Signed 1 - SOL Health Advisor 720BHA22R00070 (1).pdf

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

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA22R00070

ISSUANCE DATE: December 14, 2022

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: January 13, 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, Sonja Stroud-Gooden

Contracting Officer

720BHA22R00070

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I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 720BHA22R00070

2. ISSUANCE DATE: December 14, 2022

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: January 13, 2023, 12:00 P.M.

Eastern Time

4. POINT OF CONTACT: TPQ Recruitment Team, BHA.TPQRecruitment@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Health Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: Depending on the qualifications of the offeror, this position can be filled at either the GS-13 ($81,216 - $105,579) or GS-14 ($95,973 - $124,764) equivalent level, including 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.

Offerors who meet the minimum qualifications for a GS-13 will be considered for the GS-13 level positions. Offerors who meet the minimum qualifications for a GS-14 will be considered for the GS-14 level only.

Offerors selected at the GS-13 may have an opportunity for advancement to the GS-14 equivalent after at least two years at the GS-13 level, if the individual receives a recommendation from the supervisor for advancement along with an Exceeds Fully Successful performance evaluation. Advancement to the GS-14 level is not guaranteed.

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

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Remote

Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed for U.S.-based positions.

This position has been designated as suitable for remote work. The contractor will be authorized to perform the services under this contract from an alternative worksite. For PSCs authorized to remote work, the alternative worksite determines the locality pay for compensation purposes.

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

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens Only mailto:BHA.HBMORecruitment@usaid.gov

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10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret

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 Office of Technical and Program Quality (TPQ) leads the Bureau for Humanitarian

Assistance's (BHA) efforts to ensure high quality programmatic and technical leadership, oversight, and guidance. TPQ captures, applies, and strengthens capacity in technical best practices and contextually appropriate programmatic approaches focused on all dimensions of

BHA programming from humanitarian response and transition into longer-term resilience programming, as well as risk analysis and early warning. TPQ is responsible for providing policy, normative guidance, tools, facilitation, and capacity building to assist the Bureau in achieving optimal humanitarian outcomes through strategic design, consistent and effective performance monitoring, comprehensive and appropriate evaluation, and purposeful learning across the full spectrum of BHA responses and programming. The Office promotes USAID’s humanitarian voice through active participation and technical leadership in interagency and global fora, including leading the Bureau’s technical engagement with academia and thought leaders. TPQ designs, supports, and coordinates research to advance the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of BHA programming. TPQ leads BHA in meeting the increasing demand for technical support and guidance in all facets of the Bureau’s work as the geographic and topical areas of coverage expand, and as the Bureau seeks increased technical and programmatic standardization, integration, and oversight to meet Agency, Congressional, and other demands.

The Public Health and Nutrition (PHN) Division leads BHA efforts to protect the public health of supported populations and encompasses expertise in the following technical areas: health, pharmaceuticals and medical commodities, nutrition, food technology, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). PHN invests in a wide range of applied research and learning initiatives to build the evidence base for programmatic decision making in these technical areas, promote coordination, and build humanitarian capacity, contributing to USAID’s objective of fostering conceptual and operational linkages between humanitarian and resilience programming. With

USAID as the lead Agency in USG humanitarian responses, PHN is also uniquely positioned to harmonize USAID and interagency public health and nutrition efforts to ensure consistent technical approaches and objectives, and collaboration with various external international stakeholders (donors, public international organizations, Clusters, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia).

The Health Advisor is an integral part of the BHA’s Health Team and a key actor in alleviating human suffering, reducing the impact of disasters and building a stable foundation for which people can rebuild their lives. In BHA, the Health Team addresses all disaster-related health risks, including identifying and managing those in complex humanitarian emergencies. In humanitarian emergencies, excess mortality often results from malnutrition, malaria, measles, diarrheal diseases, and acute respiratory infections. These conditions disproportionately affect

4 | Page vulnerable groups (children under five years of age, the elderly, and women). Additionally, there are times when the Health Team responds to infectious disease outbreaks that occur in humanitarian contexts or that create humanitarian crises, such as COVID-19 and Ebola Virus

Disease. As disasters unfold, the Health Team provides the technical guidance for international humanitarian health interventions through implementing partner application reviews and providing ongoing technical support throughout implementation of awards. Additionally, the

Health Team manages a robust operational research portfolio, aiming to generate evidence for interventions and technical innovations that save lives. Typical interventions include providing essential health care, infectious disease surveillance, and health care worker capacity building.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED

BHA requires a Health Advisor to ensure effective high quality public health interventions in

BHA humanitarian operations and programming. The Health Team also collaborates closely with the WASH and Nutrition Teams, providing technical input for interventions that address the health of populations in the respective WASH and Nutrition sectors. Building on this close collaboration, the Health Team collaborates with the Nutrition Team to provide technical assistance for resilience programming. As a member of the Health Team, the Health Advisor will be expected to provide expert advice on disaster response and risk reduction strategies for humanitarian public health activities worldwide.

