Chemical Diversion and Synthetic Drug Coordinator

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: Chemical Diversion and Synthetic Drug Coordinator
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Salary Level: FS-02 - $102,409 - $150,391 (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: March 5, 2026
Closing Date: March 19, 2026
Closing Time: 3:00 PM ET
Solicitation Number:  PSC-26-016-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: 

U.S. Department of State, ATT: INL/SAO/IM PSC Team, contact@example.gov 

Sincerely,

Jamillah Timmons
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/SAO/IM PSC Team
E-mail: contact@example.gov 

Direct questions regarding this solicitation to:
INL/SAO/IM PSC Team
E-mail: contact@example.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 Arms Control and International Security (T) 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.  
 
Under the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE) Program, INL supports bilateral projects with the Government of Mexico (GOM) to protect the health and safety of our people by disempowering criminal organizations. These projects are administered by the INL section of the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.  
 
This Chemical Diversion and Synthetic Drug Coordinator  (CDSD) Personal Services Contract (PSC) position will assist in determining and validating requirements based on U.S. and host country synthetic drug strategy and priorities; implementing, managing, and monitoring progress of specified projects to include law enforcement and criminal justice sector professionalization, projects related to criminal investigations, building strong institutions, strengthening investigative capacity, and other related counternarcotics, justice, and security issues. 
This position  will serve as the in-country program training coordinator under the Counternarcotics Program, reporting to the INL Director and supervised by a Foreign Service Officer.  The CDSD Coordinator will coordinate with other INL Mexico staff and third-party contractors, for training, direction, and execution oversight in support of GOM entities.  
 
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 
Under the direct supervision of the Mexico City-based INL Counternarcotics (CN) Program Officer or designees, the CDSD Coordinator will perform the following duties: 
 
1.    Create, develop, and coordinate training programs that enhance the capabilities of GOM agencies to reduce the diversion of synthetic drug precursor chemical from licit to illicit supply chains used by transnational criminal organizations to manufacture synthetic drugs.  Programs will focus on building the capacity of GOM regulatory, security, investigative, and justice sector personnel.  

2.    Manage and coordinate INL-supported engagements and training activities at La Muralla and other locations as needed, including planning, scheduling, and execution oversight.

3.    Maintain and manage the institutional relationship with the Office of the Attorney General (FGR) to support program implementation and strategic objectives.

4.    Coordinate with U.S. interagency partners and implementing entities to ensure alignment with INL counternarcotics and synthetic drug program objectives.

5.    Create, develop, and coordinate synthetic drug professionalization and capacity building programs and strategies that align INL strategies and priorities.

6.    Represent INL to high-level U.S. and Mexican security and justice sector officials. 

7.    Coordinate INL programs and projects,  providing advice, training, technical assistance, and equipment to Mexican government entities at the federal and state levels that are involved in these projects. 

8.    Monitor, measure, and report on results of training and capacity building programs.

9.    Develop close working relationships with appropriate GOM officials , including, the Office of the Attorney General (FGR) and its state equivalents, the National Guard (NG), Secretariat of the Navy (Marina), Secretariat of Defense (Defensa), the federal Secretariat of Public Security (SSPC) and its state equivalents, the Secretariat of Foreign Relations (SRE), Mexican customs (ANAM), and the chemical regulatory agency (COFEPRIS), among others in order to coordinate INL projects with GOM entities involved in the tracking of diverted chemicals; the civil and criminal investigative process; and the detection, seizure and dismantling of clandestine drug laboratories.  

10.    Provide advice, technical assistance, and equipment related to improving institutional capacity to federal authorities and designated Mexican state authorities.  

11.    Develop capacity-building strategies, key activities, and projects for INL Mexico’s CDSD programs, under the supervision of INL Foreign Service Officer(s), and in coordination with the GOM and other INL program and management staff. 

12.    Implement all phases of approved CDSD projects by overseeing a multi-million-dollar, multi-year budget and if designated supervise four to six Mexican and U.S. citizen TPC and LE staff.  Such efforts include project execution from assessment and requirements development through acquisition, procurement, implementation, and monitoring, as well as coordinating among vendors, contractors, and GOM officials. 

13.    Resolve conflicts and issues, and if designated, manage LE staff and TPC personnel performance. Ensure projects are measurable, sustainable, and comply with U.S. government legal and policy requirements.

14.    Coordinate with representatives of U.S. law enforcement agencies at the U.S. Embassy that are involved in investigations and prosecutions of CDSD-related crimes. These agencies include, but are not limited to, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Custom and Border Protections (CBP), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),  the United States Marshal’s Service (USMS), C and the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP).  

15.    Provide CDCL advice, technical review, and recommendations to Mexican agencies, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations on synthetic drugs (fentanyl, methamphetamine) and clandestine laboratories. Use subject matter expertise to advise Mexican officials and collaborate with international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and U.S. officials.

16.    Prepare documentation, with assistance from counternarcotics program team and contracting staff, for the procurement of systems and equipment used for training and/or enforcement of chemical diversion and clandestine laboratories under the counternarcotics program including drafting purchase requests, bid solicitations, statements of work (SOW), requests for source origin waivers, sole-source justifications, and delivery and acceptance of procured systems and equipment. 

17.    Serve, when applicable, as either a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or a Government Technical Monitor (GTM) for assigned projects under the direction of the Contracting Officer (CO).   

18.    Serve as Grants Officer’s Representative (GOR), draft grant solicitations in coordination with and for approval by the Grants Officer in INL. Assist grantees in completing documentation requirements, monitoring grantee performance, and closing out grants as appropriate.  

