Q&As-Combating High Impact Crime on the Northern Border.pdf

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

Questions and Answers for Combating High Impact Crime on the Northern Border

OFOP0001101

Date: June 23, 2023

Question #1:

Under Objective 1, Activity 1:

For assessment purposes, can INL confirm that applicants may treat homicide and femicide as two distinct crimes?

INL Response #1:

Yes, they are distinct crimes.

In Mexico, the difference between a homicide and a femicide is that if the murdered victim was killed because she is a woman or girl and one of the following seven circumstances are involved:

1. There are signs of sexual violence.

2. The victim suffered degrading wounds or was mutilated.

3. There are records of any type of violence in family, work, or school settings involving the suspect and the victim.

4. The victim and the suspect had an emotional, physical, or particularly trusting relationship.

5. There is indication that the suspect previously threatened to kill, harass/abuse, or cause bodily harm to the victim.

6. The victim was held incommunicado prior to her assassination.

7. The victim’s body was publicly exposed or exhibited.

Question #2:

Under Objective 1, Activity 2:

Can INL share assessments and/or evaluations of ongoing or recently concluded work with SSP on improved policies and procedures?

INL Response #2:

We would need to confirm if any prior improved policy programs have been published and are ready to share.

Question #3:

Under Objective 1, Activity 2:

Does INL envision applicants proposing a mechanism to coordinate and de-conflict among ongoing and upcoming INL projects in Mexican border states?

INL Response #3:

Yes, the applicant should propose mechanisms to coordinate with other current INL projects in the area.

Question #4:

Under Objective 1, Activity 2:

Can INL share examples of and methodologies for successfully generating sufficient political will to implement similar strategies under INL-funded projects in Mexico?

INL Response #4:

No, but we can share our SSP POCs in the specific areas the applicant is working, that way they can work together with the SSP to determine the appropriate strategies that will work in the specific state/location.

Question #5:

The NOFO states that "INL will first review the assessment and proposed strategies [Objectives 1 and 2] before moving into the implementation stage [Objective 3]." Does INL anticipate a co-creation or similar process in the shaping of these Obj 3 activities based on the results from Objs 1 and 2? If so, would it be appropriate for proposed Obj 3 activities to be illustrative of the breadth of consortium capabilities (i.e., a list of possibilities from which INL and the implementer might later choose), rather than a limited set of activities?

INL Response #5:

That is correct. After objectives 1 and 2, the applicant should propose all recommended activities to counter high impact crimes instead of providing a limited set of activities.

Question #6:

Does INL foresee the possibility of additional funding opportunities to further the implementation of activities in Objective 3 beyond the life of this particular program?

INL Response #6:

As indicated in the NOFO; “if the project is successful, INL will consider the option of an award modification to expand the project to other areas or countries in the region, subject to availability of future funding. Applicants may include in their proposal a brief section outlining how additional funds could potentially be used to expand work into additional activities or countries in future years.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate how their project might leverage funding through other organizations.”

Question #7:

We have participated in other cooperative agreements with INL and USAID, could we participate as prime contractor if we do not include fees and/or profit and we only keep the minimis rate?

INL Response #7:

To serve as a prime recipient, organizations must fall under one of the following:

• U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs);

• U.S.-based educational institutions subject to section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code or section

26 US 115 of the US 115 of the U.S. tax code;

• Foreign-based non-profits/non-governmental organizations (NGOs);

• Foreign-based educational institutions

Question #8:

Five states are mentioned in the priority region/countries section (Tamaulipas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Sonora). Will the technical assistance take place in all five states, or can we delimit the state selection?

INL Response #8:

The technical assistance is for each of the five states. The implementor will recommend projects to counter high impact crimes specific to each state as indicated in the NOFO: “applications are to carry out a project to combat high-impact crimes in Mexican states along the U.S.-Northern Mexico border, including Tamaulipas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Sonora.”