USPSC Humanitarian Information Team Deputy Team Lead

US Agency for International Development

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA22R00052

ISSUANCE DATE: September 6, 2022

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: October 3, 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) Office of Global Policy, Partnerships, Programs, and Communication (G3PC) is seeking offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal service as a Humanitarian Information Team Deputy Team Lead (DTL) under a United States Personal Services Contract (USPSC), as described in the solicitation.

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.

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. 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.

U.S. Agency for International Development

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20523

www.usaid.gov

720BHA22R00052

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 UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER (UEI) NUMBER AND THE SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT

All USPSCs with a place of performance in the United States are required to have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) 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.

All new SAM.gov entity registrations require a signed notarized letter identifying the authorized Entity administrator for the entity associated with the UEI 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/gsafsd_sp

Instructions to obtain a UEI can be found via the SAM.gov link.

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:

G3PC Recruitment Team

E-Mail Address: [email protected]

Website: www.BHAjobs.net

Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to the G3PC Recruitment Team via the information provided above.

Sincerely,

Sonja Stroud-Gooden

Contracting Officer

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I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 720BHA22R00052

2. ISSUANCE DATE: September 6, 2022

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: October 3, 2023, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

This solicitation is open and continuous until October 3, 2023. The following are the closing dates for each review period:

October 6, 2022, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

February 3, 2023, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

June 5, 2023, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

October 3, 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.

4. POINT OF CONTACT: G3PC Recruitment Team, [email protected] 5. POSITION TITLE: Humanitarian Information Team Deputy Team Lead

6. MARKET VALUE: $126,233 – $164,102 equivalent to GS-14 (includes 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.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five (5) years

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Washington

Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed for U.S. based positions.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens

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 after award.)

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

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BACKGROUND

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) is responsible for facilitating and coordinating U.S. Government (USG) humanitarian assistance overseas in response to all types of international disasters, including slow onset disasters such as droughts or famine, natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods, or man made disasters such as conflict or war. BHA is responsible for planning, coordinating, developing, achieving, monitoring, and evaluating international humanitarian assistance falling into two conceptual areas:

Humanitarian Response activities comprise needs-based humanitarian assistance provided to save lives, alleviate suffering, and protect human dignity during and in the aftermath of emergencies. Humanitarian assistance is grounded in humanitarian principles and is directed toward the most vulnerable populations.

Early Recovery, Risk Reduction, and Resilience (ER4) activities will set the initial foundations for longer-term recovery as appropriate and will work in close conjunction with humanitarian assistance. Early recovery is an approach that supports communities impacted by crises to protect and restore basic systems and service delivery. Early recovery builds on humanitarian response efforts and establishes the initial foundations of long-term recovery. Early recovery activities are implemented for a specified, appropriate timeframe that assists populations recovering from an identifiable shock. Risk reduction is the prevention of new and reduction of existing disaster risk and management of residual risk, which contributes to strengthening resilience and to the achievement of sustainable development. Resilience is the ability of people, households, communities, countries, and systems to mitigate, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses in a manner that reduces chronic vulnerability and facilitates inclusive growth.

BHA has seven offices, as follows:

The Bureau’s three geographic offices are: (1) Office of Africa; (2) Office of Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean; and (3) the Office of the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Each geographic office designs, provides, and assesses humanitarian assistance for their respective regions, including assistance related to responding to, recovering from, and reducing the risk of man-made and natural disasters, while linking with other USAID investments that build resilience.

The Office of Global Policy, Partnerships, Programs, and Communications (G3PC) shapes and influences USAID’s role within the international humanitarian system; leads engagement on a range of policy, programmatic, and operational issues; and positions the Agency to influence collective response to emergency needs across the globe.

The Office of Technical and Program Quality (TPQ) leads the Bureau’s efforts to provide high quality programmatic and technical leadership, oversight, and guidance. In addition, TPQ leads the Bureau’s external engagement with academia and coordinates research to advance the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of humanitarian and multi-year programming.

