SOLICITATION NUMBER/VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT:  72069521R100001

                        ISSUANCE DATE: December 22, 2020

                                   CLOSING DATE/TIME: January 12, 2021/16:00 (4p.m.) CAT

SUBJECT:      Solicitation for a Cooperating Country National Personal Services Contractor

Dear Prospective Offerors/Applicants:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under a contract as described in this solicitation.

Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1, Sections I through V of this solicitation.  Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered.  Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records.

This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a personal services contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the offers.

Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in the attached information.

Sincerely,

//signed//

Reid H. Ahl, CM

Supervisory Executive Officer and

Contracting Officer

 Basic Functions of Position

The Project Management Specialist (Health – Laboratory) serves as the lead within USAID/Burundi on laboratory systems strengthening and service delivery activities for HIV-related programs. Working under the direction of the USAID PEPFAR Team Lead, the Project Management Specialist serves as a technical and programmatic lead on laboratory support on HIV, TB and other opportunistic infections, across all USAID-supported programs, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), the National Public Health Lab Institute and implementing partners, will lead on the development and introduction of HIV recency testing and surveillance in Burundi.

 Major Duties and Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Project Management Specialist (Laboratory) will include all aspects of project management including design of new activities, management of contracts and grants awarded to USAID/Burundi’s implementing partner organizations, monitoring and evaluation of program progress, and reporting of program results through the PEPFAR Country Operational Plan (COP). Work will be carried out in close collaboration with the Government of Burundi (GOB) and partners, including Civil Society Organizations to ensure that all lab system development and surveillance activities are carried out in accordance with program objectives and internationally recognized standards. In particular, the incumbent is responsible for leading efforts to implement and monitor Rapid tests for recent HIV infection (RTRI) in Burundi, and to support the implementation of surveillance activities for RTRI.

A) Activity Development and Design     (20%)

The Project Management Specialist (Laboratory), working under the supervision of the USAID PEPFAR Team Lead and in collaboration with the MOH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) RTRI Workgroup, will be responsible for providing strategic guidance in the design and development of lab systems development and surveillance in accordance with program objectives and internationally recognized standards and best practices. The incumbent is responsible for leading the introduction and monitoring of RTRI in Burundi according to PEPFAR standards and protocols.

• Adapt generic CDC RTRI and surveillance protocol to local contexts.
• Review policies related to HIV testing, including national HIV testing algorithms, to identify areas of implementation of RTRI.
• Support the development of the design of the pilot activities, including site selection, sample size and protocol development.
• Support the development of a continuous quality improvement plan.
• Support the development of training materials for the full range of RTRI activities.

B) Management of Implementation Activities               (30%)

The incumbent, working under the supervision of the USAID PEPFAR Team Lead, will provide oversight and management for projects implemented by USAID, in particular RTRI and surveillance activities. The incumbent will provide financial and budgetary support as an Award/Contracting Officer’s Representative or Activity Manager as required by USAID, and in accordance with USAID program management regulations, procedures, and practices. The Project Management Specialist (Laboratory) will manage and oversee services and deliverables provided by contractors and grantees. The incumbent will      monitor      and report      the results of all USAID lab systems strengthening and RTRI/surveillance. Furthermore, the incumbent will:

• Coordinate activities to improve quantification and harmonization efforts for HIV diagnostics, including HIV rapid tests and HIV point-of-care (POC) diagnostic devices;
• Develop and support implementation plans and strategies in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) RTRI Workgroup and other development partners, donors, beneficiaries and advocacy groups;
• Plan and support the development of laboratory network development strategies for improved diagnostic services;
• Identify and recommend priorities for RTRI introduction, scale-up and roll-out through consultations with the public, academic, and private sectors;
• Develop and support efforts to advance agency investments in sample transport and result return logistics.
• Participate in or lead supportive site monitoring and quality assurance activities and visits.
• Provide technical assistance in the introduction and implementation of RTRI and surveillance;
• Support implementation and monitoring of a continuous quality improvement plan.
• Provide TA on data collection/management system, data dashboard, data analysis and reporting.
• Provide TA on solutions for data management, data analysis, data reporting, and data use from the recent infection surveillance system.
• Provide supportive supervision and monitoring of implementation: data quality assessments, data reporting, and RTRI continuous quality improvement activities.

C) Partner Relationships and Advocacy                                                                 (30%)

Successful performance in this position depends upon establishing and maintaining productive collaborative relationships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders. The incumbent will be required to communicate regularly and work jointly with laboratory systems strengthening and RTRI subject matter experts in the USAID/Washington Office of HIV/AIDS and CDC/Atlanta. In Burundi, partnerships will focus on the National AIDS Control Program and other health programs implemented by the MOH, provincial and district governments. The incumbent will also interact with the World Bank, Global Fund, WHO, UNICEF, and other donors, and NGOs implementing disease prevention and control activities to ensure that all of USAID’s activities are complementary and enhance the GOB’s programs. In particular the incumbent will:

• Lead advocacy and coordination with GOB (at a minimum, MOH representatives from surveillance and laboratory) to introduce RTRI in Burundi, including meetings and/or workshops that improve communication, understanding of the technology, and its potential programmatic and public health impact.
• Support consultations and/or workshops with health facilities, community sites/programs, civil society, laboratories, and implementation partners to improve understanding of the RTRI technology, how it will be implemented and its potential programmatic and public health impact.
• Support engagement of communities and civil society organizations in policy discussions related to RTRI rollout and response, particularly to socialize sensitive issues regarding return of results, and to ensure community input on response.
• Advocate for and secure required approvals for pilot protocol, including as needed IRB approvals and an ISTEEBU Data Visa.
• Based on the RTRI pilot results, engage in consultations on the value of the technology, and potential Integration into national HIV case surveillance system, as appropriate.

D) Monitoring and Evaluation  (20%)

Monitoring and evaluation is a key component of USAID’s program. The Project Management Specialist (Laboratory) will support the development of a monitoring and evaluation plan in line with USAID targets, as well as ensure that USAID partners develop project monitoring plans and report in a timely manner on their activities. The Project Management Specialist will provide specialized advice and practical experience in monitoring RTRI inputs and outcomes, progress towards program objectives, and utilization of RTRI results (surveillance).

AIDAR, Appendix J, 1. (b) Definitions:

“Cooperating country” means the country in which the employing USAID Mission is located.

“Cooperating country national” (“CCN”) means an individual who is a cooperating country citizen or a non-cooperating country citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the cooperating country.

NOTE: All applicants must reside in Burundi and have the required work and/or residency permits to be eligible for consideration.

12. POINT OF CONTACT:

Email Address:  usaidburundihr@usaid.gov or visit the Embassy website at https://bi.usembassy.gov/embassy/jobs/ and/or contact the USAID office at 22 20 72 04 or 22 20 72 72.

Mailing Address:      Human Resources Office

Embassy of the United States

Avenue des Etats-Unis

 B.P 1720 Bujumbura