SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720FDA20B00024
ISSUANCE DATE: January 30, 2020
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: February 20, 2020, 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 Senior Humanitarian Advisor (SHA) for the United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN) in Geneva 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:
(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? (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. 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.
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/fsdgov/answer.dosysparm_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,
Renee Newton
Contracting Officer
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The SHA serves as a key source of information on humanitarian issues and humanitarian policy for USUN Geneva. He/She will help plan USUN strategies and responses to humanitarian crises, actively lobby members of UN delegations on U.S. positions on humanitarian issues, provide effective liaison with the UN offices in Geneva, and anticipate and prepare documents and briefing memos on humanitarian issues for important meetings and events. The SHA will also raise critical issues with the UN on behalf of OFDA, DCHA offices and other U.S. Government (USG) agencies and must have the ability to multi-task. The SHA provides expert analytical and advisory support on humanitarian issues for the planning, development and execution of U.S. foreign policy within a broad and complex geographic or functional specialty area. The work requires applying a rigorous analytical approach to data and the SHA will receive general guidance but will be expected to execute independent judgment and analysis.
The role requires significant interaction with foreign delegates, demanding strong diplomatic and communication skills to accurately represent U.S. positions in a complex multilateral setting, based on guidance from Washington.
The SHA will serve as USAID’s principal in-country point of contact for humanitarian issues in Geneva. The SHA’s duties and responsibilities will include the following:
• Provide leadership for the identification, research, analysis and development of recommendations on all issues and matters relating to humanitarian affairs and anticipate the need for such policy analysis.
• Represent USAID at donor meetings covering a broad range of humanitarian issues and provide DCHA Bureau with analysis and guidance on relations with the UN system.
• As part of an interagency team working on humanitarian issues in the Office of Refugees and Migration Affairs (RMA) Section at USUN Geneva, interact with State Department colleagues on developing strategies and policies toward UN agencies and issues.
• Anticipate the needs at USUN Geneva regarding developments in the areas of humanitarian affairs and prepare analyses, briefings, documents and meetings as required.
• Attend various UN, USUN, UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) Donor Support Group (ODSG), Humanitarian Liaison Working Group (HLWG) and other meetings and provide authoritative information and views to formulate humanitarian policies and coordinate strategies on policy issues.
• Initiate and maintain strong working relationships with other diplomatic missions in order to promote humanitarian principles and coordinate disaster response activities.
• Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with other USUN components and relevant USG offices and serve as an expert point of contact for these groups in the area of humanitarian affairs. Typical contacts are the Chief of Mission, high level officials of the UN agencies and senior representatives of foreign governments.
• Represent DCHA on specific humanitarian issues of concern with UN agencies in Geneva and convey demarche messages as needed.
• Represent USAID at meetings with the UN, international organizations, and other donors and other conferences sponsored by members of the international community, and provides guidance and advice on USG positions, negotiating strategies, and, in consultation with USAID/Washington, conducts negotiations with the donor community and make recommendations to the appropriate officials in USAID.
• Work with counterparts in other donor organizations in Geneva at the most senior levels, particularly those represented in the Humanitarian Liaison Working Group, to exchange information, establish meetings on specific donor issues, solicit publications, and collect information on training opportunities; coordinate these activities with relevant USAID officers.
• Disseminate relevant USAID/OFDA guidelines and information and act as OFDA’s general point of contact for international donor appeals and other documentation from the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of the Red Cross and other agencies based in Geneva. Respond to inquiries and be familiar with their operational procedures.
• Advise USAID/OFDA staff on issues regarding donations and requests for USG support and information sharing from private and public interest groups, including those formed on an ad hoc basis during disaster assistance operations.
• Serve on DARTs and represent USAID in field visits and assessments as appropriate and when requested by USAID/OFDA.
• Act as a liaison between the USUN Mission and other offices within DCHA including the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on food security and maternal child health nutrition issues for emergency, non-emergency and developmental relief activities.
• Provide informational updates and analysis as necessary on activities undertaken by WHO, OCHA, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and ICRC on issues which have a humanitarian focus that will drive policy debates in the USG interagency arena.
• Supervise designated administrative staff on issues related to humanitarian events and daily tasks.
• 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.
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, but not limited to, international relations, economics or a related field), and a minimum of nine (9) years implementing programmatic responses in humanitarian emergencies and/or immediate post-conflict environments, of which a minimum of three (3) years must be with a USG foreign affairs agency or with an international organization, and a minimum of three (3) years must be overseas on-the-ground experience in a leadership position managing emergency or crisis interventions.
OR
Master's degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including, but not limited to, international relations, economics or a related field), and a minimum of seven (7) years implementing programmatic responses in humanitarian emergencies and/or immediate post-conflict environments, of which a minimum of three (3) years must be with a USG foreign affairs agency or with an international organization, and a minimum of three (3) years must be overseas on-the-ground experience in a leadership position managing emergency or crisis interventions.
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 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 Proven experience in providing expert guidance in the area of humanitarian assistance with regard to the policy implications of issues, based on hands-on experience in the field of humanitarian action and a thorough on-the-ground knowledge of the international humanitarian system concepts, and issues. Knowledge of the structures, mandates, and policies of the United Nations system is needed.
QRF #2 Demonstrated ability to consistently and independently perform in a high visibility, high-pressure environment and accurately represent the USG policy positions. Strong work ethic and ability to initiate, develop, and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Proven diplomatic and leadership skills. Provide examples.
QRF #3 Direct experience with U.S. operational policy and regulations for responses to natural disasters and complex emergencies, as well as experience with U.S. Government systems and structure.
QRF #4 Experience with the role of liaison in inter-agency relationships at all levels throughout the humanitarian and foreign policy communities; demonstrated ability to work with a diverse array of individuals and organizations involved in disaster response/preparedness/mitigation and humanitarian assistance, including U.S. Government agencies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and host governments.
QRF #5 Demonstrated skill in oral and written communication, preparing and presenting analysis, providing guidance, soliciting sensitive information, and negotiating resolutions.
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 – 10 points
QRF #2 – 10 points
QRF #3 – 10 points
QRF #4 – 10 points
QRF #5 – 10 points
Interview Performance – 30 points
Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – 20 points
Total Possible Points: 100
This vacancy is archived.