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US Agency for International Development

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 7200AA22R00084

ISSUANCE DATE: June 24, 2022

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: July 25, 2022 at 3:00 PM EDT

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 U.S. citizens to provide personal services as a Senior Technical Advisor – Washington, D.C. (GS-13/GS-14) under a personal services contract, as described in the attached 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. Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your offer, your resume must include:

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 overseas 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.
Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.
Names and contact information (phone and email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s).
Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments.
U.S. Citizenship.

NOTE: Your resume should contain explicit 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. Offerors must specify in their offer materials whether they would like to be considered for the GS-13 or GS-14. Offerors who would like to be considered for both the GS-13 and GS-14 positions should submit separate offers specifying which grade level in the submission. Offerors will only be considered for the grade level specified in the submission. The offeror will be considered for the lower grade level if the offeror does not specify the grade level in the submission. Offerors who are unsure of which grade level they meet the minimum qualifications for should submit separate offers for the GS-13 and the GS-14 positions. This information should be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide explicit information to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.

B. List of References.Offerors must submit three (3) professional references, who are not family members or relatives, who have knowledge of the offeror’s ability to perform the duties set forth in this solicitation. At least one (1) reference must be from a direct supervisor (current or prior).

C. Supplemental document specifically addressing each of the three (3) Evaluation Factors shown in the solicitation. Responses must be limited to 500 words per factor. Any additional words above the limit will neither be read nor scored.

NOTE: The Evaluation Factors are worth 70 out of 100 points. Offerors are required to address each of the Evaluation Factors in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received that are relevant to each factor.

D. USPSC Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete and sign the form. Due to COVID-19 and limited access to equipment, we are currently accepting electronic and typed signatures on the AID 309-2 form.

NOTE ABOUT THE UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER (UEI) NUMBERS AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS: All USPSCs with a place of performance in the United States are required to 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.

Additional documents submitted will not be accepted. Incomplete or late offers will not be considered. Your complete resume and the AID 309-2 form must be mailed or emailed to Keith Roland at [email protected].

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

Offeror resources are available at www.otijobs.net/guidance-for-applying. Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to Keith Roland at [email protected].

Position Description at the GS-13 Level

Responsibility for Decision Making

This USPSC position will serve as a Senior Technical Advisor for CPS. The USPSC will work closely with CPS staff and others. The supervisor for the position is the CVP Program and Operations Support Division Chief or his/her designee. The USPSC will perform her/his duties under administrative direction, with some latitude for the exercise of independent judgment (e.g., in program/project management) in the oversight and management of the CCF account (including gathering relevant country reports and updates and preparation written analysis of countries being considered for CCF funding; and supporting in preparation of draft decision memos, summaries, agendas and other related documents), supporting GFA implementation, and other prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization related programming, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) issues. As such, the USPSC must have relevant subject matter knowledge. Having knowledge in the field of global issues, the USPSC will help inform but not make policy.

Supervisory Controls

Working closely with CPS staff and others and under the formal supervision of the CVP Program and Operations Support Division Chief or his/her designee, the USPSC will help to create a set of work objectives. The USPSC and supervisor will jointly develop a work plan that outlines projects (with deadlines), which the USPSC will work on with guidance. Such projects include efforts related to supporting CCF management and advising on bureau programming in complex environments and crises and on prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization analysis and programming, and MEL issues. The USPSC may be asked to provide direct technical advice to Missions chosen to receive CCF or other bureau funds and should be available for international travel.

Performance Guidelines

The USPSC will be expected to learn administrative policies, precedents, and guidelines related to the CCF account and programming in complex environments and crises and on prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization analysis and programming, and MEL issues. The USPSC will provide a range of services including, conducting background analysis, monitoring CCF and other activity implementation, assisting with the development and review of acquisition and assistance documents, providing advice on developing and selecting indicators and assuring data quality for CCF and other prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization related programming, and developing and conducting trainings or workshops. Based on assignments provided, the USPSC will be expected to contribute to technical guidance and support to USAID Missions and Operating Units (i.e., USAID Missions) in the form of planning, developing, designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating activities. The USPSC will support preparation of draft decision memos, summaries and agendas and collect data on past proposals for CCF or other bureau funds or programming.

