USPSC OTI Knowledge Management Coordinator - Washington D.C. (GS-11/12)(Tandem, Ladder)(Deadline Extended)
SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72C0T122R00048 ISSUANCE DATE: August 15, 2022 CLOSING DATE AND TIME: September 21, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (Deadline Extended) SUBJECT: Solicitation for U.S. Personal ... SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72C0T122R00048 ISSUANCE DATE: August 15, 2022 CLOSING DATE AND TIME: September 21, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (Deadline Extended) 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 U.S. citizens to provide personal services as Knowledge Management Coordinator - Washington, DC (GS-11/12)(Tandem, Ladder) under a personal services contract, as described in the attached solicitation. Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1 of this solicitation at the place and time specified. Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain companies of all offer materials for their records. USAID will evaluate all offerors based on the stated evaluation criteria. USAID encourages all individuals, including those from disadvantaged and under-represented groups, to respond to the solicitation. Offerors interested in applying for this position MUST submit the following materials: 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 overseas 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) Names and contact information (phone and email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). (d) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments. (e) U.S. Citizenship. Note: Your resume should contain explicit information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. Offerors must specify in their offer materials whether they would like to be considered for the GS-11 or GS-12. Offerors who would like to be considered for both the GS-11 and GS-12 positions should submit separate offers specifying which grade level in the submission. Offerors will only be considered for the grade level specified in the submission. The offeror will be considered for the lower grade level if the offeror does not specify the grade level in the submission. Offerors who are unsure of which grade level they meet the minimum qualifications for should submit separate offers for the GS-11 and the GS-12 positions. This information should be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide explicit information to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration. 2. Supplemental document specifically addressing: Each of the three (3) Evaluation Factors shown in the solicitation. Responses must be limited to 500 words per factor. Any additional words above the limit will neither be read nor scored. NOTE: The Evaluation Factors are worth 70 out of 100 points. Offerors are required to address each of the Evaluation Factors in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received that are relevant to each factor. 3. USPSC Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts form AID 309-2. Offerors are required to complete and sign the form. Due to COVID-19 and limited access to equipment, we are currently accepting electronic and typed signatures on the AID 309-2 form. NOTE ABOUT THE DATA UNIVERSAL NUMBERING SYSTEM AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS All USPSCs with a place of performance in the United States are required to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to receiving an offer. 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. Additional documents submitted will not be accepted. Incomplete or late offers will not be considered. Your complete resume and the AID 309-2 form must be mailed or emailed to OTIjobs@usaid.gov 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. 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. Offeror resources are available at www.otijobs.net/guidance-for-applying. Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to: OTI Recruitment Team E-Mail Address: OTIjobs@usaid.gov Website: www.OTIjobs.net Sincerely, Jaclyn Humphrey Supervisory Contracting Officer 72C0T122R00048 I. GENERAL INFORMATION 1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72C0T122R00048 2. ISSUANCE DATE: August 15, 2022 3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: September 21, 2022, 1:00 pm Eastern Time (Deadline Extended) 4. POINT OF CONTACT: OTI Recruitment Team, Email at OTIjobs@usaid.gov. 5. POSITION TITLE: Knowledge Management Coordinator 6. MARKET VALUE: This position has been designated as a “tandem/ladder” position that, depending on the qualifications of the offeror , can be filled at either the GS-11 ($74,950 - $97,430 per annum) or GS-12 ($89,834 - $116,788 per annum) equivalent levels. The highest level of this position is a GS-12. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value of the GS-11 or GS-12 level depending on qualifications, previous relevant experience and 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. The title of the position at the GS-11 and GS-12 levels will be “Knowledge Management (KM) Coordinator.” If selected at the GS-11 equivalent grade level, following at least one year at the GS-11 grade, the offeror may have the opportunity for advancement to the GS-12 equivalent grade. In order to be advanced to the higher grade, the incumbent must meet the minimum qualifications of the higher grade and receive an excellent performance rating in their most recent annual performance evaluation. The evaluation must include a statement by the supervisor that the incumbent is performing successfully at the current grade and is considered ready to perform at the higher grade level. Neither advancement nor extension of the contract is guaranteed. Note: Offerors who submit an offer for the GS-12 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-11 position, respectively, if they have not submitted a separate offer for the GS-11 level. Offerors who are unsure of which grade level they meet the minimum qualifications for should submit separate offers for the GS-11 and GS-12 positions. 