Counter Narcotics Strategic Advisor
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), is seeking a Counter Narcotics Strategic Advisor for a Personal Services Contract (PSC) in Guatemala City, Guatemala. This opportunity is open to U.S. citizens and offers a salary range of $102,409-$150,391 (FS-02 equivalent). Proposals are due by May 19, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET.
Purpose & Scope
The Strategic Advisor will serve as a key advisor in Guatemala to assess and sustainably integrate law enforcement activities across air, maritime, and land counter narcotics initiatives. This includes enhancing coordination and operations by Guatemalan and U.S. advisor-supported law enforcement units, supporting the Ministry of Health in regulating controlled chemicals, and strengthening the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) capacity to detect illicit substances. The role aims to build regional networks, implement best practices to reduce Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), transnational, and narcotics-related crime, and improve the impact of national law enforcement forces.
Key duties involve coordinating operations, intelligence-sharing, joint training, providing strategic and tactical information on host nation law enforcement, fostering collaborative partnerships, developing best practices for combating transnational crime, identifying training needs, and strategic planning with the Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATIF).
Contract Details & Timeline
- Contract Type: Personal Services Contract (PSC)
- Solicitation Number: PSC-26-029-INL
- Period of Performance: 12 months from the date of award, with four (4) optional one-year extensions.
- Issuance Date: May 5, 2026
- Closing Date: May 19, 2026, 3:00 PM ET
- Place of Performance: U.S. Embassy Guatemala City, Guatemala, with required travel throughout Guatemala.
- Set-Aside: This opportunity is for U.S. Citizens; no specific business set-aside applies.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit a comprehensive package, not exceeding twenty (20) pages, including:
- Form SF-171 (Completed and signed). The SF-171 Continuation Sheet (SF-171-A) should be used for additional work experience.
- Complete Resume: Must explicitly detail paid/non-paid experience, job titles, locations, dates (month/year), hours per week, specific duties, supervisor contact information, education, and qualifications to demonstrate meeting experience requirements.
- Evaluation Factor Document: A separate document addressing each of the four evaluation factors, limited to 500 words per factor.
- Professional References: Three (3) names and contact information (phone and email) of current/previous supervisors.
- Submission: Email complete applications to INLPSCTeam@state.gov. One PDF attachment is highly recommended.
Minimum Qualifications
- U.S. citizenship with the ability to obtain/maintain a Secret (potentially Top Secret) security clearance.
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
- 10 years of experience as a sworn civilian law enforcement officer or military officer with security-related duties.
- 5 years of supervisory experience.
- 5 years of experience in law enforcement operations, management, or training.
- Demonstrated experience implementing law enforcement programs in Latin America, including police liaison activities and establishing police presence in high-crime zones.
- Experience with partner nation policing programs, tactics, theories, and resource management.
- Demonstrated experience in law enforcement program management and problem-solving methodologies.
- Professionally proficient in reading and speaking Spanish.
- Knowledge and experience with U.S. Government regulations, standards of conduct, and ethics.
Evaluation Factors (70 points)
- Work Experience (30 pts): Counternarcotics law enforcement officer/advisor, experience abroad managing bilateral/multilateral law enforcement, citizen security, and/or security assistance programs.
- Program Budget Experience (10 pts): Preparing budgets, spend plans, statements of work, procurement orders, purchase requests, sole-source justification waiver requests.
- Management Experience (15 pts): Managing law enforcement, rule of law, and/or security-related projects, including determining requirements, developing plans, managing implementation, conducting oversight, and reporting on results; managing and motivating teams.
- Communication Experience (15 pts): Effective communication in English and Spanish (oral/written), interacting with stakeholders, preparing/analyzing/defending determinations on legal/regulatory compliance, and advising program officials.
Interview performance (30 points) and satisfactory professional reference checks (Pass/Fail) will also be considered.