SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA21R00070
ISSUANCE DATE: August 3, 2021
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: August 24, 2021, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time
SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC)
Dear Prospective Offerors: The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Global Policy, Partnerships, Programs, and Communications (G3PC) is seeking offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal service as a Humanitarian Advisor (HA) under a United States Personal Services Contract (USPSC), as described in the solicitation. Submittals must be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Offerors interested in applying for this position MUST submit the following materials: 1. Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your offer, your resume must include: (a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements. (b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work. (c) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments. Failure to identify an academic discipline will result in disqualification. (d) U.S. Citizenship (e) Optional: How did you hear about this opportunity? (beta.SAM.gov, BHA Jobs, Career Fair, etc.). Your resume must contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information must be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration. 2. USPSC Offeror form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete sections A through I. This form must be physically signed. Electronic signatures will not be accepted. AID 309-2 is available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms. U.S. Agency for International Development 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20523 www.usaid.gov 720BHA21R00070 NOTE REGARDING DATA UNIVERSAL NUMBERING SYSTEM (DUNS) NUMBERS AND THE SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT All USPSCs with a place of performance in the United States are required to have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to receiving an award. You will be disqualified if you either fail to comply with this requirement or if your name appears on the excluded parties list. The selectee will be provided with guidance regarding this registration. NOTE: As of March 28, 2018, all new SAM.gov entity registrations will now require a signed notarized letter identifying the authorized Entity administrator for the entity associated with the DUNS number. Additional information on the format of the notarized letter and where to submit can be found via the below Federal Service Desk link: https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/answer.do?sysparm_kbid=d2e67885db0d5f00b3257d321f96194b& sysparm_search=kb0013183 Offerors can expect to receive a confirmation email when offer materials have been received. Offerors should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their offers. Your complete resume must be emailed to: G3PC Recruitment Team E-Mail Address: BHA.G3PCRecruitment@usaid.gov Website: www.BHAjobs.net Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to the G3PC Recruitment Team via the information provided above.
Sincerely, Sonja Stroud-Gooden Contracting Officer
2 | Page 720BHA21R00070 I. GENERAL INFORMATION 1. SOLICITATION NO.: 720BHA21R00070 2. ISSUANCE DATE: August 3, 2021 3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: August 24, 2021, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time 4. POINT OF CONTACT: G3PC Recruitment Team, BHA.G3PCRecruitment@usaid.gov 5. POSITION TITLE: Humanitarian Advisor (Multiple Positions) 6. MARKET VALUE: $103,690 – $134,798 equivalent to GS-13 (includes locality pay) Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated. If the position is for a Washington based PSC, offerors who live outside the Washington, D.C. area will be considered for employment, but no relocation expenses will be reimbursed. 7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five (5) years. 8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Washington, D.C. 9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens 10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance as provided by USAID. 11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES POSITION DESCRIPTION BACKGROUND The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) is responsible for facilitating and coordinating U.S. Government (USG) humanitarian assistance overseas in response to all types of international disasters, including slow-onset disasters such as droughts or famine, natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods, or man-made disasters such as conflict or war. BHA is responsible for planning, coordinating, developing, achieving, monitoring, and evaluating international humanitarian assistance falling into two conceptual areas: ● Humanitarian Response activities comprise needs-based humanitarian assistance provided to save lives, alleviate suffering, and protect human dignity during and in the 3 | Page 720BHA21R00070 aftermath of emergencies. Humanitarian assistance is grounded in humanitarian principles and is directed toward the most vulnerable populations. ● Early Recovery, Risk Reduction, and Resilience (ER4) activities will set the initial foundations for longer-term recovery as appropriate and will work in close conjunction with humanitarian assistance. Early recovery is an approach that supports communities impacted by crises to protect and restore basic systems and service delivery. Early recovery builds on humanitarian response efforts and establishes the initial foundations of long-term recovery. Early recovery activities are implemented for a specified, appropriate timeframe that assists populations recovering from an identifiable shock. Risk reduction is the prevention of new and reduction of existing disaster risk and management of residual risk, which contributes to strengthening resilience and to the achievement of sustainable development. Resilience is the ability of people, households, communities, countries, and systems to mitigate, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses in a manner