Contracting Officer Representative

Job Description

Position Title: Contracting Officer Representative – West Bank/Palestine

Location: Jerusalem, Israel

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: September 06, 2022

Closing date: September 20, 2022

Closing Time: 3:00 PM ET

Solicitation Number: PSC-22-061-INL

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the INL Director or his/her designee, the COR will perform the following duties:

1. Assess implementer capacity and performance and advises post officials and INL/AME regarding contractors, grantees, and other INL implementing partners ability to address current and future law enforcement and criminal justice programming in West Bank/Palestine.
2. Liaise with and assists Palestinian Authority officials in identifying project performance issues or adjustments needed to active or future projects to meet mission objectives. Acts as liaison between these entities and components of the U.S. Mission.
3. Analyze program needs for acquisition support, as well as to define, draft, and document scopes of work, plans, schedules, site-specific considerations, work requirements, milestones, and operational activities for a variety of support contracts and implementing mechanisms. Advises program managers in developing clear, accurate, and detailed contractual requirements.
4. Identify any gaps in support of program requirements and make recommendations on solutions.
5. Coordinate annual acquisition reporting requirements for INL (e.g., the End-Use Monitoring Report, etc.). Helps administer and monitor the expenditure of funds provided to implementers. Prepares program documentation and procurement requirements for criminal justice assistance projects. Helps prepare regular reporting, including monthly status reports, to INL/AME.
6. Ensure effective coordination of INL assistance to the Palestinian Authority and, when required, the Government of Israel.
7. Maintain and establish appropriate internal management control systems. Ensure that INL programs are not subject to waste, fraud, or mismanagement. Helps manage and monitor the use of all U.S.-provided commodities.
8. Maintain security awareness and properly handles classified and controlled items and information.
9. Secure/recommend approval, for deviations from approved budgets, plans, schedules, scopes of work, and document the changes accordingly. Identifies areas for program cost savings and makes appropriate recommendations.
10. When required, perform the role of Duty Officer.
11. Perform other duties as requested and assigned that are directly related to this Statement of Work.

1. SPECIFIC COR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

COR, responsibilities shall include the following:

1. Oversee acquisition management and COR/GOR/AOR responsibilities in criminal justice sector programs in the West Bank/Palestine, including law enforcement support, prosecutorial reform, transnational organized crime, rule of law, counternarcotics, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and countering the financing of terrorism, as appropriate. The COR will draw on project management and foreign assistance expertise to achieve U.S, government objectives.
2. Oversee the development and implementation of a series of contractor reports that ensure a regular flow of management information regarding contract activities among all concerned parties, including contractors, program offices/officers, and INL’s senior management team.
3. Serve as a technical advisor to INL on contract terms and conditions and performance requirements. Provide assessments of contractor progress as requested.
4. Review and approve contractor invoices for assigned contracts and task orders.
5. Conduct analyses of spending trends in order to ensure compliance with spending plans and to anticipate potential funding issues. Initiates action to promptly resolve funding issues.
6. Approve contractor procurement requests within the authority delegated by the CO. Serves as property administrator for the assigned contracts when delegated by the CO.
7. Coordinate with program offices and contracting officer (CO) to ensure uninterrupted support on contracted activities, through timely execution of contract options or solicitations.
8. Monitor implementers’ progress and performance to assure compliance with all contract/acquisition terms and conditions. Provides input to program/project officers to ensure that rigorous surveillance of contractor/implementer activities is being exercised, in coordination with the INL Director.
9. Review, evaluate, and document contractor/implementer performance in relation to contract/acquisition requirements, including conducting progress reviews and providing appropriate approvals.
10. Know and understand the terms and provision of the contract.
11. Develop, implement and ensure compliance with contract administration processes, including invoice submission/review, payment authorization, verification of receiving reports, quality assurance/surveillance, deliverables receipt and acceptance, project file and COR contract document maintenance.
12. Recommend solutions or corrective action to resolve any problems that interfere with contract/acquisition progress and with the completion of projects according to contract/acquisition requirements. In those cases where problems cannot be resolved within the incumbent’s scope of authority, makes recommendations to INL management and the CO/GO/AO on appropriate corrective actions and implements those actions upon approval.
13. Ensure the Government meets its contractual/acquisition obligations to the Contractor, e.g., providing Government furnished equipment and services and timely Government review and approval of documents if such reviews are required by the contract/acquisition.
14. Conduct site visits to check on the work of the contractor/implementer to ensure contract/agreement compliance.
15. Facilitate the flow of accurate and timely information among stakeholders, including organizing, hosting, and documenting project meetings.
16. Coordinate with program/project officers and designated contractor/implementer representatives on all technical matters that arise in the administration of the assigned contracts, agreements and task orders; providing clarifications regarding contract/acquisition technical requirements, including inspection, testing, and acceptance procedures.
17. Complete Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) for all assigned contracts and task orders following completion of periods of performance.
18. Maintain all contract and task order files in compliance with applicable policies and guidelines.

1. ETHICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. The PSC shall be subject to the ethics rules applicable to Department of State employees under 5 CFR Part 2635 (Standards of ethical conduct for employees of the Executive Branch), 2 FAM 700 (Ethics), and 3 FAM 8610 (Domestic Staff Employment) and 4170 (Official Clearance of Speaking, Writing and Teaching). Contractor shall also be subject to 5 CFR Part 2637 (regulations concerning post-employment conflicts of interest).
2. Conditions for Contracting Prior to Receipt of Ethics Clearance: The Contractor may commence work prior to the completion of the ethics clearance. The Contractor shall not perform Contracting Officer Representative functions until clearance received. Further, if Contractor does not obtain ethics clearance within 30 days of commencing work, this contract may be terminated in accordance with paragraph (a) (2) of General Provision 16 of this contract.

TRAININGS & DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES

1. This position requires a minimum of FAC-COR Level II. The FSI Administrative Procedures Handbook provides the required training and experience requirements to obtain the FAC-COR Certification. The PSC must have all the requisite experience for obtaining a FAC-COR Level II in accordance with the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) Training Requirements of the FSI Administrative Procedures Handbook prior to coming on board but will be granted 30 days to take the Department of State specific online or in-person training to receive a DOS FAC-COR Level II Certificate. The PSC must acquire FAC-COR Level III certification within one year of coming on board.
2. Obtains required Grants Officer Representative (GOR) Certification within 90 days of arriving at Post. The PSC must have all the requisite experience for obtaining GOR certification but will be granted 90 days to take the Department of State specific online or in-person training to receive a DOS GOR Certificate.
3. Within the first six (6) months of arriving at Post completes the Introduction to Working in an Embassy (PN113) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI).
4. Completes the mandatory Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Course (OT650) prior to deployment to Post.
5. If applicable - Consultations with the INL Program Office may be required.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

US Embassy Jerusalem. See Attachment A for Embassy Jerusalem Travel Policy. Medical Clearances may be necessary.

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 QUALIFICATIONS

1. U.S. citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain Department of State Secret security, Medical (if applicable) and Ethics clearances. (Security clearance upgrade to TS level may be required).
2. A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution, and a minimum of five (5) years of professional work experience, of which three (3) years should be directly related to performing functions in program management and/or contractor oversight for INL or similar government-funded programs.
3. A minimum of a Federal Acquisition Certification - Contracting Officer’s Representative (FAC-COR) Level II Certification, with at least three (3) years of experience in overseeing contracts related to support programs.
4. Demonstrated experience in contract execution, including drafting Requests for Information, Requests for Proposals, Independent Government Cost Estimates, and evaluating responses.
5. Demonstrated experience in contract management, including the drafting and modification of Statements of Work, contract modifications, verifying expenditures and exercising contract options.
6. Demonstrated knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
7. Demonstrated knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
8. Experience analyzing and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems, considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
9. Demonstrated experience briefing and engaging with senior government and industry officials.
10. Demonstrated experience with foreign assistance.

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.

Submit proposal via e-mail to the attention of:

INL/Samantha D. Brown

E-mail: BrownSD@state.gov

Direct questions regarding this solicitation to:

INL/Samantha D. Brown

E-mail: BrownSD@state.gov

INL will not accept proposals beyond the closing time/date; unless it can be determined DOS mishandled the proposal.

Closing date: September 20, 2022

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