ISSUANCE DATE: July 11, 2000
CLOSING DATE: July 24, 2000

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: M/OP-00-1437
2. ISSUANCE DATE: July 11, 2000
3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: July 24, 2000
4. POSITION TITLE: Response Advisors for Technical Services
5. MARKET VALUE: $275.76 - $358.55 per day
6. INITIAL PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Approx. August July 15, 2000 to August 14, 2001
7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Washington, DC and others to be decided
8. JOB DESCRIPTION (TO INCLUDE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR POSITION):

Response Advisor for Technical Services (RATS)

(1) SHORT DESCRIPTION OF WORK AND REQUIREMENTS

The Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is seeking multiple individuals to complete the staffing of a team of Response Advisors for Technical Services (RATS). In order to have a diverse mixture of talents on this team, OFDA is seeking individuals with skill sets that fit into one or more of the following categories:

(a) Disaster Administrative RATS (see description and requirements below)
(b) Disaster Logistics RATS (see description and requirements below)
(c) General Disaster RATS (see description and requirements below)

All RATS will:
Respond to humanitarian emergencies--natural, technological and conflict-related disasters-as required, worldwide. The contractor will be required to travel on short notice for periods up to forty days as a critical component of a U.S. Government disaster and humanitarian response. All RATS may be asked to provide services described in the following categories

Administrative Rats

(a) The Disaster Administrative RATS category may perform the following tasks as needed by OFDA:

• perform the administrative management activities including providing advice, guidance and direction on administrative planning matters;
• develop and interpret management policies and procedures, provide budget analysis of program proposals; provide support services, and develop program funded budgets for DART support;
• take responsibility for actions related to: personnel; general services; security; safety; supply management; contracting services; leasing; travel; and records management;
• direct the administration of current support budgets ensuring prompt and proper obligation of funds;
• oversee all field contracting, leasing arrangements, supply management, and travel services;
• plan and direct property acquisition, inventory management, and disposal programs, and develop standards for issuing, using and controlling the property of OFDA;
• interpret AID management regulations and direct their application to facilitate DART support;
• establish and maintain a directives and notice system for internal issuance of OFDA policies, procedures, and notices to inform appropriate personnel;
• evaluate current and future administrative needs;
• determine availability of support including secretarial, equipment rental, storage, office space, local hire personnel, communications, and obligating authority for procurement of supplies, commodities, and services;
• track and report the amount of money spent and obligated by OFDA for DART support;
• contribute to action planning with advise on cost estimates and resources needed to implement proposed plans;
• other tasks as determined by OFDA.

Disaster Logistics RATS

(b) The Disaster Logistics RATS category may perform the following tasks as needed by OFDA:

• conduct assessments of the logistical capabilities and systems in a disaster area to determine the availability of infrastructure required to transport emergency assistance commodities from points of origin to destinations;
• coordinate aspects of the commodity requirements of NGOs receiving USG funding and supplies;
• serve as the primary point of contact for the OFDA/Washington Logistics staff and liaise with the Logisticians in DC to support operations;
• provide support for communications, reporting, fiscal accountability, vehicle management, and other support;
• serve as advisor on security issues and provide security/safety assessments; and,
• other tasks as determined by OFDA.

General Disaster RATS

(c) General Disaster RATS:

The General Disaster RATS category may perform the following tasks as needed by OFDA:

• conduct initial assessments, recommend appropriate relief, and facilitate and coordinate actual U.S. Government emergency response activities;
• maintain liaison with other responders and host governments;
• provide coordination and managerial oversight of OFDA-funded activities;
• identify disaster mitigation measures that could be linked to disaster response activities;
• coordinate delivery of relief supplies provided by OFDA;
• Serve on a Response Team, as appropriate;
• Provide back-up to OFDA/Washington Disaster Operations Specialists or Regional Coordinators
• engage in appropriate training either as a participant and/or trainer;
• assist in the development of various types of country/regional strategies; and,
• other tasks as determined by OFDA.

The applicant for the Disaster RATS program shall possess the following minimum qualifications for consideration as RAT in any of the three categories:

• seven years relevant work experience with the U.S. Government, an international organization or a non-governmental organization, of which at least three years will have been in disaster management, logistics or administration, or a related field;
• two years work experience in conflict affected areas;
• demonstrated effective management, and leadership skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and strong interpersonal skills
• demonstrated ability to work with a diverse array of individuals and organizations involved in disaster response/preparedness/mitigation and humanitarian assistance, including U.S. Government agencies (e.g., USAID, State, U.S. Department of Defense, CDC, NOAA, USGS), international organizations, non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, and host governments;
• bachelor's degree with advanced training in international relations, economics, food policy, management or related field;
• ability to operate communications and data processing equipment, including cellular type mobile phones, hand held E&E radios, and knowledge of satellite communications equipment;
• basic computer skills, including knowledge of and proficiency in Microsoft WORD and MS Excel
• ability to operate a 4-wheel drive, standard shift vehicle in cross-country conditions
• ability to obtain a security clearance as provided by USAID; and
• US citizenship

(2) STATEMENT OF LIMITATIONS ON PERIOD AND PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

The purpose of this contract is to establish an employee/employer relationship with the contractor to perform services on a temporary basis as a Response Advisor for Technical Services. It is BHR/OFDA's intent to contract for these services for a maximum of 130 days per calendar year. As it is the government's intent to contract for temporary services of a limited duration, the contractor shall be considered a "special employee" as defined in 18 USC 202 and may, therefore, be exempt from certain requirements of various statutes governing employee (contractor) conduct and the government wide Standards of Conduct regulations. (Since these include criminal statutes, the employee (contractor) should consult with an agency ethics advisor regarding specific questions.)

The level of effort anticipated under this contract will be provided within the terms of this contract at times mutually agreed to by BHR/OFDA and the contractor. Upon identification of a temporary need within the scope of work, BHR/OFDA will contact contractor and provide the following information:

1) Date contractor is needed to report to BHR/OFDA or assignment in the field
2) Duration of Assignment
3) Region of operation Contractor will support
4) SOW for the specific activity

Contractor will notify BHR/OFDA within 24 hours of availability. At the time contractor accepts the assignment, contractor is expected to commit for the duration of the assignment. While contractor will be required to commit to a certain time period, it is understood that the exigencies of a disaster may require the assignment to be extended (not to exceed 130 days). Contractor shall notify OFDA at the time of commitment if their existing schedule would preclude an extension. Notification of schedule conflicts shall not necessarily disqualify contractor from the assignment but will simply assist BHR/OFDA in recruiting a replacement. Subsequently, if contractor agrees to an extension of the duration of a particular assignment, thereafter, contract will be required to give BHR/OFDA 10 days notice for release from the assignment.

(3) IMPORTANT NOTE CONCERNING THE NUMBER OF CONTRACTORS TO BE HIRED:

It is BHR/OFDA's intent to contract with multiple Personal Service Contractors under this Solicitation. An initial recruitment will be performed from applications received on or before July 24, 2000 and the remaining positions will be contracted as needed prior to December 31, 2000.

(4) IMPORTANT NOTE CONCERNING THE CLOSING DATE:

Although this solicitation closes on July 24, 2000, applications will be accepted for future Response Advisor for Technical Services positions until December 31, 2000. Responses received on or before July 24, 2000 will be considered for all openings until December 31, 2000, including the multiple current positions. Applications submitted in response to this advertisement after July 24, 2000 will be considered for all Response Advisor for Technical Services positions filled under this solicitation after the initial selections are made but before December 31, 2000.