Operational Planner (GS-13) 7200AA24R00013

Position description

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 7200AA24R00013
ISSUANCE DATE: January 12, 2024
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: July 22, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time (DC Time)
SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) – 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 and Agreement Officer
Office of Acquisition & Assistance
(M/OAA/BHA-CPS/PSC)

I. GENERAL INFORMATION
 

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 7200AA24R00013
 

2. ISSUANCE DATE: January 12, 2024
 

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: July 22, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time
This solicitation is open and continuous until July 22, 2024. The following are the closing dates for
each review period (Rounds):
Round 1 – March 8, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time
Round 2 – July 22, 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, [email protected]
 

5. POSITION TITLE: Operational Planner
 

6. MARKET VALUE: $117,962 – $153,354 equivalent to GS-13 (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
The Office of Field and Response Operations (FARO) is a diverse, mission-driven team of experts leading
the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) operational readiness and excelling in the delivery of
humanitarian assistance to the world’s most vulnerable populations. Together, we create a safe
environment where we inspire and enable our staff to achieve their full potential.
The Operational Planning Team (OPT) within FARO’s Field Operations Division, consists of Operational
Planners who provide strategic, operational, and action level planning expertise to support BHA’s
operational and response requirements. Operational Planners will serve as subject matter experts on
planning processes, approaches, products, tools, and frameworks. They will be responsible for conducting
and supporting operational planning processes at BHA, as well as developing planning tools and resources,
and representing the operational planning capability on behalf of a broad and decentralized community
of practitioners.
STATEMENT OF DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED
● Facilitate the development of crisis, scenario, and contingency plans for disaster response using
leaders’ guidance and a spectrum of all-source information.
● Lead multi-faceted planning processes involving a range of stakeholders at the strategic,
operational, and tactical levels.
● Lead or participate in cross-functional coordination to incorporate inputs from multiple
capabilities and subject matter experts into planning processes.
● Lead or support the technical writing of operational plans, using existing templates or by
creating requirements-based frameworks for BHA response teams, Geographic Offices, and
other Bureau customers.
● Develop and update contingency and crisis action plans in support of time-sensitive BHA
response requirements.
● Engage in all-source research to inform operational plan development.
● Develop briefings, presentations, and training products to inform Bureau leadership and staff of
ongoing operational planning efforts.
● Provide education, training, and other support to promote the understanding and use of
operational planning throughout the Bureau.
● Make recommendations on operational planning-related training for Bureau staff.
● Inform doctrinal changes and lead change processes on behalf of all BHA planning practitioners.
● Contribute to and monitor BHA and interagency after-action reviews for planning related
themes and recommendations.

● Track best practices in humanitarian organization planning efforts, to include other donors, non-
governmental organization partners, United States Government (USG) interagency partners, and

host nations.
● Maintain situational awareness of broader mitigation and disaster response planning efforts
across the USG via engagement with Missions and interagency partners.
● Develop or otherwise contribute to tools, templates, frameworks, and doctrine related to the
provision of operational planning for BHA.

● Consistently model behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to building and maintaining a non-
hostile work environment free of discrimination, bias, unfairness, exclusion, offensive behaviors, and harassment of any kind.

● Demonstrate an understanding of the value of differing perspectives, cultural norms, and gender
in the work environment.
● Demonstrate consistent accountability for adherence to and knowledge of laws, executive
orders, and USAID’s policies which prohibit Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and
non-EEO infringements as well as the Agency’s policy that strictly prohibits sexual misconduct,
including harassment; exploitation or abuse of any kind among staff or implementing partners;
and gender-based discrimination.
● 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.
● 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 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 Operational Planner 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.
In times of emergency humanitarian assistance, the PSC will serve on temporary details 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 Operational Planning Team Lead or their
designee.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
The supervisor sets overall objectives. USPSC and supervisor together develop deadlines, projects and
work to be done. The USPSC independently plans, designs, and carries out project, studies, and programs.
Completed work is reviewed only from an overall standpoint in terms of feasibility, compatibility with
other work, or effectiveness in meeting requirements, or expected results. Technical problems are
generally resolved without reference to supervisors.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Qualifications

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 plus a minimum of seven (7) years of experience working in operational planning,
emergency relief, disaster management, humanitarian assistance, emergency relief program operations,
or crisis management.
 

OR

Master’s degree plus a minimum of five (5) years of experience working in operational planning,
emergency relief, disaster management, humanitarian assistance, emergency relief program operations,
or crisis management.
 

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.
● Must not appear as an excluded party in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).
● Satisfactory verification of academic credentials.

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.