At the GS-13 equivalent level

At this grade level, the Health Advisor will demonstrate expert competence in the duties and responsibilities described below.

● Provide technical support for public health interventions for disaster response to

USAID/BHA staff based in the United States or in field offices, in line with the

Humanitarian Principles.

● Support coordination for USG emergency technical response activities with

USAID/Global Health (GH) and other Bureaus, and the interagency, including Health and

Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response

(HHS/ASPR), Office of Global Affairs (OGA), and Center for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC).

● Support representation of USAID/BHA in emergency public health discussions and activities, serve as an USG international humanitarian health sector point of contact, and assists in providing technical and organizational recommendations in sectoral activity as a resource person for emergency health interventions.

● Learn to serve as a technical and strategic resource to contribute to health activity and intervention discussions, and to contribute to the formulation of sector strategies and recommendations, both for response and disaster risk reduction; and provide technical support for BHA field offices, other offices within USAID, and to the Health Team’s home office of TPQ.

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● Interact with NGO partners, other donor agencies, the international humanitarian community, and other USAID staff working in the various public health and / or sectors, and attend meetings and other events and forums, such as the Health Cluster.

● Understand the relationships between USAID/GH and BHA and then assist with making linkages between USAID/GH and BHA for international humanitarian health and / or nutrition and develop strategies for transition in BHA supported contexts when there is and there is not a USAID Mission.

● Work with health team members to contribute to technical review of proposals submitted by NGO and United Nations (UN) partners for international humanitarian health response, ensuring integration and linkages with nutrition and WASH, and disaster risk reduction.

Apply new evidence in the emergency health sector to BHA programming.

● Provides support to coordinate, plan, implement, evaluate, and prioritize emergency health activities to ensure that efforts in assigned program areas are meeting the needs of affected populations and satisfy goals and objectives of the response program.

● Liaise with response actors to determine the capacity of the affected community and ensure that adequate resources are available to the international response effort. Brief host governments, the U.S. Military, U.S. Embassy, and USAID Mission.

● Assist the health team to identify emergency public health risk reduction and prevention measures that could be linked to disaster response activities.

● Assist with the development of various types of health country/regional strategies for field offices, Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) and assessment teams. Provide briefings and written reports.

● As needed, may provide technical support to TPQ’s Nutrition and WASH Teams in regards to the complementary nature of these interventions to improve health outcomes.

● As needed, may serve as the point of contact for the Health Team’s support of Resilience and Food Security Activities.

At the GS-14 equivalent level (If the PSC is promoted during contract performance):

At this grade level, the Senior Health Advisor will demonstrate expert competence in the duties and responsibilities described below.

● Provide expert technical support for public health interventions for disaster response to

USAID /BHA staff based in the United States or in field offices in line with Humanitarian

Principles.

● Facilitate and coordinate USG emergency technical response activities with

USAID/Global Health and other Bureaus, and the interagency, including HHS/ASPR, OGA, and CDC.

● Actively represent USAID/BHA in emergency public health discussions and activities, serve as a USG international humanitarian health sector resource person, and provide expert technical and organizational leadership in sectoral activity as part of the

USAID/BHA Health Team for emergency health interventions.

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● Lead technical and strategic thinking for health activity, intervention, and sector strategy and recommendation discussions, both for response and disaster risk reduction; and provide technical support for BHA field offices, other offices within USAID, and to the

Health Team’s home office of Technical Program Quality (TPQ). Exercise independent judgment and decision-making related to public health activities in headquarters and in the field.

● Lead discussions on emergency health activities with NGO partners, other donor agencies, the international humanitarian community, and other USAID staff working in the Public

Health Division/Sector and attend meetings and other events and forums such as the Health

Cluster.

