#3523 DSD Contracting Officer's Representative

PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACTOR STATEMENT OF WORK

CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE

FS-02 EQUIVALENT

Introduction

This position is contracted on behalf of the Executive Office of the Bureaus of Near Eastern Affairs and South and Central Asian Affairs (NEA-SCA/EX), U.S. Department of State, and assigned to U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi. 

The incumbent of this position serves as Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) with responsibility for the management and oversight of the $50+ million Diplomatic Support Division (DSD) life-support contract in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).    The incumbent reports directly to the Management Counselor of Embassy Abu Dhabi. 

There are approximately 136 NSDD-38 U.S. direct-hire employees, many with eligible family members, for whom DSD is providing these life-support services.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensures effective monitoring and surveillance of contractor progress and performance in the delivery of support and related supplies, services, and equipment required for the management and operation of the DSD.  Ensures the services provided meet all contract requirements and achieve established contract standards.  This includes periodic reviews required by governing interagency memoranda of understanding (MOU).
• Ensures industry standard performance measures are established to provide a quantifiable basis for monitoring and evaluating contractor performance and for ensuring contractor accountability for the delivery of life support and related services according to requirements.
• Ensures effective monitoring of the use of resources related to the contract.  Identifies and reports incurred costs which are not appropriately chargeable to the contract.
• Directs inspection and acceptance of work on behalf of the U.S. government. 
• Advises the contractor of unsatisfactory performance and notifies the Contracting Officer of continued unsatisfactory performance.  Directs actions to ensure performance deficiencies are promptly addressed by the contractor.
• Serves as the principal liaison between the contractor and Embassy Abu Dhabi on all issues related to the support provided to the DSD.
• Develops or approves performance work statements (PWS) and specifications for task orders issued under the assigned contract.  Informs the Contracting Officer, in writing, of any needed changes in PWS or specifications.
• Works closely with Contracting Officers in the Office of Acquisitions Management (A/LM/AQM) to ensure the life-support and related services essential to the operation and maintenance of the DSD are acquired in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
• Advises and assists the Contracting Officer in planning and conducting discussions and negotiations with the contractor. 
• Ensures the resolution of technical issues arising under the contract which fall within the scope of the COR’s authority.  Refers any issues that cannot be resolved without contract modifications to the Contracting Officer. 
• Ensures the U.S. government meets its contractual obligations to the contractor, e.g., providing U.S. government-furnished equipment and services and timely U.S. government review and approval of documents if such reviews are required by the contract.
• Oversees the review and approval of contractor vouchers and invoices. 
• Ensures the contractor’s personnel assignments to the DSD support contract are made in accordance with the contract.  Coordinates contractor personnel actions, including removal and/or replacement of life-support contractor personnel for cause or for the convenience of the government, with the Contracting Officer, FTE supervisor, and Department senior management as appropriate.
• If applicable, oversees the work of the assistant COR, Contracting Officer’s technical representatives, and other staff assigned to assist in the monitoring and oversight of contractor performance.
• If applicable, oversees transition between contractors or to another non-DSD contract or other solutions as required by the interagency MOUs.
• Oversees contract closeout when a determination has been made the work has been completed. Ensures the completion of all required contract closeout documentation. 
• Oversees audits of government-furnished property provided under the assigned contract, including but not limited to verification of receipt, review of maintenance records and compliance with maintenance schedules, and oversight of the disposal process in accordance with FAR Part 45 and in coordination with the Contracting Officer. 
• Tasks and oversees preparation of reports, papers, and other documents for senior leadership, including sensitive information products for Chief of Mission action.  Ensures all documents are fully coordinated with other affected organizations. 
• As required, provides the Contracting Officer and the embassy Management Counselor with relevant analytical data for decision making on a broad range of critical, complex, and sensitive issues related to the operation and management of the DSD.
• Provides the NEA-SCA/EX Post Management Officer, Embassy Abu Dhabi Management Counselor, and the Contracting Officer with a quarterly DSD contract status report.
• Performs other COR duties as assigned.

Factor Level Descriptions

Factor 1, Knowledge Required by the Position

Mastery of federal and Department of State acquisition regulations, policies, procedures, and practices to ensure DSD complies with all applicable regulations and policies in executing and administering the life-support services provided by DSD. 

Mastery of business management principles, concepts, and practices to provide expert advice and guidance to the Contracting Officer and embassy officials in making decisions on key contract management and administration issues.

Expert knowledge of life-support and logistics management in order to effectively oversee contractor operation and management of DSD and the delivery of the broad range of supplies and services provided to U.S. Mission UAE by DSD.

Knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of the COR to exercise management and oversight of a major, high-dollar volume contract to acquire and deliver life-support services that are vital to U.S. government operations in Abu Dhabi. 

Expert knowledge of quality-assurance concepts, methods, and practices to direct quality ‑assurance oversight of the assigned contract and associated task orders.

Knowledge of U.S. foreign policy objectives, plans, and priorities in UAE and the changing roles and responsibilities of the Department of State in providing life-support services to Department of War (DOW) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) elements in U.S. Mission UAE and to plan, develop, coordinate, and oversee programs and activities supporting the U.S. foreign policy mission and national security objectives in UAE and the Middle East.

