Securing Justice: Developing the Capacity of Mexican Justice Sector Operators within the New Criminal Justice System | INL18CA0003 WHPMEXICO JUSTICESECTOPS 110

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the title of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Securing Justice: Developing the Capacity of Mexican Justice Sector Operators within the New Criminal Justice System."

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is INL18CA0003.

3) Which U.S. government office is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

4) What is the main goal of the program?

The program aims to strengthen the ability of key Mexican justice-sector institutions to investigate and prosecute crime more effectively, with attention to both national crime and transnational criminal activity affecting Mexico and the United States.

5) What larger outcomes is the program trying to achieve?

The underlying purpose is to improve citizen security in both Mexico and the United States by making justice-sector performance more consistent, professional, and reliable under Mexico's evolving criminal justice framework.

6) What types of institutions or entities does the project focus on?

The project focuses on multiple public justice-sector entities, including judiciaries, offices of attorneys general and prosecutors, and other relevant public offices involved in criminal justice operations.

7) Is the program focused mainly on equipment purchases or short-term training?

No. The opportunity emphasizes systemic improvements rather than concentrating only on equipment or short-term trainings.

8) What does the opportunity mean by "systemic improvements"?

Based on the notice, systemic improvements refer to strengthening how justice-sector operators are prepared, evaluated, and formally recognized as qualified to perform their duties, in ways that can be repeated and sustained across institutions.

9) What is meant by "standardization and certification" in this program?

The program promotes common benchmarks for professional performance and supports formal mechanisms to confirm that personnel meet those benchmarks. In other words, it aims to encourage shared standards and credible ways to certify that individuals meet them.

10) What is a major deliverable required or highlighted in the notice?

A major deliverable described is the development of certification exams for justice-sector operators, as well as certification exams for the trainers who prepare them.

11) Does the opportunity include a train-the-trainer component?

Yes. The notice indicates a train-the-trainer and professional credentialing approach by calling for certification exams not only for operators, but also for trainers.

12) What kinds of activities are implied by developing certification exams?

The notice implies work such as defining competencies for specific roles, designing assessment and testing tools aligned with those competencies, creating evaluation methods, and supporting institutions in adopting the standards in a repeatable and credible way over time.

13) What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?

The funding mechanism is a Cooperative Agreement.

14) What does a Cooperative Agreement imply about the government's role?

A Cooperative Agreement generally implies a more hands-on partnership than a standard grant, with substantial involvement anticipated from INL during implementation.

15) How many awards did INL expect to make?

INL expected to make a single award.

16) What is the maximum (ceiling) amount for the award?

The award ceiling is $13,000,000.

17) What does the single-award structure suggest about the project?

It suggests a sizeable, centrally managed project implemented by one nonprofit partner, rather than multiple smaller awards distributed among several implementers.

18) What activity category is this opportunity listed under?

The opportunity was listed under the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity category.

19) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 19.703.

20) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.

21) Are universities or institutions of higher education eligible?

No. The notice explicitly excludes institutions of higher education from eligibility.

22) What type of organization was the opportunity seeking as an implementer?

The notice indicates the opportunity would fund a single nonprofit implementer capable of managing a complex international rule-of-law program and partnering with INL to strengthen Mexico's justice sector through standardized certification and exam development.

23) When was the notice created?

The notice was created on November 6, 2017.

24) What was the original application closing date?

The original application closing date was December 6, 2017.

25) What is the stated legal authority for the Notice of Funding Opportunity?

The stated legal authority is the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.

26) What geographic or programmatic focus is described?

The program focuses on strengthening Mexican justice-sector capacity within Mexico's new/evolving criminal justice system, with an emphasis on criminal activity that affects both Mexico and the United States.

27) How does the opportunity connect Mexico-focused work to U.S. interests?

The notice frames improved justice-sector performance in Mexico as a way to improve citizen security outcomes in both Mexico and the United States, especially where transnational criminal activity impacts both countries.

28) What is the core theme of the project approach?

The core theme is professionalization through standardization and certification, including creating exams and structured processes to validate competencies for justice-sector operators and trainers.