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 Interdiction Advisor
Location: Bogota, Colombia
Salary Level: FS-02 - $99,700 - $146,413 (Equivalent GS-14)
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: August 12, 2024
Closing date: August 26, 2024
Closing Time: 3:00 PM ET
Solicitation Number: PSC-24-060-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:
Dominique Chittum
U.S. Department of State
INL/EX/GAPP
ChittumDA@state.gov
Sincerely,
Margaret 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/Dominique Chittum
E-mail: ChittumDA@state.gov
Direct questions regarding this solicitation to:
INL/Dominique Chittum
E-mail: ChittumDA@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.
The INL section at U.S. Embassy Bogota, established in 1985, is among the largest and most complex INL offices in the world. INL Bogota is charged with developing strategies and programs to achieve international narcotics control, law enforcement, and justice foreign policy objectives.
INL’s Organized Crime and Counternarcotics (OCCN) Division supports Colombian National Police (CNP) and Colombian military efforts in cultivation, eradication, and narcotics interdiction, with the goal of stopping the flow of illegal drugs to the United States.
The purpose of this Personal Services Contract is to fill the Police Interdiction Advisor position. The Advisor supports, assists, and advises INL Bogota and coordinates with the U.S. Embassy in Colombia to help Colombia interdict narcotics and criminal trafficking groups. Besides managing training, mentoring, technical assistance, and equipment procurements to support Colombian security forces and judicial authorities, the Police Interdiction Advisor will also liaise with and coordinate USG interagency partners working in the justice sector as it relates to the professionalization, training, and operations of law enforcement personnel. The Police Interdiction Advisor will play a key role in shaping future program design and engagement strategies with the Colombian government.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direct supervision of the Bogota-based INL OCCN Division Chief or his/her designee, the Police Interdiction Advisor will perform the following duties:
1. Serves as a subject matter expert, providing strategic planning, general administrative, and policy advice concerning overall program priorities and objectives.
2. Liaises with other agencies/governments active in the fields of strategic planning, intelligence, policing, law enforcement, security assistance and cooperation, and with host government contacts.
3. Supports the development of a range of counternarcotics programs in Colombia, which is of significant interest to the American public and to Congress.
4. Assists with counternarcotics strategy and program development, management, and coordination with the interagency and international community.
5. Assists INL Bogota in engaging Colombia’s Counternarcotics, Judicial, and Intelligence police, and assists the OCCN Division Chief in maintaining INL Bogota’s relationships with senior CNP counternarcotics officials. This includes, but is not limited to, coordination with Colombian authorities on the following areas of counternarcotics-related assistance: management of training, curriculum development, project management, logistical and security planning, vendor/contractor coordination, and commodity provision to host nation law enforcement entities.
6. Liaises with other U.S. and Colombian government agencies, third country law enforcement agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and relevant international organizations for the purpose of gathering and disseminating information pertinent to interdiction and U.S. government priorities and activities.
7. Performs the full range of project management duties including planning, budgeting, procurement, contracting, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation pertaining to training, equipment, and related construction assistance. Ensures sustainability throughout the project lifecycle.
8. Establishes and maintains appropriate internal management control systems and end-use monitoring. Ensures that INL Bogota’s CNP interdiction support programs are free of waste, fraud, or mismanagement. Helps manage and monitor the use of all U.S.-provided commodities intended for appropriate purposes.
9. Designs programs and develops performance monitoring and evaluation plans to track INL’s progress toward expanding the CNP’s interdiction capabilities, to include progress, challenges, and recommended solutions.
10. As directed by the OCCN Division Chief, serves as a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), Grants Officer’s Representative (GOR), and/or Agreements Officer’s Representative (AOR) on all CNP interdiction support programs. Keeps the Director, Deputy Director, OCCN Division leadership, and INL/WHP informed of the details of such implementation, including progress, challenges, and recommended solutions.
11. Ensures INL Bogota interdiction programming complies with U.S. government legal and policy requirements and restrictions, including Leahy vetting and contracting, and that interdiction programming is coordinated with related INL Bogota police, counternarcotics, criminal justice, rule of law, financial crimes, rural security, environmental crime, and corrections assistance programs.
