Financial Crimes Advisor

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: Financial Crimes Advisor Location: Bogota, Colombia Salary Level: FS-02 - $91,475 - $134,334 (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: July 1, 2022 Closing date: July 19, 2022 Closing Time: 3:00 PM ET Solicitation Number: PSC-22-046-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: Deborah Strom U.S. Department of State INL/EX/GAPP StromDG@state.gov Sincerely, Jamie Goewey 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. Submit proposal via e-mail to the attention of: INL/Deborah Strom E-mail: StromDG@state.gov Direct questions regarding this solicitation to: INL/Deborah Strom E-mail: StromDG@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): INL is under the Under Secretary for Democracy and Human Rights (J) and works to keep Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores. 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. The Government of Colombia (GOC) has developed a relatively strict anti-money laundering (AML) regime, enacted customer due diligence and suspicious transaction reporting regulations, and cooperates closely with United States law enforcement authorities on AML and asset forfeiture (AF) investigations. However, the GOC continues to face deficiencies in its anti-money laundering capabilities, including underdeveloped institutional capacity, limited interagency cooperation, and inadequate expertise in investigating and prosecuting complex financial crimes. Additionally, regulatory agencies lack the analytical capacity and technological tools to examine data. INL Bogota's Financial Crimes program, part of INL Bogota's Rule of Law Division, supports the Government of Colombia to counter money laundering and other financial crimes, and seize criminal assets, furthering U.S. objectives to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and reduce illegal narcotics trafficking to the United States. Under the terms of this personal services contract, the Financial Crimes Advisor develops, coordinates, implements, and monitors effective INL Bogota AML/AF programming to help the GOC increase its ability to detect, investigate, prosecute, prevent, and sanction financial crimes and recover illicitly obtained assets. This position will also serve as an Agreement Officer Representative (AOR) and/or Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), play a key role in contingency planning and development of future INL Bogota activities in AML/AF, and serve as a resource for other program managers, assisting in developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating foreign assistance programs in furtherance of U.S. foreign policy objectives. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Under the direct supervision of the Bogota based INL Financial Crimes Program Manager or his/her designee, the Financial Crimes Advisor will perform the following duties: 1. Develop and implement effective and sustainable AML/AF programming, performance monitoring plans, and evaluation planning in support of countering financial crimes in Colombia. 2. Establish effective liaison with U.S. and foreign counterparts to design and implement AML/AF programs. 3. Assess the GOC's capability to respond to financial crime challenges and recommend effective strategies to address those challenges within the Colombian justice system. 4. Support a wide range of INL program activities, including capacity enhancement, vetting, logistical support for program activities, including acquisitions, budgeting, oversight, and monitoring and evaluation. 5. Provide full-scale program management support, including but not limited to reporting, drafting documents, assisting high-level coordination and planning meetings, and providing counsel. 6. Work with INL Program Managers and Advisors in other program divisions to assess Government of Colombia action plans, with an eye to addressing capacity deficits and weak inter-institutional coordination and collaboration that prevent the GOC from effectively addressing key criminal threats. Review and make recommendations on agreements, policies, and laws. 7. Provide policy analysis and program guidance on issues such as program milestones, strategies, and development of host country capacities and limitations of institutions. 8. Review policies and laws and make reform recommendations to the GOC. 9. Provide advisory and capacity enhancement assistance to the GOC to establish strong and professional institutions that will better coordinate on INL Bogota AML/AF efforts. 10. Ensure INL Bogota programming complies with U.S. government legal and policy requirements and restrictions, including Leahy vetting and contracting, and that programming is coordinated with related INL Bogota police, counternarcotics, justice, rural security, and corrections programs. 11. Perform duties as Agreement Officer's Representative (AOR), Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), Grant Officer's Representative (GOR), and Government Technical Monitor (GTM) as assigned, and assist in key equipment acquisitions and oversight of justice programs and required financial and programmatic reporting of other agencies involved in projects in rule of law. 12. Establish and maintain appropriate internal management control systems and end-use monitoring. Ensure that INL Bogota's counter-financial crimes support programs are not subject to waste, fraud, or mismanagement. Help manage and monitor the use of all U.S.-provided commodities intended for appropriate purposes. 13. Contribute to the preparation of required reporting, including but not limited to: INL Bogota's weekly program implementation reports; 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) Volume 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. 14. When required, perform the role of Duty Officer. 15. Perform other duties as requested and assigned that are directly related to this Statement of Work. TRAININGS & DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES 1. Complete the Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Course (CT650) prior to deployment to Post. 2. Complete INL/KM-implemented - INL-PREP in-person training course before or within 90 days of arriving to Post, if able. 3. Complete Introduction to Working in an Embassy (PN113) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) within six months of arriving at Post. 4. Complete the Contracting Officer's Representative courses (PA186-PA188) or the distance-learning (DL) course (PA296) before or within 120 days of arriving at Post. 5. Complete Monitoring Grants and Cooperative Agreements (PA222) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) before or within 120 days of arriving at Post. 6. Complete PP420 INL Program and Project Management I within first six months of arriving at Post. 7. Complete PP421 INL Financial Management within first six months of arriving at Post. 8. Complete PP422 INL Contract Administration, Procurement Policies and Procedures within first six months of arriving at Post. 9. Complete PA392 ILMS Overseas Ariba Procurement within 60 days upon arriving at Post. 10. Complete PP223 Managing Foreign Assistance Awards Overseas within first six months of arriving at Post. 11. Complete PP425 Foreign Assistance Performance Monitoring and Evaluation within first six months of arriving at Post. 12. Completes DL FSI Mitigating Unconscious Bias (PT144) course within the first 90 days of assignment. 