USPSC Strategic Communications Advisor

USPSC Strategic Communications Advisor

USPSC Strategic Communications Advisor

USPSC Strategic Communications Advisor

Published
September 26, 2022
Location
Washington, D.C.
Position type
Experience (minimum)
5-10 Years
Education (minimum)
High School
Travel required?
None
Base salary (minimum)
Not specified

Description

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA22R00054

ISSUANCE DATE: September 26, 2022
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: October 31, 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, Programs, and Communication (G3PC) is seeking offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal service as a Strategic Communications Advisor (SCA) under a United States Personal Services Contract (USPSC), as described in the solicitation.

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.
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:
1. 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.

2. 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 UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER (UEI) NUMBER AND THE SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT

All USPSCs with a place of performance in the United States are required to have a Unique Entity
Identifier (UEI) 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.

All new SAM.gov entity registrations require a signed notarized letter identifying the authorized
Entity administrator for the entity associated with the UEI 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/gsafsd_sp

 

Instructions to obtain a UEI can be found via the SAM.gov link.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 720BHA22R00054

2. ISSUANCE DATE: September 26, 2022

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: October 31, 2022, 12:00, P.M.
Eastern Time

4. POINT OF CONTACT: G3PC Recruitment Team, BHA.G3PCRecruitment@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Strategic Communications Advisor

6. 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.
7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five (5) years

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Washington
Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed for U.S.-based positions.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens

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 Top Secret/Sensitive
Compartmented Information level clearance after award)

11. 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 with 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. It 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.

OBJECTIVE

The SCHI Division requires the services of a Strategic Communications Advisor(s) in order to meet
its objectives of external outreach and internal communications; coordinating with other parts of
the USG on media and messaging issues related to BHA’s humanitarian activities; and to produce
innovative and compelling content and social media posts that broadly inform the public about BHA’s activities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific responsibilities of the Strategic Communications Advisor will include:

External Communications

● Develop and implement communications plans and campaigns that reflect changing messaging
priorities and highlight BHA’s impact, expertise, and value. Identify key outreach opportunities to
advance strategic BHA messages. Feed in appropriate BHA messaging and content for relevant USAID
agency-wide campaigns.
● Identify and develop strategic messages for BHA’s overall work and individual responses and
ensure these are incorporated into communications materials and projects produced by the division.

● Facilitate coordinated, timely, and targeted creative content and online communications support
to BHA staff and geographic offices during disaster responses and emergencies that communicate
BHA’s impact, expertise, and value to external audiences.
● Develop and execute new ways to communicate BHA’s investments in risk reduction and
resilience, which save lives by preventing or reducing the impacts of shocks.
● Conceptualize and develop external messaging products that best showcase BHA’s work,
including blogs, success stories, graphics, videos, and other multi-media content.
● Liaise with BHA partners to obtain strong content on how BHA’s programs are making a difference on the ground and use materials for strategic public messaging on BHA’s life- saving efforts.
● Draft social media posts for BHA’s Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram accounts.
Monitor and engage in relevant online conversations to help BHA reach new audiences.
● Monitor and analyze social media trends to advise on keeping BHA’s social media platforms in
line with current trends. Look for new engagement opportunities and messaging methods.
● 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 USAID’s Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA) web teams and relevant BHA staff.
● Support high-level BHA participation in events through strategic messaging,
speechwriting, development of communications collateral, and coordination with organizers and
co-participant(s).
● Provide communications support for and/or lead BHA-wide or office-level external outreach
efforts.
● Serve as a branding and marking champion for BHA and technical point of contact for
implementation of Agency branding efforts

Internal Communications

● Provide strategic guidance to BHA teams on effective internal communications strategies and
tactics to reach BHA colleagues.
● Provide internal communications support to BHA leadership, including writing internal event
remarks, drafting internal email communications to staff, and providing support for internal BHA
leadership events.
● Share guidance on the most current and effective communication methods and techniques, to
effectively convey or tailor messages in a clear, concise manner, avoiding jargon and technical
language. Provide guidance to BHA staff on effective writing techniques and the effective use of
graphics in reports, technical articles, and other written products.
● Support internal communications training and information sessions for BHA staff, on topics such
as public speaking, effective presentations, plain language, 508 compliances (information and
services are accessible to persons with disabilities), and branding.

Emergency and Regional Response

● During BHA disaster responses, in coordination with other SCHI teams, provide communications
guidance and support to BHA staff and regional teams, generate talking points and press releases,
field media requests, and engage in proactive press outreach.
● Work closely with LPA to pitch BHA stories to the media, in coordination with relevant BHA
staff. Draft talking points for interviews and prepare BHA staff or other USAID principles for
media Q&A.
● Coordinate closely with LPA, USAID regional bureaus, and other USG entities to ensure that BHA’s activities and messages are clearly communicated to the public and other key stakeholders.
● Analyze communications-related strategies and recommend solutions during crisis communications situations.
● Travel to disaster locations and programmatic sites, as needed, to take photos or shoot video
footage of BHA activities for hands-on creation of multimedia content. Work on location with
contracted videographers and photographers, as needed, to support the development of creative
content highlighting BHA’s efforts and partner activities.
● Keep up to date on current events and humanitarian matters, especially those pertaining to
ongoing BHA responses.

Other duties
● 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 (CPARS/APARS). 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.
● 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 be varied.
● As needed, serve on DARTs, which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment overseas for an extended period of time.
● As needed, may serve on temporary details within the bureau. Duties performed while on detail
will be aligned with the Team’s existing duties and responsibilities as well as directly related to
the statement of duties provided.
● 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.
● The Strategic 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.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP

The USPSC will take direction from and will report to a SCHI Division Team Leader 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.

12. 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).

13. 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.

14. START DATE: Immediately, once necessary clearances are obtained.

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.)
High School Diploma, plus nine (9) 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.

AND

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 level 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
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 (25 points)

● Experience working in a fast-paced, high-profile complex emergency. (2 points)
● Experience supporting an organization through a communications crisis or a breaking news event.
(3 points)
● Experience developing communications products in various media formats (4 points), targeting a
variety of audiences (1 point)
● Experience preparing high-level principals for interviews or providing messaging guidance to
high-level principals (3 points)
● Experience writing speeches for external engagements (2 points)
● Experience managing various social media platforms (5 points)
● Experience developing and implementing external communications guidance (2 points)
● Experience developing and implementing internal communications guidance (3 points)

 

Each candidate selected for the interview will also be asked to participate in a written exercise
to demonstrate their technical skills in preparing strategic communication materials. This test
will be conducted after the oral interview.

Ranking Factors Total: 25 Points Interview: 30 Points
Written Exercise: 40 Points References: 5 Points
TOTAL: 100 points
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.

IV. 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:
1. 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.
2. 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
numberon your offer, and as the subject line in any email.

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