SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA22R00029

ISSUANCE DATE: June 08, 2022, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time CLOSING DATE AND TIME: July 06, 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 Field and Response Operations (FARO) is seeking offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal service as a Support Relief Group (SRG) Senior Assessment and Analytics (A&A) Advisor under a 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:
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. Dates (month/year) and locations for all field experience must also be detailed. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.

(b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.
(c) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments. Failure to identify an academic discipline will result in disqualification.
(d) U.S. Citizenship
(e) Optional: How did you hear about this opportunity? (SAM.gov, BHA Jobs, Career Fair, etc.).
Your resume must contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information must be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.
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.

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 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/fsd-gov/answer.do?sysparm_kbid=d2e67885db0d5f00b3257d321f96194b& sysparm_search=kb0013183
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:
FARO Recruitment Team
E-Mail Address: BHA.FARORecruitment@usaid.gov Website: www.BHAjobs.net
Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to the FARO Recruitment Team via the information provided above.

Sincerely,

Digitally signed by Sonja Stroud- Gooden
Date: 2022.06.02
16:45:55 -04'00'
Sonja Stroud-Gooden Contracting Officer

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 720BHA22R00029

2. ISSUANCE DATE: June 08, 2022

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: July 06, 2022 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

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

5. POSITION TITLE: Support Relief Group (SRG) Senior Assessment and Analytics (A&A) Advisor.

6. MARKET VALUE: $95,973 - $124,764 equivalent to GS-14 (not eligible for locality pay)

Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five (5) years

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.

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Worldwide

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance as provided by USAID.

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

The Support Relief Group (SRG) is a program developed by BHA to satisfy its growing need for surge capacity. In response to numerous disasters worldwide, it became clear that BHA could not find, in a timely manner, adequate staff to cover all positions in the field and in Washington, and to backfill for permanent staff deploying to the field. The SRG program brings on board select candidates who could work on a part-time intermittent basis, for no more than 250 days per calendar year, and who can be deployed within hours to facilitate BHA’s response to disasters, or to backfill staff in Washington and other locations. SRG positions are contracted for five years.

The activation of the SRG Senior Assessment and Analytics (A&A) Advisor will be coordinated with BHA/TPQ. The SRG A&A Advisor provides integral support to the Disaster Data Assessments and Information Management (DDAIM) Team in TPQ. DDAIM assists with information and data related to early warning, early response, and risk analysis, supporting BHA with contextual analytics, assessment, technology, and information management for improved humanitarian coordination and informed, evidence based, decision making. Working across response, early recovery, and risk reduction portfolios, the Team supports digital transformation efforts within BHA and within the broader humanitarian architecture. The Team’s technical leadership and guidance supports BHA’s combined efforts to deliver targeted, timely, and appropriate humanitarian assistance to disaster-affected populations. The Team works towards this goal by providing stakeholders with situational awareness visualizations, response decision support, and data-related capacity building for disaster-affected contexts. Engaging with the broader humanitarian community, the Team supports programs and policies that strengthen the humanitarian data ecosystem for disaster response, improve coordination, and deliver useful real- time data and analysis to responses worldwide.

The Support Relief Group (SRG) is a program developed by BHA to satisfy its growing need for surge capacity. The primary roles of SRG contactors include intermittent backfill for permanent staff overseas, covering vacancies domestically, and responding to numerous disasters worldwide in a timely manner. Currently, about half of all SRG activations are domestic and half are overseas in various capacities.

The SRG program brings on board select candidates who work for discrete periods, on an intermittent basis for no more than 250 days per calendar year, and can be deployed within hours to facilitate BHA’s response to disasters, or to backfill staff in Washington and other locations. SRG staff can be used for as little as a day or up to several months at a time. SRG positions are contracted for an initial period of one year with the option to extend up to five years.

The SRG program is managed by the Surge Staffing Team in the Response Resources Division. This team maintains information for all SRG personnel, providing information to the rest of BHA on their availability, skills and previous BHA experience. Surge Staffing Team assists the program offices within BHA in choosing the best qualified SRG for any specific task, and provides administrative and personnel support to existing SRG. Each SRG incumbent will provide enhancement to the BHA team according to his/her skills. They will be considered part of BHA/Washington resources that can be deployed worldwide.

OBJECTIVE

BHA requires the services of a SRG Senior A&A Advisor in order to meet its objectives to improve the quality of humanitarian response strategies through the use of accurate assessment, data, and analytics in its responses to humanitarian crises worldwide.

BHA seeks an experienced professional who is motivated to help BHA significantly change and improve the way in which it uses assessment, data, and analytics in its responses. The SRG Senior A&A Advisor must have a vision for assessment, data, and analytics in the humanitarian field and must be driven to try to achieve organization-wide improvements through consistent guidance, capacity building, and direct response support.

The DDAIM Team seeks a highly qualified professional with significant experience implementing humanitarian, transition, or development programs. The ideal candidate will be a highly effective team member; technically highly qualified; motivated, organized, and diplomatic; and able to manage stress well.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Coordination & Strategy Development
● Working closely with the DDAIM Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader, coordinate assigned strategic processes to allow the DDAIM Team and BHA to continue to integrate data and evidence into decision making, adopt modern digital practices, and support the digital transformation of the humanitarian community.
● Facilitate DDAIM’s support to BHA’s work on a digital action plan.

● Lead deep dive research, policy and strategy work on assigned subject areas.
● Draft work plans; oversee their implementation.
● Lead DDAIM engagement with assigned partners.
● Provide technical oversight of staff deliverables for assigned areas of responsibility.
● Coordinate closely with the other sectors within TPQ to contribute to the work of the Office.

