Securing Justice: Developing the Capacity of Mexican Justice Sector Operators within the New Criminal Justice System | INL18CA0003 WHPMEXICO JUSTSECTOPS 110817

Opportunity Information: Apply for INL18CA0003 WHPMEXICO JUSTSECTOPS 110817

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), offered a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Securing Justice: Developing the Capacity of Mexican Justice Sector Operators within the New Criminal Justice System." The purpose of the program is to strengthen the quality and credibility of criminal justice in Mexico by helping justice-sector operators perform more effectively under Mexico's New Criminal Justice System (NCJS). At its core, the opportunity is aimed at improving public trust and ensuring Mexican citizens experience a system that is reliable, transparent, capable, and accountable, especially as the NCJS has been implemented unevenly across different states and institutions. The program is framed as support to the Government of Mexico's broader efforts to consolidate reforms, improve security, and move from partial implementation toward a consistently functioning criminal justice system nationwide.

The award is structured as a Cooperative Agreement, meaning the U.S. government expected to be more actively involved than it would be under a standard grant. That typically signals ongoing coordination with INL on planning, implementation decisions, and performance monitoring. The funding activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services, listed under CFDA number 19.703. The posted ceiling for funding was $13,000,000, indicating INL was willing to support a large-scale effort capable of working across multiple institutions or jurisdictions, potentially including extensive training, technical assistance, and institutional strengthening. While the notice lists an expected awards field, it does not provide a number in the source data provided, so the opportunity appears to have been designed for one or more awards depending on the competitiveness and design of proposed projects.

INL sought applicants with demonstrated expertise in justice reform and capacity building, specifically organizations able to help improve how Mexico's criminal justice system functions in practice. Although the notice does not list a detailed menu of eligible activities, the title and description make clear the emphasis is on "justice sector operators," which commonly includes prosecutors, police investigators, public defenders, judges, court personnel, and other actors who make the system work day-to-day. In practice, projects under this type of solicitation often focus on practical skills development, improved coordination among institutions, adoption of best practices consistent with the accusatorial system, strengthening case management and evidence handling, promoting due process, and reinforcing transparency and anti-corruption safeguards. The unifying objective is to move the NCJS from inconsistent application to a more standardized, professional, and trusted system.

Eligibility was broad but targeted toward capable institutions. Eligible applicants included U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education. The description also notes foreign not-for-profit organizations and foreign-based educational institutions could apply, as long as they are qualified to receive U.S. assistance and can meet INL requirements. A key operational requirement was the ability to develop and successfully implement a project inside Mexico and comply with INL reporting and oversight expectations. Additionally, applicants had to be able to demonstrate current or pending country registration in Mexico when required, which is a practical compliance condition for organizations intending to operate and deliver programming in-country.

Administratively, the opportunity was issued under Funding Opportunity Number INL18CA0003 (with internal reference text "WHPMEXICO JUSTSECTOPS 110817"). It was created on November 9, 2017, and had an original application closing date of December 11, 2017. The overall message of the solicitation is that INL viewed Mexico's justice reform as still in a consolidation phase, with uneven performance across the country, and sought a partner (or partners) with strong technical credibility, on-the-ground implementation capacity, and the ability to support sustainable improvements in the institutions and personnel responsible for delivering criminal justice under the NCJS.

• The Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Securing Justice: Developing the Capacity of Mexican Justice Sector Operators within the New Criminal Justice System" 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 2017-11-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-12-11. (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 $13,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

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