Law Enforcement and Justice Programs 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: Law Enforcement and Justice Programs Coordinator Location: Belgrade, Serbia 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: 11/20/2024 Closing date: 12/05/2024 Closing Time: 3:00 PM ET Solicitation Number: PSC-25-006-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: Cecille D. Washington U.S. Department of State INL/EX/GAPP WashingtonCD@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): 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/Cecille Washington E-mail: WashingtonCD@state.gov Direct questions regarding this solicitation to: INL/Cecille Washington E-mail: WashingtonCD@state.gov INL will not accept proposals beyond the closing time/date; unless it can be determined DOS mishandled the proposal. GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT Mission of the U.S. Department of State: The U.S. Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy and the Secretary of State is the President's principal foreign policy advisor. The Department of State's mission is to advance U.S. national security interests, fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, and implement foreign policy initiatives that build a freer, prosperous, and secure world. Mission of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL): The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is part of the Under Secretariat for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights (J) within the Department of State (DOS). INL's mission is to minimize the impact of international crime and illegal drugs on the United States and its citizens by providing effective foreign assistance and fostering global cooperation. INL's Office of Europe and Asia (EA) develops and manages criminal justice sector reform programs and contributes to policy formation on civilian security issues in both regions. INL/EA and INL personnel at Embassy Belgrade administer U.S. government assistance to Serbia in order to develop its criminal justice sector, reform its security sector, and disrupt transnational organized crime. The purpose of this Personal Services Contract is to fill the new position of Law Enforcement and Justice Programs Coordinator (Coordinator) in the INL section of Embassy Belgrade. The Coordinator will manage, coordinate, and supervise all phases of INL law enforcement and justice sector programs in Serbia. The Coordinator will provide expert policy, program, and strategy guidance to Embassy leadership on how to assist Serbia to achieve critical rule of law reforms. The Coordinator must be able to work rapidly, responding promptly to multiple and evolving priorities in a difficult and demanding environment. The position requires criminal justice sector experience and program management expertise to enable the incumbent to determine swiftly what assistance is required, within what timeframe it must be implemented, and how such assistance must be supervised to ensure its effectiveness. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Chief of Mission or his/her designee, the Law Enforcement and Justice Programs Coordinator will perform the following duties: 1. Serves as the Law Enforcement and Justice Programs Coordinator within INL/EA's assistance mission in Serbia. 2. Provides policy analysis and program guidance to INL, Embassy Belgrade, and other USG entities on effective mechanisms for, progress in, and impediments to, achieving criminal justice sector objectives in Serbia. 3. Manages, coordinates, and supervises all phases of INL law enforcement and justice sector programs in Serbia, including sustainment upon completion of projects, monitoring and evaluation for results, and supervision of four local staff and two local national third-party contractors. The incumbent should be able to work independently and cooperatively with INL/EA to ensure that the program and administrative budgets are monitored routinely and that the projects fall within program guidelines notified to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 4. Implements INL law enforcement and justice sector programs through training and mentoring. Provides and facilitates mentoring and technical assistance to law drafters, prosecutors, law professors, judges, law enforcement officials, and private attorneys on a range of issues. Identifies outside experts, when appropriate, to serve as trainers. 5. Ensures compliance with INL program management policies and procedures, which will include monitoring procurement and end use monitoring; and drafting program planning documents, such as work plans, budget plans, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks. 6. Establishes and maintains relationships with Serbia's criminal justice sector and other government officials, including prosecutors, investigators, judges, defense attorneys, civil society, legislators, legal experts, other rule of law actors, and law enforcement. Ensures adequate follow up. 7. Designs and monitors assistance programs for the criminal justice sector utilizing a range of methodologies, such as conducting interviews and focus groups, as well as reviewing analytical reports. Ensures program activities develop local capacity. Activities should include a broad range of criminal justice sector actors and there should be a strong emphasis on joint/collective training between different criminal justice groups (i.e. police- prosecutor workshops). 8. Coordinates with other implementers in the international donor community. Maintains close collaboration with any INL grantees, the Economic Section, the Public Affairs Section, the Political Section, LEGAT, other U.S. entities receiving foreign assistance through INL, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). 9. Coordinates with local civil society organizations to develop an understanding of their challenges and needs, assessment of political developments in the country, as well as opportunities for INL support. 10. Focus on establishing guidelines, standard operating procedures, and public diplomacy tools to build networks and develop mechanisms for linking Serbian criminal justice actors with U.S. criminal justice professionals. 