USPSC Digital Communications Advisor
Description
SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA22R00020
ISSUANCE DATE: May 13, 2022
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: June 3, 2022, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC)
Dear Prospective Offerors:
The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Global Policy, Partnerships, and Communications (G3PC) is seeking offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal service as a Digital Communications Advisor under the United States Personal Services Contract (USPSC), as described in the solicitation.
Submittals must be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Offerors interested in applying for this position MUST submit the following materials:
- Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your offer, your resume must include:
(a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.
(b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work. (c) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments. Failure to identify an academic discipline will result in disqualification.
(d) U.S. Citizenship
(e) Optional: How did you hear about this opportunity? (SAM.gov, BHA Jobs, Career Fair, etc.).
Your resume must contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information must be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.
- USPSC Offeror form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete sections A through I. This form must be physically signed. Electronic signatures will not be accepted. AID 309-2 is available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.
NOTE REGARDING ENSURING ADEQUATE COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS
The contractor will be required to show proof that the contractor is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on or before the first date of onboarding, or submit an approved reasonable accommodation to the CO. If the contractor does not meet this requirement the contract may be terminated.
NOTE REGARDING DATA UNIVERSAL NUMBERING SYSTEM (DUNS) NUMBERS AND THE SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT
All USPSCs with a place of performance in the United States are required to have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to receiving an award. You will be disqualified if you either fail to comply with this requirement or if your name appears on the excluded parties list. The selectee will be provided with guidance regarding this registration.
NOTE: As of March 28, 2018, all new SAM.gov entity registrations will now require a signed notarized letter identifying the authorized Entity administrator for the entity associated with the DUNS number. Additional information on the format of the notarized letter and where to submit can be found via the below Federal Service Desk link:
https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/answer.do?sysparm_kbid=d2e67885db0d5f00b3257d321f96194b& sysparm_search=kb0013183
Offerors can expect to receive a confirmation email when offer materials have been received. Offerors should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their offers. Your complete resume must be emailed to:
G3PC Recruitment Team
E-Mail Address: BHA.G3PCRecruitment@usaid.gov
Website: www.BHAjobs.net
Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to the G3PC Recruitment Team via the information provided above.
Sincerely,
Sonja Stroud Gooden
Contracting Officer
- GENERAL INFORMATION
- SOLICITATION NO.: 720BHA22R00020
- ISSUANCE DATE: May 13, 2022
- CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: June 3, 2022, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time
- POINT OF CONTACT: G3PC Recruitment Team, BHA.G3PCRecruitment@usaid.gov 5. POSITION TITLE: Digital Communications Advisor
- MARKET VALUE: $106,823 - $138,868 equivalent to GS-13 (includes locality pay) Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.
If the position is for a Washington based PSC, offerors who live outside the Washington, D.C. area will be considered for employment, but no relocation expenses will be reimbursed.
- PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five (5) years
- PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Washington, D.C.
- ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens
- SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance as provided by USAID.
- STATEMENT OF DUTIES
POSITION DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) is responsible for facilitating and coordinating U.S. Government (USG) humanitarian assistance overseas in response to all types of international disasters, including slow onset disasters such as droughts or famine, natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods, or man made disasters such as conflict or war. BHA is responsible for planning, coordinating, developing, achieving, monitoring, and evaluating international humanitarian assistance falling into two conceptual areas:
- Humanitarian Response activities comprise needs-based humanitarian assistance provided to save lives, alleviate suffering, and protect human dignity during and in the aftermath of emergencies. Humanitarian assistance is grounded in humanitarian principles and is directed toward the most vulnerable populations.
- Early Recovery, Risk Reduction, and Resilience (ER4) activities will set the initial foundations for longer-term recovery as appropriate, and will work in close conjunction with humanitarian assistance. Early recovery is an approach that supports communities impacted by crises to protect and restore basic systems and service delivery. Early recovery builds on humanitarian response efforts and establishes the initial foundations of long-term recovery. Early recovery activities are implemented for a specified, appropriate timeframe that assists populations recovering from an identifiable shock. Risk reduction is the prevention of new and reduction of existing disaster risk and management of residual risk, which contributes to strengthening resilience and to the achievement of sustainable development. Resilience is the ability of people, households, communities, countries, and systems to mitigate, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses in a manner that reduces chronic vulnerability and facilitates inclusive growth.