19.    Draft reports and advise on report preparation for the U.S. Congress, INL, and other U.S. federal agencies. 

20.    Develop and host justice and security-related meetings, national and international conferences and seminars, and meetings with GOM officials, to advance U.S. foreign policy goals related to human smuggling and trafficking and counter-transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) efforts.  

21.    Provide advice and assistance in end-use monitoring (EUM) of USG-supplied commodities and services, preparing input for the annual EUM report to INL and Congress. 

22.    Provide advice and assistance in the formulation of INL contribution to the annual Integrated Country Strategy (ICS) and other annual reports. 

23.    Brief Department of State, U.S. Congress, and other visiting officials and Embassy staff as directed on the role of INL and the status of U.S.-Mexico chemical diversion and synthetic drug professionalization projects and related security and law enforcement initiatives. 

24.    When required, perform the role of Duty Officer.  

25.    Perform other duties as requested and assigned that are directly related to this Statement of Work. 
 
TRAININGS & DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES 
1.    Completes the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) and when applicable, the Grants Officers Representative (GOR) courses through the National Foreign Affairs Training Center  (NFATC) distance learning courses within 120 days of arrival at Post. 
2.    Completes the Introduction to Working in an Embassy (PN113) distance-learning (DL) course through NFATC within the first six (6) months of arriving at Post. 
3.    Completes the mandatory Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) course (CT650) prior to deployment to Post.   
4.    Works with the INL Program Office/Post to determine a timeline for completing the INL Staff Orientation and Readiness Training (SOAR).
5.    Consultations with the INL Program Office may be required. 
 
PLACE OF PERFORMANCE & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS 
The place of performance for this position is the US Embassy Mexico City, Mexico. Travel is anticipated up to 25 percent of the time to Regional Security Officer (RSO)-authorized locations in Mexico, the United States, and occasionally the region.  
 
RELATIONSHIP 
The CDSD Coordinator will serve under the day-to-day direction of the Counternarcotics (CN) Program Officer, a Foreign Service Officer. All employees under Chief of Mission (COM) authority assigned Law Enforcement and Rule of Law (LE/ROL) duties work with INL leadership to ensure oversight and non-duplicative efforts in the Mission.  

The Contract Administrator shall be the INL Contracting Officer in Washington.  In no instance shall the CN 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 CN Program Officer will provide yearly performance reviews to the INL/SAO/IM 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 given the constantly changing U.S. and Mexican political landscape related to counternarcotics actions in Mexico.  Due to the high visibility and political sensitivity of the issues in which INL’s counternarcotics programs are involved, there is complexity in determining where the host nation deficiencies are in chemical diversion and synthetic drug enforcement and thus determining the projects that will yield the greatest returns for safety of the practitioners and the inevitable judicial process.  Decisions involve constant cooperation with the GOM in order to enhance their ability to detect chemical diversion methods by the companies that import and divert the chemicals to illicit drug manufacturing organizations.  The position must advise GOM on safely targeting, dismantling, and processing of evidence in clandestine laboratories. Additionally, the position must discern GOM law in order to advise on the lawful utilization of chemical and clandestine laboratory evidence in the judicialization process against criminally or civilly liable individuals and/or companies that divert chemicals or manufacture illicit drugs such as fentanyl in clandestine laboratories. The PSC is also 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 is an expert in the field of chemical diversion and synthetic drugs and has demonstrated experience in investigating diverted chemicals used in the production of illicit drugs and clandestine laboratories and as a result of this experience, resolves disputes that arise when leading experts disagree.  The PSC performs broad and extensive assignments related to a complex law enforcement, criminal deterrence, and expertise of clandestine laboratories found in Mexico, 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 REQUIREMENTS 
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 with a minimum of ten (10) years of experience as a criminal investigator or prosecutor with a U.S. federal or state law enforcement, justice, or regulatory agency; OR, 
a.    An Associate’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum of fifteen (15) years of experience as a criminal investigator or prosecutor with a U.S. federal or state law enforcement, justice, or regulatory agency.
3.    A minimum of five (5) years of experience working with Latin American law enforcement, military, intelligence, or regulatory counterparts actively dismantling clandestine laboratory manufacturing organizations.  
4.    A minimum of two (2) years of project management experience, to include developing multi-project strategies, project objectives, budget forecasting and execution, project implementation, as well as measuring and reporting for impact.  
5.    Demonstrated experience successfully training and developing teams.  
6.    Demonstrated ability to read and speak 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:     Strategic Planning and Implementation                          (15 Points)              
Demonstrated ability to strategically plan and execute complex antinarcotics and/or criminal justice projects, including comprehensive law enforcement training programs, through their entire life cycle, from analysis and planning through implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and close out.

Factor 2:    CDSD Supervision                                                (20 Points)  
Demonstrated ability to train and build strong teams at a field office or embassy on chemical diversion, synthetic drugs, and justice/security sector professionalization projects. Prior experience working in Mexico or with Mexican government officials on CDSD investigations is strongly preferred. 

Factor 3:    Diplomacy and Leadership                                             (15 Points)  
Demonstrated ability to use clear and effective communication in order to develop and maintain strong working relationships to build collaborative effort with U.S. interagency and Latin American representatives of law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal level.

Factor 4:    Subject Matter Expertise                                              (20 Points) 
Demonstrated expertise in chemical diversion and synthetic drug investigations, with a track record of success in dismantling chemical diversion and illicit drug manufacturing organizations. Experience in Mexico working investigations and operations with host nation law enforcement against chemical diversion and clandestine drug manufacturing organizations. 

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 not receiving credit for all 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 – 15 
Factor #2 – 20 
Factor #3 – 15 
Factor #4 – 20  
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 ($102,409 - $150,391 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