SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA23R00009
ISSUANCE DATE: March 17, 2023
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: September 22, 2023, 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) is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services
under contract as described in this solicitation.
Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1 of this solicitation. Incomplete or unsigned
offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their
records.
USAID will evaluate all offerors based on stated evaluation criteria. USAID encourages all
individuals, including those from disadvantaged and under-represented groups, to respond to the
solicitation.
This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit
USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the offer.
Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in Attachment 1.
Sincerely,
Joy Burriss
Contracting Officer
U.S. Agency for International Development
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20523
www.usaid.gov
Attachment 1
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
- SOLICITATION NO.: 720BHA23R00009
- ISSUANCE DATE: March 17, 2023
- CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: This solicitation is open and
continuous until September 22, 2023. The following are the closing dates for each review
period:
April 17, 2023, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time
June 30, 2023, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time
September 22, 2023, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time
Offerors not selected during a previous review period must reapply in order to be considered
for positions available in subsequent review periods. A review period may be canceled at the
Contracting Officer’s discretion.
- POINT OF CONTACT: FARO Recruitment Team, BHA.FARORecruitment@usaid.gov
- POSITION TITLE: Support Relief Group (SRG) Shelter and Settlements Advisor (Multiple
Positions) - MARKET VALUE: This position can be filled at either the GS-12 ($71,099 – $92,429 ) or
GS-13 ($84,546 – $109,908), or GS-14 ($99,908 – $129,878) equivalent level.
Offerors who meet the minimum qualifications for a GS-12 will be considered for the GS-12
level positions. Offerors who meet the minimum qualifications for a GS-13 will be considered
for the GS-13 level only. Offerors who meet the minimum qualifications for a GS-14 will be
considered for the GS-14 level only.
Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value and will include Locality
Pay for domestic USPSCs based on the location of the Official USAID Worksite, or the
approved alternative worksite if approved for remote work. USPSCs performing overseas are
not entitled to 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.
- PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Worldwide
Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed for U.S.-based positions. - PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE Five (5) years, tentatively 145 day estimated start date
from closing:
STATEMENT OF LIMITATIONS ON PERIOD AND PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:
The purpose of this contract is to establish an employee/employer relationship with the
contractor to perform services on a temporary, on-call, basis as part of the SRG. BHA intends
to contract for these services for a maximum of 250 days per calendar year. Activation days
vary but will not exceed 250 days during each contract year.
The level of effort anticipated under this contract will be provided within the terms of this
contract at times mutually agreed to by BHA and the contractor. Upon identification of a
temporary need within the scope of work, BHA will contact the contractor and provide the
following information: - Date contractor is needed to report to BHA or assignment in the field
- Duration of Assignment
- Place of Performance
The contractor will notify BHA within 24 hours of availability. At the time the contractor
accepts the assignment, he/she is expected to commit for the duration of the assignment.
While the contractor will be required to commit to a certain time period, it is understood that
the exigencies of a disaster may require the assignment to be extended (not to exceed 250
days). The contractor shall notify BHA at the time of commitment if their existing schedule
would preclude an extension. Notification of schedule conflicts shall not necessarily
disqualify the contractor from the assignment but will simply assist BHA in recruiting a
replacement. Subsequently, if the contractor agrees to an extension of the duration of a
particular assignment, thereafter, the contractor will be required to give BHA 10 days’ notice
for release from the assignment.
- ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens Only
- SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret
If there is a change in circumstances requiring access to National Security information classified
at the Top-Secret level, the offeror may be asked to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top
Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance as provided by USAID. - STATEMENT OF DUTIES
GENERAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACT
The Support Relief Group (SRG) is a program developed by the Bureau for Humanitarian
Assistance (BHA) to satisfy its growing need for surge capacity. In response to numerous
disasters worldwide, it became clear that BHA could not find, in a timely manner, adequate staff
to cover all positions in the field and in Washington, and to backfill for permanent staff
deploying to the field. The SRG program brings on board select candidates who could work on a
part-time intermittent basis, for no more than 250 days per calendar year, and who can be
deployed within hours to facilitate BHA’s response to disasters, or to backfill staff in Washington
and other locations. SRG positions are contracted for five years.
