Colombian National Police wounded and disabled officers – Assistance Project for Vocational Development. | OFOP0001307

Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0001307

The U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), is offering a discretionary funding opportunity to support a vocational development assistance project for permanently wounded and disabled members of the Colombian National Police (CNP) and the Colombian Military. The focus is on individuals injured in the course of high-risk public security and counternarcotics-related duties, including eradication, drug interdiction, rural security, antiterrorism, and anti-drug trafficking operations. Rather than providing direct tactical or operational support, the grant centers on strengthening institutional capacity so Colombian counterparts can more effectively connect injured personnel with concrete, long-term career and livelihood pathways.

At the core of the project is institutional strengthening for the CNP and for Colombia's Directorate of Veterans and Inclusive Rehabilitation (DIVRI). The selected organization is expected to improve and reinforce these entities' ability to deliver vocational assistance, meaning the systems, processes, partnerships, and strategies that make it easier for wounded and disabled officers and service members to transition into sustainable education and employment options. The work is framed around designing strategies and mechanisms that expand access to educational scholarships, vocational training programs, entrepreneurship support, and employment opportunities. In practical terms, this points to activities like mapping available scholarship and training options, building partnerships with educational institutions and employers, developing referral and case-management pathways, and creating inclusive approaches that account for disability-related barriers in training and the workplace.

The intended outcome is that CNP and DIVRI become better equipped to help eligible beneficiaries identify viable career development options and actually obtain them. This includes improving how these institutions find opportunities, match them to individuals' skills and limitations, guide beneficiaries through application processes, and coordinate with external partners such as universities, technical schools, private sector employers, and entrepreneurship ecosystems. The emphasis on "designed strategies" suggests the project is expected to produce usable frameworks or tools, not just one-off services, so that Colombian institutions can continue delivering support after the grant period ends.

Funding is offered through a Cooperative Agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the funding agency during implementation, such as collaboration on priorities, oversight, and coordination. The opportunity number is OFOP0001307, and it is listed under CFDA 19.704, associated with INL programming in justice, law enforcement, and rule-of-law related assistance. The maximum award amount (ceiling) is USD 1,000,000, and INL anticipates making one award, meaning a single organization will likely lead the effort as the primary recipient (potentially with sub-awards or partners, if proposed). The opportunity was created on March 11, 2024, with an original application closing date of May 10, 2024.

Eligible applicants include a broad range of organizations that can credibly deliver workforce development and institutional capacity-building work in an international setting. This includes U.S.-based non-profit and non-governmental organizations, U.S.-based educational institutions that qualify under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code (and certain public institutions covered under 26 U.S.C. 115), as well as foreign-based non-profits/NGOs and foreign-based educational institutions. In short, both U.S. and non-U.S. entities can apply, as long as they fit the eligible organization types and can demonstrate the technical ability to build sustainable vocational pathways for wounded and disabled personnel through collaboration with CNP and DIVRI.

• The Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Colombian National Police wounded and disabled officers – Assistance Project for Vocational Development." and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.704.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-11.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-10. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for OFOP0001307

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