1 - SOL - Senior Regional Advisor (720BHA23R00029) (GS-15) (1).pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA23R00029

ISSUANCE DATE: July 10, 2023 CLOSING DATE AND TIME: August 25, 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) is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation.

Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1 of this solicitation. Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records.

USAID will evaluate all offerors based on stated evaluation criteria. USAID encourages all individuals, including those from disadvantaged and under-represented groups, to respond to the solicitation.

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

Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in Attachment 1.

Sincerely, Ousay Wahaj Supervisory Contracting Officer Office of Acquisition & Assistance

(M/OAA/BHA-CPS/PSC)

U.S. Agency for International Development 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20523 www.usaid.gov

720BHA23R00029

ATTACHMENT 1

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 720BHA23R00029

2. ISSUANCE DATE: July 10, 2023

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: August 25, 2023, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Africa Recruitment Team, BHA.AfricaRecruitment@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Regional Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: $117,518 - $152,771 equivalent to GS-15 (not eligible for Locality Pay)

Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value and will include Locality Pay for domestic USPSCs based on the location of the Official USAID Worksite, or the approved alternative worksite if approved for remote work. USPSCs performing overseas are not entitled to Locality Pay.

Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed for U.S.-based positions.

There may be an initial training program in Washington, D.C. for three months, which will include formal classroom training and on-the-job training; and may include security training.

After completion of initial training, the Senior Regional Advisor will be assigned to the place of performance.

Overseas USPSCs may be authorized to telework or remote work only from a location within the country of performance, in accordance with Mission policy. Telework or remote work from outside the country of performance may only be authorized in certain situations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.

8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five (5) years, tentatively 145 day estimated start date from closing

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens Only

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret

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If there is a change in circumstances requiring access to National Security information classified at the Top-Secret level, the offeror may be asked to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance as provided by USAID.

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

GENERAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACT

The Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce. BHA encourages qualified candidates of all races/ethnicities, genders, cultural backgrounds, abilities, and socioeconomic statuses to apply.

To fulfill its mandate, and to effectively respond to disasters worldwide, BHA has established six regional offices in the following locations: San Jose, Costa Rica; Nairobi, Kenya; Dakar, Senegal;

Pretoria, South Africa; Budapest, Hungary; and Bangkok, Thailand. BHA also has other, smaller sub-regional and program offices around the world.

The Office of Africa (OA) designs, provides, and assesses humanitarian assistance, 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. To achieve these objectives, humanitarian experts based overseas coordinate with local authorities and USAID Missions, while humanitarian experts based in Washington D.C. coordinate with USAID Regional and Pillar Bureaus. The Office of Africa consists of five (5) geographic divisions: East Africa; Central Africa; Sudans; West Africa; and Southern Africa. These divisions are responsible for the provision of emergency humanitarian assistance through grants and cooperative agreements to non-governmental organizations (NGOs); international organizations including United Nations (UN) agencies; and to other partners to ensure the implementation and delivery of this assistance. These divisions also oversee OA’s nonresponse efforts in disaster risk reduction (DRR), resilience, and humanitarian transition.

USAID/BHA requires the services of a Senior Regional Advisor (SRA) for the Sudans, East and Central Africa Region, based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) within the Central Africa Sub-Regional Office, to ensure that BHA’s objectives for disaster assistance, DRR, resilience programming, strategic reporting, and interagency coordination for the region are met.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED

This position requires an individual to support the management and representation of the humanitarian portfolio for the BHA Central Africa Sub-Regional Office. The Central Africa Sub-Regional Office has responsibility for programs in the DRC, Central African Republic, and Republic of Congo. Under the supervision of the BHA Central Africa Sub-Regional Office Director in DRC and in collaboration with BHA/Washington, the SRA will be responsible for program analysis, strategy development, and coordination with relief agencies, other donors, and United

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States Government (USG) interagency partners. The SRA will primarily focus on work in the DRC, though will support activities in the other countries as needed and will maintain close coordination and collaboration with USAID and Embassy staff across the affected Central Africa sub-region and in the relevant regional offices.

This position requires substantial coordination with representatives from other USAID offices, the U.S. Embassy, other USG agencies, host country governments, U.S. military representatives, as well as with relevant donor representatives, UN agencies and NGOs, therefore requiring a highly collaborative work style. The SRA must be prepared to function effectively in a challenging and restrictive work environment and be willing to strictly adhere to U.S. Embassy security guidelines.

