USPSC Technical Operations Officer (Multiple positions), Washington, DC - $112,015 - $145,617 ANNUALLY

SOLICITATION NUMBER:          720BHA23R00017

ISSUANCE DATE:                           February 17, 2023                 

CLOSING DATE AND TIME:       June 30, 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,

 

Joy Burriss

Contracting Officer

 

Attachment 1

 

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

 

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 720BHA23R00017

 

1. ISSUANCE DATE: February 17, 2023

 

1. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: This solicitation is open and continuous until June 30, 2023. The following are the closing dates for each review period:

 

March 31, 2023, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

June 30, 2023, 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.

 

1. POINT OF CONTACT: FARO Recruitment Team, [email protected]

 

1. POSITION TITLE: Technical Operations Officer (Multiple positions)

 

1. MARKET VALUE: $112,015 - $145,617 equivalent to GS-13 (includes 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.

 

1. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Washington, D.C.

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

 

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

 

1. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: U.S. Citizens Only

 

1. 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.

 

1. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

 

GENERAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACT

 

The Technical Operations Officer will be responsible for providing technical expertise regarding Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High-Yield Explosives (CBRNE) to the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance’s (BHA’s) staff. The Technical Operations Officer is responsible for planning and preparing for a CBRNE response as well as training and equipping BHA’s humanitarian response teams to work in CBRNE environments. The Technical Operations Officer is also responsible for interagency coordination with other U.S. Government (USG) agencies during a CBRNE response. There is also a possibility that the Technical Operations Officer will need to participate in a CBRNE response as part of either a Washington, DC-based or field-based teams. This position is within the Technical Operations Unit, which is part of the Civil-Military Engagement Team, Civil-Military Disaster Operations Division (CMD), Office of Field and Response Operations (FARO). The Technical Operations Unit is responsible for providing CBRNE training and equipment to BHA’s humanitarian response teams.

 

This position will report to the Technical Operations Unit Lead, GS-14 equivalent.

 

Your Uniqueness is Welcome Here!

 

It takes talented people with unique experiences to provide the best humanitarian aid possible. We are committed to having a workforce that reflects the global communities we serve. We strive to create an inclusive workplace, where everyone brings their authentic selves to work. We invite you to join us in providing humanitarian assistance to save lives and alleviate the suffering around the world.

 

USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) works to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce the impact of disasters by helping people in need become more self-reliant. BHA is responsible for planning, coordinating, developing, achieving, monitoring, and evaluating international humanitarian assistance falling into two conceptual areas: 1) Humanitarian Response during emergencies and 2) Early Recovery, Risk Reduction, and Resilience activities to address longer-term recovery after emergencies. You can learn more about BHA on our website.

The Office of Field and Response Operations (FARO) leads and manages direct operational readiness and assistance and ensures that BHA has the capacity and resources for timely and effective response. FARO enables BHA to be expeditionary and to get people and resources into the field to meet international humanitarian requirements. Specific FARO functions include preparedness, planning, rapid mobilization, technical operations capacity, the purchase and delivery of goods and services, field-based response platforms, response systems, surge staffing, human and institutional capacity-development, staff safety and well-being, and coordination with operational components of the USG interagency, including the U.S. military.

 

STATEMENT OF DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED

 

• Serve as a subject matter expert on all CBRNE related needs for BHA’s disaster and humanitarian response and programming. 
• Monitor and track CBRNE trends, best practices, and guidelines, including Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.
• Monitor and track trends and best practices in the humanitarian assistance sector.
• Oversee the tracking, inventory, and maintenance of CBRNE related personal protective equipment.
• Advise senior bureau and office leadership on CBRNE-related safety and security considerations.

 

• Lead the planning, coordination, and training delivery of CBRNE training and exercises for internal BHA audiences and external and interagency partners.
• Plan, organize, and execute annual CBRNE training for radiological and nuclear responses for internal and external stakeholder participants, ensuring learning and preparedness for responses with CBRNE components or focus.
• Plan annual exercises, incorporating assistance from the Department of Energy (DoE) and Department of State (DoS) into disaster response teams to ensure effective use of DOE expertise for radiological and nuclear disaster response teams.
• Ensure USAID/BHA staff are prepared and knowledgeable about the interagency partners, coordination, and proper actions during a CBRNE response event.

