** See the attachments for the complete detail. **

Request for Quotes

DCO Land and Agricultural Economy (LAE) Director Intermittent PSC

95332420Q0030

Announcement Number:                          95332420Q0030

Title:                                                               DCO Land and Agricultural Economy (LAE) Director Intermittent Personal Services Contractor (PSC)

Position Information:                                 One or more intermittent, Personal Services Contractors (PSCs).

                                                                        One Base year (1,664 hours per year), renewable for up to 4 Option years at the sole discretion of the government (a total of 8,320 hours over five years).

Pay Band:                                                      Director-level Pay Band 3A ($58.94 – $84.94 per hour)

                                                                        https://www.mcc.gov/careers/pay-bands

                                                                        The PSCs may receive a pay supplement of up to 30% of the direct labor cost in lieu of fringe benefits.

Closing Date for Questions:                      2:00PM ET on 12 May 2020 (Tuesday)

                                                                        Questions must be submitted via email to [email protected]

Submission Deadline:                                 5:00PM ET on 18 May 2020 (Monday)

                                                                        Quotes must be submitted via email to [email protected]

Position Security Level:                              Secret Clearance (Noncritical Sensitive/Moderate Risk (T-3))

Who May Be Considered:                          U.S. citizens.

Duty Location:                                             Principal place of performance in Washington, DC, USA and/or PSC's home of record.

Type of Contract:                                        Time-and-material (T&M) with 1 Base Year and 4 Option Year Periods.

                                                                        Multiple awards may result from this solicitation prior to 30 September 2020. Submissions must be valid until 30 September 2020.

1. Introduction and Background

MCC’s mission is to provide grant assistance to support economic growth and poverty reduction in select developing countries with a demonstrated commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizenry. MCC’s partner countries enter into a five-year agreement (Compact) with MCC that includes a plan for achieving shared development objectives and the responsibilities of each country in achieving those objectives. Our model is defined by core principles of selectivity, country ownership, transparency, and a focus on results.

Our values identify who we are and what is important to us. Our Values are CLEAR: Embrace Collaboration, Always Learn, Practice Excellence, Be Accountable and Respect individuals and ideas. MCC’s values define how we behave on a daily basis, both as individuals and as an institution, in pursuit of our mission. They guide how we make decisions, set priorities, address challenges, manage tradeoffs, recruit and develop staff, and work together with our country partners and stakeholders.

The department of Compact Operations (DCO) is responsible for developing and implementing MCC’s compact programs. The department ensures that MCC compacts are designed and implemented in compliance with agency standards for procurement, financial management, environmental and social performance, and gender integration and social inclusion.

Within DCO, the Sector Operations Division is responsible for the development and oversight of MCC’s agriculture, land, and human and community development investments, and program procurement and financial services, gender integration and social inclusion.

1. Scope of Position

This position will serve as a Personal Services Contractor (PSC) within Land and Agricultural Economy (LAE) in Department of Compact Operations (DCO), Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). DCO is responsible for developing and implementing MCC’s compact programs. The department ensures that MCC compacts are designed and implemented in compliance with agency standards for procurement, financial management, environmental and social performance, and gender integration.

The PSC will report to and be supervised by the Practice Lead and Senior Director (PLSD) for LAE and/or the Managing Director for Sector Ops.

This position is not authorized to supervise any Federal employees.

1. Personal Services Contract

MCC is authorized to enter into a contract with an individual as a Personal Services Contractor (PSC) under the authority of Section 614(a) (8) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003.