Complexity

The USPSC’s duties will be varied, requiring the ability to contribute to and collaborate on analysis, consultations, and guidance on the CCF account and programming in complex environments and crises and on prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization analysis and programming, and MEL issues. As these interventions may take place in a range of country contexts, the USPSC will be required to support and contribute to interventions in situations featuring uncertainty and continual change (e.g., in legislative realities, programming opportunities or limitations in countries of interest). The USPSC will have the support of CPS staff and others and will be expected to support resolving problems related to the management of CCF and complex environments and crises and on prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization. The USPSC will link the bureau’s technical and sectoral areas with state of the art evaluation approaches to ensure monitoring and evaluation plans are consistent with Agency.

Scope and Effect

The USPSC will work with others in the office and bureau to assess program effectiveness and contribute to analysis of how the bureau’s efforts are supporting USAID’s work. The USPSC’s work outputs will support both CPS and Agency efforts as well as those of the broader development community, in particular around programming in complex environments and crises and on prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization. Assignments, particularly those related to providing technical guidance to central and Mission-based programming in complex environments and crises and on prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization efforts, will require the ability to work collaboratively on projects – liaising with stakeholders for inputs and support. The USPSC will maintain technical expertise through in person or online trainings relating to Agency monitoring and evaluation (M&E) policy and developments, and share timely recommendations on M&E practices and guidance in a useable form with other staff in the bureau and operating units receiving CCF or other bureau funds or assistance. With support from CPS staff and others the USPSC will work on multiple simultaneous work streams, many of which will require some project development responsibilities.

Level and Purpose of Contacts

The USPSC will engage with individuals and groups from CPS and USAID – typically through meetings, calls, and consultations (on an as-needed, as-appropriate basis) – as an important step in advancing USAID’s approach, research agenda, and programmatic priorities related to CCF account and programming in complex environments and crises and on prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization analysis and programming, and MEL issues. The USPSC will join more senior staff in engagements with higher level professionals and technical representatives of USAID Missions, USAID Bureaus, development institutions (i.e., bilateral donor counterparts), private philanthropic foundations, and representatives of implementing partners. Through such engagements, the PSC will support and contribute to the CCF account, GFA support, and programming in complex environments and crises and on fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization analysis and programming, and MEL issues. The USPSC will be expected to thoughtfully and professionally encourage the cooperation of people or groups and will be expected to work with a variety of professional and technical personnel to thoughtfully advance this work.

Statement of Duties

Conflict Prevention and Stabilization Programming and CCF Support:

Support background analysis on issues related to CCF or its programs, to include gathering relevant country reports and updates, collecting data on past proposals, and preparing written analyses of countries being considered for CCF funding.
Capture information from regional and technical bureaus at USAID, Department of State, and Department of Defense related to relevant programming.
Support the preparation of draft proposal summaries and meeting agendas.
Advise on bureau programming in complex environments and crises, including approaches for integrating gender equality and women, peace, and security (WPS) objectives in bureau programs, and strengthen USAID’s ability to participate in assessments or other work in the field to determine potential need for CCF-funded and other bureau programs.
Assist proponents/recipients to strengthen CCF proposals, program designs, work plans, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) plans, and other related technical documents.
Monitor CCF and other relevant activity implementation, including use of budget resources.
Support bureau on new tools for tracking the CCF budget as well as a bi-annual crosswalk of obligations and expenditures.
Support field and Washington D.C.-based mid-cycle portfolio reviews.
Produce briefing materials on CCF and CCF-supported and other activities.
Assist with the development and review of acquisition and assistance documents for the full project cycle including strategic planning, solicitations, scopes of work, budgets, and other materials as needed.