that reduces chronic vulnerability and facilitates inclusive growth. BHA has seven offices, as follows: The Bureau’s three geographic offices are: (1) Office of Africa; (2) Office of Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean; and (3) the Office of the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Each geographic office designs, provides, and assesses humanitarian assistance for their respective regions, including assistance related to responding to, recovering from, and reducing the risk of man-made and natural disasters, while linking with other USAID investments that build resilience. The Office of Global Policy, Partnerships, Programs, and Communications (G3PC) shapes and influences USAID’s role within the international humanitarian system; leads engagement on a range of policy, programmatic, and operational issues; and positions the Agency to influence collective response to emergency needs across the globe. The Office of Technical and Program Quality (TPQ) leads the Bureau’s efforts to provide high-quality programmatic and technical leadership, oversight, and guidance. In addition, TPQ leads the Bureau’s external engagement with academia and coordinates research to advance the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of humanitarian and multi-year programming. The Office of Humanitarian Business and Management Operations (HBMO) is responsible for maintaining 24/7 operability by providing leadership, planning, quality assurance, technical expertise, and process management. HBMO ensures effective stewardship of the Bureau’s support services, including workforce planning, staffing, financial management, internal controls, facilities operations and infrastructure. The Office of Field and Response Operations (FARO) leads and manages operational assistance and the purchase and delivery of goods and services in response to declared foreign disasters and international humanitarian needs in key functional areas, including supply-chain management, procurement, logistics, oversight, and operational coordination with the U.S. military. INTRODUCTION 4 | Page 720BHA21R00070 The Office of Global Policy, Partnerships, Programs, and Communication (G3PC) shapes and influences USAID’s role within the international humanitarian system; leads engagement on a range of policy, programmatic, and operational issues; and positions the Agency to influence collective response to emergency needs across the globe. The office is organized into seven divisions, namely, Humanitarian Policy and International Systems; Humanitarian Multilateral; Humanitarian Organizations and Partnerships; Private Sector Engagement, Diaspora, and, Innovation; Global Capacity and Leadership Development; U.S. Engagement, Strategy, and Programs; and Strategic Communications and Humanitarian Information. Within G3PC, the Humanitarian Multilateral Division (HMD) will direct BHA’s strategic engagement, policy, and global/HQ funding for multilateral institutions and Public International Organizations (PIOs) including the UN World Food Program (WFP), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The division will represent BHA’s equities in humanitarian and food security policy, programs, and partnerships with PIOs; provide institutional oversight and strategic direction, including in executive boards and other oversight bodies to ensure that the agencies are operating efficiently, effectively, and strategically; and enhance the overall impact of emergency programming through core strengthening and performance monitoring. The division will also ensure that BHA’s strategic engagement with PIOs supports and is well-informed by the operational, technical, and programmatic engagement with the rest of USAID. ● The WFP Policy & Programs Team will manage BHA’s institutional relationship with WFP including global policy and program initiatives, Board engagement, and preparation. The team will ensure consistent practices in how BHA engages with these institutions and support BHA’s geographic, technical and operational offices in problem-solving as needed. The team will also carry out the responsibilities of the USAID WFP PIO Coordinator role per USAID’s Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning’s (PPL) guidance and serve as Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) on global/HQ awards with WFP, FAO and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). ● The FAO and IFAD Policy & Programs Team will manage BHA’s institutional relationship with FAO and IFAD, including global policy and program initiatives, Board engagement, and preparation. The team will ensure consistent practices in how BHA engages with these institutions and support BHA’s geographic, technical and operational offices in problem solving as needed. The team will also serve as AOR on global/HQ awards with FAO and IFAD. ● The UNICEF and WHO Policy & Programs Team will manage BHA’s institutional relationship with UNICEF and WHO, and these organizations’ global policy and program initiatives, including board engagement and preparation. The team will ensure consistent practices in how BHA engages with UNICEF and WHO and support BHA’s geographic, technical and operational offices in problem solving as needed. The team will serve as AOR on regional and global/HQ awards with UNICEF and WHO. ● The Global PIO Policy & Programs (IOM, UNHCR, ICRC/IFRC) Team will manage BHA’s institutional relationships with IOM, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the International Committee/Federation of the Red Cross (ICRC/IFRC), 5 | Page 720BHA21R00070 and these organizations’ global policy and program initiatives, including board engagement and preparation. The team will also serve as AOR on regional and global/HQ awards with these institutions. The team will also carry out the responsibilities of the USAID PIO Coordinator role per USAID/PPL’s guidance for IOM and PIO lead for UNHCR and ICRC/IFRC. ● The Institutional Oversight and Coordination Team will lead BHA’s policy and positions on PIO oversight, ensuring a strategic and consistent approach by the Bureau to PIO related oversight and performance issues including reviewing and analyzing audits of BHA’s multilateral institution partners. The team will coordinate recommendations and actions with other BHA and Agency stakeholders to ensure accountability and performance improvement as necessary. This team will coordinate closely with the Humanitarian Business and Management Operations (HBMO) Office and work with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) on all issues pertaining to PIOs, particularly with respect to the Office’s oversight role as Agency PIO Coordinator for numerous multilateral organizations. OBJECTIVE BHA/G3PC’s HMD requires the services of multiple Humanitarian Advisors (HAs) to meet its objectives of programming, coordinating within BHA, USAID and the wider USG humanitarian and development community, and managing institutional relationships with partner organizations. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES This HA position requires extensive experience with and a thorough understanding of the international humanitarian assistance environment, operations, related policies, regulations, and inter-relationships among the USG, donors, and other International Organizations (IOs). The Humanitarian Advisor will be required to be available for overseas travel which may occur up to 30 % of the year, with deployments possibly lasting up to 90 days. The HA duties and responsibilities include the following: Policy Engagement: ● Provide guidance and recommendations to the appropriate officials in USAID on USG positions and negotiation strategies related to humanitarian policy, and, in consultation with others, assist in conducting negotiations with PIOs. Award Portfolio Management: ● Assist the team in planning, organizing, and implementing BHA’s global PIO award management functions, policies, and procedures related to funding PIOs. ● Become certified and serve as an Agreement Officer’s Representative/Contracting Officer’s Representative (AOR/COR), as assigned. The AOR/COR provides financial and programmatic oversight of all aspects of managing the agreement or contract; this includes but is not limited to reviewing invoices, requests for approvals, program/project deliverables (i.e. work plans, annual reports, month status reports), travel requests, key 6 | Page 720BHA21R00070 personnel requests, and financial/budget reports. They are responsible for drafting and submitting the annual contractor performance evaluation in Contract/Assistance Performance Assessment Review System. They prepare and review contract/assistance modifications documentation and assist the Contracting/Agreement Officer to ensure performance is compliant with the terms and conditions of the contract/agreement, the FAR, and USAID policy. AOR/CORs are responsible for all related requirements in the COR designation letter and the AOR designation letter. Award Guidelines and Regulations: ● Serve as a technical resource for BHA staff and PIO partners on BHA’s PIO awards, including on USAID policies governing PIOs and adherence to USG regulations. ● Promote uniform policies and procedures for relating to PIO partner agencies on award management and contribute to the development of internal guidance to streamline the PIO awards process. ● Participate in Bureau- and/or Agency-wide working groups to ensure award consistency on all levels, including policy-related decisions that impact programs such as partner vetting, Automated Directive System (ADS) revisions, and PIO categorical exclusions. ● Serve as a member of BHA working groups that assist in formulating and maintaining BHA grant policy and guidelines. ● Mentor and train new G3PC and BHA staff on PIO award making and management. ● Evaluate compliance with existing processes and procedures. External Relations: ● Assist in developing and maintaining strong working relationships with key staff at partner PIOs and other donors in order to promote effective humanitarian action by BHA’s PIO partners and the wider humanitarian system. Ensure essential coordination of actions and information exchanges. Respond to inquiries, perform outreach services, and facilitate their access to relevant BHA staff. ● Represent USAID at multilateral and donor meetings covering a broad range of humanitarian issues, including related to PIO policy and programs. ● Support the team’s contributions to and interactions with other USAID bureaus, Department of State, and other interagency colleagues on U.S. Government participation in PIO governance bodies, developing strategies, policies, and talking points related to PIOs and humanitarian issues. Internal Coordination: ● Provide analysis and guidance on a range of topics pertaining to PIO programming, policy, management, governance, andUS Agency for International Development oversight. ● Anticipate the needs of the organization regarding developments in the areas of humanitarian affairs and prepare analyses, briefing memos, documents, and meetings as required. Administrative and Other General Duties and Responsibilities: ● Assist in promoting and cultivating team morale and workplace collaboration in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment. 7 | Page 720BHA21R00070 ● Sign up for and serve, as needed, on Washington-based Response Management Teams (RMTs), which provide services and support to Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) deployed in response to disasters. ● Serve as the BHA after-hours duty officer on a rotational basis for approximately one week every six months. ● As needed, serve on DARTs which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment overseas for an extended period of time. ● As needed, may serve on temporary detail within the office to meet operational needs during staff shortages, not to exceed six months. Duties performed while on detail will be aligned with the team’s existing duties and responsibilities and will be directly related to the scope of work provided. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP: The USPSC will take direction from and will report to the relevant HMD Team Leader or their designee. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: Supervisor sets overall objectives and resources available. The USPSC consults with the supervisor to develop deadlines, projects, and work to be done. The USPSC is responsible for planning and carrying out assignments. The USPSC is responsible for planning approaches or methodology to be used in carrying out assignments. 12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The work is generally sedentary and does not pose undue physical demands. During deployment on DARTs (if required), and during site visits, there may be some additional physical exertion including long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain, or carrying of moderately heavy items (less than 50 pounds). 13. WORK ENVIRONMENT Work is primarily performed in an office setting. During deployment on DARTs (if required), and during site visits, the work may additionally involve special safety and/or security precautions, wearing of protective equipment, and exposure to severe weather conditions. 14. START DATE: Immediately, once necessary clearances are obtained. II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION (Determines basic eligibility for the position. Offerors who do not meet all of the education and experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.) Bachelor’s degree with significant study in, or pertinent to, the specialized field (including, but not limited to, international relations, human rights, economics, disaster management, public policy or a related field) plus a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience working in emergency relief and humanitarian assistance and on 8 | Page 720BHA21R00070 humanitarian policy issues, of which at least two (2) years were spent working directly on response issues. OR Master’s degree with significant study in, or pertinent to, the specialized field (including, but not limited to, international relations, human rights, economics, disaster management, public policy or a related field) plus a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience working in emergency relief and humanitarian assistance and on humanitarian policy issues, of which at least two (2) years were spent working directly on response issues. III. 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. FAR provisions of this solicitation are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far. SELECTION FACTORS (Determines basic eligibility for the position. Offerors who do not meet all of the selection factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.) ● Offeror is a U.S. Citizen. ● Complete resume submitted. See cover page for resume requirements. Experience that cannot be quantified will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements. ● USPSC Offeror form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete sections A through I. This form must be physically signed. Electronic signatures will not be accepted. ● Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance as provided by USAID. ● Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of State medical clearance throughout the contract. ● Must not appear as an excluded party in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). ● Satisfactory verification of academic credentials. OFFEROR RATING SYSTEM The offeror rating system factors are used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified offerors in comparison to other offerors. Offerors must demonstrate the rating factors outlined below within their resume, as they are evaluated strictly by the information provided. The evaluation of writing tests will also take into consideration the quality of written responses. Aspects of written responses including, but not limited to typos, grammatical errors, spelling errors, and incomplete sentences will be factored into the evaluation process. The rating factors are as follows: 9 | Page 720BHA21R00070 Policy Leadership and Analysis Experience (10 points) ● Demonstrated experience working with PIOs on complex humanitarian policy issues. ● Demonstrated experience analyzing policy, and developing and/or implementing policy recommendations. ● Demonstrated experience working with multiple stakeholders to negotiate outcomes amidst competing demands. External Engagement Experience (12 points) ● Demonstrated interpersonal and problem solving skills in working effectively with U.S. Government and/or PIO stakeholders. ● Demonstrated experience in successfully communicating through both written and oral materials. ● Demonstrated experience representing and/or preparing others to represent policy positions. Award Management and Compliance Experience (8 points) ● Demonstrated experience managing humanitarian awards. ● Demonstrated experience managing organization budgets. ● Demonstrated experience developing internal organizational policy and/or budget guidance and ensuring compliance. Interview Performance (40 points) Timed Writing Test (15 points) Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks (15 points) Total Possible Points: 100 BASIS OF RATING: Offerors who meet the Education/Experience requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated in accordance with the Offeror Rating System. Those offerors determined to be competitively ranked may also be evaluated on interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks. Offerors are required to address each factor of the Offeror Rating System in their resume, describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received as it pertains to each factor. Be sure to include your name and the announcement number at the top of each additional page. Failure to address the selection factors and/or Offeror Rating System factors may result in not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards. The most qualified offerors may be interviewed and required to provide a writing sample. BHA will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for offerors being considered for selection. Note: Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an offeror. BHA reserves the right to select additional offerors if vacancies become available during future phase of the selection process.
How to apply
Via email