Foa_Content_of_FOA-ILAB-23-27.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of International Labor Affairs

Program Office:

OCFT

Notice of Availability of Funds and Funding Opportunity Announcement for: Project to Increase Municipal Collective Action to Address Child Labor and Forced Labor in Mexico

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: FOA-ILAB-23-27

Assistance Listing Number: 17.401

Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is 09/11/2023.

Applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

All technical questions related to the content of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) must be submitted no later than 10 business days prior to the close date of the FOA.

Award decisions are expected to be made between 09/30/2023 and 12/31/2023.

The Department will make its best efforts to make award decisions within this timeframe, but please be aware that there are a variety of circumstances that may result in a later or earlier than expected award decision.

To apply: Submit applications via https://www.grants.gov/ in response to this funding opportunity number.

Please refer to Section IV for application submission instructions.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $4,000,000 total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for 1 cooperative agreement(s) to fund a technical assistance project(s) in Mexico to increase locally-led actions to collectively address child labor and forced labor in targeted municipalities.

The duration of the project will be 48 months from the effective date of the award. Eligible applicants include any commercial, international, educational, or non-profit organizations, including any faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, or public international organizations (PIOs). Please see section III of this funding opportunity announcement for complete eligibility requirements.

https://www.grants.gov/

In support of the project objective, the project will use an area-based approach at the municipal level to achieve the following:

• Outcome 1: Increased capacity of municipal stakeholders to collectively design and implement actions to combat child labor and forced labor.

o Sub-Outcome 1.1: Increased knowledge among municipal stakeholders of the challenges and opportunities for action to address child labor and forced labor.

o Sub-Outcome 1.2: Increased collaboration of municipal stakeholders against child labor and forced labor.

In support of Mexican Labor Law1 and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)2 this project will employ a holistic approach to addressing child labor, forced labor and the economic exclusion of workers. The applicant must propose strategies to work at municipal levels in two

(2) states in Mexico, one (1) of which does not have current Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking (OCFT) programming. When proposing state(s) to work in, the applicant must consider safety3 and feasibility of project implementation, given the security situation in certain parts of the country.

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

C. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

C. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Application Screening Criteria

2. Number of Applications to be Submitted

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

1. Technical Proposal

2. Cost Proposal

3. Submission Date, Times, and Process

C. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

D. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

E. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

F. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. CRITERIA

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

1. Merit Review and Selection Process

2. Risk Review Process

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

B. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

1. General Requirements

2. Audits and Attestation Engagements

3. Administrative Standards

4. Other Legal Requirements

5. Other Administrative Standards

6. Special Program Requirements

C. REPORTING

1. Quarterly Federal Financial Report (SF 425, FFR)

2. Semi-Annual Technical Progress Reports

3. Final Technical Report

4. Indirect Cost Rates

5. Closeout Reports

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. OMB INFORMATION COLLECTION

IX. APPENDICES

APPENDIX A: Acronyms APPENDIX B: Definitions APPENDIX C: Relevant Grant and/or Contract Experience APPENDIX D: Requirements for Application Submission APPENDIX E: Past Performance Questionnaire APPENDIX F: List of Common Outcome Domains and Standard Indicators APPENDIX G: Sustainability Strategy Template

ENDNOTES

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

ILAB leads the U.S. Government’s (USG) efforts to improve working conditions and fight labor exploitation around the world. ILAB's mission is to strengthen global labor standards, enforce labor commitments among trading partners, promote racial and gender equity, and combat international child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking. ILAB’s Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking (OCFT) works to eliminate child labor, forced labor and human trafficking through international research, policy engagement, and technical cooperation.

See ILAB’s webpage for additional information: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab

This FOA solicits applications to implement one (1) project with the objective to increase locally-led actions to collectively address child labor and forced labor in targeted municipalities.

In support of the project objective, the project will use an area-based approach at the municipal level to achieve the following:

• Outcome 1: Increased capacity of municipal stakeholders to collectively design and implement actions to combat child labor and forced labor.

o Sub-Outcome 1.1: Increased knowledge among municipal stakeholders of the challenges and opportunities for action to address child labor and forced labor.

o Sub-Outcome 1.2: Increased collaboration of municipal stakeholders against child labor and forced labor.

