Strengthening Reinsertion Programs in Mexico’s Prisons | OFOP0001298

Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0001298

The grant opportunity titled "Strengthening Reinsertion Programs in Mexico's Prisons" (Funding Opportunity Number OFOP0001298) is a discretionary funding competition run by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the funder expects to be more actively involved during implementation than in a standard grant, often through ongoing coordination, approvals, and shared oversight of major activities. The opportunity falls under the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity category and is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing 19.703.

The project is focused on improving "reinsertion" efforts in Mexico's prison systems, meaning the programs and practices that help incarcerated individuals successfully return to their communities after release. The work is designed to be implemented in up to two pilot states, indicating a targeted, test-and-improve approach rather than a nationwide rollout. The central idea is to first assess what currently exists inside the selected prison systems, identify gaps and weaknesses in reinsertion programming, produce practical recommendations, and then take concrete steps to implement improvements. INL frames the desired outcomes in public safety terms: strengthening reintegration to reduce recidivism and to prevent recruitment of incarcerated or recently released individuals by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), which can exploit weak prison programming and limited post-release support.

From a scope perspective, the opportunity combines three major phases: evaluation, recommendations, and action. The evaluation component suggests applicants should be prepared to examine how reinsertion programs are structured and delivered, what services are available (for example, education, vocational training, mental health support, substance use treatment, job readiness, and family/community reintegration support), and how those services connect to release planning and post-release follow-up. The recommendations component implies deliverables that translate findings into feasible reforms, likely tailored to state-level contexts and prison administration realities. The implementation component signals that INL is not only looking for a diagnostic report, but for an organization that can help put improvements into practice, whether through training, pilot interventions, updated procedures, improved coordination among institutions, or other applied steps that can show measurable progress in the pilot sites.

Eligibility is fairly broad and includes both U.S.-based and foreign-based organizations, as long as they are non-profits/NGOs or educational institutions. Specifically, eligible applicants include U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations, U.S.-based educational institutions that qualify under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code or under 26 U.S.C. 115, foreign-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations, and foreign-based educational institutions. INL expects to make one award under this competition, with an award ceiling of $500,000, meaning the budget proposed should not exceed that maximum.

In terms of timing, the opportunity was created on February 7, 2024, and the original application closing date was April 8, 2024. The listing anticipates a single award, so applicants would be competing for one funded project that will carry out the pilot work in up to two Mexican states. Overall, the opportunity is aimed at organizations with credible experience in criminal justice reform, prison programming, rehabilitation and reintegration, applied evaluation, and implementation support, particularly in contexts where organized crime recruitment and repeat offending are key concerns.

• The Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Reinsertion Programs in Mexico’s Prisons" 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 2024-02-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-08. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for OFOP0001298

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