Expert Technical Guidance and Assistance
● Support the strategic introduction of assessment, data, and analytics into BHA’s response systems, policies, practices, and culture.
● Serve as an expert source of information on and technical guidance related to assessment, data, and analytics for BHA.
● Work with regional teams to develop and implement appropriate and comprehensive assessment, data, and analytics strategies, tailored to their regional context and assessment and data needs.
● Provide technical feedback to BHA partners on the quality, relevance, and effectiveness of the assessment, data, and analytics aspects of their programs.
● Provide assessment, data, and analytics technical guidance for country portfolios, regional portfolios, global initiatives, or for specific awards.
● Advise regional teams and BHA partners on appropriate strategies and activities to ensure assessment, data, and analytics principles and best practices are mainstreamed in emergency response, early recovery, and disaster risk reduction programming.
● Review and encourage inclusion of assessment, data, and analytics best practices in response strategies, project designs, and implementation plans, and other BHA documents.
● Provide technical feedback on assessment, data, and analytics aspects of grant proposals submitted to BHA.
● Travel to the field, sometimes at short notice and for extended periods of time, to advise regional teams on assessment, data, and analytics issues.

Policy & Capacity Building
● Working with the Team Leader, contribute to the design of BHA assessments and data policy and guidance.
● Working closely with the Team Leader, oversee the introduction and implementation of BHA assessment and data policy to all teams within BHA.
● Lead the creation of templates, guides, job aides, and check lists to assist BHA staff and partners in adopting a new way of working with assessments and data.
● Track the implementation of the new policy and guidance to ensure that BHA has integrated it into the way in which the Bureau responds to disasters overseas.
● Increase the capacity of BHA staff to understand assessment, data, and analytics principles and best practices through leading the development and implementing of a BHA assessment, data, and analytics training.
● Deliver portions of the assessment & analytics training.
● Contribute to the periodic revision of the training curriculum.

Award Management
● For assigned portfolios and in collaboration with program colleagues, manage all aspects of award management throughout the award cycle.
● Participate in budgeting and planning processes for TPQ actions.

General
● May 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.
● May serve on DARTs which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment overseas for an extended period of time.
● 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 (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.
● 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.
● Actively participate in diversity and harassment training opportunities, brown bag sessions or focus group discussions, and workforce diversity initiatives/activities focused on helping to improve the organizational culture.
● Demonstrate consistent accountability for adherence to and knowledge of laws, executive orders, and USAID’s policies which prohibit Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and non-EEO infringements as well as the Agency’s zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, including harassment, exploitation and abuse of any kind. Understand reporting criteria and report up in a timely manner.
● Ensure that conduct is not inappropriate or offensive to others by responsibly and intentionally creating a culture of civility and respect whereby both managers and employees are expected to behave professionally at all times.
● Hold self and others accountable for adhering to a zero tolerance policy for harassment of any form, bullying or any other prohibited behaviors and report objectionable conduct.
● Assists staff in understanding the value of differing perspectives, cultural norms and gender in the work environment.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:
The USPSC will take direction from and will report to the FARO/Response Resources Division Director or his/her designee. When activated, the SRG A&A Advisor will be a part of TPQ’s DDAIM Team, receiving day to day guidance and onsite management from the DDAIM Team.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
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 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.)
Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of nine (9) years of experience of work with a humanitarian, development, or transition focus. Of which experience must meet the following requirements:
● Applicants must have at least one (1) year of professional field experience outside the United States on humanitarian, development, or transition programs.
● Applicants must have at least one (1) year of experience designing, managing, advising, or evaluating a humanitarian program.
● Applicants must have at least two (2) years of experience directly related to assessment, analytics, or data.
OR
Master’s degree plus a minimum of seven (7) years of experience of work with a humanitarian, development, or transition focus. Of which experience must meet the following requirements:
● Applicants must have at least one (1) year of professional field experience outside the United States on humanitarian, development, or transition programs.
● Applicants must have at least one (1) year of experience designing, managing, advising, or evaluating a humanitarian program.

● Applicants must have at least two (2) years of experience directly related to assessment, analytics, or data.

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:

Matrix (30 points)

Professional Experience (10 points)
● Experience providing technical expertise on issues related to humanitarian needs assessment or data and analytics or technology to stakeholders.
● Experience designing or implementing either of the following: data or information management solutions.
● Experience designing and implementing humanitarian needs assessments.

Skills and Abilities (10 points)
● Experience designing and delivering training related to humanitarian needs assessments or data and analytics for a workplace audience.
● Experience using a client focused service delivery model to deliver value to an organization.
● Experience facilitating discussions with multiple stakeholders.

Representational/Leading Teams Experience (10 points)
● Experience leading teams or coordinating the work of others.
● Experience coordinating work across stakeholders with diverse nationalities or cultural backgrounds.
● Interpersonal and representational skills suited for engagement with senior stakeholders such as senior US Government stakeholders.

Interview Performance (40 points) Timed Writing Test (20 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 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 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. Dates (month/year) and locations for all field experience must also be detailed. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.
(b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.
(c) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments. Failure to identify an academic discipline will result in disqualification.
(d) U.S. Citizenship
(e) Optional: How did you hear about this opportunity? (SAM.gov, BHA Jobs, Career Fair, etc.).
Your resume must contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information must be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.
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 number on your offer, and as the subject line in any email.
DOCUMENT SUBMITTALS
Via email: BHA.FARORecruitment@usaid.gov