● Coordinate linkages between USAID/GH and BHA for international humanitarian health and develop strategies for transition in BHA supported contexts when there is and there is not a USAID Mission.

● Provide technical review of proposals submitted by NGO and UN partners for international humanitarian health response and disaster risk reduction. Apply new developments in the emergency health sector to BHA programming.

● Lead/Coordinate, plan, implement, and evaluate and prioritize emergency health activities to ensure that efforts in assigned program areas are meeting the needs of affected populations and satisfy the goals and objectives of the response program.

● Lead assessment teams and liaise with response actors to determine the capacity of the affected community and ensure that adequate resources are available to the international response effort. Brief host governments, the U.S. Military, U.S. Embassy, and USAID

Mission.

● Identify emergency public health risk reduction and prevention measures that could be linked to disaster response activities. Review risk reduction principles and make expert recommendations on course of action.

● Develop various types of country/regional health strategies for field offices, DARTs, and assessment teams. Provide briefings and written reports.

● As needed, may provide technical support to TPQ’s Nutrition and WASH Teams in regard to the complementary nature of these interventions to improve health outcomes in humanitarian settings.

● As needed, may serve as the point of contact, health technical advisor and coordinator for the Health Team’s support of Resilience and Food Security Activities.

All GS Equivalent Levels:

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

● Contribute to a collaborative, respectful, and professional work environment by demonstrating partnership and teamwork to accomplish team, division, office, and Bureau objectives.

● Participate in workplace efforts to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility

(DEIA), including those related to Bureau and TPQ programs, partners, staffing, professional development, and other key areas.

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● Attend and actively participate in personal-development activities, such as anti-harassment and diversity training opportunities, brown bag sessions, working groups and/or focus group discussions.

● May be requested to be on-call/sign up for and serve on Washington-based Response

Management Teams (RMTs), which provides services and support to DARTs deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will vary.

● As needed, 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.

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

● Become certified and serve as an Agreement Officer’s Representative/Contracting

Officer’s Representative (AOR/COR), as assigned. The AOR/COR provides financial and programmatic oversight of all aspects of managing the agreement or contract; this includes but is not limited to reviewing invoices, requests for approvals, program/project deliverables (i.e. work plans, annual reports, month status reports), travel requests, key personnel requests, and financial/budget reports. They are responsible for drafting and submitting the annual contractor performance evaluation in Contract/Assistance

Performance Assessment Review System (CPARS/APARS). They prepare and review contract/assistance modifications documentation and assist the Contracting/Agreement

Officer to ensure performance is compliant with the terms and conditions of the contract/agreement, the FAR, and USAID policy. AOR/CORs are responsible for all related requirements in the COR designation letter and the AOR designation letter.

● The Health Advisor does not have supervisory responsibilities; however, the PSC may serve in an acting leadership role within the bureau in order to meet short-term staffing needs, not to exceed 120 days in a 12-month contract year.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

The USPSC will take direction from and will report to the Health Team Lead or their designee, and under the supervision of the PHN Division Chief.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

Supervisor sets overall objectives and resources available; the USPSC consults with the supervisor to develop deadlines, projects, and work to be done. The USPSC is responsible for planning and carrying out assignments. The USPSC is responsible for planning approaches or methodology to be used in carrying out assignments.

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At the GS-14 equivalent level

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.

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 plus seven (7) years of experience working in emergency relief and humanitarian assistance. Three (3) years of relevant experience must be obtained overseas.

OR

Master's degree plus seven (5) years of experience working in emergency relief and humanitarian

At the GS-14 equivalent level

Bachelor’s degree plus nine (9) years of experience working in emergency relief and humanitarian

Master’s degree plus seven (7) years of experience working in emergency relief and humanitarian

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) plus five (5) years of experience working in emergency relief and humanitarian assistance. Three (3) years of relevant experience must be obtained overseas

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

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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.

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 GS-13 (45 Points)

Professional Experience (15 Points)

● Experience as health advisor or implementer in field humanitarian relief settings, developing or implementing programs with NGOs, UN, international organizations (IOs), or USG. (4 points) https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

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○ Experience as health advisor or implementer in field humanitarian relief settings, developing programs with NGOs, or UN, or IOs, or USG (2 points)

○ Experience as health advisor or implementer in field humanitarian relief settings, implementing programs with NGOs, or UN, or IOs, or USG (2 points)

● Experience in assessing, designing, or reviewing technical health proposals for best practice and technical merit. (6 Points)

○ Experience in assessing technical health proposals for best practice and technical merit. (2 points)

○ Experience in designing technical health proposals for best practice and technical merit. (2 points)

○ Experience in reviewing technical health proposals for best practice and technical merit. (2 points)

● Knowledge of operations and practices of the humanitarian system including NGO, IO, UN, or USG stakeholders. (5 points)

○ Knowledge of operations and practices of humanitarian assistance system, generally (1 points)

○ Knowledge of operations and practices of humanitarian assistance system including NGOs (1 point)

○ Knowledge of operations and practices of humanitarian assistance system including IOs (1 point)

○ Knowledge of operations and practices of humanitarian assistance system including UN (1 point)

○ Knowledge of operations and practices of humanitarian assistance system including USG (1 point)

Skills and Abilities (30 Points)

● Experience representing an organization in a coordinating unit or technical body. (3 points)

● Experience providing technical input in a coordinating unit or technical body. (3 points)

● Experience interacting with high-ranking officials at the national and international level.

(3 points)

● Experience providing briefings and written reports to high level officials for host nations, USG stakeholders, or UN entities. (6 points)

○ Experience providing briefings and written reports to host nations (2 point)

○ Experience providing briefings and written reports to USG stakeholders (2 point)

○ Experience providing briefings and written reports to UN entities (2 point)

● Experience supporting the coordination, planning, implementation, evaluation, or prioritization of emergency health activities

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○ Experience coordinating or supporting the coordination emergency health activities (1 point)

○ Experience planning or supporting the planning of emergency health activities (1 point)

○ Experience implementing or supporting the implementation of emergency health activities (1 point)

○ Experience evaluating or supporting the evaluation of emergency health activities

(1 point)

○ Experience prioritizing or supporting the prioritization of emergency health activities (1 point)

● Experience ensuring that efforts in assigned program areas are meeting the needs of affected populations, align with humanitarian principles, or satisfy the goals and objectives of the response program. (3 points)

○ Experience ensuring assigned program areas are meeting the needs of affected populations (1 point)

○ Experience ensuring assigned program areas align with humanitarian principles (1 point)

○ Experience ensuring assigned program areas satisfy the goals and objectives of the response program (1 point)

● Experience determining the capacity of the affected community or ensuring that adequate resources are available to the international response effort. (4 points)

○ Experience determining the capacity of the affected community (2 point)

○ Experience ensuring that adequate resources are available to the international response effort. (2 point)

● Experience developing or supporting the development of various types of country or regional strategies for humanitarian response abroad. (3 points)

MATRIX GS-14 (45 Points)

Professional Experience (20 Points)

● Experience as health advisor or implementer in field humanitarian relief settings, developing and implementing programs with NGOs, UN, IOs, or USG. (6 points)

○ Experience as health advisor or implementer in field humanitarian relief settings, developing programs with NGOs, or UN, or IOs, or USG (3 points)

○ Experience as health advisor or implementer in field humanitarian relief settings, implementing programs with NGOs, or UN, or IOs, or USG (3 points)

● Experience in assessing, designing, or reviewing technical health proposals for best practice and technical merit. (9 points)

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○ Experience in assessing technical health proposals for best practice and technical merit. (3 points)

○ Experience in designing technical health proposals for best practice and technical merit. (3 points)

○ Experience in reviewing technical health proposals for best practice and technical merit. (3 points)

● Knowledge of operations and practices of the humanitarian system including NGO, IO, UN, or USG stakeholders.

○ Knowledge of operations and practices of humanitarian assistance system, generally. (1 point)

○ Knowledge of operations and practices of humanitarian assistance system including NGOs. (1 point)

○ Knowledge of operations and practices of humanitarian assistance system including IOs. (1 point)

○ Knowledge of operations and practices of humanitarian assistance system including UN. (1 point)

○ Knowledge of operations and practices of humanitarian assistance system including USG. (1 point)

Skills and Abilities (25 Points)

● Experience representing an organization in a coordinating unit or technical body. (3 points)

● Experience providing technical input in a coordinating unit or technical body. (3 points)

● Experience interacting with high-ranking officials at the national and international level.

