SOLICITATION NUMBER: 7200AA24R00085
ISSUANCE DATE: August 21, 2024
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: October 10, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor
(USPSC), Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) Program
Manager

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)

I. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. SOLICITATION NO.: 7200AA24R00085
2. ISSUANCE DATE: August 21, 2024
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: October 10, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Standard
Time
4. POINT OF CONTACT: TPQ Recruitment Team, BHA.TPQRecruitment@usaid.gov
5. POSITION TITLE: Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) Program Manager
6. MARKET VALUE: $139,395.00 - $181,216.00 equivalent to GS-14 (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/BHA/TPQ Risk Analysis Division
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 United States Agency for International Development (https://www.usaid.gov/) (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 (https://www.usaid.gov/humanitarian-assistance).

The Office of Technical and Program Quality (TPQ) leads BHA efforts to ensure high quality programmatic and technical leadership, oversight, and guidance. TPQ captures, applies, and strengthens capacity in technical best practices and contextually appropriate programmatic approaches focused on all
dimensions of BHA programming from humanitarian response and transition into longer-term resilience
programming, as well as risk analysis and early warning. TPQ is responsible for providing policy,
normative guidance, tools, facilitation, and capacity building to assist the Bureau in achieving optimal
humanitarian outcomes through strategic design, consistent and effective performance monitoring,
comprehensive and appropriate evaluation, and purposeful learning across the full spectrum of BHA
responses and programming. The Office promotes USAID’s humanitarian voice through active
participation and technical leadership in interagency and global fora, including leading the Bureau’s
technical engagement with academia and thought leaders. TPQ designs, supports, and coordinates
research to advance the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of BHA programming. TPQ leads BHA in
meeting the increasing demand for technical support and guidance in all facets of the Bureau’s work as
the geographic and topical areas of coverage expand, and as the Bureau seeks increased technical and
programmatic standardization, integration, and oversight to meet Agency, Congressional, and other
demands.

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

This position works in the Risk Analysis Division, serving as a FEWS NET Program Manager with
responsibility for various activities. FEWS NET has long been a leader in identifying emerging threats of
acute food insecurity. It is entering a new phase with an expanding geographic scope that responds to
the changing nature of acute food insecurity, increasingly marked by conflict, climate variability and
extremes, and macroeconomic shocks. The FEWS NET Program Manager is responsible for co-managing
with other FEWS NET Program Managers the FEWS NET portfolio of mechanisms (including contracts,
grants, Public International Organization grants and cooperative agreements) and for robust engagement
with and service delivery to key FEWS NET stakeholders in BHA, USAID, the broader U.S. Government
(USG), and the international humanitarian and development community. The FEWS NET Program
Manager will meet weekly with the FEWS NET Management Team Leader to check in and provide
updates on staff’s portfolio.

Program Management and Guidance:

● Serve as an Agreement Officer's Representative (AOR) or Contracting Officer's Representative
(COR). The AOR/COR performs delegated agreement and/or contract administration functions.
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 (https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/agency-policy/series-300/references-chapter/302mar) and the AOR designation letter (https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/agency-policy/series-300/references-chapter/303mai). In the event that the USPSC is not AOR/COR certified, the mandatory certification training the AOR/COR role requires will be provided.

● Provide support for the administration, technical direction, quality assurance, and final
inspection of deliverables for activities carried out by FEWS NET contractors and four USG
partners that support FEWS NET implementation through Inter-Agency Agreements (IAA): the
U.S. Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

● Approve all designated FEWS NET contract and agreement actions within annual budgeting and
work plan processes.

● Support the development of FEWS NET contract and agreement work plans and related guidance
and documentation for project contractors and IAA staff to ensure the timely completion of
FEWS NET deliverables.

● Coordinate FEWS NET early warning activities with other donor and USAID recipient countries
and international agencies by establishing formal collaborative arrangements with international
and regional agencies involved in early warning or food security.

● Inform and coordinate with FEWS NET leadership for approval by the contracting officer of major
un-programmed revisions to contract and agreement budgets and work plans.

● Contribute to FEWS NET procurement activities, budgeting and allocation processes, and
performance monitoring requirements.

● Review country-specific and regional assessments of food security, vulnerability, resilience, and
other related FEWS NET concepts and products.

