INL Projects Study to Improve Police Professionalization | OFOP0001100

Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0001100

The INL Projects Study to Improve Police Professionalization grant opportunity (OFOP0001100) is a discretionary funding competition run by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). It supports a focused research and analysis project examining how INL-funded programming has influenced police and law enforcement professionalization efforts in Mexico, with particular attention to three areas: internal affairs functions, CALEA-related accreditation work, and initiatives aimed at countering gender-based violence (GBV). The overall intent is to produce credible, practical findings that Mexican law enforcement institutions can use to understand what has worked, what has not, and what changes may be needed after receiving INL assistance.

The central deliverable is an assessment of impact. Applicants are expected to study the extent to which INL projects have strengthened institutional accountability and professional standards, including how internal affairs units operate (for example, mechanisms for receiving complaints, investigating misconduct, applying discipline, and improving integrity controls). Another key dimension is CALEA accreditation, which generally refers to the adoption and verification of recognized policing standards and management practices; the study is meant to analyze whether INL support helped agencies move toward accreditation goals and whether those standards translated into meaningful organizational improvements. The third focal area is GBV: the study should look at how INL programming contributed to preventing, responding to, and investigating GBV, and whether supported approaches improved victim-centered practices, investigative quality, coordination, and outcomes.

A defining feature of the opportunity is that the analysis must connect program results to the Bicentennial Framework goals between the United States and Mexico, especially outcomes tied to public safety such as supporting safer communities and reducing homicides and other high-impact crimes. In practice, this means the study should go beyond describing activities and instead examine whether and how institutional reforms and professionalization efforts plausibly contributed to measurable or observable public-safety improvements, while also identifying limitations, contextual factors, and implementation gaps that affected results.

Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement, indicating that substantial involvement from the funding agency may occur during the project period (for example, coordination on study scope, access to information, or alignment with policy priorities). The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $200,000 and anticipates making up to three awards, suggesting relatively compact, targeted studies rather than large multi-year field programs. The assistance listing is associated with CFDA number 19.703 under the law, justice, and legal services activity category. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with further clarification expected in the full announcement under the additional eligibility information section.

Key timeline details included in the notice show the opportunity was created on May 18, 2023, with an original application closing date of August 18, 2023. Overall, the grant is designed to generate evidence and lessons learned about INL support to Mexican law enforcement institutions, with an emphasis on accountability, standards-based policing, and GBV response, and to translate those findings into actionable insights on strengths, weaknesses, and needed adjustments to advance shared safety and crime-reduction objectives under the Bicentennial Framework.

• The Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "INL Projects Study to Improve Police Professionalization" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.703.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 18, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 18, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for OFOP0001100

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: