SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA23R00022
ISSUANCE DATE: May 3, 2023
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: June 2, 2023 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

I. GENERAL INFORMATION 

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 720BHA23R00022

2. ISSUANCE DATE: May 3, 2023

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: June 2, 2023 at 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

4. POINT OF CONTACT: TPQ Recruitment Team, BHA.TPQRecruitment@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Gender, Age, and Social Inclusion (GASI) Advisor (Multiple Positions)

6. 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, without 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.

Offerors selected at the GS-13 may have an opportunity for advancement to the GS-14 equivalent after at least two years at the GS-13 level, if the individual receives a recommendation from the supervisor for advancement along with an Exceeds Fully Successful performance evaluation. Advancement to the GS-14 level is not guaranteed.

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: Remote

This position has been designated as suitable for remote work. The contractor will be authorized to perform the services under this contract from an alternative worksite. For PSCs authorized to remote work, the alternative worksite determines the locality pay for compensation purposes.

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 Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) requires the services of a Gender, Age, and Social Inclusion (GASI) Advisor based in the GASI Team to elevate and integrate the diverse needs and priorities of women, youth, persons with disabilities, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer,

and Intersex (LGBTQI+) persons, older adults, and marginalized populations throughout BHA’s responses, policies, and the programs it funds. The GASI Advisor will provide expert technical guidance on the range of interventions in BHA’s emergency and development programming to ensure that the interplay of gender, age, disability, sexuality, and other social dynamics are considered in design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of BHA’s programs. They will also ensure that women, youth, persons with disabilities, LGBTQI+ persons, older adults, and marginalized populations are intentionally engaged in the interventions.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED 

At the GS-13 equivalent level 

● Serve as an expert source of information, analysis, and technical recommendations regarding gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion issues for BHA.

● Serve as a point of contact on LGBQTI+ inclusion, disability inclusion, or youth engagement in humanitarian responses.

● Help coordinate with BHA policy and regional teams on development and implementation of clear and articulate policies, positions, and communications materials on gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion issues for BHA and USAID in general.

● Coordinate with BHA colleagues to develop internal gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion policies, strategies, and program standards.

● Articulate relevant gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion policies to personnel within BHA, USAID, and to other USG agencies, donors, and implementing partners by participating in conferences, speaking engagements, global cluster meetings, and field visits.

● Deliver portions of the Humanitarian Protection and Community Capacities training. ● Contribute to the periodic revision of the training curriculum.

● As needed and within USAID guidelines, travel to monitor the program portfolio, to participate in strategy development, and to assist in office coverage.

At the GS-14 equivalent level (If the PSC is promoted during contract performance).

● Serve as a leader of gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion issues for BHA. Provide expert technical recommendations on all issues related to gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion.

● Provide expert guidance for BHA on new and cutting-edge methodologies and coordinate team engagement on gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion across BHA’s programming mandate - in humanitarian crises through development contexts.

● Serve as a senior, expert source of information on and analysis of gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion issues as they relate to humanitarian and transition planning and programming for BHA.

● Provide technical advice for country portfolios, regional portfolios, global initiatives, or for specific awards on gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion issues.

● Advise regional teams and BHA partners on appropriate strategies and activities to ensure gender, empowerment, and inclusion principles and best practices are elevated and mainstreamed in emergency response, early recovery, and disaster risk reduction programming (including integration of positive youth development, age, sexuality, and disability considerations).

● Support assessment and monitoring of activities through technical data review, the development of monitoring tools, field visits, and communication with field staff and implementing partners.

● Lead the development of new systems, guidelines, tools, and staff resources to frame the design and implementation of programming in regard to gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion.

● Coordinate with other Protection and Community Capacities Division teams, the Office of Technical and Program Quality (TPQ), and the Office of Global Policy, Partnerships, and Programs, and Communications on the development and implementation of clear and concise policies, positions, and communications materials on gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion issues for BHA and USAID in general.

● Represent BHA on gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion issues in meetings, events and convenings organized by UN bodies, NGOs, Congress, implementing partners, other parts of the USG, and the media.

All GS Equivalent Levels: 

● Consistently model behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to fostering 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, or focus group discussions.

● Increase the capacity of BHA staff to understand gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion principles and best practices, other cross cutting issues, and appropriate inclusive interventions through contributing to the BHA Humanitarian Protection and Community Capacities training.

● Prepare TPQ senior management and BHA senior leadership, when necessary, to speak on gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion issues before UN bodies, NGOs, Congress, implementing partners, other parts of the USG, and the media.

● Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with UN agencies, NGOs, coordination bodies, and relevant USG offices.

● Represent BHA at donor and coordination meetings covering a broad range of humanitarian gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion issues.

● Coordinate with the various USAID bureaus, including the Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization, and the future Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation and State Department’s Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration on humanitarian gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion issues

● Respond to relevant congressional and public inquiries and speak to various visiting groups about gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, and social inclusion considerations among disaster affected populations.

● 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 Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will vary.

● 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 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.

● 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.

● Model behaviors of an effective team member such as enthusiasm, motivation, organization, diplomacy, and stress management.

● The GASI 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.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP: 

The USPSC will take direction from and will report to the GASI Team Lead or their designee. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

At the GS-13 equivalent level 

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.

At the GS-14 equivalent level

Supervisor provides administrative directions in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. The USPSC independently plans, designs and carries out programs, projects, studies or other work. Results are considered authoritative and are normally accepted without significant change.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Qualifications

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION 

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION 

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

At the GS-13 equivalent level 

High School Diploma and at least eleven (11) years of experience in humanitarian assistance or international development. Experience must include at least two (2) years of experience directly related to gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, or social inclusion AND at least two (2) years of field-based experience overseas in international humanitarian assistance.

OR

Bachelor’s degree in social services, international relations, human rights, humanitarian affairs, public health, gender studies, disaster management, or a related field plus a minimum of seven (7) years of experience in humanitarian assistance or international development. Experience must include at least two (2) years of experience directly related to gender, age, disability, or social inclusion AND at least two (2) years of field-based experience overseas in international humanitarian assistance.

OR 

Master’s degree in social services, international relations, human rights, humanitarian affairs, public health, gender studies, disaster management, or a related field plus a minimum of five (5) years of experience in humanitarian assistance or international development. Experience must include at least two (2) years of experience directly related to gender, age, disability, or social inclusion AND at least two (2) years of field-based experience overseas in international humanitarian assistance.

At the GS-14 equivalent level 

High School Diploma and at least thirteen (13) years of experience in humanitarian assistance or international development. Experience must include at least two (2) years of experience directly related to gender, age, disability, LGBTQI+, or social inclusion AND at least two (2) years of field-based experience overseas in international humanitarian assistance.

OR 

Bachelor’s degree in social services, international relations, human rights, humanitarian affairs, public health, gender studies, disaster management, or a related field plus a minimum of nine (9) years of experience in humanitarian assistance or international development. Experience must include at least three (3) years of experience directly related to gender, age, disability, or social inclusion AND at least three (3) years of field-based experience overseas in international humanitarian assistance.

OR 

Master’s degree in social services, international relations, human rights, humanitarian affairs, public health, gender studies, disaster management, or a related field plus a minimum of seven (7) years of experience in humanitarian assistance or international development. Experience must include at least three (3) years of experience directly related to gender, age, disability, or social inclusion AND at least three (3) years of field-based experience overseas in international humanitarian assistance.