General Information
Question (Q): What is a U.S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC)?
Answer (A): A personal services contract is described as:
“…a contract that, by its express terms or as administered makes the contractor personnel appear, in effect, to be Government employees.” (48 CFR 37.101)
PSCs are government employees for all purposes except programs administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). PSCs are contracted to the Agency but are, in effect, Government employees and establish an employer-employee relationship between USAID and the contractor. PSCs have income taxes withheld by USAID and receive W-2s from the Agency. Programs administered by OPM include the Federal government’s health insurance, life insurance, and retirement benefits provided to members of the Civil Service and Foreign Service (i.e., direct-hire personnel). PSCs have the same salary scale and allowances as a direct-hire employee, but have a more limited range of benefits. PSCs make up a large percentage of the total work force for several USAID offices and serve in the Washington, D.C. headquarters, as well as positions worldwide.
To learn more about PSC contracts and allowable benefits for a U.S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC), please see PSC Benefits.
Q: I am not a citizen of the United States. Can I be hired for a USPSC position with USAID?
A: Unfortunately, we cannot hire non-US citizens for U.S. Personal Services Contractor (USPSC) positions. However, some offices and Missions within USAID may consider non-U.S. citizens on a case-by-case basis for other positions. All PSC positions for U.S. citizens, Third Country Nationals (TCN), and Foreign Service Nationals (FSN) are posted on www.fbo.gov. Solicitations that say “USPSC” require U.S. citizenship. TCN/FSN PSC solicitations do not. It is the responsibility of the applicant to read each solicitation carefully to review the citizenship requirements.
Q: I want to get involved in humanitarian assistance/political transition/crisis response work—where do I start?
A: Most humanitarian assistance, political transition, or crisis response positions require a number of years of experience. Although it may seem difficult to get this professional experience, there are a number of academic programs, trainings, and volunteer and internship opportunities that will give you a suitable background in the field. The list of Professional Resources available on our website, while not exhaustive, will help you get started (Additional Job Resources).
