FOA-ILAB-23-22.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of International Labor Affairs

Program Office:

OTLA

Notice of Availability of Funds and Funding Opportunity Announcement for: Promoting Quality Jobs in Infrastructure Development

Announcement Type: _________

Funding Opportunity Number: FOA-ILAB-23-22

Assistance Listing Number: 17.401

Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is 09/13/2023.

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 $6,000,000 total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for 1 cooperative agreement(s) to fund a technical assistance project with the objective to support strong labor safeguard implementation that promotes safe, quality jobs on Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) infrastructure project sites in Indonesia and the Philippines.

https://www.grants.gov/

The duration of the project will be 54 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.

The project will prioritize underserved populations in Indonesia and the Philippines and will focus on MDB-funded construction of infrastructure projects in those countries, as well as operations and maintenance. Inadequate working conditions in infrastructure can include exposure to a variety of health and safety hazards including fatalities, discrimination and harassment; long working hours (at times in excess of legal limits or even forced overtime);

restrictions on freedom of association; and retaliation against labor organizers and advocates.

The project shall be designed to achieve the outcomes necessary to achieve the project objective and substantially contribute to the desired long-term impact(s). USDOL has identified the following outcome(s) as necessary to achieve the project objective:

Outcome 1: Strengthened capacity of workers, workers’ organizations, and other key actors to participate in and facilitate strong implementation of MDB labor safeguards.

Outcome 2: Enhanced engagement by MDB project workers and their unions to improve labor rights and working conditions, particularly through collective bargaining.

Outcome 3: Increased involvement of workers and workers’ organizations as partners with MDBs, borrowers, and employers within the infrastructure project cycle.

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 promote a fair global playing field for workers in the United States and around the world by enforcing trade commitments, strengthening labor standards, and combating international child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking. ILAB’s Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) works to make sure that U.S.

trade partners fulfill their promises and play by the rules, and that American workers are able to compete on a level playing field by negotiating strong labor provisions in trade agreements and preference programs, monitoring for compliance, enforcing trade agreement and preference program commitments, and sharing technical expertise. See ILAB’s webpage for additional information: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab.

This FOA solicits applications to implement 1 project(s) with the objective of supporting strong labor safeguard implementation that promotes safe, quality jobs on Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) project sites in Indonesia and the Philippines.

The project will prioritize underserved populations in Indonesia and the Philippines and will focus on MDB-funded construction of infrastructure projects in those countries, as well as operations and maintenance. Inadequate working conditions in infrastructure can include exposure to a variety of health and safety hazards including fatalities, discrimination and harassment; long working hours (at times in excess of legal limits or even forced overtime);

restrictions on freedom of association; and retaliation against labor organizers and advocates.

The project shall be designed to achieve the outcomes necessary to achieve the project objective and substantially contribute to the desired long-term impact(s). USDOL has identified the following outcome(s) as necessary to achieve the project objective:

Outcome 1: Strengthened capacity of workers, workers’ organizations, and other key actors to participate in and facilitate strong implementation of MDB labor safeguards.

Outcome 2: Enhanced engagement by MDB project workers and their unions to improve labor rights and working conditions, particularly through collective bargaining.

Outcome 3: Increased involvement of workers and workers’ organizations as partners with MDBs, borrowers, and employers within the infrastructure project cycle.

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

The project will work with infrastructure workers, particularly those not yet affiliated with unions, and workers from underserved populations; workers’ organizations that represent the collective interests of infrastructure workers, including in construction and related sectors, in Indonesia and the Philippines, and their members; and private sector and public sector entities that serve, interact with, employ or otherwise depend upon infrastructure workers. To the extent possible, this project will increase the capacity of workers and their organizations to promote quality jobs and exercise their rights, particularly the fundamental principles and rights at work, on infrastructure projects funded by MDBs. The project will encourage trust building, positive dialogue and partnership between key actors, including workers’ organizations, MDBs, borrowers, and contractors. The project will focus primarily on the construction phase of infrastructure but may involve the operations and maintenance phase when this is funded by an MDB or when workers’ organizations from non-construction sectors engage on MDB project design and post-project development impact.

