R -- USPSC - RATS Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists (Multiple Vacancies)

SOLICITATION NUMBER: DCHA/OFDA-05-2062 ISSUANCE DATE: November 28, 2005 CLOSING DATE: December 30, 2005, 2:00PM EST LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: SUBJECT: Solicitation for Personal Services Contractor (PSC) - Response Alternatives for Technical Services (RATS) - Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Specialist (Multiple Positions Available) The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications from qualified U.S. CITIZENS ONLY interested in providing PSC services as described in the attached solicitation. Applicants interested in applying for this position MUST submit the following materials: 1) Complete and hand-signed federal form OF-612 2) Supplemental document specifically addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) Applications that are received incomplete or without a handwritten signature and supplemental QRF document will not be considered for the position. Applicants are responsible for submitting materials that are in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. There will be no exceptions. Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications. Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to: Stephanie Paul or Amy Feldman Telephone Number: +1 (555) 000-0000 or +1 (555) 000-0000 E-Mail Address: contact@example.gov Website: www.globalcorps.com Facsimile: +1 (555) 000-0000 or +1 (555) 000-0000 All applications should be submitted to: GlobalCorps 1201 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20004 E-Mail Address: contact@example.gov Facsimile: +1 (555) 000-0000 or +1 (555) 000-0000 Sincerely, M. E. Yearwood Contracting Officer 1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: DCHA/OFDA-05-2062 2. ISSUANCE DATE: November 28, 2005 3. CLOSING DATE/TIME: December 30, 2005, 2:00 PM EST 4. POSITION TITLE: Response Alternatives for Technical Services (RATS) - Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Specialist (Multiple Positions Available) 5. MARKET VALUE: GS-13 ($74,782 - $97,213 per year) GS-14 ($88,369 - $114,882 per year) (see note below concerning market value 6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year with option to extend for up to five years (see note below) 7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Worldwide 8. SECURITY ACCESS: Secret 9. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to all U.S. Citizens POSITION DESCRIPTION BACKGROUND The Response Alternatives for Technical Services (RATS) is a program developed by the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) to satisfy its growing need for surge capacity. In response to numerous disasters worldwide, it became clear that OFDA could not find in a timely manner adequate staff to cover all positions in the field, in Washington and to backfill for permanent staff deploying to the field. OFDA's Senior Management Team (SMT) approved a program which would bring on board select candidates who could work on a part-time basis, for no more than 250 days per calendar year, and be deployed within hours to facilitate OFDA's response to disasters. RATS positions are contracted for an initial period of one year with the option to extend up to five years. INTRODUCTION OFDA is the office within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that is responsible for providing non-food humanitarian assistance in response to international crises and disasters. OFDA is part of the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA). OFDA is organized into three divisions, under the management of the Office of the Director. The Disaster Response and Mitigation (OFDA/DRM) Division is responsible for coordinating with other organizations for the provision of relief supplies and humanitarian assistance. OFDA/DRM also devises, coordinates, and implements program strategies for a variety of natural and human caused disaster situations. OFDA/DRM employs sector specialists to provide technical expertise in assessing the quality of disaster response. The Program Support (OFDA/PS) Division provides programmatic and administrative support including budget/financial services, procurement planning, contracts and grants administration, and communication support for OFDA's Washington and field offices. The Operations (OFDA/OPS) Division develops and manages logistical, operational, and technical support for disaster responses and administrative support to all offices and operations. OFDA/OPS maintains readiness to respond to emergencies through several mechanisms, including managing Search and Rescue (SAR) Teams, Disaster Assistance Support Program (DASP), Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs), and Washington-based Response Management Teams (RMTs). The RATS program is managed by the Overseas Administration Team (OAT) in the OFDA/OPS Division. This team maintains a database for all contracted RATS, providing information to the rest of the office on their availability, skills and previous OFDA experience. The OAT assists the program offices within OFDA in choosing the best qualified RATS for any specific task, and provides administrative and personnel support to existing RATS. Each RATS incumbent will provide enhancement to the OFDA team according to his/her skills. They will be considered part of OFDA-Washington resources that can be deployed worldwide. At times they may also be a resource for the DCHA Bureau. Foreign language ability in one or more major world languages is preferred. OBJECTIVES The SMT has determined that OFDA needs to maintain a roster of 50 to 75 RATS to meet its surge capacity objectives. Each incumbent will be deployable to backfill Washington positions, to field offices for staff enhancement, on DARTs and RMTs as disaster response demands, and for assessments of critical situations as warranted. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES RATS respond to humanitarian emergencies -- natural, technological and conflict-related disasters -- as required, worldwide. The contractor may serve in the OFDA Washington offices as staff enhancement when critical shortages of staff occur and on RMTs, which provide program, administrative, technical and logistics support to OFDA DARTs from Washington. The contractor may also be required to travel on short notice as a critical component of a U.S. Government (USG) disaster assessment team or a DART or to backfill staff members in OFDA regional or program offices overseas. Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Specialist RATS * Provides expert technical advice to OFDA on program planning, monitoring and evaluation issues for populations at risk in conflict, disaster affected, or otherwise food-insecure areas; * Facilitates and/or participates in the development of medium- to long-term strategic plans for individual countries, regions, and sectors, and shorter-term contingency plans for specific emerging crises, providing briefings and/or written reports; * Monitors OFDA grantee performance, developing and tracking the progress of performance indicators for specific projects, country portfolios, and OFDA as a whole, and revising and disseminating internal program monitoring tools and templates; * Provides support to the OFDA Grants Working Group in the development of programmatic guidance to grantees, liaising with the OFDA information management system team to provide input into the systematized collection of OFDA-wide performance measurement data; * Serves as an evaluator of OFDA-funded initiatives in Washington and in the field, managing evaluations conducted by outside consultants, developing evaluation terms of reference, recruiting evaluators, organizing briefings, and disseminating results; * Conducts original desktop research into important humanitarian issues affecting USAID, the USG, and the humanitarian community; * Provides writing and research support for major projects including the OFDA Annual Reports to Congress and the Performance Assessment and Rating Tool (PART) exercise, among others; * Provides coordination and managerial oversight of OFDA-funded activities to ensure the proper use of OFDA program funds, monitoring financial statements from grantees and timeliness and quality of response; * Conducts initial assessments of vulnerable populations and recommends appropriate relief activities, facilitating and coordinating actual USG emergency response activities with USAID Missions, other donor agencies, and U.S. Embassies; * Liaise with other responders (i.e., government agencies, international organizations or private and voluntary organizations), determining the capacities of the affected communities to cope with emergency situations, including gender-specific capacities, and ensuring that adequate resources are available to the international response effort, briefing host governments, the U.S. Military, U.S. Embassy and USAID Mission; * Identifies disaster mitigation measures where appropriate that could be linked to disaster response activities, reviewing mitigation principles and recommending courses of action to OFDA-Washington staff; * Interprets USAID regulations and applies them to DART humanitarian activities; * Participates in appropriate training either as a participant and/or trainer; * Operates DART communications equipment and operates a 4-wheel drive, standard-shift vehicle in cross-country conditions; * Adheres strictly to Embassy and Mission security guidelines, coordinating all travel with the DART Leader, the DART Security Officer, the USAID Executive Officer (EXO) and/or the RMT. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP: The incumbents will take direction from and report to the Overseas Administration Team (OAT) Leader or his/her designee, and that person designated as his/her supervisor in the Activation Memo. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The incumbent is expected to take initiative and act independently with little direction and will have wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment in responding to program planning, monitoring, and evaluation needs. BASIC REQUIREMENTS AND SELECTIVE FACTORS: (Determines basic eligibility for the position. Candidates who do not meet all of the basic qualifications and selective factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.) * Bachelor's degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including but not limited to international relations, human rights, economics, food policy, public health, gender studies, or a related field) plus seven (7) years relevant work experience with the USG, an international organization or a non-governmental organization, two (2) of which must include on-the-ground field experience in needs assessment, analysis, emergency relief program operations or post-emergency rehabilitation; OR Master's degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including, but not limited to international relations, law, human rights, economics, food policy, public health, gender studies, or related field) plus five (5) years work experience with the U.S. Government, an international organization or a non-governmental organization, two (2) of which must include on-the-ground field experience in needs assessment, analysis, emergency relief program operations or post-emergency rehabilitation; * U.S. Citizen; * Complete and hand-signed federal form OF-612; * Supplemental document specifically addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs); * Ability to obtain a SECRET level security clearance; * Ability to obtain a Department of State medical clearance. QUALITY RANKING FACTORS: (Used with interview performance and reference check results to determine the ranking of qualified candidates in comparison to other applicants. The factors are listed in order of importance from highest to least.) QRF #1: Demonstrated and relevant experience directly evaluating humanitarian relief initiatives in the field, managing evaluations conducted by others, developing evaluation terms of reference, recruiting evaluators, organizing briefings, and disseminating results. Relevant experience from a donor agency preferred; QRF #2: Demonstrated experience in the development of medium- to long-term strategic plans for individual countries, regions, and sectors, and shorter-term contingency plans for specific emerging crises, providing briefings and/or written reports. Relevant experience from a donor agency preferred; QRF #3: Excellent writing and research skills, including drafting formal reports, speeches, briefing memoranda, and other documents for a range of audiences, including technical experts, high ranking officials, and laypersons; QRF #4: Demonstrated experience developing and tracking performance indicators for international humanitarian relief or