Costa Rica: USPSC Senior Program Officer

Position Title: Senior Program Officer

Solicitation Number: 720FDA19B00043

Salary Level: GS-13 Equivalent: ($76,687 - $99,691)

Issuance Date: July 1, 2019

Closing Date: July 29, 2019

Closing Time: 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), is seeking applications from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal services as a Senior Program Officer (SPO) under a United States Personal Services Contract (USPSC), as described in the attached solicitation.

Submittals must be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Offerors interested in applying for this position MUST submit the following materials:

1. Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your application, 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.

(d) U.S. Citizenship

(e) Optional: How did you hear about this opportunity? (FedBizOps, OFDA Jobs, Career Fair, etc.).

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

2. USPSC Application form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete sections A through I. This form must be physically signed. Electronic signatures will not be accepted.

NOTE REGARDING DATA UNIVERSAL NUMBERING SYSTEM (DUNS) NUMBERSAND THE SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT

All USPSCs with a place of performance in the United States are required to have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to receiving an award. You will be disqualified if you either fail to comply with this requirement or if your name appears on the excluded parties list. The selectee will be provided with guidance regarding this registration.

NOTE: As of March 28, 2018, all new SAM.gov entity registrations will now require a signed notarized letter identifying the authorized Entity administrator for the entity associated with the DUNS number. Additional information on the format of the notarized letter and where to submit can be found via the below Federal Service Desk link:

https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/answer.do?sysparm_kbid=d2e67885db0d5f00b3257d321f96194b&

sysparm_search=kb0013183

Additional documents submitted will not be accepted. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. OFDA reserves the right to select additional candidates if vacancies become available during future phases of the selection process.

Offerors can expect to receive a confirmation email when application materials have been received. Offerors should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications. Your complete resume must be emailed to:

OFDA Recruitment Team

E-Mail Address: recruiter@ofda.gov

Website: www.OFDAjobs.net

Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to OFDA Recruitment Team via the information provided above.

Sincerely,

Renee Newton

Contracting Officer

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Working under the guidance and supervision of the SRA or designated RA, the SPO supports the regional office through the management of humanitarian and DRR activities in the region, assisting with program analysis, strategy development, and coordination with partners in the humanitarian community. The SPO will work closely with a program team that may include SRAs, RAs, Senior Humanitarian Advisors, Program Officers, Regional Team Leaders, Deputy Team Leaders, Disaster Operations Specialists (DOSs), and Program Assistants. The SPO will perform the following:

Contextual Specialty:

· Develop and maintain a specialized understanding of humanitarian developments across the region to include political, social, and operational issues impacting humanitarian efforts.

· Develop and maintain knowledge of USAID and USG humanitarian priorities and strategies within the region, and OFDA’s contributions and comparative advantages to those efforts.

· Provide regular reporting, through cables and other means, on issues related to the humanitarian situations in the region.

· Provide regular reports on site visits, meetings, relevant current events and other issues that impact humanitarian relief efforts.

Portfolio Management:

· Work with OFDA’s Washington-based and field-based program staff to develop program strategies for response and DRR activities across the region, overseeing day-to-day management of the portfolio and its budgets.

· Support team members in assessing emergency response and DRR needs in the region in order to ensure that OFDA’s programs are appropriately responsive.

· Travel as permitted to assess, evaluate and monitor humanitarian conditions in the region, and make strategic recommendations for appropriate interventions.

· Assist Washington-based Agreement Officer’s Representatives in managing and monitoring humanitarian awards by providing field-based insights, knowledge, and perspectives.

· Provide guidance on regulations and policies.

· Assist in humanitarian activities outside of immediate area of responsibility, as needed.

Representation:

· Support the regional team in maintaining relations with senior leadership in the humanitarian community through regular coordination and collaboration with OFDA, relevant USG staff, and the humanitarian community.

· Assist the regional team to coordinate with the donor community on policy issues affecting humanitarian operations, and develop integrated, non-duplicative programs, as needed.

· Engage in, and report on, joint donor humanitarian evaluations and UN-led assessments, and participate actively in the international community response structures.

· Prepare briefing papers, notes, and presentations on OFDA programming for official USG visitors interested in humanitarian issues.

· Represent OFDA with various audiences, as requested.

Leadership:

· Serve as peer mentor to team members on grants and portfolio management, to include OFDA’s business process, portfolio-specific budget and workload management, and post-award monitoring and management.

· In close coordination with the SRA, RA, and DOSs, work with NGOs, IOs, and UN agencies that are developing proposals for OFDA (including grant amendments and extensions) to ensure compliance with OFDA’s guidelines.