12. Contributes to the drafting of required reporting, including INL Bogota’s weekly program implementation reports and Assistant Secretary Daily Activity Reports (ASDARs), the annual budget request for International Narcotics, Crime and Law Enforcement (INCLE) funds and the Mission Resource Request, the International Narcotics Control Status Report (INCSR) Volumes I and II, the annual End-Use Monitoring Report, quarterly COR/AOR/GOR desk reviews and trip reports, and ad-hoc topical reporting cables, among other reporting requirements.
13. Provides policy analysis and program guidance/reporting to the OCCN Division Chief and Deputy Chief, INL Bogota staff, INL/WHP, and the INL Bogota front office upon request on interdiction aspects of current law enforcement assistance efforts as well as those in planning or evaluation stages. Such guidance may include mission objectives; the size and structure of interdiction resources; coordination with other Embassy sections; budgeting; development of Colombian police interdiction-related capacities and institutions; practical measures to improve U.S. and international capacities to provide police assistance; and training plans.
14. Contributes to the development and strategy of INL Bogota’s comprehensive whole-of-government counternarcotics efforts and assists in coordinating projects with other INL Bogota program divisions. These efforts include project execution, from study period and program design through acquisition and implementation, including planning, scheduling, budgeting, monitoring, and coordination among vendors, contractors, and Colombian government officials.
15. Drafts policy and advocacy papers and attends meetings and conferences. Facilitates the exchange of information and practices to ensure robust communication on interdiction issues within INL, as well as with other professionals working in law enforcement and counternarcotic assistance in Colombia.
16. Prepares background materials and reports for the INL Bogota Director and other U.S. officials in speeches, briefings, and testimonies to articulate INL Bogota’s engagement on interdiction issues.
17. Provides INL Bogota, INL/WHP, and the U.S. Embassy front office with analyses of trends and developments in the areas of interdiction and law enforcement upon request.
18. Participates in and/or leads assessments – as requested by the OCCN Division Chief, INL Deputy Director, or Director – of current program efforts with regard to CNP counternarcotics capacities and structures in Colombia, as well as assessments of the impact of ongoing programs; briefs those assessments to senior INL and other State Department and interagency officials; and, on the basis of those assessments, proposes and implements future activities and/or remedial actions.
19. Participates in senior-level meetings, briefings, seminars, and exercises with USG, host nation, and international representatives to develop plans/programs for implementation of police assistance. Improves INL Bogota capacities to respond quickly and effectively when new mission initiatives emerge. Also participates in INL Bogota staff meetings at the office and team level.
20. Performs other duties as requested and assigned by the INL Bogota OCCN Division Chief, Director, and Deputy Director, including supporting VIP visits, drafting reporting cables, and preparing other documents and reports.
21. As necessary, briefs Department, Congressional, and other international dignitaries orally and in writing on INL-funded programs in Colombia; prepares documents for presentation to the U.S. Congress; and develops appropriate itinerary and accommodates official travelers.
22. Maintains security awareness and properly handles classified and controlled items and information.
23. When required, performs the role of Duty Officer.
24. Performs other duties as requested and assigned that are directly related to this Statement of Work.
TRAININGS & DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES
1. Completes INL introductory SOAR training within first year either virtually or in-person with supervisor approval.
2. Completes the Contracting Officer’s Representative (PA296) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) within 120 days of arriving at Post.
3. Completes the mandatory Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Course (CT650) prior to deployment to Post.
4. Consultations with the INL Program Office may be required.
PLACE OF PERFORMANCE & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
The place of performance for this position is in U.S. Embassy Bogota, Colombia. This position requires frequent work in the field in areas which may have high levels of criminal activity; therefore, the person must adhere to safety restrictions as provided by local police and embassy personnel to avoid highly hazardous environments.
Regular travel to rural areas, small towns, and occasionally to large cities throughout Colombia is a requirement of this position. Many of these areas in Colombia are conflict zones where insurgent groups are based, criminal organizations operate, and crime is generally high. In addition, many of these areas in Colombia are tropical, with high temperatures, high humidity, tropical insects and diseases, and minimal infrastructure. Any travel outside of Colombia in support of counternarcotics and interdiction themes will be coordinated through the INL Bogota leadership. The Advisor will keep the OCCN Division informed of his/her activities through a Travel/Engagement Form and report on all travel activities in the Spot, Weekly, and Quarterly Reports.
