Asia and Legislative Affairs Workforce Surge Capacity Support Year 2 Annual Report

The contract is designed to provide administrative, technical, and support staff for program design, implementation, oversight, monitoring, and evaluation. Management activities during the first quarter of base year two included the addition of an Administrative Assistant as a summer intern to provide support to the Asia Bureau's communications team. The Strategic Communications Writer/Editor started her maternity leave in July, and her backfill began working on the project in late July. A Program Technical Specialist submitted their two-week resignation in July and left the project effective July 29, 2016. The recruitment for a replacement began immediately, and a new employee was identified in early August and started work in mid-September. Recruitment efforts during the first quarter included advertising for two positions at the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA): Special Assistant to the Assistant Administrator and Social Media Strategic Communications Specialist. No TDYs took place in the first quarter of base year two. The first Development Outreach Communication (DOC) bullpen assignment was successfully completed in mid-July, with a DOC specialist providing support to USAID/India while the Senior DOC was away. During the second quarter, management activities included the completion of an internship with the Asia Bureau communications team and the addition of a new Program Technical Specialist to replace the previous incumbent. The Strategic Communications Writer/Editor returned from maternity leave in December and resumed her role on the communications team. An employee submitted their resignation from the Program Operations Analyst position in late December, and recruitment is currently underway to identify a replacement. Recruitment efforts during the second quarter included advertising for a Program Technical Specialist to support the Democracy and Governance team on a short-term basis while the Bureau awaits a long-term candidate. Dexis also advertised an Administrative Assistant position for the Asia Bureau and recruited for a Special Assistant to the Assistant Administrator for LPA. A selection was made for the position, and the individual started work in February. In November, twelve resumes were shared for the Social Media and Strategic Communications Specialist position, and five candidates were interviewed by LPA. The selected candidate began in January. TDYs during the second quarter included a Program Operations Analyst traveling to Bangkok for a one-week TDY to attend the Disability Inclusive Education Training and the Asia Regional Education Workshop. A Program Technical Specialist traveled to Dili and Jakarta for a five-week TDY, supporting Mission operations and providing Program Office coverage. Contract modifications during the second quarter included Modification 9, which modified the COR and incrementally funded the contract. Modification 10 assigned the new COR as the COR in GLAAS, and Modification 11 added the Strategic Communications Writer/Editor to LPA's labor table and clarified contract type. During the third quarter, management activities included the resignation of a Program Operations Analyst and a Program Technical Specialist. Dexis' proposed replacement for the Key Personnel Financial Analyst position was approved in modification 12, signed February 2, 2017. A Strategic Communications Writer/Editor joined the project in late January 2017, and her clearance transfer from USAID to OPM is pending. A Senior Program Analyst joined the project in February 2017, and a Senior Legislative Analyst for LPA joined the project in March 2017. Recruitment efforts during the third quarter included advertising for an Administrative Assistant for the Asia Bureau and a Program Technical Specialist position to replace a different employee. A third Program Technical Specialist position was advertised as a replacement, but no selection was made. TDYs during the third quarter included a Program Technical Specialist traveling to USAID/India and USAID/RDMA to facilitate training on the appropriations process. The project financials for the year are not provided in the report. However, the report does mention that Dexis submitted a candidate to USAID as the replacement for the Key Personnel Financial Analyst position. The report also mentions that the selected candidate for the Social Media and Strategic Communications Specialist position began in January, and the selected candidate for the Special Assistant to the Assistant Administrator for LPA position started work in February.