USPSC Safety and Security Specialist At US Agency for International Development

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 720BHA22R00013

ISSUANCE DATE: February 24, 2022
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: March 17, 2022, 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) Office of Field and Response Operations (FARO) is seeking offers from
qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal service as a Safety and Security Specialist under a
United States Personal Services Contract (USPSC), as described in the 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 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. 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. 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.).

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.

1. USPSC Offeror form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete sections A
   through I. This form must be physically signed. Electron signatures will not be accepted.
   AID 309-2 is available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms

NOTE REGARDING ENSURING ADEQUATE COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS

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.

NOTE REGARDING DATA UNIVERSAL NUMBERING SYSTEM (DUNS) NUMBERS AND 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

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

FARO Recruitment Team
E-Mail Address: BHA.FARORecruitment@usaid.gov
Website: www.BHAjobs.net

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

Sincerely,
Sonja Stroud-Gooden
Contracting Officer

INTRODUCTION

Safety and security are vital to humanitarian programming and field operations. As part of the
Field Operations Division, the core function of the Humanitarian Access Safety and Security
Team (HASST) is to provide technical expertise and operational support to BHA’s decision
makers and staff. The HASST achieves this through:

1. Providing multi-tiered engagement and assistance to support safety and security
   capacity-building within the humanitarian community;
2. Serving as technical advisor to fulfill BHA’s commitment to fostering a culture of
   effective safety and security risk management through innovative and appropriate safety
   and security management solutions;
3. Empowering staff to make responsible decisions through the provision of training,
   analysis, and other support appropriate to the complex security environments in which we
   operate; and
4. Developing innovative tools and systems that enable BHA’s mission and field work.

The HASST is comprised of a Team Lead and six Safety and Security Specialists (SSS). This
position will directly support core team functions; engaging in capacity building activities and
assisting with the administration of the grant portfolio; providing input during policy
formulation; giving technical advice and guidance as needed to all levels of decision makers to
understand risk management considerations and the nature of the threat environment; participate
in the provision of training to BHA staff; and address security challenges at both operational and
systemic levels to accomplish the humanitarian mission

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The SSS will be responsible for providing support to various operational and policy aspects of the SSU portfolio.

The SSS will provide support on various operational and policy aspects of the HASST portfolio and will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities:

• Monitor security situations in countries and regions in which BHA has, or may have, staff, and be able to identify current and future risks to BHA staff and humanitarian programs.
• Work with BHA’s geographic offices and regional teams, both at headquarters and in the field, to coordinate and track the activities of BHA staff as they relate to security.
• Provide general and country-specific security guidance and briefings to BHA staff, as needed.
• Assist in BHA’s management of critical security incidents.
• Deploy to the field in support of the geographic offices and their regional teams’ operational safety and security needs, including comprehensive risk assessments and development of safety and security risk management plans.
• Exercise substantial latitude for operational security decision-making as delegated by field-team leaders.
• Manage course content and serve as a resource speaker on established HASST training modules at BHA training courses, as appropriate.
• Review BHA partner safety and security plans for adherence to USAID/BHA Guidelines for Proposals.
• Liaise with various elements of USAID, primarily the Office of Security, in both Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and Response Management Team (RMT) situations and on relevant USAID security policy, and with Mission Executive Officers when in the field.
• Liaise with other USG agencies in the field and in Washington, D.C., as appropriate, especially with the Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Regional Security Officers (RSOs) at post.
• Liaise with the various elements of the humanitarian community in the field and at the headquarters level, including: United Nations (UN) Department of Safety & Security, UN
• Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, local and international NGOs, and members of the International Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement.
• Administer BHA’s Security Information distribution lists.
• Assist DART Safety and Security officers with development of deployment-specific security plans.
• Serve as needed on Washington-based RMTs, which provide services and support to DARTs deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will be varied.
• As needed, 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 Bureau to meet operational needs during staff shortages. 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.
• Become certified and serve as an Agreement Officer’s Representative/Contracting Officer’s Representative (AOR/COR), as assigned. The AOR/COR provides financial and programmatic oversight of all aspects of managing the agreement or contract; this includes but is not limited to reviewing invoices, requests for approvals, program/project deliverables (i.e. work plans, annual reports, month status reports), travel requests, key personnel requests, and financial/budget reports. They are responsible for drafting and submitting the annual contractor performance evaluation in Contract/Assistance Performance Assessment Review System. They prepare and review contract/assistance modifications documentation and assist the Contracting/Agreement Officer to ensure performance is compliant with the terms and conditions of the contract/agreement, the FAR, and USAID policy. AOR/CORs are responsible for all related requirements in the COR designation letter and the AOR designation letter.
• Work closely with USAID/Office of Security (SEC) in order to ensure consistency with overall USAID security objectives and the sharing of information between BHA and SEC.

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.)

High School diploma and at least eleven (11) years of relevant work experience in humanitarian assistance, emergency management, international development, safety and security operations, crisis management, or law enforcement. At least two (2) years should be field work in humanitarian or development security, programming, logistics, or operations.

OR

Bachelor’s degree and at least seven (7) years of relevant work experience in humanitarian assistance, emergency management, international development, safety and security operations, crisis management, or law enforcement. At least two (2) years should be field work in humanitarian or development security, programming, logistics, or operations.

OR

Master’s degree and at least five (5) years of relevant work experience in humanitarian assistance, emergency management, international development, safety and security operations, crisis management, or law enforcement. At least two (2) years should be field work, in humanitarian or development security, programming, logistics, or operations.

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 cover page 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 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 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.

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:

Professional Experience (30 points)

• Experience monitoring security situations in various countries and/or regions to identify threats to staff or programs.
• Experience conducting comprehensive risk assessments.
• Experience developing safety and security risk management plans.
• Experience working in a grantee or grantmaking organization or with a humanitarian or development donor organization.
• Knowledge related to disaster preparedness, response, or recovery in an international setting.
• Experience implementing security programs using the concepts of community integration, cultural acceptance, or access negotiation.
• Experience in the design and implementation of training programs.
• Experience with internal representation to senior leadership on safety and security policy issues.
• Experience with external representation on humanitarian safety and security policy issues, risk analysis and risk mitigation.

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 package.
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 future phase of the selection process.