DDI-DRG USPSC Sol_7200AA23R00038 SMCA Advisor (final)_3.2.23.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 7200AA23R00038

ISSUANCE DATE: March 6, 2023

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: April 5, 2023 at 4:00PM EDT

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC)

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, 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.

At USAID, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) is a priority, and we are greater than the sum of our parts. When we integrate DEIA in our programs, policies, partnerships, and people (workforce), we are better able to understand and meet the needs of those we serve worldwide. USAID will evaluate all offerors based on the 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, Mir Ershadullah Contracting Officer

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

7200AA23R00038

USPSC – Social Movements and Collective Action Advisor/Senior Advisor

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 7200AA23R00038

2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 6, 2023

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: April 5, 2023 at 4:00PM EDT

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Casey Miskowski, email at cmiskowski@usaid.gov.

5. POSITION TITLE: Social Movements and Collective Action (SMCA) Advisor OR Social Movements and Collective Action (SMCA) Senior Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: $112,015-$145,617 per year, equivalent to GS-13, including Washington, D.C.

Locality Pay, for Advisor OR $132,368-$172,075 per year, equivalent to GS-14, including Washington, D.C. Locality Pay, for Senior Advisor.

This position has been designated as a “tandem” position that can be filled at either the GS-13 or GS-14 level. The title of the position at the GS-13 level will be “Social Movements and Collective Action Advisor.” The title of the position at the GS-14 level will be “Social Movements and Collective Action Senior Advisor.”

Note: Offerors who submit an offer for the GS-14 grade level, but do not meet the minimum qualifications as outlined in this solicitation and as reviewed by the Technical Evaluation Committee, will not be considered for the GS-13 position if they have not submitted a separate offer for each. Similarly, offerors who apply for the GS-13 position even though they might meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-14 position will not be considered for the higher graded position if they have not submitted a separate offer for each. Offerors who are unsure of which grade level they meet the minimum qualifications for should submit separate offers for the GS-13 and GS-14 positions.

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.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Washington with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties. Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed.

This position has been designated as telework-eligible (3-8 days per pay period). Telework may be authorized in certain situations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.

8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two years, estimated to start on or about 09/01/23. Start date will be dependent on issuance of security clearance. The actual start date must be within 30 days of receiving notification that required security clearance has been obtained. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise (an) additional option period(s) for up to three additional years for the date(s) estimated as follows:

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: US citizens

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

Base Period: 09/01/2023-08/31/2025 Option Period 1: 09/01/2025-08/31/2026 Option Period 2: 09/01/2026-08/31/2027 Option Period 3: 09/01/2027-08/31/2028 mailto:cmiskowski@usaid.gov

Background

As the home for USAID’s Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) programs, the Center for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG Center) focuses on advocating for democratic governance, driving important research, and supporting over 90 field missions worldwide to develop and implement programs. USAID’s DRG sector includes support for good governance, rule of law, elections and political processes, civil society and media, human rights, and other DRG fields.

USAID currently manages over $1.7 billion a year on a broad range of democracy programs covering justice, human rights, citizen security, civil society, media, local government, legislatures, constitutional reform, political parties, elections, anti-corruption, and anti-trafficking in persons. These efforts are critical to improve government effectiveness, accountability, transparency and legitimacy, and to ensure citizens are empowered to play a role in public affairs and the decisions that affect their daily lives. They also underpin the sustainability of the Agency’s socio-economic development sectors. The DRG Center leads the Agency in supporting overall efforts to advance democracy, human rights, and governance.

The DRG Center's annual budget is over $146 million, with a staff of over 90, comprised of U.S. Direct Hires (USDHs), contractors, and Fellows. The DRG Center currently has ten technical teams: Cadre Care & Development (CC&D), Civil Society and Media (CSM), Democratic Resilience and Innovation (DRI), Democratic Elections and Political Processes (DEPP), Evidence & Learning (E&L), External Engagement & Integration (EE&I), Governance (GOV), Justice, Rights, and Security (JRS), Policy, Coordination, and Integration (PCI), and Program Team. The DRG Center's goal is to promote peace, prosperity, and freedom around the globe through self-reliant, citizen-responsive governance that respects human dignity and the rule of law. The DRG Center achieves this through high quality support to USAID Missions, generating and disseminating knowledge on best practices, and providing leadership on DRG to the wider USG and the international development community.

