USAID_ROL_RFI.pdf

Issuance Date: July 27, 2018

Closing Date: August 17, 2018 at 12:00 noon Mexico City Time

Subject: Request for Information (RFI) Rule of Law (ROL) USAID/Mexico

The U.S. Agency for International Development requests information concerning Mexico’s Rule of Law sector in order to gain a better understanding of the various interventions that have taken place. The intent of this RFI is to also gain a better understanding of organizations which work in the implementation of Mexico’s criminal justice reforms, their experience, or their specialties within criminal justice reforms.

This announcement is a Request for Information (RFI), not a Request for Applications (RFA), a Request for Proposal (RFP), or a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and it is not a commitment by USAID to issue a solicitation, contract, grant, or cooperative agreement or otherwise compensate an organization or individual for any information submitted as a result of this RFI. This RFI is not funded and does not imply a commitment of funding from the U.S.

Government. The issuance of this RFI does not obligate USAID to pay any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of the requested information. Please do not submit proposals or statements of qualifications in response to this request. USAID will not provide answers to any questions submitted in response to this request.

USAID/Mexico may use feedback and comments from this RFI to develop future programs. It should be noted that responding to this RFI will not give an advantage to an organization should there be a subsequent solicitation. Proprietary information must not be sent.

Please submit the information requested by the closing date and time shown at the top of this cover letter to mexicoaa@usaid.gov. Please include in the subject line of the email: Criminal Justice RFI 720-523-18-RFI-00001. Responses may be submitted in English or Spanish. You will receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response, but will not receive feedback.

Sincerely, Control Number: 2018-0153 G. Michael Junge Contracting Officer mailto:mexicoaa@usaid.gov

Background Information

USAID assists with the implementation of Mexico’s criminal justice reforms as part of Pillar II of the Merida Initiative: Institutionalizing the Rule of Law and Respect for International Human Rights Standards. USAID’s comprehensive assistance at the state level to date has strengthened justice sector institutions, increased the effectiveness of training for justice sector operators, and supported civil society’s role in the reforms.

With this Request for Information (RFI) USAID/Mexico is seeking a broader understanding of interventions in Mexico’s criminal justice reforms. USAID/Mexico requests information from all sources (Mexican and internationally; legally registered entities or individuals) concerning their thoughts and activities in the following areas:

1. Training activities directed to Criminal Justice System (CJS) operators and officials working in Justice Sector Institutions (JSIs: state courts, state Attorney General Offices, Public Defenders, staff at Pretrial Service Units (UMECAs), State Commissions for Victims’ Assistance, Women’s Justice Centers) or to people implementing Alternative Dispute Resolution Centers with the purpose of strengthening the skills that the operation of the CJS requires;

2. Advisory or consulting work at any of the institutions mentioned above, with the purpose of improving operations, speeding up processes, improving compliance with CJS legislation or assisting in setting up operations or processes;

3. Assisting in the implementation or directly implementing the adoption of models or approaches that improve service to citizens as they interact with CJS institutions, or to implement models that have been successful in other jurisdictions or industries in CJS institutions. These may have been developed by Mexican or foreign research and academic institutions, civil society organizations, international organizations, international cooperation agencies or private corporations based in Mexico or elsewhere.

4. Development of technical approaches, models or other solutions that effectively or potentially increase the effectiveness and efficiency of CJS institutions, improve assistance to victims of crime, improve protection of the human rights of people as they interact with CJS institutions or promote decreases in rates of impunity.

Information Sought (please answer questions a-h)

a. What type of work has your organization (or individuals comprising the organization) done to support CJS implementation? Has this work been conducted directly with CJS institutions? What justice sector institutions have you worked for, and in what judicial districts? What do you consider your organization’s technical expertise?

b. Where is your organization located and in what geographic areas does it work (states and cities)?

c. What is the size of your organization in terms of staff, budget and annual revenue?

d. What’s your organization’s contact information (telephone, email, physical address)?

Who is the point of contact in your organization concerning CJS issues?

e. Has your organization received direct funding from Mexican federal, state or municipal governments to implement training, consulting or model implementation in, or for, the justice sector institutions (mentioned in 1. above), and if so, can you provide a general amount and source(s) of funding?

f. Has your organization received funding from international donors (foreign international cooperation agencies, Mexican or foreign foundations and other non-profit institutions) to provide technical assistance or implement models that improve operations of CJS institutions?

g. Did your organization (or the individuals comprising your organization) have any role in the transition from the old accusatorial criminal system to the current adversarial system (2008-2016) or interact with SETEC (Secretariado Técnico del Consejo de Coordinación para la Implementación del Sistema de Justicia Penal)? Please describe briefly.

h. Please describe very briefly (one-two paragraphs maximum) any innovative approaches your organization (or individuals comprising your organization) is/are taking towards the design and delivery of services for CJS institutions.

Submission Requirements

When preparing your response to questions a-h above, please ensure that your comments are concise. Use Time New Roman 12 point in Word and do not exceed five pages (attachments which clarify points within the five pages are acceptable but must not be used to avoid the five page limit). Please submit your responses to mexicoaa@usaid.gov no later than August 17, 2018 at 12:00 noon Mexico City Time. In the subject line state: ROL RFI 720-523-18-RFI-00001

[End of Request for Information]

USAID/Mexico thanks you in advance for your assistance.

mailto:mexicoaa@usaid.gov