11. Advises Embassy Front Office and INL/EA on policy and legislative developments impacting the criminal justice sector. Assesses the impact of Serbia's political developments on U.S. policy objectives, makes recommendations to the Embassy Front Office, and keeps INL/EA updated on these developments. Develops legal memoranda and technical support on legal issues that may arise in connection with policy or program issues. 12. Cooperates with other sections of the Embassy and other regional INL sections to facilitate program implementation. 13. Represents INL in internal and external meetings, ceremonies, and representational events as required. 14. Schedules and facilitates meeting requests from INL during program reviews and assessments. 15. Submits quarterly status reports to the INL Program Officer and Deputy Chief of Mission detailing readouts and analysis of key meetings, interlocutors, trainings, and program activities as well as potential opportunities, upcoming activities, and updates on noteworthy policy, political, or criminal justice sector developments in country. 16. When required, perform the role of Duty Officer. 17. Perform 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. Obtain/maintain Grants Officer Representative Certification within six (6) months of arriving at Post 3. 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. 4. Completes the mandatory Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Course (CT650) prior to deployment to Post. 5. Consultations with the INL Program Office may be required. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS The place of performance for this position is US Embassy Belgrade, Serbia. Frequent travel to local locations will be required. Occasional travel to other countries in the region and the U.S. may also be required. RELATIONSHIPS The Coordinator will report directly to the Deputy Chief of Mission and coordinate with the INL/EA Program Officer on program implementation as well as INL policies, priorities, and objectives. The Coordinator is also expected to coordinate closely with Federal Law Enforcement representatives, and Political, Economic, and other sections in Embassy Belgrade. The Contract Administrator is INL in Washington and shall be the INL Contracting Officer. In no instance shall the Deputy Chief of Mission 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 Deputy Chief of Mission 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 Coordinator must be able to assess host country criminal justice reform needs and develop and manage projects in coordination with host-country officials. The Coordinator must also ensure sustainability of projects through provision of appropriate training and maintenance. The Coordinator must have the ability to integrate competing needs of U.S. criminal justice, development, and security agencies, and host government entities involved in the criminal justice sector. The work involves planning, organizing, and managing day-to-day administration and oversight of a large number of organizational initiatives and training details. The ability to effectively manage large quantities of ever-evolving data is also essential. The Coordinator will be guided by the INL Program and Policy Guide. Supplementary guidance will be provided by the Foreign Affairs Manuals for Financial Management (4 FAM), General Services (6 FAM) and Logistics Management (14 FAM) and associated Foreign Affairs Handbooks (FAH). 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 Serbia, which is of significant interest to the public and to Congress. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance for this contract is twelve (12) months from the date of award with four (4) optional one-year extensions. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 1. U.S. citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain Department of State 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. 3. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a translator. 4. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. 5. A minimum of (5) years of professional experience working on U.S. foreign assistance or in the criminal justice sector. 6. Demonstrated experience instructing and implementing U.S. foreign assistance projects, analyzing, and determining comprehensive project requirements, and proposing feasible solutions for problems in implementation of projects. 7. Demonstrated broad familiarity with the criminal justice sector managing U.S. foreign assistance, or related program management practices. 8. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with host-nation counterparts, departments, and ministries to further program objectives, in a timely and concise manner. 9. Demonstrated experience in administration and management, including preparation of budgets, procurement of goods and services, and implementation and oversight of projects. 10. A minimum of two (2) years of successful supervisory and leadership experience in a multicultural environment. Demonstrated experience in program management. 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: Knowledge and Experience (35 points) Demonstrated knowledge of the U.S. foreign assistance practices, criminal justice operations, or program and project management practices based on professional experience. Expertise should include a combination of field, institutional, line, and management operations, organizational development, planning, and training. Expertise should also include a familiarity with project design and development, program evaluations, strategic planning, and performance metrics. Factor 2: Leadership and Management (20 points) Demonstrated ability to make sound decisions in a timely manner and bear responsibility for several simultaneous projects, while keeping the overall program goals in perspective. Previous management experience should include managing staff from diverse backgrounds (preferably international); making decisions about resource allocations; and familiarity with project design, development, implementation, oversight and evaluation. Factor 3: Coordination (5 points) Demonstrated ability to coordinate and work effectively with other relevant USG agencies (e.g. INL, U.S. Department of Justice, USAID, Department of Defense). Factor 4 Interpersonal skills (10 points) Demonstrated record of accomplishment working in a team environment, with a diverse group of stakeholders. 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 - 35 Factor #2 - 20 Factor #3 - 5 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