Solicitation 200AA24R00014 - Senior Humanitarian Advisor (SHA).pdf

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USPSC Senior Humanitarian Advisor Federal contract opportunity
Solicitation number
7200AA24R00014
Issued by
US Agency for International Development

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This solicitation seeks offers for a U.S. Personal Service Contractor position as a Senior Humanitarian Advisor with the U.S. Agency for International Development. The solicitation will remain open until May 21, 2024, at which time offers will be evaluated based on the criteria specified in the document. Offerors must have a minimum of nine years of relevant work experience and either a Bachelor's degree or a Master's degree. Duties will include program analysis, strategy development, and portfolio management for Burma from an initial expected duty station in Yangon, with potential reassignment worldwide. Compensation will be negotiated within the range of $104,604 to $135,987 equivalent to the GS-14 grade level.

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SOLICITATION NUMBER: 7200AA24R00014

ISSUANCE DATE: February 2, 2024

CLOSING DATE AND TIME: May 21, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal Service Contractor

(USPSC)

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation.

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

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

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

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

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

(M/OAA/BHA-CPS/PSC)

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

7200AA24R00014

Table of Contents

I. GENERAL INFORMATION 3

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION 9

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS 9

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER 11

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD 12

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES 13

VII. TAXES 13

VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs 14

APPENDICES 16

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ATTACHMENT 1

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 7200AA24R00014

2. ISSUANCE DATE: February 2, 2024

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: May 21, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

This solicitation is open and continuous until May 21, 2024. The following are the closing dates for each review period:

March 18, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time May 21, 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

Offerors not selected during a previous review period must reapply in order to be considered for positions available in subsequent review periods. A review period may be canceled at the Contracting Officer’s discretion.

4. POINT OF CONTACT: ALAC Recruitment Team, BHA.ALACRecruitment@usaid.gov

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Humanitarian Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: $104,604- $135,987 equivalent to GS-14 (not eligible for Locality Pay)

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

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

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Worldwide

There may be an initial training program in Washington, D.C. for three months, which will include formal classroom training and on-the-job training; and may include security training. After completion of initial training, the Senior Humanitarian Advisor (SHA) will be assigned to the place of performance.

Offerors for the SHA position must be willing to be posted for long-term periods at any location in the Asia region, including posts throughout the continent or undertaking Asia-focused work from Honolulu, Hawaii. At the discretion of BHA/Washington, during the contract period the SHA may be reassigned/relocated to a geographical location where the individual’s services are needed;

post-specific allowances would be adjusted accordingly for any change in place of performance. The potential posts are listed as follows, but the location of service could be ultimately determined by the

3 | Page mailto:BHA.ALACRecruitment@usaid.gov location of future unknown operational requirements. BHA currently has one SHA vacancy in Yangon, Burma.

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

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

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens Only

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret

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

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

GENERAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACT

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

America, and the Caribbean (ALAC) designs, provides, and assesses humanitarian assistance, including assistance related to responding to, recovering from, and reducing the risk of human-made and natural disasters, while linking with other United States Agency for International Development (USAID) investments that build resilience. To achieve these objectives, humanitarian experts based overseas coordinate with local authorities and USAID Missions, while humanitarian experts based in Washington

D.C. coordinate with USAID Regional and Pillar Bureaus.

Senior Humanitarian Advisors (SHAs) play a central role in the United States Government’s (USG’s) humanitarian assistance programs. Their core function is to lead, manage, or support BHA portfolios that require significant USG policy engagement and humanitarian program management.

BHA’s ALAC Office requires the services of a SHA based in Yangon, Burma to enhance its capability to manage its portfolios and effectively respond to international crises and disasters in Burma and ensure that BHA’s objectives for disaster assistance, disaster risk reduction (DRR), resilience programming, strategic planning, and interagency coordination are met. Offers for the SHA position must be willing to be posted for long-term periods at an alternate location in the Asia region given potential delays in obtaining visas. At the discretion of BHA/Washington, the SHA may be reassigned/relocated to another geographical location where the SHA’s services are needed.