Technical Assistance:

Support in the provision of direct technical advice to Missions chosen to receive bureau support, including CCF, and be available for temporary assignment duty to provide technical assistance to USAID Missions.
Support the review and analysis of acquisition and assistance regulations and policies for supporting project design or management.
Provide support related to GFA implementation, MEL, or policy efforts.
Support in the provision of expert advice to USAID staff and implementing partners on MEL planning and methodology, as well as on collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) as it relates to prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization.
Support operating units and offices in Program Cycle implementation, including developing performance management plans (PMPs) and project and/or activity MEL plans.
Support in the provision of advice on developing and selecting indicators and assuring data quality for CCF and other prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization related programming.
Support the design monitoring tools for CCF and other prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization programming.
Support the facilitation of planning, design and/or management of specific CLA strategies and activities.
Assist in developing, capturing, sharing and testing methods, models and tools to further CLA in the program cycle for CCF and other prevention, fragility, conflict, violence, and stabilization programming.
Track post-evaluation actions and synthesize learning.
Support in the provision of technical assistance and other support to facilitate CLA in Mission programs and within the bureau.
Develop and deliver written materials and briefings to familiarize staff and partners with evaluation study designs, CLA principles, methods, tools and approaches.
Support and/or lead internal/hybrid evaluation teams to bolster the technical evaluation skills of mission staff around conflict, violence and stabilization programming.
Disseminate monitoring, evaluation, and learning findings and create communication products in various formats to inform decision makers, Mission staff and practitioners, and external stakeholders.

Capacity Development:

Provide support in organizational systems for MEL and/or CLA.
Support the development of and conducting of trainings, workshops, facilitated learning conversations and other capacity-building opportunities around MEL and/or CLA around conflict, violence and stabilization.
Support incorporation of recommendations from evaluations and technical, contextual, and experiential learning into program cycle processes.
Seek out, understand, and map local expertise available to support field monitoring and evaluation tasks (e.g., surveys, evaluations, data collection, analysis, etc.).

Additional:

Perform services under this scope of work at physical locations other than Washington D.C. headquarters, including within other bureaus, offices or units not to exceed six (6) months.

Position Description at the GS-14 Level

Responsibility for Decision Making

This USPSC position will serve as a Senior Technical Advisor for CPS. The USPSC will work closely with CPS staff and others. The supervisor for the position is the CVP Program and Operations Support Division Chief or his/her designee. The USPSC will perform her/his duties under administrative direction, with some latitude for the exercise of independent judgment (e.g.., in program/project management) in the oversight and management of the CCF account (including gathering relevant country reports and updates and preparation written analysis of countries being considered for CCF funding; and supporting in preparation of draft decision memos, summaries, agendas and other related documents), supporting GFA implementation, and other prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization related programming, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) issues. As such, the USPSC must have relevant subject matter knowledge. Having knowledge in the field of global issues, the USPSC will help inform but not make policy.

Supervisory Controls

Performance Guidelines

Complexity

Scope and Effect

Level and Purpose of Contacts

The USPSC will engage with individuals and groups from CPS and USAID – typically through meetings, calls, and consultations (on an as-needed, as-appropriate basis) – as an important step in advancing USAID’s approach, research agenda, and programmatic priorities related to CCF account and programming in complex environments and crises and on prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization analysis and programming, and MEL issues. The USPSC will join more senior staff in engagements with higher level professionals and technical representatives of USAID Missions, USAID Bureaus, development institutions (i.e., bilateral donor counterparts), private philanthropic foundations, and representatives of implementing partners. Through such engagements, the USPSC will support and contribute to the CCF account, GFA support, and programming in complex environments and crises and on fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization analysis and programming, and MEL issues. The USPSC will be expected to thoughtfully and professionally encourage the cooperation of people or groups, and the USPSC will be expected to work with a variety of professional and technical personnel to thoughtfully advance this work.

Statement of Duties

Conflict Prevention and Stabilization Programming and CCF Support:

Conduct background analysis on issues related to CCF or its programs, to include gathering relevant country reports and updates, collecting data on past proposals, and preparing written analyses of countries being considered for CCF funding.
Capture information from regional and technical bureaus at USAID, Department of State, and Department of Defense related to relevant programming.
Prepare draft proposal summaries and meeting agendas.
Advise on bureau programming in complex environments and crises, including approaches for integrating gender equality and women, peace, and security (WPS) objectives in bureau programs, and strengthen USAID’s ability to participate in assessments or other work in the field to determine potential need for CCF-funded and other bureau programs.
Assist proponents/recipients to strengthen CCF proposals, program designs, work plans, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) plans, and other related technical documents.
Monitor CCF and other relevant activity implementation, including use of budget resources.
Support bureau on new tools for tracking the CCF budget as well as a bi-annual crosswalk of obligations and expenditures.
Conduct field and Washington D.C.-based mid-cycle portfolio reviews.
Produce briefing materials on CCF and CCF-supported and other activities.
Assist with the development and review of acquisition and assistance documents for the full project cycle including strategic planning, solicitations, scopes of work, budgets, and other materials as needed.

