SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA22R00037
ISSUANCE DATE: May 24, 2022
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: June 21, 2022, 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 Africa (OA) seeking offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal service as a Senior Humanitarian Program Officer 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. Dates (month/year) and locations for all field experience must also be detailed. 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? (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.
NOTE REGARDING ENSURING ADEQUATE COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS
The contractor will be required to show proof that the contractor is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on or before the first date of onboarding, or submit an approved reasonable accommodation to the CO. If the contractor does not meet this requirement the contract may be terminated.
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:
OA Recruitment Team
E-Mail Address: BHA.AfricaRecruitment@usaid.gov
Website: www.BHAjobs.net
Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to the OA Recruitment Team via the information provided above.
Sincerely, Sonja Stroud-Gooden Contracting Officer
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Working under the guidance and supervision of the Team Leader or delegate, the SHPO supports the BHA/Sudan Office through the management of humanitarian activities in Sudan, assisting with program analysis, strategy development, and coordination with partners in the humanitarian community. The SHPO will work closely with a program team that includes field-based Senior Humanitarian Advisors, Humanitarian Program Officers, and Program Management Specialists.
This position requires effective daily coordination with several BHA staff members, as well as representatives from other USAID offices, Embassy staff, and the humanitarian community, and therefore requires a highly collaborative work style. The SHPO will perform the following:
Contextual Specialty:
● Develop and maintain knowledge of the humanitarian context in Sudan and political, social, and operational issues impacting humanitarian efforts.
● Develop and maintain knowledge of USAID and USG priorities and strategy in Sudan, and BHA’s contributions and comparative advantages to those efforts.
● Provide regular reporting on site visits, meetings, relevant current events, and other issues that impact humanitarian relief efforts in Sudan.
Portfolio Management:
● Lead BHA’s Sudan-based program staff in the day-to-day management of emergency response activities and program budget in Sudan.
● Travel as permitted to assess, evaluate, and monitor humanitarian conditions in Sudan, and make strategic recommendations for appropriate interventions.
● Provide field-based insights, knowledge, and perspectives to support and inform award management.
● Guide implementing partners in developing applications based on BHA’s Emergency Application Guidelines. Review concept papers and applications and provide timely recommendations to BHA/Sudan team in Washington D.C.
● Participate in office-wide discussions on initiatives that impact program implementation to provide field-based perspectives, as assigned.
● Coordinate with USAID/Sudan to ensure complementarity with development programming and help to leverage BHA funding for longer term sustainability.
Representation:
● Support BHA Country Team Lead in maintaining relations with senior leadership in United Nations (UN) agencies, International Organizations (IOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs)s, U.S. Government (USG) personnel, donors, and host government authorities.
● Coordinate with other humanitarian donors on program strategy, joint donor evaluations and UN-led assessments, and participate actively in humanitarian coordination fora.
● Prepare briefing papers, notes, and presentations on BHA programming for official USG visitors interested in humanitarian issues.
● Represent BHA with various audiences, as requested.
Leadership:
● With guidance from the BHA Country Team Lead, conduct performance reviews and evaluations, and coordinate staff development plans for BHA Sudan program team members.
● Lead the response program strategy design for the office.
● Consistently model behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to fostering a non-hostile, inclusive work environment that values diversity, equity and is free of discrimination, bias, unfairness, bullying, offensive behaviors, and harassment of any kind.
General Duties:
● Become certified and serve as an Assistance 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 such as work plans, annual reports, monthly status reports; travel requests, key personnel requests, and financial and budget reports. They are responsible for drafting and submitting the annual contractor performance evaluation in the 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 Federal Acquisition Regulation, and USAID policy. AOR/CORs are responsible for all related requirements in the COR designation letter and the AOR designation letter.
● May 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.
● May 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 Bureau to meet operational needs during staff shortages. 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.
How to apply
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 in any discipline and at least seven (7) years of work experience with a humanitarian or development focus. This experience must include responsibility in determining budget levels, selecting programs for funding, or managing or evaluating programs. Experience must include one (1) year of cumulative experience in international humanitarian assistance, emergency management or relief, disaster risk reduction, post-emergency rehabilitation or recovery, or resilience.
OR
Master’s degree in any discipline and at least five (5) years of experience with a humanitarian or development focus. This experience must include responsibility in determining budget levels, selecting programs for funding, or managing or evaluating programs. Experience must include one (1) year of cumulative experience in international humanitarian assistance, emergency management or relief, disaster risk reduction, post-emergency rehabilitation or recovery, or resilience.
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:
MATRIX (30 points)
● (Grantmaking Experience) Experience working in a grantmaking organization
● (Donor Experience) At least six months of experience working for a humanitarian or development donor organization.
● (International Humanitarian Experience): Two years of international experience supporting or directly implementing humanitarian programming
● (Program Design and Management): Experience designing strategies or programs
● (Program Design and Management): Experience developing or reviewing proposals
● (Program Design and Management): Experience monitoring or evaluating programs
● (Communication) Demonstrated experience delivering internal written or oral briefings to senior leadership on humanitarian programs or policy issues
● (Communication) Demonstrated experience delivering external written or oral briefings to senior-level staff including donors, host or local governments, United Nations officials, or U.S. Government Officials on humanitarian policy or programming matters.
Interview Performance (40 points)
Timed Writing Test (20 points)
Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks (10 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 package.
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.
IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER
Offers must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter.
Qualified individuals are required to submit:
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. Dates (month/year) and locations for all field experience must also be detailed. 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? (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.
Additional documents submitted will not be accepted.
By submitting your offer materials, you certify that all of the information on and attached to the offer is true, correct, complete, and made in good faith. You agree to allow all information on and attached to the offer to be investigated. False or fraudulent information on or attached to your offer may result in you being eliminated from consideration for this position, or being terminated after award, and may be punishable by fine or imprisonment.
To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your offer, and as the subject line in any email.
DOCUMENT SUBMITTALS
Via email: BHA.AfricaRecruitment@usaid.gov.