USPSC - OTI Program Assistant - Washington D.C. (Tandem, Multiple Positions) (GS-9/10)

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72C0T123R00014 SYNOPSIS ISSUANCE DATE: February 1, 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 Program Assistant 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: contact@example.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.: 72C0T123R00014 3. SYNOPSIS ISSUANCE DATE: February 1, 2023 4. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: February 16, 2023, 1:00 pm Eastern Time 5. POINT OF CONTACT: OTI Recruitment Team, e-mail at contact@example.gov. 6. POSITION TITLE: 7. MARKET VALUE: This position has been designated as a - tandem position that, depending on the qualifications of the offeror, can be filled at either the GS-9 ($64,957 - $84,441 per annum) or GS-10 ($71,531 - $92,995 per annum) equivalent level. The highest level of this position is a GS-10. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value of the GS-9 or GS-10 level depending on qualifications, previous relevant experience, work history, salary and educational background. Salaries over and above the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated. Offerors who live outside the Washington, D.C. area will be considered for selection but no relocation expenses will be reimbursed. Note: Offerors who submit an application for the GS-10 grade level, but do not meet the minimum qualifications as outlined in this solicitation and as reviewed by the Technical Evaluation Committee, will not be considered for the GS-9 position if they have not submitted a separate application for the GS-9 level. Similarly, offerors who apply for the GS-9 position even though they might meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-10 position will not be considered for the higher graded position if they have not submitted a separate application for the GS-10 position. Offerors who are unsure of which grade level they meet the minimum qualifications for should submit separate applications for the GS-9 and the GS-10 positions. The Offeror will be considered for the lower grade level if the offeror does not specify the grade level in the submission. 8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One (1) year, with four (4) one-year option periods 9. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Washington D.C. 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 OTI Program Assistant will be a member of the CPS/OTI Field Programs Division Management Team, the CPS/OTI FPD Program Performance Management (PPM) or Creative & Digital Teams (CDT), or one of CPS/OTI's Regional Teams, and reports to one of the two FPD Deputy Chiefs, or their designee, or the OTI Regional Team Leader or their designee, and is based in Washington, DC. The FPD Management Team overseas regional teams, program strategy, workforce planning and budgets for the division. The FPD PPM and CDT teams consist of technical advisors and specialists in areas including but not limited to M&E, PPM, Data Analysis, Graphic Design and media and provide direct support to OTI country programs. OTI currently has six regional teams as part of FPD: West Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Southern and Eastern Africa, and Middle East and Asia. OTI's Regional Teams are responsible for all program implementation-related activity in the specific region. The Program Assistant's principal responsibility is to assist the FPD Management Team, the PPM and CDT teams, or one of OTI's regional teams in the administration and management of existing country programs and participates in new country program assessments as the need arises. This is a program-funded USPSC position, focused on country program implementation support. The Program Assistant must have a strong interest in assisting countries in transition and be able to accomplish a wide range of administrative functions (budget and financial preparation and management, records management, travel assistance, etc.) to help ensure programmatic success. Since work may require continued changes in program direction and implementation, including frequent coordination, the individual will be someone who is highly flexible and willing to work under conditions of ongoing change. The successful offeror will demonstrate sound judgment, excellent communication, interpersonal and analytical skills, be able to build and maintain collaborative relationships with staff in other support divisions and possess a well-developed understanding of US policy interests. BASIS OF RATING: Offerors who clearly 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. In the event that a offeror has fully demonstrated their qualifications and there are no other competitive offerors, OTI reserves the right to forego the interview process.