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STATEMENT OF DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED

The SHA supports the management and representation of the humanitarian assistance portfolio for

Burma. Reporting to the Regional Director for BHA’s East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region, the SHA will be responsible for program analysis and strategy development and will work closely with USAID, United

States (U.S.) embassies, U.S. military representatives, and other USG interagency partners, other donors, foreign government officials, international organizations (IOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the United Nations (UN), in responding to humanitarian needs and sudden-onset disasters. Because of the substantial coordination requirements of the SHA position, an individual with a highly collaborative work style is necessary. The SHA must be prepared to function effectively in challenging and restrictive work environments and be willing to strictly adhere to U.S. embassy security guidelines.

Working under the direction of the Regional Director and in close coordination with the BHA Regional

Office for the EAP region, the SHA will work in close collaboration with other SHAs, Regional

Humanitarian Advisors, Humanitarian Program Officers, Technical Specialists, Regional Team Leaders, Humanitarian Assistance Officers, Program Assistants, Foreign Service Nationals, and others depending on the work assigned. The SHA may be required to supervise others.

The SHA will perform the following functions:

Contextual Specialty:

● Develop and maintain knowledge of the key humanitarian issues and political, organizational, and stakeholder interests in Burma.

● Monitor incipient disasters, international disaster response plans and efforts, and major humanitarian issues and challenges in the area of responsibility through a wide range of USG and international sources.

● Identify humanitarian issues, priorities, lessons learned, and opportunities within and relevant to

Burma and apply those to program strategy development and implementation.

● Prepare strategic and analytical reports on current or anticipated emergencies, as well as on comprehensive preparedness documentation on Burma.

Portfolio Management:

● Identify and assess ongoing and emerging humanitarian assistance requirements, target beneficiary groups, and locations, oversee the general direction of existing relief and transition-oriented programs, and broadly recommend types of interventions and budget levels required in Burma.

● Maintain regular communication and close coordination with the EAP Regional Office and

BHA/Washington.

● Monitor ongoing humanitarian assistance efforts in Burma.

● Liaise with partners and other donors and provide coordinated field feedback to the partners.

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● Coordinate collection of information and provide updates and recommendations through written reports on issues related to the humanitarian situation, including but not limited to the following:

○ Capacity and ability of UN, IOs, NGOs, and local institutions to carry out programs;

○ Capacity of the logistics infrastructure to support programs;

○ Security situation of beneficiaries, personnel, convoys, and relief operations in general;

○ Role of in-country UN leadership and the UN Mission in facilitating humanitarian assistance;

○ Contributions by other donors, problems arising from the implementation of relief and reintegration programs, and any other issues that require the attention of BHA; and

○ Humanitarian coordination issues and any recommendations for change.

● Provide guidance to organizations that are developing applications for BHA, based on BHA’s application guidelines.

● Review concept papers and applications and provide timely recommendations/comments to

BHA/Washington and the Regional Office.

● Ensure reporting on a timely basis to BHA/Washington and the Regional Office on grantees’ work, noting deficiencies, attributes, and evolving operational conditions.

Representation:

● Represent USAID’s humanitarian portfolio in-country at senior level meetings within the USG and with humanitarian stakeholders and convey humanitarian concerns and priorities from the BHA perspective through oral and written briefings.

● Coordinate policy development meetings such as:

○ Meetings with individual and groups of implementing partners discussing programmatic priorities, objectives, progress, results, and challenges;

○ Discussions, meetings, and papers informing USG foreign policy in areas with humanitarian concerns or impacts; and

○ Donor and implementing partner coordination forums.

● Develop and maintain relationships with representatives of host governments, donor governments, IOs, NGOs, U.S. embassies, and USAID missions to ensure efficient and coordinated humanitarian response, DRR, and resilience activities.

● Present BHA perspectives to NGOs, IOs, and UN agencies relating to humanitarian assistance strategies and priorities, including BHA’s approach to sustainable, resilience-oriented humanitarian programs. Work closely with the Regional Office and BHA’s technical advisors to discuss and understand sectoral priorities.