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The Office of Humanitarian Business and Management Operations (HBMO) is responsible for maintaining 24/7 operability by providing leadership, planning, quality assurance, technical expertise, and process management.

HBMO ensures effective stewardship of the Bureau’s support services, including workforce planning, staffing, financial management, internal controls, facilities operations and infrastructure.

The Office of Field and Response Operations (FARO) leads and manages operational assistance and the purchase and delivery of goods and services in response to declared foreign disasters and international humanitarian needs in key functional areas, including supply-chain management, procurement, logistics, oversight, and operational coordination with the U.S. military.

INTRODUCTION

The Office of Global Policy, Partnerships, Programs, and Communication (G3PC) directs the Bureau’s leadership in global humanitarian policy, showcases BHA’s life-saving work through strategic communication and information, and manages collaboration with external stakeholders, including public and private partners, international and multilateral organizations, non

governmental organizations (NGOs), academic institutions, and the U.S. Interagency. The office is organized into seven divisions, namely, Humanitarian Policy and International Systems; Humanitarian Multilateral; Humanitarian Organizations and Partnerships; Private Sector Engagement, Diaspora, and Innovation; Global Capacity and Leadership Development; U.S. Engagement, Strategy, and Programs; and Strategic Communications and Humanitarian Information (SCHI).

G3PC, through its SCHI Division, plays a critical role in strategic communications and humanitarian information and is responsible for providing strategic communications guidance for the Bureau, as well as managing and coordinating bureau-level external and internal communications. This includes positioning BHA as a leader in humanitarian messaging by best showcasing our high-profile disaster responses and creating a wide range of public information products with close coordination with other external communications and press offices within USAID and the broader USG interagency. This division also analyzes BHA’s communication activities, develops and implements comprehensive strategies, and creates content to increase awareness of BHA’s impact and value added to internal and external audiences. The two Humanitarian Information Teams (HITs) within the SCHI Division monitor and report on humanitarian conditions around the globe and are responsible for a wide range of public and internal products that inform audiences of these humanitarian situations and USG response efforts.

OBJECTIVE

BHA/G3PC requires the services of a HIT Deputy Team Lead (HIT DTL) based in Washington, D.C. to be available for deployment to disaster zones and conflict-affected areas in order to support and sustain quality reporting on international humanitarian crises and USG response. The HIT DTL will support the management of one of the two HITs. The HIT DTL will oversee the day-to

day work of Information Officers (IOs) who are monitoring and reporting on humanitarian conditions and response activities, compiling and disseminating information about USG

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humanitarian activities, and producing a wide range of public and internal information products. The DTL will oversee the quality control of the humanitarian reporting generated by the IOs. The DTL will manage the day-to-day operation of the regional portfolio including staffing, task delegation, and staff development and management. The DTL will report to the HIT Team Lead (TL) and BHA’s SCHI Division Chief and will work closely with other teams in the division.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

● Operate with independence in coordination with supervisor to provide general oversight and manage overall quality control process for a regional IO team, including regular product reviews, as well as developing and enforcing performance quality standards.

● In coordination with the HIT Team Leader, provide general management and supervision of a regional IO team including onboarding and training new staff, conducting staff performance reviews, and participating in recruitment and hiring processes.

● Support general oversight and overall quality control process for a regional IO team, including regular product reviews, as well as developing and enforcing performance quality standards.

● Coordinate with the HIT TL, SCHI Division leadership, and other staff to review, establish, and maintain process and product guidance documents common to all regional IO teams in support of establishing a single USAID humanitarian voice.

● Coordinate with SCHI Division leadership to recommend, determine, and communicate staffing and deployment assignments to division staff. In coordination with regional team staff and disaster response team leads, engage at a representational level with BHA, USAID Mission, U.S. Embassy, other USG personnel, as well as other donor government representatives and UN/PVOs/NGOs/PIOs, to present an inclusive and comprehensive picture of U.S. humanitarian response efforts in information products.

● Engage with USAID humanitarian staff to track disaster response needs and determine appropriate and strategic ways to address information product demands.

