I.GENERAL INFORMATION
1. SOLICITATION NO. 72011724R00003
2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 29, 2024
3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: April 30, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Chisinau Time
4. POINT OF CONTACT: Natalia Ciobanu, email at chisinauhr@usaid.gov
5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Energy Advisor
6. MARKET VALUE: $123,041 - $159,950 per year, equivalent to GS-15. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value. USPSCs performing overseas are not entitled to Locality Pay.
7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Chisinau, Moldova. Overseas USPSCs may be authorized to telework or remote work only from a location within the country of performance, in accordance with Mission policy. Telework or remote work from outside the country of performance may only be authorized in certain situations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.
8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The base period will be one year, estimated to start o/a November 2024. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise additional four 1-year option periods for the dates estimated as follows:
Base period
November 2024 - July 2025
Option Period 1:
November 2025 – July 2026
Option Period 2:
November 2026 - July 2027
Option Period 3:
November 2027 - July 2028
Option Period 4:
November 2028 - July 2029
9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: United States Citizens (due to the requirement for Secret clearance).
10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret.
11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:
The Senior Energy Advisor will be charged with leading and supporting the Agency’s engagement on the very complex, high-profile, and expanding energy security program in Moldova. The areas of emphasis include: 1) strengthening Moldova’s energy security by improving physical connectivity and market integration with Europe; 2) enhancing energy efficiency; 3) facilitating the growth and diversification of domestic power generation, particularly renewable energy and related transmission and distribution infrastructure; 4) diversifying the country’s natural gas supply, with a focus on responding to seasonal gas crises and the security of supply; 5) improving cybersecurity policies and legislation, information sharing, workforce development, and capacity-building, particularly related to energy security; and 6) coordinating efforts to reduce reliance on traditional energy sources and supporting green energy adoption across the Mission’s portfolio.
The Senior Energy Advisor must be able to rapidly assimilate, analyze, and respond to rapidly changing circumstances and help guide project implementation processes to achieve optimal results, often under high scrutiny and time pressures. He/she must be proactive and innovative in bringing state-of-the-art technical skills, and international best practices to Moldova’s country-specific development in the energy security context, particularly in relation to the Mission’s CDCS goals and objectives, the U.S. Embassy’s ICS, and relevant USG policy and strategies. The Senior Energy Advisor will have experience in energy security programming with USAID and/or other international development organizations and have the well-developed technical and diplomatic skills and the ability to command respect with senior government officials, international donors, implementing partners, the interagency, etc. that contribute to promoting and enhancing Moldova’s energy security. Further, cross-cultural communications, cultural sensitivities, and outstanding communication and interpersonal skills are essential for success.
The position reports directly to the Director, Office of Economic Growth and coordinates closely with the co-Deputy Office Director on administrative and management issues; and as a senior-level advisor and technical expert, he/she will exercise significant independent judgment on matters of policy and technical direction and will make decisions to ensure successful program implementation. He/she will lead the Office’s Energy Team in the design, management, and implementation of the Mission’s energy security portfolio, including serving as the Agreement or Contracting Officer’s Representative (A/COR) on one or more Economic Growth activities and may serve as the alternate A/COR and/or Activity Manager for one or more activities. He/she will be responsible for mentoring other staff working on the energy security portfolio, specifically any new hires. Additionally, the Senior Energy Advisor may be required to provide policy analysis and options on energy issues as requested by the Embassy, senior Mission management, and other US Government officials through Mission management. He/she will also represent USAID, as requested and appropriate, at meetings with senior Moldovan officials and technical counterparts, donors, non-governmental organizations, implementing partners, and the interagency. The Senior Energy Advisor and Team Lead leads coordination with USAID’s Office of Energy and Infrastructure, Technical Support Office, in the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia; the Center for Energy, Infrastructure, and Cities, in the Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI); and the Office of Critical Infrastructure in the USAID Ukraine Mission, as appropriate. He/she represents the Agency in high-level meetings with the U.S. Ambassador, GOM officials, Mission leadership, senior interagency leadership, private sector, and donor representatives. In this capacity, he/she articulates the USAID vision and strategic priorities so as to garner support for, and potential participation in, the Mission’s energy program.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Facilitating high-impact energy security activities in Moldova, while guiding appropriate policy and
regulatory reforms being made by the host government, which will serve as a strong catalyst for
greater private investment in energy generation and infrastructure.