· Participate in office-wide discussions on initiatives that impact program implementation to provide field-based perspectives, as assigned.

General Duties:

· Serve in planning or program positions on response teams, assessment teams, or to provide coverage for field offices within the region.

· Brief on portfolio programs and strategies, and provide programmatic input for information products.

• May serve as needed, on Washington-based Response Management Teams (RMTs), which provides services and support to Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will be varied.
• May serve on DARTs which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment overseas for an extended period of time.
• As needed, may serve on temporary details within the office to meet operational needs during staff shortages, not to exceed six months. Duties performed while on detail will be aligned with the Team’s existing duties and responsibilities as well as directly related to the scope of work provided.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

The SPO will take direction from and report directly to the SRA or his/her designee.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

The supervisor sets overall objectives and resources available. The USPSC consults with the supervisor to develop deadlines, projects, and work to be done. The USPSC is responsible for planning and carrying out assignments, and s/he is responsible for the planning approach or methodology to be used in carrying out those assignments.

10. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is generally sedentary and does not pose undue physical demands. 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).

11. WORK ENVIRONMENT

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.

12. START DATE: Immediately, once necessary clearances are obtained.

13. POINT OF CONTACT: See Cover Letter.

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 with study in, but not limited to, international relations, development, economics, food policy, or a specific country, and seven (7) years of progressively demonstrated experience in emergency relief, DRR and/or disaster preparedness programming and management, and at least two (2) years of overseas field experience as demonstrated by short-term deployments or assignments in emergency situations.

OR

Master’s degree with study in, but not limited to, international relations, development, economics, food policy, or a specific country, and five (5) years of progressively demonstrated experience in emergency relief, DRR and/or disaster preparedness programming and management, and at least two (2) years of overseas field experience as demonstrated by short-term deployments or assignments in emergency situations.

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.)

● Offerors is a U.S. Citizen.

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

● USPSC Application form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete sections A through I. This form must be physically signed. Electronic signatures will not be accepted.

● Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance as provided by USAID.

● Ability to obtain a Department of State medical clearance.

● 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 evaluation of writing tests will also take into consideration the quality of written responses. Aspects of written responses including, but not limited to typos, grammatical errors, spelling errors, and incomplete sentences will be factored into the evaluation process. The rating factors are as follows:

Professional Experience (10 points):

· Experience monitoring and reporting on rapidly evolving humanitarian crises in an international disaster context.

· Experience working across the entire disaster management cycle to include emergency response, early recovery and transition, disaster risk reduction, and resilience.

· Specific experience implementing humanitarian interventions including needs assessment, strategy development, budget management, resource prioritization, program development, and program management.

Skills and Abilities (10 points):

· Demonstrated diplomatic, interpersonal, and representational skills in order to work effectively with host governments at senior levels in the midst of humanitarian crisis situations.

· Demonstrated diplomatic, interpersonal, and representational skills in order to work effectively with other donors and diplomatic missions at senior levels in the midst of international humanitarian crisis situations.

· Demonstrated diplomatic, interpersonal, and representational skills in order to work effectively with international and national non-governmental humanitarian partners at senior levels in the midst of humanitarian crisis situations.

· Demonstrated diplomatic, interpersonal, and representational skills in order to effectively achieve humanitarian objectives within the USG at senior levels, including with DOD, Embassies, Members of Congress, and senior executive branch staff in the midst of international humanitarian crisis situations.

· Demonstrated ability to communicate complex humanitarian issues to a range of audiences through written products.

Program Management (10 points):

· Demonstrated knowledge of USG acquisition and assistance regulations.

· Experience developing, designing, or evaluating proposed humanitarian interventions against response or disaster risk reduction strategies and identified needs.

· Demonstrated experience managing USG acquisition or assistance awards to include post award administration and regulation compliance.

Interview Performance (40 points)

Writing Test (20 points)

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks (10 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 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 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. OFDA reserves the right to select additional candidates if vacancies become available during future phase of the selection process.

APPLYING:

Applications must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter.

Qualified individuals are required to submit:

1. Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your application, 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.

(d) U.S. Citizenship.

(e) Optional: How did you hear about this opportunity? (FedBizOps, OFDA Jobs, Career Fair, etc.).

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

1. USPSC Application form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete sections A through I. This form must be physically signed. Electronic signatures will not be accepted.

Additional documents submitted will not be accepted.

By submitting your application materials, you certify that all of the information on and attached to the application is true, correct, complete, and made in good faith. You agree to allow all information on and attached to the application to be investigated. False or fraudulent information on or attached to your application 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 applications for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application, and as the subject line in any email.

DOCUMENT SUBMITTALS

Via email: recruiter@ofda.gov