CONSULTANCY: Cost & Pricing

• The role can be performed remotely in the US or from HQ in Chevy, Chase, MD.**
  
  
  

University Research Co., LLC (URC)

URC is a globally recognized leader in healthcare quality improvement. Since 1965, we have been committed to building and sustaining resilient health systems by collaborating with partners to implement science-driven, scalable solutions tailored to local needs. We embody our core values: Respect, Integrity, Innovation, DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility), Collaboration, Accountability, and Performance Excellence.

URC is seeking applications from qualified individual consultants to assist and work under the technical direction of its cost and pricing team in the preparation of the cost applications/proposals to respond to Request for Proposals, Notice of Funding Opportunities and Request for Applications issued by URC’s donors and clients. An umbrella consultancy agreement (UCA) is anticipated to be issued for selected candidate(s) under which work order authorizations (WOAs) will be issued for specific assignments. The length of the UCA will be for twelve (12) months during which the WOAs can be issued. The UCA will include the scope of work in general and broader term. It will specify the level of effort and UCA ceilings which will be drawn from in each WOA. Issuance of a UCA does not guarantee the issuance of WOAs. There will be no invoicing or reimbursement under the UCA. The specific assignments, deliverables, commitments, fundings and invoicing will be under the WOAs.

URC is not obligated to issue any UCA in response to this announcement. Also, URC may issue multiple UCAs to several individuals as it may see fit. Applicants are not entitled to any reimbursement for any cost incurred to respond to this announcement.

Scope of Assignment:

The Consultant may be engaged for one or more of the following tasks:

• Develop and assist complex proposal/application budgets in accordance with donor requirements, while utilizing advanced Excel spreadsheet techniques in coordination with headquarters and field offices.
• Package the proposal/application and prepare for submission in coordination with URC staff under the technical direction of the URC Pricing Team Lead.
• Review and analyze solicitation documents and prepare a compliance matrix to track the cost proposal/application requirements and align them with the technical requirements.
• Participate in proposal/application budget meetings, provide cost proposal/application components based on proposal/application design and cost inputs from URC, and make recommendations to the technical team to assure the development of a competitive proposal.
• As a part of the proposal/application process, assist subcontractors/contractors/subrecipients, in performing the following activities which include, but are not limited to: providing budget assumptions in coordination with URC Staff under the technical direction of the URC Pricing Team Lead, developing budget templates, reviewing and analyzing budgets and budget notes, ensuring final submissions to URC conform to donor requirements, and assist new organizations with budget development as necessary.
• Work closely with the Business Development Unit in developing budget scenarios and ensuring the compliance of budgetary procedures and guidelines, including back-of-the-envelop budgets to assist in making a bid/no bid determination.
• Write budget narratives/justifications that meet all the requirements in the solicitation and are in accordance with the applicable regulations.
• Develop cost/pricing related responses to post-submission questions and requests for revisions
• Develop proposal budget templates and/or modify existing templates to meet the demand of solicitations
• Other assignments as needed and specified in detail in WOAs.
  
  
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• At a minimum, a bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or equivalent. A master’s degree in any of these fields is preferred.
• Seven to ten years of experience in preparing cost proposals/applications for USAID or other donors and U.S. Government Agencies.
• Knowledge of government acquisition and assistance regulations related to the preparation of proposals/applications including the different types of solicitations and contracts/awards anticipated under these applications/proposals.
• Knowledge of other non-U.S. Government donor’s regulations applicable to proposals/applications such as DfID, WHO, Global Funds, Gates Foundation is desired
• Strong knowledge of various cost principles particularly those that go in a cost proposal/application.
• Excellent skills in analyzing solicitations/applications for compliance.
• Excellent communication, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong English writing skills and computer proficiency in MS Excel and other Microsoft Office Suite.
  
  
  

Submission of Application:

Please upload the following in an acceptable format such as pdf or Word:

• Resume
• List of past performance and previous experience indicating the type of solicitations/applications, its amounts, applicant/offeror and donor/client.
• Completed URC Biodata sheet (attached) indicating the proposed hourly/daily rate.
• Due to the sensitivity of the assignments, the candidate should disclose the current clients whom he/she has active employment or other arrangements with to allow URC to determine if they are rivals or competitors to URC’s line of business.
  
  
  

Due to the large number of submissions URC usually receives, only candidates who have met the required qualifications for the announcement will be contacted. However, URC may wish to retain the submitted resumes in its database for other/future opportunities, unless directed otherwise by the applicant.