Lead Humanitarian Assistance Advisor to the Military (HAA/M)

Position description

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720OAA24R00032

ISSUANCE DATE: March 20, 2024

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: March 18, 2025. 12:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor

(USPSC) – Lead Humanitarian Assistance Advisor to the Military
(HAA/M)

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)

 

ATTACHMENT 1

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 7200AA24R00032

2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 20, 2024

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: March 18, 2025, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

This solicitation is open and continuous until March 18, 2025. The following are the closing dates for
each review period:
Round One: May 6, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Round Two: October 15, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Final Round: March 18, 2025, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Standard 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: Lead Humanitarian Assistance Advisor to the Military (HAA/M)
6. MARKET VALUE: $104,604 – $135,987 equivalent to GS-14
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: Worldwide
There may be an initial training program in Washington, D.C. for up to one year, which will include formal classroom training and on-the-job training; and may include security training.
After completion of Washington training, the HAA/M may be assigned to Washington, other locations in the United States, or an overseas office, and will be required to serve through rotational
assignments. At any time, at the discretion of the BHA Headquarters, the USPSC may be
reassigned/relocated to a geographical location where the individual’s services are needed.
Offerors for the HAA/M position must be willing to be posted at any location. The potential posts are listed as follows, but the location of service could be ultimately determined by the location of future
unknown operational requirements. BHA currently has established relationships with the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Combatant Commands (COCOM) in Miami, Florida; Honolulu, Hawaii; Tampa,
Florida; and Stuttgart, Germany, where there is an BHA operational need to work with the military independent of future country specific disasters. The BHA strategic plan also calls for assignment of
HAA/Ms in Washington, D.C.; Bangkok, Thailand; San Jose, Costa Rica; Okinawa, Japan; and Manama,Bahrain.
Initial post assignments will be based on each offeror’s understanding of BHA and the humanitarian assistance environment, each offeror’s background (i.e., language, regional experience, etc.), and
available post vacancies at the time of award.
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 Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance as provided by USAID.
11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES
GENERAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACT
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) works to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce the impact of disasters by helping people
in need become more self-reliant. BHA is responsible for planning, coordinating, developing, achieving, monitoring, and evaluating international humanitarian assistance falling into two conceptual areas: 1)Humanitarian Response during emergencies and 2) Early Recovery, Risk Reduction, and Resilience activities to address longer-term recovery after emergencies. You can learn more about BHA on our
website. 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.
BHA’s DIVERSITY PHILOSOPHY
Your Uniqueness is Welcome Here!
It takes talented people with unique experiences to provide the best humanitarian aid possible. We are committed to having a workforce that reflects the global communities we serve. We strive to create an
inclusive workplace, where everyone brings their authentic selves to work. We invite you to join us in providing humanitarian assistance to save lives and alleviate the suffering around the world.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED
The Lead Humanitarian Assistance Advisor to the Military (HAA/M) will support BHA’s work around the world by providing critical liaison functions between USAID and the Department of Defense (DoD). The
Lead HAA/M will represent the humanitarian perspective and provide expertise in situations where coordination between USAID and DoD is required.
The intent is for the Lead HAA/M to serve at a domestic military combatant command, but the Lead HAA/M must have worldwide availability and may be assigned to Washington, D.C., other locations in
the United States, or an overseas office, and may be required to serve through rotational assignments in support of BHA’s worldwide mandate. At any time, at the discretion of BHA headquarters, the Lead
HAA/M may be reassigned to a geographical location where their services are needed, including being assigned to work from a military installation. This position is located in the Civil-Military Disaster
Operations Division (CMD) within FARO.
At the GS-14 equivalent level:
Provide supervision and management of CMD field-based staff:
● Set work priorities and schedule for combatant command (CCMD) HAA/M teams.
● Approve, coordinate, and maintain oversight of the activities of CMD personnel operating in the
CCMD area of responsibility.
● Draft BHA/CMD CCMD Strategy, in coordination with CMD management and other HAA/Ms
assigned to the area of responsibility, and identify key players (USAID, BHA, DoD, etc.) for
engagement.
● Guide activities of CMD personnel engaging with the assigned CCMD and its subordinate units,
including components and deployed personnel.
● Build strong relationships inside the CCMD to influence planning and operations.
● Maintain a strong strategic and operational relationship with USAID/BHA regional teams,
including as the lead interlocutor with region-specific USAID personnel on humanitarian issues.
● Serve as primary point of contact (POC) for the CCMD team with the USAID Senior Development
Advisor, USAID Deputy Development Advisor, and State Foreign Policy Advisors for critical
humanitarian assistance incidents or issues at duty station.
● Maintain and develop standard operating procedures for HAA/M team at CCMD or relevant field
location.
● Serves as the primary POC at CCMD or relevant headquarters during humanitarian operations
involving CCMD and/or its subordinate units.
● Onboard new staff, both permanent and temporary duty, to include, among other activities,
verbal and written handover, strategy explanation, and general staff introductions.
● Ensure necessary training is up-to-date.
● Provide input annually toward budgetary requirements for CMD CCMD strategy.
● Function as the primary authority on staffing, coverage gaps, and training requirements,
reporting to the CCMD Deputy Team Lead and informing the Civil-Military Systems Coordination
Team Lead when issues arise.
● Report managerial plans, strategies, and problem sets on a schedule determined by the CCMD
Team Lead and Deputy Team Lead.

