DFOP0019481 Notice of Funding Opportunity.pdf

This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the U.S. Department of State for the Transshipment Supply Chain Tracing program. The opportunity number is DFOP0019481, with an application deadline of August 27, 2026, at 23:59:59 ET. One award of $1,973,359 is anticipated under the FY25 Democracy Fund, with an 18–24 month performance period beginning September 30, 2026. The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based non-profit organizations/NGOs with or without 501(c)(3) status, private or public institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations or businesses, and foreign-based NGOs. All applicants must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and maintain active registration in SAM.gov; foreign organizations may need an NCAGE code if conducting business with the Department of Defense.

The program aims to strengthen the ability of the United States and partner countries with Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ARTs) to detect and disrupt transshipment practices that evade U.S. forced labor import prohibitions. Competitive proposals must include Objectives 1 and 2 (production of supply chain analysis and development of private sector monitoring protocols) and may include Objective 3 (worker awareness and labor rights support). Proposals must be 15 pages maximum and include a project summary, organizational introduction, problem statement, goals and objectives, activities, methods and design, timeline, key personnel, project partners, monitoring and evaluation plan, sustainability plan, detailed line-item budget with justification narrative, and supporting attachments (key personnel descriptions, partner letters, NICRA if applicable, and permission letters). All applications must be submitted to Grants.gov or MyGrants and comply with federal regulations including 2 CFR 200, trafficking in persons certifications for awards exceeding $500,000, anti-discrimination requirements, and the Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance policy. The Department will be substantially involved in organizing technical briefings, making final country and sector selections, and approving detailed work plans for Objectives 2 and 3.