In support of Mexican Labor Law1 and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)2 this project will employ a holistic approach to addressing child labor, forced labor and the economic exclusion of workers. The applicant must propose strategies to work at municipal levels in two

(2) states in Mexico, one (1) of which does not have current Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking (OCFT) programming. When proposing state(s) to work in, the applicant must consider safety3 and feasibility of project implementation, given the security situation in certain parts of the country.

This announcement is for the award of one (1) new cooperative agreement with the specific project objective and outcomes outlined in this FOA. As such, applicants may not submit applications to renew or supplement an existing project.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

ILAB is authorized to award and administer grants and cooperative agreements by the USMCA Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019 (Pub. L. 116-113, title IX) to implement technical assistance to support reforms of the labor justice system in Mexico.

C. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Mexican municipalities, especially those in rural areas, face increased poverty levels and challenges in protecting their populations from labor abuses, including child labor, forced labor, and various forms of economic exclusion of workers. Children outside major urban centers, in some of the poorest municipalities, are uniquely vulnerable to child labor, which takes them away from formal education and ultimately decreases their long-term economic potential.4 Economic pressures on local communities and families drive them to rely on child labor, including having children as young as six years old participate in hazardous work.5 Economic exclusion6 increases the likelihood that families will consider child labor to supplement the family income or that adult workers will accept precarious work that could become forced labor.

Indigenous and migrant populations in Mexico also face unique barriers and inequalities, increasing their vulnerabilities to economic exclusion and labor rights violations, especially in rural municipalities and localities that lack government services.7 Additionally, indigenous children and disabled children’s needs are often overlooked in education plans, and they often face delays in receiving materials such as text books and extremely long commutes to schools.8 High rates of labor informality in many municipalities, some as high as 60%, increase the aforementioned challenges and impede an enabling environment for worker voice and empowerment.9

Mexico’s rapid urbanization in recent years, coupled with continued growth in absolute terms of rural populations, have exacerbated poverty in rural municipalities, which also leads to higher levels of economic exclusion, child labor, and forced labor. Urbanization has also exacerbated income inequality, especially between urban and rural municipalities, with almost 60% of the rural population living below the income poverty line.10 In these circumstances, government assistance is vital to address the challenges faced by these vulnerable populations and create an enabling environment for worker voice and economic and social change. Although Mexican federal and state level efforts seek to gather data, report on, and provide support for economically disadvantaged families, there are often resource and capacity constraints at municipal levels.

Further, local communities may be recipients of some finite services and projects but are often left out of decision-making processes and lack collective agency.11 Local ownership and engagement extend the reach and impact of public services, but often local engagement is an afterthought. Municipal and community leaders know their local contexts and challenges and are often best suited to design solutions that sustainably impact their communities at large. Local involvement from inception of projects can help ensure that activities are realistic, achievable, and ultimately sustainable. Thus, locally-designed and driven activities are critical to responding to ever-evolving challenges of communities. In short, a people-oriented approach that incorporates diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility and that focuses on locally-led sustainable solutions is key to responding to the increasing challenges municipalities and communities face.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a cooperative agreement. Approximately $4,000,000 total costs is expected to be available to fund approximately 1 (one) award(s). Applicants may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $4,000,000 total costs. Awards made under this announcement are subject to the availability of federal funds. In the event that additional funds become available, USDOL reserves the right to increase the amount of an award or to use such funds to select additional recipients from applications submitted in response to this announcement.

In addition to its normal consultative role as grantor, ILAB’s substantial involvement in program activities may focus on elements that are essential to meet program requirements and ensure achievement of program objectives and outcomes. ILAB’s involvement may include, but not be limited to:

• Liaising with in-country USG officials and host country governments on matters related to the project.

• Collaborating substantially on the project strategy and implementation, as well as the development of the project document package.

• Collaborating substantially on the development and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation plan and all of its components.

• Providing highly specialized input on the technical definitions and concepts of workers’ rights, international labor standards, occupational safety and health (OSH), industrial relations, social dialogue, collective bargaining, freedom of association, acceptable conditions of work, stakeholder compliance, non-discrimination, labor courts, labor administration, labor inspection, labor law and judicial reform, legal and policy frameworks, child labor, forced labor, human trafficking, and effective enforcement, among others.

• Being substantially and actively involved in designing research, service provision, and/or capacity building activities jointly with the recipient.