BHA has seven offices, as follows:
The Bureau’s three geographic offices are: (1) Office of Africa; (2) Office of Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean; and (3) the Office of the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Each geographic office designs, provides, and assesses humanitarian assistance for their respective regions, including assistance related to responding to, recovering from, and reducing the risk of man-made and natural disasters, while linking with other USAID investments that build resilience.
The Office of Global Policy, Partnerships, Programs, and Communications (G3PC) shapes and influences USAID’s role within the international humanitarian system; leads engagement on a range of policy, programmatic, and operational issues; and positions the Agency to influence collective response to emergency needs across the globe.
The Office of Technical and Program Quality (TPQ) leads the Bureau's efforts to provide high quality programmatic and technical leadership, oversight, and guidance. In addition, TPQ leads the Bureau’s external engagement with academia and coordinates research to advance the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of humanitarian and multi-year programming.
The Office of Humanitarian Business and Management Operations (HBMO) is responsible for maintaining 24/7 operability by providing leadership, planning, quality assurance, technical expertise, and process management. HBMO ensures effective stewardship of the Bureau’s support services, including workforce planning, staffing, financial management, internal controls, facilities operations and infrastructure.
The Office of Field and Response Operations (FARO) leads and manages operational assistance and the purchase and delivery of goods and services in response to declared foreign disasters and international humanitarian needs in key functional areas, including supply-chain management, procurement, logistics, oversight, and operational coordination with the U.S. military.
INTRODUCTION
Within USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the Office of Global Policy, Partnerships, Programs, and Communications (G3PC) shapes and influences USAID’s role within the international humanitarian system; leads engagement on a range of policy, programmatic, and operational issues; and positions the Agency to influence collective response to emergency needs across the globe. The office has seven divisions, including the Strategic Communications and Humanitarian Information Division (SCHI).
G3PC, through its SCHI Division, plays a critical role in strategic communications and humanitarian information and is responsible for providing strategic communications guidance for the Bureau, as well as managing and coordinating bureau-level external and internal communications. This includes positioning BHA as a leader in humanitarian messaging by best showcasing our high-profile disaster responses and creating a wide range of public information products in close coordination with other external communications and press offices within USAID and the broader USG interagency. This division also analyzes BHA’s communication activities, develops and implements comprehensive strategies, and creates content to increase awareness of BHA’s impact, expertise, and value added to internal and external audiences. The SCHI Division includes the Humanitarian Information Teams for Global and Africa; Outreach and Internal Communications Team; Content Development and Online Communications Team; and Press and Strategic Communications Team.
The Content Development and Online Communications Team is responsible for producing innovative and compelling content that broadly informs the public about the good work BHA does around the world and positions the Bureau as a go-to source for information. The team leads on creating stories, videos, interactive maps, social media posts, infographics, motion graphics and other content—working in coordination with BHA staff, especially members of the SCHI Division. The team also coordinates BHA’s public messaging campaigns with USAID’s Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA) and ensures that BHA’s equities are well represented in Agency-wide campaigns. In addition, the team maintains all of BHA’s webpages on usaid.gov, maintains and populates BHA’s social media platforms, and manages the Bureau’s “Cash is Best” campaign on cidi.org.
OBJECTIVE
BHA requires the services of a Washington, DC-based Digital Communications Advisor to drive BHA’s online communications and social media efforts to broadly inform the public about BHA’s lifesaving activities and position the Bureau as a go-to source for humanitarian information. The Digital Communications Advisor will also support efforts to produce innovative and compelling content for BHA’s social media and digital platforms.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Digital Communications Advisor will be responsible for overseeing and growing BHA’s online and social media equities. The Digital Communications Advisor will report to the Content Development and Online Communications Team Lead and work closely with other teams within SCHI and BHA, including the Press and Strategic Communications Team, the Humanitarian Information Teams, and BHA web support, as well as with external entities including LPA’s web team. Specific responsibilities include:
Social Media Outreach
- Working in collaboration with the Content Team Lead, lead on the management and maintenance of BHA’s social media platforms to inform the public about BHA’s lifesaving activities and or events in a timely manner.
