SOLICITATION NOTICE
99 -- Justice Sector Program Advisor - Solicitation - SF-171
- Notice Date
- 6/5/2018
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 921190
— Other General Government Support
- Contracting Office
- Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Grants, Acquisitions, Procurement and Policy Division (INL/RM/GAPP), SA-4 Navy Hill, South Building, 2430 E Street, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia, 20037, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20037
- Solicitation Number
- PSC-18-031-INL
- Archive Date
- 7/4/2018
- Point of Contact
- Dominique A. Chittum,
- E-Mail Address
-
ChittumDA@state.gov
(ChittumDA@state.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- SF-171 Solicitation Personal Services Contractor (PSC) Statement of Work (SOW) U.S. Embassy - Kabul, Afghanistan Justice Sector Program Advisor FS-02 (Equivalent GS-14) BACKGROUND The Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Programs (INL/AP) is part of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) in the U.S. Department of State. The Bureau is responsible for the development, supervision, coordination, and implementation of international narcotics control assistance activities and international criminal justice assistance programs for the Department of State. INL/AP provides policy guidance, and develops and monitors programs to address the full range of criminal justice issues as they relate to stabilization and reconstruction activities in Afghanistan. INL has been engaged in an effort with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) to build the capacity of the Afghan justice sector. Program activities include institutional capacity building, professionalizing justice sector personnel through legal education and training initiatives, improving gender justice services, expanding legal aid services, fostering coordination within the criminal justice system, increasing public awareness and access to justice, and extending the formal justice system throughout the country while working with the traditional systems to provide alternative dispute resolution. The Justice Sector Program Advisor will provide technical expertise in a wide variety of settings, including internal U.S. Embassy and multi-national meetings, to assist the Government of Afghanistan in reaching its stated goals and objectives in reforming its justice system. The Justice Sector Program Advisor will offer assistance in a variety of areas, including justice sector development, mentoring and training of legal practitioners, legal education promotion, gender justice initiatives, implementation of anti-corruption initiatives, and combating major crimes. S/he would also serve as a resource to the INL/Kabul Director, the INL/Kabul Justice Team Lead, Afghan justice sector officials, Afghan civil society organizations, and the INL/AP Justice Team Lead in Washington. S/he is expected to draw on expertise from the United States, as well as innovative justice projects from other countries that could be applied to the Afghan model. The Justice Sector Program Advisor will work with the INL/Kabul section of the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan to manage the day-to-day operations of INL's justice programs and frequently coordinate with INL/AP in Washington. The Justice Sector Program Advisor will also serve as a liaison with various U.S. Government agencies, Afghan justice institutions, and international entities working on rule of law, focusing specifically on criminal justice. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 1.The Justice Sector Program Advisor will work with the INL/Kabul Justice Team Lead on all substantive and bureaucratic tasks in INL's justice programs. 2.Develops and maintains a comprehensive knowledge of the Afghan legal system, with a particular focus on criminal justice, human rights standards, humanitarian law, national security, gender initiatives, and legal education. 3.Conducts legal research, maintains a comprehensive knowledge, and provides expertise to INL and Embassy front office on international justice system development and the Afghan criminal justice system. 4.Coordinates with INL/Kabul and INL/AP to conduct strategic planning in the justice sector, including developing new initiatives and reviewing programs for compliance with U.S. and Afghan law and effectiveness in relation to the goals of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA). 5.Serves as an advisory resource for INL/Kabul, INL/AP, U.S. Embassy Kabul's Coordinating Director of Rule of Law and Law Enforcement for Afghanistan, and Afghan justice officials on specific aspects of planning and implementation of justice reform programs in Afghanistan. 6.Assists in the oversight, monitoring, coordination, and assessment of INL programs to ensure deliverables and foreign assistance priorities set by the Embassy are being fulfilled as directed by the INL/Kabul justice team lead. 7.Fosters interagency cooperation, including coordinating work between the U.S. military and NATO forces conducting rule of law support operations and INL. 8.Supports the development and maintenance of relationships with members of the international community, non-governmental organizations, Afghan justice officials, the United Nations, and NATO, and closely liaises with other international donors and Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) to partner on specialized initiatives and ensure that justice programs are well coordinated and not duplicative. 9.Organizes and participates in meetings, seminars, and exercises to develop plans and programs for implementation of judicial sector assistance in Afghanistan and improve overall capacities to effectively reform the judicial system. 