U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AFFAIRS (INL)
You have received this "Personal Services Contractor” (PSC) solicitation through the Department of State (DOS) Internet site. If you have any questions regarding this PSC, you may contact the DOS Official named in this solicitation. The Department is not responsible for any data and/or text not received when retrieving this document electronically. Amendments to solicitation documents generally contain information critical to the submission of an application.
Position Title: INL Management Coordinator for Program Implementation
Location: Bogota, Colombia
Salary Level: FS-02 - $99,700 - $146,413 (Equivalent GS-14)
Period of performance: The period of performance for this contract is twelve (12) months from the date of award with four (4) optional one-year extensions.
Issuance Date: October 9, 2024
Closing date: October 24, 2024
Closing Time: 3:00 PM ET
Solicitation Number: PSC-25-002-INL
Job description: See below
Dear Prospective Offerors:
The Department of State is seeking offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal services for the subject position under a personal services contract, as described in this solicitation. Submittals must be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Applicants interested in applying for this position MUST submit the following materials:
1. Form SF 171 (Completed and signed)
2. Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your offer your resume must include:
a. Paid a non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Dates (month/year) and locations for any overseas experience must also be detailed. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.
b. Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.
c. Names and contact information (phone and email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s).
d. Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments.
e. U.S. Citizenship
Note: Resume must contain explicit information to make a valid determination that the candidate meets the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information needs to be clearly identified in the resume. Failure to provide explicit information to determine qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.
3. Evaluation Factor document specifically addressing: Each of the Evaluation Factors shown in the solicitation below. Responses must be limited to 500 words per Evaluation Factor. Any additional words above the limit will neither be read nor scored.
Note: The Evaluation Factors are worth 70 out of 100 points. Offerors are required to address each of the Evaluation Factors in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have receive that are relevant to each Factor.
4. Professional References: Three (3) names and contact information (phone and email) of current and/or previous supervisors to serve as professional references.
Additional documents submitted will not be accepted. Incomplete or late offers will not be considered. Complete applications must be emailed to:
Dominique Chittum, U.S. Department of State, INL/EX/GAPP, ChittumDA@state.gov
Sincerely,
Margaret Renee Gaudreau
Contracting Officer, U.S. Department of State
SUBJECT
A solicitation for a Personal Services Contractor (PSC), Department of State (DOS), Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
The United States Government (USG), represented by the DOS, seeks applications from US citizens interested in providing PSC services as described in this solicitation.
PRE-AWARD ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF PSC (JUN 2011)
This solicitation may result in the award of one or more personal services contracts as defined in FAR 2.101. Prior to contract award, all offerors or quotes must advise the cognizant Contracting Officer if they have a personal conflict of interest, such as a financial conflict, that would prevent them from either meeting the requirements of the clause entitled, “Post-Award Ethical Responsibilities of Personal Services Contractors,” or otherwise objectively performing their contractual duties upon contract award.
HOW TO APPLY
Offerors proposal shall be in accordance with the requirements stated in this solicitation at the place and time specified. A proposal will be determined non-responsive and ineligible for consideration unless all required documents and information are included in the submission. Offerors shall ensure their resume demonstrates their possession of the minimum qualifications outlined in this Solicitation, as well as their ability to fulfill all required duties. The Government is not responsible for any costs incurred by the offeror during the solicitation process.
NOTE REGARDING GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS FOR THIS SOLICITATION
This solicitation in no way obligates the Department of State to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit the Department of State to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the application.
Proposals must include the following and not exceed twenty (20) pages (additional pages will not be accepted or reviewed):
1. Form SF 171 (Completed and signed)
2. Resume
3. Evaluation Factor Responses
4. Three (3) names and contact information (phone and email) of current and/or previous supervisors to serve as professional references.
Note: Your resume should contain explicit information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information should be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide explicit information to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration. Additional documents submitted beyond the requirements will not be accepted or reviewed.
*** ONE PDF ATTACHMENT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
VETERAN’S PREFERENCE
Veteran’s preference is not applicable to this position therefore do not submit DD-214.
ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, COLOR, SEX, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, LAWFUL POLITICAL AFFILIATION, NONDISQUALIFYING DISABILITY, MARITAL STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AFFILIATION WITH AN EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION, OR OTHER NON-MERIT FACTOR.
Equal employment opportunity policy - The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.
