How to bid on hydrocarbon theft assessment for the Department of State in Ecuador

What the agency is buying

The U.S. Embassy in Quito, Ecuador, is seeking professional consulting services. The selected vendor will conduct a detailed assessment of hydrocarbon theft, diversion, and trafficking within Ecuador, focusing on law enforcement aspects. Following the assessment, the consultant will develop an implementation-ready Project Design Framework.

This is a firm-fixed-price contract. The U.S. Government intends to award the contract to the responsible company that submits an acceptable offer at the lowest price. This opportunity is for firms with expertise in international law enforcement consulting, particularly in areas related to illicit trade and energy security.

Key dates and deadlines

A virtual pre-proposal conference will be held on August 20, 2026, at 2:00 PM local time in Quito, Ecuador. If you plan to attend, you must confirm your participation by August 19, 2026, at 12:00 PM (noon) Quito local time. Send your company name, attendee names, and email addresses to [email protected] to receive the meeting invitation.

Questions regarding the solicitation are due by August 26, 2026, at 3:00 PM local Ecuador time. No questions will be accepted after this deadline. Responses to questions will be posted on SAM.gov. The final deadline for submitting your quotation is September 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM local Ecuador time. Late submissions will not be considered.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is suitable for professional consulting firms with experience in conducting assessments related to law enforcement, illicit trafficking, and energy sector security. Firms should have a strong understanding of international development project design and implementation.

The work involves detailed analysis and framework development, suggesting a need for expertise in research, data collection, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning. Experience working in Latin America, particularly with law enforcement agencies, would be beneficial.

How to respond

To access the solicitation, click “View original source” on the portal. If you land on the homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view documents.

Your quotation must be submitted electronically to [email protected]. Submissions must be in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, or Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. Each email should not exceed 15 MB in total file size. If your quotation is larger, divide it into multiple emails, ensuring each attachment set is under 15 MB. ZIP files or other compressed formats are not accepted. Confirm receipt of your quotation by contacting the same email address.

Your submission must include two separate volumes: Volume I – Technical Proposal and Volume II – Price Proposal. The Technical Proposal should contain all information required under Section 3 of the solicitation, Section 5 – Representations and Certifications, and proof of active SAM registration. The Price Proposal must include a completed and signed SF-1449 and a fully completed Section I – Pricing. Do not include price information in your Technical Proposal.

Tips for a competitive response

Ensure your SAM registration is active before submitting your quotation, as this is a mandatory requirement for consideration. Incomplete quotations will not be considered, so double-check that all required documents and sections are fully completed and submitted in the specified formats.

Pay close attention to the separation of your Technical and Price Proposals. Submitting them as distinct files and ensuring no pricing details are in the technical volume is critical. Clearly articulate your firm's relevant experience and methodology for conducting such an assessment and developing a project framework, demonstrating a clear understanding of the scope of work.