● Provide timely reporting and clearances in response to high-level USG queries originating from the region or from Washington, DC.

● Serve as an expert point of contact in-country for BHA for humanitarian issues and serve as a liaison on program issues among USAID staff, the U.S. Embassy and other USG agencies, military representatives, BHA/Washington and the overall humanitarian community.

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

Leadership:

● The USPSC will lead an emergency program team in USAID/Burma and will directly supervise and/or provide technical and program guidance to staff employed through different hiring mechanisms, which may at any time include USPSCs, third country nationals, locally engaged staff, institutional contractors, and/or short-term Temporary Duty Travel support, requiring sophisticated understanding of U.S. and local labor laws and interpersonal and communication skills.

● The incumbent will be expected to provide mentorship and support the professional development of supervised employees to embody the diverse skills and expertise required of a global BHA workforce.

● The incumbent is expected to support programming, reporting, and coordination with

BHA/Washington, BHA/EAP, and U.S. Embassy staff to advance humanitarian objectives and programming within a complex political environment.

● The USPSC will coordinate closely with the USAID Mission in Burma and other stakeholders to ensure consistency of humanitarian programming with USAID/Burma, BHA/EAP Regional Office, and U.S. Embassy strategies and policies.

● Provide recommendations on current and future directions of BHA’s Burma portfolio to include programmatic, budgetary, and human resource requirements.

● Serve as direct supervisor to team members on grants management and portfolio management, including BHA’s business process, portfolio-specific budget and workload management, and post-award monitoring and management.

● Lead an ethnically and culturally diverse team of program, technical, or administrative staff.

General Duties:

● The USPSC will coordinate with USAID/Burma staff and participate in relevant interagency and

Mission working groups, such as the DRR interagency working group.

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

Management Teams (RMTs), which provide services and support to Disaster Assistance Response

Teams (DARTs) deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will vary.

● May serve on DARTs which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment 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 short-term assignments (“detail”) on other teams within the office or bureau to meet operational needs during staff shortages. Duties performed while on

7 | Page detail will be aligned with existing duties and responsibilities and will be directly related to the position’s scope of work.

● 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.

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

● Attend and actively participate in diversity and harassment training opportunities, brown bag sessions, or focus group discussions.

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

● 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 the Contract Performance Assessment Review System). They prepare and review contract/assistance modifications documentation and assist the Contracting/Agreement Officer to ensure performance is compliant with the terms and conditions of the contract/agreement, the FAR, and USAID policy. AOR/CORs are responsible for all related requirements in the COR designation letter a and the AOR designation letter.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

If posted outside of Burma, the USPSC will take direction from and will report to the BHA/EAP Regional Director or their designee, with responsibilities for close and continuous communication with the USAID/Burma Front Office, BHA/EAP Regional Office, and BHA/Washington. The incumbent will have direct access to the USAID/Burma Front Office for programming and policy issues.

If posted in Burma, the USPSC will either take direction from the BHA/EAP Regional Director and also report to the USAID/Burma Mission Director (or their designee) or will take direction from the USAID/Burma Mission Director and also report to the EAP Regional Director. The supervisory relationship will be determined when the individual arrives in Burma. In either case, the USPSC will adhere to all Chief of Mission guidance and requirements.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

The supervisor provides administrative direction in terms of broadly defined missions or functions.

USPSC independently plans, designs, and carries out project, studies, and programs. Results of the work are considered technically authoritative. There is no higher level official technically responsible for administering the program/project.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

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II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Offerors who do not meet all of the education and experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.)

Bachelor's degree in any discipline and at least nine (9) years of work experience with a humanitarian or development focus including responsibility in determining budget levels, selecting programs for funding, and managing or evaluating programs. Experience must include three (3) years in international humanitarian assistance, emergency management, post-emergency rehabilitation, recovery, or resilience.