Technical Assistance:

Provide direct technical advice to Missions chosen to receive bureau support, including CCF, and be available for temporary assignment duty to provide technical assistance to USAID Missions.
Support the review and analysis of acquisition and assistance regulations and policies for supporting project design or management.
Provide support related to GFA implementation, MEL, or policy efforts.
Provide expert advice to USAID staff and implementing partners on MEL planning and methodology, as well as on collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) as it relates to prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization.
Guide operating units in Program Cycle implementation, including developing performance management plans (PMPs) and project and/or activity MEL plans.
Provide advice on developing and selecting indicators and assuring data quality for CCF and other prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization related programming.
Design monitoring tools for CCF and other prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization programming.
Facilitate the planning, design and/or management of specific CLA strategies and activities.
Assist in developing, capturing, sharing and testing methods, models and tools to further CLA in the program cycle for CCF and other prevention, fragility, conflict, violence, and stabilization programming.
Track post-evaluation actions and synthesize learning.
Provide technical assistance and other support to facilitate CLA in Mission programs and within the bureau.
Develop and deliver written materials and briefings to familiarize staff and partners with evaluation study designs, CLA principles, methods, tools and approaches.
Support and/or lead internal/hybrid evaluation teams to bolster the technical evaluation skills of mission staff around prevention, fragility, conflict, violence and stabilization programming.
Disseminate monitoring, evaluation, and learning findings and create communication products in various formats to inform decision makers, Mission staff and practitioners, and external stakeholders.

Capacity Development:

Provide support in organizational systems for MEL and/or CLA.
Develop and conduct trainings, workshops, facilitated learning conversations and other capacity-building opportunities around MEL and/or CLA around conflict, violence and stabilization.
Support incorporation of recommendations from evaluations and technical, contextual, and experiential learning into program cycle processes.
Seek out, understand, and map local expertise available to support field monitoring and evaluation tasks (e.g., surveys, evaluations, data collection, analysis, etc.).

Additional:

Perform services under this scope of work at physical locations other than Washington D.C. headquarters, including within other bureaus, offices or units not to exceed six (6) months.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

At the GS-13 Senior Technical Advisor level:

Education/Experience Required:

Master’s degree or higher with significant study and/or experience in a pertinent field, including but not limited to law, political science, government, international affairs, international development, or anthropology (verification required upon request for transcripts and/certificates) AND at least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience related to community development, democracy, human rights, governance, economic development, conflict, political analysis, and/or complex crises environments, one (1) year of which must be with a U.S. Government foreign affairs agency, international or domestic assistance organization, or non-governmental organization.

A Bachelor’s degree with study in a pertinent field, including but not limited to law, political science, government, international affairs, international development, or anthropology (verification required upon request for transcripts and/certificates) AND at least eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience related to community development, democracy, human rights, governance, economic development, conflict, political analysis, and/or complex crises environments, one (1) year of which must be with a U.S. Government foreign affairs agency, international or domestic assistance organization, or non-governmental organization.

At the GS-14 Senior Technical Advisor level:

Education/Experience Required:

Master’s degree or higher with significant study and/or experience in a pertinent field, including but not limited to law, political science, government, international affairs, international development, or anthropology (verification required upon request for transcripts and/certificates) AND at least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience related to community development, democracy, human rights, governance, economic development, conflict, political analysis, and/or complex crises environments, one (1) year of which must be with a U.S. Government foreign affairs agency, international or domestic assistance organization, or non-governmental organization.

A Bachelor’s degree with study in a pertinent field, including but not limited to law, political science, government, international affairs, international development, or anthropology (verification required upon request for transcripts and/certificates) AND at least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience related to community development, democracy, human rights, governance, economic development, conflict, political analysis, and/or complex crises environments, one (1) year of which must be with a U.S. Government foreign affairs agency, international or domestic assistance organization, or non-governmental organization.

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 hig

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