Law Enforcement Accreditation Program Assessors RFA

The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS or ‘the Division’) is seeking qualified individuals to conduct assessments of agencies seeking accreditation through the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. This Request for Applications (RFA) seeks to solicit applications from those qualified individuals. Sub-contracting is not acceptable.

The Division is seeking experienced professionals to serve as assessors for the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. Assessors act as the on-site consultants for agencies seeking to become accredited, evaluating the agency’s policies and practices as they pertain to compliance with the accreditation standards.

There are three types of assessor positions. They are:

• **Assessor:** Successful applicants for the position of assessor will be part of a team of three assessors who will determine if an agency has taken the necessary steps to earn the distinction of being granted initial accreditation (accredited for the first time) or reaccreditation. Assessors will, with guidance from the team leader (see below) review agency policies, procedures and supporting documentation to assure that each program standard has been addressed in an appropriate manner. In rare instances, smaller agencies will be assigned a team of two assessors to conduct the assessment.
• **Team Leader:** The team leader is essentially the supervisor of the assessment team. In addition to completing the same tasks as an assessor, the team leader is responsible for conducting a review of approximately ten files submitted to them by the agency prior to the actual on-site assessment; coordinating the work of the assessment team including assigning standards for each member to review; communicating with OPS program staff throughout the assessment; leading discussions with agency personnel such as the chief law enforcement officer and/or program manager; and preparing the assessment report that will be provided to the Council for their review and consideration.
• **Compliance Auditor:** The compliance audit will generally be conducted by one individual and will entail a full review of files for critical standards (pre-approved by the Council) and at least 20 additional files for other essential standards. It is anticipated that approximately two days will be spent off-site reviewing files that are sent either electronically or through the U.S. Mail; and one full day will be spent on-site completing the file review, observing the agency, and interviewing personnel.

**Submission:** Applications must be submitted directly to the individual below to be eligible for consideration. Applications that are not submitted directly to the address below will be rejected pending the proper resubmission.

Gabe Marruso, Program Manager, New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Office of Public Safety, Alfred E. Smith Office Building, 3rd Floor, 80 South Swan Street, Albany, New York 12210

Submissions in response to this RFA must consist of:

1. The completed application (*Attachment A*);
2. A current resume, and;
3. A writing sample for NEW team leader and/or ‘compliance auditor’ applicants ONLY.

All currently active assessors **MUST** respond to this RFA to be eligible for continued consideration as an assessor.

The Division will begin accepting applications immediately upon release of this RFA and continuously throughout the life of the RFA (a period of five (5) years) or until a new RFA is released in its place.

Each of the following components will be given a “pass/fail” rating. A ‘pass’ in all areas will result in the applicant being placed on the active assessor list used to make assessment assignments.

The Division will enter into formal Consultant Services Agreements with applicants selected to provide assessor services.