Vetting Assistant

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA22R00060

ISSUANCE DATE: August 19, 2022

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: January 31, 2023, 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 Humanitarian and Management Operations (HBMO), is seeking offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal service as a Vetting Assistant 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) Offerors must notate on their resume what GS level equivalent is being applied for. Applicants may list more than one GS level on their resume.

(b) 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.

(c) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.

(d) 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.

(e) U.S. Citizenship

(f) 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 GS-12 Equivalent. 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.

1. 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.
2. All SRG with a place of performance outside of the US must be registered in SAMs.gov.

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) NUMBER

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 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 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

Instructions to obtain a UEI can be found via the SAM.gov link.

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:

HBMO Recruitment Team

E-Mail Address: [email protected]

Website: www.BHAjobs.net

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

Sincerely,

Sonja Stroud-Gooden

Contracting Officer

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Working under the guidance and supervision of the Vetting Official, the Vetting Assistant will perform the following:

Vetting Portfolio Management:

• Support the Vetting Official by managing the vetting request process from the receipt of PII received from USAID implementing partners, through the communication of final vetting determinations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for USAID implementing partners and respond to any questions related to the PIF and PVS.
• Collect and review vetting data received from applicants, and review forms for completeness and accuracy of information submitted by applicants or recipients.
• Guide applicants and/or recipients on the type of supporting documents required for vetting and make necessary adjustments in PVS.
• Track and submit vetting requests to USAID’s Office of Security (SEC) for analysis and interface with SEC representatives for additional vetting information requests.
• Perform regular checks in the PVS database to verify if a record currently exists for the prospective recipient.
• Liaise with BHA Agreement Officer Representatives/Contract Officer Representatives (AOR/COR) on final vetting determinations.
• Create and maintain an internal vetting filing system that is in accordance with Agency policies on sensitive and classified information.
• Develop and maintain data collection tools for vetting program monitoring and evaluation, with guidance from the Vetting Official.
• Generate status reports for the Vetting Official, to analyze vetting results and monitor any outstanding vetting queries.
• Initiate background research for vetting requests on open-source databases, such as the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, or the United Nation (UN) Security designation list prior to submitting the request to SEC for vetting purposes. Exercise quality control checks on open-source information.
• Comply with Automated Directives System (ADS) Chapter 568 (National Security Information Program) and Executive Order 13526 (Classified National Security Information) regarding the handling of classified national security information and consult with USAID SEC for guidance. Ensure compliance with USAID guidance on the disposition of files and records.
• Test, identify, and report on PVS’s functionality and capabilities.
• Report accuracy of data in PVS and recommend any corrective actions and improvements to the Vetting Official.
• Ensure strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain confidentiality.

Partner Vetting Training and Representation:

• Support the Vetting Official in providing training to USAID staff and external stakeholders on the partner vetting process.
• Provide organizational and logistical support on internal and external partner vetting training.
• Represent and participate in interagency, intra-agency and partner-wide vetting meetings.
• With guidance from the Vetting Official, help support meetings with senior leadership on vetting eligibility determinations and vetting policy implications.
• Assist on the job training for new staff on the partner vetting process.

Policy, Guidance and Research:

• Develop a strong understanding of USAID’s vetting policies, authorities, and approaches.
• Assist in researching risk mitigation and programmatic risks for ongoing humanitarian crises (as needed) and helping draft internal guidance on vetting issues.
• Support the Vetting Official in contributing to the development of internal memorandums and policy documents on risk mitigation in humanitarian assistance programming, including the coordination of the clearance process.

General:

• Work in rapidly changing, high-pressure situations that often exceed normal business hours.
• May serve as needed, on Washington-based Response Management Teams (RMTs), which provide services and support to Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will vary.
• May serve on DARTs 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 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. AORs/CORs must not serve as Vetting Assistants for prime or sub-awards/sub-contracts for which they serve as AOR/CORs.
• Incoming vetting personnel, including Vetting Assistants, must complete required training as a prerequisite to initiating the performance of their vetting-related duties.

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 and at least nine (9) years of experience working in government, a large organization, or a business setting, with responsibilities related to project administration or management, security or investigations, information and data management or international relations and/or development.

OR

Bachelor’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including but not limited to political science, language studies, international relations, international development, security studies, plus a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience working in project administration or management, security or investigations, information and data management or international relations and/or development.

OR

Master’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including but not limited to political science, language studies, international relations, international development, security studies, plus three (3) years of progressively responsible experience working in project administration or management, security or investigations, information and management or international relations and/or development.

AND

• Offeror is a U.S. Citizen;
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance as provided by USAID; and
• Ability to obtain a Department of State medical clearance.

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.

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.