Senior Law Enforcement Strategic Advisor

U.S. Department of StateBureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)You have received this "Personal Services Contractor” (PSC) solicitation through the Department of State (DOS) Internet site. If you have any questions regarding this PSC, you may contact the DOS Official named in this solicitation. The Department is not responsible for any data and/or text not received when retrieving this document electronically. Amendments to solicitation documents generally contain information critical to the submission of an application.Position Title: Senior Law Enforcement Strategic Advisor (SLESA)Location: Yerevan, ArmeniaSalary Level: FS-02 - $95,225 - $139,841 (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: Friday, March 10, 2023 Closing date: Wednesday, March 29, 2023Closing Time: 3:00 p.m. EST Solicitation Number:

PSC-23-028-INLJob description: See belowDear 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:Form SF 171 (Completed and signed)Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your offer your resume must include:Paid a non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Dates (month/year) and locations for any overseas experience must also be detailed. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements. Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.Names and contact information (phone and email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s).Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments.U.S. CitizenshipNote: 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.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 received that are relevant to each Factor. 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 Washington U.S. Department of State INL/EX/GAPP washingtoncd@state.govSincerely,Katelynn E. BarhamContracting OfficerU.S. Department of StateSUBJECTA 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 APPLYOfferor’s 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 SOLICITATIONThis solicitation in no way obligates the Department of State to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit the Department of State to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the application.Proposals must include the following and not exceed twenty (20) pages (additional pages will not be accepted or reviewed): Form SF 171 (Completed and signed)Resume Evaluation Factor ResponsesThree (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 RECOMMENDEDVETERAN’S PREFERENCEVeteran’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/Cecille WashingtonE-mail: WashingtonCD@state.govDirect questions regarding this solicitation to:INL/Cecille WashingtonE-mail: WashingtonCD@state.govINL 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 Office of Europe and Asia (INL/EA) is responsible for broad law enforcement, rule of law, and counternarcotics policies and program management in accordance with U.S. foreign policy objectives throughout Europe and Asia. INL/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 in-country administer all U.S. government assistance to the criminal justice sector within the Government of Armenia, including its police, justice institutions, and prisons service. The goal of this programming is to support Armenian institutions to provide security and justice as public services to the Armenian population.The purpose of this Personal Services Contract (PSC) position is to provide a Senior Law Enforcement Strategic Advisor for the INL section in Armenia. The SLESA will serve as the in-country program coordinator for providing program implementation, direction, and execution oversight of the U.S. law enforcement assistance program. The SLESA will manage projects that include law enforcement academy development, assessment of in-service training and equipment requirements of the Armenian police, implementation of required training by appropriate subject-matter experts and practitioners, and technical advice on procurement of appropriate equipment. During any vacancy between INL Directors, at the request of the outgoing INL Director, the SLESA will serve as the in-country program coordinator for implementation, direction, execution, and oversight of the INL portfolio in Armenia. The Senior Law Enforcement Strategic Advisor will provide advice and support to the INL Director and colleagues, and representatives of development and law enforcement agencies at the Embassy. The Senior Law Enforcement Strategic Advisor will work closely with officials at the Armenian Police. Upon assuming the functions of the INL Director, the Advisor will represent INL in internal and external meetings, ceremonies, and representational events as required. The Advisor will articulate and promote the policies and goals of the United States Government, the U.S. Mission to Armenia, and INL, and will provide programmatic guidance and analysis of developments in the Armenian law enforcement sector to the Mission, INL, and State Department colleagues in Washington.DUTIES & RESPONSBILITIESUnder the direct supervision of the U.S. Embassy Yerevan INL Director or his/her designee, the Senior Law Enforcement Strategic Advisor will perform the following duties:Provides strategic planning and development of all phases of the law enforcement program in coordination with the INL team, with a particular focus on identifying and pursuing medium and longer-term strategic opportunities and objectives to assist the Armenian, police, various investigative agencies, and the agencies responsible for countering narcotics. Such efforts include project execution from study period and development through acquisition, implementation, and evaluation, including planning, scheduling, budgeting, monitoring, and coordination among vendors, contractors, and Armenian government officials to support INL Armenia’s strategic goals. These duties will include resolution of conflicts and other issues.Identifies procurement opportunities that will advance INL Armenia’s strategic goals. Provides advice and assistance in preparation of documentation