USPSC Support Relief Group (SRG) Field Operations Advisor/Senior Advisor

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA22R00025

ISSUANCE DATE: March 29, 2022

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: December 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 Field and Response Operations (FARO), is seeking offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal service as Support Relief Group (SRG) Field Operations Advisor/Senior Advisor 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. 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 for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. 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.

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 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/fsd-gov/answer.do?sysparmkbid=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:

FARO Recruitment Team

E-Mail Address: [email protected]

Website: www.BHAjobs.net

Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to the FARO Recruitment Team via the information provided above.

Sincerely,

Christie Savage, Contracting Officer

Digitally signed by Christie Savage Date:2022.03.21 14:47:54-04’00’

Christie Savage

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

At the GS-13 level:

The SRG Field Operations Advisors will:

● Provide expert advice on Agency practices and policies as they relate to USPSCs; contract management and procurement planning; and a range of workforce, organizational, and human resource functions.

● Analyze and apply complex policies to make recommendations for senior management consideration as it relates to administrative operations in BHA’s field offices.

● Review actions coming to FPO Leadership for clearance and/or approval, and/or provide clearance when delegated.

● Review and negotiate memoranda of understanding with USAID Missions and U.S. Embassies for a range of administrative support services that would be made available to new BHA field staff and offices.

● Liaise with USAID Mission staff on the recruitment and onboarding of locally employed administrative staff.

● Working with the supervisor, develop a curriculum for and train administrative personnel in the field, which includes working with the local staff to facilitate coordination and cooperation to support BHA operations.

● Develop criteria for determining appropriate funding levels for administrative costs for each field office. Review field administrative budgets and recommend funding levels for the field offices throughout the fiscal year, including analysis of pipeline balances. Provide

funding to field offices using USAID and BHA financial systems and advise on the deobligation of funds.

● Deploy to a regional or program office, as necessary, to assess local administrative support capabilities, assist with local procurement, and establish procedures whereby the BHA staff interact seamlessly with USAID or U.S. Embassy personnel in support of field platform operations.

● Interpret policies and regulations, facilitate the functionality of the administrative operations in BHA field offices, and represent the interest of BHA and the USG with interagency counterparts.

● Monitor operational effectiveness and efficiency by providing comprehensive day-to-day support to the field and each respective functional area to include but not limited to personnel, finance, procurement, staffing, and administrative logistics.

● Lead periodic reviews of each field platform for operational effectiveness and assess local administrative support needs and office regulatory compliance; ensure that BHA resources are being properly utilized.

● Support the recruitment process for all BHA field staff in the designated offices, including the process of changing duty station and staff orientation.

● Hold procurement authority via Purchase Card, Centrally Billed Travel Card, and delegated authority for up to $250,000. Ensure all procurements are allowable, appropriate, funded, and processed through the appropriate mechanism.

At the GS-14 level:

In addition to the above duties, the SRG Field Operations Sr. Advisors will:

● Collaborate with FARO, Field Operations Division, and the FPO Team to design and refine operational practices and procedures for worldwide implementation.

● Engage Washington, D.C. regional/geographic offices and divisions to understand the programmatic environment for each region and solicit information necessary to develop best practice support systems, processes, and continuous improvement methodologies.

● Develop pilot plans and schedules to test proposed practices, gain feedback, assess effectiveness, and adjust practices to achieve improvements.

● Obtain agreement on plans and schedules with the relevant stakeholders including field leadership within BHA, FPO Team leadership, and Washington-based regional/geographic leadership.

● Liaise with field-based stakeholders: U.S. Embassy Management Offices, USAID Mission Executive Officers/Controller Offices, BHA offices, CCMDs; and USAID Washington,

D.C. stakeholders, in particular regional points of contact and FPO Team points of contact.

● Engage on topics of interest to BHA and its local operations and act as liaison between the field office and the FPO Team on designated matters.

● Represent the interests of BHA and the USG with interagency counterparts.

● Participate in periodic assessments of systems and processes to enhance compliance with internal management and controls and to recommend best practices to mitigate potential waste, fraud, and abuse in BHA offices. Address complex issues requiring interpretation

of USG rules and regulations, including Department of State, USAID, General Services Administration, and other policy requirements and guidelines.