DRG’s Civil Society and Media (CSM) Team provides technical leadership and support on civil society and media, including youth and labor issues. The CSM Team generates comparative knowledge on effective approaches for strengthening civil society and independent local media; pilots state-of-the-art approaches to civil society and media support; strengthens the Agency’s DRG staff through training and technical support; conducts assessments, strategy and program designs, and evaluations; and designs and manages a targeted portfolio of global programs. The CSM Team promotes innovations in civil society, media, labor, and youth as a means for addressing development challenges, and represents USAID in international processes, networks, and working groups.

The CSM Team seeks to expand technical knowledge and abilities on a wide-range of issues concerning nonviolent collective action, social movements, and civic activism as they relate to our efforts to promote development outcomes for civil society, media, labor, and democratic systems. The advisor must also be an expert in understanding the impact of how authoritarian actors have learned to anticipate and repress nonviolent collective action, and how this has shaped efforts and initiatives led by civic actors working to build people power. They will support the work of USAID field Missions and Washington Operating Units, other USG entities, and the broader DRG community. This position will advance the DRG Center’s efforts to build internal knowledge and capacities related to supporting activists, and working together with civil society and informal grassroots organizers to engage in long-term strategizing, organizing, coalition building, and leadership development–critical approaches that build lasting political power.

This position is located in the DRG Center. As a direct report to the CSM Team Lead or their designate, the incumbent provides support to the CSM Team, other DRG Center teams, USAID Missions and the Agency to advance thinking and approaches regarding collective action, social movements, and civic activism as they relate to civil society, media, labor, and democratic systems. The incumbent supports the implementation of CSM, DRG, and Agency priorities.

AT THE GS-13 ADVISOR LEVEL:

Duties and Responsibilities

The Social Movements and Collective Action Advisor will have a solid understanding of nonviolent collective action, social movements, and civic activism as they relate to USAID’s efforts to promote development outcomes for civil society, media, labor, and democratic systems. The Social Movements and Collective Action Advisor is expected to carry out a diverse set of work assignments related to USAID's approaches with some technical oversight from their supervisor and the CSM Civil Society and Labor subteams, including making significant contributions to research, programming, training, monitoring, evaluating and learning (MEL), and policy.

The Social Movements and Collective Action Advisor will provide technical support and guidance to USAID field missions and Washington on how to adapt civil society programming to this changing environment.

The incumbent will have strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills and willingness to function in a collaborative and collegial environment; sensitivity to others; and sound judgment. The incumbent will have the ability to work in a fast-paced, fluid environment, re-prioritizing actions and adjusting workload as needed. The incumbent is expected to take initiative and be able to work independently with guidance as needed.

The position is based in Washington, DC and will include travel to and work in partner countries in all regions.

The Social Movements and Collective Action Advisor position includes the following responsibilities:

a. Provide technical support, guidance, and analysis to Missions and Washington operating units on social movements, freedom of expression, assembly, civic and collective action.

Assist in designing and adapting new DRG activities, developing strategies, and drafting relevant documents. Assist in the review and selection of related programming.

b. Serve as a subject matter expert on social movements, freedom of expression, assembly, civic, and collective action to support policy development, as well as strategic planning and implementation.

c. Serve as an Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR), Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), Alternate AOR/COR and/or Activity Manager to oversee USAID programming related to social movements, freedom of expression, assembly, civic and collective action. Review and provide feedback and guidance on annual work plans, implementing partner reports, and budgets, in accordance with USAID policies and procedures. Maintain award files using Agency systems and ensure compliance with award management requirements. Serve as a primary liaison with implementing partners and ensure projects meet objectives. Collaborate with the Office of Acquisition and Assistance on award management issues. Serving as AOR/COR requires successful completion of a certification program in accordance with Agency policy.

d. Provide input and guidance on movements-related research, policy, evaluations, and assessments.

e. Assist the DRG Center and CSM Team with supporting learning to better understand donor support for activists, organizers, and grassroots initiatives focused on advancing democratic and development outcomes.

f. Liaise with DRG Center sub-sector Teams, Regional Bureaus, and other inter-agency partners as appropriate to inform and strengthen the DRG Center’s approaches regarding civic activism, movements, and collective action, as they relate to DRG issues.

