USPSC - OTI Senior Operations Advisor - Worldwide (Intermittent) (GS-14)

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72C0T123R00019        

SYNOPSIS ISSUANCE DATE: June 6, 2023    

SUBJECT: Synopsis/Pre-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 planning to seek offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal services as a Senior Operations Advisor under a personal services contract, as described in the forthcoming solicitation.

Submittals must be in accordance with the forthcoming information at the place and time specified. 

For further information, please see the forthcoming solicitation, or contact the OTI Recruitment Team. 

OTI Recruitment Team

E-Mail Address: OTIjobs@usaid.gov

Website: www.OTIjobs.net

Sincerely,

Jaclyn Humphrey 

Supervisory Contracting Officer

500 D St. SW  

Washington, D.C.  20547

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. ACTION CODE: P (pre-solicitation)

2. SOLICITATION NO.: 72C0T123R00019

3. SYNOPSIS ISSUANCE DATE: June 6, 2023

4. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: July 17, 2023, 1:00 pm Eastern Time

5. POINT OF CONTACT: OTI Recruitment Team, e-mail at OTIjobs@usaid.gov.

6. POSITION TITLE: Senior Operations Advisor

7. MARKET VALUE: This position has been designated at the GS-14 equivalent level, ($99,908 - $129, 878 base per annum). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon qualifications, previous relevant experience and work history, salary and educational background. Domestic USPSCs, based on the location of the Official USAID Worksite, or the approved alternative worksite if approved for remote work, will be eligible for Locality Pay. USPSCs performing overseas are not entitled to Locality Pay.Base salaries over and above the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

As this is a Worldwide position, incumbents who reside outside of the DC metropolitan area will be provided with transportation and/or per diem if they are required to work at the official USAID worksite in Washington, DC. Incumbents will be provided with transportation and/or per diem for all other official USAID/OTI travel assignments as dictated by the terms of each individual  contract. Please be advised selectee(s) will be required to travel to Washington, DC for Agency onboarding processing and badging prior to being given any assignments. USPSCs residing outside of the 50 mile DC radius, per Agency travel policy, will be reimbursed for travel to the official USAID worksite in Washington, DC. In order to be reimbursed, the selectee must have a Travel Authorization (TA) completed prior to traveling. Any required travel for USPSCs with DC locality for the purpose of completing the onboarding and badging process will be a personal expense. 

The final salary will be negotiated at a step on the General Schedule (Base) Salary Table articulated as an annual rate amount; however, as an intermittent position, the PSC hired under this contract will provide a maximum of 250 workdays of services on an annual basis (see Section I, item 6, Period of Performance). The selected offeror will be eligible for applicable allowances as described in Section VI on the same basis as U.S. government employees while on temporary duty in foreign areas. 

8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One (1) year, with four (4) one-year option periods

9. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Worldwide

10. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: United States Citizens

11. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret

POSITION DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) is seeking highly motivated, highly qualified individuals who want the opportunity to help support rapid international transition programs for priority conflict-prone countries. Created in 1994 as a distinct operating unit within USAID, OTI helps local partners advance peace and democracy in politically-transitioning countries. In support of U.S. foreign policy, OTI seizes emerging windows of opportunity in the political landscape to promote stability, peace, and democracy by catalyzing local initiatives through adaptive and agile programming.

Countries experiencing a significant political transition in the midst of a disaster or emerging from civil conflict have unique needs that cannot be fully addressed by traditional disaster relief.  Timely and effective assistance to promote and consolidate peaceful, democratic advances can make the difference between a successful or a failed transition.  OTI assists in securing peace by aiding indigenous, mostly non-governmental, civil society and media organizations.  OTI uses such mechanisms as support for re-integration of ex-combatants into civilian society; development of initiatives to promote national reconciliation; identification of quick-impact community self-help projects to meet urgent economic needs; and aid to independent media outlets and community-based organizations to help promote informed debate and broaden public participation.

To respond quickly and effectively and meet its program objectives and mandate OTI retains a group of high level professionals and experts under U.S. Personal Services Contracts (USPSCs). These knowledgeable and skilled professionals make up the vast majority of the OTI work force and are at its forefront implementing and achieving the office’s programmatic goals and objectives. There are several benefits that USPSCs may participate in, such as partial reimbursement for health and life insurance costs, as well as full coverage of workers’ compensation, among other benefits. For more complete information on USPSC benefits, please see Section VI in the forthcoming solicitation.

INTRODUCTION

The position of Senior Operations Advisor is intermittent and a senior-level position that requires an experienced professional who can efficiently and effectively function in OTI’s fast-paced and changing work environment. You are an expert in the multitude of functions that comprise program operations and management for USAID’s Conflict Prevention and Stabilization (CPS) Bureau with the Office of Transition Initiatives programs in Washington, D.C. and the field.  You must be readily available to provide the required services on an intermittent basis, often on short notice with little time for preparation, and from time to time, you will be required to travel to OTI field offices that are located in countries with complex problems, often in difficult and harsh environments, with some offices located in countries with no other USAID presence as well as to the countries with the USAID Mission that will provide the regional services. You must have the ability to identify key interagency leaders in Washington, D.C. to establish and maintain professional working relationships which is critical to the success of OTI’s program implementation. Excellent analytical skills and the ability to grasp and resolve problems quickly are essential. Administrative management functions include management analysis, human resources in relation to U.S. and foreign national Personal Services Contractors, general services (which include real and personal property management, International Cooperative Administrative Support Services (ICAS), security, contracting, and procurement. A thorough comprehension and proven record of performance in these functions is an absolute necessity for the Senior Operations Advisor to fulfill the requirements of the position.

BASIS OF RATING: 

Offerors who clearly meet the Education/Experience Requirements and Selection Factors set forth in the coming solicitation will be further evaluated based on scoring of the Evaluation Factor responses. Offerors who meet these minimum qualifications will be reviewed against set Evaluation Factors, describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received that are relevant to each factor. Failure to specifically address the Selection and/or Evaluation Factors may result in your not receiving credit for all of your pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards. 

The most qualified offerors may be interviewed, required to provide a writing sample, and demonstrate an ability to operate commonly used office applications. OTI will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. In addition, offers (written materials and interviews) will be evaluated based on content as well as on the offerors writing, presentation, and communication skills. In the event that an offeror has fully demonstrated their qualifications and there are no other competitive offerors, OTI reserves the right to forgo the interview process. Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for offerors being considered for selection. Offerors must submit at least three (3) professional references, one (1) of which must be a current or former supervisor. OTI reserves the right to contact previous employers to verify employment history.  If the offeror had a previous position with USAID, the TEC and/or CO are encouraged to obtain reference checks from the previous supervisor(s) or CO(s). See ADS 309.3.1.11.a.4

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.