A comprehensive, in-depth, and well-developed knowledge of development principles, concepts, techniques, and practices, especially as they relate to multi-sectoral HIV/AIDS approaches and interventions in the Uganda context, including GoU and USG priorities and challenges, funding of the epidemic, and key stakeholders engaged in the response is required.

The work requires a thorough knowledge of GoU health, economic, political, social, and cultural characteristics, and the history of development assistance in Uganda, in particular the response to HIV/AIDS, including current trends and directions.

An in-depth understanding of USG assistance to Uganda, and familiarity with central aspects of USG

accomplishments, and its challenges, is required.
A good knowledge of health systems, financing, workforce development, program management, policy analysis, and policy development is required.

Skills and Abilities:

Demonstrated technical expertise in HIV prevention, health promotion and behavior change communication.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with IPs, private sector partners, other donor partners, and both central and district level GOU counterparts.

Ability to work effectively with team and interagency environments, and to train, mentor, and coordinate well with others.

Ability to interpret regulatory directives and related guidance and apply them to activity design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Excellent computer skills including in Microsoft Office, web-based databases, and electronic filing, including the ability to help others and to learn new programs quickly.

Strong management skills, including financial management, administrative, and monitoring skills used to track performance of IPs and activities.

Ability to present information, analyses, and recommendations in clear written and oral formats.

Demonstrated skills in mentoring and building technical and institutional capacity of local organizations including faith-based, non-governmental, community based and civil society organizations.

Ability to travel to regions and districts within Uganda.

Excellent analytical, technical and project management skills to review and provide substantive feedback on concept papers, proposals, program descriptions/scopes of work, performance reports, and other technical and programmatic documents.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.2151. 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.

Offers will be initially screened for compliance with the solicitation instructions and eligibility in accordance with the qualification criteria below.
To ensure compliance with the entire set of this solicitation instructions (please see page 9 to 10, IV SUBMITTING AN OFFER section), the offer package must be complete, and signed (hand or electronic signature) where indicated – and offerors must include in their offers information to demonstrate that they have attained the required education level and meet the experience requirements, etc.

Offerors will be evaluated and ranked based on the information provided for the four Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) that must be addressed as required in the supplemental document Item IV Submitting an Offer 1 (iv).

Offerors must, therefore, address each of the four Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) in their offer. Top ranked Offerors who meet the minimum qualification will be invited for an interview and given a written evaluation.

Management may consider the following when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.

Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply. Current employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible to apply.

The four Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) that must be addressed as required in the supplemental document Item IV Submitting an Offer 1 (iv) are:

1. Skills and Abilities (40 points):

The work requires exceptional interpersonal, leadership, communication, and management skills, to be applied in a high-intensity and high-stakes environment. 10 points

Strong skills in communication (oral and written), advocacy, and networking. 6 points

Strong conceptual and analytical skills are required, in order to quickly grasp and translate new concepts into operational plans and results, along with an outstanding ability to exercise flexibility and prioritization skills to be able to accept and react to evolving planning and implementation contexts. 6 points

The Specialist must have the ability to exercise sound judgement, take initiative and offer leadership, demonstrated timely decision-making and judgment in planning and carrying out tasks, and the skill to negotiate sensitive and complex issues through initiative, imagination, resourcefulness, and diplomacy. 6 points

The Specialist must be able to identify significant economic, political, and social trends in Uganda, and assess their importance and impact on USAID development assistance objectives and programs. 10 points

Well-developed computer skills, including skills with Microsoft Office, web-based databases, and electronic filing, are required. 2 points

2. Job Knowledge (40 points):

A comprehensive, in-depth, and well-developed knowledge of development principles, concepts, techniques, and practices, especially as they relate to multi-sectoral HIV/AIDS approaches and interventions in the Uganda context, including GoU and USG priorities and challenges, funding of the epidemic, and key stakeholders engaged in the response is required. 10 points

The work requires a thorough knowledge of GoU health, economic, political, social, and cultural characteristics, and the history of development assistance in Uganda, in particular the response to HIV/AIDS, including current trends and directions. 10 points

An in-depth understanding of USG assistance to Uganda, and familiarity with central aspects of USG hief accomplishments, and its challenges, is required. 15 points

A good knowledge of health systems, financing, workforce development, program management, policy analysis, and policy development is required. 5 points

3. Prior Work Experience (20 points):

The assignment requires a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible, professional-level experience in public health or public policy development. 5 points

This experience must have provided the opportunity for policy work, program direction and visioning, strategic planning, and design, and/or program management. 5 points

A significant portion of this work experience must have been in development work, or related fields, for donor agencies, GoU organizations, or private-sector institutions. 5 points

Demonstrated state-of-the-art knowledge related to priority health areas, and experience working or collaborating with other donors, governments, international organizations, the private sector, etc., is required. 5 points

4. Education and Professional Qualifications (Pass/Fail):

Offerors will be given a passing score if they have a relevant level of education. Offerors without a relevant level of education will not be considered for award or proceed forward in the evaluation process.

US- equivalent from an accredited program in public health, medicine, public policy, or a very closely work-related discipline.

Evaluation Factors have been assigned the following points:

Skills and Abilities 40 points
Job Knowledge 40 points
Prior Work Experience 20 points
Education Pass/Fail

Language Proficiency – Pass/Fail
Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks Pass/Fail

Evaluation Factor Total 100 points, and Pass for Education, Language Proficiency, and Reference
Checks. Offerors invited to an interview and written test will be evaluated based upon the same criteria described above. In addition, offerors determined to be competitively ranked may also be evaluated on interview performance, written evaluations and/or satisfactory professional reference checks.