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: Senior Justice Advisor (SJA)
Location: U.S. Embassy San Jose, Costa Rica
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: Thursday, September 19, 2024
Closing date: Wednesday, October 09, 2024
Closing Time: 3:00 PM ET
Solicitation Number: PSC-24-067-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:
- 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.
- Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.
- Names and contact information (phone and email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s).
- Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments.
- 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:
Janette Dull
U.S. Department of State
INL/EX/GAPP
DullJR@state.gov
Sincerely,
Renee 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):
- Form SF 171 (Completed and signed)
- Resume
- Evaluation Factor Responses
- 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/Janette Dull
E-mail: DullJR@state.gov
Direct questions regarding this solicitation to:
INL/Janette Dull
E-mail: DullJR@state.gov
INL will not accept proposals beyond the closing time/date; unless it can be determined DOS mishandled the proposal.
Personal Service Contract (PSC)
Statement of Work (SOW)
U.S. Embassy San Jose, Costa Rica
Senior Justice Advisor (SJA)
FS-02 (Equivalent to GS-14)
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 of Western Hemisphere Programs (INL/WHP) is responsible for the development, supervision, coordination and implementation of international narcotics control assistance activities and international criminal justice issues for the Department of State. The INL Section in Costa Rica is responsible for developing the long- and short-range strategic plans for eight separate projects and for providing program implementation, direction, execution, and most importantly, oversight of INL-provided assets. INL also develops and recommends changes to tactics and training procedures for enhancing justice operations. The scope and breadth of the work that INL is planning with Costa Rican security, aviation, justice sector, maritime, community policing, and border and port enforcement agencies is comprehensive and extends beyond the capacity we currently have.
In order to assure that foreign assistance funds are used correctly in support of USG objectives, have sufficient management controls, and to be able to respond to the shifting INL requirements, INL must have enough staff to have a continued presence both within the Embassy and with our Government of Costa Rica (GOCR) partners in areas outside of San Jose.
The purpose of this Personal Services Contract is to provide a Senior Justice Advisor (SJA), that will deliver comprehensive technical support and training to various justice sector programs in Costa Rica. The SJA will be responsible to the INL Director for providing program implementation, direction, and execution oversight of the INL justice sector project in support of host-nation reform efforts. In this role, the incumbent facilitates high-level interagency coordination among elements of the U.S. Embassy, Costa Rican law enforcement agencies, Justice Sector support services, NGOs, and other participating agencies. The SJA will evaluate effectiveness of in-country Department of State justice sector programs, and suggest organizational, operational, logistical, and training improvements and opportunities. The SJA will offer assistance in a variety of areas, including justice sector development, mentoring and training of legal practitioners, legal education promotion, gender justice initiatives, implementation of anti-corruption initiatives, and combating major crimes. S/he will also serve as a resource to the INL Director, GOCR justice sector officials, and select Costa Rican civil society organizations.
The SJA may lead one or more Subject Matter Specialists (SMSs) that assist INL on the full range of criminal justice issues with focus on four strategic areas: disrupting the capacity of organized criminals to operate; institutionalizing the rule of law; creating a 21st Century border; and building strong and resilient communities. S/he will play a key role in contingency planning and development of future INL Costa Rica investment in the justice sector. S/he will also serve as a resource for other program managers, providing expert guidance to assist in implementing, monitoring and evaluating U.S. foreign policy directives regarding the development of criminal justice sector reform projects managed by INL Costa Rica.
The SJA frequently meets with members of other U.S. Government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the international community for the purpose of gathering and disseminating information pertinent to justice sector development and USG priorities and activities.
The SJA is expected to know or master the full range of development program management skills, including planning, budgeting, procurement, contracting, and monitoring and evaluation. The Senior Justice Advisor is frequently called upon to perform other tasks or duties on an ad hoc basis, particularly those requiring strong drafting skills or legal analysis.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direct supervision of the San Jose INL Program Officer or his/her designee, the Senior Justice Advisor will perform the following duties:
- Serves as the senior Rule of Law expert within INL Costa Rica.
- Provides to INL Costa Rica and Embassy front offices, analysis of trends and developments in the areas of judicial reform and rule of law.
- Conducts assessments of judicial and security agencies and institutions and their training academies and facilities.
- Develops program designs, performance monitoring plans, and evaluation planning for projects in support of judicial reform and improving the rule of law.
- Drafts policy and advocacy papers, attend meetings and conferences. Facilitates exchange of information and practices to ensure robust communication on rule of law issues within INL Costa Rica, as well as with other professionals working in area of Rule of Law in Costa Rica.
- Prepares background materials and reports to be used by INL Costa Rica Director and other USG officials in speeches, briefings, and testimonies to articulate INL Costa Rica engagement on Rule of Law issues with the mission.
- Participates in outreach activities with domestic and international legal communities to increase awareness of INL programs/policies and solicit greater cooperation and participation.
- When required, performs the role of Duty Officer.
- 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.
2. 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.
3. Completes the mandatory Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Course (OT650) 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 the U.S. Embassy San Jose, Costa Rica. Travel in and around Costa Rica may be required.
RELATIONSHIPS
The Senior Justice Advisor reports to the San Jose INL Program Officer.
The Contract Administrator shall be the INL Contracting Officer in Washington. In no instance shall the San Jose INL Program 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 San Jose INL Program Officer 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
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 PSC 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 Costa Rica, 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
- 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.)
- Law degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
- Demonstrated two years of work experience as an attorney or judge.
- Excellent oral and written English communication skills, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrated ability to operate in a professional setting using excellent oral and written Spanish communication skills.
- Demonstrated five years of experience managing or directing international rule of law or legal/justice reform programs, international law, or the design and implementation of judicial or legal capacity building and training programs.
- Demonstrated ability to accurately perceive and analyze complex fact patterns related to the structure, operation, and deficiencies of foreign criminal justice systems and to employ professional knowledge to develop and apply plans to enhance the effectiveness of prosecutions.
- Demonstrated ability to perform essential functions under difficult conditions (e.g., limited resources, personal security risks, conflicting and changing priorities, difficult living conditions, language barriers, transportation limitations, disease, etc.).
- Demonstrated experience with procurement and financial processes.
- Demonstrated ability to travel to other countries and within the region of Costa Rica.
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: (25 points)
Experience and ability in managing programs, which will enhance the rule of law in Costa Rica. Such programs will include capacity building for Costa Rican judicial and security forces, provision of equipment, training, and equipping of special investigative units and major crimes task forces, oversight of refurbishing projects, and academy development. Experience with managing foreign assistance programs and with State Department procurement and financial processes preferred.
Factor 2: Subject Matter Expert: (25 points)
Ability to provide expert rule of law subject matter and policy guidance relevant
to current judicial situation in Costa Rica to senior level policy makers within the Embassy and INL
Factor 3: Liaison: (10 points)
Ability to liaise with members of relevant USG agencies, Costa Rican representatives, and international community in developing and coordinating rule of law programs.
Factor 4: Communication: (10 points)
Ability to communicate complex issues in a timely and concise manner, both orally and in written form.
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 – 25
Factor #2 – 25
Factor #3 – 10
Factor #4 – 10
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