13. If applicable - Consultations with the INL Program Office may be required. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS US Embassy Bogota, Colombia. Regular travel to large cities and periodic travel to rural areas and small towns throughout Colombia are requirements for 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. RELATIONSHIPS The Financial Crimes Advisor reports to the INL Bogota Financial Crimes Program Manager, under the overall supervision of the Rule of Law Division Chief. As the COR, the Financial Crimes Adviser is delegated the authority to act for the Contracting Officer in matters concerning technical clarification, inspection and, after concurrence by the Contracting Officer, acceptance of Contractor performance under the contract, including preparation of reports, and the authorization of progress payments when appropriate. The COR will coordinate all work with the Contractor and review Contractor's performance at significant stages of its development. The Contract Administrator is INL in Washington and shall be the INL Contracting Officer. In no instance shall the Financial Crimes Program Manager 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 Financial Crimes Program Manager 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 The Advisor must apply specialized and professional knowledge to develop and oversee INL Bogota AML/AF programs. The Advisor coordinates frequently with other INL Bogota program managers, advisors, and U.S. and Colombian counterparts regarding ongoing and potential projects. Assignments include development, analysis, and oversight of a comprehensive AML/AF program. The Advisor performs continuous analysis of interrelated issues of effectiveness and efficiency affecting INL Bogota AML/AF programming. SCOPE AND 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. 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 TS level may be required.) 2. As it relates to financial crimes, a minimum of seven (7) years of experience in one or more of the following topics s: law enforcement, criminal justice, financial regulatory enforcement, and/or international development. 3. Demonstrated experience in the following areas: a. Working in Latin America. b. Financial crimes, anti-money laundering, counter terrorism finance, and/or asset forfeiture issues. c. Developing and managing assistance programs related to financial crimes, law enforcement, or criminal justice, including assessment, monitoring, and evaluation. d. Program design, program management, organizational development, planning, and/or training. e. Drafting related reports/documents, annual budgets, and strategic plan submissions. f. Planning, strategizing, implementing, and reporting on projects. g. Drafting analytical briefing papers, memoranda, letters, and reports for review and/or signature by senior-level officials; and h. Coordinating and working closely with one or more of the following on financial crimes and/or criminal justice reform programs: the Department of State, the Department of Justice, Department of Treasury, United Nations, foreign governments, and/or nongovernmental organizations. 4. Demonstrated excellent oral and written English (4/4) and Spanish FSI level 3/3 (or equivalent) communication skills. EVALUATION FACTORS (Used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified offerors in comparison to other offerors.) Offerors should cite specific, illustrative examples for each factor. Responses must be limited to 500 words per factor. Any additional words above the limit will neither be read nor scored. Factor 1: Work Experience (20 points) Demonstrated relevant law enforcement or criminal justice experience, particularly related to financial crimes, anti-money laundering, and/or asset forfeiture, including managing complex projects, determining project requirements, implementing progress on projects, and reporting on projects. Experience working with the UN, Financial Action Task Force, or other international organizations as it relates to financial crimes, anti-money laundering, and/or asset forfeiture. Factor 2: Technical Qualifications (30 points) Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, overseeing, and evaluating foreign assistance capacity building programs, particularly related to anti-money laundering and asset forfeiture. Experience in strategic planning, policy development, and implementation of major agency-level programs. Experience in preparing budgets, spend plans, statements of work (SOW), procurement orders, purchase requests, and sole-source justification waiver requests. Factor 3: Management & Communication Experience (20 points) Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in both English and Spanish, in a timely and concise manner; interact and brief effectively with others at all levels to prepare, analyze, explain, and defend determinations and requirements with respect to conformance to applicable laws, policies and other regulatory guidelines; and advise program officials. Ability to negotiate program details with U.S. government agencies and host government officials. BASIS OF RATING: Offerors who clearly meet the Education/Experience Requirements will be further evaluated based on scoring of the Evaluation Factor responses. Offerors are required to address each of the Evaluation Factors in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received that are relevant to each factor. Failure to specifically address the Evaluation Factors may result in your not receiving credit for all of your pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards. The Offeror Rating System is as Follows: Evaluation Factors have been assigned the following points: Factor #1 - 20 Factor #2 - 30 Factor #3 - 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 ($91,475 - $134,334 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