Submit proposal via e-mail to the attention of:
INL/Dominique Chittum
E-mail: ChittumDA@state.gov
Direct questions regarding this solicitation to:
INL/Dominique Chittum
E-mail: ChittumDA@state.gov
INL will not accept proposals beyond the closing time/date; unless it can be determined DOS mishandled the proposal.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT
Mission of the U.S. Department of State: The U.S. Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy and the Secretary of State is the President’s principal foreign policy advisor. The Department of State’s mission is to advance U.S. national security interests, fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, and implement foreign policy initiatives that build a freer, prosperous, and secure world.
Mission of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL): The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is part of the Under Secretariat for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights (J) within the Department of State (DOS). INL’s mission is to minimize the impact of international crime and illegal drugs on the United States and its citizens by providing effective foreign assistance and fostering global cooperation.
INL Bogota’s Management Office supports INL programs, with the goal of stopping the flow of illegal drugs to the United States by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of strategic planning and illicit crop eradication. INL manages and funds bilateral narcotics control and law enforcement professionalization programs in Colombia that total over $130 million in budget annually.
The purpose of this Personal Services Contract (PSC) is to provide an INL Management Coordinator in the INL office at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia to enhance oversight of approximately 102 contract personnel and management controls for INL’s $135 million annual budget. The position provides essential management and administrative direction to enhance INL/Bogota’s program implementation, contributing to Mission, Bureau, and Department strategic objectives. INL/Bogota programs include Organized Crime and Counternarcotics, Justice, Police Aviation, Law Enforcement Professionalization Support, and Policy. The Management Coordinator is responsible for managing two section leaders and 35 Locally Employed (LE) and contracted INL/Bogota staff. The incumbent manages logistics/warehouse/customs, information technology (IT), construction, and facilities maintenance. The warehouse receives each year about $70 million of INL Bogota program assets procured locally or in the United States, which are critical to the interdiction, eradication, aviation, or security programs.
The incumbent will also streamline management processes and develop and implement policies and new administrative changes required.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direct supervision of the Bogota-based INL Management Officer or his/her designee, the INL Management Coordinator will perform the following duties:
Construction
• Supervises the INL construction unit (a team of LE and contractor staff including one project manager, two civil engineers, one electrical engineer, one systems/electrical engineer, three architects, and one IT specialist) that provides subject matter expertise to the INL program managers for proposed construction projects and are Contracting Officer Representatives on active construction projects.
• Supports all INL-funded program requirements for construction projects (e.g., modular offices, barracks, warehouses, K-9 kennels) that are donated to the Government of Colombia (GOC).
• Oversees an average of 80 construction projects annually, valued at more than $50 million.
• Works closely with the program managers, the front office, the Office of Acquisition Management, and the local GSO contracting officer concerning construction requirements and changing priorities.
• Responsible for assigning the projects to the team members according to their specialties and distributing the workload to ensure effective use of the resources to avoid backlogs, bottlenecks and other delays that may adversely affect the mission.
• Provides feedback on the timelines for the design, architectural and engineering studies, reviews statements of work, and oversees subsequent project execution.
• Develops weekly evaluations of base line progress and discrepancies, reports issues, revises/corrects schedules, and produces lessons learned reports at the end of each project to create a continuous follow-up of improvement actions within the unit. This requires continual follow up on the status of individual projects, problem resolution, and coordination with contractors, CNP and other GOC architects/engineers, and INL program managers.
• Coordinates the preparation of annual INL required Advance Acquisition Plan, obtaining cost information and project, commodity, and construction requirements from all program managers, ensuring timely and accurate reporting for INL budget and planning officials.
INL Warehouse, Customs and Shipping Operations
• Responsible for coordinating and directing the INL Management Logistics Supervisor in the day-to-day operations of the warehouse ensuring that critical program equipment is not diverted or delayed in its arrival in country.
• Provides guidance to LE Staff, including two shipping clerks, two warehousemen, and an administrative assistant. The warehouse team works with the GOC partners (including the National Police, Navy, Army, and Prosecutors’ Office), to ship, import, export, and complete the customs and nationalization process for items such as aircraft, aircraft parts, boats, vehicles, weapons, ammunition, night vision goggles, armored vests, and other training equipment.
• Responsible for establishing policies and guidelines for registering all INL assets in the asset management database and ensuring appropriate labeling for EUM prior to transfer to the GOC for inclusion in the ILMS database.
• Provides appropriate oversight for proper accountability of program assets.
Facilities Maintenance Team (FMTs)
• Oversees the 15-30-member FMT of third-party contractors, managed by a civil engineer and supervised by the INL Management Logistics Supervisor. This team of craftspeople, electricians, and air conditioning and inventory specialists construct, renovate, and maintain INL-program-funded buildings.