A personal services contract is different from non-personal services Government contract, which establishes an independent contract relationship. Under a non-personal services contract, the contractor or employees of the contractor are subject to the technical direction but not the supervision of the MCC. As defined by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 37.104, a personal services contract is characterized by the employer-employee relationship it creates between the Government and the contractor personnel. Thus, the PSC is subject to the relatively continuous technical direction, supervision, and control of the MCC. PSCs may be assigned inherently governmental duties (see FAR 7.502). By law and by the contract’s terms, the PSC is subject to most of the laws, rules and regulations applicable to the direct hire employee such as MCC regulations, conflict of interest, under some circumstances MCC authorized employment security clearances and financial disclosure.  However, under the MCC personal services contract authority, PSCs are not employees for purposes of laws administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The following elements apply to this contract:

1. Performance in Washington, D.C., US, MCC eligible countries, other US and foreign cities (as required for outreach purposes), and/or at the PSC’s home of record.
2. Principal tools and equipment furnished by the Government.
3. Services are applied directly to the integral effort of agencies or an organizational subpart in furtherance of assigned function or mission.
4. Comparable services, meeting comparable needs, are performed in the same or similar agencies using civil service personnel.
5. The need for the type of service provided can reasonably be expected to last beyond 1 year.
6. The inherent nature of the service, or the manner in which it is provided, reasonably requires directly or indirectly, Government direction or supervision of contractor employees in order to—
   1. Adequately protect the Government’s interest;
   2. Retain control of the function involved; or
   3. Retain full personal responsibility for the function supported in a duly authorized Federal officer or employee.

1. Key Requirements

Awardee must satisfy the following key requirements:

• U.S. citizenship.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
• Performance in Washington, DC USA, MCC eligible countries, other US and foreign cities (as required for outreach purposes), and/or at the PSC’s home of record.
• Domestic and international travel will be required.
• Statement of Employment & Financial Interest (e.g., Office of Government Ethics “OGE Form-450” or similar statement) may be required.
• Active System for Award Management (www.sam.gov) registration (this is a free, Government website) and be listed as sole-proprietor.
• Designated and/or random drug testing required.

1. Duties

1. Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Works as part of a practice team led by the Senior Director for Land and Agricultural Economy and performs a variety of assignments associated with the development and implementation of MCC-funded projects and activities in the area of land and property rights, as well as tasks and responsibilities related to maintenance or expansion of practice area expertise and MCC internal administration.
• Regular engagement with relevant team members, counterparts and other stakeholders over the course of each week address time-sensitive tasks associated with the compact development or compact implementation responsibilities described herein.
• Serves as the land project lead, land sector lead or activity lead, and/or integrated project lead and MCC primary point of contact for land-related investments in one or more countries in various stages of compact development and implementation. Travel to MCC-eligible and other countries, as assigned. Work in Washington, DC is expected periodically.
• Assesses the root causes of land-related constraints to economic growth and identifies programmatic solutions that can address such constraints. Identifies and conceptualizes specific project investment solutions and undertakes due diligence of recommended interventions to ensure feasibility, consistency with sector best practice, measurable economic benefits, and sustainability.
• Provides expert advice and counsel to MCC teams and to partner governments on land sector program issues related to policy, legal and institutional reform; land markets; property rights formalization and registration, including both statutory and customary approaches; land administration; and land-sector-related technology and technology systems.
• Identifies opportunities for innovation in program design and pursues strategies to operationalize and implement cutting-edge approaches.
• Leads or ensures coordination – or integration as appropriate – between land programming and other related or overlapping sector programs or issues, including related to environmental and social performance safeguards (and resettlement); gender and social inclusion; and finance, investment and trade.
• Collaborates with MCC economic analysis and monitoring and evaluation staff to ensure that land sector-related concepts, trends, evidence and research approaches are adequately captured by cost benefit analysis, quantitative and qualitative program impact research design, and data collection approaches and instruments. 
• Develops detailed terms of reference, budgets, timelines and cost estimates for procurement actions.
• Develops, maintains, or contributes to detailed workplans for assigned work during compact development or implementation.
• Drafts program descriptions for inclusion in the Investment Memorandum, Board or Compact documents.
• Provides advice and support to MCC host country counterparts (MCA or equivalent) in relation to project implementation, including advising on or assisting with preparation of budget/financial plans, work plans, terms of reference and/other technical components of procurement packages.
• Analyzes applicable deliverables produced by host country (MCA or equivalent) contractors as well as proposed work programs and program implementation methodologies. Suggest revisions to deliverables as appropriate to better assure project results are achieved.
• Reviews and approves/clears or oversee review and approval/clearance of quarterly disbursement requests and other documents submitted by MCAs to MCC for approval in connection with project implementation.
• Evaluates the technical adequacy of work products produced by contractors such as legal and institutional studies related to topics such as land transactions, land markets, inheritance, gender, land information systems, land use and spatial planning.
• Leads or provides technical contributions to the assessment, documentation, refinement and presentation of best practices, guidance documents, operational procedures, performance standards and other Land and Agricultural Economy practice-related priorities.
• Develops, regularly updates and assists in implementing the Land and Agricultural Economy practice team’s knowledge sharing and management plan, including knowledge events on the subject.
• Represents MCC to senior U.S. Government officials, representatives of foreign governments, and a variety of other stakeholders, both domestic and international. Strengthens external partnerships to enhance land--related dimensions of development.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge required by the position:

• Mastery of and experience analyzing land tenure and land administration-related problems that constrain growth in developing countries and identifying project solutions that can address identified problems in order to formulate advice and counsel to MCC management and country counterparts, incorporating industry best practices into MCC operations and programs.
• Mastery of and experience with land  policy, legal and institutional reform; land markets; property rights formalization and registration, including both statutory and customary approaches; land administration; and land-sector-related technology and technology systems in developing countries; following the evolutions and trends in the land sector, sufficient to design, assess, and monitor Compact-and Threshold-funded projects and activities.
• Leadership and project management skills to lead management and implementation oversight for highly complex, time-bound and integrated projects.
• Written and oral communication skills to prepare comprehensive reviews, briefings, scope for further analysis and special reports.
• Ability to collaborate effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary team with MCC staff, staff from host country institutions and other stakeholders.
• Skill in representing MCC at relevant USG interagency meetings regarding development policy and preparing recommendations to advance agency interests.
• Ability to brief high-level U.S. and foreign government officials on critical technical matters and to explain complex issues clearly and concisely.

1. Travel

MCC estimates that the incumbent may undertake 3-4 international trips annually.

1. Supervisory Controls

The supervisor sets the overall assignment objectives, program emphasis and resources available. The incumbent independently develops the deadlines, projects, and work to be accomplished. The employee meets regularly with the supervisor to keep him/her informed of progress, potentially controversial matters, and problems with far-reaching implications. Completed work is reviewed for its impact on broad MCC policy objectives and program goals.

1. Guidelines

Guidelines consist of broad administrative and program policy statements, basic legislation, or local laws that require extensive interpretation. The employee uses judgment and discretion in determining intent, and in interpreting and revising existing policy and regulatory guidance for use by others within or outside the Department of Compact Operations. The employee is recognized as an expert and established practitioner in the development and/or interpretation of guidance on program planning and evaluation as it relates to land tenure-related issues and programs.

1. Complexity

The employee analyzes interrelated issues of effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of substantive mission-oriented programs. He or She develops detailed plans, goals, and objectives for the long-range implementation and administration of programs, and/or develops criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the program. Decisions concerning planning, organizing, and conducting studies are complicated by conditions, such as conflicting program goals and objectives. Options, recommendations, and conclusions take into account and give appropriate weight to uncertainties about the data and other variables which affect long-range program performance.

1. Scope and Effect

The purpose of the work is to analyze and evaluate major aspects of substantive, MCC mission-oriented programs. The employee develops long-range program plans, goals, objectives, and milestones to evaluate the effectiveness of land-related investments. The employee resolves problems or copes with issues which directly affect the accomplishment of principal MCC program goals and objectives. The employee develops regulations or guidelines for the conduct of program operations, or new criteria for measuring program accomplishments. Study reports contain findings and recommendations of major significance to MCC top management and often serve as the basis for new administrative systems, legislative initiatives, regulations, or programs.