The activation of the SRG Shelter and Settlements Advisor will be coordinated with the Office of
Technical and Program Quality’s (TPQ’s) Shelter and Settlements Team. The Shelter and
Settlements Team supports BHA’s efforts to provide safer, habitable, and covered living spaces
and settlements where affected households can resume critical social and livelihood activities.
This assistance focuses not only on reducing the immediate and short-term economic, social, and
physical vulnerability of disaster-affected households and their communities, but – importantly –
also lays the foundation for longer term recovery.
BHA requires the services of SRG Shelter and Settlements Advisors in order to meet its
objectives of programming, monitoring, and evaluating BHA Shelter and Settlements programs.
STATEMENT OF DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED
At the GS-12 Level:
● Provide technical assistance in assessment, design, planning, implementation, operations,
oversight, monitoring, and evaluation regarding BHA’s Shelter and Settlements activities
and interventions.
● Assist in the strategic planning and development of BHA’s and agency-wide Shelter and
Settlements activities.
● Provide technical expertise to ensure that BHA Shelter and Settlements activities are
sound, sustainable, and appropriate within the BHA mandate.
● Provide systematic analysis of available Shelter and Settlements tools and programmatic
guidance.
● Assist regional teams and technical leads in assessing gaps and needs.
● Review and analysis of Shelter and Settlements efforts of other organizations.
● Assess priority countries for Shelter and Settlements interventions.
● Develop strategic, integrated, and comprehensive approaches to Shelter and Settlements.
● Review and comment on project proposals and regional strategies related to Shelter and
Settlements activities.
● Coordinate with the BHA Training Unit to incorporate Shelter and Settlements activities
into various BHA training modules, as appropriate, in order to build capacity within BHA
and among partner relief agencies.
● Identify potentially relevant and applicable concepts, theories, and practices and
operationalize them to a given situation context.
● Identify potentially relevant and applicable urban planning concepts, theories, and
practices and adapt them to sector activities to fashion comprehensive, coherent, rational,
and implementable response programs to fulfill mission objectives.
● Identify potentially relevant and applicable engineering, building, and construction
principles, practices, and methods (e.g., critical path methods, computerized drafting
tools), and adapt them to the situation context of any given humanitarian shelter and
settlements intervention.
● Support the development of technical papers, guidelines, and informational publications
to help lead and inform the sector and the population at large of shelter and settlement
programs, strategies, and directions.
● Work with other USAID’s bureaus/offices, development community actors, and
humanitarian community actors, to advocate and provide insight for the integration of
Shelter and Settlements activities into development activities and identify ways to
incorporate Shelter and Settlements Sector activities into early recovery and transition
activities.
At the GS-13 Level:
● Conduct initial sector-specific assessments and make expert technical recommendations
for appropriate activities, both for the initial disaster response phase and for longer-term
disaster risk reduction related to shelter and settlements sector activities. Assessments
may be conducted at the local, regional, sub-regional, or national level, and may be
related to disaster response or to comprehensive strategy development.
● Support BHA in emergency shelter sector discussions and activities, display expert
technical and organizational leadership in sectoral activity commensurate with the role as
a resource person for shelter and settlements.
● Contribute to BHA thinking on shelter and settlements sector activities, formulate shelter
and settlements sector strategies and recommendations, and provide technical support for
BHA field offices, other offices within USAID, and to BHA’s TPQ Office.
● Contribute to planning and decision-making on a wide range of shelter and settlements
activities, both in the Washington, D.C. and in the field.
● Support U.S. Government (USG) emergency response activities within the shelter and
settlements sector with the USAID Mission, other donor agencies, and the U.S. Embassy.
● Liaise with other humanitarian organizations (United Nations (UN), non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), international organizations (IOs)) and host governments to
coordinate BHA activities within the shelter and settlements sector with those of the
wider humanitarian community.
