Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0002742
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is offering a discretionary funding opportunity titled "INL - Increasing Police Recruitment to Counter FTOs and TCOs in Colombia" (Funding Opportunity Number OFOP0002742). The award will be made as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 19.704, with one expected award and a ceiling of $4,000,000. The application closing date is listed as July 13, 2026, and the opportunity was created on May 12, 2026.
The core purpose of the program is to increase recruitment of qualified Colombian National Police (CNP) candidates drawn specifically from INL Bogota's priority geographic areas. These areas are described as strategically important to U.S. interests because they face high levels of coca cultivation and cocaine production, narcotrafficking activity, and the recruitment of children by criminal organizations. The underlying logic is that strengthening police recruitment and professionalization in the places where these illicit economies and coercive armed networks are most concentrated can disrupt criminal organizations closer to their source, which in turn is intended to reduce downstream harms that reach the United States, including illicit drug flows, weapons trafficking, and human trafficking.
Operationally, the program is structured as a scholarship-backed recruitment and training pipeline for approximately 1,000 CNP students per year. The target breakdown is 600 students preparing for non-commissioned officer (NCO) roles and 400 students preparing for commissioned officer (CO) roles. By helping the CNP bring in and train larger numbers of qualified recruits from the most affected regions, the program aims to build a more capable and professional police presence in those areas, with the broader policy objective of promoting stability in Colombia and across the Western Hemisphere while advancing U.S. national security priorities.
A major component of the grant is the design and operation of a structured financial management system for scholarship support. The implementer is expected to administer payments in a controlled, auditable way, emphasizing electronic methods and strong internal controls. Specifically, the implementer will make timely monthly electronic funds transfers (EFTs) to the bank accounts of scholarship recipients or, where appropriate, directly to service providers for required items. Recipients are intended to receive EFT payments only for approved support expenses, which reinforces the program's compliance posture and helps ensure funds are used strictly for authorized purposes. To reduce risk and improve accountability, the opportunity emphasizes minimizing direct cash handling and ensuring every disbursement is documented and subject to audit.
Eligible applicants include a range of nonprofit and educational entities, both U.S.-based and foreign-based. On the U.S. side, eligibility includes U.S.-based nonprofit/non-governmental organizations and U.S.-based educational institutions that fall under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code or section 26 USC 115. On the non-U.S. side, foreign-based nonprofit/non-governmental organizations and foreign-based educational institutions are also eligible to apply.Apply for OFOP0002742
- The Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "INL – Increasing Police Recruitment to Counter FTOs and TCOs in Colombia" 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 2026-05-12.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-13. (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 $4,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "INL - Increasing Police Recruitment to Counter FTOs and TCOs in Colombia."
2) Which U.S. government office is offering this grant?
The opportunity is offered by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
3) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is OFOP0002742.
4) What type of award is expected?
The award is expected to be made as a cooperative agreement.
5) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.704.
6) How many awards does INL expect to make?
INL expects to make one award.
7) What is the maximum funding amount available under this opportunity?
The ceiling amount is $4,000,000.
8) When is the application closing date?
The application closing date is July 13, 2026.
9) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on May 12, 2026.
10) What is the main purpose of the program?
The core purpose is to increase recruitment of qualified Colombian National Police (CNP) candidates drawn specifically from INL Bogota's priority geographic areas.
11) Why does the program focus on INL Bogota's priority geographic areas?
Those areas are described as strategically important to U.S. interests because they face high levels of coca cultivation and cocaine production, narcotrafficking activity, and the recruitment of children by criminal organizations.
12) What problem is this program designed to address?
The program is designed to strengthen police recruitment and professionalization in regions where illicit economies and coercive armed networks are most concentrated, with the intent to disrupt criminal organizations closer to their source.
13) How does INL connect this program to U.S. interests?
The opportunity states that disrupting criminal organizations closer to their source is intended to reduce downstream harms that reach the United States, including illicit drug flows, weapons trafficking, and human trafficking.
14) What is the operational model for the program?
The program is structured as a scholarship-backed recruitment and training pipeline.
15) Approximately how many CNP students per year are expected to be supported?
The program is designed for approximately 1,000 CNP students per year.
16) What is the targeted breakdown between NCO and CO students?
The target breakdown is 600 students preparing for non-commissioned officer (NCO) roles and 400 students preparing for commissioned officer (CO) roles.
17) What broader outcomes does the program aim to support?
By helping the CNP bring in and train larger numbers of qualified recruits from the most affected regions, the program aims to build a more capable and professional police presence in those areas, promote stability in Colombia and across the Western Hemisphere, and advance U.S. national security priorities.
18) What is a major program component described in the opportunity?
A major component is the design and operation of a structured financial management system for scholarship support.
19) What is the implementer expected to do regarding scholarship payments?
The implementer is expected to administer scholarship support payments in a controlled, auditable way, emphasizing electronic methods and strong internal controls.
20) How are scholarship funds expected to be disbursed?
The implementer will make timely monthly electronic funds transfers (EFTs) to the bank accounts of scholarship recipients or, where appropriate, directly to service providers for required items.
21) Are scholarship recipients expected to receive cash payments?
The opportunity emphasizes minimizing direct cash handling and prioritizing electronic disbursement methods to reduce risk and improve accountability.
22) What expenses can scholarship recipients receive EFT payments for?
Recipients are intended to receive EFT payments only for approved support expenses.
23) Why does the opportunity emphasize electronic funds transfers and internal controls?
The goal is to reinforce compliance and ensure funds are used strictly for authorized purposes, with every disbursement documented and subject to audit.
24) Can scholarship payments be made directly to vendors or service providers?
Yes. Where appropriate, payments may be made directly to service providers for required items.
25) What accountability expectations are described for scholarship disbursements?
The opportunity highlights that disbursements should be documented, auditable, and managed under strong internal controls, with an emphasis on reducing risk by minimizing cash handling.
26) Who is eligible to apply from the United States?
Eligible U.S.-based applicants include U.S.-based nonprofit/non-governmental organizations and U.S.-based educational institutions that fall under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code or section 26 USC 115.
27) Are foreign-based organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Foreign-based nonprofit/non-governmental organizations and foreign-based educational institutions are also eligible to apply.
28) Does the opportunity limit eligibility to only nonprofits?
The eligibility description includes nonprofit/non-governmental organizations and educational institutions (both U.S.-based and foreign-based) as eligible applicant types.
29) What Colombian institution is the program intended to support?
The program is intended to increase recruitment of qualified candidates into the Colombian National Police (CNP).
30) Does the opportunity specify the geographic source of recruits?
Yes. The opportunity specifies recruiting candidates drawn from INL Bogota's priority geographic areas.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Law, Justice and Legal Services
Previous opportunity: DoW Breast Cancer, Transformative Breast Cancer Consortium Development Award
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for OFOP0002742
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (OFOP0002742) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| BJA FY25 Invited to Apply – Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Reallocation Funds Program Apply for O BJA 2025 172613 Funding Number: O BJA 2025 172613 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $420,866 |
| Bolivia Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Sector Support Apply for DFOP0018363 Funding Number: DFOP0018363 Agency: Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Combatting Transnational Organized Crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina through Enhanced Forensic Accounting Apply for OFOP0002766 Funding Number: OFOP0002766 Agency: Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Undercover Backstopping Project Apply for OFOP0002752 Funding Number: OFOP0002752 Agency: Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "OFOP0002742", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.