USPSC Support Relief Group (SRG) Generalist GS-14

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA24R00002

ISSUANCE DATE: January 15, 2024

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: January 14, 2025, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) – SRG Generalist – 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)

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.

SRG is a program developed by BHA to satisfy its growing need for surge capacity. The SRG program brings on board candidates who work full-time for discrete periods of time, but on an intermittent basis for no more than 2007 hours (approximately 250 days) per calendar year. SRG can be deployed within hours to backfill Washington positions, be assigned to field offices for staff enhancement, to serve on response teams at both headquarters and in the field, and to assess critical situations as warranted. SRG staff can be used for activations as short as one day or for up to several months at a time. 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.

The SRG program is managed by the Surge Staffing Team (SST) in BHA’s Response Resources Division (R2D). This team maintains a database for all contracted SRG personnel, providing information to the rest of BHA on their availability, skills, and previous experiences. SST assists the teams within BHA in

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choosing the best qualified SRG for any specific task and provides administrative and personnel support to all SRG. Each SRG incumbent will provide enhancement to the BHA team according to their skills and they will be considered part of BHA/Washington resources that can be deployed worldwide.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED

● Serve in leadership, planning, or program positions on response teams, assessment teams, or to provide coverage for field offices and BHA headquarters.

● Develop and maintain a detailed understanding of BHA’s program strategy, implementation, complete program cycle, and management of awards.

● Support the development of crisis, scenario, and contingency disaster response plans. ● Manage team efforts to develop appropriate programmatic strategies for disaster responses and disaster risk reduction efforts.

● Serve as lead technical expert (food security, protection, health, nutrition, monitoring and evaluation, data, shelter and settlements, disaster risk reduction, livelihoods, wildfire, supply chain, safety and security, etc.) for humanitarian or Early Recovery, Risk Reduction, and Resilience interventions supported by BHA.

● Provide technical and organizational leadership within BHA develop and represent policy and technical positions to advance BHA’s technical-related work.

● Review and process all award documentation according to BHA’s Grant Guidelines, USAID Automated Directives Systems, and Federal Regulation including coordinating multi-unit participation and ensuring timely award approval.

● Lead discussions with non-governmental organization (NGO) partners, other donor agencies, the international humanitarian community, the United Nations, technical clusters, and other USAID staff working in the various technical sectors; and attend meetings and other events and forums.

● Provide senior level regional support and advisement as needed to BHA field operations to include monitoring of BHA programs, assessments, strategy development and general field office coverage.

● Assist headquarters-based Agreement Officer’s Representatives in managing humanitarian awards by providing field-based insights, knowledge, and perspectives.

● Conduct technical assessments on the ground, recommend appropriate relief, and facilitate and coordinate United States Government (USG) emergency response activities.

● Manage humanitarian logistics and coordinate delivery of relief supplies provided by BHA. ● Interpret USAID management regulations to understand their application in order to directly facilitate and support Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) and Response Management Teams (RMTs) activated in response to disaster operations.

● Represent BHA at senior levels within the USG and humanitarian stakeholders to address humanitarian concerns and priorities from the BHA perspective through oral and written briefings, as well as at coordination and policy development meetings.

● Represent BHA and USAID humanitarian equities to members of the US Armed forces, other foreign militaries, and international Civil-Military entities.

● Serve as a liaison and senior representative to other responders and host governments, with decision making power.

● Coordinate USG interagency responses in tandem with DART/RMT leadership. ● Coordinate with other units within BHA and USAID, as well as other USG organizations to fulfill the response strategy.

● Communicate with participating USG agencies and external organizations to coordinate response activities, in close coordination with the response leadership.

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● May serve on temporary details 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 statement of duties provided.

● May be requested to be on-call/sign up for and serve on Washington-based RMTs, which provide services and support to DARTs deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will vary. ● May 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 (AOR)/Contracting Officer’s Representative (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, monthly 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 Performance Assessment Review System (CPARS). 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.

● 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.

● Participate in diversity and harassment training opportunities, brown bag sessions or focus group discussions, and workforce diversity initiatives/activities focused on helping to improve the organizational culture.

● 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 zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, including harassment, exploitation, and abuse of any kind. Understand reporting criteria and report up in a timely manner.

● Hold self and others accountable for adhering to a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of any form, bullying or any other prohibited behaviors and report objectionable conduct. ● The SRG Generalist 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.

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 or equivalent plus at least thirteen (13) years of experience supporting, managing, advising, or leading the operations, policy, technical strategies, or programming of a government agency, intergovernmental organization, national or international NGO, or an international business. Relevant experience and responsibilities must be related to international relations, human rights, international economics, food assistance, public health, disaster management, emergency relief or humanitarian assistance. Please note, experience can be derived from paid work, unpaid work (volunteering), education, internships, or military. Experience must include five (5) years of experience in either domestic or international disaster relief or humanitarian assistance efforts.

OR

Bachelor’s degree plus at least nine (9) years of experience supporting, managing, advising, or leading the operations, policy, technical strategies, or programming of a government agency, intergovernmental organization, national or international NGO, or an international business. Relevant experience and responsibilities must be related to international relations, human rights, international economics, food assistance, public health, disaster management, emergency relief or humanitarian assistance. Please note, experience can be derived from paid work, unpaid work (volunteering), education, internships, or military. Experience must include five (5) years of experience in either domestic or international disaster relief or humanitarian assistance efforts.

OR

Master’s degree plus at least seven (7) years of experience supporting, managing, advising, or leading the operations, policy, technical strategies, or programming of a government agency, intergovernmental organization, national or international NGO, or an international business. Relevant experience and responsibilities must be related to international relations, human rights, international economics, food assistance, public health, disaster management, emergency relief or humanitarian assistance. Please note, experience can be derived from paid work, unpaid work (volunteering), education, internships, or military. Experience must include five (5) years of experience in either domestic or international disaster relief or humanitarian assistance efforts.

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 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.

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 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.

Via Email to BHA.FAROrecruitment@usaid.gov

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

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

https://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. 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

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(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.

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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.