1. Personal Contacts/Purpose of Contacts

Personal contacts are with numerous analysts, specialists, and professional staff from within and outside the agency in a moderately unstructured setting. The purpose of contacts is to influence, motivate, or negotiate with others who may hold different points of views in order to influence managers or other officials to accept recommendations or to obtain the desired effect. Requires skill in persuasion, negotiation, motivation, or establishment of rapport.

1. Physical Demands

The work is primarily sedentary, although some walking, bending, or carrying of light items may be involved. Frequent travel to developing countries with limited infrastructure may be required.

1. Work Environment

Work is performed in an office setting. Field missions in challenging conditions may be required from time to time.

1. Deliverables

Deliverables are associated with the tasks identified in Section 5. Duties to include reports as required by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

The PSCs will submit biweekly timesheets on a schedule and format determined by MCC. Timesheets will include a list of hours worked per compact or country program, along with a brief description of the tasks undertaken for each program during the pay period.

The PSCs also will produce reports and analyses as requested by MCC.

1. Qualifications

Offerors must meet all the Required Qualifications described below by the closing date of this announcement. Desired Qualifications are not required but preferred and will only be considered once all Required Qualifications are met. Offerors must demonstrate that they possess the following:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Required Qualifications:

1. An advanced postgraduate degree (accredited Masters, Ph.D., J.D., etc.) in relevant field.
2. A minimum of 10 years of experience in design and implementation of land projects in developing countries, for example around land administration; land policy, legal and institutional reform; property rights formalization and registration (including both statutory and customary approaches); land markets; and land-sector-related technology and technology systems.
3. Demonstrated knowledge and experience that meet the Required knowledge for the position under Subsection 5(a) Major Duties and Responsibilities.
4. Demonstrated experience with the design and implementation of complex land sector projects.
5. Demonstrated experience with the provision of technical analysis, oral presentations, briefings, special reports and recommendations to donor institutions (such as MCC, World Bank, etc.) on critical technical matters related to land tenure and governance.
6. Demonstrated inter-personal and negotiation skills, and ability to work cooperatively and productively in teams with technical experts, government officials, NGOs, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
7. Fluency in spoken and written English.
8. While work is intermittent, ability to engage and monitor on a near-daily basis as needed to ensure execution of time sensitive tasks.

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Desired Qualifications:

1. Working proficiency in spoken and written French.

Note: All experience must be well-documented on the resume and within the Quote Submission. All aspects of the Submission must specifically show how the offeror meets the qualifications required.  Credit may be given for appropriate unpaid and/or part-time work. To receive credit, Submissions should clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours worked per week.

1. Required Documentation

Interested offerors must submit following required documents, including but not limited to:

1. A completed and signed Bio-Data Form (Addendum 2) with proposed salary (see Subsection 12(c). Quote Submission Instructions to PSCs Candidates (Offerors) in regards to permissible signature types);
2. A curriculum vitae or resume (limit 10 pages);
3. A written narrative clearly describing relevant experience and knowledge of each of the qualification requirements (limit 5 pages); and
4. At least 3 and no more than 5 professional references with current contact information.

Desired Documentation:

1. A cover letter, not to exceed one page, to highlight your suitability for this position. The cover letter is not considered as the required written narrative (bullet no. 4 above); and
2. A copy of Transcript(s). Transcript(s) may be requested by MCC before award to validate the offeror’s successful education history.

1. Compensation

PSCs for the services of individual experts or consultants are limited by the Classification Act. In addition, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established requirements which apply in acquiring the personal services of experts or consultants in this manner (e.g., benefits, taxes, conflicts of interest).

This is an intermittent position for the DCO LAE Director Intermittent PSC and the maximum number of hours allowed is 1,664 hours per year for each position. Each contract will include four one-year option periods that may be exercised at the sole discretion of MCC.

