Unit Lead for Civil-Military Disaster Operations Division (CMD) (GS-14)

Position description

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA24R00007

ISSUANCE DATE: January 23, 2024

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: November 11, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

SUBJECT:    Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) – Unit Lead for Civil-Military Disaster Operations Division(CMD) – Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)

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,

Juan E. Proano
Senior Contracting Officer
Office of Acquisition & Assistance
(M/OAA/BHA-CPS/PSC)

ATTACHMENT 1

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 720BHA24R00007

2. ISSUANCE DATE: January 23, 2024

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: November 11, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

This solicitation is open and continuous until November 11, 2024. The following are the closing dates
for each review period:

Round 1 – March 8, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time
Round 2 – July 15, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time
Round 3 – November 11, 2024, 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.

4. POINT OF CONTACT: FARO Recruitment Team,

5. POSITION TITLE: Unit Lead for Civil-Military Disaster Operations Division (CMD) (Multiple Positions)

6. MARKET VALUE: $139,395- $181,216 equivalent to GS-14 (includes Locality Pay)

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.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Washington. Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed for U.S.-
based positions.

8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five (5) years, tentatively 145 day estimated start date from closing

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens Only

10. 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.

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

GENERAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACT

When some of the worst disasters strike overseas, the U.S. military provides critically needed capabilities at the direction of USAID. The USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) Civil- Military Disaster Operations Division (CMD) provides the critical link between USAID and the Department of Defense (DoD) before, during, and after disasters to ensure the best use of military
assets—and to make sure life-saving assistance reaches those who need it most.

CMD advisors work throughout the world to provide a trusted source of information and coordination
with USAID’s military partners. CMD engages the DoD at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels to
ensure the potential use of military assets in disaster response are appropriate and well-defined.

The U.S. Government (USG) typically calls upon the military to provide support to a disaster operation
only when it can provide a unique capability—and as a last resort. CMD provides the link between the
military and the humanitarian community. During steady-state operations, CMD works with the military
to ensure humanitarian best practices are reflected in doctrine; to help train the force on the best use of
military assets during disaster response; to prepare for a chemical, biological, radioactive, or nuclear
event; and more.

The Unit Lead position was established to supervise day-to-day activities of CMD’s staff assigned to one
of three teams: Civil-Military Systems Coordination, Civil-Military Engagement, and Education and
Doctrine Development. The Unit Lead is responsible for support and management of duties of the staff
assigned to the team and works closely with the respective Team Lead to receive and relay policy and
strategic guidance.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED

Organization Management:

● Provide the critical liaison function between USAID and the DoD military establishment in order
to represent the humanitarian perspective and expertise.
● Build coalitions internally within USAID and with other federal agencies and humanitarian
organizations related to humanitarian civil-military coordination in foreign disaster responses to
achieve common goals.
● Anticipate the needs of the organization regarding developments in the area of humanitarian
civil-military affairs.
● Make necessary and difficult decisions under pressure to ensure the success of BHA’s mission.
● Prepare and review analysis, briefings, and documents, and attend meetings, as required.
● Propose efficiencies to ensure a high level of customer service, including troubleshooting issues
and proposing new processes such as standard operating procedures and other critical
resources and proactively problem-solve and mitigate risks before they arise.
● Independently perform periodic reviews on effectiveness and assess the needs of humanitarian
civil-military engagements to ensure BHA resources are being properly utilized to support
humanitarian civil-military engagement in disaster relief.
● Develop budget estimates for costs and recommend funding levels of humanitarian civil-military
engagements and outreach activities throughout the fiscal year.
● Provide risk assessments of a potential role and subsequent implications of the use DoD assets in
a humanitarian response.
● Assist BHA management in defining a strategy for humanitarian civil-military coordination to
include guidelines for determining BHA participation in DoD operations and providing innovative
solutions to resolve operational issues, as necessary.
● Create and manage staffing tools and systematize staffing decisions across CMD.
● Facilitate prioritization of CMD’s commitments to steady-state as well as rapid-onset events to
maintain effective staffing levels.
● Track and communicate with Support Relief Group (SRG) and full-time staff on upcoming events
and issues.
● Participate in office-wide efforts on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), including those related
to Bureau programs, partners, staffing, professional development, and other key areas.
Management
● Supervise and manage CMD permanent and SRG staff, including recommending and approving
staff for assignment to training, exercises, response operations, briefings, or other roles.
● Recognizes personnel strengths and limitations and uses strengths of direct subordinates to
ensure the team’s success through an effective mix of direct engagement and delegation.
● Provide strategic and operational planning expertise.
● Provide leadership for the identification, research, analysis, and development of
recommendations on all issues and matters relating to humanitarian civil-military affairs.
● Oversee staff coverage and reassign tasks as necessary. Manage the team calendar to ensure
adequate office coverage.
● Advise, guide, and train new team personnel on team processes, templates, and standard
operating procedures.
● Monitor and oversee team personnel performance and provide feedback as necessary on
performance evaluations, work plans, and individual learning plans on ad hoc and annual basis.
● In conjunction with the respective Team Leader, coordinate and guide the work of other team
members. Serves as the primary point of contact for review of actions for the Team Leader’s
clearance and/or approval.
● Conduct quality assurance on final work products. Ensure accurate and error-free work products
of the team.
● Undertake difficult conversations on staff performance in a timely manner, including working
with CMD leadership on allegations of misconduct.
Representation:
● Demonstrate subject-matter expertise to USAID and DoD executives by authoritatively
communicating response information in a digestible and policy-relevant manner, understanding
interests of key stakeholders, and adapting influencing strategies to reach win-win solutions that
achieve desired outcomes while preserving relationships.