For the purposes of this FOA, infrastructure is defined as construction or operations and maintenance of projects that can improve economic potential, connectivity, and public services.

This includes transport (public transit systems, roads, railways, logistics and ports); energy (production and distribution); communications, utilities, and public services including sanitation/water; or other major civil works.4

Drawing on the Theory of Sustained Change for ILAB’s Worker Rights Programs and other available evidence (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ILAB/TOsC-Guidebook-March- Updates-032723-Clean-508.pdf), USDOL has identified the three outcomes above as necessary to achieve the project objective and realistic for this project’s duration and budget. However, over the life of the project, implementers are also encouraged to monitor for emergent or unpredicted outcomes that project interventions may contribute to, as well as to identify new opportunities or constraints that may arise during implementation that could influence achievement or sustainability of desired outcomes.

Applicants selected for award will be required, within the first six months of award, to carry out additional in-country project validations and consultations with partners and relevant stakeholders to assess and identify gaps, risks and opportunities, analyze stakeholder capabilities and interests, understand existing gender equity and social inclusion challenges, as well as potential harm in order to refine and/or validate the proposed project design, including performance indicators and targets, risk mitigation and sustainability strategies. All post-award refinements to the project strategy will be subject to approval by USDOL. USDOL welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received an award from USDOL, including minority-led organizations. Applicants should not enter into exclusivity agreements with any worker organization.

The project will prioritize underserved populations in Indonesia and the Philippines and will focus on MDB-funded construction of infrastructure projects in those countries, as well as operations and maintenance. Inadequate working conditions in infrastructure can include exposure to a variety of health and safety hazards including fatalities, discrimination and harassment; long working hours (at times in excess of legal limits or even forced overtime);

restrictions on freedom of association; and retaliation against labor organizers and advocates.

https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ILAB/TOsC-Guidebook-March-Updates-032723-Clean-508.pdf

The project shall be designed to achieve the outcomes necessary to achieve the project objective and substantially contribute to the desired long-term impact(s). USDOL has identified the following outcome(s) as necessary to achieve the project objective:

Outcome 1: Strengthened capacity of workers, workers’ organizations, and other key actors to participate in and facilitate strong implementation of MDB labor safeguards.

Outcome 2: Enhanced engagement by MDB project workers and their unions to improve labor rights and working conditions, particularly through collective bargaining.

Outcome 3: Increased involvement of workers and workers’ organizations as partners with MDBs, borrowers, and employers within the infrastructure project cycle.

This announcement is for the award of 1 new cooperative agreement(s) 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 Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 2023, PL 117-328, Division H, Title I.

C. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Multilateral Development Banks provide crucial support to advance sustainable economic growth and decent work.5 In the Philippines and Indonesia, the primary MDBs are: Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the World Bank. MDBs lend to both public (sovereign) and private or subnational (non-sovereign) entities, and infrastructure projects typically involve significant procurement of contractors. Examples of MDB-financed infrastructure projects include the Pumped Storage Hydropower in Java Bali System and sections of the North-South Commuter Railway in the Philippines.6 The United States is committed to MDBs, infrastructure, labor rights, and jobs as catalytic forces for the realization of national and global development goals.7 The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment, Just Energy Transition Partnerships, the Multilateral Partnership for Organizing, Worker Empowerment, and Rights (M-POWER), and other initiatives uphold the creation of quality jobs with labor rights including freedom of association, collective bargaining, and occupational health and safety.8

