Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program – Training and Technical Assistance Support through Central America | INL18GR0001 WHPCENT AMERICA GREAT 102517

Opportunity Information: Apply for INL18GR0001 WHPCENT AMERICA GREAT 102517

The Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program - Training and Technical Assistance Support through Central America is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). It was created on October 25, 2017, under funding opportunity number INL18GR0001 WHPCENT AMERICA GREAT 102517, and it falls within the Law, Justice, and Legal Services funding category (CFDA 19.705). The grant was designed to support continuation and strengthening of the G.R.E.A.T. program across Central America by funding a single lead organization to manage training, technical assistance, and program oversight.

At its core, the grant focuses on delivering G.R.E.A.T. Instructor Certifications for Central American law enforcement officers. That means the awardee is expected to ensure a steady pipeline of properly trained instructors who can deliver the G.R.E.A.T. curriculum in their home countries, with consistent quality and adherence to program standards. The work goes beyond holding occasional trainings; it emphasizes sustained program management and coordination so that instructor certification efforts are planned, scheduled, and delivered reliably across the region.

A major part of the scope is operational management of the training system itself. The awardee would be responsible for scheduling and coordinating trainers, making sure trainings are organized efficiently, and maintaining a continuous improvement process. This includes regular review, revision, and updating of curricula and training processes, so the instructional content stays current, relevant, and effective for the Central American context. The opportunity also calls for publishing, producing, and distributing the materials and resources required for both training events and for certified instructors working in the field, which can include printed curricula, instructor guides, student materials, and other supporting resources.

The grant also supports communications and accessibility infrastructure for the program, specifically maintenance and enhancement of a dual-language G.R.E.A.T. website. This suggests an expectation that program resources, updates, and possibly training materials or implementation guidance will be available in at least two languages (commonly English and Spanish for the region), and that the online platform will remain functional and useful for instructors and partners. In the same vein, the opportunity highlights continued development of curricula and materials to improve accessibility for Central American audiences, signaling that content may need adaptation to local cultural realities, educational settings, and language needs without drifting away from the core program model.

Finally, the grant places clear emphasis on monitoring and evaluation to ensure fidelity and effectiveness. In practical terms, this means the awardee would track how the program is implemented on the ground, confirm that instructors are delivering the curriculum as designed, and assess whether the training and technical assistance approach is producing consistent, high-quality delivery of services. The aim is to protect the integrity of the G.R.E.A.T. model while also using evidence and feedback loops to improve performance over time.

In terms of funding structure and eligibility, the opportunity anticipated a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1) with an award ceiling of $4,000,000. Eligible applicants were limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that nonprofit category). The original application closing date was December 27, 2017, reflecting that this was a time-bound competition intended to select one organization capable of handling regional coordination, curriculum and materials management, bilingual web support, and ongoing evaluation for Central America-wide implementation.

• 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 "Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program – Training and Technical Assistance Support through Central America" 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 Oct 25, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 27, 2017. (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: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

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