USPSC Senior Regional Program Officer 108 views1 applications

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720FDA20B00072

ISSUANCE DATE: July 2, 2020

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: July 30, 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 Regional Program Officer 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.

(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.

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) NUMBER 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=d2e67885db0d5f00b3257…

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: [email protected]

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

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Working under the guidance and supervision of the SRA or designated RA for the assigned Africa region of responsibility, the SRPO will support the regional office, as well as the coordination and management of humanitarian and disaster risk reduction activities. The SRPO will work in close collaboration with a program team that may include SRAs, Senior Humanitarian Advisors (SHAs), Program Officers, Field Monitors, Team Leaders, Deputy Team Leaders, Disaster Operations Advisors and Specialists, and/or Program Assistants.

The SRPO will perform the following within the assigned portfolio:

Contextual Specialty

· Develop and maintain specialized understanding of humanitarian developments across the region to include political, social, and operational issues impacting humanitarian efforts.

· Develop and maintain knowledge of USAID, USG humanitarian priorities and strategies within the region and USAID/OFDA’s contributions and comparative advantages to those efforts.

· Provide regular reporting, through official cables and other means, on issues related to the humanitarian situations in ECA. Provide overviews of patterns and trends in the humanitarian situation and keep the SRA, RA, SHA, Team Lead, and other staff current on response issues. Provide regular reports on site visits, meetings, general atmospherics, and other issues that impact humanitarian relief efforts.

Portfolio Management

· Develop and maintain a detailed working knowledge of OFDA’s humanitarian portfolio in the ECA region.

· Work with OFDA’s program staff based in Washington, D.C. and in the field offices in the development of OFDA’s programming strategies for response and disaster risk reduction activities across the region.

· Support team members in assessing emergency response and disaster risk reduction needs in the region in order to ensure that OFDA’s programs are appropriately responsive.

· Assist headquarters-based Agreement Officer’s Representatives in managing humanitarian awards by providing field-based insights, knowledge, and perspectives.

· Assist in humanitarian activities outside of immediate area of responsibility as needed.

· Travel as permitted to assess, evaluate, and monitor humanitarian conditions in the region and make strategic recommendations for appropriate interventions.

Representation

· Support the regional team in maintaining relations with the senior leadership of the humanitarian community in the region, and 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.

· Assist the regional team to coordinate with the donor community on policy issues affecting humanitarian operations, and develop integrated, non-duplicative programs, as needed.

· Prepare briefing papers, notes, and presentations on OFDA programming for official USG visitors interested in humanitarian issues.

· Coordinate on a daily basis with several OFDA staff members, as well as with representatives from other USAID offices, Embassy staff, and the humanitarian community. This level of coordination requires a highly collaborative work style.

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.

· In close coordination with the SRA, RA, and Disaster Operations Specialist, the SRPO will work with NGOs, IOs, and UN agencies that are developing proposals for OFDA (including grant amendments and extensions) to ensure compliance with OFDA’s guidelines.

· Participate, as assigned, in office-wide discussions on initiatives that impact program implementation, to provide field-based perspectives.

General Duties

· Serve in planning, or program positions on response teams, assessment teams, or to provide coverage for field offices with field travel required at approximately 50% time and individual deployments of up to 6 weeks.

· Serve on DARTs, which may require immediate deployment (within 24 hours) overseas for an extended period of time.

· May serve as needed on Washington-based RMTs, which provide services and support to DARTs deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will be varied.

· Work effectively in a challenging and restrictive work environment and strictly adhere to U.S. Embassy security guidelines.

· As needed, may serve on temporary details 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.

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 study in, or pertinent to, the specialized field (including but not limited to international relations, economics, food policy, African studies, or a related field or country) plus seven (7) years of progressively demonstrated experience in emergency relief, disaster risk reduction and/or disaster preparedness programming and management, including at least two (2) years of overseas field experience as demonstrated by short-term deployments or assignments in emergency situations.

OR

Master’s degree with study in, or pertinent to, the specialized field (including but not limited to international relations, economics, food policy, African studies, or a related field or country) plus five (5) years of progressively demonstrated experience in emergency relief, disaster risk reduction and/or disaster preparedness programming and management, including at least two (2) years of overseas field experience as demonstrated by short-term deployments or assignments in emergency situations.

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 and 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.)

QRF #1 In 500 words or less, outline your unique experience and qualifications to serve as a Senior Regional Program Officer for USG humanitarian programs in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, juggling multiple priorities and tasks.

QRF #2 In 500 words or less, 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 In 500 words or less, 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), UN and other international organizations, or non-governmental organizations involved in humanitarian response.

QRF #4 In 500 words or less, describe your experience in working on overseas disasters, developing country strategies, and integrating disaster response, rehabilitation, and preparedness activities.

BASIS OF RATING: Offerors who meet the Education/Experience requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated in accordance with 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, training and/or awards.

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 – 9 points

QRF #2 – 7 points

QRF #3 – 7 points

QRF #4 – 7 points

Interview Performance – 40 points

Timed Writing Test – 20 points

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – 10 points

Total Possible Points: 100