Sol No. 72061524R10038 - USAID Project Management Specialist (Energy)

Overview

GENERAL INFORMATION

USAID DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING) AND DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANT’S BANK ACCOUNTS.

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72061524R10038
2. ISSUANCE DATE: May 23, 2024
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: June 06, 2024 (4:30 PM East Africa Time).
4. POINT OF CONTACT: USAID Kenya and East Africa Human Resources, e-mail at nairobiusaid.hr@usaid.gov
5. POSITION TITLE: USAID Project Management Specialist (Energy)
6. MARKET VALUE: Ksh. 4,104,558.00 to Ksh. 6,977,740.00 KSH per year, equivalent to FSN-10 grade level in accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/Kenya and East Africa. The salary range provided is inclusive of all allowances and annual bonus. All applicable taxes will be deducted from the stated gross market rate. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.
7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five (5) years estimated to start o/a November 10, 2024. The services provided under this contract are expected to be of a continuing nature that will be executed by USAID through a series of sequential contracts, subject to the availability of funds, the continued need for services and successful performance.
8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya; with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.
9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to qualified Cooperating Country National (CCN) (an individual who is a cooperating country citizen or a non-cooperating country citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the cooperating country). Employees presently on probation are ineligible to apply.
10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Security certification issued by the US Embassy RSO.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES

General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

The USAID Project Management Specialist (Energy) is responsible for participating in the design, development, and management of Mission energy/power sector plans and programs to support energy sector development with a focus on clean energy. The Specialist reports to the Energy Team Leader and advises senior Mission management and others in the USAID/Kenya and East Africa Mission on the Kenya and East Africa regional energy/power development, with a major focus on energy efficiency, energy policy, and energy systems and infrastructure for generation, transmission, and distribution.

The Specialist utilizes an in-depth knowledge of the Kenyan and regional energy/power sector and of economic growth issues in the region to help USAID achieve high impact programs. The Specialist works to improve energy policy and regulations and contributes to the design and implementation of programs/projects/activities that facilitate expansion of energy generation, transmission, and distribution to increase access to reliable, affordable and sustainable electric power. Further the Specialist drafts and analyzes technical documentation (Requests for Application, Requests for Proposal, Statements of Work, etc.) needed to develop strategy, obligate funds, and award grants and contracts; and serves as a member on Technical Evaluation Committees, contributing to the review and selection of project proposals.

The Specialist supports the conceptualization and articulation of energy and economic growth strategies, and implements, monitors, and evaluates existing and new energy/power programs. The Specialist will work with the Office of Acquisition and Assistance (AOO) as alternate Agreement Officer Representative/Contracting Officer Representative (AOR/COR) or activity manager for grants and contracts. The AORs/CORs for these grants and contracts are based in the USAID Kenya and East Africa Mission, or in Washington D.C. or Pretoria, South Africa, but the responsibilities of managing these activities are performed in Kenya. The Specialist is required to monitor and evaluate on-going programs, prepare performance reports, annual reporting documents, briefing papers, concept papers, and other periodic documentation for the Mission, USAID/Washington, USAID/Power Africa and the State Department.

The Specialist also represents the Mission in discussions and negotiations with the governments and utilities in Kenya, other donors and implementing partners (IPs); and represents USAID in donor meetings. The Specialist assists USAID staff including senior managers, visiting United States government (USG) officials, and others in sector related public meetings, field trips, and discussions with local officials and partner organizations. Finally, the Specialist advises on the allocation of budget available for the energy/power portfolio and establishes and maintains contacts for Mission management in the energy sector, including individuals in the government, private and non-governmental institutions, and donor community.

Responsibilities

Statement of Duties to be Performed

Program/Project/Activity Management (45%)

The Specialist tracks clean energy projects in Kenya and to a lesser extent, the East African region, collaborating closely with the Energy Specialists in those countries as required. The Specialist is responsible for interpreting, explaining, and clarifying US Mission policies, programs, and strategies in the energy sector, through regular contact with the government and utility officials, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), Implementing Partners (IPs), other donors, and civil society organizations. The Specialist establishes and maintains contacts with government counterparts, donor agencies, the private sector, and a wide range of NGOs, research institutions, and universities.

