Inactive

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AFFAIRS (INL) You have received this "Personal Services Contractor” (PSC) solicitation through the Department of State (D... U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AFFAIRS (INL) You have received this "Personal Services Contractor” (PSC) solicitation through the Department of State (DOS) Internet site. If you have any questions regarding this PSC, you may contact the DOS Official named in this solicitation. The Department is not responsible for any data and/or text not received when retrieving this document electronically. Amendments to solicitation documents generally contain information critical to the submission of an application. Position Title: Police Operations Advisor Location: Guatemala City, Guatemala Salary Level: FS-02 - $99,700 - $146,413 (GS-14 Equivalent) Period of performance: The period of performance for this contract is twelve (12) months from the date of award with four (4) optional one-year extensions. Issuance Date: 4/05/2024 Closing date: 4/19/2024 Closing Time: 3:00 PM ET Solicitation Number: PSC-24-036-INL Job description: See below Dear Prospective Offerors: The Department of State is seeking offers from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal services for the subject position under a personal services contract, as described in this solicitation. Submittals must be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Applicants interested in applying for this position MUST submit the following materials: 1. Form SF 171 (Completed and signed) 2. Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your offer your resume must include: a. Paid a 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 any overseas 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: Resume must contain explicit information to make a valid determination that the candidate meets the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information needs to be clearly identified in the resume. Failure to provide explicit information to determine qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration. 3. Evaluation Factor document specifically addressing: Each of the Evaluation Factors shown in the solicitation below. Responses must be limited to 500 words per Evaluation 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 receive that are relevant to each Factor. 4. Professional References: Three (3) names and contact information (phone and email) of current and/or previous supervisors to serve as professional references. Additional documents submitted will not be accepted. Incomplete or late offers will not be considered. Complete applications must be emailed to: Cecille D. Washington U.S. Department of State INL/EX/GAPP WashingtonCD@state.gov Sincerely, Margaret R. Gaudreau Contracting Officer U.S. Department of State SUBJECT A solicitation for a Personal Services Contractor (PSC), Department of State (DOS), Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). The United States Government (USG), represented by the DOS, seeks applications from US citizens interested in providing PSC services as described in this solicitation. PRE-AWARD ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF PSC (JUN 2011) This solicitation may result in the award of one or more personal services contracts as defined in FAR 2.101. Prior to contract award, all offerors or quotes must advise the cognizant Contracting Officer if they have a personal conflict of interest, such as a financial conflict, that would prevent them from either meeting the requirements of the clause entitled, “Post-Award Ethical Responsibilities of Personal Services Contractors,” or otherwise objectively performing their contractual duties upon contract award. HOW TO APPLY Offerors proposal shall be in accordance with the requirements stated in this solicitation at the place and time specified. A proposal will be determined non-responsive and ineligible for consideration unless all required documents and information are included in the submission. Offerors shall ensure their resume demonstrates their possession of the minimum qualifications outlined in this Solicitation, as well as their ability to fulfill all required duties. The Government is not responsible for any costs incurred by the offeror during the solicitation process. NOTE REGARDING GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS FOR THIS SOLICITATION This solicitation in no way obligates the Department of State to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit the Department of State to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the application. Proposals must include the following and not exceed twenty (20) pages (additional pages will not be accepted or reviewed): 1. Form SF 171 (Completed and signed) 2. Resume 3. Evaluation Factor Responses 4. Three (3) names and contact information (phone and email) of current and/or previous supervisors to serve as professional references. Note: Your resume should contain explicit information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. 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. Additional documents submitted beyond the requirements will not be accepted or reviewed. *** ONE PDF ATTACHMENT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED VETERAN’S PREFERENCE Veteran’s preference is not applicable to this position therefore do not submit DD-214. ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, COLOR, SEX, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, LAWFUL POLITICAL AFFILIATION, NONDISQUALIFYING DISABILITY, MARITAL STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AFFILIATION WITH AN EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION, OR OTHER NON-MERIT FACTOR. Equal employment opportunity policy - The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. Submit proposal via e-mail to the attention of: INL/Cecille Washington E-mail: WashingtonCD@state.gov Direct questions regarding this solicitation to: INL/Cecille Washington E-mail: WashingtonCD@state.gov INL will not accept proposals beyond the closing time/date; unless it can be determined DOS mishandled the proposal. GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT Mission of the U.S. Department of State: The U.S. Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy and the Secretary of State is the President’s principal foreign policy advisor. The Department of State’s mission is to advance U.S. national security interests, fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, and implement foreign policy initiatives that build a freer, prosperous, and secure world. Mission of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL): The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is part of the Under Secretariat for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights (J) within the Department of State (DOS). INL’s mission is to minimize the impact of international crime and illegal drugs on the United States and its citizens by providing effective foreign assistance and fostering global cooperation. INL’s Office of Western Hemisphere Programs (INL/WHP) develops and manages narcotics control and anticrime policy initiatives for countries in the Western Hemisphere that produce and transit narcotics. INL/WHP provides overall program and policy direction for INL bilateral narcotics and anticrime assistance programs at overseas posts by developing and revising drug and crime strategies and coordinating program development with other U.S. agencies. The purpose of this personal services contract is to fill the position of Police Operations Advisor (POA) to the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Section at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The POA will advise on all matters related to developing and implementing police law enforcement operations within the Guatemalan National Civil Police (PNC). The POA will also provide internal controls and accountability for the delivery of equipment, technical assistance, training, and other assistance. The POA must be able to work rapidly, responding promptly to multiple and evolving priorities in a difficult and demanding environment. The PNC of Guatemala consists of approximately 40,000 sworn officers and is plagued with widespread corruption. Its officers are poorly trained, operate out of inadequate substations, and lack basic resources such as vehicles and radios, which makes it a very challenging environment to implement projects and teach new concepts, and adversely affects the PNC’s ability to plan, implement, and sustain operations. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Under the direct supervision of the Citizen Security Officer (CSO) or his/her designee, the Police Operations Advisor (POA) will perform the following duties: 1. Provides strategic planning and process development on all phases of police law-enforcement operations from development through implementation; including planning, tactics, and strategy. 2. Identifies opportunities for effective law enforcement, citizen security, and crime prevention projects in Guatemala, including combatting transnational organized crime, reducing violent crime, and working with communities to prevent crime, as appropriate. The POA will draw on subject matter expertise in law enforcement and program management involving U.S. government assistance in developing countries. The incumbent will also be responsible for managing these projects, including overseeing the citizen security program’s spend plan and monitoring and evaluation efforts. 3. Assesses Guatemalan institutional capacity and advises the CSO and INL/WHP regarding the performance of Guatemalan agencies and INL implementing partners to recommend future law enforcement and citizen security programming in Guatemala. 4. Coordinates with USG agencies and Guatemalan officials and draws on subject matter expertise to determine how best to develop institutions that contribute to citizen security, including the Ministry of Interior (MOI), the PNC, the Public Ministry (PM), municipalities, indigenous authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations (IOs), the private sector, and civil society. Generates support for and actively advances U.S. policy objectives with key host government officials, influential organizations, the media, and leaders in the private sector. 5. Liaises with and assists the MOI and the PNC in developing viable capacity-building projects in the fields of: police professionalization, community policing, tactical operations, crime prevention, , and accountable policing and oversight. Acts as liaison between these entities and components of the U.S. Mission. 6. Coordinates training to all those identified operational units with a focus on goals and objectives of the full range of operational policing techniques from foot patrols to special weapons and tactics and include refresher training in ethics, professionalism, and information/intelligence gathering. 7. Develops and maintains relationships with host government law enforcement officials to ensure close, cooperative working relationships. 8. Prepares required reporting, such as the annual budget request for International Narcotics, Crime, and Law Enforcement (INCLE) funds and the Mission Resource Request. Coordinates annual reporting requirements for INL (e.g., End-Use Monitoring Report). Helps administer and monitor fund expenditures funds provided to implementers. Prepares program documentation and procurement requirements for law enforcement and citizen security projects. Helps prepare regular reporting, including monthly status reports, to INL/WHP. Contributes regularly to data collection to enhance monitoring and evaluation for the citizen security 3DM platform or other INL platform. 