RELATIONSHIPS
The Police Interdiction Advisor reports to the INL OCCN Division Chief and assists them in overseeing the work of the INL Bogota OCCN Police Interdiction Team. The Police Interdiction Advisor shall maintain open, timely, and effective communication with INL Bogota leadership and staff, resulting in a relationship that proactively addresses potential problems with flexible, workable solutions. The Advisor coordinates closely with other INL PSC expert advisors, including but not limited to the Maritime Interdiction Advisor, the Military Advisor, the Rural Security Advisor, and others.
The Police Interdiction Advisor’s actions, decisions, recommendations and completed work are reviewed for timeliness and effectiveness and conformance with appropriate laws and regulations.
The Contract Administrator shall be the INL Contracting Officer in Washington. In no instance shall the OCCN Division Chief 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 OCCN Division Chief will provide yearly performance reviews to the INL/EX/GAPP Contracting Officer in Washington, D.C. to contribute to the incumbent’s official yearly review.
COMPLEXITY
Develops detailed plans, goals, and objectives for implementing and administering the program in the short, medium, and long term, and/or develops criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the program. Coordinating plans with various other groups including international donors, the U.S. Embassy, and the Government of Colombia can be complex.
Projects require dynamic leadership, expertise and complex innovation, strict adherence to high level policy without lower-level interpretive assistance, and the ability to single-handedly, or in concert with a variety of stakeholders, resolve complex problems and achieve difficult goals that may impact other programs. Projects are often broad in scope and complicated by many complex technical, administrative, and political features.
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 Colombia, 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 Top Secret level security clearance, medical clearance, and ethics clearance (if applicable).
2. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution AND a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in the fields of international development, law enforcement, international relations, or public policy/administration.
3. A minimum of fifteen (15) years of related experience in policing and law enforcement, achieving a police rank equivalent to a GS 13/14 or lieutenant colonel/colonel in the U.S. military.
4. Demonstrated five (5) years of professional experience in a law enforcement institution or unit whose primary mission is to disrupt illicit narcotics trafficking.
5. Demonstrated experience developing and managing long-term counternarcotics-focused security and law enforcement programs, including assessment, monitoring and evaluation.
6. Demonstrated experience working effectively with host-nation counterparts, departments, and ministries to further program objectives, in a timely and concise manner.
7. Demonstrated experience drafting related reports/documents, annual budgets, and strategic plan submissions.
8. Demonstrated experience planning, strategizing, implementing, and reporting on projects.
9. Drafting analytical briefing papers, memoranda, letters, and reports for review and signature by senior-level officials.
10. Demonstrated experience coordinating and working closely with the Department of State, the Department of Defense, United Nations, or the international community on security sector development programs.
11. Demonstrated knowledge of military or police training activities.
12. Demonstrated knowledge of command communications, government intelligence procedures, aircraft capabilities and maintenance, and logistics management procedures.
13. Demonstrated knowledge of police or military tactics in counternarcotics operations.
14. Demonstrated ability to read and speak Spanish at the professionally proficient level.
15. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
16. Demonstrated experience in planning, strategizing, implementing, and reporting on programs and projects.
17. Previous experience working in Colombia or other Latin American countries on law enforcement and counternarcotics.
18. Experience in planning and executing highly-kinetic U.S. civilian law enforcement operations, especially related to counternarcotics.
19. Demonstrated previous supervisory experience.
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: Program Management: (20 points)
Demonstrated experience and ability in managing foreign assistance programs to enhance security sector or law enforcement counternarcotics efforts in Latin America. Demonstrated experience in preparing budgets, spend plans, statements of work (SOW), procurement orders, purchase requests, and sole-source justification waiver requests. Programs could include capacity building for Latin American security forces, provision of equipment, training, mentoring, technical assistance, and academy development.
Factor 2: Communication and Relationship Development: (20 points)
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in a timely and concise manner, and to interact effectively with others at all levels, in order to prepare, analyze, explain, and defend strategic decisions and program requirements. Demonstrated ability to coordinate effectively with members of relevant USG agencies, host nation representatives, and the international community in developing and coordinating effective interdiction programs. Demonstrated superior negotiation, interpersonal, and managerial skills.
Factor 3: Subject Matter Expertise: (30 points)
Demonstrated law enforcement and counternarcotics experience in policing and law enforcement, achieving a police rank equivalent to a GS 13/14 or lieutenant colonel/colonel in the U.S., with significant experience working in a law enforcement institution or unit whose primary mission is to disrupt illicit narcotics trafficking.
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 – 20
Factor #2 – 20
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
