Strengthening Judicial Response to Organized Crime in Costa Rica | INL18GR0065 WHPCOSTARICA 08272018

Opportunity Information: Apply for INL18GR0065 WHPCOSTARICA 08272018

The grant opportunity titled "Strengthening Judicial Response to Organized Crime in Costa Rica" is a discretionary U.S. Department of State award managed by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). It is designed to support Costa Rica as it stands up new specialized organized crime tribunals, with the core purpose of improving how the country investigates, prosecutes, and adjudicates organized crime cases. The project is framed as a response to rising violent crime and homicide trends tied to organized criminal activity, and it focuses on building practical, institutional capacity inside the judicial system so these new tribunals can function effectively in real-world conditions.

The project itself is planned as a one-year effort and centers on delivering training and technical assistance for the implementation phase of the tribunals and, if needed, their initial operational period. In practical terms, this means helping Costa Rican institutions translate the concept of specialized tribunals into working procedures, case-handling practices, coordination mechanisms, and day-to-day operations that can handle complex organized and transnational crime matters. The opportunity emphasizes hands-on support rather than purely academic training, suggesting that the implementer may be expected to provide guidance that is directly applicable to launching the tribunals and supporting early performance once they begin handling cases.

A key requirement is close collaboration with senior-level Costa Rican judicial and law enforcement stakeholders. The notice specifically highlights the need to work with high-level officials and entities such as the Attorney General's Office, the Supreme Court, Circuit Tribunals, the Judicial Investigation Police, and other related bodies. This signals that the implementer must be capable of operating in a high-trust, politically and institutionally sensitive environment where coordination across agencies is essential. It also implies that the work will likely involve aligning processes across investigation, prosecution, and adjudication functions, since specialized organized crime tribunals typically depend on strong interagency workflows, secure information-sharing practices, and consistent case management standards.

Competitive applicants are expected to demonstrate more than general technical competence. The opportunity calls for evidence of strong and successful working relationships with the named Costa Rican institutions, along with proven experience addressing organized and transnational crime issues in Costa Rica and in other countries in the region that already operate comparable specialized entities. The focus on regional comparators suggests INL wants an implementer that can bring credible lessons learned from functioning specialized courts or tribunals elsewhere in Latin America, and can adapt those lessons to Costa Rica's legal framework, institutional culture, and operational constraints.

The grant also places heavy emphasis on access to expertise. Applicants must show they have established working relationships with a broad pool of regional subject matter experts who can be mobilized to deliver the training and technical assistance components. This points to a model where the implementer serves as an organizing and delivery platform, drawing on practitioners and specialists with direct operational experience in organized crime adjudication, courtroom security and case integrity, complex investigations, prosecutorial strategy, witness and evidence management, and interagency coordination. The underlying expectation is that Costa Rica will benefit most from expertise rooted in real implementation and operational practice rather than purely theoretical guidance.

From a funding and administrative perspective, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number INL18GR0065 (with listing text showing "WHPCOSTARICA 08272018"), categorized under "Law, Justice and Legal Services" with CFDA number 19.705. The award instrument is a grant with an award ceiling of $300,000, and the agency anticipated making one award. The opportunity was posted on August 27, 2018, with an original closing date of October 26, 2018. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement, which typically indicates that nontraditional entities such as NGOs, international organizations, or specialized technical providers may be considered depending on the specific criteria in the complete solicitation.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted capacity-building grant intended to help Costa Rica operationalize specialized organized crime tribunals quickly and effectively, using tailored technical assistance, practical training, and regionally grounded expertise, delivered in close coordination with the country’s highest judicial and investigative institutions.

• The Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Judicial Response to Organized Crime in Costa Rica" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.705.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 27, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 26, 2018. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for INL18GR0065 WHPCOSTARICA 08272018

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