g. Contribute to the collection and implementation of technical, contextual, and experiential approaches regarding social movements and collective action as they relate to DRG technical issues and programming with USAID Missions and across the DRG sector, the Agency and interagency.

h. Advance the DRG Center’s learning efforts to address gaps in knowledge on social movements, civic, and collective action, identify related issues and trends, and collect relevant best practices.

i. Manage, track, and report progress on the DRG Learning Agenda related to social movements, collective action, and related issues.

j. Support the development and implementation of trainings, e-learning, workshops, and facilitated learning conversations as appropriate, and integrate other capacity building opportunities in the implementation of DRG programming.

k. Work effectively and collaboratively with colleagues of diverse backgrounds and opinions.

l. Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain relationships within the team as well as with other teams, operating units and Missions.

m. Create collaborative and collegial environments, show sensitivity to others, and use balanced judgment.

n. Degree of responsibility for decision-making assigned to the position: The SMCA Advisor will be a subject matter expert regarding global development issues relating to social movements, collective action, and civic activism and its related effects on the work of the CSM Team and the DRG Center. The incumbent is expected to understand trends, and current challenges to freedom of assembly, association, and expression, and how this relates to nonviolent collective action, social movements and civic activism. The incumbent must have relevant experience and skills to craft and adapt development programs to address this set of issues. The incumbent is expected to carry out a diverse set of work assignments related to USAID's approaches including research, assessments, programming, training, monitoring, evaluating and learning (MEL), and policy development. Under the direct supervision of the Civil Society and Media Team Leader or his/her designee, the incumbent will exercise independent judgment while performing challenging work which is varied and wide-ranging. The incumbent will receive minimal day-to-day technical guidance. The incumbent is also highly responsible, service-oriented, organized, collaborative, adaptive to evolving priorities, and pays close attention to detail.

o. Level of complexity for work assignments: The incumbent undertakes a wide range of duties that require the exercise of judgment, the interpretation of policies and practices, and their relevance to a new problem or situation. The incumbent typically identifies and develops methods to resolve problems or cope with issues which directly affect the accomplishment of principal program goals and objectives. The incumbent is expected to carry out a diverse set of work assignments related to USAID's approaches with little technical oversight, including research, programming, training, monitoring, evaluating and learning (MEL), and policy. The incumbent will serve as a subject matter expert on social movements, collective action, and civic activism as they relate to civil society, development outcomes, democratic systems and related issues to support policy development, as well as strategic planning and implementation; enhance the DRG Center’s efforts and improve democratic development outcomes; and liaise with DRG Center sub-sector Teams, Regional Bureaus, and inter-agency partners as appropriate to inform and strengthen the DRG Center’s approaches regarding social movements, collective action, and civic activism, as they related to DRG issues.

p. Knowledge level required: The SMCA Advisor will be a subject matter expert regarding global development issues relating to social movements, collective action, and civic activism and its related effects on the work of the CSM Team and the DRG Center. The incumbent is expected to have an understanding of trends and current challenges to freedom of assembly, association, and expression and how they relate to nonviolent collective action, social movements and civic activism practice. The incumbent will be adept at assessing unique cultural and political contexts to develop and to adapt programming approaches appropriate to complex circumstances. USAID Missions will rely on the incumbent to provide guidance and solutions when competing interests, such as conflicting inter-agency priorities, local competing interests, or other possible conflicts among possible technical solutions arise. The incumbent will have a Bachelor’s degree or higher degree from an accredited U.S. or foreign educational institution with study in a pertinent field, such as international development, civil liberties, and civic participation.

q. Supervisory Controls: The incumbent’s supervisor is the CSM Team Leader or their designee. The incumbent serves as a member of the CSM Team, and as appropriate, coordinates with other USAID operating units as a representative of the DRG Center and the Civil Society and Media Team. The Supervisor and the incumbent will develop a work plan that includes broad objectives. As a subject matter expert, the incumbent independently plans, designs and carries out activities, studies and programs/projects.