7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One (1) year, with four (4) one-year option periods. START DATE: Within 45 days of receiving notification that required security clearance has been obtained. 8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Washington, D.C. 9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: United States Citizens 10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: SECRET 11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES 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 of this solicitation. OTI’s Core Values: Agility OTI addresses complex political problems through context analysis, experimentation, and strategic resource use. Applying an adaptive mindset in Washington and the field accelerates timely positive change. Political OTI seeks to understand how power is created, traded, and facilitated, requiring that we acknowledge our privilege and the limits of our power. This understanding helps us act on power dynamics and harness them for transformation. Accountability OTI exhibits a sense of ownership and integrity in the work we do, and holds a sense of responsibility to each other, the local partners we engage, the policies and programs we advance with our implementing partners, and the taxpayer. Curiosity OTI’s mission demands learning and adaptation. Our relentless curiosity drives us to wonder about people, problems, and possibilities. We question the status quo, seek to understand amid uncertainty, and treat mistakes as a compass pointing us toward more effective approaches. Diversity & Inclusion OTI’s ability to achieve its mission and live out its values is propelled by our collective responsibility to create a sense of belonging for all in our work environment. OTI values the diversity of each others’ authentic selves, building a foundation of trust and respect. Courage OTI embraces our engagements with one another, our stakeholders, and our programs with intentionality and optimism. Achieving our mission requires that we take risks and tackle difficult conversations and decisions. A courageous OTI is a force for positive change. OTI’s DEIA Vision Statement: OTI is a collaborative environment that represents the global community at all levels of our organization. Uniting diverse backgrounds and experiences, we value individual expertise to advance peace and democracy around the world. Values and associated behaviors that will enable this vision are: Trust Model open communication, active listening and candor. Believe others when they share their experiences. Respect A respectful attitude should be shown to everyone. Allow for others to express complete opinion/thoughts without interruption, while recognizing that there are other perspectives and lived experiences. Belonging (Accessibility) Serve as an ally to those who feel excluded (professionally, socially, personally, etc.). Promote togetherness and acceptance through equitable behavior. Empathy Listen to understand, create space to be real/feel. Remind yourself to be conscious of how others may feel or receive your words Self-awareness/accountability Supervisors hold their peers to account on their expectations and behaviors. Seek regular, constructive feedback to understand how your words and actions affect and influence others, and how they are being perceived and interpreted. Acknowledge unconscious bias and be willing to learn and change behavior when confronted/corrected. For more information about OTI and its country programs please see: https://www.usaid.gov/stabilization-and-transitions INTRODUCTION As a member of the OTI Global Knowledge Management (GKM) Team, the KM Coordinator position utilizes the experience and skills gained from working in a dynamic organization dedicated to individual and institutional learning. OTI’s success now and in the future depends in large part on its ability to achieve an overarching organizational goal: the effective transfer and ongoing analysis of knowledge and experience – comprised of values, management processes, lessons learned, best practices, standards, and innovations – in real time, with a variety of stakeholders. These stakeholders include: OTI staff in the field and headquarters; OTI’s implementing partners around the world; USAID Missions overseas; other USAID offices and bureaus in Washington; other U.S. Government agencies and branches; other donors; other transition, stabilization and reconstruction practitioners; host government and/or other local counterparts; and the U.S. public. All of the above increases OTI’s level of transparency and accountability. To this end, the OTI GKM Team supports a model of organizational learning across the office that ensures: 1. Increased transparency and accountability between the headquarters and field teams; 2. Increased opportunities for peer-to-peer dialogue; 3. Easier access to content and learning resources for a variety of stakeholders; 4. More