2. Representing USAID’s energy program with senior-level officials within the U.S. Government, Embassy, USAID, GOM, donor community, private sector, and others. Convey USAID’s vision and strategic priorities so as to garner support for, and potential participation in, USAID’s activities.
3. Leading and managing the cooperation with the GOM, international donors, the private sector, and the interagency to support implementation of energy security activities, monitoring and evaluating implementation progress and budgets, performing site visits, addressing issues/problems as they arise, and providing feedback and progress reports to the interagency team and senior USAID staff.
4. Performs the below duties and responsibilities with limited guidance from the Economic Growth Office Director, or his/her designee, for the assigned area of responsibility. Additionally, the individual will take on a high level of responsibility for management and coordination of infrastructure activities, planning, and representation in his/her area of responsibility.
5. Lead the Energy Team in implementation (design and procurement through construction completion) of the energy infrastructure projects. Tasks will include feasibility studies, ESIAs, design and construction of infrastructure projects, procuring engineering and construction services, etc.
6. Monitoring the effectiveness and appropriateness of energy infrastructure in changing economic and political contexts, including conducting in-person or virtual site visits to assess the infrastructure quality, impact, and evidence of sustainability.
7. Provides support to the USAID/Moldova energy portfolio, particularly related to analysis, engineering, procurement, and construction of infrastructure, including generation, transmission, distribution, energy storage, balancing capacity, etc.
8. Providing professional advice to the GOM on energy sector reform, including increasing the reliability and flexibility of Moldova’s power system, and the diversification of power generation options.
9. Assisting GOM in the development of Moldovan regulatory institutions, as needed, and helping enable them to effectively carry out their mandate.
10. Supporting an ongoing dialogue between GOM authorities, USG stakeholders, donors, and partners to reach consensus on energy-related activities and transactions; developing, tracking, and monitoring milestones; and doing the necessary preparation of reports pertinent to performance monitoring and evaluation.
11. Working closely with interagency team members in the course of advancing the Mission’s CDCS, U.S. Embassy Chisinau’s ICS, and the NSC’s Interim National Security Strategic Guidance (specifically, the International Energy Engagement Guidance), specifically bolstering energy security to reduce core vulnerabilities of Moldova’s energy sector by enhancing physical connectivity and regional market integration, aligned with the EU’s Third Energy Package; increasing domestic power generation; improving energy efficiency, and expanding natural gas supply diversification.
12. Managing related outreach efforts with USAID’s Development Outreach and Communications team and the State Department’s Public Affairs Office that may include public events, press releases, communications campaigns, and close coordination with other USG partners.
13. Serving as A/COR and/or Activity Manager for grants, cooperative agreements, and/or contracts and assisting with the implementation of the overall energy security portfolio. Currently, the Energy Team manages one large bilateral contract, as well as multiple smaller activities through regional buy-ins. The portfolio will soon include several large-scale infrastructure design and construction projects.
14. Monitoring and evaluating new and on-going activities; preparing performance reports, briefing papers, decision memos, concept papers, and other periodic documentation for the Mission, USAID/Washington, the State Department, and the U.S. Congress.
15. Drafting technical documentation (e.g., SOWs, Activity Approval Memos, etc.) needed to develop energy projects and activities, obligate funds, and support the Contracting Office to award grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts.
16. Serving as a member (or chair) of various Technical Evaluation Committees (TECs), including those for proposal review and/or the hiring of personnel.
3. Supervisory Relationship:
The Advisor will directly supervise two GS-14 PSCs and provide subject-area mentorship and training for one (1) FSN-11 Project Management Specialist (Energy).
4. Supervisory Controls:
The Advisor will receive supervision, policy direction, and guidance from the USAID Moldova, Office of Economic Growth Director or their designee. Performance is evaluated annually based on accomplishments. While this position reports to the Office of Economic Growth Director or their designee, it is a position that works with considerable administrative discretion and the successful candidate must be sufficiently experienced to understand the needs of the Mission. The position functions well within the limits of Personal Services Contracts (PSC). That is, the position does not and will not require supervision of U.S. direct-hire employees of USAID or other U.S. Government agencies.
1. PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.
I.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.
The technical evaluation committee may conduct reference checks, including references from individuals who have not been specifically identified by the offeror, and may do so before or after a candidate is interviewed.
To meet the basic eligibility requirements for this position the offeror must:
● Be a U.S. citizen;
● Submit a complete application (Offer) as outlined in the Section IV;
● Be able to attain a security clearance at the Secret level;
● Be cleared medically to work in the U.S. Mission to Moldova.
After the closing date for receipt of applications, those that meet the minimum qualification requirements (Education, Experience, and Language) will be referred to a Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC). Applications from candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements will not be considered.
The TEC will review and score the applications to create a list of applicants to be further evaluated. Short-listed candidates will be evaluated based on information presented in the application, skills test (when used), interview, and obtained through reference checks against the Evaluation Factors listed below. An applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about past performance and abilities.
BASIS OF RATING
Applicants are rated as outlined below.
Application Review 30 points
The application will be scored based on information provided outlining the quality of experience supporting the statement of duties and the following evaluation factors:
a. Education:
Master’s Degree in discipline relevant to engineering, international business, international economics, international law, energy development, or related field is required.
b. Prior Work Experience:
A minimum of fifteen (15) years of experience in one or a combination of fields of energy security for a USG Agency, USG Implementing Partner, Non-Governmental Organization, and/or other donor in the international development arena, is required. Experience must include:
● Fifteen (15) years of progressively more responsible experience implementing programs in the
energy sector, including policy and regulatory reforms in developing countries, grid and/or off- grid energy generation and transmission, and distribution systems, and utility management.
● Demonstrated experience in advancing private sector investments in developing countries to advance modern energy services and regional energy connectivity.
● Demonstrated experience in designing and constructing energy infrastructure projects in
developing countries.
● Five (5) years of substantive previous experience directly managing USG or similar other donor
programs.
● Demonstrated experience in directly managing and achieving significant results in energy
capacity building programs in developing countries institutions.
● Demonstrated ability to consistently perform in a complex institutional and multi-cultural
environment.
c. Language and communication skills:
d. Knowledge:
A mastery level/highly-specialized knowledge related a broad array of energy security fields, is essential, including:
● Demonstrated knowledge of relevant development problems and strategies in the areas of design and construction of energy infrastructure projects, accelerating private investments in utility scale renewable energy projects, improving the investment climate in the energy sector, energy sector reforms, capacity building in energy agencies, and various energy security issues.
● Ability to generate new acquisition/assistance methodologies and policies relevant to regional and international energy connectivity.
● Ability to utilize applications in Microsoft software including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint in preparation and presentation of reports and other official documentation (e.g., policy documents, project descriptions, taskers, MOUs and Agreements).
● Demonstrated superb public presentation, as well as written and oral communication skills in English.
● Knowledge of USAID development assistance program processes and practices is highly desired, but not required.
Skills and Abilities: Demonstrated Skills and Abilities in the below areas are essential:
● Strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills in English.
● Proven ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships across cultures, on teams,
and with a broad range of development partners.
● Proven ability to work under pressure and produce professional results quickly.
● Proven ability to work within a team efficiently and productively.
Interview Performance 70 points
Interview questions will be intended to explore the candidate’s experience, job knowledge, and skills regarding the requirements and functional role of the position. There will be at least one question regarding DEIA concepts.
Total Possible Points: 100 points
Reference Check Pass/Fail
A “Fail” Reference Check would result from information regarding confirmed illegal or unethical activities or a preponderance of negative feedback from numerous references, e.g., not a single critical comment.
di. SUBMITTING AN OFFER
1. Eligible Offerors are required to complete and submit through email all the below documents in order to be considered for the position.
a. Completed AID 309-2 (Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals) which can be retrieved here: https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-309-2.
b. A cover letter of no more than 2 pages that demonstrates how the Offeror’s qualifications meet the evaluation and selection factors in section III. Excess pages (beyond 2) will not be read or considered.
c. A CV or standard resume of no more than 4 pages.
d. Names of three professional references, including at least one current/former supervisor, that have knowledge of the offeror’s ability to perform the duties set forth in the solicitation. This information may be included in the cover letter or resume/CV.
2. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I, item 4.
3. Offeror submission must clearly reference the Solicitation number on all offeror submitted documents.
Offerors who do not include all above required documents in their offer submission will not be considered for this position. Documents/offers received through links to Google Drive, Sky Drive, and/or any other private cloud computing database/websites will not be considered.
dii. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD
The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award:
1. Medical History and Examination Form/ Medical Clearance Update (DS-1843/DS-3057)
2. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)
Failure of the selected offeror to accurately complete and submit required documents in a timely manner may be grounds for the CO to rescind any conditional pre-contract salary offer letter and begin negotiations with the next most qualified/highest ranked offeror.
Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors - Please be advised that, upon award, the contractor will be required to follow the Mission policies and/or directives from the U.S. Department of State regarding COVID-19 requirements
diii. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES
As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, an Off-shore hire USPSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances
1. BENEFITS:
(a) Employer’s FICA Contribution
(b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance
(c) Pay Comparability Adjustment
(d) Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)
(e) Eligibility for Worker’s Compensation
(f) Annual and Sick Leave
2. ALLOWANCES (If Applicable):
Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas), available at https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101
(a) Temporary Quarters Subsistence Allowance (Section 120)
(b) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)
(c) Post (Cost of Living) Allowance (Section 220)
(d) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)
(e) Education Allowance (Section 270)
(f) Educational Travel (Section 280)
(g) Post Differential (Section 500)
(h) Payments During Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600)
*Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR) (Government Civilians Foreign Areas)
If a Resident Hire USPSC is selected for this position the benefits will be adjusted per the Mission policy and the AIDAR.
div. TAXES
U.S. Personal Services Contractors are required to pay U.S. Federal Income Taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State Income Taxes.
dv. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs
USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources:
1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix D, “Direct USAID Contracts With a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien 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 as described below:
1. 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.
Personal Services ContractsAAPD/CIB No.
Title/Issued Date
Subject Category
AAPD 22-02
(PDF 327 KB)
Telework and Remote Work Policy for U.S. Personal Services Contracts with Individuals – July 13, 2022
Personal Services Contracts
Revised and Expanded Fringe Benefits for USPSCs – November 23, 2021
USPSC Paid Parental Leave Timekeeping/Payroll Process [41K PDF]
Personal Services Contracts
AAPD 21-04 Revision 4
(PDF 483K)
Executive Order 14042 on Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Awards – December 14, 2012
AAPD No. 21-04, ATTACHMENT 4 - Letter for contracts with performance requiring physical access to USAID domestic facilities. [165K PDF]
AAPD No. 21-04, ATTACHMENT 5 - Letter to Individuals with Personal Services Contracts [166K PDF]
AAPD 21-04 ATTACHMENT 6: Overview of Applicability of FAR 52.223-99 [200K PDF]
Acquisition Management
Personal Services Contracts
AAPD 21-01
(PDF 220K)
Applicability of FAR 4.21 to USAID Personal Services Contracts with Individuals Under the AIDAR Appendices D and J – March 26, 2021
Acquisition Management
AAPD 18-02 Revision 2
(PDF 77K)
Revisions to Medevac Policies for USPSCs and TCNPSCs – February 16, 2022
Personal Services Contracts
Personal Services Contracts: Changes in USG Reimbursement Amounts for Health Insurance and Physical Exam Costs – 01/08/10
Personal Services Contracts
PSC Medical Expense Payment Responsibility – October 30, 2006
Personal Services Contracts
AIDAR, Appendices D and J: Using the Optional Schedule to Incrementally Fund Contracts – JUNE 23, 2006
Personal Services Contracts
2. 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/OGE%20Regulations.
3. 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 Acquisition & Assistance Ombudsman | Basic Page | U.S. Agency for International Development (usaid.gov)
The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov.
