THE FOLLOWING IS A POSTING FOR A PAST POSITION AND IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

ISSUANCE DATE: February 17, 2000
CLOSING DATE: March 3, 2000

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER:       M/OP-00-561
2. ISSUANCE DATE:             February 17, 2000
3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED
FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS:  March 3, 2000
4. POSITION TITLE:            Information Officer
5. MARKET VALUE:              $46,955 to $61,040 Per Year
6. INITIAL PERIOD
OF PERFORMANCE: Approx. March 30, 2000 to March 29, 2001
7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:      Pristina, Kosovo
8. JOB DESCRIPTION (TO INCLUDE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR POSITION):

Information Officer for the OFDA Kosovo Program Office

OFDA Kosovo Program Office
Information Officer – Statement of Work

The contractor will be assigned by BHR/OFDA to USAID/BHR/OFDA’s Kosovo Program Office as an Information Officer on a temporary basis.  The term of this temporary duty assignment is initially for a six month period but could be extended contingent upon program needs and a review of the employee’s performance after three months.

The position of Information Officer is established to coordinate information gathering and reporting activities with USG offices, UN, IO and NGO relief organizations, and other donor countries; prepare and transmit situation reports to OFDA/Washington; liaise with representatives from UN agencies, DOD, KFOR, local and international relief organizations as well as local authorities; and represent BHR/OFDA in meetings.

The incumbent is the principal coordinating official within BHR/OFDA’s Kosovo Program Office responsible on a daily and recurring basis for coordinating, managing and distributing composite information associated with international relief efforts in the region, in conjunction with other BHR/OFDA staff.  The Information Officer will report to the BHR/OFDA’s Senior Program Officer.

In this capacity, based on a comprehensive understanding of the roles and objectives of the implementing agencies and the complex array of disaster relief and humanitarian assistance activities in the region, the incumbent will evaluate and provide up-to-date reporting on the interrelated sector activities of the various program components of the overall international effort.   In addition, the incumbent will investigate and develop special reports on significant, timely issues that surface as a result of trend analysis and other analytical indicators.

The specific duties of the Contractor shall include, but not be limited to the following:

1. Establish and maintain information contacts with representatives of U.N. agencies, NGOs, other donors, local authorities, and other USG personnel to collect needed technical information for situation reports based and program planning requirements.

2.   Research, write, and edit periodic situation reports based on the analysis of information collected from the field, meetings, reports, and numerous other sources.  Situation reports should include the following information:

     General situations - recent security incidents, findings from assessment reports, donor meetings, etc.;
     Convoy movements, obstructions, and security incidents;
     Populations at risk - numbers affected, target groups, and their locations;
     Humanitarian assistance requirements in Kosovo by sector, (e.g. health, food/agriculture, shelter, water/sanitation);
     Status of OFDA and other USG-, and non-USG-funded humanitarian programs;
     Political and military situations as they impact on relief programs;
     Contingency planning for future internal displacements of populations.
 

3.  Transmit Kosovo Program Office situation reports to OFDA/Washington. Establish/follow clearing process for sitreps with Senior Program Officer.

4.  Write special reports on specific situations affecting humanitarian assistance as requested by the Senior Program Officer, U.S. Office Pristina, and BHR/OFDA/Washington.

5.   Identify and collect information to define priority relief requirements in coordination with donor and UN representatives, NGOs, and local authorities.

6.   Participate in, and report on field trips throughout Kosovo, when possible.

7.  Collaborate on and/or edit reports on field trips and assessments conducted by other USG personnel.

8.  Attend all Kosovo Program Office planning and operational meetings to capture actions and issues which need to be relayed to decision makers in Washington.

9.  Review all in-coming information documents for the Kosovo Program Office.  In coordination with the local employee(s), establish and maintain an information management system.

10.  Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Program Officer.

11.  Prepare and submit an end of tour report.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Three years experience in humanitarian relief operations, specializing in information support activities.

2. Strong familiarity with international NGOs, their capacities, mandates, and operational structure.

3. Experience working in complex emergencies with UN agencies, international organizations, and multiple non-governmental organizations under conditions of insecurity.

4. Extensive information reporting experience at the field and regional level, including reporting on field assessments,
synthesizing analysis of field conditions and needs, and describing relief community’s approach and response to field requirements.

5. Good knowledge of basic humanitarian relief sector issues: health, shelter, food, water/sanitation, non-food, agriculture, logistics, UN organization, etc.

6. Excellent writing skills.

7. Strong team player.

8. Excellent interpersonal skills including communication, informational interviewing and collaborating with others.

9. Good analytical skills.

10. Past field experience in Kosovo required, and expertise in Kosovo-based information support activities a plus.

11. Knowledge of and ability to operate field telecommunications equipment including VHF, HF, satellite telephone.

12. Ability and experience in operating of USG four-wheel drive vehicles, especially over poor roads and in inclement weather.

13. Knowledge of USAID, BHR, OFDA, PRM and other USG agencies required.

14. Albanian or Serbian language a plus, but not a requirement.

15. US citizen.

 AS A MATTER OF POLICY, AND AS APPROPRIATE, A PSC IS NORMALLY AUTHORIZED THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS:

1. BENEFITS

Employee's FICA Contribution
Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance
Pay Comparability Adjustment
Annual Increase
Eligibility for Worker's Compensation
Annual & Sick Leave

2. ALLOWANCES (if Applicable).

* (A) Temporary Lodging 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), and
(J) Danger Pay (Section 650).

3. CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs) PERTAINING TO PSCs _

98-25 Defense Base Act (DBA) Coverage and DBA Waiver List _
98-24 Use of Compensatory (Comp) Time by PSCs _
98-23 Guidance Regarding Classified Contract Security and Contractor Personnel Security Requirements _
98-16 Annual Salary Increase for USPSCs _
98-14 Change in Required Application Form for USPSCs _
98-10 Personal Services Contracts (PSCs) Annual Health Insurance Costs
98-5  CONTRACTUAL COVERAGE FOR MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC) SERVICES _
98-3  Class Deviation to 31.205-6(g)(3), Foreign National Severance Pay Under Professional Services Contracts _
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 (Corrected) 1997 FICA & Medicate Tax Rates for Personal Services Contracts _
97-6  Contractual Coverage for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Services _
97-3  New USAID Contractor Employee Physical Examination _
96-23 Unauthorized Provision in Personal Services Contract _
96-19 U. S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) - Leave _
96-11 PSC's Annual Health Insurance Costs _
96-8  Determining a Market Value for PSCs Hired Under Appendix D, Handbook 14 _
94-9  Sunday Pay for U.S. Personal Services Contractors (PSCs) _
93-17 Financial Disclosure Requirements Under a Personal Services Contractor (PSC)

LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs

  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).

NOTE: Form 5 is available from the requirements office.
_______________
  * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas).
** The forms listed 2 through 5 shall only be completed upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job