U.S. Embassy Mexico—International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs (INL Mexico) Interdiction & Hidden Compartment Training

Sources Sought Notice

U.S. Embassy Mexico—International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs (INL Mexico)
Interdiction & Hidden Compartment Training

This Sources Sought Notice is part of the U.S. Government's market research efforts to identify capable Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) vendors that are qualified and capable to deliver Interdiction & Hidden Compartment Training and Mentoring for the U.S. Embassy Mexico City.  The information gathered will help inform future procurement strategies and requirements.

This Sources Sought is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Quotation (RFQ), Invitation for Bid (IFB), or Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFQ, IFB or RFP in the future. This notice does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service. Further, the U.S. Government is not seeking quotes, bids or proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals in response to this notice. The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this notice. Submittals will not be returned to the responder. Not responding to this notice does not preclude participation in any future RFQ, IFB, or RFP, if any is issued.

DRAFT STATEMENT OF NEEDS

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), through the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City's Criminal Deterrence – Counter Illicit Finance Program, requires contractor support to strengthen the Government of Mexico's ability to interdict illicit drugs, firearms, bulk cash, and other contraband concealed in hidden compartments within passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, tractor-trailers, and buses. Transnational criminal organizations continue to evolve their concealment methods, and Mexican federal, state, and military law enforcement personnel need specialized technical training, practical vehicle-inspection skills, and evidentiary-procedure knowledge to detect and disrupt these methods effectively.

To meet this need, INL requires a contractor to deliver a phased, multi-year capacity-building program consisting of two distinct courses: (1) a Basic Interdiction and Hidden Compartment Certification course, to be delivered over the base year and option year one, providing foundational classroom and hands-on training using vehicles equipped with hidden compartments; and (2) a Train-the-Trainer course, to be delivered in option year two to previously certified participants, building an internal cadre of qualified Mexican instructors. The program also includes a follow-on Quality Control/Mentoring phase (option year three) to audit, mentor, and reinforce skills among trained personnel in the field.

The contractor must be able to deliver training and mentoring both within Mexico and within the U.S., providing all required instructors, translators, training materials, certified vehicles with hidden compartments, and logistical/administrative support across all phases. The overall goal is to build a sustainable, self-sufficient Mexican training capability that improves detection, seizure, and prosecution outcomes related to hidden-compartment smuggling, in direct support of U.S.-Mexico bilateral security and counternarcotics cooperation objectives.

How to Submit Responses:

1. Capable potential SDVOSB contractors should review the attached .pdf file which includes specific requested content for capability statements  
2. Please submit responses via email to ModrakER@state.gov  including “19AQMM26N0003: “Interdiction & Hidden Compartment Training” in the e-mail subject line.
3. Please submit capability statement responses as a single attachment to the email: either Adobe pdf file or MS Word file.
4. If you have any questions regarding this Notice, please submit them via e-mail to ModrakER@state.gov.  Please include in the e-mail subject line.
5. The Request for Information submission closing date is August 28 2026, at 4:00 PM CST.