Request for Proposals: Independent Contractor Services
Director, Argentina Child Protection & Strategic Engagement
Issuing Organization: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)Program: U.S. Department of State–funded Child Protection Compact Partnership in ArgentinaPlace of Performance: Buenos Aires, Argentina, with frequent travel throughout Argentina and periodic international travelEngagement Type: Independent contractor (individual consultant). This is not an employment position.Period of Performance: Base period from December 2026 through September 30, 2027, with up to four (4) one-year option periods. If all options are exercised, the engagement ends September 30, 2031.Announcement Date: November 6, 2026NCMEC Contract Point of Contact: John Shehan, Senior Vice President, jshehan@ncmec.org
1. Background
NCMEC is implementing the Child Protection Compact Partnership in Argentina, a five-year program funded by the U.S. Department of State that ends September 30, 2031. The program addresses child sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking through prevention, protection, investigation, and prosecution activities.
NCMEC wants to engage one qualified professional as an independent contractor to serve as Director, Argentina Child Protection & Strategic Engagement (the "Director"). The Director will be NCMEC's senior in-country representative for the partnership. The Director will coordinate with NCMEC's Senior Vice President, Exploited Children Division (the "NCMEC Contract Manager") and with the NCMEC divisions supporting the program.
2. Objective
The objective is to lead in-country implementation of the partnership. That means turning grant commitments into coordinated work plans, budgets, partner activities, and measurable outcomes, delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with grant requirements. It also means coordinating NCMEC expertise to meet Argentina's legal, cultural, operational, and child-protection needs, and building results that last beyond the grant period.
3. Scope of Work
The Director will perform the following tasks under work plans approved by the NCMEC Contract Manager. The Director decides how, when, and by what methods the work is done, consistent with the approved work plan, the delivery schedule, and the contract terms.
Limits of Contractor Authority
The Director has no authority to sign contracts, obligate funds, or otherwise bind NCMEC. All agreements, budget changes, and expenditures require written approval from authorized NCMEC officials.
NCMEC keeps its final responsibility for hiring, supervising, and evaluating its personnel and for monitoring subrecipients and contractors. The Director provides programmatic coordination and recommendations to support those responsibilities.
Task 1: Program Leadership and Grant Implementation
Coordinate overall in-country implementation of the partnership across prevention, protection, prosecution, and national coordination activities.
Prepare and maintain annual and multi-year work plans that define priorities, activities, responsibilities, timelines, deliverables, performance indicators, and outcomes. Monitor progress, identify risks and emerging needs, and recommend operational or strategic adjustments.
Plan and carry out activities consistent with the accepted proposal, the approved budget, U.S. Department of State requirements, NCMEC policies, and applicable laws and regulations.
Prepare programmatic reports, implementation updates, performance data, and briefings required by NCMEC and the U.S. Department of State.
Develop budget proposals and spending plans with NCMEC Finance, Grants Management, Legal, and program leadership. Track spending against the approved budget and flag variances and funding risks.
Prepare scopes of work, deliverables, timelines, and reporting requirements for implementing partners, consultants, and service providers. Monitor their performance and report to NCMEC so it can carry out its oversight…