guidance available in online format; and 5. Provision of tools to surface and apply OTI’s programming lessons to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of OTI programs. The KM Coordinator supports OTI’s mission to provide fast, flexible, short-term assistance targeted at key political transition and stabilization needs by supporting the capture, curation, and dissemination of research and program learning through product development and by maintaining knowledge management platforms for OTI and implementing partner staff. GKM supports learning and innovation through the application of technology – including OTI’s knowledge management platform, mapping, data visualization, and other analytic tools – to continually improve OTI country program analysis, management and performance. GKM will ensure the effective integration of lessons and knowledge into OTI’s learning and training resources. GKM coordinates closely with other units, teams, and divisions within OTI to achieve these goals. CORE FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The work of the Knowledge Management (KM) Coordinator requires teamwork, the exercise of discretion, judgment, and personal responsibility. As a member of a highly operational office, you are willing and able to perform a wide range of functions to help promote cross-office learning and ensure programmatic success. You have a high level of integrity and attention to detail to ensure the use of OTI knowledge management systems and processes to maintain effective and efficient management of funds and programming. You are flexible and willing to work under conditions of ongoing change and remain professional and respectful of colleagues and authority in a diverse workforce. You place a premium on the building of positive relationships with the range of OTI stakeholders in the field and in Washington, as well as with key interlocutors both in and outside of USAID. You will serve as a role model for good knowledge management and learning practices. You are able to prioritize and complete tasks without follow-up by the supervisor, while also filling in gaps as needed to ensure the responsiveness of the team. You are a strategic thinker, articulate innovative ideas, present solutions, and lead by example for colleagues both in and outside of OTI. You are also committed to upholding USAID/OTI’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Vision and Values as outlined in the background. Under the supervision of the CPS/OTI Senior Learning Specialist or their designee, you will perform the following duties: At the GS-11 level: Note: Duties and responsibilities are listed in order of importance for this position Under the supervisor’s direction, facilitate cross-program learning through events and products and help the office aggregate, curate and communicate evidence of effectiveness and outcomes across programs and with the broader community of practice; Support efforts to coordinate with key stakeholders to develop and update OTI guidance, tools and resources related to the implementation of OTI programs and practices and help prioritize urgent updates so that they can be made easily accessible to OTI staff and implementing partners; Provide user support, training and encourage active use to enhance effectiveness and utility of OTI’s knowledge management platforms including Google Drive/Sites and the web-based Database and OTI Anywhere as program management and program learning tools in coordination with both users (OTI staff and implementing partners) and the IT and Training Teams; Under the supervisor’s direction, respond to high priority and ad hoc research and analysis requests for information and taskers; Under the supervisor’s direction, collaborate with colleagues and partners in the development and implementation of an office-wide knowledge management strategy that addresses needs and informs knowledge management capacity building, processes, tools, and systems, with the aim of fostering a strong learning culture; Assist Knowledge Management Specialists in providing technical assistance for OTI programs and partners in the field and advise OTI staff and implementing partners on knowledge management processes and tools that facilitate knowledge capture and sharing of political transition programming and practices; Under the supervisor’s direction, represent and articulate OTI’s mission, work, programs, and knowledge management systems to select visitors, informational technology professionals, and other USG colleagues as well as develop and maintain professional relationships with other organizations and offices (in both the USG and externally) with innovative knowledge management approaches on behalf of OTI; Serve as the Contracting Officer’s Representative for knowledge management product and/or service contracts and/or participate in the design and procurement of future contracts for knowledge management support services; Fill critical needs for program management and implementation staffing in Washington, DC and the field including providing support to new OTI country program start-ups, country program management, and close-out; and, Serve on temporary details within OTI, other USAID bureaus/offices, or other USG agencies under this scope of work for a period not to exceed six months. Duties performed while on detail must be directly related to the scope of work. Contracting Officer (CO) approval is required for the temporary detail. Any extension past the six months requires CO approval. At