● Recommend BHA field operations staffing patterns, personnel management, and organizational structure; ensure that field platforms are staffed and structured in such a way as to maximize their human resources while remaining sufficiently flexible to meet the evolving demands of BHA.

● Deploy to a regional or program office to manage or oversee the operational effectiveness and efficiency of the BHA field office including budgeting, financial management and International Cooperative Administrative Support Services, human resources, travel, procurement, property management, facilities and maintenance, IT support, safety & security, relocation/repatriation, and disaster response.

● Design, develop, and maintain policies, procedures, and templates to optimize processes.

● Provide BHA-specific onboarding and ongoing support and guidance to BHA field office supervisors and employees on questions and requests related to operational support services, including liaising with U.S. Embassy, USAID Mission, and CCMD administration.

● Collaborate with the FPO Team Response and Systems workstream on development of Cooperating Country National PSCs training plans and periodic workshops.

General Duties:

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

● Schedule and meet availability requirements for Response On-Call for a minimum of two periods per year, contributing to the AC Responsible Unit mandate for sudden-onset disaster staff availability.

● Support special projects within the FPO Team and AC Responsible Unit, including training support, developing, and maintaining standard operating procedure documents, and otherwise contributing to internal team systems.

● May serve on DARTs, as an AC, which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment overseas for an extended period of time.

● As needed, may serve on temporary detail within the bureau to meet operational needs during staff shortages. Duties performed while on detail will be aligned with the Team’s existing duties and responsibilities and will be directly related to the scope of work provided.

● 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 (CPARS/APARS). 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.

I. 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.)

For the GS-13 equivalent level:

High School Diploma plus a minimum of eleven (11) years of experience working in government, a large organization, a business setting, or an overseas setting, with responsibilities related to project management, operational or administrative management, financial management, personnel support, procurement, humanitarian assistance operations, or emergency management. Experience must include two (2) years of work in administrative operations overseas or work in support of international programs.

OR

Bachelor’s degree and seven (7) years of experience working in government, a large organization, a business setting, or an overseas setting, with responsibilities related to project management, operational or administrative management, financial management, personnel support, procurement, humanitarian assistance operations, or emergency management. Experience must include two (2) years of work in administrative operations overseas or work in support of international programs.

OR

Master’s degree and five (5) years of experience working in government, a large organization, a business setting, or an overseas setting, with responsibilities related to project management, operational or administrative management, financial management, personnel support, procurement, humanitarian assistance operations, or emergency management. Experience must include two (2) years of work in administrative operations overseas or work in support of international programs.

For the GS-14 equivalent level:

High School Diploma plus a minimum of thirteen (13) years of experience working in government, a large organization, a business setting, or an overseas setting, with responsibilities related to project management, operational or administrative management, financial management, personnel support, procurement, humanitarian assistance operations, or emergency management. Experience must include three (3) years of work in administrative operations overseas or work in support of international programs.

OR

Bachelor’s degree and nine (9) years of experience working in government, a large organization, a business setting, or an overseas setting, with responsibilities related to project management, operational or administrative management, financial management, personnel support, procurement, humanitarian assistance operations, or emergency management. Experience must include three (3) years of work in administrative operations overseas or work in support of international programs.

OR

Master’s degree and seven (7) years of experience working in government, a large organization, a business setting, or an overseas setting, with responsibilities related to project management, operational or administrative management, financial management, personnel support, procurement, humanitarian assistance operations, or emergency management. Experience must include three (3) years of work in administrative operations overseas or work in support of international programs.

II. 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 rating factors are as follows:

INSERT MATRIX (30 points)

Professional Experience (10 points)

● Experience in conducting operational needs assessments or internal controls assessments of field offices.

● Experience in financial management as it relates to budget projection and analysis for personnel or office operations.

● Experience in personnel support, procurement, or office space planning, as it directly relates to office management and operations.

Skills and Abilities (10 points)

● Experience identifying operational and management issues or ineffective practices and recommending solutions.

● Experience establishing systems and processes that enhance compliance to rules and regulations.

● Experience in researching and providing policy guidance to key stakeholders.

Representational/Leading Teams Experience (10 points)

● Ability to communicate in a professional manner both orally and in writing.

● Experience working with senior level stakeholders in order to establish operational or administrative support structures.

● Experience leading cross-cultural teams in administrative or operational settings.

Interview Performance (50 points)

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks (20 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 the 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.