9. Analyzes and reports on law enforcement developments in Guatemala and the region, ensuring that the USG is fully informed on the capabilities, capacity, performance, and opportunities with regard to all elements of each country’s law enforcement efforts. Works to build relationships between Guatemala and its neighbors in Central America to better combat transnational crime across the region. 10. Briefs Department, Congressional, and other international dignitaries orally and in writing on the INL-funded law enforcement programs in Guatemala. Prepares documents for presentation to the U.S. Congress. Develops appropriate itinerary and accommodates official travelers, as necessary. 11. Ensures effective coordination of INL assistance between citizen security projects, INL Guatemala programs, and the government of Guatemala. 12. Establishes and maintains appropriate internal management control systems. Ensures that INL programs are not subject to waste, fraud, or mismanagement. Helps manage and monitor the use of all U.S.-provided commodities intended for law enforcement and citizen security purposes. 13. Provides analysis and guidance in project budget preparation, program planning, and execution of activities. 14. Conducts senior-level field surveys, evaluations, and special studies, as directed. 15. Serves as a Grants Officer’s Representative (GOR), as assigned. 16. Maintains security awareness and properly handles classified and controlled items and information. 17. When required, performs the role of Duty Officer. 18. Performs other duties as requested and assigned that are directly related to this Statement of Work. TRAININGS & DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES 1. Completes the Contracting Officer Representative (PA296) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) within 120 days of arriving at Post. The Federal Acquisition Institute (https://www.fai.gov/certification/fac-cor) provides the required training and experience requirements for obtaining the FAC-COR certification. The PSC must acquire a FAC-COR Level II certification within 18 months of coming on board. 2. Completes the Grants Officer Representative (PY472, PY474, PY476 and PY478) distance learning (DL) courses through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) and obtains GOR certification within 90 days of arriving at Post. 3. Completes the Introduction to Working in an Embassy (PN113) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) within the first six (6) months of arriving at Post. 4. Completes the mandatory Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Course (CT650) prior to deployment to Post. 5. Consultations with the INL Program Office may be required. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS The place of performance is U.S. Embassy Guatemala City, Guatemala. Frequent travel throughout Guatemala is required. RELATIONSHIPS The POA will report to the Citizen Security Officer (CSO), or his/her designee, in Guatemala, and will liaise and coordinate with other INL Guatemala staff and WHP staff in Washington, DC. The POA will provide general administrative and policy direction concerning overall program priorities and objectives, as well as work with INL/WHP to develop and manage programs and related issues. The POA will liaise with other agencies/governments active in the fields of law enforcement and citizen security, and with host government contacts. The POA will monitor INL projects in Guatemala, analyzing their effectiveness and suggesting improvements. The POA will present these approaches to INL/WHP for discussion and final approval. The Contract Administrator shall be the INL Contracting Officer in Washington. In no instance shall the Citizen Security Officer or any other individual be authorized to alter or modify the terms and conditions of the contract or waive the Government's requirements, price, delivery, or other terms and conditions. The Contracting Officer must authorize such changes in writing. The CSO will provide yearly performance reviews to the INL/EX/GAPP Contracting Officer in Washington, DC, to contribute to the incumbent’s official yearly review. COMPLEXITY This position involves planning, organizing and completing financial and organizational analysis of enormous complexity. Due to the high visibility and political sensitivity of the issues in which INL is involved, there is extreme difficulty in identifying the nature of the issues and planning, organizing and determining the scope and depth of studies/audits to be undertaken. The POA is expected to address difficult scenarios by separating the substantive nature of the programs or issues into their components and determining the nature and magnitude of programs or issues, as well as in discerning the intent of the legislation and policy statements and determining how to translate the intent into program actions. SCOPE & EFFECTIVENESS The PSC performs broad and extensive assignments related to a complex administrative/financial program spanning the full range of citizen safety, law enforcement, rule of law, and counternarcotics programs in Guatemala, which is of significant interest to the public and to Congress. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance for this contract is twelve (12) months from the date of award with four (4) optional one-year extensions. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 1. U.S. citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain Department of State Secret level security clearance, medical clearance, and ethics clearance (if applicable). (Security clearance upgrade to Top Secret level may be required.) 2. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution AND a minimum of ten (10) years related experience in the fields of law enforcement and/or citizen security; OR a high school degree with a minimum of fifteen (15) years of related experience. 3. Management experience in law enforcement and/or citizen security including supervisory or command level experience. 4. Demonstrated experience developing and managing long-term law enforcement and/or citizen security programs, including assessment, monitoring, and evaluation. 5. Demonstrated experience drafting related reports/documents, annual budgets, and strategic plan submissions. 6. Demonstrated experience planning, strategizing, implementing, and reporting on projects. 7. Demonstrated experience drafting analytical briefing papers, memoranda, letters, and reports for review and/or signature by senior-level officials. 8. Demonstrated experience coordinating and working closely with the USG agencies, international agencies, and/or international community on security sector development programs. 9. Demonstrated experience working with host-nation counterparts, departments, and ministries to further program objectives. 10. Demonstrated ability to read and speak English and Spanish at the professionally proficient level. EVALUATION FACTORS (Used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified offerors in comparison to other offerors.) Offerors should cite specific, illustrative examples for each factor. Responses must be limited to 500 words per factor. Any additional words above the limit will neither be read nor scored. Factor 1: Work Experience (30 Points) Demonstrated experience in law enforcement and/or in citizen security projects, including determining and validating requirements, developing plans, implementing progress on projects, conducting oversight, as well as reporting on results. Experience abroad managing bilateral or multilateral law enforcement, citizen security, and/or security assistance programs. Factor 2: Program Experience (10 points) Demonstrated experience preparing budgets, spend plans, statements of work (SOW), procurement orders, purchase requests, and sole-source justification waiver requests. Factor 3: Management & Communication Experience (30 points) Demonstrated experience managing and motivating teams and individuals to achieve their potential. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in English and Spanish, in a timely and concise manner; interact effectively with others at all levels; prepare, analyze, explain and defend determinations and requirements with respect to conformance to applicable laws, policies and other regulatory guidelines; and advise program officials. BASIS OF RATING: Offerors who clearly meet the Education/Experience Requirements 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. Failure to specifically address the 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 – 30 Factor #2 – 10 Factor #3 – 30 Total Possible – 70 Points Interview Performance – 30 points Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – Pass/Fail (no points assigned) Past performance evaluation of applicant’s ability to perform under the contract. In conducting the evaluation, the U.S. government reserves the right to utilize all evaluation information available at the time of evaluation, whether provided by the applicant or obtained from other sources. Total Possible Points: 100 The most qualified candidates may be interviewed, required to provide a writing sample, and demonstrate an ability to operate commonly used office applications. INL will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. In addition, applications (written materials and interviews) will be evaluated based on content as well as on the applicant's writing, presentation, and communication skills. In the event that an applicant has fully demonstrated his/her qualifications and there are no other competitive applicants, INL reserves the right to forego the interview process. Professional references will be evaluated for applicants being considered for selection. COMPENSATION (BASE PAY) This position has been designated at the FS-02 equivalent level ($99,700 - $146,413 per annum). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon qualifications, previous relevant experience and work history, salary and educational background. Salaries, including any recruitment supplemental pay that exceeds the listed pay range, will not be entertained or negotiated. For award, INL will negotiate for this contract based on the market value as outlined above and overall experience relevant to the solicitation requirements. BENEFITS & ALLOWANCES AS A MATTER OF POLICY, INL NORMALLY AUTHORIZES THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES BENEFITS - IF APPLICABLE • Employee's FICA/Medicare Contribution • Contribution toward Health and Life Insurance • Pay Comparability Adjustment • Annual Increase • Eligibility for Worker's Compensation • Annual, Sick and Home Leave • 401K Plan • MEDVAC (provided by DOS Med) ALLOWANCES IN ACCORDANCE WITH DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARDIZED REGULATIONS (DSSR) - IF APPLICABLE • Temporary Quarters Subsistence Allowance (TQSA) or Per Diem upon arrival at Post • Housing Allowance • Post Allowance • Supplemental Post Allowance • Maintenance Allowance (SMA) • Education Allowance • Educational Travel (full-time United States based secondary) • Post Hardship Differential • Danger Pay • Shipment of HHE, UAB, POV and Consumables