10.Participates in outreach activities with domestic and international rule of law communities to increase awareness of INL programs and policies and solicit greater cooperation and participation. Assists GIRoA in conducting outreach to the Afghan population 11.Develops and delivers training to GIRoA personnel as necessary and ensures that all projects are independently sustainable through internal capacities. 12.Supports the training, mentoring, and support of Afghan justice officials in developing sensitive and high profile cases in such areas as corruption, kidnapping, national security and counter-narcotics. 13.Mentors GIRoA officials on improving government function and organizational reform targeted at building capacity to independently meet Afghanistan's judicial sector needs. 14.Deploys programmatic initiatives targeted at reducing corruption across all community sectors, including justice, advocating principles of good governance and reform. 15.Advocates for greater transparency in the traditional justice system and increased use of the formal justice system for criminal disputes. 16.Manages and oversees programs to advance gender justice, including grants to Afghan women's shelters, legal aid, and access to justice organizations. 17.Introduces innovative technological applications that increase the efficiency, expediency, and organization of the justice delivery system. 18.Advises and supports Afghan law schools to build the capacity to effectively implement legal education programs. 19.Ensures that INL/Kabul and the Embassy front office receives timely information and reporting on programs to ensure that policy decisions are fully informed by programmatic reporting. 20.Ensures that INL/AP in Washington receives timely information and reporting to ensure that senior department, interagency, and budget briefings are fully informed of developments on the ground. 21.Drafts reports and cables detailing pertinent activities in the justice sector. 22.Prepares background materials and reports used by the INL/Kabul and INL/AP Leadership in preparing reports, speeches, briefings, and testimony to articulate INL engagement on justice sector reform in Afghanistan. 23.Assists with designing, developing, and writing contract and grant solicitations, bilateral letters of agreement, and budget plans. 24.Aids in preparing written schedules of events; acts as a control officer for visiting U.S. officials; coordinates all activities and required support with proper personnel; and serves as note taker to senior level meetings. 25.Works effectively under pressure, within short time constraints and during times of rapidly developing events in austere conditions in and/or outside Kabul. TRAININGS & DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES 1.Completes the Contracting Officer Representative (PA296) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) within 120 days of arriving at Post. 2.Completes the Introduction to Working in an Embassy (PN113) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) within the first six (6) months of arriving at Post. 3.Completes the mandatory Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Course (OT610) prior to deployment to Post. 4.Completes the mandatory Afghanistan Familiarization Course (RS415) prior to deployment to Post. RELATIONSHIP The Justice Sector Program Advisor Sector Advisor will be under the leadership and direction of the U.S. Embassy-Kabul INL Section's (INL/Kabul) Director and Deputy Director, reporting through the INL/Kabul Justice Team Lead. The Justice Sector Program Advisor works closely with INL/AP's program managers and specialists responsible for developing and implementing INL programs. The incumbent reports to and receives broad policy guidance and general direction from the INL/Kabul Justice Team Lead. The incumbent proceeds independently in planning and implementing many aspects of organizational, project, and logistical operations. The incumbent coordinates and communicates with INL/Kabul Justice Advisors and the INL/AP Justice Team. The incumbent's actions, decisions, and recommendations are reviewed on the basis of results achieved and conformance with appropriate laws and regulations. Because the incumbent receives only general policy guidance, he/she must constantly depend on his/her own professional judgment to further the mission of INL. DELIVERABLES/REPORTS Deliverables are required under this PSC and shall include; monthly status reports, monthly evaluation of contractor performance, special reports when required and "Completion of assignment report," which shall be a compressive review of the projects in which the contractor was involved. Each report shall include a critique of and recommendations for the various projects. The completions of assignment reports are due no later than fifteen (15) days prior to the expiration of this contract. The Personal Service Contractor shall submit two (2) copies of each report as required to the following; 1.INL/POST Director(s) and; 2.INL/Program Officer Per FAR Part 4, the above referenced documents shall be incorporated and copies stored in the PSC's hard file under Section V.; Tab E - Receiving Reports. The Contractor shall prepare and submit two copies of each technical report required by the schedule of this contract (e.g., progress reports, final reports, etc.), to the Embassy INL Section and to the Program Officer, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), Department of State Washington, DC. The title page of all reports forwarded pursuant to this paragraph shall include a descriptive title, the author's name(s), contract number, project number, and title, contractor's name, name of the State Department project office, and the publication or issuance date of the report. When preparing reports, the Contractor shall refrain from using elaborate artwork, multicolor printing, and expensive paper/binding, unless it is specifically authorized in the Contract Schedule. Wherever possible, pages should be printed on both sides using single spaced type. COMPLEXITY Develops detailed plans, goals, and