OR

Master’s degree in any discipline and at least seven (7) years of work experience with a humanitarian or development focus. This experience must include responsibility in determining budget levels, selecting programs for funding, and managing or evaluating programs. Experience must include three (3) years in international humanitarian assistance, emergency management, post-emergency rehabilitation, recovery, or resilience.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. FAR provisions of this solicitation are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

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

SELECTION FACTORS

(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Offerors who do not meet all of the selection factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.)

● Offeror is a U.S. Citizen.

● Complete resume submitted. See section IV for resume requirements. Experience that cannot be quantified will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.

● USPSC Offeror form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete sections A through I. This form must be physically signed. Electronic signatures may be accepted.

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● 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 rating factors are as follows:

SCORING MATRIX (30 points)

Professional Experience (12 points)

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

● Experience managing needs assessments. (1 points)

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

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

● Experience with program design or monitoring and evaluating programs. (3 points)

● Experience managing programs that focus on emergency response or DRR programming.

(2 points)

Skills and Abilities (8 points)

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

● Experience working with donor organizations or diplomatic missions. (1 points)

● Experience working with non-governmental partners at senior levels. (2 points)

● Experience delivering verbal/oral presentations and engaging with senior officials within a large organization on humanitarian issues. (3 points)

Leading Teams Experience (10 points)

● Experience mentoring and training staff. (3 points)

● Experience with team performance management, including developing or monitoring employee training plans and providing formal or informal feedback through performance evaluation. (4 points)

● Experience managing teams, including ensuring adequate staffing of a team. (3 points)

Interview Performance (50 points)

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks (20 points) Offerors must provide their references to BHA upon request no later than seven (7) days from initial request. Failure to meet this requirement will lead to a score of zero (0) in this portion of the Offeror Rating System.

Total Possible Points: 100

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BASIS OF RATING: Offerors who meet the Education/Experience requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated in accordance with the Offeror Rating System. Those offerors determined to be competitively ranked may also be evaluated on interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks.

Offerors are required to address each factor of the Offeror Rating System in their resume, describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received as it pertains to each factor. Be sure to include your name and the announcement number at the top of each additional page. Failure to address the selection factors and/or Offeror Rating System factors may result in not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards.

The most qualified offerors may be interviewed and required to provide a writing sample. BHA will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews.

Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for offerors being considered for selection.

Note: Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an offeror. BHA reserves the right to select additional offerors if vacancies become available during the future phase of the selection process.

IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

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

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

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

4. Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your offer, your resume must include:

(a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Dates (month/year) and locations for all field experience must also be detailed. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.

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

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

(d) U.S. Citizenship

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

Your resume must contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information must be clearly identified

11 | Page http://www.usaid.gov/forms in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.

Additional documents submitted will not be accepted.

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

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

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

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

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

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

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

Forms outlined below can be found at:

http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ or at https://www.opm.gov/forms/standard-forms/

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. Fingerprint Card (FD-258). **

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

12 | Page http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ https://www.opm.gov/forms/standard-forms/

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

VI. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

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

1. BENEFITS:

(a) Employer's FICA Contribution

(b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance

(c) Pay Comparability Adjustment

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

(e) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

(f) Leave and Holidays

2. ALLOWANCES

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

(a) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120).

(b) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130).

(c) Post Allowance (Section 220).

(d) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230).

(e) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260).

(f) Education Allowance (Section 270).

(g) Education Travel (Section 280).

(h) Post Differential (Chapter 500).

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

(j) Danger Pay. (Section 650)

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:

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

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

LINE ITEMS

ITEM NO

(A)

SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION)

(B)

QUANTITY

(C)

UNIT

(D)

UNIT PRICE

(E)

AMOUNT

(F)

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

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: 497

- Accounting Info: [Insert from Phoenix]

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

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

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: 497

- Accounting Info: [Insert from Phoenix]

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

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

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: 497

- Accounting Info: [Insert from Phoenix]

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

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

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: 497

- Accounting Info: [Insert from Phoenix]

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

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

- Award Type: Cost

- Product Service Code: 497

- Accounting Info: [Insert from Phoenix]

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

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

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

AAPD 21-05 – Revised and Expanded Fringe Benefits for U.S. Personal Services Contractors (Revision 1)

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AAPD No. 21-05 is hereby incorporated as Appendix 2 to the solicitation.

