Supporting Implementation of the Labor Provisions of Trade Arrangements for American Worker Competitiveness
No Applicants // Limit: 2 (one per region: Western Hemisphere and Asia) // Tickets Available: 2
Limiting Language
Multiple applications from an organization for one region are not allowed. If multiple applications are received, the most recent application submitted by the deadline will be accepted. If the most recent application is disqualified for any reason, USDOL will not replace it with an earlier application. Applicant entities are not precluded from participating as partners on another entity’s application.
Executive Summary
The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $18,000,000 total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for two (2) cooperative agreements to fund technical assistance projects to improve labor law enforcement in targeted sectors of key trade partner countries thereby ensuring that unfair competition does not undercut American workers and producers.
Two cooperative agreements will be awarded through this FOA; one will focus on countries in the Western Hemisphere and the other on countries in Asia. Both projects will support the implementation of labor commitments in trade arrangements, with a focus on free trade agreements and Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ARTs). If applicants choose to apply for both geographic regions, they must submit separate applications for each, and each application will be evaluated independently.
- The Western Hemisphere technical assistance project ($10,000,000), focused on Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala, will expedite countries’ implementation of labor commitments in trade arrangements with the United States, including ART commitments, to strengthen labor law enforcement capacities and improve enforcement outcomes to eliminate unfair trade practices in export sectors that compete with American workers and producers.1 Applicants must implement this project in all three trade partner countries. For each country, applicants must propose a strategy to address labor violations in economic sectors that compete with U.S. production, which may include but are not limited to agriculture, manufacturing, or seafood production. Applicants must justify their choice of sectors with sector-specific trade, employment, and/or labor standards and enforcement-related data in their application. Applicants must determine the funding allocation for each of the three countries based on their proposed project strategy.
- The Asia technical assistance project ($8,000,000), focused on Bangladesh and Malaysia, will support countries’ implementation of labor priorities in trade arrangements, including commitments in ARTs, to strengthen labor law enforcement capacities and improve enforcement outcomes to eliminate unfair trade practices in export sectors that compete with American workers and producers. For each country, applicants must propose a strategy to address labor violations in economic sectors that compete with U.S. production, which may include but are not limited to manufacturing, particularly electronics, garments, and palm oil-derived chemicals. Applicants must justify their choice of sectors with sector-specific trade, employment, and/or labor standards and enforcement-related data in their application. Applicants must determine the funding allocation for each country based on their proposed project strategy.
The duration of the projects will be 36 months from the award date. Applicants may propose a shorter period of performance in line with their proposed strategy.
Each ART includes framework labor commitments, as well as country specific commitments. Applicants should develop strategies to support the full implementation of these commitments. Applicants must propose innovative, context-specific strategies in the Western Hemisphere (Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala) or Asia (Bangladesh, Malaysia) to strengthen labor law enforcement and compliance in target sectors and support implementation of ART labor provisions, which address gaps in labor protections and enforcement that create unfair competition for U.S. workers and producers. Activities should demonstrate meaningful engagement with relevant stakeholders (where appropriate), including government agencies, workers and worker organizations, and employers. Applicants are encouraged to consult host governments to align strategies to achieve commitments undertaken in the ARTs with national mechanisms and interrelated priorities.
Applicants should NOT include strategies for implementing forced labor import bans in their proposals, as these will be addressed in FOA-ILAB-26-44.
Applicants must ensure that their proposed activities and geographic focus align with all requirements of the FOA (e.g., country limitations, sectors, thematic areas, etc.) and respond directly to the programmatic intent described in Section I. Successful awardees must ensure that their activities align and comply with all relevant policies, Executive Orders, and strategies of the federal government for the life of the project regarding objectives, outcomes, monitoring and evaluation, fiscal transparency, and operational governance. Failure to align and comply risks termination of the project.
Eligible applicants include any commercial, international, educational, or non-profit organizations, including any faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, or public international organizations. Please see section III of this FOA for complete eligibility requirements.