the GS-12 level: Perform the same duties as the GS-11 level but with less supervision, greater decision-making authority, and greater independence of action. Facilitate cross-program learning through events and products and help the office aggregate, curate and communicate evidence of effectiveness and outcomes across programs and with the broader community of practice; Support efforts to coordinate with key stakeholders to develop and update OTI guidance, tools and resources related to the implementation of OTI programs and practices and help prioritize urgent updates so that they can be made easily accessible to OTI staff and implementing partners; Provide user support, training and encourage active use to enhance effectiveness and utility of OTI’s knowledge management platforms including Google Drive/Sites and the web-based Database and OTI Anywhere as program management and program learning tools in coordination with both users (OTI staff and implementing partners) and the IT and Training Teams; Respond to high priority and ad hoc research and analysis requests for information and taskers; Collaborate with colleagues and partners in the development and implementation of an office-wide knowledge management strategy that addresses needs and informs knowledge management capacity building, processes, tools, and systems, with the aim of fostering a strong learning culture; Assist Knowledge Management Specialists in providing technical assistance for OTI programs and partners in the field and advise OTI staff and implementing partners on knowledge management processes and tools that facilitate knowledge capture and sharing of political transition programming and practices; Represent and articulate OTI’s mission, work, programs, and knowledge management systems to select visitors, informational technology professionals, and other USG colleagues as well as develop and maintain professional relationships with other organizations and offices (in both the USG and externally) with innovative knowledge management approaches on behalf of OTI; Serve as the Contracting Officer’s Representative for knowledge management product and/or service contracts and/or participate in the design and procurement of future contracts for knowledge management support services; Fill critical needs for program management and implementation staffing in Washington, DC and the field including providing support to new OTI country program start-ups, country program management, and close-out; and, Serve on temporary details within OTI, other USAID bureaus/offices, or other USG agencies under this scope of work for a period not to exceed six months. Duties performed while on detail must be directly related to the scope of work. Contracting Officer (CO) approval is required for the temporary detail. Any extension past the six months requires CO approval. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP: The Knowledge Management Coordinator will be supervised by the CPS/OTI Senior Learning Specialist or their designee, within the OTI Program Learning and Innovation (PLI) division. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: At the GS-11 level, the supervisor sets overall objectives and resources available, and works with the incumbent to develop deadlines, work to be done and methodology; incumbent is responsible for carrying out assignments, consulting with the supervisor on policy interpretations, and work is evaluated for technical soundness and effectiveness in meeting work objectives. At the GS-12 level, the supervisor sets overall objectives and resources available and works with the incumbent to develop deadlines, work to be done; incumbent is responsible for planning and carrying out assignments, coordinating with others and interpreting policy in terms of established objectives. May also determine the approach to be taken and the methodology to be used, keeping the supervisor informed of progress. 12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The work is generally sedentary and does not pose undue physical demands. If traveling overseas, the incumbent may be subject to some additional physical exertion including long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain, or carrying of moderately heavy items (less than 50 pounds). 13. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is primarily performed in an office setting. If the incumbent travels overseas, the work may additionally involve safety and/or security precautions, wearing of protective equipment, and exposure to severe weather conditions. II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 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. See detailed instructions for demonstrating Education/Experience under “Submitting an Offer”) At a minimum, the offeror must have: At the GS-11 level: (1) A Master’s Degree with three (3) years of work experience; OR A Bachelor’s Degree with four (4) years of work experience; OR An Associate’s Degree with five (5) years of work experience; OR A High School Diploma/Equivalent with six (6) years of work experience; AND (2) Two (2) years of demonstrated experience using and designing knowledge management processes, systems or tools, facilitating organizational development/learning, strategic collaboration and/or adaptive management approaches; (3) Three (3) months of demonstrated experience overseas (either in-person or virtual). A virtual temporary duty (TDY) is defined as work that would have been conducted in an overseas location if not for