(3 points)

● Experience providing briefings and written reports to high level officials for host nations, USG stakeholders, or UN entities (3 points)

○ Experience providing briefings and written reports to host nation (1 point)

○ Experience providing briefings and written reports to USG stakeholders (1 point)

○ Experience providing briefings and written reports to UN entities (1 point)

● Experience coordinating, planning, implementing, evaluating, or prioritizing emergency health activities (5 points)

○ Experience coordinating emergency health activities (1 point)

○ Experience planning emergency health activities (1 point)

○ Experience implementing emergency health activities (1 point)

○ Experience evaluating emergency health activities (1 point)

○ Experience prioritizing emergency health activities (1 point)

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● Experience ensuring that efforts in assigned program areas are meeting the needs of affected populations, align with humanitarian principles, or satisfy the goals and objectives of the response program. (3 points)

○ Experience ensuring assigned program areas are meeting the needs of affected populations (1 point)

○ Experience ensuring assigned program areas align with humanitarian principles (1 point)

○ Experience ensuring assigned program areas satisfy the goals and objectives of the response program (1 point)

● Experience determining the capacity of the affected community or ensuring that adequate resources are available to the international response effort. (2 points)

○ Experience determining the capacity of the affected community. (1 point)

○ Experience ensuring that adequate resources are available to the international response effort. (1 point)

● Experience developing various types of country or regional strategies for humanitarian response abroad. (3 points)

Interview Performance (45 points)

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

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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) Offerors must notate on their resume what GS level equivalent is being applied for.

Applicants may list more than one GS level on their resume.

(b) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. 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.

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

(d) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments. Failure to identify an academic discipline will result in disqualification.

(e) U.S. Citizenship

(f) Optional: How did you hear about this opportunity? (SAM.gov, BHA Jobs, Career Fair, etc.).

Your resume must contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation for each grade level for which you are applying. This information must be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.

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. Ensure Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors - Please be advised that upon award, the contractor will be required to show proof that the contractor is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on or before the first date of onboarding, or submit an approved reasonable accommodation to the CO. If the contractor does not meet this requirement the contract may be terminated.* USPSCs/TCNPSCs performing overseas must follow the Mission policies and/or directives from the U.S. Department of State regarding COVID-19 requirements.

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*See Notice Regarding Any Court Order Affecting the Implementation of E.O. 14042 in

Section VIII below.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

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:

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(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), and

(j) $_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor

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. PART 52 - SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

Subpart 52.2 - Text of Provisions and Clauses

52.223-99 ENSURING ADEQUATE COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL

CONTRACTORS, Alternate 70.

https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101 https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar

17 | Page

ENSURING ADEQUATE COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL

CONTRACTORS (OCT 2021)-Alternate 70 (OCT 2021) (M/OAA-DEV-FAR-22-01c)

(a) Definition. As used in this clause -

United States or its outlying areas means—

(1) The fifty States;

(2) The District of Columbia;

(3) The commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands;

(4) The territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands; and

(5) The minor outlying islands of Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston

Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Palmyra Atoll, and Wake Atoll.

(b) Authority. This clause implements Executive Order 14042, Ensuring Adequate COVID

Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors, dated September 9, 2021 (published in the Federal

Register on September 14, 2021, 86 FR 50985).

(c) Personal Services Contracts with individuals. As a matter of policy, the contractor must comply with the USAID’s guidance applicable to direct-hire federal employees.

(End of Clause)

Notice Regarding Any Court Order Affecting the Implementation of E.O. 14042

USAID will take no action to enforce the clause (FAR 52.223-99) implementing the requirements of Executive Order 14042, absent further written notice from USAID, where the place of performance identified in the contract is in a U.S. state or outlying area subject to a court order prohibiting the application of requirements pursuant to the Executive Order (hereinafter, “Excluded State or Outlying Area”.) In all other circumstances, USAID will enforce the clause, except for contractor employees who perform substantial work on or in connection with a covered contract in an Excluded State or Outlying Area, or in a covered contractor workplace located in an Excluded State or Outlying Area. A current list of such Excluded States and Outlying area is maintained at https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.

3. 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) https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/

18 | Page

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 negotiations 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 negotiations 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 negotiations with

Contractor

0004 Base Year 4 - 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 negotiations 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 negotiations with

Contractor

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. PSC Ombudsman http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations

19 | Page

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

20 | Page

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.

(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 http://www.foia.state.gov/REGS/fams.asp?level=2&id=59&fam=0

21 | Page 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 appropriate action to collect the…