• Works with program managers to determine whether it would be more efficient and financially beneficial to utilize the FMTs to complete a construction or maintenance project.
• Provides detailed cost-benefit analysis as well as detailed planning to show scope and timeframe for the proposed projects, to assist in deciding which mechanism will be used to complete the project.
Motorpool Fleet
• Oversees all the employees (seven LE) in the Motor Pool unit, comprised of a vehicle operations & maintenance supervisor, five drivers and an administrative clerk/driver. Directs, and monitors the use and maintenance of motor vehicles and ensures safe and efficient transportation to post personnel and official visitors.
INL Management Training Coordinator
• Coordinates Washington staff assistance visits.
• When required, performs the role of Duty Officer.
• Performs other duties as requested and assigned that are directly related to this Statement of Work.
TRAINING & DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES
1. Completes the Contracting Officer Representative (PA296), Grants Officer Representative, and AOR distance-learning (DL) courses through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) within 120 days of arriving at Post.
2. Completes the Introduction to Working in an Embassy (PN113) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) within the first six (6) months of arriving at Post.
3. Completes the INL Orientation course, INL Management Overseas training (if available), and relevant acquisition and administrative courses as necessary.
4. Financial Management Training offered by FSI – Modules will be selected by the INL Management Officer.
5. Appropriate Human Resources Training determined by supervisor and offered by FSI.
6. Completes the mandatory Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Course (CT650) prior to deployment to Post.
7. Consultations with the INL Program Office may be required.
PLACE OF PERFORMANCE & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
The place of performance for this position is US Embassy, Bogota, Colombia. Occasional travel to rural areas, small towns, and occasionally to large cities throughout Colombia is a requirement of this position. Many of these areas in Colombia are conflict zones where insurgent groups are based, criminal organizations operate, and crime is generally high. In addition, many of these areas in Colombia are tropical, with high temperatures, high humidity, tropical insects and diseases, and minimal infrastructure.
RELATIONSHIPS
The incumbent works under the day-to-day direction of the FS-02 INL Management Officer and in close coordination with the FS-03 Deputy Management Officer, keeping the INL Bogota Director/Deputy well informed about his/her teams and projects. The PSC will serve as the Management Coordinator for Program Implementation, supervising the key management areas described in Section B and coordinating administrative reporting. The Management Coordinator will backstop the FS-02 Management Officer and FS-03 Deputy.
The Management Coordinator will serve as a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) level III for the $60 million INL Bogota contract that provides approximately 100 contract employees, wherein s/he is delegated the authority to act for the Contracting Officer in matters concerning technical clarification, inspection and, after concurrence by the Contracting Officer, acceptance of Contractor performance under the contract, including preparation of receiving reports, and the authorization of progress payments when appropriate. The COR will coordinate all work with the Contractor and review Contractor's performance at significant stages of its development. In no instance, however, shall the COR be authorized to alter or modify the specifications or the contract terms and the conditions or waive the government's requirement, price, delivery, or other terms and conditions. Such changes must be authorized, in writing, by the Contracting Officer.
The Contract Administrator shall be the INL Contracting Officer in Washington. In no instance shall the INL Management Officer or any other individual be authorized to alter or modify the terms and conditions of the contract or waive the Government's requirements, price, delivery, or other terms and conditions. The Contracting Officer must authorize such changes in writing.
The INL Management Officer will provide yearly performance reviews to the INL/EX/GAPP Contracting Officer in Washington, D.C. to contribute to the incumbent’s official yearly review.
COMPLEXITY
This position must exercise considerable independence and judgment in responding to rapidly changing program support requirements. Due to the high visibility and political sensitivity of the issues in which INL Bogota is involved, there is extreme difficulty in identifying the nature of the issues and planning, organizing, and determining the scope and depth of studies/audits to be undertaken. The PSC is expected to address difficult scenarios by separating the substantive nature of the programs or issues into their components and determining the nature and magnitude of programs or issues, as well as in discerning the intent of policy statements and determining how to translate the intent into program support actions.
SCOPE & EFFECTIVENESS
The PSC performs broad and extensive assignments related to a complex range of administrative functions mentioned above to support INL Bogota counternarcotics programs, which are of paramount importance to Mission Colombia, the Department of State, the public and Congress.
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE
The period of performance for this contract is twelve (12) months from the date of award with four (4) optional one-year extensions.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
1. U.S. citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain Department of State Secret level security clearance, medical clearance, and ethics clearance (if applicable). (Security clearance upgrade to Top Secret level may be required.)
2. Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited US institution.
