SOLICITATION NUMBER: 7200AA24R00029
ISSUANCE DATE: March 5, 2024
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: April 19, 2024, 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
Office of Acquisition & Assistance
(M/OAA/BHA-CPS/PSC)
ATTACHMENT 1
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. SOLICITATION NO.: 7200AA24R00029
2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 5, 2024
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: April 19, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time
4. POINT OF CONTACT: Africa Recruitment Team, BHA.AfricaRecruitment@usaid.gov
5. POSITION TITLE: Regional Humanitarian Advisor
6. MARKET VALUE: $104,604 – $135,987 equivalent to GS-14 (not eligible for 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: Nairobi, Kenya
There may be an initial training program in Washington, D.C. for three months, which will include formal classroom training and on-the-job training; and may include security training. After completion of initial training, the Regional Humanitarian Advisor will be assigned to the place of performance.
Overseas USPSCs may be authorized to telework or remote work only from a location within the country of performance, in accordance with Mission policy. Telework or remote work from outside the country of performance may only be authorized in certain situations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.
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.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
Specifically, the RHA will be responsible for the following:
Contextual Specialty:
● Serve as an expert on humanitarian and resilience issues, priorities, lessons learned, and opportunities in the region of responsibility related to DRR, innovation, private sector engagement, and other cross-cutting humanitarian issues.
● Provide expert guidance on political, humanitarian, organizational, structural, and stakeholder interests specific to the region of responsibility.
● Identify opportunities to expand support across the region to cross cutting issues that bring together humanitarian, resilience, and recovery programming, while working closely with humanitarian structures to support opportunities for cooperation between humanitarian and development portfolios.
● Provide substantive guidance in the preparation of regular strategic and analytical reports on current or anticipated emergencies, as well as comprehensive preparedness documentation on assigned countries.
Portfolio Management:
● Develop and maintain a detailed understanding of BHA’s program strategy and the implementation of the resulting grants and contracts in geographic or thematic areas of responsibility.
● Guide regional team efforts to develop appropriate programmatic strategies for disaster responses and DRR efforts in the area of responsibility.
● Support growth opportunities across the geographic areas of responsibility in areas such as innovation and private sector engagement, and regularly identify linkages within USAID Missions for this work.
● Review grant applications for conceptual soundness, technical feasibility, and alignment with budget constraints for disaster assistance/emergency activities, resilience programming, and recovery.
● Identify opportunities for multi-year programs to respond to Agency priorities across the humanitarian to development spectrum, including supporting the design and review of applications for this kind of programming.
● Lead/conduct initial assessments to identify humanitarian needs and/or DRR opportunities in current disaster contexts or locations with high vulnerability.
● Support the development of more holistic DRR and resilience strategies across the region, working with teams to identify opportunities for integration of this programming.
● Monitor ongoing humanitarian response and DRR activities to validate that objectives are met, and beneficiaries are served.
● Lead the development of country, issue, or DRR and/or resilience specific strategies across the region of responsibility, as well as timely revision of these strategies as contextual realities shift.
● Support knowledge sharing and the maximization of technical expertise across the region, including MEAL support to portfolios.
● Assess implementation approaches and strategies on an ongoing basis and make recommendations for appropriate shifts in approach or resource allocation.
● Participate in the development of in-country recommendations on difficult resource and programmatic trade-offs within the region.
Representation:
● Develop and maintain relationships with representatives of host governments, donor governments, IOs, NGOs, U.S. embassies, and USAID missions to ensure efficient and coordinated humanitarian response and DRR activities.
● Represent USAID in joint efforts to design, develop, and implement humanitarian, DRR, and/or resilience strategies and intervention with local governments, donors, partners, and UN organizations, as appropriate.
● Advise regional officials, including host country authorities and other USAID officials on disaster response, mitigation, and risk reduction efforts, including the review of sector disaster response and DRR plans.
● Work with local and regional institutions and private/public sector organizations to incorporate DRR into appropriate programs.