The Specialist directs, coordinates, and monitors activities necessary to achieve the desired policy reforms and energy sector results supporting clean energy; manages implementation mechanisms, provides advice and constructive feedback. The Specialist manages daily activities through interface with IPs and relevant governments; conducting on-site visits and inspections (as approved by the Regional Security Officer and others); and ensuring IPs receive needed information on USAID regulations and policies, including audit regulations, USAID provided logistical support services, and assistance with country/regional-level issues. The Specialist monitors and evaluates progress of IPs towards achievement of results through regular field trips, and meetings with IP management and project officials. The Specialist provides technical support in establishing performance monitoring systems for results frameworks in coordination with Mission management and IPs; and ensures appropriate accounting of resources by tracking quarterly accruals, maintaining project pipeline information, and providing leadership in meeting audit recommendations.

The Specialist provides regular analysis and reports on the energy situation in Kenya, with a focus on the status and impact of USAID and other donor programs in support of clean energy. The Specialist provides recommendations to Mission management on longer-term energy activities; prepares and submits regular progress reports, both on a periodic and ad hoc basis for situation updates, website updates; and maintains regular contact with selected offices in USAID/Washington in order to provide information and advice as required. The Specialist provides advice on energy related budgetary issues to Mission management, the Power Africa team, provides analyses of budgetary needs for the existing and planned OEGI energy-sector portfolio, and participates in decisions about funding allocation within the energy portfolio. The Specialist, working with the OAA as alternate AOR/COR, is responsible for the development and implementation of annual energy work and operation plans, schedules for budget allocation, obligation, and expenditure, portfolio reviews, evaluation planning and implementation, audits, development and outreach communications, and closeouts. The Specialist will support OEGI, Mission, and USG efforts to ensure effective, cost-effective, and responsible programming and reporting in compliance with USG and USAID regulations and ethics standards, including environmental compliance, and, ultimately, help USAID achieve its economic growth objectives in Kenya and/or the region.

Energy Policy and Technical Advice (25%)

The jobholder serves as a recognized energy specialist, with a strong knowledge of energy policy and private sector landscape in the energy sector in Kenya; keeps abreast of trends and issues in the energy/power sectors; reviews and analyzes developments and advises Mission management and, as required, Embassy officials on highly specialized and complex issues relating to energy and power in the region, particularly those bearing on bilateral assistance or other USG interests. The Specialist assists the Mission officials, other USAID staff, Power Africa Initiative and visiting officials in preparing for and participating in field trips, public meetings, conferences, and negotiations with the governments in the region, occasionally involving planning the event, managing field activities and logistics, and serving as a control officer for the field visits. The Specialist maintains contact with USAID/Power Africa officials and provides them with information, advice, and feedback, as required.

Energy Strategic Planning and Program Design (20%)

The Specialist provides substantive technical and managerial support to the conceptualization, planning, implementation, and monitoring of significant components of the overall Mission/ Power Africa energy strategy. The Specialist obtains support from and coordinates the involvement of IPs and major stakeholders (including Government ministries and boards, parastatal operators in power, independent power providers, and private companies, businesses, and investors.) to identify components of effective clean energy strategies, proposals for new activities, and determinations of achievable results that will serve to improve the economic condition of the people of Kenya and the region. The Specialist obtains Mission-level approval for the initiation of new activities; provides substantive support and input for the drafting of relevant OEGI sections of Mission strategy statements, and other concept papers and relevant documents, such as results frameworks, activities packages, budgets, background documentation, and performance monitoring plans. The Specialist coordinates the drafting of activity design, analysis, and assessment documentation and related technical, policy, economic, and budgetary analyses; takes a leadership role in implementing changes to existing clean energy activities; and serves as a member of Mission technical review teams for energy-related (and other) concept papers, solicited or unsolicited proposals, and proposed awards under USAID-funded activities.

Monitoring, Evaluating and Reporting (10%)

The Specialist will work closely with the Energy Team Leader, other OEGI team members, the Energy Team in Washington and Pretoria, the Program Office, the Mission Director's Office, and the U.S. Embassy on day-to-day Power Africa Initiative activities and reporting requirements. The job holder will also work closely with the Office of Economic Growth and Integration, and Power Africa’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) teams to ensure energy activities reporting is cohesive, comprehensive, and compliant with the Agency’s requirements. The job holder will be part of the Mission technical team responding to U.S. Congressional inquiries and other energy policy and operation requests; drafting briefing materials, speeches/talking points for high-level USG officials, press releases, and presentations; and contributing to Mission/Agency newsletters and other communications related to energy activities in the region. The job holder may be called upon to support high-level visitors.

The Project Management Specialist (Energy) will be required to assist in creating a supportive work environment that values diversity and elicits the highest possible level of performance from all team members.

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.

