US Agency for International Development
SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA22R00022
ISSUANCE DATE: May 31, 2022
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: June 20, 2022, 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 Global Policy, Partnerships, and Communications (G3PC) is seeking offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal service as a Learning and Development Team Lead 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. Failure to identify an academic discipline will result in disqualification.
(d) U.S. Citizenship
(e) Optional: How did you hear about this opportunity? (SAM.gov, BHA 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. 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.
U.S. Agency for International Development
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20523
720BHA22R00022
NOTE REGARDING ENSURING ADEQUATE COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS
The contractor will be required to show proof that the contractor is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on or before the first date of onboarding, or submit an approved reasonable accommodation to the CO. If the contractor does not meet this requirement the contract may be terminated.
NOTE REGARDING UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER (UEI) NUMBERS AND THE SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT
All USPSCs with a place of performance in the United States are required to have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to receiving an offer. 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 UEI 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 must be emailed to:
G3PC Recruitment Team
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
Website: www.BHAjobs.net
Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to the G3PC Recruitment Team via the information provided above.
Sincerely,
Sonja Stroud-Gooden
Contracting Officer
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. SOLICITATION NO.: 720BHA22R00022
2. ISSUANCE DATE: May 31, 2022
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: June 20, 2022, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time
4. POINT OF CONTACT: G3PC Recruitment Team, [email protected] 5. POSITION TITLE: Learning and Development Team Lead
6. MARKET VALUE: $126,233 – $164,102 equivalent to GS-14 (includes locality pay) 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: Five (5) years
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 United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) is responsible for facilitating and coordinating U.S. Government (USG) humanitarian assistance overseas in response to all types of international disasters, including slow onset disasters such as droughts or famine, natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods, or man made disasters such as conflict or war. BHA is responsible for planning, coordinating, developing, achieving, monitoring, and evaluating international humanitarian assistance falling into two conceptual areas:
● Humanitarian Response activities comprise needs-based humanitarian assistance provided to save lives, alleviate suffering, and protect human dignity during and in the aftermath of emergencies. Humanitarian assistance is grounded in humanitarian principles and is directed toward the most vulnerable populations.
● Early Recovery, Risk Reduction, and Resilience (ER4) activities will set the initial foundations for longer-term recovery as appropriate, and will work in close conjunction with humanitarian assistance. Early recovery is an approach that supports communities impacted by crises to protect and restore basic systems and service delivery. Early recovery builds on humanitarian response efforts and establishes the initial foundations of long-term recovery. Early recovery activities are implemented for a specified, appropriate timeframe that assists populations recovering from an identifiable shock. Risk reduction is the prevention of new and reduction of existing disaster risk and management of residual risk, which contributes to strengthening resilience and to the achievement of sustainable development. Resilience is the ability of people, households, communities, countries, and systems to mitigate, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses in a manner that reduces chronic vulnerability and facilitates inclusive growth.
BHA has seven offices, as follows:
The Bureau’s three geographic offices are: (1) Office of Africa; (2) Office of Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean; and (3) the Office of the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Each geographic office designs, provides, and assesses humanitarian assistance for their respective regions, including assistance related to responding to, recovering from, and reducing the risk of man-made and natural disasters, while linking with other USAID investments that build resilience.
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 of Technical and Program Quality (TPQ) leads the Bureau’s efforts to provide high quality programmatic and technical leadership, oversight, and guidance. In addition, TPQ leads the Bureau’s external engagement with academia and coordinates research to advance the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of humanitarian and multi-year programming.
The Office of Humanitarian Business and Management Operations (HBMO) is responsible for maintaining 24/7 operability by providing leadership, planning, quality assurance, technical expertise, and process management. HBMO ensures effective stewardship of the Bureau’s support services, including workforce planning, staffing, financial management, internal controls, facilities operations and infrastructure.
The Office of Field and Response Operations (FARO) leads and manages operational assistance and the purchase and delivery of goods and services in response to declared foreign disasters and international humanitarian needs in key functional areas, including supply-chain management, procurement, logistics, oversight, and operational coordination with the U.S. military.
INTRODUCTION
The Office of Global Policy, Partnerships, Programs, and Communication (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 is organized into seven divisions, namely: Humanitarian Policy and International Systems; Humanitarian Multilateral Engagement; Humanitarian Organizations and Partnerships; Private Sector Engagement, Diaspora, and Innovation; Global Capacity and Leadership Development (Global CLD); U.S. Engagement, Strategy, and Programs; and Strategic Communications and Humanitarian Information.
The Global CLD Division within G3PC works to improve knowledge and capability in international disaster response coordination within the USG and the broader humanitarian system. Global CLD leads external education and training of the intra- and interagency on disaster response, humanitarian assistance, and the linkages to development. The division also manages training and capacity building programming on the international humanitarian system and leadership for the broader humanitarian community. Global CLD also manages the BHA Response Management System Coordination Section including maintaining response readiness for the Section, supporting the G3PC Office in coordinating and staffing relevant response positions and providing education to BHA staff on effective coordination and external engagement during a disaster response.
The Leadership and Development Team Leader position serves as an integral part of Global CLD and closely coordinates with other parts of the USG and international community on humanitarian capacity development and intergovernmental training. The position supports the planning and development of training and outreach approaches on humanitarian issues; provides expertise on humanitarian capacity and leadership development; helps provide strategic direction for Global CLD; prepares key briefings and guidance to support capacity and training requirements; and manages the Learning and Development team.
