SRG WASH Advisor

SRG WASH Advisor

SRG WASH Advisor

SRG WASH Advisor

Published
May 15, 2023
Location
Washington, D.C.
Position type
Experience (minimum)
5-10 Years
Education (minimum)
Bachelor's
Travel required?
Not specified
Base salary (minimum)
Not specified

Description

SOLICITATION NUMBER:       720BHA23R00034        

ISSUANCE DATE:                        May 15, 2023

CLOSING DATE AND TIME:      February 14, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time                              

 

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

 

Dear Prospective Offerors:

 

The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation. 

 

Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1 of this solicitation.  Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered.  Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records.

 

USAID will evaluate all offerors based on stated evaluation criteria. USAID encourages all individuals, including those from disadvantaged and under-represented groups, to respond to the solicitation. 

 

This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the offer. 

 

Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in Attachment 1.

 

Sincerely,

Ousay Wahaj

​Supervisory Contracting Officer

Office of Acquisition & Assistance M/OAA/BHA-CPS/PSC

 

 

  1. GENERAL INFORMATION 

 

  1. SOLICITATION NO.: 720BHA23R00034

 

  1. ISSUANCE DATE: May 15, 2023

 

  1. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: This solicitation is open and continuous until February 14, 2024. The following are the closing dates for each review period:

 

June 13, 2023, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

October 16, 2023, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

February 14, 2024, 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.

 

  1. POINT OF CONTACT: FARO Recruitment Team, BHA.FARORecruitment@usaid.gov

 

  1. POSITION TITLE: Support Relief Group (SRG) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Advisor (Multiple positions) 

 

  1. MARKET VALUE: This position can be filled at either the GS-13 ($84,546- $109,908) or GS-14 ($99,908 - $129,878) equivalent level, with place of performance locality 

 

Offerors who meet the minimum qualifications for a GS-13 will be considered for the GS-13 level positions. Offerors who meet the minimum qualifications for a GS-14 will be considered for the GS-14 level only.

 

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.

 

  1. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Worldwide

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

    

  1. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five (5) years, tentatively 145 day estimated start date from closing 

 

STATEMENT OF LIMITATIONS ON PERIOD AND PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: 

The purpose of this contract is to establish an employee/employer relationship with the contractor to perform services on a temporary, on-call, basis as part of the SRG. BHA intends to contract for these services for a maximum of 250 days per calendar year. Activation days vary but will not exceed 250 days during each contract year. 

 

The level of effort anticipated under this contract will be provided within the terms of this contract at times mutually agreed to by BHA and the contractor. Upon identification of a temporary need within the scope of work, BHA will contact the contractor and provide the following information: 

 

  1.   Date contractor is needed to report to BHA or assignment in the field
  2.   Duration of Assignment
  3.   Place of Performance

 

The contractor will notify BHA within 24 hours of availability. At the time the contractor accepts the assignment, he/she is expected to commit for the duration of the assignment. While the contractor will be required to commit to a certain time period, it is understood that the exigencies of a disaster may require the assignment to be extended (not to exceed 250 days). The contractor shall notify BHA at the time of commitment if their existing schedule would preclude an extension. Notification of schedule conflicts shall not necessarily disqualify the contractor from the assignment but will simply assist BHA in recruiting a replacement. Subsequently, if the contractor agrees to an extension of the duration of a particular assignment, thereafter, the contractor will be required to give BHA 10 days’ notice for release from the assignment.

 

  1. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens Only

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. STATEMENT OF DUTIES 

 

GENERAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACT 

The Support Relief Group (SRG) Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Advisors will address acute health risks associated with disasters with a strong focus on identifying and managing risks from poor access to water, sanitation, and hygiene materials in humanitarian emergencies and resilience programming. This includes the provision of expert technical advice and assistance to disaster assistance response teams (DARTs), USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) staff, and partners, support to Office of Technical and Program Quality (TPQ) in providing thought leadership for the sector, and coordination with other USAID and United States Government (USG) colleagues.

 

STATEMENT OF DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED

 

The WASH Advisor serves as an expert on the WASH Team in the TPQ’s Public Health and Nutrition (PHN) Division. The WASH Advisor will perform the following duties: 

 

At the GS-13 Equivalent Level:

 

The SRG WASH Advisor will:

 