Overtime is not authorized on this contract.

The pay range for this position is Director-level Pay Band 3A ($58.94 – $84.94 per hour) (https://www.mcc.gov/careers/pay-bands), inclusive of locality pay. Final compensation will be negotiated within this pay range based upon the successful offeror’s salary history, work experience and educational background. A salary above this pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

MCC issues W-2s to the PSCs. For U.S. citizens and legal resident aliens, MCC makes the employer contribution to FICA and Medicare for the PSCs. MCC withholds FICA, Medicare, federal tax and state tax on behalf of the PSCs. The PSCs is not eligible for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion.

1. Benefits

Under the MCC personal services contracting authority, PSCs are not employees for purposes of laws administered by OPM, such as Federal Retirement Benefits and health and life insurance. As such, the PSCs is not eligible for participation in the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees Retirement System. Moreover, the PSCs is ineligible to receive Federal Health and Life Insurance or participate in the Federal Thrift Savings Plan.

Notwithstanding the above, and if agreed upon by the Government and the PSCs before the award of a contract, the PSCs may receive a pay supplement of up to 30% (for intermittent PSCs) of the employee’s direct labor cost in lieu of fringe benefits.

1. Travel Rules

The PSCs is subject to the Federal Travel Regulations and MCC travel policies and procedures to the same extent as MCC direct-hire employees.

1. Quote Submission Instructions to PSC Candidates (Offerors)

In accordance with FAR 52.214-34 and 52.214-35, all submissions are to be in the English language and US Dollars. Submissions in other languages or monetary denominations will not be considered.

This section is the basis for evaluating all Submissions. Offerors must separately address each listed qualification requirement and demonstrate how s/he meets each qualification under Section 7. Qualifications. Unless stated otherwise, all qualification elements will be weighted equally.

1. Qualified individuals must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submission, either in “Active” or “Submitted” status. The approval of your record in SAM may take weeks and the Government cannot award a contract without an “Active” SAM registration. Offerors without a SAM registration (neither “Active” nor “Submitted”) at the close of the RFQ submission deadline may be rejected. MCC will extract pertinent representations and certifications from the offeror’s SAM account.

1. Submissions shall be formatted to fit on 8 ½ x 11” paper. Suggested margins are 1” all around and the font should be Calibri or Times New Roman, no larger than 12-point. Hourly rates shall not be mentioned anywhere in your submission other than on the Bio-Data Form (Addendum 2). It is the responsibility of the offeror to ensure that all pages are properly formatted to fit and that all information properly fits within the margins of each page.

1. Qualified individuals must submit a completed and formally signed Bio-Data Form (Addendum 2). Typed signatures are not acceptable. Either physically sign or save the Bio-Data Form as a PDF and electronically sign it. Please ensure that you provide a current, valid e-mail address and telephone number for notification purposes. The Bio-Data Form must be fully completed including a proposed hourly rate & signed for the submission to be considered. A Bio-Data Form without a proposed hourly rate and/or signature may cause you to not be considered.

1. Qualified individuals must submit a curriculum vitae or a resume, which clearly demonstrates their education, experience, knowledge, and skills and abilities as they relate to the qualification elements. Resume must indicate: the earliest possible start date for the offeror; as well as formal title, and duration (start date / end date) for each listed position. Resume is limited to 10 pages and must not contain a photo or any salary information.

1. Describe your experience and knowledge in regards to the qualification requirements in no more than five pages. Clearly demonstrate how your prior experience is either relevant or directly related to the duties of this position as listed under Section 5. Duties. The responses should describe specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards you have received that are relevant to each factor. Cite specific examples where appropriate.