for the procurement of systems and equipment, including drafting of electronic Purchase Requests (PR), bid solicitation, statements of work, requests for source-origin waivers, sole-source justifications, and delivery and acceptance of systems, supplies and equipment procured. Assists INL Armenia manage the LES in launching and tracking these procurements, engaging with the relevant offices in INL that cover procurement and with the State Department’s Regional Procurement Support Office (RPSO) office in Frankfurt as necessary. Reports to the INL Director regularly on the status of all procurement activities. Regularly communicates and coordinates with other local and international donors to avoid duplication of effort and to combine efforts with other donors on large-scale, strategic initiatives, including attracting funding for initiatives that are beyond the scope of INL Armenia’s budget; for example, coordination with the European Union (EU) on law enforcement training initiatives is key.Assesses host country law enforcement needs; manages, prioritizes, and evaluates USG-sponsored law enforcement assistance projects under the guidance and direction of the INL Director, and keeps him/her informed of the details of such implementation, including progress and problem areas. When needed, assesses capabilities of implementing partners—such as the Department of Justice’s International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance (DOJ/ICITAP) program—as well as any sub-contracted agencies performing services or supplying trainers in support of INL programming. Organizes and leads specific trainings for Armenian police, investigators, and counter-narcotics personnel in consultation with the INL Director and depending on needs recognized by the INL Armenia office, U.S. law enforcement agencies, and the host government.Coordinates with other components of the host country’s criminal justice system to ensure system-wide integration and functionality.Remains aware of the personalities that staff and lead key justice sector institutions in Armenia ensure that INL is working with the most effective players who are most likely to accept, learn and benefit from INL police training and development programs. Continuously builds a network of contacts across the law enforcement sector and leverages these relationships to promote INL and U.S. Embassy mission objectives.Advises the Armenian police on best practices for institutionalizing police reforms, including organizational changes; tactical, operational, and strategic planning; training, and community outreach and engagement.Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the equitable administration of U.S. foreign assistance in the development of implementing partner relationships, program content development, and delivery of assistance.Serves as a representative of the U.S. and communicates, promotes, and defends U.S. government policies, demonstrating professional judgement, diplomacy, tact, and sensitivity.Serves as a liaison with representatives of other U.S. Embassy agencies involved in law enforcement, including but not limited to, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.Drafts and provides advice and assistance in the preparation and formulation of required strategic reports such as the Operation Plan and Mission Performance Plan to the U.S. Congress, INL Bureau, and other U.S. federal agencies. Provides input, per INL Washington guidance, to the annual budget development process.Attends conferences and multilateral and regional meetings that relate to the assigned areas of responsibility.Participates in visits by senior officials and serves as an escort or control officer, including arranging itineraries and logistical support for official visitors.Briefs senior U.S. Mission officials, visitors from Washington, NGOs, or international organizations.Prepares regular reports for the INL Director, the Political/Economic Chief, the Deputy Chief of Mission and INL Washington on various program requests, cables, Congressional Notifications, and briefings as requested.Serves as the acting INL Director during vacancies between INL Directors, as requested, which will include temporary supervision of INL locally employed staff, and will not include supervision of direct hire civil service employees. The Senior Law Enforcement Strategic Advisor will manage, coordinate, and supervise all phases of the INL-funded programs in Armenia, including sustainment upon completion of projects. The Advisor will ensure projects fall within program guidelines, as notified to Congress, and will supervise financial operations to include some procurement planning, budget preparation, and will monitor financial activity. Ensures that regular financial reports are sent to INL Washington and assures compliance with INL financial management regulations and publications.When required, performs the role of Duty Officer.Performs other duties as requested and assigned that are directly related to this Statement of Work. TRAININGS & DISTANCE LEARNING COURSESCompletes 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.Completes the mandatory Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Course (CT650) prior to deployment to Post.Completes the Contracting Officer Representative (PA296) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) within 120 days of arriving at Post. Completes the INL Pre-deployment Program Training (PREP), prior to arriving at Post. Consultations with the INL Program Office may be required.PLACE OF PERFORMANCE & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTSThe place of performance for this position is the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, Armenia. Regional travel and work in the field as circumstances dictate and allow.RELATIONSHIPSThe SLESA will report to the INL Director at the U.S. Embassy Yerevan. The Senior Law Enforcement Strategic Advisor will focus primarily on the programs related to Armenia law enforcement activities. When the Senior Law Enforcement Strategic Advisor is serving in the INL Director