The incumbent develops deadlines for activities and other specialized tasks and is responsible for planning and carrying out assignments, resolving most conflicts that arise, and coordinating work with others as necessary. The incumbent interprets policy in terms of established objectives and keeps his/her supervisor informed of progress in the achievement of objectives and of potentially controversial matters.

r. Guidelines for the required work, including reporting requirements: The SMCA Advisor will work according to pertinent sources of information consisting of the Foreign Assistance Act, the DRG Center Annual Report FY 2021, the DRG Center’s Users Guide, the DRG Center Strategy, the Department of State and USAID Joint Strategic Plan FY 2018-2022, and USAID Agency and DRG Bureau rules and regulations. The incumbent exercises considerable independent judgment in determining the application of approaches to programming and inputs to strategy and policy development.

s. Scope and effect of the work performed: The SMCA Advisor contributes to the CSM research agenda as the recognized DRG Center point of contact on the impacts of social movements, collective action, and civic activism on democracy to advance knowledge and enhance the work of the CSM Team, the DRG Center, and the Missions that we serve. The incumbent will support efforts regarding project design, implementation, monitoring, learning and evaluation. The incumbent will guide team members to establish criteria, assess program effectiveness, and contribute to analysis on the landscape impacting USAID’s work. The incumbent’s work outputs will support both Agency efforts as well as those of the broader development community. Assignments, particularly those related to providing technical guidance to central and Mission-based programming, will require the ability to lead while working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.

t. Level and purpose of contacts: Contacts are with individuals or groups from inside and outside of the agency, regarding the impacts of social movements and collective action on democracy. The incumbent is responsible for liaising with a variety of agency and external actors in order to ensure efficacious use of DRG programming assistance resources. This includes implementing partners, interagency and intra-agency entities, other donors, and external stakeholders as appropriate to the subject matter. The incumbent will engage with a variety of individuals and groups from USAID including DRG Center leadership and Mission leadership - 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 the impacts of social movements and collective action on democracy.

u. Supervision or oversight the position has over others (address the number and level of subordinates, and the degree of supervisory responsibility, if any): None

v. Travel requirements, if any, including an estimate of the number or frequency of trips and locations: The PSC should expect to spend up to 20% of their time on TDY.

w. Support Items: The PSC will be provided with the support services, equipment, and supplies necessary to perform the work if needed as this position has been designated as Telework Eligible.

AT THE GS-14 SENIOR ADVISOR LEVEL:

Duties and Responsibilities

The Social Movements and Collective Action Senior Advisor will be a subject matter expert on nonviolent collective action, social movements, and civic activism as they relate to USAID’s efforts to promote development outcomes for civil society, media, labor, and democratic systems, including but not limited to understanding civic technology, effects of external indirect support, and donor coordination. The Social Movements and Collective Action Senior Advisor is expected to carry out a diverse set of work assignments related to USAID's approaches with some technical oversight from their supervisor and the CSM Civil Society and Labor subteams, including making significant contributions to research, programming, training, monitoring, evaluating and learning (MEL), and policy.

The Social Movements and Collective Action Senior Advisor will provide technical leadership and guidance to USAID field missions and Washington on how to adapt civil society programming to this changing environment.

The incumbent will have strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills and willingness to function in a collaborative and collegial environment; sensitivity to others; and sound judgment. The incumbent will have the ability to work in a fast-paced, fluid environment, re-prioritizing actions and adjusting workload as needed. The incumbent is expected to take initiative and be able to work independently with guidance as needed.

The position is based in Washington, DC and will include travel to and work in partner countries in all regions.

The Social Movements and Collective Action Senior Advisor position includes the following responsibilities:

a. Provide technical support, guidance, and analysis to Missions and Washington operating units on social movements, freedom of expression, assembly, civic and collective action.

Assist in designing and adapting new DRG activities, developing strategies, and drafting relevant documents. Assist in the review and selection of related programming.

b. Serve as a subject matter and interdisciplinary expert to lead policy development, as well as strategic planning and implementation on social movements, freedom of expression, assembly, civic, and collective action.

c. Serve as an Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR), Contracting Officer’s

Representative (COR), Alternate AOR/COR and/or Activity Manager to oversee USAID programming related to social movements, freedom of expression, assembly, civic and collective action. Review and provide feedback and guidance on annual work plans, implementing partner reports, and budgets, in accordance with USAID policies and procedures. Maintain award files using Agency systems and ensure compliance with award management requirements. Serve as a primary liaison with implementing partners and ensure projects meet objectives. Collaborate with the Office of Acquisition and Assistance on award management issues. Serving as AOR/COR requires successful completion of a certification program in accordance with Agency policy.

d. Lead, identify, and provide input and guidance on movements-related research, policy, evaluations, and assessments. Assist in strategic planning and implementation.