The USAID Mission to Moldova (“Mission”) is responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of USAID-funded programs operating throughout Moldova. The Mission provides assistance to promote Moldova’s transition to a democratic, prosperous, stable, healthy country - integrated with Europe. Moldova’s chronic energy insecurity, highlighted by the country’s traditional dependence on Russia, was exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, and more overt weaponization of energy—all of which threaten Moldova’s stability, security, and European future. In response, the Mission is undergoing an unprecedented period of portfolio expansion and re-prioritization to deal with the highest development priority in the country, as identified by the Government of Moldova (GOM) and the U.S. Government, energy security.
The expanded energy security portfolio in Moldova supports the Mission’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) and is aligned with U.S. Embassy Chisinau’s Integrated Country Strategy (ICS) and the NSC’s Interim National Security Strategic Guidance (specifically, the International Energy Engagement Guidance). Under the CDCS, USAID’s goal for the strategy period 2020 – 2027 is that Moldova will be a competitive and democratic European country that resists malign influences while being powered by an aspiring citizenry and robust private sector partnerships. As part of this goal, the Mission “will prioritize the following: (1) mitigating near-term fiscal impacts and risks of energy shortages, (2) providing Moldova with the capacity to generate its own electricity and better connect with Europe, and (3) decreasing dependence on Russian-owned natural gas as well as electricity supply from Moldavskaya GRES (M-GRES).”
Given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the increasingly dangerous and unpredictable operating environment in the region, the Mission’s need for rapid and flexible energy security programming in Moldova, particularly related to economic recovery and resilience, is paramount. Many sectors have been negatively affected by Russian aggression and malign influence, but the Moldovan interagency and business community agree that energy security is Moldova’s top concern. Responding to this unprecedented crisis, USAID seeks to deepen its interventions in energy security, specifically helping increase the reliability and flexibility of Moldova’s power system, and the diversification of power generation options. The Mission is deepening its partnership with the GOM and leveraging donor and private sector attention and funding to more quickly (and fully) advance regional energy integration, energy market development, improve energy efficiency, and the accelerated deployment of domestic generation with renewable energy resources.
In particular, the Moldovan power system exhibits a lack of flexibility and operates under marginal adequacy and reliability conditions. In part, these weaknesses are a legacy from when it was part of a wider integrated power system. However, the situation has been aggravated by underinvestment in generation and network infrastructure over the last thirty years and exacerbated by Russian malign influence. Accordingly, power system planning and operations in Moldova require a paradigm shift. Moldova’s power system currently faces the dual challenge of needing to both enhance its energy security through regional infrastructure and energy markets integration, while at the same time ensuring a clear, realistic, aggressive path for a clean energy transition.
In order to address these challenges, Moldova must have access to adequate and reliable load frequency control resources, greater connectivity with Europe, and increased domestic generation capabilities, all of which is a fundamental prerequisite for the operation of an efficient, liquid, and regionally integrated electricity market. A well-functioning, competitive market is, in turn, a major enabler for private investments in energy infrastructure and also for accessing affordable and reliable energy resources at a regional level. In addition, Moldova’s climate commitments, which largely involve the decarbonization of the power sector, require the development and use of indigenous, cost- effective renewable energy sources.
USAID/Moldova’s energy program supports the GOM’s efforts to diversify their energy sources with a particular focus on joining ENTSO-E as a full member. The assistance includes, but not be limited to, supporting the adoption of policies, legislation, and regulations consistent with EU and ENTSO-E requirements, strengthening of regulatory bodies, establishing a market operator, and building the capacity of the energy agencies, including the Ministry of Energy, the transmission system operator, and the state-owned energy buyer. The program supports Energocom’s (state-owned energy supplier) ability to purchase gas and electricity on the open market and works with authorities to establish the conditions for a dynamic electricity market.
The Mission’s energy program also includes significant efforts in energy infrastructure. In order to increase the number of physical connections to the Romanian grid, USAID/Moldova is planning to fund a transmission connection for increased regional power trading. In addition, the Mission is planning to support the modernization of the Moldovan transmission system to increase the flexibility and reliability of the system, facilitate trade of electricity, and integrate variable renewable energy. In addition, several other infrastructure activities are in the planning stage, including substations, grid improvements, and more. Assistance includes the planning capabilities of Moldovan authorities, optimizing their infrastructure expenditures and sending clear signals to the private sector on investment opportunities.