Leadership:
● Support regional team efforts to develop current and future strategic direction for the regional office to include programmatic, liaison and representational prioritization, and human and financial resource requirements.
● Participate in a leadership role in office-wide policy initiatives to ensure overseas perspectives are well-represented.
● Serve as a peer-mentor for program staff working to increase exposure and experience in overseas and in-country humanitarian, DRR, and resilience operations.
● As needed, lead an ethnically and culturally diverse team of program, technical, and/or administrative staff.
● The RHA 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.
General Duties:
● This position is expected to be able to qualify, train for, and routinely serve on disaster/humanitarian responses in Washington D.C. or in/near the affected area for 4 to 6 weeks (or more) intervals. These can either be Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) and/or Response Management Teams (RMTs). DARTs are deployed overseas in response to disasters, providing staff an opportunity to operate overseas for an extended period of time (e.g., 6-8 weeks). RMTs are based in Washington, D.C. and provide services to support DARTs, such as coordination and external engagement, communications, planning, logistics, travel coordination, or other similar duties (depending on the RMT role).
● As needed, may serve on temporary short-term assignments (“detail”) on other teams within the office or bureau to meet operational needs during staff shortages. Duties performed while on detail will be aligned with existing duties and responsibilities and will be directly related to the position’s scope of work. This position requires up to 40% travel.
● As needed, staff is expected to support BHA’s hiring efforts and serve on PSC hiring committees. Training will be provided.
● The PSC may be expected to obtain an Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) or Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) certification. The AOR/COR oversees agreements and/or contracts. This includes but is not limited to reviewing invoices, approvals, program/project deliverables (i.e. work plans, annual reports, monthly status reports), travel requests, key personnel requests, financial/budget reports, contractor performance evaluations, and compliance. More information about the AOR/COR responsibilities and related requirements can be found in the COR designation letter and the AOR designation letter. In the event that this role requires an AOR/COR certification, mandatory training will be provided.
● 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.
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.)
● A High School Diploma or its equivalent with at least ten (10) years of experience in any combination of general experience with humanitarian or development focus and responsibility in determining budget levels, selecting programs for funding, or managing and evaluating programs.
OR
● A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with at least six (6) years of experience in any combination of general experience with humanitarian or development focus and responsibility in determining budget levels, selecting programs for funding, or managing and evaluating programs.
OR
● A Master’s degree in any discipline with at least four (4) years of experience in any combination of general experience with humanitarian or development focus and responsibility in determining budget levels, selecting programs for funding, or managing and evaluating programs.
AND
Specialized Experience
● International experience managing, supporting, or directly implementing humanitarian assistance, emergency management, relief, DRR, post-emergency rehabilitation, recovery, or resilience.
● Experience with program management and design.
● Experience leading, facilitating meetings, or representing teams at official functions.
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 a Department of State medical clearance and maintain it throughout the life of the contract. More information on medical clearance classifications can be found in 16 FAM 211.2 Clearance Classifications or the Department of State webpage on medical clearances.
● 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 rating factors are as follows:
BASIS OF RATING (HOW YOU WILL BE SCORED)
Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks (10 points)
Offerors must provide their references to BHA upon request no later than seven (7) days from the initial
request. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the offeror being removed from consideration for
this solicitation. In addition, the Agency has the right to seek any additional feedback on the offeror as
needed.
SCORING OF OFFERORS
Specialized Experience: 30 points
Interview: 60 points
References: 10 points
TOTAL: 100 points
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 mayresult in not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards.
Themost 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 the future phase of the selection process.
How to apply
IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER
Documents submittal via email: BHA.AfricaRecruitment@usaid.gov
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Offeror submissions must clearly reference the Solicitation number on all offeror submitted documents.
4. Specialized Experience Requirement Verification. Offerors are required to download and complete the Specialized Experience Requirement Verification form in order to be considered. Please download, complete, and submit with the application package.
a. GS-14: Specialized Experience Requirement Verification Form
5. 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.). 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.