Additional education

Education: A bachelor’s degree in engineering, law, finance or related field is required.

Language Proficiency: Fluency in written and spoken English (Level IV), and Kiswahili (Level IV), are required.

Experience

Additional experience

Prior Work Experience: A minimum of three years of progressively responsible, professional-level experience in the energy sector is required. Experience must have provided the opportunity for development of sectoral and project documents, and performance of project design, program planning, and/or implementation work At least two years of this experience should have been in development-related work for USG, other donor agencies, Government ministries, or private-sector institutions or related. Experience should also include performance monitoring, and/or the analysis and interpretation of large amounts of data.

Skills

• Team Player
• Interpersonal skills
• verbal and written communication
• communication skills
• Bureaucratic Skils
• Coordination

Additional skills

Supervision Received

The Specialist works under the supervision of the Energy Team Lead. Assignments are made orally and in writing. Most assignments occur in the normal course of the work, but the Specialist is required to determine those that must be coordinated with the supervisor.

Supervision Exercised

Supervision of USAID/Kenya and East Africa staff is not contemplated.

Physical Demands

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Terms and conditions

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.

Job Knowledge (60 Points)

Strong knowledge of the host government ministries, developmental agenda, developmental initiatives, and development priorities for energy sector and related areas, as well as the socio-political culture understanding in various geographical regions of Kenya is required. Also required is a thorough knowledge of issues relating to economic and clean energy development in Kenya and the region, and the sector’s strengths and vulnerabilities. Additionally, the Specialist needs advanced knowledge of a broad range of issues of energy policy, generation, transmission, distribution, off-grid sub-sector, and human resources capacity building as well as knowledge of private-sector development and competitiveness. Knowledge of strategies, programs, and the working methodologies of other donor agencies and banks in the energy sector in Kenya is required.

Skills and abilities (40 Points)

A high level of technical expertise and ability in energy and private-sector development is required. The Specialist should possess the ability to advise senior Mission management on Kenyan power development and issues across a wide range of energy related topics (such as the regulatory environment for energy, key barriers to energy reform, private sector investments in the sector, etc.) and their implications on USAID programs. Program design, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation skills are essential. The ability to effectively communicate complicated policy, strategy, and program issues orally and in writing is also required. The Specialist must have good interpersonal, coordination, and bureaucratic skills; be able to coordinate successfully with all parts of the USAID Mission and Embassy to advance program interests. The Specialist must be able to handle sensitive issues diplomatically, represent USAID authoritatively, and use good judgment in speaking on behalf of USAID in meetings with the USG, the governments of Kenya, NGOs, and other donors and in conferences, seminars, and workshops. The Specialist must possess good organizational and management skills.

Total possible points: 100

SUBMITTING AN OFFER
Step 1: Register in MyJobsInKenya at www.myjobsinkenya.com

Step 2: Complete the job application at www.myjobsinkenya.com

Step 3: Internal Offerors/Current USG Employees: Attach an updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages), a copy of your most recent Performance Evaluation Report, and copies of all relevant certificates. Scan and attach all the documents and upload them to MyJobsInKenya.

OR

External Offerors/Not Current USG Employees: Attach an updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages) and copies of all relevant certificates. Scan and attach all the documents and upload them to MyJobsInKenya.

Note to Applicants:
1.Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted through myjobsinkenya.com.
2.Submissions will only be accepted through www.myjobsinkenya.com. Late and incomplete applications (those that do not contain the applicant’s most current and up to date detailed CV and relevant education certificates) will not be considered for the position.
3.All Applicants must provide at least three professional references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about your past performance and abilities. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such
information in its evaluation of the application.

LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD
The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit any required forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award.

BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES
Benefits and allowances are offered in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan (LCP).

TAXES
CCNPSCs are required to pay PAYE and statutory deductions. All applicable taxes will be deducted from the stated gross market rate.

USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs
USAID regulations and policies governing CCN PSC 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.
LINE ITEMS
ITEM NO (A) - 0001
SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION) (B) - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)
- Award Type: Cost
- Product Service Code: [ R497]
- Accounting Info: [insert one or more citation(s) from Phoenix/GLAAS]
QUANTITY (C) - 1
UNIT (D) - LOT
UNIT PRICE (E) - $ TBD
AMOUNT (F) - $_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor_

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/resources_standards-of-conduct.
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.
6. FAR Provisions Incorporated by Reference
52.204-27 - PROHIBITION ON A BYTEDANCE COVERED APPLICATION - JUN 2023