Working directly under the guidance and supervision of the BHA Central Africa Sub-Regional Office Director in DRC, the SRA will work in close collaboration with a program team that may include Regional Advisors, Senior Humanitarian Advisors, Program Officers, Field Monitors, Regional Team Leaders, Humanitarian Assistance Officers, and/or Program Assistants. In the event of a crisis or other acute shock, as the alter ego for the senior BHA official at post, the USPSC may be delegated leadership of response planning.

The individual will perform the following duties:

Humanitarian Leadership, Response, and Strategy

● Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge and understanding of humanitarian issues and context changes in DRC. Analyze and synthesize complex information to identify and prioritize humanitarian assistance needs, response options, and/or policy issues.

● Monitor incipient disasters and/or developments in complex crises, humanitarian response appeals and plans, and emerging and intractable humanitarian issues and challenges. Lead identification and assessment of humanitarian needs, formulation of assistance requirements, and beneficiary targeting. Apply expertise to inform USG actions.

● In partnership with the host country senior BHA representative, co-lead BHA strategy processes to determine current and future directions and resource levels of BHA’s DRC portfolio.

● Develop technically sound and time-sensitive solutions in times of crisis that enable USG to respond to the multifaceted needs of targeted beneficiaries. Facilitate discussions and lead the decision-making process on resource allocations across all sectors and modalities of assistance.

● Serve as a key strategic advisor for the Mission on humanitarian principles, policies, and practice.

● Ensure programmatic and operational cohesion and excellence across the full range of USG emergency programming, including Food Assistance (both in-kind and market-based); Agriculture and Food Security; Economic Recovery and Market Systems;

Health; Humanitarian Coordination and Information Management; Logistics; Nutrition;

Protection; Shelter and Settlements; and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene.

● Guide decision making and analysis of resource allocations across all modalities of

4 | Page humanitarian assistance, to include food assistance (in-kind, cash, vouchers, mobile money, local, regional, and international procurement, International Food Relief Partnership.

● Guide and advise USAID/DRC development programming to pivot or flex in response to crises and provide expert guidance to incorporate humanitarian concerns into Mission activities. Participate in USAID/DRC strategic processes and strategy development, including development of and coordination with Country Development Cooperation Strategy-linked activities and coordination as appropriate.

Coordination

● Create and nurture strategic partnerships with stakeholders, including Government of

DRC ministries and officials, UN agencies, government ministries, donors, international and national NGOs, and other international and regional professionals and institutions to advance USG humanitarian and DRR objectives.

● Enable coordination and cohesion across USAID emergency programming (activities and teams), particularly in the context of BHA’s rollout of new systems and processes in Washington and in the field, so that USAID is best placed to meet the multifaceted needs of populations in crisis.

● Collaborate with Mission colleagues to share information, avoid duplication, and identify synergies and transition opportunities. Maintain ongoing dialogue with USG inter-agency actors and BHA Regional Offices on programmatic priorities, objectives, progress, results, challenges, and USG policies in areas with humanitarian concerns or impacts.

● Maintain ongoing dialogue and coordination with BHA/Sudans, East and Central Africa Regional Office (SECARO) and BHA/Washington to ensure effective collaboration among all BHA entities working on the portfolio.

● Engage with NGOs, the UN, and other donors and actors to support humanitarian coordination and information management during emergencies. Support, assess, and participate in the humanitarian cluster system, where appropriate.

Representation and Advocacy

● As a leading humanitarian specialist in USAID/DRC, represent BHA in-country at internal senior level meetings within the USG and with humanitarian stakeholders and convey humanitarian concerns and priorities from the USAID perspective both in-person and in writing. Serve as a liaison on humanitarian issues among USAID mission staff, the U.S.

Embassy and other USG agencies, military representatives, BHA/Washington, and the broader humanitarian community.

● Support advocacy initiatives on humanitarian concerns and issues, such as humanitarian principles, protection of civilians, funding needs and appeals, and/or specific vulnerabilities in highly complex contexts.

● In partnership with the BHA Central Africa Sub-Regional Office Director, represent USAID’s humanitarian assistance interests during formal and informal engagements with other principal donors and actors in the sector, such as the World Food Program, UNICEF, European Union, Department for International Development, and World Bank.

● Represent as appropriate USAID in Government of DRC and donor coordination fora.