• Reviewing and providing input on project’s planning for sustainability and collaborating to promote sustainability of project efforts, including through replication of good practices.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The required period of performance is 48 months from the effective date of the award. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities. Only allowable costs incurred during the period of performance may be charged to the federal award (2 CFR

200.1 Period of performance).

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• U.S. organizations:

o Nonprofits, including any faith-based organizations or community-based organizations o Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education o Private Institutions of Higher Education o For-Profit organizations

• Non-U.S. organizations:

o Non-U.S. Entities, including PIOs, as described in 2 CFR 200.1.

Applicants selected for award, including PIOs, must abide by DOL's requirements in the term and conditions of the award, in alignment with U.S. appropriation laws and applicable U.S.

regulations.

Applicants do not need previous experience managing federal awards, but they must speak persuasively about their ability to leverage other previous experience and bring it to scale in support of a large federal investment.

The following types of organizations are not eligible to apply nor to participate as subrecipients/contractors:

• Organizations designated by the U.S. Government to be associated with terrorism.

• Organizations designated by the U.S. Government to have been debarred or suspended.

• Organizations planning to charge a fee (profit) associated with a project funded by a

USDOL award.

• Foreign governments and entities that are agencies of, or operated by or for, a foreign state or government are not eligible to apply. However, they may be eligible to participate as a subrecipient in certain instances, subject to USDOL approval. NOTE: If an exception to this subrecipient eligibility criterion might be appropriate, the application must include a detailed justification for the possible exception. USDOL funds are not intended to duplicate existing foreign government efforts or substitute for activities for which such governments have already assumed responsibility. USDOL will make eligibility decisions on a case-by-case basis after receiving the application.

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

This program does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Including such funds is not one of the application screening criteria and applications that include any form of cost sharing or match will not receive additional consideration during the review process. Instead, the agency considers any resources contributed to the project beyond the funds provided by the agency as leveraged resources. Section IV.B.2 provides more information on leveraged resources.

C. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Application Screening Criteria

Use the following checklist as a guide when preparing the application package to ensure that the application has met all of the screening criteria. Note that this checklist is only an aid for applicants and should not be included in the application package. It is recommended to use this checklist to ensure that the application contains all required items. If the application does not meet all of the screening criteria, the application will not move forward to the merit review process.

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

The deadline submission requirements are met Section IV.B.3.a Eligibility Section III.A

2. Number of Applications to be Submitted

Multiple applications from an organization 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.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

The components of the application are saved in any of the specified formats and are not corrupt. (USDOL will attempt to open documents, but will not troubleshoot any problems related to opening files)

Section IV.B.3.b

Application does not exceed the ceiling amount of $4,000,000 total costs Section II.A

Applicant has registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) and maintains an active account

Section IV.B.2.a

Completed and signed SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, including a Unique Entity Identifier Number

Section IV.B.2.c

SF-424A, Budget Information Form Section IV.B.2.d Technical Proposal Section IV.B.1 Attachments to Technical Proposal

• Abstract

• Work Plan

• Sustainability Strategy Template

• Relevant Grant and/or Contract

Experience

• Evidence of Country Presence

• Key Personnel Signed Commitment

Letters (2)

• Resume for Key Personnel (2)

• Project Management Organizational

Chart

Section IV.B.1

Cost Proposal Section IV.B.2 Budget Narrative Section IV.B.2.e

This FOA, found at www.grants.gov, contains all of the information needed to apply for funding.

Applicants should note that it includes hyperlinks to external forms and resources. Applicants are required to comply with all parts of the FOA, including those parts found at the hyperlinks.

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Applications submitted in response to this FOA must consist of two separate and distinct parts:

(1) a Technical Proposal, including attachments; and (2) a Cost Proposal, including the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance and related forms identified as follows. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the funding amount requested is consistent across all parts of the application. If the funding amount is not consistent, the amount requested on the SF-424 will be considered for the purpose of the award.

1. Technical Proposal

Applicants should use their technical expertise to propose how to meet the requirements of the FOA and must provide justification for their choices based on evidence (see definition in Appendix B), analysis of contextual opportunities and constraints, and available resources within the requirements of the FOA. Applicants must include specific citations to the evidence used to support their proposed project strategy. If there is limited evidence to support the proposed intervention(s), applicants may propose to pilot an innovative approach but must include and describe a plan for monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of the intervention(s).

All pages of the application must be numbered. All required documents (including attachments) must be submitted in English. Any additional documentation submitted that is not required or specifically requested under this announcement will not be considered during the merit review process.