● Provide technical review of submitted proposals and/or concept notes to ensure that
proposed activities and programs align with best practice in the shelter and settlements
sector.
● Monitor and evaluate BHA-funded shelter and settlements sector activities in relation to
other sectors (e.g., protection, livelihoods, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Water,
Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), etc.). Work requires extensive experience in and
understanding of integration with other sectors (e.g., protection, livelihoods,
environment, WASH, health, DRR, etc.), as well as experience and understanding of
transitional, recovery, and reconstruction issues related to shelter and settlements.
● Prepare written and oral reports on shelter sector activities and issues.
● Assist in workshops and support internal training on shelter and settlements to build
capacity of BHA.
● Support shelter and settlements sector activities across a wide range of actors (UN,
NGOs, IOs, host governments, etc.) to ensure consistency of programming.
● Work with local, national, international, and academic fora, host country officials, and
civil society organizations, to include training and publication as part of education and
outreach.
At the GS-14 Level:
● Lead initial sector-specific assessments and make expert technical recommendations for
appropriate activities, both for the initial disaster response phase and for longer-term
disaster risk reduction related to shelter and settlements sector activities. Assessments
may be conducted at the local, regional, sub-regional, or national level, and may be
related to disaster response or to comprehensive strategy development.
● Actively lead BHA in emergency shelter sector discussions and activities, serve as a USG
shelter and settlements sector resource person, and display expert technical and
organizational leadership in sectoral activity commensurate with the role as a primary
resource person for shelter and settlements.
● Take technical leadership roles for BHA thinking on shelter and settlements sector
activities, author shelter and settlements sector strategies and recommendations, and
communicate technical support for BHA field offices, other offices within USAID, and to
BHA’s senior management.
● Take the lead in planning and decision-making on a wide range of shelter and settlements
activities, both in the Washington, D.C. and in the field.
● Facilitate and coordinate actual USG emergency response activities within the shelter and
settlements sector with the USAID Mission, other donor agencies, and the U.S. Embassy.
● Liaise with other humanitarian organizations (UN, NGOs, IOs) and host governments to
coordinate BHA activities within the shelter and settlements sector with those of the
wider humanitarian community.
● Provide coordination and managerial oversight of BHA-funded shelter and settlements
technical activities to ensure the proper use of BHA program funds.
● Provide technical leadership in review of submitted proposals and/or concept notes to
ensure that proposed activities and programs align with best practice in the shelter and
settlements sector.
● Take the lead in monitoring and evaluating BHA-funded shelter and settlements sector
activities in relation to other sectors (e.g. protection, livelihoods, DRR, WASH, etc.).
Work requires extensive experience in and understanding of integration with other sectors
(e.g., protection, livelihoods, environment, WASH, health, DRR, etc.), as well as
experience and understanding of transitional, recovery, and reconstruction issues related
to shelter and settlements.
● Author written and oral reports on shelter sector activities and issues which shows ability
to articulate technical concerns to audiences not familiar with Shelter and Settlements.
● Conduct or support studies to examine market conditions for building materials and
non-housing portions of the building stock in affected areas. Apply new developments in
the shelter and settlements sector to BHA programming.
● Facilitate workshops and lead trainings on shelter and settlements to build capacity of
BHA and its partners.
● Lead and facilitate shelter and settlements sector activities across a wide range of actors
(UN, NGOs, host governments, etc.) to ensure consistency of programming.
● Provide shelter and settlements assessments following a disaster and decide on sector
strategy and programming.
● Work entails engagement and representation at local, national, international, and
academic fora, and with host country officials and civil society organizations, as well as other related activities, to include training and publication as part of education and
outreach.
All GS Levels
● 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. The duties on RMTs will vary.
● As needed, serve on DARTs which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment
overseas for an extended period of time. 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). 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.
● As needed, may serve on a temporary detail within the bureau to meet operational needs.
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.
● Consistently model behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to fostering a welcoming
and inclusive work environment free of discrimination, bias, unfairness, exclusion,
offensive behaviors, and harassment of any kind.