Knowledge of the ICASS program, services, and procedures to oversee the delivery of life ‑support services by the service provider (DSD), including ensuring services are delivered in an effective and efficient manner and all ICASS reporting requirements are met.

Knowledge of the structure and functions of the federal government and its principal agencies and how they interrelate in executing foreign policy, to ensure interagency coordination and integration of activities in the accomplishment of shared goals and objectives in the region.

Ability to take decisive action and speak with authority on behalf of management in obtaining consensus on the most effective approaches to meeting critical operational requirements in support of DSD.

Ability to interact effectively with individuals at all levels, including senior-management officials within the government and high-ranking executives in private companies, in garnering cooperation and support for key objectives related to the management of the ICASS-related services provided to DOW and DHS elements. 

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to plan and coordinate activities, reconcile differing or conflicting viewpoints, defend judgments and decisions, present senior ‑level briefings, negotiate agreements, resolve complex and often highly sensitive issues, and represent the Department in a wide variety of fora. 

Factor 2, Supervisory Controls

The incumbent reports to, is rated by, and receives day-to-day instruction from the Management Counselor at Embassy Abu Dhabi.  As the COR, the incumbent independently plans, organizes, and assures successful completion of assigned responsibilities requiring extensive coordination with a wide range of governmental and nongovernmental organizations involved with the operation of DOW and DHS elements.  The incumbent exercises judgment and initiative in anticipating DOW and DHS operations and management requirements, and in ensuring these needs are met in the most efficient and effective manner possible.  Decisions made by the incumbent are usually accepted without higher-level review.  Completed work is evaluated for the successful accomplishment of overall objectives, especially in ensuring DSD meets DOW and DHS operational and management needs in an extremely dynamic environment.

Factor 3, Guidelines

Guidelines consist of overall U.S. government foreign policy mission statements for UAE; federal and Department of State acquisition regulations and policies contained in the FAR, DOSAR, and other acquisition directives; business management theories and practices; Embassy Abu Dhabi operating procedures; the governing interagency MOUs; and ongoing assessments of DOW and DHS operations and maintenance requirements.  The broad nature of these guidelines requires the incumbent to exercise considerable judgment and discretion in interpreting, adapting, and extending available guidance to meet the organization’s need for management and oversight of the delivery of ICASS-related services provided to DOW and DHS elements.  The plans, strategies, and approaches implemented by the incumbent in meeting DOW and DHS requirements may serve as models for other logistics support organizations operating in extremely volatile overseas environments.

Factor 4, Complexity

The work involves planning and coordinating the delivery of ICASS-related services to DOW and DHS elements, vital to their operation and management.  The work requires comprehensive knowledge of the unique local conditions and circumstances affecting the operation of DOW and DHS continuing assessment of rapidly evolving conditions affecting DOW and DHS operations in order to ensure the contractor is meeting all requirements in accordance with contract terms and conditions and established standards of performance.  Complexity results from the unprecedented nature of the services provided under the DSD contract, rapidly changing operational requirements, the need to coordinate activities across the broad community of organizations comprising the U.S. Mission UAE, the extremely volatile security environment, and the need to ensure systems and mechanisms are established to effectively monitor contractor performance.  The incumbent’s responsibility for providing expert advice and guidance to the Contracting Officer and senior embassy management with regard to the contractor’s ability to meet the full scope of operational and management requirements associated with support of DOW and DHS and for directing the activities of other staff that may be assigned to monitoring and overseeing contractor performance, also adds to the complexity of the work.

Factor 5, Scope and Effect

The purpose of the work is to oversee the monitoring and oversight of contractor performance in fulfilling the requirements of the ICASS-related services provided to the DOW and DHS elements vital to the diplomatic mission in UAE.  The work involves serving as the primary liaison between the DSD contractor and Embassy Abu Dhabi on all matters related to the management and oversight of contractor performance and for ensuring continuity of operations. The work directly affects the Department’s ability to provide effective strategic and operational support to the U.S. Mission UAE as it advances U.S. foreign policy interests in the country and the region.

Factors 6/7, Personal Contacts/Purpose of Contacts

Contacts include employees at all levels throughout Embassy Abu Dhabi, including the Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission; A/LM/AQM Contracting Officers; contractor executives, management officials, and program and project managers; Emirati government officials; and local citizens.  Contacts are to plan, organize, and manage all activities associated with the management and oversight of contractor performance; provide expert advice and guidance in implementing effective contractor surveillance and oversight; defend often controversial judgments and decisions; exercise leadership; plan and coordinate activities; and resolve critical, complex, and sensitive issues affecting the operation of DOW and DHS elements.  A high degree of tact and diplomacy is required in ensuring cooperation and support among the various entities involved in management of the DSD contract. 

Factor 8, Physical Demands

The work can be highly stressful and the incumbent may be required to work long and irregular hours to ensure the services provided by the contractor meet requirements.

Factor 9, Work Environment  

Work is usually performed in a basic office setting.

Other Factors

The incumbent must be a U.S. citizen.

The incumbent must be able to obtain a medical clearance to work in UAE. 

The incumbent must have, or be able to obtain and maintain, a Secret security clearance.

The incumbent must possess a Level-III FAC-COR certification from the Department of State (or DOW equivalent) and meet the established criterion for COR delegation established by the Department of State’s Office of the Procurement Executive.