USAID EL SALVADOR

FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72051923R10019

ISSUANCE DATE: June 5, 2023

CLOSING DATE/TIME: June 26, 2023 / 11:59 pm

El Salvador time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for a Cooperating Country National Personal Service Contractor

(CCNPSC - Local Compensation Plan)

TITLE: Project Management Specialist (Gender Advisor)

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID), is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as
described in this solicitation.

Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1 of this solicitation. Incomplete offers will not
be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records.

USAID will evaluate all offerors based on the stated evaluation criteria. USAID encourages all
individuals, including those from disadvantaged and under-represented groups, to respond to
the solicitation.

This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit USAID
to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the offers.

Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in the Attached 1.

Sincerely, Digitally signed

by Andrew
Reese
Date: 2023.05.31
19:56:38 -06'00'

Andrew Reese
Contracting Officer

U.S. Agency for International Development

Mission to El Salvador
c/o United States Embassy
Blvd. y Urb. Santa Elena, Tel: (503) 2501-2999
Antiguo Cuscatlán, La Libertad Fax: (503) 2298-0885
El Salvador, Centro América www.usaid.gov/el-salvador
1
ATTACHMENT 1 72051923R10019

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72051923R10019

2. ISSUANCE DATE: June 5, 2023

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: June 26, 2023 /11:59 pm
El Salvador time
4. POINT OF CONTACT:
Executive Office
USAID / El Salvador
Email: ssvacancies@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Project Management Specialist (Gender Advisor)

6. MARKET VALUE: $45,073.00 - $72,124.00 equivalent to FSN-11

In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of the U.S. Mission
in El Salvador. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: USAID expects the successful offeror to provide continuous

services under a series of sequential contracts subject to availability of funds.

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/El Salvador with possible travel as stated in the

Statement of Duties.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: This position is open to All Interested Offerors.

ALL OFFERORS MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE
ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.
1. Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply.
2. Current employees with unsatisfactory performance are not eligible to apply.
3. Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and residency status in
determining a successful offeror.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Selected offeror must be able to obtain a favorable
Security Certification for employment authorization from the U.S. Embassy’s Regional
Security Office.

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

1) General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

The USAID Project Management Specialist (Gender Advisor) is a cross-cutting position
located in the Regional Program Office, under the supervision of the Cross-Cutting Team
Lead Program Officer. The chief function of this position is to advise and support the
Mission on complying with the following policies and their successors: the Women’s

2
ATTACHMENT 1 72051923R10019

Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018 (Section 3); U.S.

Government and USAID gender equality- and equity related policies and strategies such
as, the USAID Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy and ADS 205, the
U.S. Strategy on Women, Peace and Security, U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to
Gender Based Violence Globally, U.S. Global Women’s Economic Security Strategy, U.S.
Global Strategy to Empower Adolescent Girls, and the Nondiscrimination for
Beneficiaries Policy; and any other relevant and/or related USAID or U.S. government
policy or strategy.

The incumbent will work across the Mission to advance these policies through all phases
of the Program Cycle, including in strategic planning, activity design and
implementation, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning. Critically, the incumbent will
strengthen the capacity of Mission staff and implementing partners to actualize these
policies. The incumbent will work closely with the Mission’s CORs/AORs/Activity
Managers, technical advisors and other staff to 1. support, manage, facilitate or conduct
gender analyses and integration of into the Mission's work, including but not limited to,
strategy development and program/activity solicitation and design; and 2. support
implementation of gender analysis findings throughout the program cycle, including
collection, analysis and reporting of disaggregated data and other gender-sensitive data
to contribute to adaptive management, evidence-based decision making, and proper
reporting. The Gender Advisor may serve as COR/AOR or Activity Manager for the
Mission's gender focused awards. Using an intersectional approach, they will help
promote equality and equity for women, men, and people of diverse gender identities in
USAID's programming. The Gender Advisor may provide support to other missions
which may require travel. The job holder may also be expected to provide field support
and engage in other work-related travel.

2) Statement of Duties to be Performed

a. Policy Advisor and Mission Representation (60%)
Serve as the Mission's Point of Contact for gender equality and provide highly qualified
policy and technical advice to technical teams on compliance with USAID's gender
equality-related and other policies and legal requirements. Advise the Program Office,
technical teams and Mission gender points of contact throughout all aspects of the
Program Cycle to ensure that these policies and legal requirements are carried out in
the implementation of USAID's activities. Participate in the activity design process, as
appropriate, to ensure that gender equality-related policies are integrated into sector
specific activities using transformative, intersectional approaches. Provide updates on
progress, challenges, and opportunities and seek input from Mission leadership, as
appropriate. Lead or co-lead an internal interoffice gender working group with technical
staff, other gender advisors, and Mission gender points of contact. Provide regular
direct support to gender working groups among USAID implementing partners.

Provide leadership, promote coordination, and represent USAID, by providing input and
participating in activities that contribute to Agency-wide gender-related efforts such as
ATTACHMENT 1 72051923R10019

development of guidance or policy documents and participation in interagency

collaboration and bilateral and multilateral meetings and events. Provide
recommendations on how projects may be better designed to ensure that women, men,
and people of diverse gender identities all benefit equitably from USAID investments.
Serve as the Mission Liaison to relevant in-country collaborations including with the
embassy, interagency gender working groups, gender donor coordination group, local
government efforts, and related communities of practices, such as on GBV or inclusive
development. Cultivate and maintain close relationships with stakeholders working on
efforts that further USAID gender equality and women's empowerment policy
objectives. Routinely collaborate with others working on gender and inclusive
development, such as Mission Inclusive Development or Youth Advisors, to advance
these efforts. Routinely collaborate with others working on gender and inclusive
development, such as Mission Inclusive Development or Youth Advisors, to advance
these efforts. Work with the Development Outreach and Communications (DOC) team
to coordinate USAID's participation and involvement in key global gender equality-
related campaigns, such as International Women's Day, International Day of the Girl
Child, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, etc.

Arrange for training and other capacity building activities for the Mission and the
Mission's implementing partners to help ensure compliance with gender-related
policies.

The Gender Advisor may provide support to other Missions, Mission Gender Advisors,
and Points of Contact, which may require travel.

b. Documentation, Reporting and Training (20%)

Manage, review, and/or draft Mission responses to reporting related to gender equality,
including but not limited to narratives for the annual Performance Plan and Report and
Operational Plan. Work with the Program Office Budget Specialist and Activity Managers
to appropriately identify budget attributions for activities that support these policies,
and to meet gender equality-related earmarks. Provide input to the DOC team on
achievements of Mission Activities related to gender equality. Contribute as needed to
other Mission reporting requirements. Participate in regular training to ensure up-to-
date technical excellence, including USAID's gender equality, gender-based violence,
Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), and other gender equality or inclusive development
related and AOR/COR professional development training.

c. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (20%)

Advise on Mission Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) efforts to support
implementation of gender equality-related policies. Work with technical teams to
review project and activity MEL plans and advise on how to ensure requirements such
as data-disaggregation, standard F gender and custom gender indicators, and gender-
based learning objectives are in place to comply with the relevant policies, including the
Foundations for Evidence Based Policy Act, and to measure meaningful results. Review
ATTACHMENT 1 72051923R10019

field reporting to ensure gender equality factors are assessed. Participate in field
monitoring visits as appropriate to promote integration of and empowerment of women
and men, girls and boys and people of diverse gender identities. Review all Portfolio
Review submissions to help teams highlight gender-related achievements and advise
them where programming could be strengthened through stronger gender integration.
Review evaluation scopes of work and advise on compliance with gender-related
policies.

The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the United States, or to
other Missions abroad, to participate in the "Foreign Service National" Fellowship
Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

3) Supervisory Relationship
a. Supervision Received: This position will be supervised by the Cross-Cutting Team
Lead Program Officer.
b. Supervision Exercised: The incumbent will not have supervisory responsibilities.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

a. Education: A minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Social Science, Law, Public

Health, or other relevant discipline is required. (Copy of degree is required)

b. Prior Work Experience: Minimum five (5) years of progressive increase in responsibilities
in gender equality integration work including gender analysis, and gender integration to
project design, implementation, and reporting. Experience must include design and
implementation of gender equality and equity related projects, and conducting or drawing
on gender analysis, monitoring and evaluation and/or international development research.

c. Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) written and spoken Spanish and English language
proficiency are required. (This will be tested)
d. Job Knowledge: The incumbent will be required to have a detailed knowledge of U.S.
government, international donor, or other commonly utilized program and project
management procedures and guidelines, particularly gender integration challenges,
approaches, and best practices. A sound knowledge of the concepts, principles, techniques,
and practices of development assistance is required. A sound knowledge of El Salvador
economic, social, cultural, and political characteristics is required, particularly the
challenges and impediments that the local context presents for women, youth, and other
disadvantaged groups. The incumbent will be required to be proactive in keeping abreast
of evolving gender equality and inclusive development guidelines and policies which affect
overall program activities within the Mission such as the Automated Directives System
ATTACHMENT 1 72051923R10019

(ADS), Agency Policies, Mission Orders, Mission Notices, and USAID Strategy and Policy
Documents. (This may be tested)
e. Skills and Abilities: Demonstrated ability to advocate for gender equality and women’s
empowerment within organizations and with external partners. The incumbent must have
the ability to quickly develop a thorough understanding of USAID's gender equality-related
policies and put them into action. Excellent organizational skills are required.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and in collaboration with other team
members and units is required. The ability to establish and maintain contacts with
implementing partners is required. The ability to communicate effectively, both orally and
in writing, is necessary. The incumbent must be able to draft clear reports, analyses, and
briefing documents in English, in a timely manner. The incumbent must also have excellent
interpersonal and communication skills in order to: 1) facilitate productive professional
relationships within USAID's culturally diverse team environment; 2) work calmly, tactfully,
and effectively under pressure; 3) demonstrate extraordinary flexibility; 4) effectively
manage multiple tasks at the same time, and 5) liaise effectively with embassy, host
country officials, and other international donors. Gender-related training and/or
certificate. (This may be tested)

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.

USAID 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.

USAID 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.

1. Offerors will be initially screened based on the extent to which the individual meets the
minimum qualifications above.
ATTACHMENT 1 72051923R10019

2. A Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) will review and evaluate the offers that meet
the minimum requirements and will create a ranking of the most highly rated and
technically qualified offerors based on the following evaluation criteria:

Prior Work Experience (35%)

Job Knowledge (30%)
Skills and Abilities (35%)

As assessed against the Technical Evaluation criteria, offerors who possess qualifications
that exceed the minimum requirements may be awarded additional points/credit in the
evaluation process.

3. The TEC will conduct interviews of the most highly rated offerors before making a
selection recommendation to the Contracting Officer (CO). The interview will be one of
the determining factors in the final selection.

4. Before a final offeror is selected for the position, the CO will direct the TEC or the
Human Resources Division to perform professional reference checks and they will also
be factored into the final selection.

5. At the end of the process, only the Offerors who are invited for an interview will be
notified of the TEC final selection.

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

1. Eligible Offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form, or the offers will not
be considered: Application for US Federal Employment (DS-174 English version), which is
available on our website https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds174.pdf

2. Offerors must submit the DS-174 to ssvacancies@usaid.gov and clearly reference the
solicitation number and position title on all offeror submitted documents.

3. Offerors must submit a copy of the required degree.

4. Offerors may submit any other documentation (e.g., cv, cover letter, essays, certificates,
awards, etc.) that addresses the qualification requirements of the positions as listed above.

5. 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.

6. Offeror submissions must clearly reference the Solicitation number on all offeror submitted
documents.

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

ATTACHMENT 1 72051923R10019

1. 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
appropriate forms.

2. Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors - Please be advised
that, upon award, the contractor will be required to follow the Mission policies and/or
directives from the U.S. Department of State regarding COVID-19 requirements.

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a Cooperating Country National (CCN) PSC is

authorized benefits and allowances in accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the LCP of the
U.S. Mission in El Salvador.

VII. TAXES

Locally employed staff are required to follow Mission policy and local labor law as described in
the LCP.

VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs

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

1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts with a

Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National 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:

LINE ITEMS
ITEM SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION) QUANTITY UNIT UNIT AMOUNT
NO (B) (C) (D) PRICE (F)
(A) (E)

0001 Compensation, Fringe Benefits and 1 LOT $ _TBD__ $_TBD at

Other Direct Costs (ODCs) Award
- Award Type: Cost after
- Product Service Code: [e.g., R497] negotiatio
ns with
ATTACHMENT 1 72051923R10019

- Accounting Info: [insert one or more Contractor

citation(s) from Phoenix/GLAAS] _
I I

3. Acquisition & 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/OGE%20Regulations

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.