● Contribute to a collaborative, respectful, and professional work environment by
demonstrating partnership and teamwork to accomplish team, division, office, and
Bureau objectives.
● Participate in workplace efforts to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility,
including those related to Bureau and TPQ programs, partners, staffing, professional
development, and other key areas.
● Attend and actively participate in personal-development activities, such as
anti-harassment and diversity training opportunities, brown bag sessions, working groups
and/or focus group discussions.
● 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
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.
● The SRG Shelter and Settlements Advisors does not have supervisory responsibilities;
however, the PSC may serve in an acting leadership role within the bureau in order to
meet short-term staffing needs, not to exceed 120 days in a 12-month contract year.
SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:
The USPSC will take direction from and will report to the Office of Field and Response
Operations/Response Resources Division Director or his/her designee. When activated, the SRG
Shelter and Settlements Advisor will be a part of TPQ’s Shelter and Settlements Team, receiving
day-to-day guidance and management from the Shelter and Settlements Team.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
At the GS-12 and GS-13 Levels:
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.
At the GS-14 Level:
Supervisor provides administrative directions in terms of broadly defined missions or functions.
The USPSC independently plans, designs and carries out programs, projects, studies or other
work. Results are considered authoritative and are normally accepted without significant change.
- PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.
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.)
At the GS-12 Level:
Bachelor’s degree with significant study in one of the following disciplines:
construction in the built environment, architecture for the built environment, engineering for the
built environment, urban planning or regional planning, economics in developing economies,
humanitarian systems for disasters, disaster risk reduction in post disaster environments; plus, a
minimum of five (5) years of experience working in humanitarian relief and response, of which
at least one (1) year was obtained in the international humanitarian shelter and settlements sector.
OR
Master’s degree with significant study in one of the following disciplines: construction in the
built environment; architecture for the built environment, engineering for the built environment,
urban planning or regional planning, economics in developing economies, humanitarian systems
for disasters, disaster risk reduction in post disaster environments; plus, four (4) years of
experience working in humanitarian relief and response, of which at least six (6) months was
obtained in the international humanitarian shelter and settlements sector.
At the GS-13 Level:
Bachelor’s degree with significant study in one of the following disciplines: construction in the
built environment, architecture for the built environment, engineering for the built environment,
urban planning or regional planning, economics in developing economies, humanitarian systems
for disasters, disaster risk reduction in post disaster environments; plus, a minimum of seven (7)
years of experience working in humanitarian relief and response, of which at least two (2) years
were obtained in the international humanitarian shelter and settlements sector.
OR
Master’s degree with significant study in one of the following disciplines: construction in the
built environment, architecture for the built environment, engineering for the built environment,
urban planning or regional planning, economics in developing economies, humanitarian systems
for disasters, disaster risk reduction in post disaster environments; plus, five (5) years of
experience working in humanitarian relief and response, of which at least one (1) year was
obtained in the international humanitarian shelter and settlements sector.
At the GS-14 Level:
Bachelor’s degree with significant study in one of the following disciplines: construction in the
built environment, architecture for the built environment, engineering for the built environment,
urban planning or regional planning, economics in developing economies, humanitarian systems
for disasters, disaster risk reduction in post disaster environments; plus, a minimum of nine (9)
years of experience working in humanitarian relief and response, of which at least three (3) years
were obtained in the international humanitarian shelter and settlements sector.
OR
Master’s degree with significant study in one of the following disciplines: construction in the
built environment, architecture for the built environment, engineering for the built environment,
urban planning or regional planning, economics in developing economies, humanitarian systems
for disasters, disaster risk reduction in post disaster environments; plus, a minimum of seven (7)
years of experience working in humanitarian relief and response, of which at least two (2) years
was obtained in the international humanitarian shelter and settlements sector.
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.
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.
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 Section IV 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 may be accepted.
● Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance. If there is a change in circumstances
requiring access to National Security information classified at the Top-Secret level, the
offeror may be asked 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, if applicable.
● Must not appear as an excluded party in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).
● Satisfactory verification of academic credentials.