e. Assist the DRG Center and CSM Team in maintaining state-of-the-art knowledge on support for activists, organizers, and grassroots initiatives; as well as the role of donors, in particular, in USAID efforts to improve democratic development outcomes.

f. Advise senior leaders in the DRG Center, Technical and Regional Bureaus and other

USG leadership in the subject matter area.

g. Liaise with DRG Center sub-sector Teams, Regional Bureaus, and other inter-agency partners as appropriate to inform and strengthen the DRG Center’s approaches regarding civic activism, movements, and collective action, as they relate to DRG issues.

h. Isolate and define unknown conditions, resolve critical problems, and develop new theories in social movements, civic, and collective action.

i. Contribute to the collection and implementation of technical, contextual, and experiential approaches regarding social movements and collective action as they relate to DRG technical issues and programming with USAID Missions and across the DRG sector, the Agency and interagency.

j. Advance the DRG Center’s learning efforts to address gaps in knowledge on social movements, civic, and collective action, identify related issues and trends, and collect relevant best practices.

k. Manage, track, and report progress on the DRG Learning Agenda related to social movements, collective action, and related issues.

l. Lead and support the development and implementation of trainings, e-learning, workshops, and facilitated learning conversations as appropriate, and integrate other capacity building opportunities in the implementation of DRG programming.

m. Utilize expert knowledge to consult with other experts; represents the agency in the inter-agency, bilateral, and multilateral spaces.

n. Work effectively and collaboratively with colleagues of diverse backgrounds and opinions.

o. Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain relationships within the team as well as with other teams, operating units, and Missions.

p. Create collaborative and collegial environment; show sensitivity to others; and use balanced judgment.

q. Perform work of significant difficulty and responsibility with formal decision-making authority within the social movements and collective action workstream.

r. Degree of responsibility for decision-making assigned to the position: The SMCA Senior

Advisor will be a subject matter expert regarding global development issues relating to social movements, collective action, and civic activism and its related effects on the work of the CSM Team and the DRG Center. The incumbent is expected to have a firm grasp of the trends, and current challenges to freedom of assembly, association, and expression, and how this relates to nonviolent collective action, social movements, and civic activism. The incumbent must have relevant experience and skills to craft and adapt development programs to address this set of issues. The incumbent is expected to carry out a diverse set of work assignments related to USAID's approaches including research, assessments, programming, training, monitoring, evaluating and learning (MEL), and policy development. Under the direct supervision of the Civil Society and Media Team Leader or his/her designee, the incumbent will exercise independent judgment while performing challenging work which is varied and wide-ranging. The incumbent will receive minimal day-to-day technical guidance, perform work of significant difficulty and responsibility, and have formal decision-making authority within the social movements and collective action workstream.

s. Level of complexity for work assignments: The incumbent undertakes a wide range of duties that require the exercise of judgment, the interpretation of policies and practices, and their relevance to a new problem or situation. The incumbent typically identifies and develops methods to resolve problems or cope with issues which directly affect the accomplishment of principal program goals and objectives. The incumbent is expected to carry out a diverse set of work assignments related to USAID's approaches with little technical oversight, including research, programming, training, monitoring, evaluating and learning (MEL), and policy. The incumbent will provide cutting edge technical support to Missions and Washington operating units on key issues regarding digital technology and civic activism as they relate to civil society, development outcomes, democratic systems and related issues, including the assessments, design of new activities, monitoring, learning and evaluation; serve as a subject matter expert on social movements, collective action, and civic activism as they relate to civil society, development outcomes, democratic systems and related issues to support policy development, as well as strategic planning and implementation; advance USAID strategy to include supporting and advocating for inclusion of approaches informed by cutting-edge thinking on social movements and collective action, to enhance the DRG Center’s efforts and improve democratic development outcomes; advise senior leaders in the DRG Center, Technical and Regional Bureaus and other USG leadership in the subject matter area; and liaise with DRG Center sub-sector Teams, Regional Bureaus, and inter-agency partners as appropriate to inform and strengthen the DRG Center’s approaches regarding social movements, collective action, and civic activism, as they related to DRG issues.

The incumbent is expected to be innovative and original in recommending new or improved approaches to achieve problem resolution.

t. Knowledge level required: The SMCA Senior Advisor will be a subject matter expert regarding global development issues relating to social movements, collective action, and civic activism and its related effects on the work of the CSM Team and the DRG Center.