  • Review concept papers and applications, monitor program progress and effectiveness.
  • Respond to WASH-related queries from BHA staff, and any other WASH-related public health issues which may arise.
  • Collaborate with other BHA WASH Advisors, to proactively prioritize global sector needs, emerging developments, and harmonized WASH guidance. 
  • Promote integration between sectors and advance best practices in integrated programming in emergencies, early recovery, risk reduction, and resilience.
  • Provide technical expertise and recommendations to ensure that BHA public health responses, specifically those dealing with WASH issues, are robust, rapid, and appropriate, and take into account best practices in the WASH sector.
  • Monitor the effectiveness, efficiency, and appropriateness of BHA-funded WASH programs and help with improving outcomes.
  • Maintain communication on humanitarian WASH issues between BHA and other organizations, i.e. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Inter-Agency Steering Committee (IASC) WASH cluster, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners. This includes technical topics that are involved in disaster, emergency response, early recovery, risk reduction, and resilience issues related to WASH.
  • Actively represent USAID/BHA in humanitarian WASH sector forums, discussions, and activities.
  • Serve as a USG humanitarian WASH sector resource person.
  • Provide expert technical and organizational leadership in sectoral activity commensurate with the role as a primary resource person for humanitarian WASH interventions.
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the evidence base for effective humanitarian WASH interventions, and of the organizations engaged in related program activities.
  • When in the field, collaborate with the international humanitarian actors to support the host nation’s capability to provide an effective response to specific health-related issues, especially in WASH.
  • Develop guidance documents for internal BHA use in order to influence and direct BHA’s overall humanitarian programming with regards to WASH-related public health emergencies.
  • Serve as an Activity Manager and monitor the progress of BHA’s global research and development WASH programs.
  • Develop and deliver WASH training modules for BHA staff and NGO partners, to keep them abreast of best practices and new developments within the humanitarian WASH sector.
  • Develop collaborative working-level relationships with BHA field and headquarters staff who oversee WASH-related programs.

 

At the GS-14 Equivalent Level 

 

The SRG WASH Advisor will:

 

  • Provide technical leadership to BHA, implementing partners, and field missions in water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion interventions in humanitarian contexts.
  • Lead project application reviews.
  • Lead monitoring of WASH program progress and effectiveness, respond to WASH-related queries from BHA staff, and any other WASH-related public health issues which may arise.
  • Represent BHA WASH Team in briefings to senior leadership in the field and in Washington, DC.
  • Provide leadership on appropriate WASH interventions in high profile, urgent UN-designated Level three humanitarian responses.
  • Lead collaboration with other BHA WASH Advisors, to proactively prioritize global sector needs, emerging developments, and harmonized humanitarian WASH guidance.
  • Lead collaboration with other TPQ Advisors, particularly within the PHN Division, to promote integration between sectors and advance best practices in integrated programming in emergencies, early recovery, risk reduction and resilience.
  • Lead the development of expert technical recommendations to ensure that BHA public health responses, specifically those dealing with WASH issues are robust, rapid and appropriate, and take into account best practices in the WASH sector.
  • Lead the development of monitoring tools to determine the effectiveness, efficiency and appropriateness of BHA-funded WASH programs to improve outcomes.
  • Lead coordination between the BHA WASH Team and other organizations, i.e. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Inter-Agency Steering Committee (IASC) WASH cluster, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and NGO partners that are involved in disaster, emergency response, early recovery, risk reduction and resilience issues related to WASH.
  • Lead on behalf of USAID/BHA in humanitarian WASH sector forums, discussions and activities, serve as a USG humanitarian WASH sector resource person, and display expert technical and organizational leadership in sectoral activity commensurate with the role as a primary resource person for humanitarian WASH interventions.
  • Provide strategic leadership to the WASH Team on key topics to maintain the Team’s expert-level knowledge of the technical area, and of the organizations engaged in related program activities.
  • When in the field, lead collaboration with the international humanitarian actors to support the host nation’s capability to provide an effective response to specific health-related issues, especially in WASH.
  • Identify the need for and lead development of global-level WASH strategies and guidance documents for internal BHA to use to influence and direct BHA’s overall humanitarian strategies with regards to WASH-related public health emergencies.
  • Manage and monitor the progress of BHA’s global research and development WASH programs.
  • Lead the development and delivery of WASH training modules for BHA staff and NGO partners, to keep them abreast of best practices and new developments within the humanitarian WASH sector.
  • Lead collaborative working-level relationships with BHA field and HQ staff who oversee WASH-related programs.

 

All GS Equivalent Levels:

 

  • Consistently foster a welcoming and inclusive 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, division, office, and Bureau objectives.
  • Participate in workplace efforts to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, including those related to Bureau and TPQ programs, partners, staffing, professional development, and other key areas.
  • Attend and actively participate in personal-development activities, such as anti-harassment and diversity training opportunities, brown bag sessions, working groups and/or focus group discussions.
  • The WASH Advisor does not have supervisory responsibilities; however, the PSC may serve in an acting leadership role within the bureau to meet short-term staffing needs, not to exceed 120 days in a 12-month contract year.
  • May be requested to be on-call/sign up for and serve on Washington-based Response Management Teams (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.
  • May serve on temporary detail 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 scope of work provided.
  • 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 Contract 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.