development assistance at the project level, country level, and/or the office level, including revising and disseminating internal program monitoring tools and templates; QRF #5: Demonstrated experience conducting assessments of vulnerable populations and recommending appropriate relief activities, such experience to include liaising and coordinating with other responders (e.g., government agencies, international organizations or private and voluntary organizations, host governments, the U.S. Military, U.S. Embassies and USAID Missions). BASIS OF RATING: Applicants who meet the Basic Requirements and Selective Factors will be further evaluated based on the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs), interview performance, and satisfactory academic and professional reference checks. Applicants are required to address each of the QRFs on a separate sheet describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards you have received that are relevant to each factor. Be sure to include your name, social security number and the announcement number at the top of each additional page. Failure to address the selective and/or quality ranking factors may result in your not receiving credit for all of your pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards. The Applicant Rating System is as Follows: The QRFs listed above have been assigned the following points: QRF #1: 15 points QRF #2: 10 points QRF #3: 10 points QRF #4: 10 points QRF #5: 5 points Interview Performance : 30 points Satisfactory Academic and Professional Reference Checks : 20 points Total Possible Points: 100 (1) NOTE CONCERNING MARKET VALUE: The applicant(s) chosen for the position will be recommended for hire at the GS level (GS-13 or GS-14) commensurate with their overall experience, training, and qualifications as determined by the OFDA Selection Committee. (2) STATEMENT OF LIMITATIONS ON PERIOD AND PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: The purpose of this contract is to establish an employee/employer relationship with the contractor to perform services on a temporary, on-call, basis as a Response Alternatives for Technical Services. It is DCHA/OFDA's intent to contract for these services for a maximum of 250 working days per calendar year. The level of effort anticipated under this contract will be provided within the terms of this contract at times mutually agreed to by DCHA/OFDA and the contractor. Upon identification of a temporary need within the scope of work, DCHA/OFDA will contact the contractor and provide the following information: 1. Date contractor is needed to report to DCHA/OFDA or assignment in the field 2. Duration of Assignment 3. Place of Performance The contractor will notify DCHA/OFDA within 24 hours of availability. At the time the contractor accepts the assignment, he/she is expected to commit for the duration of the assignment. While the contractor will be required to commit to a certain time period, it is understood that the exigencies of a disaster may require the assignment to be extended (not to exceed 250 working days). The Contractor shall notify OFDA at the time of commitment if their existing schedule would preclude an extension. Notification of schedule conflicts shall not necessarily disqualify the contractor from the assignment but will simply assist DCHA/OFDA in recruiting a replacement. Subsequently, if the contractor agrees to an extension of the duration of a particular assignment, thereafter, the contract will be required to give DCHA/OFDA 10 days notice for release from the assignment. WHERE AND HOW TO APPLY: Qualified individuals are required to submit: 1. A U.S. Government Optional Form 612 (available at the USAID website, http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms or internet http://fillform.gsa.gov or at Federal offices) or www.globalcorps.com. 2. Supplemental document specifically addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs). To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application, and as the subject line in any cover letter. Via mail: GlobalCorps, 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20004 Via facsimile: +1 (555) 000-0000 or +1 (555) 000-0000 Via email: contact@example.gov The most qualified candidates may be interviewed and required to provide a writing sample. OFDA will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for applicants being considered for selection. NOTE: If a temporary secret security clearance and State Department Medical Clearance are not obtained within nine months, the offer may be rescinded. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs Forms outlined below can found at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms/ or at http://www.forms.gov/bgfPortal/citizen.portal 1. Optional Form 612. 2. Medical History and Examination Form (DS-1843). ** 3. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86), or ** 4. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85). ** 5. Finger Print Card (FD-258). ** 6. Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9 Form). ** * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). ** Forms 2 through 5 shall be completed ONLY upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job. CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs) and ACQUISITION & ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRECTIVES (AAPDs) PERTAINING TO PSCs CIBs and AAPDs contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and contracts. Please refer to http://www.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/cib/subject.html#psc to determine which CIBs and AAPDs apply to this contract. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES: As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: BENEFITS: Employer's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Annual Increase Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual & Sick Leave ALLOWANCES (if Applicable).* (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) Danger Pay (Section 650). * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes. ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, COLOR, SEX, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, LAWFUL POLITICAL AFFILIATION, NON-DISQUALIFYING HANDICAP, MARITAL STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AFFILIATION WITH AN EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION, OR OTHER NON-MERIT FACTOR.