Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Programs Coordinator

*****UPDATE – There is a system issue preventing the receipt of some e-mails through the mailbox address provided. To ensure applications are received please add Ms. Dominique Chittum and Ms. Janette Dull on the CC line.

ChittumDA@state.gov and DullJR@state.gov*****

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 Criminal Justice Programs Coordinator 
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Salary Level:  FS-14 - $102,409 - $150,391 (Equivalent GS-14)
Period of performance: The period of performance for this contract is twelve (12) months from the date of award with four (4) optional one-year extensions.
Issuance Date: February 13, 2026
Closing date: February 27, 2026
Closing Time: 3:00 PM ET
Solicitation Number:  PSC-26-006-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: 

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

Direct questions regarding this solicitation to:
INL/SAO/IM PSC Team
E-mail: INLPSCTeam@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 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.  

INL is charged with foreign policy development and security assistance management related to international crime, drug trafficking, corruption, criminal justice reform, civilian policing, and related issues. In Vietnam, INL provides training, technical assistance, and equipping support to police, prosecutors, and judges using International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE) funding. Embassy Hanoi receives approximately $4-6 million annually in INCLE funding for terrestrial law enforcement and justice sector programs that enhance Vietnam's capacity to combat transnational crime, including drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, cybercrime, money laundering, and trade fraud. Under the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, law enforcement cooperation was elevated within the Defense and Security Pillar, increasing the importance of partnerships between U.S. and Vietnamese law enforcement.

The purpose of this Personal Services Contract position is to provide a Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Programs Coordinator who will lead implementation of INL terrestrial law enforcement and criminal justice programming in Vietnam. The Coordinator will be expected to formulate innovative, targeted, and sustainable approaches to enhance the capabilities and effectiveness of Vietnam’s law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, legal professions, and others on a range of topics, prioritizing those areas of greatest strategic and/or security interest to the United States. The Coordinator is responsible for in-country management of INL law enforcement and justice sector programs, ensuring compliance with U.S. policies and goals while developing activities in coordination with INL leadership, federal law enforcement agencies at Post, and relevant Washington offices. The Coordinator supervises two locally-hired Program Specialists and works closely with Post management to ensure proper program execution and oversight.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direct supervision of the Hanoi-based INL Director or his/her designee, the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Programs Coordinator will perform the following duties:

1.    Serve as the Law Enforcement and Justice Sector Coordinator within INL/EA's assistance mission in Vietnam.
2.    Understand foreign policy goals relevant to INL-Vietnam established in the Vietnam Integrated Country Strategy, INL Functional Bureau Strategy, and other relevant regional or functional strategy, policy, and/or guidance documents.
3.    Provide analysis to INL, Embassy Hanoi, and other USG entities on Vietnam’s criminal justice policy and legislative developments and the impact on U.S. policy objectives and INL programs.
4.    Submit monthly status reports to the INL Program Officer and Political Counselor detailing analysis of key meetings, trainings, completed program activities, potential opportunities, upcoming activities, and updates on noteworthy policy, political, or criminal justice sector developments in country.
5.    Manage, coordinate, and supervise all phases of INL law enforcement and criminal justice sector program management in Vietnam, including strategy development, budget formulation, program design and implementation, monitoring and evaluation of results, progress reporting, oversight and accountability, and sustainment upon project completion.
6.    Monitor assigned budgets.  Ensure funds are obligated and sub-obligated in accordance with appropriate Congressional Notification and funds controls.  Ensure obligated funds are either liquidated or de-obligated properly prior to expiration or cancellation.  
7.    Plan programs considering diverse sources of information including USG and public reporting, host-nation recipient meetings, and data analysis.  Ensure program activities include a broad range of criminal justice sector actors with emphasis on joint/collective/cross-functional training among different criminal justice groups (i.e. police- prosecutor workshops).   
8.    Facilitate training, mentoring, and technical assistance to host-nation law enforcement, law drafters, prosecutors, law professors, judges, and private attorneys on a range of issues relevant to advancing INL’s objectives in-country.  Provide this assistance either directly (if possessing the requisite expertise) or by coordinating outside experts.
9.    Coordinate acquisitions, procurements, contracts, grants, and other financial expenditures using foreign assistance funds as required.
10.    Ensure compliance with INL program management policies and procedures, including but not limited to: INL End Use Monitoring Handbook, INL Monitoring Guidance and DevResults utilization, AOR Handbook, INL Design Standards, INL Grants SOPP, records management, and proper program document templates. 
11.    Serve as Contracting Officer Representative, Grants Officer Representative, and Agreements Officer Representative as required.
12.    Establish and maintain relationships with Vietnam’s criminal justice sector and other government officials, including prosecutors, investigators, judges, defense attorneys, civil society, legislators, legal experts, law enforcement, and others.  Conduct follow-up monitoring and evaluation with partners who receive INCLE assistance to ensure these implementers achieve desired outcomes.
13.    Promote linkages between Vietnamese and U.S. law enforcement agencies through programming to increase interoperability and case cooperation.
14.    Establish and maintain relations 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.
15.    Maintain and deepen relationships with regular and potentially new INL law enforcement and criminal justice program implementers.
16.    Coordinate with other international donors in the country/region to ensure appropriate burden sharing and deconfliction.
17.    Coordinate with other relevant USG foreign assistance actors including INL global and regional program managers, other USG foreign assistance account managers, U.S. law enforcement agencies, and other U.S. Embassy sections. 
18.    Represent INL in internal and external meetings, ceremonies, and representational events as required. 
19.    Schedule and facilitate meeting requests from INL during program reviews and assessments.
20.    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). 
21.    Supervise 2-3 local staff.
22.    When required, perform the role of Duty Officer.
23.    Perform other duties as requested and assigned that are directly related to this Statement of Work. 
TRAINING & 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.    The PSC shall 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.    Works with the INL Program Office/Post to determine a timeline for completing the INL Staff Orientation and Readiness Training (SOAR).
6.    If applicable - Consultations with the INL Program Office may be required.
PLACE OF PERFORMANCE & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
The place of performance for this position is the US Embassy Hanoi, Vietnam. Frequent local travel 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 INL Director 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 Hanoi.

