THE FOLLOWING IS A POSTING FOR A PAST POSITION AND IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: M/OP-99-524
2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 18, 1999
3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED FOR RECEIPT OF
   APPLICATIONS: April 2, 1999
4. POSITION TITLE: Disaster Operations Specialist
5. MARKET VALUE: $48,796 - $63,436 (GS-12 Equivalent) SEE BELOW FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
6. INITIAL PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Approx. 4/10/99 to 4/9/01
7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Washington, DC
8. JOB DESCRIPTION (TO INCLUDE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR POSITION):

Disaster Operations Specialist:

The Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is
currently recruiting up to nine (9) Disaster Operations Specialists. Each position will have one of the following
regions of responsibility: Latin America and the Caribbean, or Asia or West Africa and the Sahel, or East, Central
and Southern Africa. There is a summary of responsibilities and qualifications immediately below.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The successful candidate will serve as part of an Enhanced Regional Team. He/she will review proposals from implementing organizations and coordinate interagency review. This will include the preparation of briefing packets, reports and official correspondence to PVO/NGOs, IOs, and UN Agencies. The Disaster Operations Specialist(DOS) will monitor disasters and review, coordinate and track program reports, administer and implement emergency relief and rehabilitation programs. He/She will become proficient in USAID's New Management System (NMS). Other duties will include timely response to declared disasters; the monitoring of prevention, mitigation, and preparedness plans for the assigned countries; serving on or backstopping assessment teams and Disaster Assistance Response Teams; reviewing cable traffic; maintaining office files and attending meetings. Disaster Operation Specialists participate as team members in developing country strategies integrating disaster response and preparedness. Disaster Operations Specialists have team responsibility to monitor incipient disaster situations, coordinate review and approval of program proposals; function as Cognizant Technical Officers for BHR/OFDA program grants and cooperative agreements; as well as monitor and evaluate program accomplishments. Disaster Operation Specialists are expected to perform these duties both in their home team and in teams to which they might be temporarily re-assigned. A high level of verbal/written communication skills and interpersonal skills are essential. Work or educational experience in the assigned region of responsibility is preferred. The candidate must be a U.S. citizen. Employment is contingent on the candidate's ability to qualify for and maintain a secret clearance with USAID.

Specifically responsibilities are as follows:

Grant Portfolio Management:

Assume primary responsibility for the management of OFDA funded programs in assigned region of responsibility. In coordination with Regional Teams and TAG members:

-- Interface with implementing organizations regarding project proposals submitted for OFDA funding to ensure proposals provide information required by OFDA's Grant Guidelines and to discuss the appropriateness to OFDA program objectives and budget line items;

-- Coordinate interagency reviews proposals for relief programs in disaster stricken countries. This will include developing issues papers, preparing and distributing briefing packets for all invitees, determining the need for follow-up meetings, reporting on the outcome of the proposal review to US Government personnel in the field, and drafting official correspondence

to PVO/NGOs, IOs and UN agencies;

-- Prepare all documentation to expedite grant project approval. This will involve properly inputting data into the New Management System (NMS) for transmittal to the USAID Office of Procurement;

-- Track program reports from grantees and ensure reports are received in a timely manner; read program reports to ensure that program objectives have been achieved; collate input from report for feedback to grantee, and share reports with Regional Team members, as appropriate;

-- Expedite the flow of programmatic and other documents through the clearance process;

-- Perform other duties and responsibilities, as assigned by the Regional Coordinator.

Disaster Mitigation and Response:

Assume responsibility for monitoring threatening and incipient disasters and reviewing, coordinating, administrating, and implementing emergency relief and rehabilitation programs in the assigned region of responsibility consistent with OFDA's regional/country strategy. In coordination with Regional Teams and TAG members:

-- Review and monitor national disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness plans for assigned countries in collaboration with regional team;

-- Share in the oversight and updating of OFDA's regional and country strategies for the region;

-- Assure a timely and appropriate response to the Ambassador's disaster declaration, including reviewing Mission/Embassy recommendations for assistance, and prepare/clear appropriate guidance to the U.S. Mission/Embassy on resources and strategies to respond to the disaster situation;

-- Coordinate with USAID regional bureaus, other BHR offices, the State Department, Department of Defense, other donor governments, United Nations agencies, PVOs/NGOs, and other international organizations to develop an inclusive US response to the declared disaster;

-- Review the conceptual soundness, technical feasibility and budget for disaster assistance activities and emergency projects;

-- Maintain contact with OFDA field representatives and the OFDA Regional Office to discuss implementation of activities and assessment of disaster mitigation program/needs;

-- Recommend to the Regional Coordinator policy and program options consistent with US Government foreign policy objectives and provide effective and appropriate response to meet the needs of the disaster victims (or potential
victims); and,

-- Serve on or backstop BHR/OFDA assessment teams and Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) to disaster sites when deemed necessary and follow up with appropriate reports and/or cables.