● Prepare and deliver presentations, briefings, and ad hoc analysis to senior government

5 | Page officials and other stakeholders on USAID’s emergency programs and activities at local, regional, and international workshops and conferences.

● Represent USG humanitarian interests at national and international meetings and conferences, and facilitate, as requested, travel and briefings for official USG visitors interested in humanitarian issues.

Portfolio Management and Administrative Supervision

● Provide strategic direction and guidance to ensure cohesion across a high-functioning team focused on humanitarian programming in the medium-to-long term.

● Oversee staffing and performance management processes assigned staff, including day to day management of staff, completion of annual performance evaluations, reviews of position descriptions, establishment, and monitoring of professional development plans, and leave request approvals. Advise, consult, and notify the BHA Central Africa Sub-Regional Office Director on personnel matters relevant to the team that require action.

● Work with Office Director and, as appropriate, Mission leadership to understand and mitigate the impacts of Mission-based BHA staff movements, including temporary deployments of Foreign Service Officers, Personal Services Contractors, and Foreign Service Nationals to respond to emergency situations in other countries.

● Manage and monitor BHA budget for assigned portfolio. This includes reviewing budget requests for appropriateness, monitoring use of funds and burn rates to ensure timely spending, reviewing quarterly pipeline reviews/budget status reports, following up on irregular audit findings, providing advice for realignments of budgets, and reviewing accruals.

● Apply expert knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, guidance, and practice to guide appropriate and effective use of emergency resources. Work in close coordination with cognizant BHA officials to provide strategic management and oversight of assigned portfolio.

● Ensure effective oversight of activities by coordinating and conducting monitoring visits.

Based on information collected during field visits, communicate findings and recommendations to the Office Director, Mission and BHA management, and, as appropriate, to partners and Government of DRC counterparts.

● Maintain regular, close coordination and communication with the BHA/SECARO and BHA/Washington.

Contextual Specialty:

● Serve as an expert on humanitarian issues, priorities, lessons learned, and opportunities in the region of responsibility.

● Provide expert guidance on political, humanitarian, organizational, structural, and stakeholder interests specific to the region of responsibility.

● Prepare and/or provide substantive guidance in the preparation of, regular strategic and analytical reports on current or anticipated emergencies, as well as comprehensive preparedness documentation on assigned countries.

General Duties:

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● Become certified and serve as an AOR/Contracting Officer’s Representative (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, monthly status reports), travel requests, key personnel requests, and financial/budget reports. They are responsible for drafting and submitting the annual contractor performance evaluation in the 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 Federal Acquisition Regulation, and USAID policy. AOR/CORs are responsible for all related requirements in the COR designation letter and the AOR designation letter.

● May be requested to be on-call or serve 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. 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). 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.

● 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.

● Consistently model behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to fostering a non-hostile work environment free of discrimination, bias, unfairness, exclusion, offensive behaviors, and harassment of any kind.

● Engage in at least one workforce diversity initiative/activity focused on helping to improve the organizational culture. Attend and actively participate in diversity and harassment training opportunities, brown bag sessions, or focus group discussions.

● Lead/foster a collaborative, respectful, and professional work environment by demonstrating partnership and teamwork to accomplish team, office, and bureau objectives.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

The USPSC is a member of the USAID/DRC Mission and will report directly to the BHA Central Africa Sub-Regional Office Director in DRC. However, he/she will coordinate regularly with the BHA Regional Office in Nairobi, BHA Washington staff, directly with personnel within USAID/DRC, and collaborate and consult with other USAID and U.S. Embassy staff.

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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. There is no higher level official technically responsible for administering the program/project.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

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.)

Bachelor’s degree in any discipline and at least eleven (11) years of work experience with a humanitarian or development focus. This experience must include responsibility in determining budget levels, selecting programs for funding, or managing or evaluating programs. Experience must include four (4) years of cumulative experience in international humanitarian assistance, emergency management and relief, DRR, post-emergency rehabilitation or recovery, or resilience. Proficiency in verbal and written English and French.

OR

Master’s degree in any discipline and at least nine (9) years of work experience with a humanitarian or development focus. This experience must include responsibility in determining budget levels, selecting programs for funding, or managing or evaluating programs. Experience must include four (4) years of cumulative experience in international humanitarian assistance, emergency management and relief, DRR, post-emergency rehabilitation or recovery, or resilience. Proficiency in verbal and written English and French.

