SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720FDA20B00004

ISSUANCE DATE: November 19, 2019
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: December 10, 2019, 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 U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), is seeking offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal services as a Program Officer (PO) 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:

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.
(d) U.S. Citizenship
(e) Optional: How did you hear about this opportunity? (FedBizOpps, OFDA 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.

Supplemental document specifically addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) shown in the solicitation.

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 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 must retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their offers. Your complete resume and the supplemental document addressing the QRFs must be emailed to:

OFDA Recruitment Team
E-Mail Address: recruiter@ofda.gov
Website: www.OFDAjobs.net

Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to OFDA Recruitment Team via the information provided above.

Sincerely,

Renee Newton
Contracting Officer

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

SOLICITATION NO.: 720FDA20B00004

ISSUANCE DATE: November 19, 2019

CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: December 10, 2019, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

POINT OF CONTACT: OFDA Recruitment Team, recruiter@ofda.gov

POSITION TITLE: Program Officer (PO)

MARKET VALUE: $64,490 – $83,840 equivalent to GS-12 (not eligible for locality pay)

Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value and based upon the candidate s established salary history. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One (1) year, with four (4) one-year options

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR)

There may be an initial training program in Washington, D.C. for three months, which will include formal classroom training and on-the-job training; and may include security training. After completion of Washington training, the Program Officer will be assigned to the place of performance.

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 Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is the office within USAID that is responsible for providing emergency non-food humanitarian assistance in response to international crises and disasters. OFDA is part of the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA) and is organized into six divisions.

The Africa (AFD) Response Division and the Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East (ALE) Response Division are responsible for the provision of emergency humanitarian assistance through a grants mechanism to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations including United Nations (UN) agencies and to other partners to ensure the implementation and delivery of this assistance. These divisions also oversee OFDA s non-response efforts in disaster risk reduction and resilience. AFD and ALE Response Divisions also coordinate with other organizations for the provision of relief supplies and assistance. They devise, coordinate and implement program strategies for a variety of natural and complex disaster situations. Both Divisions encompass groups of operations specialists who provide technical expert capability in assessing the quality and strategic function of disaster response and risk reduction activities. The AFD Response Division is divided into two teams: East and Central Africa (ECA), and Southern, West, and North Africa (SWAN). The ALE Response Division is divided into four teams: East Asia and the Pacific (EAP), Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia (EMCA), Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and South Asia (SA).

The Operations (OPS) Division develops and manages operations for OFDA s disaster responses by readying people and systems; projecting U.S. Government (USG) humanitarian capacity quickly into the field; and delivering material and technical assistance. The OPS Division maintains readiness to respond to emergencies through several mechanisms, including managing Urban Search and Rescue Teams, coordinating, staffing, training, and equipping Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs), and Washington-based Response Management Teams (RMTs), and stockpiling emergency relief commodities in key locations around the globe to ensure OFDA s capacity to execute and coordinate USG humanitarian assistance and response to natural disasters and complex emergencies. The OPS Division provides technical guidance and expertise in Disaster Logistics, Urban Search and Rescue, Operations Center management, activation/readiness, Civil-Military Liaison, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive Consequence Management. It also provides overseas support to OFDA offices and personnel and to other sectors necessary to ensure OFDA s capacity to execute and coordinate USG humanitarian assistance and response to natural disasters and complex emergencies. The OPS Division is divided into four teams: the Disaster Assistance Support Program (DASP), Military Liaison Team (MLT), Operations Support Team (OST), and Overseas Administration Team (OAT).

The Program Support (PS) Division provides operational management support, including general administration, budget and financial services, procurement planning, information technology, human resources management including staff care, and contract and grant administration support to OFDA. The PS Division supports OFDA’s mandate by providing innovative solutions in the areas of Information Technology, staffing, funds control, budgeting, human resource management, and procurement to facilitate timely disaster responses. The PS Division is divided into four teams: the Award, Audit, and Risk Management (AARM) Team, Human Resources Management (HRM) Team, Budget, Finance, and Information Technology (BFIT) Team, and the Acquisition and Management (ACQ) Team.

