USAC SOW 2026 contract 5 13 2026.pdf

Support to the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking

BACKGROUND

The Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office) leads the United States’ global engagement in the fight against human trafficking, partnering with foreign governments and civil society to develop and implement effective anti-trafficking strategies. The TIP Office works to fulfill the mandates of combating human trafficking globally as outlined in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, as amended (TVPA), and has responsibility for bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, targeted foreign assistance, interagency coordination, and public engagement on trafficking in persons.

One of the roles of the TIP Office is to provide support for the U.S. government’s interagency coordinating bodies, the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF) and the Senior Policy Operating Group (SPOG), both established under the

TVPA. In this role, the TIP Office supports the United States Advisory Council on Human

Trafficking (Advisory Council), which was established by the Survivors of Human Trafficking

Empowerment Act within the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act enacted on May 22, 2015.

The Advisory Council is an independent, nongovernmental advisory body that advises and makes recommendations on federal anti-trafficking policies to the PITF. The Council is appointed by the President for two-year terms and may serve up to two terms.

Attachments:

• Sec. 115 of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (P.L. 114-22)

• Sec. 114 of the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection

Reauthorization Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-425)

• Sec. 1299R of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2021 (P.L. 116-283)

• Sec. 102 of the Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of

2022, P.L. 117-348

OBJECTIVE

The TIP Office seeks a contractor to support the Advisory Council as it fulfills the functions outlined in the Survivors of Human Trafficking Empowerment Act including the development of its annual report, and coordinating and managing Council travel, reimbursements, and compensation. In particular, the contractor will provide trauma-informed support to the

Advisory Council by delivering technical assistance and facilitating in-person and virtual meetings of the Advisory Council, with the goal of the Council producing actionable recommendations on federal anti-trafficking policies to the PITF.

TASKS

• Deliver technical assistance to the Advisory Council. This includes, at a minimum:

https://www.state.gov/u-s-advisory-council-on-human-trafficking/ https://www.state.gov/u-s-advisory-council-on-human-trafficking/ o Advising the Council on the anti-trafficking efforts of PITF agencies, including the authorities, capacities, and limitations of those agencies.

o Advising the Council on the roles and work of the PITF and SPOG.

o Supporting the Council as it formulates assessments and recommendations to ensure that policy and programming efforts of the Federal Government conform, to the extent practicable, to the best practices in the field of human trafficking prevention o Supporting the Council’s ongoing work, including trauma-informed facilitation of weekly and/or monthly calls and engagement with members during calls and meetings, as well as strategic planning, time management, and providing self-care guidance or resources as needed or requested by the Council.

• Facilitate up to four in-person Council gatherings per year to fulfill its mandate as outlined in section (d) of the Survivors of Human Trafficking Empowerment Act.

Facilitation of in-person Council gatherings includes, at a minimum:

o Providing support for site selection, agenda development, trauma-informed facilitation and team building activities, and note taking.

o Providing the option of a licensed clinical social worker for support throughout meetings.

o Facilitating and coordinating Council travel and logistics including providing

Council members with travel reimbursements, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with the applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code and the Federal Acquisition Regulations

(FAR).

• Support the drafting and submission of the Advisory Council’s annual report to the

PITF, SPOG, and Congress. This includes, at a minimum:

o Supporting the Council in its review of federal government policy and programs intended to combat human trafficking, including programs related to the provision of services for victims.

o Supporting the Council as it serves as a point of contact for federal agencies reaching out to human trafficking survivors for input on programming and policies relating to human trafficking in the United States.

o Advising the Council on the anti-trafficking efforts of PITF agencies.

o Supporting the Council in developing a timeline for report development, production, and submission.

o Offering strategic technical direction and facilitation during Council report writing meetings.

o Providing technical writing support, copy editing of report drafts, and report design & production.

o Supporting the submission of the report to the PITF, SPOG and Congress.

• Develop and manage an independent website for the Council. This includes at a minimum:

o Creating and maintaining an independent website for the Council.

o Uploading the Council’s bios (as requested) and annual report to the website.

