Criminal Justice (CJ) Subject-Matter Expert (SME)

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: Criminal Justice (CJ) Subject-Matter Expert (SME)
Location: Remote (place of performance will be the selectee’s home of record within the United States, with travel up to 100 percent of time) 
Salary Level:  GS-14 - $107,446 - $139,684 
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 4, 2026
Closing Date: March 9, 2026
Closing Time: 3:00 PM ET
Solicitation Number:  PSC-26-013-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.  

The Office of Results and Criminal Deterrence, Technical Advisory Division (RCD/TAD) provides policy guidance and assists INL program offices in addressing the full range of criminal justice issues, including conducting assessments and evaluations, as they relate to Criminal Justice (CJ) development programs globally.  

CJ assistance is a core component of helping countries fight stop criminal organizations, drug trafficking, and resist malign influence. Currently, INL manages CJ policy and programs in numerous countries, working closely with staff in the field to implement these programs effectively. INL programs often utilize the deployment of U.S. law enforcement, corrections, and criminal justice experts into the field in support of counter crime and counternarcotics programs. U.S. experts support bilateral and regional programs, which aim to ensure foreign government criminal justice stakeholders have the ability to counter criminal organizations and crime that can directly impact American safety, security, and prosperity, including through mentoring and other technical advisory services, equipment, and expertise to advance operational cooperation between foreign and U.S. criminal justice institutions.  Experts work with foreign stakeholders, including grantees, private firms, and U.S. governmental entities to implement key programs.  

This Criminal Justice Subject-Matter Expert (CJ SME) Personal Services Contract (PSC) will assist in implementing, managing, and monitoring progress of specified projects to include law enforcement and criminal justice sector strengthening; building and effective institutions that work closely with U.S. criminal justice partners; strengthening investigative, prosecutorial, and judicial skills; countering transnational organized crime and its enablers; and other related security, law enforcement, and criminal justice issues.  The PSC will also determine and validate requirements based on U.S. and host country strategy and priorities.
 
The purpose of this PSC will be to provide policy guidance and subject matter expertise on an intermittent basis to INL in Washington, DC or overseas as needed.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direct supervision of the INL/RCD/TAD Team Lead or his/her designee, the CJ SME will perform the following duties:

1.    Serves as a senior CJ expert within INL/RCD/TAD and advises INL leadership with regard to INL assistance and management of criminal justice and law enforcement matters.

2.    Serves as an advisory resource for INL program managers in Washington and in the field on specific aspects of CJ efforts within at least one sector of professional expertise, including, corrections, criminal justice, or law enforcement.  Provides analytical services, to include assessments, program design, development of performance monitoring plans, and evaluations.   

3.    Conducts assessments and/or reviews of existing programs and procedures and provides draft recommendations for INL programming as a predicate to the development and implementation of initiatives and projects designed to improve the criminal justice system.  Writes and contributes to assessment reports in a timely manner. 

4.    Analyzes and drafts statements of work, reports, program plans, training curricula or other materials as needed to support criminal justice programming. 

5.    Participates in technical review panels related to criminal justice programs.   

6.    Attends meetings and conferences and represents INL in the interagency consultative and deliberative processes.   

7.    Prepares background and briefing materials, speeches, and talking points for a range of Department of State staff including the RCD Office Director, INL Deputy Assistant Secretaries, INL Assistant Secretary, and Embassy leadership. 

8.    Provides training and mentoring for INL staff and implementing partners to increase awareness of INL programs.   

9.    Provides technical advice to Grants Officer Representative (GOR), Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), or Agreements Officer Representative (AOR) in support of CJ programs as they perform program management and design functions.   

10.    Establishes direct relationships and liaises frequently with appropriate officers of relevant U.S. Government federal agencies, state and local partners, the private sector, and professional organizations in law enforcement  to coordinate on relevant programs. 

11.    Maintains knowledge of INL program management best practices and contemporary, professional CJ operational and management principles, techniques, evidence-based best practices, and issues which are appropriate for international application.

12.    Supervises up to five PSC staff as delegated by the supervisor and as permitted. Evaluates staff performance; recognizes good performance; communicates where performance needs to be improved; resolves complaints; and approves leave requests and timesheets as well as training, travel, and program and operations requests. The incumbent does not supervise FTE staff.

13.    Develops a working knowledge of the organizational structure and functions of the INL Bureau and its component offices, as well as the organizational structure of the U.S. Department of State.