- Populate all of BHA’s social media platforms with up-to-date content: in coordination with BHA’s Press and Strategic Communications Team write and edit social media posts; engage with BHA staff and partners to obtain new content; review social media content; and post content to relevant handles.
- Monitor BHA’s social media platforms for comments and mentions and respond in a timely manner; monitor and engage in relevant online conversations to help BHA reach new audiences.
- Track and report out on social media metrics and analyze social media trends to improve the quality of BHA’s social media content and position its social media platforms to be forward leaning; look for and advise on new engagement opportunities and messaging efforts.
- Lead on efforts to research emerging technologies and social media trends to grow BHA’s social media following and engagement. Implement new strategies in close coordination with the Content Team Lead.
- Develop and maintain a proactive content calendar that aligns and supports BHA’s priorities and communications strategy.
- Serve as the SCHI Division liaison with LPA to coordinate messages, feed into new campaigns, and ensure that BHA’s online equities are well represented on Agency platforms.
Online Communications and Website Maintenance
- Lead on the development of new web pages and online content on usaid.gov—and the reorganization or existing web pages—to better communicate BHA’s mission and impact to the public.
- Populate USAID website with BHA information and materials—including public fact sheets, situation reports, alerts, news items, graphics, and multimedia content—working in close coordination with the BHA and LPA web teams and relevant BHA staff.
- Maintain the website for the Center for International Disaster Information and create social media content to communicate the benefits of good donations.
- Review, monitor, and update online content for quality and timeliness, as well as for compliance with the agency’s information management procedures and practices.
- Create content for all BHA digital and social media platforms, including drafting blogs, stories, and social media content—sometimes on behalf of BHA staff—and posting them on various platforms. Create new public messaging campaigns that amplify the Bureau’s activities, working in close coordination with the Content Team Lead and team members.
- Identify key outreach opportunities to advance strategic BHA’s messages online or on social media. Lead on the implementation of new BHA online and social media procedures and protocols.
- Work closely with the broader SCHI Division, BHA offices, and LPA to ensure that digital communication efforts are responsive to current priorities, key messaging strategies, and evolving needs.
- Conceptualize and implement new ways to showcase BHA public information products more strategically to reach more people online.
- Help to populate BHA’s online photo database in close coordination with the Content Team Lead.
- Keep current with humanitarian and online/digital issues through relevant forums, listservs, and events.
- Serve as division point of contact to ensure that BHA’s messages are aligned across various web and social media platforms (including USAID, State Department, White House, Department of Defense, and USAID Center for International Disaster Information).
Other Duties
- Serve as a BHA representative in relevant USAID or USG meetings pertaining to content, social media, and digital communications. Initiate outreach to social media counterparts in other USG agencies or BHA partners to coordinate messaging and expand reach of BHA’s messaging.
- The Digital Communications Advisor 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.
- Mentor and assist in the development of other Content Team members and SCHI Division staff on content creation and storytelling.
- Sign up for and serve as needed on Washington-based Response Management Teams (RMTs), which provide services and support to Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will vary.
- Serve as the BHA after-hours duty officer on a rotational basis for approximately one week every six months.
- As needed, 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/Assistance Performance Assessment Review System. They prepare and review contract/assistance modifications documentation and assist the Contracting/Agreement Officer to ensure performance is compliant with the terms and conditions of the contract/agreement, the FAR, and USAID policy. AOR/CORs are responsible for all related requirements in the COR designation letter and the AOR designation letter.
- Consistently model behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to fostering a non-hostile work environment free of discrimination, bias, unfairness, exclusion, offensive behaviors, and harassment of any kind.
- Contribute to a collaborative, respectful, and professional work environment by demonstrating partnership and teamwork to accomplish team, office, and Bureau objectives.