capacity, he/she will report to both the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy and receive programmatic direction from the INL/EA office in Washington.The Contract Administrator shall be the INL Contracting Officer in Washington. In no instance shall the Yerevan INL Director 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 Yerevan INL Director 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.COMPLEXITYThe Senior Law Enforcement Strategic Advisor must be able to assess host country law enforcement needs and directly assist the INL Director in developing a short, medium, and long-term strategic vision for INL Armenia’s law enforcement development program. The individual must develop and manage law enforcement projects in coordination with host-country officials, ensure sustainability of projects through provision of appropriate training and maintenance, and have the ability to integrate competing needs of U.S. law enforcement, development, and security agencies, and Armenian government entities involved in law enforcement. The individual must be able to manage multiple projects and procurements well and have strong interpersonal communication skills. SCOPE & EFFECTIVENESSThe SLESA 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 Armenia, which is of significant interest to the public and to Congress.PERIOD OF PERFORMANCEThe period of performance for this contract is twelve (12) months from the date of award with four (4) optional one-year extensions.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONSU.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.)Master’s degree from an accredited institution in criminal justice, business administration, organizational development, or other related field; OR,A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in criminal justice, business administration, organizational development, or other related field with additional professional experience involving international law enforcement assistance (strong preference for experience in the countries of the former Soviet Union).Demonstrated working knowledge of MS Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.Demonstrated ability to read and speak English at the professionally proficient level.Demonstrated ability to organize, analyze, prepare, and present information to a variety of audiences.A minimum of ten (10) years of professional-level work experience in the area of U.S. law enforcement, in a position that involved arrest powers, of which three (3) years minimum experience teaching basic, advanced or specialized law enforcement training courses. Additional experience involving international law enforcement assistance is strongly preferred.A minimum of three (3) years of experience in senior management roles that include strategic planning, resource management, procurement, budgeting, oversight and evaluation and active management of law enforcement operations.Demonstrated experience with procuring law enforcement equipment as part of foreign assistance programming.Demonstrated experience managing law enforcement reform projects, and demonstrated ability to think strategically, meet deliverables within set timelines, and communicate well with external and internal stakeholders.Demonstrated knowledge of the best practices in law enforcement including, but not limited to, arrest, search and seizure, use of force, use of firearms, defensive tactics, investigations, community policing, leadership/management development, curriculum development, instructor development, and problem-solving models.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: Subject Matter Experience (20 Points)Demonstrated relevant experience in developing, planning, operating law enforcement and narcotics interdiction programs and strategies and ability to coordinate with host nation civilian, law enforcement officials, and members of the donor community.Factor 2: Program Management (20 Points)Demonstrated knowledge of program management policies, concepts, budgeting practices, and principles in order to analyze and develop recommendations for program implementation and objectives of the U.S. government, with a particular emphasis on procurement. Factor 3: Operations/Planning (15 Points)Demonstrated ability to provide operational and planning guidance to all components of a law enforcement program (police reform, investigations, and drug interdiction); to include demonstrated ability to liaise with relevant USG agencies, domestic law enforcement agencies, and the international community for the purpose of sharing information and developing complementary policies and programsFactor 4: International Experience (15 points)Demonstrated past experience involving law enforcement reform (strong preference for experience in the countries of the former Soviet Union). This may include strategic advising of host country law enforcement, development of U.S. government law enforcement assistance programming, conducting training of host country law enforcement partners, and procuring assistance items for host country law enforcement 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 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 – 20Factor #2 – 20Factor #3 – 15Factor #4 – 15Total Possible – 70 PointsInterview 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: 100The 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, GS-14 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 & ALLOWANCESAS A MATTER OF POLICY, INL NORMALLY AUTHORIZES THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCESBENEFITS - IF APPLICABLEEmployee's FICA/Medicare ContributionContribution toward Health and Life InsurancePay Comparability AdjustmentAnnual IncreaseEligibility for Worker's CompensationAnnual, Sick and Home Leave401K PlanMEDVAC (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 PostHousing AllowancePost AllowanceSupplemental Post AllowanceSeparate Maintenance Allowance (SMA)Education AllowanceEducational Travel (full-time United States based secondary)Post Hardship DifferentialDanger PayShipment of HHE, UAB, POV and Consumables