1. Qualified individuals must submit at least three but no more than five professional references, who are not relatives or family members. Submitted references must include current information, as follows:
   1. Name of reference
   2. Offeror’s relationship to reference
   3. Title of reference at current job
   4. Reference current telephone number (work or personal)
   5. Reference e-mail address (work)

At least one reference should be from direct supervisors (current or prior) who can provide information regarding the applicant’s knowledge and experience in the relevant field. Preferably, the references should be from within the last 5 years of the applicant’s professional employment history.

1. Submissions must be signed and received prior to the closing date and time specified above to be considered for this position. Only physically signed or electronic signature are permitted; typed signatures are not acceptable, e.g. “/s” or “[typed name of the offeror].”

1. To ensure consideration of submissions for the intended position, please reference the position title and announcement number on the subject line of your submission email and on supporting documentation and any cover letter.

1. Response Deadline

Electronic submission is required. Mailed copies of any submission shall not be accepted. Electronic packages shall be submitted by e-mail to [email protected] before the deadline stated on page 1 of this Combined Synopsis Solicitation. Submission shall reference the position title and the announcement number on the subject line of the e-mail.

MCC does not accept responsibility for delays in transmission or receipt of any submission. Offerors are responsible for submitting their package so as to reach the designated Government office by the closing date and time specified on page 1 of this Combined Synopsis Solicitation. Submissions received after the closing date and time will not be considered, unless there is acceptable evidence to establish that it was indeed received by the Government installation prior to the time and date specified in this announcement. Receipt of submissions in response to this announcement does not constitute an award commitment. The U.S. Government will not reimburse any costs incurred in the preparation of a submission. Any submission is at the sole risk of the offeror.

1. Question Deadline

Any questions regarding this announcement must be submitted in writing via email to [email protected] and [email protected] before the submission deadline as given on page 1 of this Combined Synopsis Solicitation.

1. Selection Process

1. Selection Process

In order to be considered for the requirement, an offeror must at a minimum meet the Required Qualifications listed above in Section 7. Qualifications. Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the offeror’s qualifications. In addition to the materials listed above, offerors are strongly encouraged to write a cover letter, not to exceed one page, to highlight their suitability for this position. The cover letter is not required and is not accepted as the required written narrative.

All Submissions will be evaluated based on the documentation submitted, the offeror’s evidence of the above qualification requirements, performance in a potential discussion/negotiation session, if conducted, and information provided by references, if contacted. Please note that for evaluation purposes, MCC will take into consideration your proposed labor rate and any requested pay supplement in lieu of fringe benefits. All submissions will receive one of three scores for each of the required and desired qualifications: Does Not Meet, Meets, or Exceeds. MCC reserves the right to conduct interviews with the most qualified offerors and/or conduct a reference check on those individuals.

Offerors are strongly encouraged to ensure the work history portion thoroughly documents the duties, responsibilities and accomplishments that are directly related to this requirement in order to verify specialized experience. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation.

The U.S. Government and MCC are not obligated to make any award or pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of a proposal in response to this announcement. Award of this contract is contingent on availability of funds. MCC reserves the right to not award any contract as a result of this announcement.

1. Contract Award

This contract shall be awarded directly by MCC to an individual, not to a firm. The individual must have an active DUNS No. and “Active” status in the System for Award Management (SAM) for award. The approval of your SAM account may take several weeks; please make sure to start this registration process as soon as possible if you are interested in this position. The Government may choose not to consider those offerors who are not registered in SAM by the close of this RFQ.

1. Contract and Period of Performance

The successful offeror(s) may be offered an intermittent, personal services type contract for a one-year base period plus four one-year option periods, based upon performance, agency requirements, and available funding.

The base period of performance shall be from date of award for 12 months. All option periods are exercised at the sole discretion of MCC. The contract will be for intermittent PSC position(s) with 8,320 total hours over the duration of the contract.

1. Place of Performance

Principal place of performance in Washington, DC, USA and/or PSC's home of record.

1. Addenda

See attachments for:

1. Position Description
2. Bio-Data Form

(End of Solicitation)

Bid Protests Not Available