● Ensure complex and critical information is communicated accurately to all the necessary civil-
military stakeholders within the USG and external to the USG.

● Represent USAID at civil-military meetings, up to the appropriate protocol level, covering a
broad range of humanitarian and civil-military issues.
● Provide BHA colleagues with analysis and guidance on civil-military relations during foreign
disaster responses.
● Represent BHA on specific humanitarian civil-military issues of concern with other parts of the
USG, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
● Travel to select combatant commands, components, and other military installations to ensure
that civil-military issues are appropriately represented in accordance with USAID regulations and
policies (overseas travel is required for this position). Travel can be expected up to 20 percent of
the time, though possibly for extended periods of up to three months, in the event of a disaster
that necessitates USG engagement.
● The Unit Lead 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.
● May be requested to be on-call/sign up for and serve 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.
● 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.
● 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.
● In times of emergency humanitarian assistance, the PSC will serve on temporary detail within the
bureau. Duties performed while on detail will correspond to the level and market value for the
position and the work specified to be performed in the Statement of Duties .

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

The USPSC will take direction from and will report to the appropriate CMD Team Lead or designee. While
on assignment, they may report directly to a designated BHA response leader in the region of assignment.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

The supervisor provides administrative direction in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. USPSC
independently plans, designs and carries out project, studies, and programs. Results of the work are
considered technically authoritative. There is no higher-level official technically responsible for
administering the program/project.

12. 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.)
Bachelor’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field plus a minimum of nine (9)
years of experience working in humanitarian civil-military coordination, humanitarian assistance, disaster
response, or emergency preparedness.
OR
Master’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field plus seven (7) years of
experience working in humanitarian civil-military coordination, humanitarian assistance, disaster
response, or emergency preparedness.

Application instructions

SUBMITTING AN OFFER

 Eligible Offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals,” available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.

1. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I.
2. Offeror submissions must clearly reference the Solicitation number on all offeror submitted documents.
3. 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 for which you are applying. 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.

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.

NOTE:  If the full security application package is not submitted within 30 days after the Office of Security determines eligibility, the offer may be rescinded. If a Secret security clearance is not obtained within nine months after offer acceptance, the offer may be rescinded. If Top Secret is required, and clearance is not obtained within nine months after award, USAID may terminate the contract at the convenience of the government. If Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access is not obtained within nine months after Top Secret clearance is granted, USAID may terminate the contract at the convenience of the government.

NOTE: If the full medical clearance package is not submitted within two months after offer acceptance, the offer may be rescinded. If a Department of State medical clearance is not obtained; the offer may be rescinded.

NOTE REGARDING GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS FOR THIS 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.