibilities to team members and provides appropriate level of direction and support. 6. Managing Performance: Able to achieve result through others, to motivate team effort and cooperation. Translates goals into specific objectives for each member of the team, as well as vendors, and holds people accountable for results. Keeps organization focused on key metrics that drive the business. B. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen able to obtain a Department of State Secret security clearance. 2. Education: Must have an Associates Degree. 3. Foreign Language: Must be fluent in Spanish (speaking and reading) which will be tested. Equivalent to the Foreign Service Institute’s 3/3. 4. Computer Skills: Must have a good working knowledge of MS Outlook, Word, Excel, Project and PowerPoint. 5. Work Experience: Must have previous work experience in the area of information technology project development and completion within US Government setting. Must have previous work experience in project management in IT systems, from definition of requirements, to selection of solutions, to implementation, to completion. Must also have: •In-depth and direct knowledge of IT project management •Experience with integrated IT oversight and management, with five or more years of success in an IT leadership role for an organization of substantial size and scope •Ability to build a strategic plan on a large scale, to have established a governance body comprised of key customers and members of the IT staff and to have successfully led the execution against the plan •A conceptual understanding of how IT can be used as a strategic enabler to delivery on a variety of missions across a multifunctional entity, especially in a law enforcement setting. 6. Specialized Experience: Must have previous overseas work experience in a multicultural environment. 7. Management Experience: Successful leadership experience in a multicultural environment. A demonstrated ability to make sound decisions in a timely manner is vital. Must have developed problem-solving skills, initiative and the ability to be sensitive, flexible and creative when problems arise. 8. Leadership Experience: Must have a proven ability to interact effectively with a wide range of U.S. and foreign national personnel at all levels of an organization. Must have a proven ability to formulate and articulate both specific goals and a long-term strategy. Must have a proven ability to represent effectively through personal contacts with the foreign governments, as well as with counterparts within the USG. 9. Knowledge: Familiarity with United States Government acquisition, contracting, management regulations, logistics and financial management policies and procedures is required. Must be able to qualify as a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or Government Technical Monitor (GTM) within three months of hiring. 10. Communications: Must have proven ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including in the preparation of proposals. III. PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENTS Office environment: normal routine will involve deskwork and working at a computer terminal, with travel in Mexico and United States. The APCIT will be based at the main NAS office in Mexico City. IV. POSITION ELEMENTS 1. Supervision Received: The APCIT will report to the DPCIT and will receive general guidance from that individual. The incumbent will receive administrative, management and program policy direction concerning overall program priorities and objectives, after which s/he independently negotiates the scope and objectives of each tasking with little input or review by her/his supervisor. 2. Supervision Exercised: The APCIT Officer might share with DPCIT the responsibility for supervising a staff of Locally Employed Staff (LESs) in the NAS Information Technologies team. The APCIT may be called upon to direct IT activity when the DPCIT is absent. 3. Guidelines: The INL Financial Management Handbook, INL Program and Policy Guide and INL Procurement Policies and Procedures handbook provide supplementary guidance to the Foreign Affairs Manuals for Personnel Management (3 FAM), Financial Management (4 FAM), General Services (6 FAM) and Logistics Management (14 FAM) and associated Foreign Affairs Handbooks, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Department of State Acquisitions Regulations (DOSAR) as well as the Merida Initiative planning documents, program budget reports, INL Advanced Acquisition cables, US-Mexico Letters of Agreement, US Embassy Mexico Mission Strategic Plan, and processing requirements for submission of purchase requests via ARIBA. 4. Complexity: The work involves planning, organizing, and completing projects and managing day-to-day programs, all involving sophisticated technologies that are interoperable with those used by US LEAs. An essential part of the complexity will be the identification of the project parameters with GOM LEAs counterparts and the subsequent negotiation of mutually-agreed-to goals. The APCIT may encounter difficulty in identifying the exact nature of the relevant issues or problems and in planning, organizing, and determining the scope and depth of tasks, studies and/or audits to be undertaken, due to the complexity, high visibility and/or political sensitivity related to many issues with which the NAS is involved. The work may require the incumbent to establish new concepts or programs and to expend considerable effort to resolve previously unyielding problems. 5. Scope and Effectiveness: The APCIT performs a broad range of tasks related to a complex foreign assistance program in Mexico. NAS programs have a significant impact on embassy operations including those of other USG agencies. An essential part of the complexity will be the identification of the project parameters with the GOM counterpart(s) and the subsequent negotiation of goals. 6. Personal Contacts: The APCIT will work closely with NAS personnel, the Embassy’s Management Section, other USG LEA agencies within the Mission, contractors implementing NAS projects and GOM counterparts. V. EVALUATION CRITERIA Factor 1. (Work Experience): Demonstrated work experience in the area of information technology project initiation and management with success. (30 points) Factor 2. (Specialized Experience): Demonstrated work experience in an overseas, multicultural environment preferably with the Department of State or other USG agency. (10 points) Factor 3. (Management Experience): Demonstrated successful leadership experience, preferably in a multicultural environment. Demonstrated ability to make sound decisions in a timely manner. (20 points) Factor 4. Familiarity with United States Government acquisition and contracting procedures, management regulations, logistics and financial management policies and procedures. (10 points) Factor 5. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in English and Spanish. (10 points) Factor 6. An evaluation of applicant’s ability to perform under the contract based on past performance. In conducting the evaluation, the Government reserves the right to utilize all evaluation information available at the time of evaluation, whether provided by the applicant or obtained from other sources. (20 points) VI. COMPENSATION Compensation for the position will be negotiated as follows: accumulated experience will dictate the salary level within the grade range. Entry level salary normally will be at the first step of the grade range for the position. Consideration will be given, however, to the successful applicant’s experience that is specifically relevant to the position being filled. Number of years of relevant experience will determine the step within the grade range at which the successful applicant will be compensated. AS A MATTER OF POLICY, A PSC IS NORMALLY AUTHORIZED THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS (except for U.S. Resident Hires): 1. BENEFITS (A). Employee's FICA Contribution (B). Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance (C). Pay Comparability Adjustment (D). Annual Increase (E). Eligibility for Worker's Compensation (F). Annual & Sick Leave 2. ALLOWANCES (if applicable). * (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). (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 US PSCs 98-19: Home Leave under US PSCs 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)
- Web Link
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- Place of Performance
- Address: American Embassy Mexico City, Mexico
- Record
- SN01755119-W 20090225/090223214533-f978d89d3421af5ecb50495c3d1ccd87 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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