French Language Proficiency (Pass/Fail)

The SRA shall be able to prepare correspondence and standardized reports, and to communicate in an effective manner with staff members in French and English. Advanced reading, writing, and speaking/listening in English and French is required for this position.

English proficiency will be assessed during the interview and English writing test. USAID reserves the right to test the French language proficiency with a third-party online platform:

ALTA Language Services, Inc. French proficiency will be assessed via administered reading, 8 | Page writing, and listening/speaking exams from ALTA Language Services, Inc. A detailed description of the French language proficiency exams are below:

● French reading proficiency

● French speaking/listening proficiency

● French writing proficiency

In order to be successful in the SRA role, the candidate will need to have advanced French language skills. French is the predominant working language used within the humanitarian assistance community in many countries throughout Africa, including, but not limited to, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Niger.

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.

The technical evaluation committee may conduct reference checks, including references from individuals who have not been specifically identified by the offeror, and may do so before or after a candidate is interviewed.

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 section IV 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 may be accepted.

● Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance. If there is a change in circumstances requiring access to National Security information classified at the Top-Secret level, the offeror may be asked 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.

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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:

MATRIX (30 points)

Professional Experience (12 points)

● Experience working with a donor or grant making organization (4 points).

● Experience managing needs assessments (1 point).

● Experience with budget development or management (1 point).

● Experience leading or participating in strategy development (1 point).

● Experience with program design (1 point).

● Experience with monitoring programs (1 point).

● Experience with evaluating programs (1 point).

● Experience managing programs that focus on emergency response (1 point).

● Experience managing programs that focus on DRR programming (1 point).

Skills and Abilities (8 points)

● Demonstrated experience working with host or local governments on the planning and implementation of humanitarian or development interventions (2 points).

● Demonstrated experience working with donor organizations or diplomatic missions (1 point).

● Demonstrated experience working with international or national non-governmental partners at senior levels (2 points).

● Demonstrated experience delivering oral presentations or engaging with senior officials within a large organization on humanitarian issues (3 points).

Leading Teams Experience (10 points)

● Experience mentoring and training staff (3 points).

● Experience with team performance management, including developing or monitoring employee training plans, providing formal or informal feedback through performance evaluations, and ensuring adequate staffing of a team (4 points).

● Experience managing teams that include program, technical, and administrative staff (3 points).

Interview Performance (50 points)

Timed English Writing Test (10 points)

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Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks (10 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.

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 the future phase of the selection process.

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

1. Eligible Offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals,” available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.

2. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I.

3. Offeror submissions must clearly reference the Solicitation number on all offeror submitted documents.

4. 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

11 | Page http://www.usaid.gov/forms

(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.

Additional documents submitted will not be accepted.

By submitting your offer materials, you certify that all of the information on and attached to the offer is true, correct, complete, and made in good faith. You agree to allow all information on and attached to the offer to be investigated. False or fraudulent information on or attached to your offer may result in you being eliminated from consideration for this position, or being terminated after award, and may be punishable by fine or imprisonment.

To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your offer, and as the subject line in any email.

5. NOTE: If the full security application package is not submitted within 30 days after the Office of Security determines eligibility, the offer may be rescinded. If a Secret security clearance is not obtained within nine months after offer acceptance, the offer may be rescinded. If Top Secret is required, and clearance is not obtained within nine months after award, USAID may terminate the contract at the convenience of the government. If Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access is not obtained within nine months after Top Secret clearance is granted, USAID may terminate the contract at the convenience of the government.

6. NOTE: If the full medical clearance package is not submitted within two months after offer acceptance, the offer may be rescinded. If a Department of State medical clearance is not obtained; the offer may be rescinded.

7. NOTE REGARDING GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS FOR THIS SOLICITATION: This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the offer.

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award.

Forms outlined below can be found at:

http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ or at http://www.forms.gov/bgfPortal/main.do

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1. Resume.

2. USPSC Offeror Form (AID 309-2)

3. Medical History and Examination Form (DS-6561). **

4. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86), or **

5. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85). **

6. Finger Print Card (FD-258). **

7. Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9 Form). **

** Forms 3 through 7 shall be completed ONLY upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an offeror is the successful candidate for the job.