- Participate in G3PC office-wide efforts to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, including those related to Bureau programs, partners, staffing, professional development, and other key areas.
SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:
The USPSC will take direction from and will report to the Content Development and Online Communications Team Leader, with guidance from the Division Chief or a designee of the Strategic Communications and Humanitarian Information Division.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
Supervisor sets overall objectives and resources available; the USPSC consults with the supervisor to develop deadlines, projects, and work to be done. The USPSC is responsible for planning and carrying out assignments. The USPSC is responsible for planning approaches or methodology to be used in carrying out assignments.
- PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The work is generally sedentary and does not pose undue physical demands. During deployment on DARTs (if required), and during site visits, there may be some additional physical exertion including long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain, or carrying of moderately heavy items (less than 50 pounds).
- WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is primarily performed in an office setting. During deployment on DARTs (if required), and during site visits, the work may additionally involve special safety and/or security precautions, wearing of protective equipment, and exposure to severe weather conditions.
START DATE: Immediately, once necessary clearances are obtained.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Offerors who do not meet all of the education and experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.)
High School Diploma, plus eleven (11) years of progressively responsible experience working on communications issues.
OR
Bachelor’s degree, plus seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience working on communications issues.
OR
Master’s degree, plus five (5) years of progressively responsible experience working on communications issues.
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.
SELECTION FACTORS
(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Offerors who do not meet all of the selection factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.)
- Offeror is a U.S. Citizen.
- Complete resume submitted. See cover page for resume requirements. Experience that cannot be quantified will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.
- USPSC Offeror form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete sections A through I. This form must be physically signed. Electronic signatures will not be accepted.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret 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 evaluation of writing tests will also take into consideration the quality of written responses. Aspects of written responses including, but not limited to typos, grammatical errors, spelling errors, and incomplete sentences will be factored into the evaluation process. The rating factors are as follows:
Professional Experience and Technical Knowledge (20 points):
- Experience managing and maintaining websites for a large organization.
- Experience managing various social media platforms in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience growing online audiences and increasing online engagement through monitoring social media platforms.
- Experience growing online audiences and increasing online engagements through participating in online conversations to increase an organization’s reach.
- Experience tracking social media metrics and analyzing social media trends to expand an organization’s influence and reach.
Interview Performance (35 points)
Timed Writing Test (40 points)
Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks (5 points)
Total Possible Points: 100
BASIS OF RATING: Offerors who meet the Education/Experience requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated in accordance with the Offeror Rating System. Those offerors determined to be competitively ranked may also be evaluated on interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks.
Offerors are required to address each factor of the Offeror Rating System in their resume, describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received as it pertains to each factor. Be sure to include your name and the announcement number at the top of each additional page. Failure to address the selection factors and/or Offeror Rating System factors may result in not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards.
The most qualified offerors may be interviewed and required to provide a writing sample. BHA will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for offerors being considered for the selection package.
Note: Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an offeror. BHA reserves the right to select additional offerors if vacancies become available during the future phase of the selection process.
- SUBMITTING AN OFFER
Offers must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter. Qualified individuals are required to submit:
- Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your offer, your resume must include:
(a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.
(b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work. (c) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments. Failure to identify an academic discipline will result in disqualification.
(d) U.S. Citizenship
(e) Optional: How did you hear about this opportunity? (SAM.gov, BHA Jobs, Career Fair, etc.).
Your resume must contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information must be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.
- USPSC Offeror form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete sections A through I. This form must be physically signed. Electronic signatures will not be accepted. AID 309-2 is available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.
Additional documents submitted will not be accepted.
By submitting your offer materials, you certify that all of the information on and attached to the offer is true, correct, complete, and made in good faith. You agree to allow all information on and attached to the offer to be investigated. False or fraudulent information on or attached to your offer may result in you being eliminated from consideration for this position, or being terminated after award, and may be punishable by fine or imprisonment.
To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your offer, and as the subject line in any email.
DOCUMENT SUBMITTALS
Via email: BHA.G3PCRecruitment@usaid.gov