objectives for the long-range implementation and administration of the program, and/or develops criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the program. Coordinating plans with various other groups including international donors, the U.S. military and the Government of Afghanistan can be complicated. Projects require dynamic leadership, expertise, and complex innovation; strict adherence to high level policy without lower level interpretive assistance; and the ability to single-handedly or in concert with a variety of other stakeholders resolve critical problems and achieve difficult goals that may impact other programs. They are broad in scope and complicated by many complex features, technical, administrative, or political in nature. PHYSICAL DEMANDS In Afghanistan, the work is principally sedentary, however frequent travel in and around, or being stationed in Afghanistan provinces, is likely. While on a site visit there are physical demands associated with travel to and from remote areas abroad in restrained time frames over underdeveloped infrastructure and conveyances - the position requires an above average resistance to fatigue and physical hardships. Extended onsite visits to remote project sites will occasionally be required, necessitating the ability to walk medium to longer distances (hundreds of yards or more) on generally irregular dirt or stone surfaces, in both hilly and flat terrain. Those who use wheelchairs, have respiratory difficulties, or require assistance walking will find this difficult. Additionally, those undergoing medical treatment or taking certain medicines that limit their physical or mental abilities may find it difficult to adhere to the limitations recommended by their physician(s). Travel on helicopters and/or cargo-oriented fixed wing aircraft will also be required. Those with ear or other problems, who do not easily adapt to pressurized environments or higher but non-pressurized environments, will find the travel requirements of these positions difficult. Climate conditions are also often a factor. Work is often done in extremes of cold and heat, in dusty, windy, and polluted environments, and frequently outdoors. Those with circulation problems or difficulties adapting to climate extremes or extremely dusty or polluted environments will find this aspect of the position difficult. GUIDELINES Guidelines consist of USG and Department of State Acquisition Regulations, and accepted legal principles and theories. In addition, incumbent must be able to determine application of basic administrative policy statements concerning the issue or problem being studied, and may include reference to pertinent legislative history, related court decisions, state and local laws, or policy initiatives of agency management. The incumbent must also consider and adhere to various other existing federal regulations, and the interaction between DOS policies, legislation, the Foreign Assistance Act, and other authorization and appropriations in the INL account, applicable National Security and Presidential Decision Directives, OMB Circulars, and DOS financial operating procedures and policies. The incumbent is recognized as a substantive authority on overall management and/or interpretation of guidance on program and project planning and evaluation in a specialized area. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 1.U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of State Secret level security, medical, and ethics clearances. 2.J.D. from an accredited law school. 3.Minimum of six (6) years of development and/or legal experience. 4.Excellent writing and communication skills. 5.Demonstrated superior negotiation, interpersonal, and managerial skills. 6.Demonstrated experience in planning, strategizing, implementing, and reporting on projects. 7.Proficient at basic office computer programs. 8.Professional work experience overseas implementing rule of law projects, particularly in a post-conflict environment. 9.Demonstrated experience working in a post-conflict environment. EVALUATION CRITERIA FACTOR 1:Work Experience (25 points) Demonstrated ability to provide expert justice subject matter and policy recommendations to senior level policy makers within the Embassy and INL. Demonstrated experience working in a U.S. Embassy overseas and/or the Department of State or USAID in Washington, DC. FACTOR 2:Program Experience(20 points) Demonstrated experience and ability to assess current programs and assist in developing and planning for improving U.S. capacities to implement justice programs. Demonstrated experience serving as a Contracting Officer's Representative and/or Grants Officer Representative. FACTOR 3:International Experience (20 points) Demonstrated ability to liaise with members of relevant USG agencies, Host National representatives, and the international community in developing and coordinating justice programs. Demonstrated experience overseeing development programs in a Muslim-majority country. FACTOR 4Management & Communication Experience (20 points) Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in a timely and concise manner; interact effectively with others at all levels to prepare, analyze, explain and defend determinations and requirements with respect to conformance to applicable laws, policies and other regulatory guidelines; and advise program officials. FACTOR 5:Past Performance (15 points) Past performance evaluation of applicant's ability to perform under the contract. In conducting the evaluation, the U.S. 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.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/State/INL/INL-RM-MS/PSC-18-031-INL/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Kabul, Afghanistan
- Record
- SN04944494-W 20180607/180605231250-d6ef695ae0406b2491d2a10705529a9a (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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