Technical Proposals must be no more than 50 single-sided, double-spaced pages (8.5 x 11 inches with 1-inch margins). If any page limits required by this FOA for any part of the application are exceeded, the content that exceeds the page limit will not be considered during the merit review process. Font style must be Times New Roman and font size must be 12-point. The Cover Page, Acronyms List, Table of Contents, required attachments to the Technical Proposal, and the Cost Proposal do not count toward the page limit and do not have any spacing restrictions. Different fonts and font sizes may be used for tables, text boxes, and graphics. However, it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that they are legible and meet electronic submission requirements. Documents which cannot be read or accessed by the Department will not be considered during the merit review process. Please see section IV.B.3. for the file format requirements for electronic submissions.

The following instructions provide all the information needed to complete the Technical Proposal. Applicants should carefully read and consider each section and include all required information. The Technical Proposal will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria identified in http://www.grants.gov/

Section V, Application Review Information. Applicants must use the same section headers identified in this FOA for each section of the Technical Proposal:

a. Abstract (Executive Summary) Applicants must submit as an attachment an abstract summarizing the proposed project including, but not limited to, the project objective, proposed outcomes, sub-outcomes (if included in this FOA), outputs, and activities. The abstract should describe the proposed project in plain language and include the following sections:

1) Applicant’s Name and Title for the Project. The applicant’s name and title for the proposed project.

2) Purpose. A brief description of the purpose for the award, including a description of the geographic area to be served (if applicable), population(s) to be served (if applicable), number and description of individuals, groups and institutions to be served (if applicable), and the funding level requested.

3) Activities to be Performed. A brief description of award specific activities and other deliverables.

4) Expected Outcomes. The project objective, proposed outcomes, sub-outcomes (if included in this FOA), and outputs.

5) Intended Beneficiaries. Intended beneficiary(ies) or recipient(s) of the project activities.

6) Subrecipient Activities. If sub-awards are proposed, then specify the activities to be provided and the name of each proposed sub-awardee, if known.

The abstract is limited to two double-spaced single sided 8.5 x 11-inch pages with 12-point text font, Times New Roman font style, and 1-inch margins. When submitting in Grants.gov, this document must be uploaded as an attachment to the application package and specifically labeled "Abstract."

b. Table of Contents The table of contents must list all required documents and include their corresponding page numbers.

c. Project Narrative The Project Narrative must describe in detail the applicant's response to the FOA. At minimum, the Project Narrative must contain the following sections:

1) Problem Analysis (up to 5 points)

Applicants will be evaluated based on their degree of understanding the scope and nature of the problem that forms the basis of the project design. Applicants must describe the need for assistance, including the nature and scope of the problems, and the consequences of not addressing the need. Include relevant cultural, economic, social, labor and/or legal factors contributing to the problem. This information must be supported by relevant empirical data, including citations. Applicants must identify significant gaps in laws, policies, programs, and coordination efforts that contribute to the identified problem and that need to be addressed by the project.

2) Project Design (up to 38 points)

a) Project Strategy and Sustainability Strategy (up to 30 points) The applicant's Project Strategy and Sustainability section will be evaluated based on its responsiveness to the unmet need described in its Problem Analysis.

The project-level objective is to increase locally-led actions to collectively address child labor and forced labor, in targeted municipalities.

In support of achieving the objective, the project should be designed to achieve the following outcomes and sub-outcomes, if required:

Outcome 1: Increased capacity of municipal stakeholders to collectively design and implement actions to combat child labor and forced labor.

Under this outcome, the project will use an area-based approach12 and will work with municipal stakeholders to increase understanding of child labor and forced labor.13 The Applicant must propose approaches to work with municipal stakeholders to support progress towards a common labor agenda. The Applicant must describe how they will work with municipal stakeholders to collectively design, advocate for, and implement locally-led solutions to child labor, forced labor, and economic exclusion of workers.

The Applicant must propose approaches to identify and assess municipalities during the initial phase of the project, recognizing and incorporating that municipalities will vary greatly in their needs, awareness, capacities, and approaches to child labor and forced labor. Further, municipalities will vary in their specific needs to address and support diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility issues central to their locally set labor agenda.

The Applicant selected for award will be required, within the first 12 months of award, to assess, refine, and/or validate the proposed strategies for this outcome and sub-outcomes. The result of this assessment will inform final design and delivery of interventions. All post award refinements to the project strategy will be subject to approval by USDOL.