The Preparation, Strategic Planning and Mitigation (PSPM) Division is responsible for the technical oversight of all OFDA response and mitigation programs, as well as preparation for response, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction activities. The PSPM Division houses technical experts in all sectors potentially affected by disasters, and leads the Agency in developing and promoting best practices for programming in these specific sectors. In addition, PSPM will be the focal point for technological innovations for humanitarian assistance in areas such as monitoring and evaluation, assessment, and information management. The PSPM Division is divided into four teams: Cross-Cutting Sectors Team, Natural Hazards Team, Health Team, and the Food Security and Livelihoods Team.
The Humanitarian Policy and Global Engagement (HPGE) Division assists the DCHA front office, the OFDA Director and OFDA Deputy Director with tracking trends and policy developments in the humanitarian assistance field. It engages in policy dialogue with other parts of USAID, the USG interagency, other donors, multilateral agencies, and NGO partners; recommends strategies for action to DCHA; initiates development of policy and internal guidance for OFDA; maintains global relationships with implementing partners, other donors, and the broader humanitarian architecture; and engages with the UN to advance USG humanitarian policy objectives and promote humanitarian principles within the USG and internationally. The HPGE Division leads OFDA’s communications and social media outreach to effectively communicate OFDA s story to a variety of strategic audiences. It serves as the office s primary interlocutor on strategic issues with other federal partners to provide guidance to OFDA on policy issues pertaining to the interagency, and to improve USG humanitarian coordination and response during large-scale crises. The HPGE Division staff manages global programs, policy and outreach, strategic communications, and interagency training and engagement. HPGE is divided into seven teams: Policy Team, Global Programs Team, Strategic Interagency Team, Strategic Communications Team, Global Capacity and Leadership Development Team, Public-Private Engagement Team, and the United States Mission to the UN (USUN) in New York, Geneva, and Rome.
INTRODUCTION

OFDA is responsible for coordinating the USG s humanitarian response to the complex emergency in the Central African Republic (CAR), establishing programs to meet clearly defined humanitarian needs, and for overseeing OFDA s current and future humanitarian assistance programming. OFDA maintains a regional office in CAR headed by the Senior Humanitarian Advisor (SHA), who oversees staff, programs, and operations for OFDA in-country.

The Program Officer (PO) in Bangui, CAR will monitor OFDA-funded programs, liaise with IOs and with the NGO community, provide assessments when appropriate, and make program recommendations. The team in CAR is working to allocate USG humanitarian assistance funding to support humanitarian programs. The PO will work with implementing partners to ensure that programming meets strategic objectives and to shepherd programs through the approval process. This position reports directly to the OFDA SHA in Bangui, CAR.

OBJECTIVE

OFDA requires the services of a PO for CAR to coordinate disaster response activities and carry out its lead role in facilitating and coordinating USG emergency assistance overseas.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Working under the guidance and supervision of the SHA, the PO will support OFDA s program office in CAR with full time in-country coordination and management of OFDA programming for humanitarian emergency and disaster risk reduction activities throughout CAR. The PO may assist in humanitarian assistance activities elsewhere in the region as needed. The PO will work in close collaboration with a program team that may include Senior Regional Advisors, SHAs, Senior Program Officers, POs, Field Monitors, Team Leaders, Deputy Team Leaders, Disaster Operations Advisors and Specialists, and /or Program Assistants.

This position requires substantial coordination with representatives from other USAID offices, the U.S. Embassy, other USG agencies, the Government of CAR, U.S. military representatives, as well as with relevant donor representatives and UN and NGOs, therefore requiring a highly collaborative work style. The PO must be prepared to function effectively in a challenging and restrictive work environment and be willing to strictly adhere to U.S. Embassy security guidelines.

The Program Officer s responsibilities will include the following:

Contextual Specialty
Develop and maintain specialized understanding of humanitarian developments within CAR to include political, social, and operational issues impacting humanitarian efforts.
Develop and maintain knowledge of USAID and USG humanitarian priorities and strategies within CAR and USAID s/OFDA s contributions and comparative advantages of those efforts.
Provide regular reporting, through official cables and other means, on issues related to the humanitarian situation in CAR. Provide overviews of patterns and trends in the humanitarian situation and keep the SHA and other program staff current on response issues. Provide regular reports on site visits, meetings, general atmospherics and other issues that impact humanitarian relief efforts.
Prepare briefing papers, notes and presentations on OFDA programming for official USG visitors interested in humanitarian issues.

Portfolio Management
Develop and maintain a detailed working knowledge of OFDA s humanitarian portfolio in CAR.
Work with OFDA s program staff based in Washington, D.C., the regional office in Nairobi, Kenya, and in CAR in the development of OFDA s programming for response and disaster risk reduction activities in CAR, ensure complementarity between the two strategies, and oversee implementation of each.
Support team efforts to continually assess emergency response and disaster risk reduction needs in CAR in order to ensure that OFDA s programs are appropriately responsive.
In close coordination with the SHA and Disaster Operations Specialist, work with NGOs, IOs, and UN agencies that are developing proposals for OFDA (including grant amendments and extensions). Ensure that draft proposals are in compliance with OFDA s Guidelines for Unsolicited Proposals and Reporting. Review concept papers and proposals, and provide recommendations/comments to OFDA for final funding determination.
Assist headquarters based Agreement Officer s Representatives in managing humanitarian awards by providing field-based insights, knowledge, and perspectives.
Travel as permitted to support team efforts to assess, evaluate and monitor humanitarian conditions in CAR, and make strategic recommendations for appropriate interventions.