OBJECTIVE
USAID/BHA requires the services of a Learning & Development Team Leader to meet its objectives of capacity development, intergovernmental training, education, and coordination within the USG.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
● Manage the Global CLD Learning & Development Team
● Support the G3PC strategy for internal and external education and training courses on humanitarian assistance, international humanitarian architecture, and disaster response issues.
● Assist in the development of detailed strategic plans for external training for the intra- and inter- agency.
● Analyze training needs and requirements to develop new training programs or modify and improve existing programs.
● Design courses from inception to polished final product, at times taking overall responsibility for external training courses, specifically applying the principles of adult learning design to both synchronous and asynchronous (e.g., online courses) learning.
● Draw in subject matter expert expertise and work closely with other teams within G3PC, particularly the Humanitarian Policy Team and the U.S. Policy, Strategy, and Interagency Coordination Team.
● Support capacity and leadership development programming with external partners. ● Maintain strong understanding of the USG interagency, humanitarian policy issues, and USAID/BHA coordination responsibilities and response operations that contribute to the USAID/BHA training strategy for external partners.
● Plan, develop, and facilitate training using knowledge of the effectiveness of methods such as classroom training, demonstrations, meetings, conferences, simulations, and workshops. ● Assist in producing trainer development programs and coaching others involved in training efforts.
● Evaluate instructor performance and the effectiveness of training programs and provide recommendations for improvement.
● Work effectively as a team member with other members of the Global CLD division and G3PC
● Mentor and liaise with facilitators, panelists, and guest instructors.
● Develop course evaluation procedures and conduct follow-up review of all completed training to evaluate and measure results.
● Develop and organize effective training manuals, multimedia visual aids, and other educational materials using a variety of media.
● Build solid cross-functional relationships and assist with development of G3PC strategic plans and maintain internal and external BHA relationships.
● Ensure appropriate scheduling and coordination of training, including logistical support. ● Provide support on the registration process and support all administrative and logistics requirements to hold a training course.
● Work with USAID/BHA Information Technology Unit to make sure that all technical elements of the training (e.g. slides, video, video teleconference) are set up for delivery during the training.
● Coordinate with other BHA training teams and training teams within humanitarian agencies including communicating at the Senior Executive level of USG and international organizations (IOs).
● Review and analyze what the United Nations (UN), other IOs, non-governmental organizations, and other humanitarian entities currently provide on humanitarian assistance and disaster response capacity development, leadership development, and learning. Incorporate recommendations whether USAID/BHA should incorporate any part of the UN training, e.g., videos and simulations.
● Sign-up for and serve multiple times or as needed throughout the year on Washington based Response Management Teams (RMTs), which provides services and support to Disaster Assistance Response Team (DARTs) deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will be varied.
● As needed, serve on DARTs which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment overseas.
● As needed, 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 statement of duties provided.
● Create and maintain a collaborative and effective team environment while setting the tone and example for open communication and regular coordination; a work environment conducive to mutual respect; clear expectations for performance; and clear delegations of roles, responsibilities, and authority.
● Mentor subordinates to build technical and other professional skills which meet the professional goals of staff and the needs of BHA.
● Create a culture of civility and respect whereby both managers and employees are expected to behave professionally at all times.
● Work with division and G3PC leadership to identify and address structural barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion in G3PC.
● 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 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.
SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:
The USPSC will take direction from and will report to the Global CLD Division Chief with guidance from the G3PC Office Director, or his/her designee
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
Supervisor provides administrative directions in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. The USPSC independently plans, designs, and carries out programs, projects, studies or other work. Results are considered authoritative and are normally accepted without significant change.
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.)
High school diploma plus must have a minimum of thirteen (13) years of experience working on adult training and capacity strengthening, including emergency relief and humanitarian assistance issues.
OR
Bachelor’s degree in any field plus must have a minimum of nine (9) years of experience working on adult training and capacity strengthening, including emergency relief and humanitarian assistance issues.
OR
Master’s degree in any field plus must have a minimum of seven (7) years of experience working on adult training and capacity strengthening, including emergency relief and humanitarian assistance issues.
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. ● Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance as provided by USAID.
● Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of State medical clearance throughout the contract.
● Must not appear as an excluded party in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). ● Satisfactory verification of academic credentials.
OFFEROR RATING SYSTEM
The offeror rating system factors are used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified offerors in comparison to other offerors. Offerors must demonstrate the rating factors outlined below within their resume, as they are evaluated strictly by the information provided. The evaluation of 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. The rating factors are as follows:
Professional Experience (25 points):
● The ability to demonstrate in one of the following areas: develop an adult training or education program, facilitate an adult training or education program, develop the associated adult training or education program materials.
● Experience in response policy and humanitarian policy.
● Written communication skills or oral presentation skills.
● Experience representing the USG/ or other international organizations to external partners or representing USG or other international organization’s policy positions. ● The ability to lead teams and develop strategic vision to guide the team and support larger organizational goals.
Interview Performance (50 points)
Timed Writing Test (10 points)
Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks (15 points)
Total Possible Points: 100
BASIS OF RATING: Offerors who meet the Education/Experience requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated in accordance with the Offeror Rating System. 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 factor of the Offeror Rating System in their resume, describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards 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 Offeror Rating System 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. BHA will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for offerors being considered for selection package.
Note: Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an offeror. BHA reserves the right to select additional offerors if vacancies become available during future phase of the selection process.
How to apply
Via email
E-Mail Address: [email protected]