Program Operations Specialist - Budget and Finance

SOLICITATION NO: M/OP-02-568
ISSUANCE DATE:  February 7, 2002
CLOSING DATE: EXTENDED DATE: March 18, 2002 – 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)

SUBJECT: Solicitation for Personal Services Contractor (PSC)

 Program Operations Specialist  - Budget and Finance

Gentlemen/Ladies:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA), Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is seeking applications (Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612) from persons 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.

Applicants are required to sign the certification at the end of the OF-612 or SF-171. Applications that are received without signature will not be considered for the position.

Questions may be directed to Heather Cameron 202-661-9369 or Jesse C. Freese 202-661-9366, or Fax at 240-465-0244 or via e-mail at ofda@globalcorps.com. Applicants should retain copies of all enclosures that accompany their proposals.

Sincerely,

Jean Horton
Contracting Officer

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: M/OP-02-568
2. ISSUANCE DATE: February 7, 2002
3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: EXTENDED DATE: March 18, 2002 – 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)
4. POSITION TITLE: Program Operations Specialist – Budget and Finance
5. MARKET VALUE: $55,694 to $72,400
6. INITIAL PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: April 1, 2002 – February 28, 2004
7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Washington, DC
8. JOB DESCRIPTION (TO INCLUDE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR POSITION):

 

Program Operations Specialist - Budget and Finance

 

The Program Operations Specialist (POS) will be one member of the three-person finance/budget team consisting of a Sr. Program Analyst (Team Leader), Financial Operations Specialist, and the contractor.  As directed by the Team Leader, the POS will assist in the management of program-related data generated by DCHA/OFDA’s worldwide operations.  The position will include, but shall not be limited to, the following duties:

 

Review annual DCHA/OFDA appropriation language for the International Disaster Assistance Account and supplementals provided.  Draft guidelines for use of various types of funds and set up tracking systems for the Team Leader to use in tracking various types of funds.

 

Participate in proposal reviews that evaluate the conceptual soundness and technical feasibility of disaster assistance activities and emergency projects.  The contractor’s role shall be to evaluate the level of resources requested compared to the results to be achieved and make a recommendation relative to the cost-realism of the budget submitted with the proposal.

 

As required, draft various documents necessary to effect a response to declared disasters including, but not limited to, authorizations, assessments, reports (including financial/statistical graphics), and cables.  Also draft various types of correspondence both internally and externally such as responses to inquiries from PVO/NGO partners, Congress and the public.

 

Review reports and obligating documents to ensure that overseas resources are fully accounted for and used in accordance with the DCHA/OFDA mandate and consistent with the International Disaster Assistance (IDA) account or other accounts/appropriations provided to DCHA/OFDA.

 

Provide technical support to the development and maintenance of the DCHA/OFDA information management system (ABACUS).  This support shall consist of, but not be limited to, developing written procedures and guidelines for users; training users to operate and retrieve information from the database according to individual needs; design standardized reports as well as ad hoc reports using PL/SQL queries or third-party reporting tools in an Oracle (or similar) database environment; control/assign passwords and privileges and create user roles and profiles; update and maintain look-up tables and make recommendations for modifications to meet continuing DCHA/OFDA needs and to refine reporting capabilities of the system.  This support shall also include participation in the ongoing database redesign, management, and evolution, and will require a working  understanding of relational database environments and data modeling. 

 

Serve on DCHA/OFDA assessment teams or a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) deployed to disaster sites when deemed necessary to provide technical assistance to support an emergency response.  Follow-up each deployment with appropriate reports and/or cables. 

 

Commit to and, if called, serve a one-month rotation on a DCHA/OFDA Washington-based Response Management Team (RMT).

 

Serve as the DCHA/OFDA duty officer on a rotating basis and in this capacity, during evening hours, weekends and holidays, receive cables and telephone calls on foreign disasters and take appropriate action.

 

BASIS OF RATING: Applicants who meet the basic qualifications and selective factor(s) will be further evaluated based on the quality ranking factors listed below. Applicants are strongly encouraged to address each of the factors on a separate sheet describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, and/or awards you have received that are relevant to each factor. Be sure to include your name, social security number, and the announcement number at the top of each additional page. Failure to address the selective and/or quality ranking factors may result in your not receiving credit for all of your pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards.

 

BASIC QUALIFICATION AND SELECTIVE FACTORS:

 (Determines basic eligibility for the position. Candidates not meeting all of the basic qualifications and selection factors are considered NOT qualified for the position)

 

·         Bachelor's degree and two years of relevant work experience in a business, accounting, or a related field, and two years work experience in financial management and systems

OR

·         6 years work experience in a position culminating with a set of duties and qualifications similar to those of this position

 

·         Knowledge of USAID financial and information management systems, or systems of a similar nature.

 

·         Ability to obtain a USAID security clearance

 

• US citizenship.