-- Perform other duties and responsibilities, as assigned by the Regional Coordinator.

Administrative:

In coordination with Regional Teams and TAG members:

-- Maintain standardized office files for activities that are assigned as principle responsibilities;

-- Review daily cable traffic and highlight important information for Regional Team;

-- Attend team, office and other meetings as assigned by the Regional Coordinator; when necessary prepare summaries of these meetings.

-- As assigned by Regional Coordinator, develop and execute official documents, including but not limited to entries into the NMS, memos, cables, and information requests.

-- Perform other duties and responsibilities, as assigned by the Regional Coordinator.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
To qualify for the GS-12 equivalent salary range indicated above, candidates must have 2 years experience working in OFDA. In addition, applicants should have a total of 4 years of relevant work experience with United States Government (USG), Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO)/Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), International Organizations (IO) and/or United Nations (UN) Agencies (preferably in the area of disaster management) OR 2 year of relevant work experience with USG, PVO/NGO or UN Agency (preferably in the area disaster management) and a Masters Degree in a related field. The salary and grade equivalent of preferred applicants not meeting the above-stated qualifications will depend on previous experience and education.

A GS-11 equivalent pay rate ($40,714 - $52,927) shall be applicable for those preferred applicants with a 4-year college degree in a related field and 3 years relevant experience OR a Masters Degree in a related field and 1 year relevant experience. Upon satisfactory performance and accrual of requisite qualifications for the next higher grade, successful applicants may be provided grade increases to the GS-12 equivalent.

Although this solicitation closes on April 2, 1999, applications will be accepted for future Disaster Operations Specialist positions until September 29, 1999. Responses received by April 2, 1999 will be considered for all Disaster Operations Specialist openings until September 29, 1999, including the five present positions. Applications submitted in response to this advertisement after April 2, 1999 will be considered for all Disaster Operations Specialist positions filled before September 29, 1999.

AS A MATTER OF POLICY, AND AS APPROPRIATE, A PSC IS NORMALLY
AUTHORIZED THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS:

     1. BENEFITS

     Employee's FICA Contribution
     Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance
     Pay Comparability Adjustment
     Annual Increase
     Eligibility for Worker's Compensation
     Annual & Sick Leave

     2. 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).
 

3. CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs) PERTAINING TO PSCs

98-25 Defense Base Act (DBA) Coverage and DBA Waiver List

98-24 Use of Compensatory (Comp) Time by PSCs

98-23 Guidance Regarding Classified Contract Security and Contractor Personnel Security Requirements

98-16 Annual Salary Increase for USPSCs

98-14 Change in Required Application Form for USPSCs

98-10 Personal Services Contracts (PSCs) Annual Health Insurance Costs

98-5 CONTRACTUAL COVERAGE FOR MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC) SERVICES

98-3 Class Deviation to 31.205-6(g)(3), Foreign National Severance Pay Under Professional Services Contracts

97-16 Class Justification for Use of Other Than Full & Open Competition for Personal Services Contracts with U.S.
Citizens Contracted with Locally with CCNs and TCNs Subject to the Local Compensation Plan, and for Overseas
Contracts of $250,000 or Less

97-11 (Corrected) 1997 FICA & Medicate Tax Rates for Personal Services Contracts

97-6 Contractual Coverage for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Services

97-3 New USAID Contractor Employee Physical Examination

96-23 Unauthorized Provision in Personal Services Contract

96-19 U. S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) - Leave

96-11 PSC's Annual Health Insurance Costs

96-8 Determining a Market Value for PSCs Hired Under Appendix D, Handbook 14

94-9 Sunday Pay for U.S. Personal Services Contractors (PSCs)

93-17 Financial Disclosure Requirements Under a Personal Services Contractor (PSC)

LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs
1. Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612.
**2. Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62).
**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).

NOTE: Form 5 is available from the requirements office.
_______________
* Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas).
** The forms listed 2 through 5 shall only be completed upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an
applicant is the successful candidate for the job.