The Contract Administrator shall be the INL Contracting Officer in Washington.  In no instance shall the 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 INL Director will provide yearly performance reviews to the INL/SAO/IM Contracting Officer in Washington, D.C. to contribute to the incumbent’s official yearly review.

COMPLEXITY
The Coordinator must understand U.S. government foreign policy goals and appropriately conduct activities to advance those goals.  The Coordinator must be able to assess evolving host-country criminal justice reform needs and develop and manage projects in coordination with host-country officials.  The Coordinator must 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, diplomatic, and security agencies, and host government entities involved in the criminal justice sector.  The work involves planning, organizing, daily administration, and oversight of a large number of projects, organizational initiatives, and events.

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 Vietnam, 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.    A minimum of (7) years of professional experience working on U.S. foreign assistance or in the criminal justice sector.  
4.    A minimum of three (3) years of supervisory and leadership experience in a multicultural environment.  

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 U.S. foreign assistance management, U.S. foreign affairs, criminal justice systems, U.S. government interagency coordination, and program and project management practices based on education and professional experience.  Professional experience ideally includes a combination of field work, support staff or management roles, and training. 

Factor 2:    Leadership and Management                     (20 points)
Demonstrated ability to lead a team, make sound decisions in a timely manner, bear responsibility for simultaneous projects, manage budgets, and track progress on organizational goals.  Previous management experience includes managing staff from diverse backgrounds (preferably international) and making decisions about resource allocations.  

Factor 3:    Coordination and Interpersonal Skills            (15 points)
Demonstrated ability to coordinate and work effectively across organizations.  Demonstrated record of effective interpersonal coordination, proactive collaboration, and accomplishment working in a team environment, including with interpreters, and 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 – 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 FS-02 equivalent level ($102,409 - $150,391 per annum). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon qualifications, previous relevant experience and work history, salary and educational background. Salaries, including any recruitment supplemental pay that exceeds the listed pay range, will not be entertained or negotiated.

For award, INL will negotiate for this contract based on the market value as outlined above and overall experience relevant to the solicitation requirements.  

BENEFITS & ALLOWANCES
AS A MATTER OF POLICY, INL NORMALLY AUTHORIZES THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES 

BENEFITS - IF APPLICABLE
•    Employee's FICA/Medicare Contribution
•    Contribution toward Health and Life Insurance 
•    Pay Comparability Adjustment 
•    Annual Increase 
•    Eligibility for Worker's Compensation 
•    Annual, Sick and Home Leave 
•    401K Plan 
•    MEDVAC (provided by DOS Med)

ALLOWANCES IN ACCORDANCE WITH DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARDIZED REGULATIONS (DSSR) - IF APPLICABLE 
•    Temporary Quarters Subsistence Allowance (TQSA) or Per Diem upon arrival at Post
•    Housing Allowance
•    Post Allowance
•    Supplemental Post Allowance 
•    Maintenance Allowance (SMA)
•    Education Allowance
•    Educational Travel (full-time United States based secondary) 
•    Post Hardship Differential
•    Danger Pay
•    Shipment of HHE, UAB, POV and Consumables