TRAINING FOR POLICING DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS | INL22CA0008 WHPELSAL POLHEALTH 120921

Opportunity Information: Apply for INL22CA0008 WHPELSAL POLHEALTH 120921

The grant opportunity titled TRAINING FOR POLICING DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS (Funding Opportunity Number INL22CA0008) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) cooperative agreement aimed at strengthening El Salvador's ability to police effectively during a major public health emergency like COVID-19. The opportunity is framed around the operational reality that pandemics do not pause everyday law enforcement responsibilities. Instead, they add a new layer of duties such as enforcing public health orders, supporting lockdowns, managing travel restrictions, and ensuring compliance with distancing rules, all while officers face elevated infection risks and heightened stress due to resource constraints and sustained operational tempo.

A central focus of this project is preparedness and continuity of essential public safety services during a crisis. INL highlights that during COVID-19, police and other security sector personnel were required to play a direct role in supporting government measures intended to reduce transmission. These expanded responsibilities increased demand on law enforcement agencies and exposed personnel to higher risks, especially early in the pandemic when immunity was absent and vaccines were not yet available. INL notes it has already supported El Salvador's security sector response by providing substantial personal protective equipment (PPE) through the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, along with equipment to modify workspaces to reduce the spread of the virus. This new grant builds on that material support by concentrating on training, planning, and operational adjustments that help the Ministry respond more effectively in future crises.

The selected grantee is expected to carry out an assessment of police roles during a public health crisis and identify practical ways to mitigate risks that arise when public security resources are constrained. In practice, this means looking at how policing functions shift during emergencies, what tasks become critical, what strains emerge (staffing, logistics, supervision, health protections, fatigue), and how the Ministry can maintain public order without unnecessarily increasing exposure for personnel or the public. Based on that assessment, the grantee must develop a virtual training program and deliver training courses across the entire Ministry of Justice and Public Security using an appropriate online platform. The emphasis on virtual delivery reflects the need for scalable training that can be implemented even when in-person gatherings are limited by health restrictions.

The cooperative agreement structure also signals that INL expects close coordination and oversight rather than a hands-off grant. The grantee must seek approval from the INL Director and INL Deputy Director at post for key elements of implementation, including decisions about adding personnel and the training curriculum itself. Participant selection is not left solely to the grantee; instead, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security will coordinate the selection and vetting of participants in partnership with INL. This setup is designed to ensure the training reaches the intended audiences, aligns with ministry needs and policies, and meets U.S. government program expectations.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding under the law, justice, and legal services activity area (CFDA 19.703). The award ceiling is listed at $1,500,000, with an expectation of one award. The opportunity was created on December 9, 2021, and originally closed on January 20, 2023. Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice. Overall, the program is meant to translate lessons from the COVID-19 experience into a structured, ministry-wide training capability so El Salvador can sustain public safety, protect police personnel, and manage enforcement responsibilities more effectively during the next major public health emergency.

• 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 "TRAINING FOR POLICING DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS" 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 Dec 09, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 20, 2023. (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 $1,500,000.00 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 INL22CA0008 WHPELSAL POLHEALTH 120921

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