Support the communication of humanitarian principles and BHA procedures to DoD:
● Represent BHA and broader humanitarian equities to DoD stakeholders.
● Communicate relevant military issues to broader USAID/BHA colleagues.
● Maintain strong relationships with relevant BHA regional offices.
● Serve as an expert authority on humanitarian civil-military coordination; determine whether
DoD participation in BHA humanitarian activities is necessary and/or provides a unique
capability.
● Represent BHA in DoD service-level exercises and planning efforts and at formal training or
educational entities; regularly provide input and subject-matter expertise in designing disaster
response exercises.
● Conduct planning, scheduling, and prioritization of CMD engagements with relevant DoD units.
● Lead conversations and coordination with the DoD and significantly shape DoD decision-making
regarding humanitarian activities and developing the humanitarian assistance aspect of strategic
operations and crisis action planning products.
● Act as subject matter expert for BHA-military coordination and ensure DoD activities align with
BHA procedures and internationally established humanitarian best practices.
● Develop training materials and presentations concerning how USG executes foreign
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
● Ensure concurrence for Overseas Humanitarian Disaster and Civic Aid projects with
humanitarian equities, understanding DoD requirements and the Defense Security Cooperation
Agency Security Assistance Management Manual.
● Serve as a Civil-Military Affairs Officer (CMAO) or Civil-Military Affairs Coordinator (CMAC) on a
Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) or Response Management Team (RMT); draft
humanitarian assistance task requests for military support in accordance with DART or RMT
response planning; and represent military issues to the DART or RMT. If serving as CMAC,
coordinate actions of CMAOs.
Engage with other USAID staff, interagency, and partners to coordinate humanitarian activity in the region that may impact DoD operations or require DoD assistance:
● Develop and maintain area of responsibility operating picture, keeping abreast of the region’s country developments, declarations of humanitarian need, DoD presence and activities, previous use of DoD assets, and Campaign Plans.
● Lead outreach with USAID/BHA regional offices and/or BHA Washington to ensure they understand DoD activities and how they may impact BHA’s work in the region.
● Act as the focal point for BHA information sharing with external entities, including with interagency partners.
● Apply broad, comprehensive knowledge of USAID and DoD functional policies, procedures, and techniques to develop viable options for satisfying BHA’s changing requirements for DoD support and participation in humanitarian assistance efforts.
● Support deliberate planning within USAID/BHA and serve as an expert in contingency, operational, and forward planning across all humanitarian sectors with a civil-military focus.
● Provide BHA and, when called for, USAID leadership advisory services pertaining to complex, sensitive, and/or controversial humanitarian civil-military issues.
Clearly communicate, written and oral:

● Interact with and make decisions on humanitarian civil-military coordination that impact high-
level staff at USAID and USAID’s relationship with external organizations. This includes engagement with high-level military officers.
● Interface with internal agency officials and external governmental entities such as federal
agencies, international organizations, and international governments’ civil-military representatives.
● Work to resolve complex issues requiring sensitive negotiations and consensus-building within an interagency environment.
● Lead meetings and review work by team members.
● Provide BHA briefings and training such as the Joint Humanitarian Operations Course (JHOC) to military and civilian personnel the CCMD, subordinate units, and other critical organizations.
● Create and present reports, debriefs, and evaluations to CMD Leadership and other appropriate BHA staff regarding planning, exercises, and deployments being carried out in conjunction with
the DoD.
● Develop effective professional and interpersonal relationships with peers and colleagues in the humanitarian community and DoD, including the ability to earn confidence and trust.
Attend required trainings:
● Complete training required to serve as JHOC Lead Instructor.
● Complete internal BHA/CMD training required to serve on DARTs and Washington-based RMTs.CMD roles may include serving in such assignments as the CMAO, CMAC, Deputy Leader for
Operations, and Deputy Manager for Operations, as examples.
● Participate in office-wide efforts on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, including but not limited to those related to Bureau programs, partners, staffing, professional development,
and other key areas.
Responsibility and decision-making:
● Provide guidance and mentorship to less-experienced staff.
● Exercise independent judgment, discretion, and personal responsibility in performance of advisory duties.
● Create and implement innovative approaches to interagency information sharing policies and plans.
● Lead and implement CMD projects, including multilateral workshops, multi-day trainings, and strategy development.
● Develop procedures and processes for core team and Division; provide significant input into Office and BHA procedures.
● Serves as the primary liaison on humanitarian civil-military humanitarian issues with persons and groups both inside and outside of the organization to include the Department of State,
Congress, United Nations agencies, and other stakeholders.
● May serve in a divisional leadership position for periods of time in order to meet short-term staffing needs, not to exceed 120 days in a 12-month contract year.
Additional Duties and Responsibilities:
● This position may be expected to be able to qualify, train for and routinely serve on disaster/humanitarian responses in Washington DC or in the disaster area for 4 to 6 weeks (or more) intervals. These can either be DARTs and/or RMTs. DARTs are deployed to the field in response to disasters and operate in the field, providing staff an opportunity to deploy overseas for an extended period of time (e.g., 6-8 weeks). RMTs are based in Washington, DC 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 in detail will be aligned with existing duties and responsibilities and will be directly related to the
position’s scope of work.
● As needed, staff is expected to support BHA’s hiring efforts and serve on Personal Services Contractor (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, month 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.
SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:
The Lead HAA/M will take direction from and report to the FARO/CMD CCMD Deputy Team Lead in
Washington, D.C., or their designee.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
The supervisor provides administrative direction in terms of broadly defined missions or functions.
USPSC independently plans, designs and carries out projects, 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 is primarily sedentary and does not involve undue physical demands. Work is primarily performed in an office setting.
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). 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.

Qualifications

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 progressively responsible
experience working disaster response, emergency relief, humanitarian civil-military operations, or humanitarian assistance.
OR
● A Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in any discipline with at least six (6) years of progressively responsible experience working in disaster response, emergency relief, humanitarian civil-
military operations, or humanitarian assistance.

OR
● A Master’s degree or its equivalent in any discipline with at least four (4) years of progressively responsible experience working in disaster response, emergency relief, humanitarian civil- military operations, or humanitarian assistance.

AND
● Specialized experience in three (3) or more of the following:

○ Experience working with humanitarian principles and practices, applicable to civil-
military directives

○ Experience with exercise development, operational planning with respect to
humanitarian civil-military operations
○ Experience in humanitarian assistance, emergency relief, civil-military affairs, or working
in or alongside military or peacekeeping forces
○ Experience leading training event

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.