Network of International Corrections Experts (NICE) | INLEA INLCJ 17 006

Opportunity Information: Apply for INLEA INLCJ 17 006

The Network of International Corrections Experts (NICE) grant opportunity is a U.S. Department of State program, run through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), that focuses on strengthening corrections systems overseas by pairing foreign corrections partners with experienced U.S. corrections professionals. The core idea is capacity building: helping partner governments and institutions improve how they run prisons and related correctional services so facilities are safer and more secure, while also meeting basic standards of humane treatment and operating with greater transparency. Rather than funding construction or broad institutional reform directly, the program emphasizes practical, expert-led mentorship and technical assistance delivered by people who have already done this work in real U.S. corrections environments.

At the center of the program is the creation or management of a network of current and former U.S. corrections officials who can be deployed internationally to advise, train, and mentor counterparts abroad. These experts are intended to provide hands-on guidance, targeted assessments, and skills-focused instruction to help partners modernize policies and operations. The support can include designing and delivering training curricula, coaching leadership, improving procedures, and helping foreign partners adopt workable approaches that fit their local realities while moving toward internationally recognized correctional best practices.

The expertise areas sought under NICE cover a wide range of corrections functions, reflecting how complex prison operations and correctional systems can be. The opportunity highlights needs such as community corrections (including probation, parole, and alternatives to incarceration), electronic monitoring programs, and juvenile justice management. It also calls for operational specialties like facility security operations, emergency management and response, prisoner classification systems, and prisoner transport. On the institutional development side, it includes building the capacity to deliver corrections training programs (from basic training for line staff to executive management training for senior leaders), as well as technical knowledge tied to prison design and construction and prison industries. Additional specialized areas include prison intelligence, working in high-threat environments, and improving management and programming for female corrections facilities. The scope also explicitly includes inmate health, with attention to both mental health and physical health care, recognizing that medical services, crisis intervention, and continuity of care are integral to safety and humane conditions.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is a discretionary funding competition using a cooperative agreement, meaning the Department of State expects to have an active role in shaping or overseeing the project as it is carried out, rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The funding activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services, and the CFDA number listed is 19.703, aligning it with State Department international assistance programming. The notice anticipates a single award, with an award ceiling of $75,000, suggesting a focused, targeted project designed to stand up or coordinate the expert network and support specific deployments and technical assistance activities rather than a large multi-country implementation effort.

The opportunity was published by the Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, under funding opportunity number INLEA-INLCJ-17-006. The posting lists a creation date of June 12, 2017, with an original closing date of August 11, 2017. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement, which typically means applicants may include certain types of non-profits, institutions, or entities that can credibly recruit, manage, and deploy subject-matter experts and administer an international technical assistance program in coordination with INL.

Overall, NICE is best understood as a small, specialized international technical assistance grant aimed at improving corrections outcomes abroad through peer-to-peer expertise. Its success would likely be measured in practical operational improvements: better trained staff, clearer procedures, stronger emergency response capability, more effective classification and population management, improved safety for staff and incarcerated individuals, better services for women and juveniles, and more robust health care practices, all delivered through structured advising, mentoring, and training by seasoned U.S. corrections practitioners.

• 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 "Network of International Corrections Experts (NICE)" 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 Jun 12, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 11, 2017 No Explanation. (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 $75,000.00 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).

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