The incumbent is expected to have subject matter and interdisciplinary expertise of nonviolent collective action, social movements and civic activism practice and trends, and current challenges to freedom of assembly, association, and expression. The incumbent will be adept at assessing unique cultural and political contexts to develop and to adapt programming approaches appropriate to complex circumstances. USAID Missions will rely on the incumbent to provide guidance and solutions when competing interests, such as conflicting inter-agency priorities, local competing interests, or other possible conflicts among possible technical solutions arise. The incumbent will have a Master’s degree or higher degree from an accredited U.S. or foreign educational institution with study in a pertinent field, such as international development, civil liberties, and civic participation.

u. Supervisory Controls: The incumbent’s supervisor is the CSM Team Leader or their designee. The incumbent serves as a member of the CSM Team, and as appropriate, coordinates with other USAID operating units as a representative of the DRG Center and the Civil Society and Media Team. The Supervisor and the incumbent will develop a work plan that includes broad objectives. As a subject matter expert, the incumbent independently plans, designs and carries out activities, studies and programs/projects.

The incumbent develops deadlines for activities and other specialized tasks and is responsible for planning and carrying out assignments, resolving most conflicts that arise, and coordinating work with others as necessary. The incumbent interprets policy in terms of established objectives and keeps their supervisor informed of progress in the achievement of objectives and of potentially controversial matters. Results of the work under the social movements, civic, and collective action workstream are considered technically authoritative.

v. Guidelines for the required work, including reporting requirements: The SMCA Senior

Advisor will work according to pertinent sources of information consisting of the Foreign Assistance Act, the DRG Center Annual Report FY 2021, the DRG Center’s Users Guide, the DRG Center Strategy, the Department of State and USAID Joint Strategic Plan FY 2018-2022, and USAID Agency and DRG Bureau rules and regulations. The incumbent exercises considerable independent judgment in determining the application of approaches to programming and inputs to strategy and policy development.

w. Scope and effect of the work performed: The SMCA Senior Advisor contributes to the

CSM research agenda as the recognized DRG Center subject matter and interdisciplinary expert on the impacts of social movements, collective action, and civic activism on democracy to advance knowledge and enhance the work of the CSM Team, the DRG Center, and the Missions that we serve. The incumbent will lead efforts regarding project design, implementation, monitoring, learning and evaluation. The incumbent’s work involves isolating and defining unknown conditions, resolving critical problems, or developing new theories. The incumbent is considered an expert and is consulted by other experts; assignments reflect a wide program area; projects range from regional to global impact. The incumbent will guide team members to establish criteria, assess program effectiveness, and contribute to analysis on the landscape impacting USAID’s work. The incumbent’s work outputs will support both Agency efforts as well as those of the broader development community. Assignments, particularly those related to providing technical guidance to central and Mission-based programming, will require the ability to lead while working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.

x. Level and purpose of contacts: Contacts are with individuals or groups, as well as Senior management, with officials from inside and outside of the agency, regarding the impacts of social movements and collective action on democracy. The incumbent is responsible for liaising with a variety of agency and external actors in order to ensure efficacious use of DRG programming assistance resources. This includes implementing partners, interagency and intra-agency entities, other donors, and external stakeholders as appropriate to the subject matter. The incumbent will engage with a variety of individuals and groups from USAID including DRG Center leadership and Mission leadership -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 the impacts of social movements and collective action on democracy.

y. Supervision or oversight the position has over others (address the number and level of subordinates, and the degree of supervisory responsibility, if any): None

z. Travel requirements, if any, including an estimate of the number or frequency of trips and locations: The PSC should expect to spend up to 20% of their time on TDY.

aa. Support Items: The PSC will be provided with the support services, equipment, and supplies necessary to perform the work if needed as this position has been designated as Telework Eligible.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

AT THE GS-13 ADVISOR LEVEL:

● Bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. or foreign educational institution with study in a pertinent field (such as international development, civil liberties, and civic participation) and at least six (6) years of progressively responsible experience related to the DRG sector conducting work similar to program management, policy development, or program coordination

OR

Master’s degree with study and/or experience in a pertinent field, including, but not limited to, international development, civil liberties, and civic participation and at least three (3) years of progressively responsible experience related to the DRG sector conducting work similar to program management, policy development, or program coordination.