Representation
Support the SHA in maintaining relations with the humanitarian community in CAR in representing USAID and OFDA on humanitarian issues. This will include but is not limited to UN agencies, IOs, NGOs, USG personnel, donors, host government authorities, and others.
Participate in and report on joint donor humanitarian evaluations and UN-led assessments, and participate actively in the international community response structures.
With guidance from the SHA, coordinate with the donor community on policy issues affecting humanitarian operations, and develop integrated, non-duplicative programs.
Maintain regular contact with OFDA grantees, as well as other UN agencies, IOs, and NGOs. As requested by the SHA, meet regularly with donors, host government officials, USG agencies, and others on humanitarian issues in order to explain, advocate for, and advance OFDA s priorities and to help coordinate USG and international humanitarian activities.

Leadership
Serve as peer mentor to team members on grants management and portfolio management, to include OFDA s business process, portfolio-specific budget and workload management, and post-award monitoring and management.
Participate, as assigned, in office-wide discussions on initiatives that impact program implementation to provide field-based perspectives.

General Duties
Serve in program positions on response teams, assessment teams, or to provide coverage for field offices within and outside the region, which may deploy on short notice for up to 90 days.
Serve in program positions on Washington-based RMTs for up to 45 days.
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 across the office, not to exceed six months. Duties performed while on detail will be directly related to the receiving Team s existing duties and responsibilities and based on a clearly defined scope of work.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:
The USPSC will report to the SHA in Bangui, CAR and maintain close coordination with the program team in Washington, D.C.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
Supervisor sets overall objectives and resource available. The USPSC consults with 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 approach 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.

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 with significant study in, or pertinent to, the specialized field (including international relations, political science, economics, food policy, or a related field), and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience working in emergency relief and humanitarian assistance, which must include at least one (1) year of on-the-ground international field experience working in humanitarian assistance. This experience must include one or more of the following: needs assessment, analysis, emergency relief program operations, or post-emergency rehabilitation aid.

OR

Master s degree with significant study in, or pertinent to, the specialized field (including international relations, political science, economics, food policy, or a related field), and four (4) years of progressively responsible experience working in emergency relief and humanitarian assistance, which must include at least one (1) year of on-the-ground international field experience working in humanitarian assistance. This experience must include one or more of the following: needs assessment, analysis, emergency relief program operations, or post-emergency rehabilitation aid.

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.
Supplemental document specifically addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) submitted.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance as provided by USAID.
Ability to obtain a Department of State medical clearance.
Must not appear as an excluded party in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).
Satisfactory verification of academic credentials.

QUALITY RANKING FACTORS (QRFs)
(Used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified offerors in comparison to other offerors. The factors are listed in priority order from highest to least. The evaluation of QRF responses 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.)

QRF #1 Describe your experience in working on overseas disasters, developing country strategies, and integrating disaster response, rehabilitation, and preparedness activities.

QRF #2 Describe your experience in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating USG grants, cooperative agreements, proposals, and contracts. Demonstrate your knowledge of USG regulations as they relate to the above award stages.

QRF #3 Describe your knowledge of and experience in coordinating relief, transition, or disaster risk reduction activities with host country governments, USG agencies (such as the State Department and Department of Defense), the UN and other international organizations, or non-governmental organizations involved in humanitarian response.

QRF #4 Outline your unique experience and qualifications to serve as a Program Officer for USG humanitarian programs in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, juggling multiple priorities and tasks.

BASIS OF RATING: Offerors who meet the Education/Experience requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated based on scoring of the QRF responses. 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 of the QRFs in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, and/or education 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 Quality Ranking Factors may result in not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, and/or training.

The most qualified offerors may be interviewed and required to provide a writing sample. OFDA will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for offerors being considered for selection. Note: Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an offeror. OFDA reserves the right to select additional offerors if vacancies become available during future phase of the selection process.

The Offeror Rating System is as Follows:
QRFs have been assigned the following points:
QRF #1 15 points
QRF #2 15 points
QRF #3 10 points
QRF #4 10 points

Interview Performance (30 points)

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks (20 points)

Total Possible Points: 100

How to apply:

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:

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.
(d) U.S. Citizenship
(e) Optional: How did you hear about this opportunity? (FedBizOpps, OFDA 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.

Supplemental document specifically addressing the QRFs shown in the solicitation.

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: recruiter@ofda.gov