Achievement of Outcome 1 will be supported by the project’s actions under Sub- Outcomes 1.1 and 1.2.

Sub-Outcome 1.1: Increased knowledge among municipal stakeholders of the challenges and opportunities for action related to child labor and forced labor.

In support of actions under this Sub-Outcome, Applicants must assess the strengths and weakness of target municipalities. Applicants must identify good practices and lessons learned from various target municipalities and propose a strategy for promoting sharing of experiences across municipalities and replication of good practices to advance the objective of the project.

Building off initial municipality identification and assessments, the project will employ a phased collective action approach14, first working with select municipal stakeholders within identified municipalities to achieve a collective understanding of the key challenges and sustainable solutions to address child labor, and forced labor, by addressing the underlying drivers of these issues, including the economic exclusion of workers. The Applicant must describe how the project will support this process and demonstrate to municipal stakeholders how locally-designed solutions to these challenges can address child labor and forced labor.

The project must use available data, such as the most recent National Child Labor Survey (ENTI15) results, and tools from state and federal levels to help municipalities and communities understand the challenges they face.16 The project will work with municipal stakeholders to increase awareness and understanding of the long-term costs of child labor and forced labor in their municipalities and how these outweigh any short-term gains. The project will leverage this increased understanding of the challenges to demonstrate and promote how locally-driven approaches have direct benefits for municipalities.

Sub-Outcome 1.2: Increased collaboration of municipal stakeholders against child labor and forced labor.

Applicants must propose strategies to create or strengthen collaboration among stakeholders to work collectively, in each municipality to combat child labor and forced labor, by addressing the root causes of these issues, including economic exclusion of workers. Applicants must describe how the project will integrate and leverage worker voice to address child labor and forced labor. Using the collective impact methodology, or a similar approach, the Applicant must propose to work with municipal stakeholders to set collective priorities to tackle child labor and forced labor, while defining needs specific to their municipalities.17 The Applicant must propose strategies for building out networks of municipalities, joining growth potential municipalities with champion municipalities18, and supporting them to advocate to state and federal levels for their needs to combat child labor, forced labor, and economic exclusion of workers.

The Applicant must also propose strategies to design locally-led joint action plans to address child labor and forced labor, by addressing the underlying factors of these issues, including the economic exclusion of workers. Plans will be designed by municipalities in a participatory manner, ensuring diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are the axis of all proposed activities in the plans; additional diagnostics proposed by the project may also inform action plans and lay the groundwork for sustainable change at the municipal level. Each plan will also incorporate capacity building goals for municipal stakeholders. Plans will include processes for worker/ community voice feedback loops, and the continual gathering of insights from participating stakeholders to iteratively improve and build out their collective actions against child labor and forced labor, and their root causes, including the economic exclusion of workers. As designed, these plans will help municipalities address the aforementioned challenges within their communities and build an enabling environment for worker voice and empowerment. In addition, Applicants must propose strategies and activities that mobilize and support municipal stakeholders in the execution of their action plans.

The action plans should build municipal stakeholder capacity to develop and implement initiatives to combat child labor and forced labor, by addressing the root causes, including the economic exclusion of workers, ultimately setting and/or strengthening foundations for enabling environment for worker voice. Proposed capacity building activities within the action plans must strengthen municipal stakeholders’ abilities to organize themselves to collectively address child labor and forced labor.

The action plans must include locally-led initiatives to address child labor, forced labor, and economic exclusion. Applicants may propose a resource mobilization mechanism to aid municipal stakeholders in the implementation of their action plan initiatives, and later train the municipalities on how to leverage those resources (e.g., grantmaking activities) to obtain additional resources for sustainability.

Implementation strategies under this outcome must also include activities that promote ongoing dialog, alliances, and partnerships across municipalities. The project will support the creation of resilient, sustainable networks19 among municipalities, especially those that may be more advanced in their work against child labor, forced labor, and economic exclusion of workers with those that are in earlier stages.

Additionally, all action plans and resulting activities and strategies must hold at their axis diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility, ensuring that those who often are excluded have a seat at the table. The action plans should also support municipal stakeholders in effectively using data, reporting, and other resources for example, from federal and state agencies.

Based on their theory of change, Applicants are welcome to propose additional outcomes or sub-outcomes they deem necessary to achieve the project-level objective, as needed.