• Provide compensation to each Council member for each day such member is engaged in the actual performance of the duties of the Council. This includes, at a minimum:

o Developing a statement of work for a subcontract for each Council member.

o Overseeing and managing execution of members’ subcontracts.

o Gathering, reviewing, processing, and tracking members’ invoices.

o Reviewing backup documentation from Council members for invoices.

• Develop resources, including written guidance for successive Advisory Council members and other materials as requested. This includes, at a minimum:

o Developing orientation materials, including a briefing book, to onboard new members and guide members throughout their terms.

o Providing background information on previous Council efforts and engagement with PITF agencies.

o Maintaining the Council’s Protocols and Procedures.

• Manage and direct contract administration. This may include budget formulation and tracking, performance, cost reporting, and compliance as well as managing outreach and relationships.

“In-person gatherings” refers to a series of meetings lasting anywhere from 1-5 days during which the members of the Advisory Council convene to undertake Council business. These gatherings may include trips focused on report writing as well as visits to Washington, D.C. for the purposes of meeting with federal agencies (including Council participation in SPOG meetings as well as meetings of the PITF) as outlined in sections (d)(2) and (d)(4) of the

Survivors of Human Trafficking Empowerment Act. Historically, in-person meetings have occurred approximately once during each term and have included a strategic planning meeting and a regional trip for each Council member. The exact schedule and frequency of gatherings will be developed in consultation with input from the Council and the COR, but the number of annual gatherings shall not exceed a total of four.

LABOR CATEGORIES AND DESCRIPTIONS

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS

The following personnel are required, at a minimum and are considered key personnel:

• One Senior Project Director to oversee all activities of the contract, including but not limited to providing technical direction to the Council, supporting the facilitation of

Council gatherings, and advising on compensable Council activities. Demonstrated experience or past performance:

o Expertise in human trafficking or other human rights related issue/s.

o At least 10 years of experience managing federal government contracts of similar financial value, scope and complexity.

o At least five years of experience working with survivors of human trafficking in a professional setting and providing technical assistance related to trauma-informed approaches.

o At least five years of experience working with advisory council(s) established to advise the U.S. Government and composed of survivor leaders.

o Advising on federal government agency mandates and priorities, particularly related to agencies that comprise the President’s Interagency Task Force to

Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

o Advising on the three branches of government as well as on the relationship between federal, state and local government.

o Planning, guiding, and managing group meetings/events to ensure group objectives and shared goals are met and that trauma-informed approaches are embedded into meeting design and execution.

o Distilling and articulating, orally and in writing, complex ideas and concepts shared by multiple contributors to produce a written product.

o Supporting logistics and meeting planning.

o Writing high-profile reports, speeches and meeting summaries for federal government clients, including Congress, federal agencies, and/or the White

House.

• One Deputy Project Director to support the implementation of the activities of the contract and provide technical direction and support to the Council under the leadership of the Senior Project Director. Demonstrated experience or past performance:

o Expertise in human trafficking or other human rights related issue/s.

o At least three years of experience working with survivors of human trafficking in a professional setting and providing technical assistance related to trauma-informed approaches.

o Experience working with advisory council(s) established to advise the U.S.

Government and composed of survivor leaders.

o Advising on federal government agency mandates and priorities, particularly agencies that comprise the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and

Combat Trafficking in Persons.

o Planning, guiding, and managing group meetings/events to ensure group objectives and shared goals are met.

o Distilling and articulating, orally and in writing, complex ideas and concepts shared by multiple contributors to produce a written product.

o Supporting logistics and meeting planning.

o Writing reports and meeting summaries.

Additional personnel include, at a minimum:

• Program Support Specialist to assist with project coordination, ad hoc note-taking, meeting planning, research, and logistics tasks; assists and coordinate Council member travel, reimbursement, and compensation; support compilation, coordination and quality control of invoice development and submission; and conduct ad hoc research.

• Communications and Technology Specialist to provide web development and ongoing website maintenance for the Council’s independent website; provide expert copyediting to edit written materials, including reports, speeches, meeting notes and summaries;

conduct ad hoc research; design materials, products and reports; and provide technological support for events and meetings as needed under the supervision of the senior project director and/or the deputy project director.