 

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

 

The USPSC will take direction from and report to the Response Resources Division Chief or his/her designee. When activated, the SRG WASH Advisor will be a part of the WASH Team, receiving day to day guidance and onsite management from the WASH Team Leader.

 

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

 

At the GS-13 Equivalent Level: 

The supervisor sets overall objectives. USPSC and supervisor together develop deadlines, projects and work to be done.  The USPSC independently plans, designs, and carries out projects, studies, and programs.  Completed work is reviewed only from an overall standpoint in terms of feasibility, compatibility with other work, or effectiveness in meeting requirements, or expected results.  Technical problems are generally resolved without reference to supervisors. 

 

At the GS-14 Equivalent Level: 

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.

 

  1. PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

 

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands. 

 

  1. 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.)

 

For the GS-13 Equivalent Level:

 

Bachelor’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including environmental health, environmental engineering or a related environmental or engineering fields) and minimum of seven (7) years of relevant work experience in WASH programming, three (3) years of which must include direct implementation experience in managing emergency WASH programs in humanitarian contexts. 

 

OR 

 

Master’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including environmental health, environmental engineering or a related environmental or engineering fields) and minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience in WASH programming, three (3) years of which must include direct implementation experience in managing emergency WASH programs in humanitarian contexts. 

 

For the GS-14 Equivalent Level:

 

Bachelor’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including environmental health, environmental engineering or a related environmental or engineering fields) and minimum of nine (9) years of relevant work experience in WASH programming, three (3) years of which must include direct implementation experience in managing emergency WASH programs in humanitarian contexts. 

 

OR 

 

Master’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including environmental health, environmental engineering or a related environmental or engineering fields) and minimum of seven (7) years of relevant work experience in WASH programming, three (3) years of which must include direct implementation experience in managing emergency WASH programs in humanitarian contexts. 

 

OR

 

PhD with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including environmental health, environmental engineering or a related environmental or engineering fields) plus five (5) years of relevant work experience working WASH programming, three (3) years of which must include direct implementation experience in managing emergency WASH programs in humanitarian contexts.

 

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.

 

SELECTION FACTORS

(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Offerors who do not meet all of the selection factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.)

    • Offeror is a U.S. Citizen.
    • Complete resume submitted. See section IV for resume requirements. Experience that cannot be quantified will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.
    • USPSC Offeror form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete sections A through I. This form must be physically signed. Electronic signatures may be accepted.
    • Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance. If there is a change in circumstances requiring access to National Security information classified at the Top-Secret level, the offeror may be asked to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance as provided by USAID.
  • Ability to obtain 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 rating factors are as follows: 

 

Matrix (GS-13 level) (40 points) 

 

Professional Technical Experience (20 points)

  • Experience in designing, implementing, or managing WASH programming, as relevant to humanitarian assistance or resilience programming. (15 points) 
  • Experience in providing technical assistance to field teams or partners related to WASH in humanitarian assistance or resilience programs. (5 points) 

 

Coordination and Collaboration (10 points) 

  • Experience in inter- or intra-organizational coordination in humanitarian contexts. (5 points) 
  • Experience in integrated programming with WASH and other sectors focused on public health (e.g., such as health, nutrition, and protection) in humanitarian contexts. (5 points)

 

Communication and Representation (10 points) 

  • Experience providing humanitarian WASH analyses or guidance to WASH technical audiences. (5 points)
  • Experience providing humanitarian WASH analysis or guidance to non-technical audiences. (5 points)

 

Matrix (GS-14 level) (40 points) 

 

Professional Technical Experience (20 points)

  • Experience leading the design, implementation, or management of WASH programming, as relevant to humanitarian assistance or resilience programming. (15 points) 
  • Experience in leading technical assistance to field teams or partners related to WASH in humanitarian assistance or resilience programs. (5 points) 

 

Coordination and Collaboration (10 points) 

  • Experience leading inter- or intra-organizational coordination in humanitarian contexts. (5 points) 
  • Experience leading collaborations between WASH and other sectors focused on public health (e.g. Health, nutrition, and protection) in humanitarian contexts. (5 points)

 

Communication and Representation (10 points) 

  • Experience leading humanitarian WASH analyses or guidance for WASH technical audiences. (5 points)
  • Experience leading humanitarian WASH analysis or guidance for non-technical audiences. (5 points)

 

Interview Performance (50 points) 

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks (10 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 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.

 

  1. 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) Offerors must notate on their resume what GS level equivalent is being applied for. Applicants may list more than one GS level on their resume.

(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 each grade levels 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.

 

  1. Ensure Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors - Please be advised that upon award, 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.*  USPSCs/TCNPSCs performing overseas must follow the Mission policies and/or directives from the U.S. Department of State regarding COVID-19 requirements.

*See Notice Regarding Any Court Order Affecting the Implementation of E.O. 14042 in Section VIII below.

 

  1. 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. 

 

  1. 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.

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