 

 

 

QUALITY RANKING FACTORS:

(Determines the ranking of qualified candidates in comparison to other applicants) The factors are listed in the order of importance from the highest to the least.

 

• Additional experience in financial management and data systems above that required in the Basic Qualifications and Selective Factors

 

• Knowledge of DCHA/OFDA operating procedures and mandate.

 

• Demonstrated ability to review and evaluate projects proposals according to specific guidelines.

 

• Knowledge of and experience in dealing with foreign governments, other USG agencies including the State Department, Department of Defense, USAID Regional Missions, as well as other US organizations and international organizations involved in humanitarian response.

 

• Basic computer skills and excellent written communication skills as demonstrated through the preparation of reports, memos, financial statements, or other official documents.

 

• Demonstrated working knowledge of Oracle, Sybase, or other 4^th generation database environment, and database application development and analysis.

 

 

WHERE TO APPLY:
Via mail: GlobalCorps, 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20004
Via facsimile: 240-465-0244
Via email: ofda@globalcorps.com

FOR INFORMATION ON OTHER VACANCIES OR FOR INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF THIS VACANCY, CALL (202) 661-9369 or (202) 661-9366

PLEASE READ ATTACHED SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION. IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, COLOR, SEX, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, LAWFUL POLITICAL AFFILIATION, NON-DISQUALIFYING HANDICAP, MARITAL STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AFFILIATION WITH AN EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION, OR OTHER NON-MERIT FACTOR.

A Voluntary Background Survey can be obtained from the above listed contacts or on-line at http://www.usaid.gov/about/employment/idi79-2.pdf . The information from this survey is used to help insure that agency personnel practices meet the requirements of Federal law. Your responses are voluntary and not required.

(I)How To Apply
A. Submit a signed OF-612, Optional Application for Federal Employment, or SF-171, Application for Federal Employment. You include a resume as an annex to either of these forms. You must include the following information regardless of which application form/format you choose:
1) The announcement number, title and grade and/or pay band of the position for which you are applying.
2) Personal Information
a) Full name, mailing address (including ZIP Code), home and work telephone numbers (including area code)
b) Social security number AND country of citizenship
c) Veterans' preference.
d) Competitive status.
e) Highest Federal civilian grade held, including job series and dates held.
3) Education
a) High school - name, city, state and ZIP Code (if known) and date you received diploma or GED.
b) Colleges and universities - name, city, state and ZIP Code (if known), major(s), type(s) of degree(s) received and date(s) received. If you did not receive a degree, show total credits earned and indicate whether semester or quarter hours.
4) Job-Related Work Experience (Paid and Nonpaid)
a) Job title (include series and grade if Federal) AND salary
b) Starting and ending dates (month and year) AND hours per week
c) Employer's name, address, and telephone number (including area code)
d) Supervisor's name and telephone number (indicate if we may contact your current supervisor)
e) Duties and accomplishments
5) Other Qualifications
a) Job-related training courses (title and year)
b) Job-related skills (i.e., other languages, computer hardware/software, communications equipment, etc.) c) Job-related certificates and licenses (current only).
d) Job-related honors, awards and special accomplishments (i.e., publications, Memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking, performance awards, etc.). Give dates but do not send documents unless requested.

General Information
A. A separate application must be submitted for each announcement.
B. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that applications are mailed in time to get them to the destination by the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date and time will be considered late, unless there is acceptable evidence to establish that it was received at the Government installation prior to the time and date specified in the solicitation.  
C. Applicants must be citizens of the United States.

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

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

Eligibility for 401(k)

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

01-09 Competitive Process - Personal Service Contracts ("PSCs") with U.S. Citizens for Support of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Initiatives

01-07 Clarification of the Extension/Renewal Policy Regarding Personal Service Contracts (PSCs)

00-08S Revision of Competitive Process - Personal Service Contracts ("PSCs") with U.S. Citizens

00-08 Revision of Competitive Process - Personal Service Contracts ("PSCs") with U.S. Citizens

00-05 Personal Service Contracts (PSCs) Annual Health Insurance Costs

00-03 2000 FICA and Medicare Tax Rates for Personal Services Contracts (PSCs)

99-7 Contractual Coverage for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Services

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

98-12 Advertisement of and Requirements for Evaluating Applications for PSCs

98-11 Determining a Market Value for PSCs

98-3 Class Deviation to 31.205-6(g)(3), Foreign National Severance Pay Under Professional Services Contracts

97-17 PSCs with U.S. Citizens or U.S. Resident Aliens Recruited from the U.S.

97-16 Class Justification for Use of Other Than Full & Open Competition for Personal Services Contracts with U.S. Citizens Contracted locally with CCNs and TCNs Subject to the Local Compensation Plan, and for Overseas Contracts of $250,000 or Less

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

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.