SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720FDA20B00030
ISSUANCE DATE: March 6, 2020
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: May 5, 2020, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time (Deadline Extended)
**
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 Operations Specialist (POS) 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. 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? (beta.SAM.gov, 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 for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. 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. Supplemental document specifically addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) shown in the solicitation.**
3. 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 should 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,
/s/
Renee Newton
Contracting Officer
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. SOLICITATION NO.: 720FDA20B00030
2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 6, 2020
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: May 5, 2020, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time (Deadline Extended)
4. POINT OF CONTACT: OFDA Recruitment Team, recruiter@ofda.gov
5. POSITION TITLE: Program Operations Specialist
6. MARKET VALUE: $72,030 - $93,638 equivalent to GS-11 (includes locality pay)
The initial grade level of this position will be the equivalent of a GS-11 with the opportunity for advancement to the GS-12 equivalent after at least two years at the GS-11 level, if the individual receives a recommendation from the supervisor for advancement along with an Exceeds Fully Successful performance evaluation. Advancement to the GS-12 level is not guaranteed.**
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.
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: One (1) year, with four (4) one-year options.
8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Washington, D.C.
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 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
The Africa Division serves as the focal point for all assessment, analysis, recommendations, and implementation of OFDA’s emergency response and disaster risk reduction activities throughout Africa. The Africa Leadership and Management Team (ALMT) provides strategic direction and operational guidance to the Africa Division. The Program Operations Specialists support the ALMT, in addition to being assigned to one of two geographic focused teams, East and Central Africa or Southern and West Africa, or the Division Director. In addition to the teams they formally support, Program Operations Specialists will be expected to work together as a team to provide backstop coverage across Program Operations Specialist portfolios.
OBJECTIVE
OFDA requires the services of Program Operations Specialists to provide administrative, budgeting, writing, and organizational support to assist the ALMT in providing strategic direction, operational guidance, and administrative support to the division.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Program Operations Specialist will be hired at and serve at the GS-11 level with opportunity for advancement to the GS-12 level after at least two (2) years and a performance rating that exceeds fully successful. In order to be considered for advancement to each level, the USPSC must also meet the minimum education and experience requirements as described below. Neither advancement nor extension of the contract is guaranteed.
At the GS-11 Equivalent:
Begin training in basic program functions and backstop the program teams including functions such as
Monitor incipient disasters, international disaster response plans and efforts, and major humanitarian issues and challenges in the area of responsibility through a wide range of USG and international sources.
Review and monitor national disaster risk reduction efforts and plans in the area of responsibility in collaboration with regional team.
Maintain regular contact with OFDA field representatives and the OFDA Regional Office to maintain current triangulated understanding of existing and impending humanitarian crises in the area of responsibility.
Serve as a primary point of contact/specialist in the area of responsibility for OFDA Senior Management Team.
Develop and maintain a detailed understanding of OFDA’s program strategy and the implementation of the resulting awards.
Support regional team efforts to develop appropriate programmatic strategies for disaster responses and disaster risk reduction efforts in the area of responsibility.
Provide written and oral responses to requests for information on OFDA’s activities in the area of responsibility for a wide range of USG and public audiences to include briefing papers, memorandums talking points, formal presentations, and informal briefings.
Review and process all award documentation according to OFDA’s Grant Guidelines, USAID Automated Directives Systems (ADS), and Federal Regulation including coordinating multi-unit participation and ensuring timely award approval.
Represent OFDA in meetings with individual partners discussing programmatic priorities, objectives, progress, results, and challenges.
Attend bureau-wide coordination meetings as OFDA’s primary point of contact in the area of responsibility.
Participate in other interagency and partner-wide meetings as assigned by the Team Leader.
Obtain and retain a current Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR)/ Contracting Officer’s Representation (COR) certification.
Become certified and serve in administrative support functions for RMTs as needed such as Communications and Records Coordinator (CRC).
At the GS-12 Equivalent: (If the PSC is promoted during contract performance)
Stay current on major changes in program functions and backstop the program teams at the Disaster Operations Specialist level. Duties include the following functions in addition to those listed at the GS-11 level above
Participate actively in the development of programmatic strategies for technical sectors.
Ensure implications of policy decisions at OFDA, DCHA, USAID, and interagency levels on the portfolio are understood by OFDA Senior Management Team.
Independently manage all aspects of award management throughout the award cycle.
Recommend approaches to, write and deliver integrated priority messages in written and oral responses to requests for information on OFDA’s activities in the area of responsibility for a wide range of USG and public audiences to include: briefing papers, memorandums, talking points, fact sheets, formal presentations, and informal briefings.
Recommend to the Division Director policy and program options consistent with USG foreign policy objectives and provide effective and appropriate responses to meet the needs of the disaster victims (or potential victims).
Represent OFDA in public and private forum of USG interagency, partners, international organizations, and other stakeholders—to include mid- and senior-level managers and decision makers.
With guidance from the Division Director, participate in bureau-wide humanitarian coordination meetings.
Independently serve as OFDA’s representative in bureau and agency meetings.
Retain AOR/COR certification.
Become certified and serve in administrative support and relevant functional positions for RMTs and DARTs as needed such as CRC and Program Officer.
At all GS Levels:
● Sign-up for and serve as needed, on Washington-based RMTs, which provides services and support to DARTs deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will be varied.
● Serve as the OFDA after-hours duty officer on a rotational basis, for approximately one week every six months.
● 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 detail within the office to meet operational needs during staff shortages, not to exceed six months. Duties performed while on detail will be aligned with the Team’s existing duties and responsibilities as well as directly related to the scope of work provided.
SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:
The USPSC will take direction from and report to the assigned Division Director or Team Leader or his/her designee.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
The supervisory controls will shift throughout the contract based on the USPSC’s place in the career ladder.
At the GS-11 equivalent:
Supervisor sets overall objectives and resource available and works with the USPSC to develop deadlines, work to be done and methodology. The USPSC is responsible for carrying out assignments, and consults with the supervisor for policy interpretations.
At the GS-12 equivalent:
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.
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.)
The Program Operations Specialist will be hired at and serve at the GS-11 level with opportunity for advancement to the GS-12 level after at least two (2) years and a performance rating that exceeds fully successful. In order to be considered for advancement to each level, the USPSC must also meet the minimum education and experience requirements as described below. Neither advancement nor extension of the contract is guaranteed.
At the GS-11 Level:
Bachelor’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including, but not limited to, international relations, history, economic, human rights, economics, food policy, public health, gender studies, disaster management or a related field) plus three (3) years of progressively responsible work experience in an office setting to include administration, writing, and collaboration.
OR
Master’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including, but not limited to, international relations, history, economic, human rights, economics, food policy, public health, gender studies, disaster management or a related field) plus two (2) years of progressively responsible work experience in an office setting to include administration, writing, and collaboration.
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 below are of equal value. 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 Demonstrated experience in administrative tasks such as preparing documentation, maintaining tracking systems to monitor and update status of actions or documents, supporting staff on travel and procurements, and maintaining electronic databases and files.
QRF #2 Demonstrated ability to multitask and perform a variety of tasks and functions concurrently while maintaining attention to detail, in high stress environments, completing tasks within limited timeframes and with limited direction.
QRF #3 Demonstrated ability to communicate complex ideas, goals, policies, or regulations effectively in person and in writing through the preparation of clear and concise reports, memoranda, meeting notes, and other official documents.
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 candidates 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 candidates 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 – 15 points
Interview Performance – 40 points
Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – 15 points
Total Possible Points: 100
This vacancy is archived.