3. A minimum of five (5) years of progressively relevant experience in management, including at least three (3) years in logistics or financial management. Aforementioned experience must be working with full range of administrative laws, policies, regulations, and precedents applicable to program administration.
4. A minimum of five (5) years of experience directly supervising personnel.
5. Demonstrated knowledge and experience implementing management controls, practices, and procedures.
6. Demonstrated specific knowledge of USG acquisition regulations and management practices.
7. English fluency and the ability to read and speak Spanish at the professionally proficient level.
8. A minimum of five (5) years of experience working outside of the United States or working with international partners.
9. Demonstrated experience working overseas with INL or within an embassy Management Section.
10. Demonstrated understanding of U.S. foreign policy and interagency process.
EVALUATION FACTORS
(Used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified offerors in comparison to other offerors.) Offerors should cite specific, illustrative examples for each factor. Responses must be limited to 500 words per factor. Any additional words above the limit will neither be read nor scored.
Factor 1: Work Experience 25 points
Demonstrated work experience in managing large teams and complex projects that include determining and validating requirements, implementing progress on projects, as well as reporting on budget, logistics, warehouse, customs, human resources (HR), vehicle fleet, and construction.
Factor 2: Program Experience 25 points
Demonstrated experience in preparing budgets, advance acquisition plans, statements of work (SOW), procurement orders, purchase requests, sole-source justification waiver requests, and a variety of reports with a full range of sensitive management issues. Demonstrated experience monitoring and organizing the drafting of the annual reports, as well as any ad hoc reports required. Demonstrated experience providing authoritative management advisory service, which includes researching, analyzing, and evaluating the issues, determining applicable precedents, recommending innovative methods and strategies to resolve complex management problems, and identifying the most effective approach.
Factor 3: Management & Communication Experience 20 points
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in a timely and concise manner; interact effectively with others at all levels to prepare, analyze, explain, and defend determinations and requirements with respect to conformance to applicable laws, policies and other regulatory guidelines; and advise program officials.
Demonstrated high level of written communication sufficient to draft a variety of reports, letters, memoranda, position evaluation statements, and other correspondence on a full range of sensitive management issues. Demonstrated oral communication sufficient to meet and deal with managers and employees at all levels in situations of a highly sensitive nature.
The Offeror Rating System is as Follows:
Evaluation Factors have been assigned the following points:
Factor #1 – 25
Factor #2 – 25
Factor #3 – 20
Total Possible – 70 Points
Interview Performance – 30 points
Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – Pass/Fail (no points assigned)
Past performance evaluation of applicant’s ability to perform under the contract. In conducting the evaluation, the U.S. government reserves the right to utilize all evaluation information available at the time of evaluation, whether provided by the applicant or obtained from other sources.
Total Possible Points: 100
The most qualified candidates may be interviewed, required to provide a writing sample, and demonstrate an ability to operate commonly used office applications. INL will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. In addition, applications (written materials and interviews) will be evaluated based on content as well as on the applicant's writing, presentation, and communication skills. In the event that an applicant has fully demonstrated his/her qualifications and there are no other competitive applicants, INL reserves the right to forego the interview process. Professional references will be evaluated for applicants being considered for selection.
COMPENSATION (BASE PAY)
This position has been designated at the FS-02 equivalent level ($99,700 - $146,413 per annum). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon qualifications, previous relevant experience and work history, salary and educational background. Salaries, including any recruitment supplemental pay that exceeds the listed pay range, will not be entertained or negotiated.
For award, INL will negotiate for this contract based on the market value as outlined above and overall experience relevant to the solicitation requirements.
BENEFITS & ALLOWANCES
AS A MATTER OF POLICY, INL NORMALLY AUTHORIZES THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES
BENEFITS - IF APPLICABLE
• Employee's FICA/Medicare Contribution
• Contribution toward Health and Life Insurance
• Pay Comparability Adjustment
• Annual Increase
• Eligibility for Worker's Compensation
• Annual, Sick and Home Leave
• 401K Plan
• MEDVAC (provided by DOS Med)
ALLOWANCES IN ACCORDANCE WITH DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARDIZED REGULATIONS (DSSR) - IF APPLICABLE
• Temporary Quarters Subsistence Allowance (TQSA) or Per Diem upon arrival at Post
• Housing Allowance
• Post Allowance
• Supplemental Post Allowance
• Maintenance Allowance (SMA)
• Education Allowance
• Educational Travel (full-time United States based secondary)
• Post Hardship Differential
• Danger Pay
• Shipment of HHE, UAB, POV and Consumables