14.    Performs other duties as requested and assigned that are directly related to this Statement of Work.

TRAINING & DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES
1.    Completes the mandatory Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) course (CT650) prior to deployment to Post, and the successful completion of any internal or external training deemed necessary by the supervisor.
2.    Completes the INL Pre-Deployment Training (PREP) course through INL prior to deployment to Post.
3.    Completes the Introduction to Working in an Embassy (PN113) distance-learning (DL) course through the National Foreign Affairs Training Center  (NFATC) prior to deployment to Post.
4.    Completes the Security Overseas Seminar (SOS) course through NFATC prior to deployment to Post.
5.    Completes INL Fraud Risk Management Training via DL through INL prior to deployment to Post.
6.    Completes INL Financial Management (PP421) DL course through NFATC prior to deployment to Post.
7.    Completes INL Program and Project Management (PP420) DL course through NFATC prior to deployment to Post.
8.    Completes functional awareness of the Foundations of Criminal Justice and awareness of all RCD work products, including project packages. 
9.    Consultations with the INL Program Office will be required.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
This position is remote and the place of performance will be the selectee’s home of record within the United States, with travel up to 100 percent of the time (up to 250 days per year with no minimum requirement) to CONUS and OCONUS locations.  

RELATIONSHIPS
The CJ SME will take direction from and report to an INL/RCD/TAD Team Lead or his/her designee. 

The Contract Administrator shall be the INL Contracting Officer (CO) in Washington. In no instance shall the INL/RCD/TAD Team Lead, 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 CO must authorize such changes in writing.

The INL/RCD/TAD Team Lead will provide yearly performance reviews to the INL/SAO/IM CO in Washington, D.C. to contribute to the incumbent’s official yearly review.

TELEWORK 
The PSC will be required to report in person while on assignment but telework may be authorized in certain situations on a case-by-case basis. 

Telework must be authorized in advance by the PSC’s supervisor and the INL Contracting Officer (CO).

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 worldwide, 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.

The PSC hired under this contract will provide up to a maximum of 250 workdays of services on an annual basis. The specific projects, as well as dates, number of days and locations to be worked, will be determined by mutual agreement between the contractor and their INL supervisor according to the programmatic needs of INL.  There is no obligation by INL to provide assignments for a minimum number of days, and the contractor is free to provide “blackout” dates during which he or she will not be available to accept assignments.

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.    Demonstrated knowledge of best practices within CJ field specialty, such as corrections, criminal justice, or law enforcement, including related INL programming.
3.    A bachelor’s degree from an accredited school in criminal justice or social science areas, such as sociology, psychology, political science, history, and a minimum of fifteen (15) years of experience in foreign affairs, law enforcement, or corrections, of which three (3) years must be working in international development or foreign assistance; or,
a.    A graduate degree from an accredited school in criminal justice or social science areas such as sociology, psychology, political science, history, and a minimum of seven (7) years of professional work experience in law enforcement, corrections, or criminal justice; or,
b.    A JD from an accredited law school and a minimum of seven (7) years of experience in law enforcement, corrections, or criminal justice; or,
c.    A JD from an accredited law school and a minimum of three (3) years of experience working in international justice sector development, one (1) year of which must have been working overseas on a foreign assistance mission, in an embassy, or for a non-governmental organization, multilateral organization, or private company.
4.    Demonstrated knowledge of justice sector reform efforts implemented by other relevant U.S. government agencies (e.g., Departments of Justice and Defense).
5.    Demonstrated knowledge of bilateral and multilateral organizations engaged in criminal justice efforts. 
6.    Demonstrated experience drafting analytical briefing papers, memoranda, letters, and reports for review and/or signature by senior-level officials.

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:     CJ Sector Subject Matter Expertise                          (25 Points) 
Demonstrated ability to provide subject matter expertise, including INL criminal justice programming. Experience assessing criminal justice system capabilities, including the ability to provide policy and programmatic technical guidance within INL, the Department of State, and to a wider audience of interested USG agencies and multilateral partners. Knowledge of criminal justice system evidence-based practices and INL best practices. For the purposes of Factor 1, subject matter expertise in criminal justice systems may be demonstrated through experience working in one or more of the law enforcement, criminal defense, counternarcotics, or corrections sectors.

Factor 2:    CJ  Sector Development Experience             (30 points)
Demonstrated knowledge and experience of international criminal justice development, reform, and foreign assistance. Experience and ability to substantially assist in developing and implementing plans for improving U.S. government capacities to provide criminal justice sector assistance overseas quickly and effectively. For the purposes of Factor 2, developing experience in international criminal justice development may be demonstrated through experience working in one or more of the law enforcement, criminal defense, or corrections sectors, or foreign policy experience.

Factor 3:    Government, Management & Communication          (15 points) 
Experience working or coordinating with INL, other relevant U.S. government agencies (e.g., Departments of Justice and Defense), donor countries, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations, especially related to the criminal justice field. Working knowledge of State Department operations, Foreign Affairs Manual, federal travel regulations. Foreign language skills, especially Spanish and/or French.

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 – 30
Factor #3 – 15
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 GS-14 - $107,446 - $139,684 (based on OPM base pay scale). 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