● Of those years of experience, one (1) year in developing country contexts.

● Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, with senior officials and in public forums with minimal editing or supervision.

AND

● Offeror is a U.S. Citizen;

● USPSC Application Form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete sections A through I.

This form must be physically signed and scanned. Electronic signatures will not be accepted;

● Satisfactory verification of academic credentials;

● Professional references;

● Supplemental document specifically addressing the Evaluation Factors;

● Ability to obtain a SECRET level security clearance as required by USAID;

● Must not appear as an excluded party in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).

AT THE GS-14 SENIOR ADVISOR LEVEL:

● Master’s degree or higher degree from an accredited U.S. or foreign educational institution with study in a pertinent field, such as: international development, civil liberties, and civic participation.

● Eight (8) years of experience in the DRG sector conducting work similar to program management, policy development, or program coordination.

o Of those years of experience, two (2) years in developing country contexts.

● Experience presenting alongside other experts in regional and/or international forums on social movements, collective action, and civic activism.

● Demonstrated experience having formal decision-making authorities within a social movements and collective action project or portfolio.

AND

● Offeror is a U.S. Citizen;

● USPSC Application Form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete sections A through I.

This form must be physically signed and scanned. Electronic signatures will not be accepted;

● Satisfactory verification of academic credentials;

● Professional references;

● Supplemental document specifically addressing the Evaluation Factors;

● Ability to obtain a SECRET level security clearance as required by USAID;

● Must not appear as an excluded party in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).

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. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

Note: The order of preference for hiring is the GS-13 SMCA Advisor, followed by the GS-14 SMCA Senior Advisor. Offerors at the GS-13 level will be evaluated first and offerors at the GS-14 level will only be considered if there are no qualified offerors from the preferred position.

The technical evaluation committee (TEC) will select candidates to interview based on a preliminary review of applications. References will be checked only for those candidates interviewed. The technical evaluation committee may conduct reference checks from individuals who have not been specifically identified by the offeror, and may do so before or after a candidate is interviewed.

AT THE GS-13 ADVISOR LEVEL:

The following Quality Ranking Factors are used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified offerors in comparison to other offerors:

QRF 1: Technical Expertise (35 points)

● Demonstrated ability to lead and contribute to analysis and provide recommendations on a wide-range of issues concerning social movements, collective action, and civic activism as specifically in research; experience with and awareness of cutting-edge research and best practices regarding civic activism and DRG issues; ability to contribute to meaningful content on the subject matter to enhance and deliver capacity development, training, e-learnings, and convenings.

QRF 2: DRG Program Management Experience (25 points)

● Demonstrated experience in developing, managing and monitoring DRG programs relevant to social movements, collective action, and civic activism, including program design, development (assessment and development), program management (implementation, monitoring and evaluation) implementation, monitoring, and evaluation); and experience with and awareness of best practices in this space.

QRF 3: Communication (20 points)

● Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, with senior officials and in public forums with minimal editing or supervision.

● Proven track record of contributing to the analysis and synthesis of information for use by principals.

● Demonstrated productive and positive working relationships and communication with colleagues and peers.

https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

QRF 4: Teamwork/Customer Service (20 points)

● Proven track-record of working effectively and collaboratively with colleagues of diverse backgrounds and opinions.

● Strong interpersonal skills and willingness to function in a collaborative and collegial environment; sensitivity to others; and balanced judgment.

AT THE GS-14 SENIOR ADVISOR LEVEL:

The following Quality Ranking Factors are used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified offerors in comparison to other offerors:

QRF 1: Technical Expertise (35 points)

● Demonstrated ability to lead and contribute to analysis and provide recommendations on a wide-range of issues concerning social movements, collective action, and civic activism as specifically in research; experience with and awareness of cutting-edge research and best practices regarding civic activism and DRG issues; ability to contribute to meaningful content on the subject matter to enhance and deliver capacity development, training, e-learnings, and convenings.

● Demonstrated academic/technical knowledge and experience as a scholar, such as publishing relevant work in nonviolent collective action, social movements, and civic activism sector.

● Demonstrated experience isolating and defining unknown conditions, addressing critical problems, or developing new approaches related to support for social movements, civic, and collective action.

● Demonstrated experience as an expert on their subject matter, such that their work affects the work of other experts.