the global COVID pandemic. Overseas experience includes, but is not limited to: study abroad; conducting volunteer work overseas (paid or unpaid); and/or an internship. At the GS-12 level: (1) A Master’s Degree with four (4) years of work experience; OR A Bachelor’s Degree with five (5) years of work experience; OR An Associate’s Degree with six (6) years of work experience; OR A High School Diploma/Equivalent with seven (7) years of work experience; AND (2) Three (3) years of demonstrated experience using and designing knowledge management processes, systems or tools, facilitating organizational development/learning, strategic collaboration and/or adaptive management approaches; (3) Six (6) months of demonstrated experience overseas (either in-person or virtual). A virtual temporary duty (TDY) is defined as work that would have been conducted in an overseas location if not for the global COVID pandemic. Overseas experience includes, but is not limited to: study abroad; conducting volunteer work overseas (paid or unpaid); and/or an internship. III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS (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. 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. 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; Supplemental document specifically addressing how the candidate meets each of the Evaluation Factors submitted; Ability to obtain a SECRET level security clearance (NOTE: Dual citizens may be asked to renounce second-country citizenship); Satisfactory verification of academic credentials. A USAID Secret level security clearance is required prior to issuance of the contract for this position. NOTE: If a full security investigation package is not submitted by the selected within 30 days after it is requested, the offer may be rescinded. If a security clearance is not able to be obtained within four months after the selected submits the initial security clearance documentation, the offer may be rescinded. EVALUATION FACTORS: (Used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified offerors in comparison to other offerors. The factors are listed in priority order from highest to least.) Offerors should cite specific, illustrative examples for each factor. Responses will be rated using the point system described below. Failure to fully respond to each element of each Evaluation Factor will result in a reduction of points awarded. Responses must be limited to 500 words per factor. Any additional words above the limit will neither be read nor scored. Factor #1 Please provide 1-2 examples of your experience contributing to the use, design, maintenance, and/or management of knowledge management strategies or systems in a professional setting with a broad range of users. Factor #2 Please provide 1-2 examples of your experience collaborating with teams, staff and/or partners to conduct and/or develop training materials for knowledge management processes, tools or systems. Factor #3 Please provide 1-2 examples from your experience capturing a variety of research and learning from multiple sources, then facilitating its curation and dissemination to encourage organizational learning. BASIS OF RATING: Offerors who clearly meet the Education/Experience Requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated based on scoring of the Evaluation Factor responses. Offerors are required to address each of the Evaluation Factors in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received that are relevant to each factor. Be sure to include your name and the announcement number at the top of each additional page. Failure to specifically address the Selection and/or Evaluation Factors may result in your not receiving credit for all of your pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards. The Offeror Rating System is as Follows: Evaluation Factors have been assigned the following points: Factor #1 – 25 Factor #2 – 25 Factor #3 – 20 Total Possible – 70 Points Interview Performance – 30 points Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – Pass/Fail (no points assigned) Total Possible Points: 100 The most qualified offerors may be interviewed, required to provide a writing sample, and demonstrate an ability to operate commonly used office applications. OTI will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. In addition, offers (written materials and interviews) will be evaluated based on content as well as on the offerors writing, presentation, and communication skills. In the event that an offeror has fully demonstrated their qualifications and there are no other competitive offerors, OTI reserves the right to forgo the interview process. Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for offerors being considered for selection. Offerors must submit at least three (3) professional references, one (1) of which must be a current or former supervisor. OTI reserves the right to contact previous employers to verify employment history. If the offeror had a previous position with USAID, the TEC and/or CO are encouraged to obtain reference checks from the previous supervisor(s) or CO(s). See ADS 309.3.1.11.a.4 IV. SUBMITTING AN OFFER Offers must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I, item 4. Qualified offerors are required to submit: Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your offer, your resume must include: (a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s...
Data sourced from SAM.gov.
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