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a USPSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

1. BENEFITS:

(a) Employer's FICA Contribution

(b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

(c) Pay Comparability Adjustment

(d) Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)

(e) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

(f) Leave and Holidays

2. ALLOWANCES

Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas), available at https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101

(a) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120).

(b) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130).

(c) Post Allowance (Section 220).

(d) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230).

(e) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260).

(f) Education Allowance (Section 270).

(g) Education Travel (Section 280).

(h) Post Differential (Chapter 500).

(i) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600)

(j) Danger Pay. (Section 650)

NOTE: Family members of USPSC's seeking employment in the local economy overseas need to be aware of the work permit regulations in the host country.

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If a country does not have a bi-lateral work agreement with the U.S. Government, USPSCs must seek Chief of Mission and Contracting Office approval to seek employment in the local economy; approval is not guaranteed.

VII. TAXES

USPSCs are required to pay Federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State Income taxes.

VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources:

1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix D, “Direct USAID Contracts with a U.S.

Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at:

https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar

2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms .

Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award as described below:

LINE ITEMS

ITEM NO

(A)

SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION)

(B)

QUANTITY

(C)

UNIT

(D)

UNIT PRICE

(E)

AMOUNT

(F)

0001 Base Year 1 - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: 497

- Accounting Info: [Insert from Phoenix]

1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD at Award after negotiation s with Contractor

0002 Base Year 2 - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: 497

- Accounting Info: [Insert from Phoenix]

1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD at Award after negotiation s with Contractor

0003 Base Year 3 - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: 497

- Accounting Info: [Insert from Phoenix]

1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD at Award after negotiation s with Contractor

0004 Base Year 4 - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: 497

1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD at Award after negotiation

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- Accounting Info: [Insert from Phoenix] s with Contractor

0005 Base Year 5 - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: 497

- Accounting Info: [Insert from Phoenix]

1 LOT $ _TBD $_TBD at Award after negotiation s with Contractor

3. Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at: http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs

AAPD 06-10 – PSC Medical Expense Payment Responsibility AAPD No. 06-10 is hereby incorporated as Appendix 1 to the solicitation.

AAPD 21-05 – Revised and Expanded Fringe Benefits for U.S. Personal Services Contractors AAPD No. 21-05 is hereby incorporated as Appendix 2 to the solicitation.

FAR 52.222-50 – Revised Combating Trafficking in Persons FAR Clause 52.222-50 is hereby incorporated as Appendix 3 to the solicitation.

FAR 52.204-27 Prohibition on a ByteDance Covered Application.

FAR Clause 52.204-27 is hereby incorporated as Appendix 4 to the solicitation.

4. Ethical Conduct. By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635. See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations.

5. PSC Ombudsman

The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information:

https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-services-contracts-ombudsman

The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov

15 | Page http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-services-contracts-ombudsman mailto:PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov

APPENDIX 1

USPSC PROVISION “MEDICAL EXPENSE PAYMENT RESPONSIBILITY (OCTOBER 2006) MEDICAL

EXPENSE PAYMENT RESPONSIBILITY (OCTOBER 2006)

(a) Definitions. Terms used in this General Provision are defined in 16 FAM 116 (available at http://www.foia.state.gov/REGS/fams.asp?level=2&id=59&fam=0). Note: personal services contractors are not eligible to participate in the Federal Employees Health Programs.

(b) The regulations in the Foreign Affairs Manual, Volume 16, Chapter 520 (16 FAM 520), Responsibility for Payment of Medical Expenses, apply to this contract, except as stated below.

The contractor and each eligible family member are strongly encouraged to obtain health insurance that covers this assignment. Nothing in this provision supersedes or contradicts any other term or provision in this contract that pertains to insurance or medical costs, except that section (e) supplements General Provision 25. “MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC) SERVICES.”

(c) When the contractor or eligible family member is covered by health insurance, that insurance is the primary payer for medical services provided to that contractor or eligible family member(s) both in the United States and abroad. The primary insurer’s liability is determined by the terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions of the insurance policy. When the contractor or eligible family member is not covered by health insurance, the contractor is the primary payer for the total amount of medical costs incurred and the U.S. Government has no payment obligation (see paragraph (f) of this provision).

(d) USAID serves as a secondary payer for medical expenses of the contractor and eligible family members who are covered by health insurance, where the following conditions are met:

(1) The illness, injury, or medical condition giving rise to the expense is incurred, caused, or materially aggravated while the eligible individual is stationed or assigned abroad;

(2) The illness, injury, or medical condition giving rise to the expense required or requires hospitalization and the expense is directly related to the treatment of such illness, injury, or medical condition, including obstetrical care; and

(3) The Office of Medical Services (M/MED) or a Foreign Service medical provider (FSMP) determines that the treatment is appropriate for, and directly related to, the illness, injury, or medical condition.

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(e) The Mission Director may, on the advice of M/MED or an FSMP at post, authorize medical travel for the contractor or an eligible family member in accordance with the General Provision 10, Travel and Transportation AAPD 06-10 PSC Medical Expense Payment Responsibility 6 Expenses (July 1993), section (i) entitled “Emergency and Irregular Travel and Transportation.” In the event of a medical emergency, when time does not permit consultation, the Mission Director may issue a Travel Authorization Form or Medical Services Authorization Form DS-3067, provided that the FSMP or Post Medical Advisor (PMA) is notified as soon as possible following such an issuance. The contractor must promptly file a claim with his or her medevac insurance provider and repay to USAID any amount the medevac insurer pays for medical travel, up to the amount USAID paid under this section. The contractor must repay USAID for medical costs paid by the medevac insurer in accordance with sections (f) and (g) below. In order for medical travel to be an allowable cost under General Provision 10, the contractor must provide USAID written evidence that medevac insurance does not cover these medical travel costs.

(f) If the contractor or eligible family member is not covered by primary health insurance, the contractor is the primary payer for the total amount of medical costs incurred. In the event of a medical emergency, the Medical and Health Program may authorize issuance of Form DS-3067, Authorization for Medical Services for Employees and/or Dependents, to secure admission to a hospital located abroad for the uninsured contractor or eligible family member.

In that case, the contractor will be required to reimburse USAID in full for funds advanced by USAID pursuant to the issuance of the authorization. The contractor may reimburse USAID directly or USAID may offset the cost from the contractor’s invoice payments under this contract, any other contract the individual has with the U.S. Government, or through any other available debt collection mechanism.

(g) When USAID pays medical expenses (e.g., pursuant to Form DS-3067, Authorization for Medical Services for Employees and/or Dependents), repayment must be made to USAID either by insurance payment or directly by the contractor, except for the amount of such expenses USAID is obligated to pay under this provision. The Contracting Officer will determine the repayment amount in accordance with the terms of this provision and the policies and procedures for employees contained in 16 FAM 521. When USAID pays the medical expenses, including medical travel costs (see section (e) above), of an individual (either the contractor or an eligible family member) who is covered by insurance, that individual promptly must claim his or her benefits under any applicable insurance policy or policies. As soon as the individual receives the insurance payment, the contractor must reimburse USAID for the full amount that USAID paid on the individual’s behalf or the repayment amount determined by the Contracting Officer in accordance with this paragraph, whichever is less. If an individual is not covered by insurance, the contractor must reimburse USAID for the entire amount of all medical expenses and any travel costs the contractor receives from his/her medevac provider.

(h) In the event that the contractor or eligible family member fails to recover insurance payments or transfer the amount of such payments to USAID within 90 days, USAID will take

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(i) Before departing post or terminating the contract, the contractor must settle all medical expense and medical travel costs. If the contractor is insured, he or she must provide proof to the Contracting AAPD 06-10 PSC Medical Expense Payment Responsibility 7 Officer that those insurance claims have been submitted to the insurance carrier(s) and sign a repayment agreement to repay to USAID any amounts paid by the insurance carrier(s).

[End of Provision]

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APPENDIX 2

GP. 5 Leave and Holidays [Deviation (NOV 2021)]

(a) Annual Leave

(1) The contractor may accrue annual leave at the rate specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this clause as follows:

(i) If the contract period of performance is ninety (90) calendar days or more, and the contractor's performance is continuous for the contract period of performance, the contractor is entitled to accrue annual leave as of the start date of the contract.

(ii) If the contract period of performance is ninety (90) calendar days or more, and the contractor's performance is not continuous during the contract period of performance, the contractor is entitled to accrue annual leave only for each instance of continuous performance of ninety

(90) calendar days or more.

(iii) If the contract period of performance is less than ninety (90) calendar days, the contractor is not entitled to accrue annual leave.

(2) The rate at which the contractor will accrue annual leave is based on the contractor's time in service according to the table of this paragraph (a)(2). The accrual rates are based on a full-time, 40-hour workweek, which will be prorated if the contract provides for a shorter workweek:

Time in Service Annual Leave (AL) Accrual Rate 0 to 3 years 4 hours of leave for each 2-week period over 3, and up to 15 years 6 hours of AL for each 2-week period

(including 10 hours AL for the final pay period of a calendar year) over 15 years 8 hours of AL for each 2-week period

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(i) USAID will calculate the time in service based on all the previous service performed by the contractor as—:

(A) An individual personal services contractor with USAID for any duration covered by Sec. 636(a)(3) of the FAA or other statutory authority applicable to USAID;

and/or

(B) A former U.S. Government (USG) direct-hire civilian employee; and/or

(C) An honorable active duty member of the uniformed services based on the definition in 5 U.S.C. 2101(3).

(ii) In addition to the information certified by the contractor in their Offeror Information form, the contracting officer may require the contractor to furnish copies of previously executed contracts, and/or other evidence of previous service (e.g., SF 50, DD Form 214 or 215) to conduct the due diligence necessary to verify creditable previous service.

(3) Annual Leave is provided under this contract primarily for the purposes of providing the contractor necessary rest and recreation during the period of performance. The contractor, in consultation with the Supervisor, must develop an annual leave schedule early in the period of performance, taking into consideration the requirements of the position, the contractor's preference, and other factors. The maximum amount of annual leave that the contractor can carry over from one leave year to the next is limited to 240 hours. The contractor's unused annual leave balance in excess of the 240 hour maximum at the end of the last pay period of each leave year will be forfeited, unless the requirements of the position precluded the contractor from taking such leave. The contractor may be authorized to restore annual leave for exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the contractor. The restoration of annual leave may be approved only by the USAID Administrator, cognizant Assistant Administrator or Head of an Independent Office reporting directly to the USAID Administrator, and cannot be delegated further. Annual leave restored must be scheduled and used no later than either the end of the leave year two years after either—

(i) The end of the leave year two years after the date fixed by the approving official as the termination date of the exceptional circumstances beyond the contractor's control, which resulted in the forfeiture; or

(ii) The end of the contract.

(4) The contractor must use all accrued annual leave during the period of performance.

At the end of the contract, the contractor will forfeit any unused annual leave except where the requirements of the position precluded the contractor from taking annual leave. In this case, the contracting officer may authorize the following:

(i) The contractor to take annual leave during the concluding weeks of the contract, not to exceed the period of performance; or

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(ii) Payment of a lump-sum for annual leave not taken based on a signed, written determination and findings (D&F) from the contractor's supervisor. The D&F must set out the facts and circumstances that prevented the contractor from taking annual leave, and the contracting officer must find that the contractor did not cause, or have the ability to control, such facts and circumstances. This lump-sum payment must not exceed the number of days the contractor could have accrued during a twelve (12)-month period based on the contractor's accrual rate.

(5) The contractor may be granted advanced annual leave by the contracting officer when circumstances warrant. Advanced leave must be approved by the Mission Director, cognizant Assistant Administrator, or Head of an Independent Office reporting directly to the Administrator, as appropriate. In no case may the contracting officer grant advanced annual leave in excess of the amount the contractor can accrue in a twelve (12)-month period or over the life of the contract, whichever is less. At the end of the period of performance or at termination, the contractor must reimburse USAID for any outstanding balance of advanced annual leave provided to the contractor under the contract.

(b) Sick Leave. The contractor may use sick leave on the same basis and for the same purposes as USAID direct-hire employees. The contractor will accrue sick leave at a rate not to exceed four (4) hours every two (2) weeks for a maximum of thirteen (13) work-days per year based on a full-time, 40-hour workweek, and the rate of accrual will be prorated if the contract provides for a shorter workweek. The contractor may carry over unused sick leave from year to year under the same contract, and to a new follow-on contract for the same work at the same place of performance. The contractor is not authorized to carry over sick leave to a new contract for a different position or at a different location. The contractor will not be compensated for unused sick leave at the completion of this contract.

(c) Home Leave. (1) The contractor may be granted home leave to be taken only in the U.S., its commonwealth, possessions, or territories, in one continuous period, under the following conditions:

(i) The contractor must complete twenty-four (24) continuous months of service abroad under this contract, and must not have taken more than thirty (30) workdays…