Requirements Across Outcomes Applicants must propose a strategy to achieve the project-level objective and expected outcomes stated above. Applicants may suggest additional outcomes they deem necessary to achieve the project-level objective and a rationale for how they contribute to the achievement of the project’s overall objective. One or more existing outcomes may be revised during the project validation process post-award in consultation with ILAB. A subsequent amendment to the cooperative agreement will formally reflect the incorporation of revised outcomes.

Applicants must describe all major areas of project intervention. In describing project interventions, applicants are expected to describe specific outputs and activities and how such activities should logically lead to the project’s expected objective and outcomes in an interrelated and holistic manner. Applicants must demonstrate how their proposed strategy will address gaps identified in the problem analysis, identify any potential barriers, and describe how the project will work to overcome those barriers. Applicants must provide evidence of the effectiveness of their proposed strategy. If there is limited evidence to support the proposed intervention(s), applicants may propose to pilot an innovative approach but must include and describe a plan for monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of the intervention(s).

In addition, applicants must clearly describe in their proposed strategy how they will integrate sustainability into their project strategy, beginning in the early stages of project implementation (please see Appendix B for a definition of sustainability).

Applicants are not required to develop an integrated sustainability strategy for every outcome or sub-outcome proposed, but rather, only where appropriate and needed to maximize long term impact. Applicants shall use the Sustainability Strategy Template (please see Appendix G) to show how they plan to build sustainability into their design for applicable outcomes/elements. Successful applicants will have an opportunity to update and elaborate on this template post-award.

As part of its strategy, applicants must undertake an initial assessment of any unique needs of underserved or historically marginalized populations and the most at risk or vulnerable groups and describe how any identified needs will be addressed.

USDOL has informed host government officials of the proposed project. Applicants must propose strategies for collaborating with the relevant government agencies in each country.

Efforts must be made to avoid duplication and to build upon relevant previous or ongoing activities in Mexico. Applicants must include a mapping of the landscape of current relevant programming in Mexico. Applicants must also demonstrate how they intend to coordinate with other relevant projects and initiatives, including those funded by the host government (where applicable), USDOL, other USG agencies, and other donor governments and organizations. Applicants must include a brief description of the consultative process undertaken in preparing their proposal.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have undertaken an initial assessment of the needs, resources, interests, influence and capabilities of all target groups, institutions, organizations or structures that are deemed vital to sustaining project outcomes, by describing the process of conducting the assessment and the results. The needs assessment and discussion of results should give particular attention to structural inequities and vulnerable groups, and should include a gender analysis.

Applicants must plan for long-term sustainability of outcomes in their proposed strategies. The applicant’s description of the project strategy should:

• Explain the flow of inputs to activities, activities to outputs, outputs to outcomes, outcomes to the project objective, and the sustained impact on worker rights that the project will contribute to.

• Fully justify proposed interventions by explaining their purpose and the problems they are intended to address. If available, note any applicable research that establishes evidence of a causal relationship or correlation between interventions and expected outcomes. Proposed interventions, including the activities and outputs that comprise them, should be fully described and should be ambitious but realistic given the implementing environment, scope of the problems to be addressed, and proposed budget.

• Demonstrate knowledge of political, gender, cultural, or other traditions and norms pertaining to and impacting the interventions proposed in the target sectors, including how these issues will be considered while implementing project activities.

• Demonstrate the long-term sustainability of all efforts and outcomes in the design of the proposal, including which outcomes have the potential to be sustained after the end of the project and explain how the responsibility for sustaining them is expected to transition to local stakeholders, systems and institutions.

• Identify risks and opportunities inherent in the project design that could impact the likelihood of achieving or sustaining project outcomes, and describe appropriate mitigation and response strategies.

• Recognize possible external factors or shocks and their potential influence on the project, expected outcomes, and their sustainability.

Sustainability must be the centerpiece of the project strategy. “Sustainability” is concerned with measuring whether the benefits of an activity are likely to continue after donor funding has been withdrawn. Applicants must take into account the likelihood that the benefits or effects of a particular output or outcome will continue after donor funding ends. In developing the project strategy, applicants must consult with key stakeholders to ensure that the proposed strategy takes into account the factors, partners and institutions that are likely to have the strongest influence over, and the capacity and willingness to sustain the desired outcomes and impacts.

