Back USPSC Humanitarian Information Officer

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA23R00028

ISSUANCE DATE: May 3, 2023
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: February 9, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC)

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation.

Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1 of this solicitation. Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records.

USAID will evaluate all offerors based on stated evaluation criteria. USAID encourages all individuals, including those from disadvantaged and under-represented groups, to respond to the solicitation.

This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the offer.

Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in Attachment 1.

Sincerely,

Ousay Wahaj,
Supervisory Contracting Officer Office of Acquisition & Assistance M/OAA/BHA-CPS/PSC
U.S. Agency for International Development 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC
www.usaid.gov

ATTACHMENT 1

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 720BHA23R00028

2. ISSUANCE DATE: May 3, 2023

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: February 9, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

This solicitation is open and continuous until February 9, 2024. The following are the closing
dates for each review period:

September 5, 2023, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time
December 4, 2023, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time
February 9, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

Offerors not selected during a previous review period must reapply in order to be considered for positions available in subsequent review periods. A review period may be canceled at the Contracting Officer’s discretion.

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

5. POSITION TITLE: Humanitarian Information Officer (Multiple Positions)

6. MARKET VALUE: $112,015.00 - $145,617.00 equivalent to GS-13, includes Locality Pay

Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value and will include Locality Pay for domestic USPSCs based on the location of the Official USAID Worksite, or the approved alternative worksite if approved for remote work. USPSCs performing overseas are not entitled to Locality Pay.

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

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

8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five (5) years, tentatively 145 day estimated start date from closing.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens Only

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret
If there is a change in circumstances requiring access to National Security information classified at the Top-Secret level, the offeror may be asked to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance as provided by USAID.

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

GENERAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACT

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 in close coordination with other external communications and press offices within USAID and the broader U.S. Government (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 Team (HIT); Press Team; Content and Digital Communications Team; and Strategic Communications and Outreach Team.

The HIT is responsible for factual reporting to the public and USG interagency on humanitarian assistance and response efforts globally. HIT Humanitarian Information Officers (IOs) are the lead reporting point of contact for BHA, providing clear, accurate, and timely information on humanitarian developments and response to inform the public and support program staff and USG
senior leadership in humanitarian operational and strategic decision-making.

BHA/G3PC requires the services of multiple Humanitarian IOs based in Washington, D.C. and available for deployment–often on short notice–to disaster zones and conflict-affected areas in order to support and sustain quality reporting on international humanitarian crises and USG response. The Humanitarian IO will be responsible for monitoring and reporting on humanitarian conditions and response activities, compiling and disseminating information about USG humanitarian activities, and producing a wide range of public and internal information products. The Humanitarian IO will report to the HIT Team Lead (TL) and HIT Deputy Team Leads (DTLs) and will work closely with other teams in the division.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED

Humanitarian Reporting

• Collect and synthesize information pertaining to regional and country-specific humanitarian situations and response efforts.
• Analyze gaps in information and independently develop methods and sources to address them.
• Draft, edit, appropriately format, and disseminate a wide range of internal and external information products in Washington, D.C., and overseas.
• Prepare talking points, memos, PowerPoint presentations, official cables, and other correspondence.
• Assist with the preparation of agendas and briefings for USG officials interested in humanitarian issues.
• Travel internationally on rotations to BHA regional or country offices for extended periods of time.
• Serve on Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment overseas for an extended period of time. During deployment on DARTs (if required), and during site visits, there may be some additional physical exertion including long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain, or carrying of moderately heavy items (less than 50 pounds). Work is primarily performed in an office setting. During deployment on DARTs (if required), and during site visits, the work may additionally involve special safety and/or security precautions, wearing of protective equipment, and exposure to severe weather conditions.
• When deployed, in coordination with regional team staff and disaster response team leads, perform an enhanced representational role when liaising with BHA, USAID Mission, U.S. Embassy, and other USG personnel, as well as other donor government representatives and United Nations (UN)/private voluntary organizations/non-governmental organizations (NGOs)/international organizations, to present an inclusive and comprehensive picture of U.S. humanitarian response efforts in information products:
  • Produce field notes, trip reports, relevant meeting and call notes, updates, reporting cables, public reports, and other information products.
  • Manage data and produce or facilitate the production of a range of visual information products, such as maps, photos, tables, and charts.
  • Assist in the preparation of agendas and briefings for official USG visitors.
  • Obtain appropriate clearances for all information products.
• Attend humanitarian coordination and other meetings in Washington, D.C., and in crisis zones and collaborate closely with information counterparts from humanitarian organizations, including UN agencies and NGOs, to ensure that all relevant humanitarian information is obtained and incorporated into humanitarian products and provided to counterparts in a timely manner.
• Participate in meetings with BHA partners, humanitarian assessments, and site visits, when possible, in order to obtain information for field reports.
• May be requested to be on-call/sign up for and serve on Washington-based Response Management Teams (RMTs), which provide services and support to DARTs deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will vary.

Portfolio Management

• Work closely with supervisors to establish systems, processes, and norms to facilitate the day-to-day operation of a regional or thematic portfolio, including workflow management and the delegation and assignment of tasks.
• Facilitate and ensure the implementation of established guidelines and standards across portfolios to support the quality control efforts for team-produced information products.
• Mentor and assist in the development of other IOs, specifically regarding appropriate information sources, organizing information, and established style guidelines.
• Lead on the most complex assignments and information requests, including those with elevated political sensitivities and policy implications.

Other Duties

• 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 scope of work 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.
• 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 the Contract/Assistance Performance Assessment Review System. They prepare and review contract/assistance modifications documentation and assist the Contracting/Agreement Officer to ensure performance is compliant with the terms and conditions of the contract/agreement, the FAR, and USAID policy. AOR/CORs are responsible for all related requirements in the COR designation letter and the AOR designation letter.
• The Humanitarian IO 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.
• In times of emergency humanitarian assistance, the PSC will serve on temporary details within the Bureau. Duties performed while on detail will correspond to the level and market value for the position and the work specified to be performed in the Statement of Duties.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

The USPSC will take direction from and will report to the HIT Deputy Team Leader, with guidance from the HIT Team Lead 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 requested does not involve undue physical demands.

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 seven (7) years of experience working on communications, international development, or humanitarian response.

OR

Master’s degree with five (5) years of experience working on communications, international development, or humanitarian response.