● Present FEWS NET findings to decision-makers within USAID and other stakeholder
organizations.

Technical Guidance:

● Provide expertise in the socio-economic and/or agro-climatological processes that drive food
security and famine, along with analysis of socio-economic and/or agro-climatological data as
applied in FEWS NET monitoring and assessment activities.

● Provide technical consultation and expert guidance in the conception, planning, scheduling, and
implementation of FEWS NET activities.

● Serve as the FEWS NET Management Team point of contact for assigned geographies using a
customer service approach, which involves developing close working relationships with BHA and
Mission Geographic Teams, understanding the key issues and events affecting food security in those countries, circulating advance FEWS NET reporting to Geographic Teams as pertinent,
organizing requested briefings, and responding to requests related to the assigned countries.

● Integrate FEWS NET information into the USAID decision-making process for emergency,
resilience, and development responses and/or programmatic design.

Support to the Bureau:

● USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance is a humanitarian response organization.
Accordingly, the USPSC is expected to be able to qualify, train for and routinely serve on
disaster/humanitarian responses in Washington D.C. or in the disaster area for 2 to 4 weeks (or
more) intervals, supporting provision of humanitarian assistance to ongoing emergencies. These
can either be Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) and/or Response Management Teams
(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, the FEWS NET Program Manager will 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.

● As needed, staff is expected to support BHA’s hiring efforts and serve on PSC hiring committees.
Training will be provided.

● The FEWS NET Program Manager does not have supervisory responsibilities; however, the PSC
may serve in an acting leadership role, with duties related to this scope of work, within the
bureau in order to meet short-term staffing needs, not to exceed 120 days in a 12-month
contract year.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP

The USPSC will take direction from and will report to the Team Leader of the USAID/FEWS NET
Management Team or their designee.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

The USPSC’s Supervisor provides administrative direction in terms of broadly defined missions or
functions. The 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 does not involve 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). 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.

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 in international food security analysis; monitoring and
evaluation in developing country contexts; international humanitarian or development program
management; international economic, livelihoods, sociological or demographic analysis; or other
relevant field.

OR

● A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with at least six (6) years of experience in any combination
of general experience in international food security analysis; monitoring and evaluation in
developing country contexts; international humanitarian or development program management;
international economic, livelihoods, sociological or demographic analysis; or other relevant field.

OR

● A Master's in any discipline with at least four (4) years of experience in any combination of
general experience in international food security analysis; monitoring and evaluation in
developing country contexts; international humanitarian or development program management;
international economic, livelihoods, sociological or demographic analysis; or other relevant field.

OR

● A PhD in any discipline with at least two (2) years of experience in any combination of general
experience in international food security analysis; monitoring and evaluation in developing
country contexts; international humanitarian or development program management;
international economic, livelihoods, sociological or demographic analysis; or other relevant field.

AND

Specialized experience

● Experience with scientific primary data collection in the field (qualitative or quantitative).
● Experience with designing implementation plans for a field-based program in a developing
country context.
● Experience with budget development for complex, multi-year international development or
humanitarian assistance programs.

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.

III.A 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. Failure to do so may result in the withdrawal of an offer or
removal.
● 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
(https://www.state.gov/popular-topics-medical-clearances/#Clearance).
● Must not appear as an excluded party in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).
● Satisfactory verification of academic credentials.

III.B 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:

Education and General Experience - See Section II. Pass or Fail.

Specialized Experience - See Section II. 30 points.

Interview - See Section III.C. 60 points.

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks - See Section III.D. 10 points

III.C Interview Performance (60 points)

During the interview process, a selection panel will assess the candidate’s suitability for the position.

III.D Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks (10 points)

Offerors must provide their references to USAID 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.

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 will 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. Professional references will be evaluated and academic credentials will be verified 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.

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 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. 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 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: All USPSCs with a place of performance in the United States are required to register in the System for Award Management (SAM) database and must have an active Unique Entity ID (UEI) number prior to receiving an award. If the SAM registration is not active by the selectee within three months of acceptance of this offer, the offer may be rescinded. The selectee will be disqualified if they either fail to comply with this requirement or if their name appears on the excluded party list.

8. 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.