Applicants should embed sustainability success factors into the project design in accordance with the Sustainability Guide available on ILAB’s website at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/grants.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/grants

After award, the selected recipients will be required to refine the Sustainability Strategy, report on it in each of their progress reports and modify or update the strategy as needed. Although there are restrictions on the awarding of subawards or contracts to government entities, to the extent possible, recipients should consider engaging relevant government agencies through other mechanisms, as well as partnering with other local organizations or associations to strengthen their capacity.

b) Project Targets (up to 8 points) The applicant's Project Targets section will be evaluated based on how well it supports the overall project strategy, as well as for how reasonable project targets are with consideration to the allocation of project resources (e.g., budget, staffing) to support the meeting of those targets.

Applicants must describe the target populations, institutions, systems or processes that will be impacted by the project. Applicants must describe how target populations, institutions, sectors and/or geographic areas, etc. reflect the problem to be addressed and the overall strategy being proposed by the applicant.

Applicants must provide a justification for their selection of a target geographical area(s), as applicable.

Applicants must describe how geographic areas reflect the problem to be addressed and the overall strategy being proposed by the applicant.

The applicant must propose to work at the municipal level in two (2) states in Mexico, one (1) from each of the following groups:

Group 1: Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Tabasco, Campeche Group 2: Chiapas, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Yucatán, Quintana Roo

The applicant must consider safety and feasibility of security situation when proposing states to work in. Within the applicant’s two selected states, the applicant must agree to work in municipalities that have sugarcane, coffee, or cocoa production (or any combination of). The applicant must detail how they will ensure project activities do not overlap with other programming and describe how proposed activities will compliment or pick up after other efforts phase out if municipalities proposed have current OCFT programming. While applicants do not need to have commitment from and name specific municipalities in their proposals, applicants must propose strategies to target and to work with municipalities that are willing, open, and committed to collectively addressing their challenges in an ethical manner, while incorporating diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Applicants must put forward a proposed approach to ensure the safety of participants and implementers within the target geographic area(s). Applicants must describe how they will administer services in a safe environment.

2) Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Agreement and Capacity Statement (up to 4 points) The applicant's M&E Agreement and Capacity Statement will be evaluated based on how well it addresses OCFT M&E requirements (outlined below). Applicants must confirm in their proposal their commitment to strong project M&E. They must also confirm their agreement to collaborate with USDOL in developing and revising required M&E deliverables, including the project’s Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (CMEP).

As part of project monitoring and evaluation activities, the Awardee will be required to work with USDOL post award to develop appropriate indicators and a plan for assessing the effectiveness and sustainability of key components (or activities) of the project, including proposed activities to build capacity to address Child Labor and Forced Labor and promote the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work among key domestic worker stakeholders. For more information on M&E expectations, please see the most recent Management Procedures and Guidelines (MPG) for OCFT projects and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Resource Guide for OCFT Projects under “Grantee Resources” at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/grants.

M&E requirements include:

• conducting a rigorous process for establishing baseline values for USDOL standard and project-specific indicators, as applicable. Please see Appendix F for a list of OCFT’s standard indicators;

• development and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation plan, which includes the collection, entering, processing, reporting, and analysis of data on project-specific and USDOL-standard performance indicators throughout the period of performance;

• development of project-specific child labor/forced labor definitions (as applicable);

• implementation of a monitoring system to collect data to monitor the provision of services for all participants, in accordance with USDOL’s specific standard indicators;

• collaboration with ILAB on required performance evaluations and/or other learning/accountability activities;

• ensuring adequate M&E staffing capacity to support monitoring activities throughout the project’s period of performance; and

• working with USDOL post award to develop appropriate indicators and a plan for assessing the effectiveness and sustainability of key components (or activities) of the project.

For more information on M&E expectations, please see the most recent Management Procedures and Guidelines (MPG) for OCFT projects and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Resource Guide for OCFT Projects under “Grantee Resources” at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/grants.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/grants

3) Work Plan (up to 6 points)

The applicant's Work Plan will be evaluated based on how clearly and realistically it outlines major activities and their related deadlines. The Work Plan must identify major project activities, deadlines for completing these activities, and person(s) or institution(s) responsible for completing these activities for the entire life of the project, as well as a sustainability plan. The Work Plan must be included graphically as an attachment and correspond to activities identified in the Project Design, Budget and Budget Narrative. Applicants may choose an appropriate format for their Work Plan, but the format must include a field/column where the applicant, if funded, would report on the status of plan items (e.g., not yet started, on track, delayed, completed).

d. Organizational Capacity (up to 30 points) This section must describe the qualifications of the proposed applicant and/or any proposed subrecipients to implement the project.