 

• Effectively interface and coordinate with interagency partners and external stakeholders.
• Engage and work with both external and internal stakeholders, ensuring effective understanding of roles and responsibilities within BHA and among BHA interagency partners and stakeholders during a CBRNE event or response.
• Develop and maintain relationships with other U.S. agencies involved in a CBRNE humanitarian and/or disaster response (e.g., OSHA, DoD, DoE, State Department, National Security Council, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Coordinate with developed relationships with United Nations’ agencies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency.
• Provide technical direction and expertise to other U.S. agencies during a disaster or humanitarian response to ensure proper assignment of roles and responsibilities and effective interagency coordination.
• Inform other U.S. agencies of BHA’s role during a humanitarian response.

 

• Provide subject matter expertise in the area of CBRNE for disaster and humanitarian response teams.
• Provide technical CBRNE guidance and planning to Response Management Teams (RMT) and Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DART).
• Ensure that BHA and USAID correctly coordinate within the interagency during a response effort.
• Ensure DART Leaders and RMT Managers are aware of CBRNE procedure and practices in the field.

 

• Additional Duties and Responsibilities.
• This position is expected to be able to qualify, train for, and routinely serve on RMTs in Washington DC, as well as deploy to the disaster affected areas for about 4 to 6 weeks (or more) intervals. DARTs are deployed to the field in response to disasters and operate in the field, providing staff an opportunity to deploy overseas for an extended period of time (e.g., 6-8 weeks). RMTs are based in Washington, DC, and provide services to support DARTs, such as coordination and external engagement, communications, planning, logistics, travel coordination, or other similar duties (depending on the RMT role).
• 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 detail will be aligned with existing duties and responsibilities and will be directly related to the position’s scope of work.
• Staff are expected to support BHA’s hiring efforts and serve on PSC hiring committees. Training will be provided.
• The PSC may be expected to obtain an Agreement Officer's Representative (AOR) or Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) certification. The AOR/COR oversees agreements and/or contracts. This includes but is not limited to reviewing invoices, approvals, program/project deliverables (e.g., work plans, annual reports, month status reports), travel requests, key personnel requests, financial/budget reports, contractor performance evaluations, and compliance. More information about the AOR/COR responsibilities and related requirements can be found in the COR designation letter and the AOR designation letter. In the event that this role requires an AOR/COR certification, mandatory training will be provided.
• This position largely works in a typical office environment which often requires extensive periods working at a desk and on a computer.
• This position may require work in disaster-stricken areas, which would entail occasional exposure to dangerous environments, such as those amidst conflict or natural disasters.
• Work in proximity of explosive remnants of war.
• If deployed on a DART, the work may additionally involve special safety as well as security precautions, wearing of protective equipment, and exposure to severe weather conditions. Mandatory training will be provided.

 

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

 

This position will report to the Technical Operations Unit Lead.

 

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

 

The Technical Operations Officer 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.

 

1. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

 

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

DC

$112,015 - $145,617 Annually

Requires Security Clearance

1. 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.)

 

Applicants must demonstrate the factors outlined below within their resume, as they are evaluated solely by the information provided there. In addition, Offerors are required to submit the Offer Rating System Form.

 

Minimum education and general experience requirements  

 

High School Diploma and at least nine (9) years of experience in planning and conducting CBRNE, military, or other interagency training exercises.

 

OR

 

Bachelor’s degree in any discipline and at least five (5) years of experience in planning and conducting CBRNE, military, or other interagency training exercises.

 

OR

 

Master’s in any discipline and at least three (3) years of experience in planning and conducting CBRNE, military, or other interagency training exercises

 

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.
• 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.
• Professional experience planning for or responding to a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear or Explosive (CBRNE) event.

 

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:

 

MATRIX (30 points)

 

1. Experience working in a hazard or disaster environment (e.g., military, firefighter, forest service) (10 points)
2. Experience working with U.S. and international interagency and intergovernmental coordination. (10 points)
3. Experience developing, implementing, and managing a training and equipping program. (10 points)

 

Interview Performance (50 points)

 

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks (20 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.

 

1. 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. 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.).

 

Offers required to complete Specialized Experience Requirement Verification in order to be considered. 

 

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 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.

 

1. 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.

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

 

1. 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.

 

1. 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.

 

1. 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.