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

FAR 52.204-27 Prohibition on a ByteDance Covered Application.

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

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

5. PSC Ombudsman

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

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

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

APPENDIX 1

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

PAYMENT RESPONSIBILITY (OCTOBER 2006)

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(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 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.

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(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 payments due, unless such failure is for reasons beyond the control of the USPSC/dependent.

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

[End of Provision]

APPENDIX 2

GP. 5 Leave and Holidays [Deviation (NOV 2023)]

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(a) Annual Leave

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

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

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

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

(2) The rate at which the contractor will accrue annual leave is based on the contractor's time in service according to the table of this paragraph (a)(2). The accrual rates are based on a full-time, 80-hour biweekly pay period,which will be prorated if the contract provides for shorter work schedule:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(ii) The end of the contract.

(4) The contractor must use all accrued annual leave during the period of performance. At the end of the contract, the contractor will forfeit any unused annual leave except where the requirements of the position precluded the contractor from taking annual leave. In this case, the contracting officer may authorize the following:

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

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

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

(b) Sick Leave. The contractor may use sick leave on the same basis and for the same purposes as USAID direct-hire employees. The contractor will accrue sick leave at a rate not to exceed four (4) hours every two (2) weeks for a maximum of thirteen (13) work-days per year based on a full-time, 80-hour biweekly pay period, and the rate of accrual will be prorated if the

19 | Page contract provides for a shorter work schedule. The contractor may carry over unused sick leave from year to year under the same contract, and to a new follow-on contract for the same work at the same place of performance. The contractor is not authorized to carry over sick leave to a new contract for a different position or at a different location. The contractor will not be compensated for unused sick leave at the completion of this contract.

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

(i) The contractor must complete twenty-four (24) continuous months of service abroad under this contract, and must not have taken more than thirty (30) workdays leave (annual, sick, or LWOP) in the U.S., its commonwealths, possessions, or territories. The required service abroad will include the actual days in orientation in the U.S. (excluding any language training), travel time by the most direct route, and actual days abroad beginning on the date of arrival in the cooperating country. Any annual and sick leave taken abroad, excluding leave without pay (LWOP), will count toward the period of service abroad. Any days of annual and sick leave taken in the U.S., its commonwealths, possessions, or territories will not be counted toward the required twenty-four (24) months of service abroad.

(ii) The contractor must agree to return immediately after completing home leave to continue performance for an additional—

(A) Two (2) years, or

(B) Not less than one (1) year, if approved in writing by the Mission Director before the contractor departs on home leave.

(iii) If the contractor agrees to meet the conditions in paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this clause above by returning to the same USAID Mission under this contract or a new contract, the contractor may be granted thirty (30) workdays of home leave.

(iv) If the contractor agrees to meet the continued performance conditions of paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this clause and will be relocating to a different USAID Mission under a new USAID personal services contract immediately following the completion of home leave, the contractor may be granted twenty

(20) workdays of home leave. USAID will provide the contractor these twenty days of home leave under this contract, not under the new contract.

(v) If home leave eligibility is based on paragraph (c)(1)(iv) of this clause, prior to departure on home leave, the contractor must submit to the contracting officer at the current Mission, a copy of the new contract with a special award condition in the contract Schedule indicating the contractor's obligation to fulfill the commitment for continued performance in accordance with paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this clause.

(2) Notwithstanding the requirements in paragraph (c)(1) of this clause, the contractor may be granted advanced home leave subject to all of the following conditions:

(i) Granting of advanced home leave would serve in each case to advance the attainment of the objectives of this contract; and

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(ii) The contractor has served at least eighteen (18) months abroad, as defined in paragraph (c)(4) of this clause, at the same USAID Mission…

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