1) Relevant Grant and/or Contract Experience (up to 6 points) The applicant's Relevant Grant and/or Contract Experience will be evaluated based on how well it reflects their ability to address the requirements of the FOA (including the ability to meet USDOL monitoring, oversight, and reporting requirements) and implement the applicant’s proposed Project Strategy. Applicants must describe any experience they or their proposed subrecipients have with implementing projects relevant to this FOA and provide references for past performance, as well as ask their references to complete and submit a past performance questionnaire. Each of these requirements is further explained in the corresponding bulleted item below. Projects included must have been active within seven years of the issuance date of the FOA and no more than a combined total of six (6) projects for the primary applicant and proposed subrecipients should be provided in the description or used for references.

• Project descriptions should be included in this section of the technical proposal.

• References must be included as an attachment in a Relevant Grant and/or Contract Experience table (see Appendix C for a sample format). USDOL reserves the right to contact any references included in the chart and/or any other references that come to our attention.

• Applicants must ask all listed references to provide information about project performance and administration such as that suggested in the sample past performance questionnaire included as Appendix E. For consideration, references must email this information as a Word document or PDF attachment directly to USDOL at OGM_ILAB@dol.gov by the closing date and time of this announcement. Email submissions must include the following subject line: FOA-ILAB-23-27, Reference, Applicant [insert applicant name] or if applicable Proposed Subrecipient [insert sub name], [insert reference giver’s name and organization]. USDOL is not responsible http://OGM_ILAB@dol.gov for reviewing messages that do not include the proper subject line. Failure by references to submit the requested information by the required date and time will result in its omission from the panel review process and may affect how the application is scored. Applicants are encouraged to follow-up with their references directly because USDOL cannot guarantee to confirm receipt of emailed references.

Applicants and/or subrecipients with no relevant past grants and/or contracts experience must include a narrative describing their ability to leverage other previous experience to achieve this FOA’s required outcomes. In such cases, applicants must include an attachment indicating that the list of references is not applicable.

2) Country Presence (up to 6 points)

The applicant's Country Presence section will be evaluated based on how well it demonstrates the applicant’s ability to effectively meet USDOL requirements for start-up and implementation of the proposed project. Applicants must describe their organization’s (and/or subrecipients’) existing presence in-country and ability to start up project activities in the target area(s) upon receiving an award (see section IV.B.1.d.3 for more information on partners). Any documents that demonstrate country presence (e.g., official registration of the applicant’s organization and/or subrecipient in the host country, a current Memorandum of Understanding between the applicant and/or subrecipient and the host government) must be included as an attachment to the Technical Proposal.

Applicants must describe their ability and plans to collaborate directly with relevant national, regional and/or local government and non-government agencies, and other organizations as relevant to this project in each country, and their past experience working with these stakeholders.

If the applicant and/or subrecipient does not have country presence the applicant must include a narrative explanation in this section indicating why this is the case and explain how it may impact project implementation. The applicant also must include an attachment indicating that the Country Presence Attachment is not applicable.

3) Partners (up to 6 points) The applicant's Partners section will be evaluated based on how well it supports effective implementation of the applicant’s project strategy and the needs outlined in their problem analysis section. Applicants must describe their approach for working with organizations in the target country(ies) to implement project activities to advance the objective of the project. Where they exist, applicants must describe any established partnerships and how they will be leveraged (either formally or informally) during project implementation, including with local organizations that have capacity and experience working on issues related to the objective of the project.

Applicants without established in-country partnerships must describe how they will build local partnerships and/or describe any other partnerships that will be leveraged to achieve the project objective.

Applicants that propose formal project implementation partners (i.e., as subrecipients) must include a brief description of such partners, including a description of the partners’ role in implementing the proposed project strategy and how this approach will strengthen the overall proposal. Applicants must provide documentation demonstrating these partners' support and commitment to the project.

4) Personnel (up to 8 points)

a) Key Personnel The applicant's Key Personnel section will be evaluated based on how well proposed Key Personnel meet the requirements outlined below and how well their past experience reflects an ability to implement the applicant’s proposed project strategy.

Key personnel positions are deemed…