QRF 2: DRG Program Management Experience (25 points)

● Demonstrated experience in developing, managing and monitoring DRG programs relevant to social movements, collective action, and civic activism, including program design, development (assessment and development), program management (implementation, monitoring and evaluation) implementation, monitoring, and evaluation); and experience with and awareness of best practices in this space.

QRF 3: Communication (20 points)

● Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, with senior officials and in public forums with minimal editing or supervision.

● Proven track record of contributing to the analysis and synthesis of information for use by principals.

● Demonstrated productive and positive working relationships and communication with colleagues and peers.

● Demonstrated experience presenting alongside other experts in regional and/or international forums on social movements, collective action, and civic activism.

QRF 4: Teamwork/Customer Service (20 points)

● Proven track-record of working effectively and collaboratively with colleagues of diverse backgrounds and opinions.

● Strong interpersonal skills and willingness to function in a collaborative and collegial environment; sensitivity to others; and balanced judgment.

● Demonstrated experience having formal decision-making authorities within a social movements and collective action project or portfolio.

BASIS OF RATING: Eligible offerors who meet the Minimum Qualifications will be further evaluated based on scoring of the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs). Offerors are required to address each of the QRFs in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, and/or awards they have received that are relevant to each factor. Be sure to include your name and the solicitation number at the top of each additional page. Failure to specifically address the QRFs may result in not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, training, and/or awards. Responses must be limited to 500 words per factor. Any additional words above the limit will neither be read nor scored.

The evaluation of the QRFs based on the offeror’s responses to the QRFs as well as information provided in other written offer materials (e.g., form AID 309-2, resume) will be used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified offerors. The most qualified offeror(s) will be interviewed. Interviews conducted in person will be held at USAID offices in the Washington, D.C. region. Interviews may be conducted in person, by telephone, or by video. USAID will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews.

The interview and professional reference checks will be considered in the overall final scoring of the QRFs.

In the event that USAID is unable to obtain any information from references, the lack of reference information will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably in the scoring of the QRFs.

Total rating system is as follows:

1. Technical Expertise: 35 points

2. DRG Program Management Experience 25 points

2. Communication: 20 points

3. Teamwork/Customer Service: 20 points

Total Possible Points: 100 points

Satisfactory verification of academic credentials is required prior to award. The selected offeror will be required to submit unofficial transcripts for the academic degree for which the offeror qualified for the position. If the selected offeror fails to submit the required academic credential documentation within the time period specified by the Contracting Officer, the offeror may be disqualified from further consideration for award. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements. Transcripts from foreign educational institutions must be accompanied by an official Evaluation of Educational Credentials. It is the offeror’s responsibility to provide evidence that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. USAID will not pay for expenses related to obtaining transcripts or proof of creditability of foreign education. Click on the following link for a list of accredited organizations (https://www.naces.org/members) recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials. More information may be found at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

The selected offeror will be required to obtain a Secret Level Security Clearance provided by USAID prior to contract award. Dual citizens may be asked to renounce second-country citizenship. If a full security investigation package is not submitted by the selected offeror within 30 days after it is requested, the offer may be rescinded. If a Secret level security clearance is not obtained within nine months after offeror acceptance, the offer may be rescinded.

NOTE REGARDING UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER (UEI) AND THE SYSTEM FOR AWARD

MANAGEMENT: 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 award. This will assign you a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). You will be disqualified if you either fail to comply with this requirement or if your name appears on the excluded parties list in www.sam.gov or on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. Registration information is available at www.sam.gov.

NOTE: Registration in SAM and assignment of a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is FREE. Interested offerors are highly encouraged to initiate the registration process early to avoid any delays during contract award.

USAID reserves the right to select additional offerors to fill possible future vacant positions if vacancies https://www.naces.org/members https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ become available during the selection process.

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted electronically via e-mail to the Point of Contact specified in Section I, item 4. Late offers will not be considered.

To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, please clearly reference the solicitation number and GS-level you are applying for in the email subject line of the submission. Offeror submissions must clearly reference the Solicitation number on all offeror submitted documents.

Note: If you are applying for both the GS-13 Advisor and GS-14 Senior Advisor position, you must submit two different emails, one for each position. The subject line of each should clearly identify which position you are applying for and have all required attachments specific to that position.

Offerors interested in applying for this position MUST submit the following materials:

1. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit…