Project Management Specialist (Infrastructure)

Description

• The USAID Supervisory Project Management Specialist (Infrastructure) provides management, oversight, and supervision of all comprehensive, strategic, technical and managerial services in support of the Mission’s technical offices, including facility construction and renovation activities. He/she exercises extensive judgement in strategic infrastructure program planning, appropriate implementing mechanism development, carrying out implementation tasks, resolving problems and conflicts, and in taking the necessary steps to meet deadlines, where delays impact objectives and results of the Government of the Republic of Mozambique, United States Government (USG), and Mission activities where sustainable infrastructure is required for success. The incumbent ensures that value engineering, best construction practices, and building local capacity for operation and maintenance are part of activity design and implementation. He/she is the Mission’s expert technical infrastructure advisor to the interagency, host country counterparts within the MOH, water authorities, and public works entities in the planning, development, implementation, coordination and evaluation of Mission’s infrastructure activities, including non-USG funded works
• The USAID Supervisory Project Management Specialist (Infrastructure) serves as an independent Quality Assurance Representative, responsible for the quality assurance and inspection of construction projects for compliance with plans, specifications, acceptability of materials, methods and workmanship, and required safety and labor law regulations. The incumbent reports to the Program Office Chief
• The job holder will be expected to perform work-related travel
• SUBJECT: Solicitation for a Cooperating Country National Personal Service Contractor (CCNPSC) – USAID Project Management Specialist (Infrastructure), FSN-12 Equivalent
• Dear Prospective Offerors:
• The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Mozambique is seeking applications from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation
• Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1, Sections I through V of this solicitation. Incomplete offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records.
• 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 information.
• Solicitation No. 72065620R10009 opened to all Mission current employees and external candidates who meet the stated qualifications
• Point of Contact: Mission-Maputo-HR@usaid.gov
• Market Value: USD71,700 – USD100,366 per annum, equivalent to FSN-12 (Step1-12)
• In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/Mozambique). Final compensation will be negotiated within the market value
• Period of Performance: The base period will be one year, estimated to start on or about June 2020. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise one additional option period for the dates estimated as follows:
• Base Period: June 2020
• Option Period 1: +June 2021-November 2022
• Place of performance: Maputo, Mozambique
• Eligible Offerors: To meet basic eligibility requirements, the applicant must be a cooperating country citizen or a non-cooperating country citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the cooperating country
• Security Level Required: Employment Certification (RSO Certification)
• Benefits and Allowances:
• This is a local position and compensation will be in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan
• USAID Regulations, Policies and Contract Clauses pertaining to PSCs:
• USAID regulations and policies governing CCN/TCN PSC awards are available at these sources:
• 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/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf
• 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:
• Item No (A) Services (Description)
• (B) QUANTITY
• (C) UNIT
• (D) UNIT PRICE
• (E) AMOUNT
• (F) 0001 Base Period - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)
• Award Type: PSC
• Product Service Code: R497
• Accounting Info:656-MOD-656-19-0002 1 LOT $ _TBD__ $_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor_1001 Option Period 1 – Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)
• Award Type: PSC
• Product Service Code: R497
• Accounting Info: 656-MOD-656-19-0002 1 LOT $ _TBD__ $_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor_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 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

Duties

• The SIPM will serve as Infrastructure Team Lead, supervising the Infrastructure Team, and providing program management, oversight, and supervision for Mission infrastructure activities, including facility construction and rehabilitation, and oversight services for site works of multiple concurrent activities. This may include providing technical guidance to other activity managers and Agreement/Contracting Officer Representatives (A/COR) that have an infrastructure component(s) in their activities. In the planning, design, and implementation of the infrastructure portfolio, the incumbent will coordinate with GRM counterparts and officials, USG and USAID colleagues, construction and oversight contractors, and activity stakeholders. Major duties and responsibilities are highlighted in the following functional categories:

Project Management and Infrastructure Team Supervision 40%

• Oversees the planning, designing and execution of construction and maintenance activities:
• Provides engineering and other technical assistance advice and guidance in infrastructure planning, design, implementation, and evaluation, including conceptualization, analysis, technical and public policy reviews, scopes of work, cost estimates, and approval documentation; safety, and security matters; assures compliance with all environmental, safety and labor laws/standards
• As Infrastructure Team Lead, leads and/or participates in the acquisition and assistance processes, e.g., as chair or as a member of Technical Evaluation Committees for USAID construction and renovation activities; participates in interagency working groups that involve infrastructure design, construction, and renovation activities, identifying and resolving cross-cutting issues
• Ensures all construction activities are performed in accordance within the terms of agreement and specifications; obtains required approvals for any changes to designs, specifications, and scopes of work
• Participates in routine meetings between the host government, implementing partners, contractors and any sub-contractors to review the status of projects and address any technical matters; reviews and recommends approval or disapproval of solicitation documents and proposed awards and make recommendations for concurrence
• Fulfills all monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and reporting requirements in accordance with USG, USAID requirements. Monitors the activities of any independent Architectural and Engineering firm to assure compliance with host country building requirements, permit requirements, contract plans and specifications; reviews quality assurance and field reports from a technical engineering aspect, and recommends corrective action to the implementing party to bring the construction quality into compliance with plans and specifications
• Plans and prioritizes work in coordination with supported offices/sections to ensure optimal performance and results
• Provides guidance and oversight to IPM in the conduct of all project management activities
• Provides regular feedback and conducts performance reviews for IPM in accordance with Mission and Agency policies and regulations
• Performs each of the above duties in accordance with USAID policies and regulations, as well as host government and partner laws, regulations and requirements. Projects include new construction, renovation, or updating and upgrading of equipment/facilities in which application of professional engineering expertise is required to ensure conformance to international best practices, compliance with contract terms and specifications, and adherence to internationally recognized project management practices

Technical Support 20%

• Provides in-house technical support:
• Explores design or specification options, in order to better inform design decisions made by the supported organizations
• Obtains preliminary construction site information including building and site surveys, information on ground conditions, availability of utilities, availability of access and related constraints, legislative constraints, and existence (or lack of) planning consent
• Provides guidance and oversight to IPM in the conduct of all technical support activities
• Performs each of the above duties in accordance with USAID policies and regulations and host government/partner laws, regulations and requirements

Administrative 20%

• Project Administration:
• Performs the full range of COR/AOR duties when assigned contract responsibility related to Mission infrastructure activities
• Reviews periodic payment invoices and recommends disbursement of funds by the Office of Financial Management (OFM); monitors project schedules, budgets and resource plans to ensure that projects adhere to schedule and budget and advises of any deviations from the approved project work plan; Recommends concurrence with variations, change orders or contract amendments
• Recommends corrective actions to resolve problems during construction. Works independently and reviews construction reports to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the award/contract
• Reviews periodic progress reports and advises to the timeliness of all deliverables; reviews quality assurance reports or other deliverables for completeness, accuracy and readability; maintains records and prepares close-out files on completed projects
• Provides guidance and oversight to IPM in the conduct of all administrative activities
• Performs each of the above duties in accordance with USAID policies and regulations and host government/partner laws, regulations and requirements

Monitoring & Evaluation 20%

• Monitoring & Evaluation of all Works:
• Maintains up-to-date, effective mechanisms for periodically reviewing the status of the infrastructure activity implementation plans for each implementing partner (IP)
• Manages the input of appropriate IP performance information into CPARS in accordance with Agency policies and regulations
• Conducts regular scheduled site visits to monitor and verify construction and renovation activities, and to the extent feasible these site visits involve appropriate GoM/MOH and other counterparts, at the provincial and district levels
• Ensures IP compliance with GoM, USG, USAID, and Mission codes, conditions, and requirements, including adherence to environmental and safety regulations
• Maintains an environmental monitoring and reporting system among all IPs carrying out infrastructure activities, reviews their periodic reports, and reports to the Mission’s Environmental Officer (MEO); and,
• Works closely with all IPs (separately and collectively, as needed) to identify lessons learned, best practices, and success stories from the infrastructure program
• Provides guidance and oversight to IPM in the conduct of all monitoring and evaluation activities
• Performs each of the above duties in accordance with USAID policies and regulations and host government/partner laws, regulations and requirements
• Supervisory Relationship: The employee will work under the direct supervision of the USDH Supervisory Program Officer. The SIPM will work closely with senior mission leadership, interagency counterparts and technical working group leads in providing optimum support to mission infrastructure activities. The incumbent must also be able to work independently in the achievement of short-term goals and long-term strategies in projects/activities
• Supervisory Exercised: The incumbent directly supervises one Project Management Specialist (Infrastructure), FSN 11, providing guidance and assisting in resolving problems, and achieving objectives
• Available Guidelines: USAID Automated Directives and supplements thereto, safety manuals, construction and management codes, strategic and other general program documents, contact with acquisition and financial management offices, assistance and acquisition instruments
• Exercise of Judgment: The incumbent must be able to exercise a professional level of judgment in the exercise of responsibilities and in the application of USAID rules and regulations and interpretation of USAID objectives and priorities in working with a very diverse range of organizations and individuals. Relying on professional training and experience, the facts of the current situation and relevant sources of guidance, the exercise of well-developed professional judgment in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating program activities will be very important in this position, which involves working with institutions in areas of political and social sensitivity
• The incumbent will exercise significant independent judgment under the guidance of the Supervisory Program Officer. Success depends on understanding the issues and having a flexible approach to dealing with potential implementation problems. In addition, good judgment will be necessary in assessing progress in meeting performance criteria, technical assistance finding solutions to complex situations and making the appropriate recommendations to facilitate progress towards program goals
• Authority to Make Commitments: The incumbent may not independently commit the USG to the expenditure of funds; but, within the scope of the authority delegated, the incumbent may indicate to ranking counterpart and IP officials that they will make a recommendation to USAID on a specific activity issue or problem. The incumbent may negotiate ad referendum for the immediate supervisor. S/he takes action and establishes priorities based on available guidelines and professional judgment. Guidance is sought when needed, and the supervisor informed of activity and project status. Contact with projects will be on a regular basis and involve office and field visits
• Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The SIPM is required to interact with tact and good judgment with superiors, colleagues and partners, both inside and outside the USG team, including the GRM, for purposes of strategic planning, providing technical assistance, effectively managing programs, collecting needed information, and communicating about project activities
• Time Expected to Reach Full Performance Level: One Year
• Physical Demands: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands

Requisites

• Education: A Master's degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Architectural Engineering, City Planning, Construction Management, or other relevant field required
• Prior Work Experience: A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible, professional-level experience in the planning, engineering, and construction of infrastructure projects, including experience in water system implementation, with at least five years of this experience in a developing country, preferably in Mozambique or the Southern Africa region, and at least two years of related supervisory experience. Demonstrated experience supporting national and regional stakeholders in planning and implementing construction programs/projects/activities is required. Work experience in managing implementing partners and understanding construction contracting and environmental requirements is also required
• Post Entry Training: USAID Project and Financial Management systems; United States foreign assistance laws, regulations, and policies; USAID business processes and procedures; acquisition and assistance (COR/AOR) certification, monitoring and evaluation training, as well as periodic state-of-the-art training to maintain professional competency and licenses will be provided based on course relevance, offerings, and availability of funds. This may include appropriate on-the-job training and other opportunities
• Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) oral and writing ability in English and Portuguese is required. (This will be tested)
• Job Knowledge: The incumbent must have a thorough technical knowledge of construction project management including previous experience in program and contract administration. Practical knowledge of the methods and techniques used to convey engineering and architectural ideas and information, on drawings and final construction drawings, is required. Substantive knowledge of sound construction practices, and the range of suitable construction materials generally available in developing countries is necessary for success in the position. Also required are a substantive knowledge of the design of relatively simple structures, suitable for developing countries, and knowledge of international donor operations and procedures. Thorough professional knowledge in design calculations; criteria, preparation and ability to critically review A&E drawings and specifications is required
• Skills and Abilities: The incumbent must have sound professional knowledge/skills in construction and building principles and project management with demonstrated ability to supervise a small team, oversee and manage multiple infrastructure construction, renovation and/or improvement projects. He/she must possess strong supervisory, organization and management skills, analytical and research skills, social and professional judgment, excellent interpersonal skills in cross-cultural and multi-level settings, and an ability to interact effectively with mid- and senior-level government officials, and to maintain collaborative working relationships within a team structure
• The work requires the ability to organize, analyze, interpret, and evaluate information regarding infrastructure facilities and services; project management techniques, including using consultants and contractors to complete the work; the ability to develop and maintain effective working-level and management-level contacts, in the context of development activities with government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector; the ability to work effectively within team and interagency environments, and to coordinate well with others; and, the ability to interpret regulatory directives and related guidance
• The incumbent must have well-developed computer skills, in order to implement, analyze, monitor, and manage activity goals, inputs, outcomes, and achievements, both program and impact, including Word, Excel, AutoCad, and database software. Financial management and administrative skills are required to track the performance of IPs and programs/projects/activities. Additionally, the work requires the ability to present information analyses and recommendations in clear written and oral formats
• The selected candidate must be capable of producing high quality work, often under time pressure and in complex situations. He/she also must be able to communicate in English effectively in writing and verbally, lead and participate in discussions and meetings effectively, and must be able to rapidly analyze information, evaluate data, and prepare reports and related documents in English

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 following evaluation factors are established

• Education - 20 points
• Prior Work Experience - 25 points
• Job Knowledge - 20 points
• Language Proficiency - 10 points
• Skills and Abilities - 25 points
• Maximum Points: 100 points

Notes

• Only short listed applicants will be contacted
• Per this scoring, Job Knowledge and Skills and Abilities are the most important factors, followed by Prior Work Experience; Education and Language Proficiency. Applications will initially be screened for conformity with minimum requirements. Only applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position will be considered. Candidates will be evaluated based on relevant education, prior work experience, knowledge, language proficiency, skills and abilities demonstrated in their application packages
• A Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) will be convened to review applications and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Applications from candidates who do not meet the required selection criteria will not be scored. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted and will be invited for a language test
• Candidates successfully passing the language exam will be invited for an oral interview and may also be required to pass a written test. No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants Professional references will be conducted for the top ranked candidate and will be utilized to supplement the TEC’s recommendation to the Contracting Officer to offer the position to the top ranked candidate Final selection will be based on the application package, language abilities, oral interview and reference checks. This is a local position and compensation will be in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan
• Please note that USAID and the U.S. Government NEVER require payment of any money in connection with a job application
• A cover letter in English with CV/Applicant Resume in English
• Names, contact numbers, and e-mail addresses of three professional references from individuals who are not family members or relatives. Reference checks will be conducted for the final selected candidate for the Contracting Officer to make a responsibility determination. USAID/Mozambique reserves the right to solicit references from other sources as deemed appropriate
• To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission
• Only interviewed candidates will be informed in writing of the Selection Committee’s final decision
• Once the Contracting Officer (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 required forms