● Create and maintain a collaborative and effective team environment while setting the tone and example for open communication and regular coordination; a work environment conducive to mutual respect; clear expectations for performance; and clear delegations of roles, responsibilities, and authority.

● Mentor subordinates to build technical and other professional skills which meet the professional goals of staff and the needs of BHA.

● Create a culture of civility and respect whereby both managers and employees are expected to behave professionally at all times.

● Work with division and G3PC leadership to identify and address structural barriers to DEI in G3PC.

● Attend humanitarian coordination and other meetings in Washington, D.C., and in crisis zones and collaborate closely with information counterparts from humanitarian organizations, including UN agencies and NGOs, to ensure that all relevant humanitarian information is obtained and incorporated into humanitarian field products and provided to Washington, D.C.-based IOs in a timely manner.

● Lead on high-level, high-visibility information requests, drafting and/or coordinating input, and obtaining clearances to see product through to finalization.

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● When needed, perform the duties of an IO, including to collect and synthesize information pertaining to regional humanitarian situations and response efforts, as well as draft, edit, appropriately format, and disseminate a wide range of internal and external information products in Washington, D.C., and overseas.

● When deployed overseas as an IO:

o Produce field notes, trip reports, meeting and call notes, updates, reporting cables, public reports, and other information products, as needed.

o Manage data and produce or facilitate the production of a range of visual information products, such as maps, photos, tables, and charts.

o Assist in the preparation of agendas and briefings for official USG visitors. o Obtain appropriate clearances for all information products created.

o Participate in meetings with BHA partners, humanitarian assessments, and site visits in order to obtain information for field reports.

● Prepare and/or provide substantive assistance in the preparation of strategies for BHA strategic communications and humanitarian information initiatives, as appropriate. ● Contribute to Office-and-Division-wide initiatives to advance BHA/HIT strategic interests. ● Serve, as needed, on Washington, D.C.-based Response Management Teams (RMTs), which provide support to Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will be varied.

● Serve, as needed, on DARTs and other field teams, which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment overseas for an extended period of time.

● As needed, may serve on temporary details within the bureau. Duties performed while on detail will be aligned with the Team’s existing duties and responsibilities as well as directly related to the statement of duties provided.

● Consistently model behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to fostering a non-hostile 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, office, and Bureau objectives.

● 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.

● 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 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 FAR, and USAID policy. AOR/CORs are responsible for all related requirements in the COR designation letter and the AOR designation letter.

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SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

The USPSC will take direction from and report to the Humanitarian Information Team Deputy Team Lead (HIT TL) and Strategic Communications and Humanitarian Information (SCHI) Division Chief or his/her designee.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

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.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is generally sedentary and does not pose undue physical demands. 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).

13. WORK ENVIRONMENT

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.

14. START DATE: Immediately, once necessary clearances are obtained. 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.)

High School Diploma, plus nine (9) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, international development, or humanitarian response.

OR

Bachelor’s degree in any field plus seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, international development, or humanitarian response.

OR

Master’s degree in any field plus five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, international development, or humanitarian response.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

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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.

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 level 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 after award

● 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:

Professional Experience and Technical Knowledge (25 points)

● Experience analyzing humanitarian information from a variety of sources and producing information products for the public, USG, PIOs, NGOs, or other governments. (5 points) ● Experience with humanitarian response efforts in international settings. (5 points) ● Experience coordinating with a range of humanitarian actors, such as PIOs, NGOs, and other governments, to collect and synthesize information. (5 points)

● Experience representing an organization on humanitarian issues with donor governments, UN, PVOs, NGOs, or PIOs. (5 points)

● Experience developing or enforcing quality processes and standards for information reporting. (3 points)

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● Experience meeting multiple deadlines while working in a fast-paced environment. (2 points)

Interview Performance (40 points)

Timed Writing Test (30 points)

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks (5 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 the 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 the 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. 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.

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(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: [email protected]

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.

NOTE: REGARDING ADEQUATE SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS

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Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors, dated Sept


Closing date: 10/3/2023