“Colombian National Police-Basic Police Academy Curriculum Assessment” | INLBOG 05082020 LEP BPA

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the "Colombian National Police - Basic Police Academy Curriculum Assessment" grant opportunity?

This opportunity is a U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Colombia) project under INL Bogota's Law Enforcement Professionalization Section (LEPS). It supports an in-depth assessment of the Colombian National Police (CNP) basic police academy curriculum and related policies that affect when new officers can enter specialty schools.

2) Which U.S. government office is associated with this project?

The project is tied to the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Colombia, specifically INL Bogota's Law Enforcement Professionalization Section (LEPS).

3) What is the broader purpose of this grant?

The broader purpose is to strengthen the Colombian National Police by improving foundational training and related internal processes, with the larger goal of supporting efforts to disrupt and dismantle narcotrafficking and other transnational criminal activity.

4) What are the main activities or focus areas described in the opportunity?

The opportunity focuses on two connected areas:

• Assessing the CNP basic police academy curriculum, including content and teaching methodology.
• Assessing eligibility criteria and policies that govern how soon graduates can attend specialty schools after graduation.

5) Why is the CNP basic academy curriculum being assessed?

A central concern described is that current CNP training is heavily theoretical and may include limited practical, hands-on instruction. The assessment is intended to determine whether recruits are being adequately prepared for real-world policing and whether the training approach aligns with law enforcement best practices that emphasize scenario-based learning and field-applicable skills.

6) What kinds of training improvements does the opportunity suggest may be needed?

Based on the description, potential improvement areas include strengthening practical tactics, increasing scenario-based training, and emphasizing skills that graduates can immediately use in the field on patrol and during investigations.

7) Does the opportunity address policies beyond classroom instruction?

Yes. In addition to curriculum content and teaching methods, the opportunity also calls for examining career progression rules, specifically the policies that determine when basic academy graduates can attend specialty schools.

8) What policy issue related to specialty schools is highlighted?

The opportunity notes that CNP policy allows basic academy graduates to apply for and enter specialty schools after only one year of patrol service. This can reduce the number of officers available for frontline field deployment, depending on staffing demands and the number of officers leaving patrol for specialization.

9) How does the specialty-school timing relate to frontline staffing?

If officers leave patrol roles for specialty schools relatively quickly, fewer officers may remain available for field deployment. The assessment is meant to evaluate whether these policies are aligned with operational needs and whether they unintentionally weaken field presence.

10) What is the intended end result of the assessment?

The expected output is a set of actionable recommendations, if warranted, that the CNP could adopt to improve basic training and related policies. These recommendations are intended to strengthen training outcomes and support faster deployment of competent officers while balancing staffing needs.

11) What types of recommendations are expected?

The opportunity anticipates recommendations that could:

• Strengthen basic training by placing a stronger emphasis on practical tactics and field-applicable skills.
• Improve CNP capability to counter narcotrafficking and transnational crime by streamlining training outcomes and accelerating deployment of fully qualified officers.

12) Is the project guaranteed to propose changes, or only if the assessment supports it?

The opportunity states that recommendations will be made "if warranted," meaning the assessment findings will determine whether changes are recommended and what those changes should be.

13) What is the funding instrument for this award?

The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which indicates an assistance relationship with substantial involvement from the U.S. government in guiding and/or collaborating on implementation.

14) What does "cooperative agreement" imply for how the project is carried out?

Based on the opportunity description, a cooperative agreement implies substantial involvement by the U.S. government during the project, such as collaboration or guidance as the assessment and related work are performed.

15) How many awards were anticipated under this opportunity?

The opportunity anticipated a single award.

16) What was the maximum funding amount available?

The funding ceiling listed for the opportunity was $500,000.

17) What is the opportunity identifier or reference code?

The posting references the discretionary funding opportunity as INLBOG 05082020 LEP BPA.

18) What category and CFDA listing are associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was listed in the Law, Justice and Legal Services category and referenced CFDA 19.703.

19) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

It was created on May 8, 2020, with an original closing date of July 7, 2020.

20) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the additional eligibility information section of the full announcement.

21) What part of the CNP training pipeline is this project trying to improve?

The project targets the foundational pipeline that produces entry-level officers, focusing on the basic academy curriculum and the policies that shape early-career movement into specialty assignments.

22) How does improving academy training connect to counter-narcotrafficking goals?

The opportunity frames improved training and staffing policies as a way to enhance CNP capabilities and organizational effectiveness, supporting efforts to disrupt and dismantle narcotrafficking and other transnational criminal activity.