MDBs apply binding environmental and social standards, often called safeguards, to funded projects.9 Labor is covered as a standalone safeguard or within broader safeguard systems and policies.10 Common topics include terms and conditions of employment, workers’ organizations, grievance mechanisms, occupational health and safety, forced labor, and child labor. Some labor safeguards are guided by the conventions and recommendations of the International Labor Organization (ILO), particularly the fundamental conventions per the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.11 Safeguards protect the rights of ‘project workers’ hired in connection with implementation, most frequently in construction.12 Additional labor requirements are also included in the procurement of construction contractors on MDB-funded projects.13 Safeguards are complemented by procedures, guidance and good practice notes, environmental health and safety guidelines, and mechanisms to handle grievances at the project and MDB levels.14,15

For safeguards to be effective, protect workers, and promote quality jobs their implementation requires robust design, due diligence, and monitoring with an eye toward preventing, identifying, and remedying any violations.16,17 Infrastructure projects can present unique challenges due to significant safety hazards, multiple contractors and subcontractors, and large workforces.18 Cooperation between all stakeholders, including MDBs, workers, borrowers, and contractors, is important to success, especially for occupational health and safety.19 Fatalities are a significant risk in construction projects. Workers and their organizations have a key role to play, including providing information during due diligence and monitoring and bargaining to raise conditions.20,21 Unions have increasingly recognized the importance of engaging funders, including MDBs, and transnational infrastructure companies.22,23 For borrowers and contractors, responsible labor relations and practices help reduce incidents and disruptions and foster a skilled and productive workforce.24 Moreover, development impact, including shared prosperity and ending poverty, is maximized by strong labor safeguard implementation leading to quality jobs.

Indonesia achieved upper middle-income status in 2020. Infrastructure is essential for its sustainable development, including closing gaps in human needs and achieving a just transition.25 In April, the US Government and Indonesia signed an agreement to invest more than $648 million in infrastructure development and financing to improve transport and logistics infrastructure.26 Additionally, the Indonesian government has announced plans to invest more than $350 billion in infrastructure projects such as roads and airports before 2025.27 As a result, the construction sector is forecast to grow in the coming years, driven in part by infrastructure spending.28 Construction experiences high rates of occupational health and safety incidents.29

Freedom of association and collective bargaining are protected under law, with some legal restrictions on strikes. Practical barriers include frequent employer delays in negotiations, interference with union activity, and new laws that ease the use of outsourced labor. The share of women workers in construction is low globally and in Indonesia and the Philippines. Raising participation requires a focus on equal opportunity and non-discrimination in employment and occupation, and fostering safe, respectful workplaces.

The Philippines is approaching upper middle-income status while it continues to experience rapid population growth. To meet future economic targets, the Government announced in August 2022 a program called “Build Better More,” a continuation of the previous administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program, which is targeting more than $81 billion in road, rail and air networks to ease urban congestion and improve transportation links between islands.30 Most of the projects will be funded by overseas development assistance, though the government plans to increase its own investment into infrastructure projects from 2% to over 6% of GDP.31 With the investments, there is significant potential for job growth in the construction sector with the potential to reduce inequalities.32,33 However, construction accounted for 9.5% of occupational injuries in 2019, and freedom of association and collective bargaining, while protected under law, face restrictions related to outsourced and migrant workers.34 Violence and other pressure on unionists also create practical barriers.35 The countries both have a high number of workers per labor inspector, above the ratio recommended by the ILO.36

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a cooperative agreement. Approximately $6,000,000 total costs is expected to be available to fund approximately 1 (one) award(s). Applicants may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $6,000,000 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 54 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 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 $6,000,000 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 (3) Resume for Key Personnel (3) Resume for Other Required

Professional Personnel (2) Project Management

Organizational Chart

Section IV.B.1

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

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

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 http://www.grants.gov 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 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 6 points)

a) Scope of the Problem (up to 2 points)

Applicants will be evaluated based on the extent to which their analysis demonstrates a systemic understanding of the worker-rights problem that the proposed project is designed to address. Applicants must describe in both quantitative and qualitative terms the need for assistance, including the nature, scope and root causes of the problem, and the consequences of not addressing the need. The analysis must reflect all the relevant conditions that are holding the problem in place, complicating or reinforcing it, including relevant cultural, economic, social, demographic, technological, historical, political, or environmental factors contributing to the problem. The problem analysis must demonstrate a cogent assessment of the boundaries of the “system” the project is seeking to transform, identify specific leverage points (transforming structures or processes) within the system that could drive change with respect to the problem, how they interact with one another and any related factors or barriers to change. Applicants must identify significant gaps in laws, policies, programs, and coordination efforts that contribute to the identified problem and that need to be addressed.

b) Population / Institutions Served (up to 2 points)

The analysis must include discussion of specific actors within the system (individuals, groups, institutions, coalitions, or networks) that have influence and/or interest in addressing the problem, giving particular attention to underserved, underrepresented, and historically marginalized communities or groups. This discussion should clearly describe how the targeted population(s) to be served in the project will meet the requirements of this FOA by increasing their access to and/or demand for services, benefits, protections or programs associated with improved workers’ rights. The analysis must address considerations of harm and equity sufficient to demonstrate the applicant’s understanding of how the problem affects different groups, with particular attention to gender and racial equity. For projects involving institutional strengthening, the problem analysis should clearly describe institutional barriers (or “pain points”) encountered by the target population(s) in accessing services, benefits, protections or programs associated with improved workers’ rights. The problem analysis must be supported by relevant empirical data, including citations.

c) Proposed Geographic Scope (up to 2 points):

The applicant must identify and provide a justification for the proposed target service area(s) and the number of individuals, communities, and institutions/groups that the applicant expects to serve. Applicants should focus on construction within MDB-funded infrastructure projects in Indonesia and the Philippines. Within the chosen geographic scope, applicants must identify the specific site(s) where awarded applicants will implement project interventions. Applicants should consult the Theory of Sustained Change Guidebook for ILAB’s Worker Rights Programs for more information on systems approaches:

https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ILAB/TOsC-Guidebook-March-Updates- 032723-Clean-508.pdf.

2) Project Design (up to 25 points)

a) Project Strategy and Sustainability Strategy (up to 20 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 support strong labor safeguard implementation that promotes safe, quality jobs on MDB infrastructure project sites in Indonesia and the Philippines. The project will prioritize underserved populations in Indonesia and the Philippines and will focus on MDB-funded construction of infrastructure projects in those countries, as well as operations and maintenance. Applicants should propose a strategy to achieve Outcomes 1, 2, and 3 in both Indonesia and the Philippines for the entirety of the award timeframe.

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

Outcome 1: Strengthened capacity of workers, workers’ organizations, and other key actors to participate in and facilitate strong implementation of MDB labor safeguards.

Outcome 2: Enhanced engagement by MDB project workers and their unions to improve labor rights and working conditions, particularly through collective bargaining.

Outcome 3: Increased involvement of workers and workers’ organizations as partners with MDBs, borrowers, and employers within the infrastructure project cycle.

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 their 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.

Expected Outcomes

Outcome 1: Strengthened capacity of workers, workers’ organizations, and other key actors to participate in and facilitate strong implementation of MDB labor safeguards.

Applicants must propose evidence-based interventions targeting specific leverage points that will result in new or strengthened democratic workers’ organizations’ abilities to organize, mobilize, advocate, and bargain for labor rights and improved job quality. Activities could include, but are not limited to, a mapping of ongoing and planned MDB-funded infrastructure projects for opportunities to promote worker organizing and empowerment, training to build the capacity of relevant worker organizations to organize MDB infrastructure projects with significant workforces, and activities that expand worker organizations’ knowledge of MDBs including labor safeguards and opportunities for engagement or redress and that support worker organizing. Activities may also include, but are not limited to, promoting collaboration between workers’ organizations, particularly at the international level, and between unions representing construction workers and unions representing operations and maintenance workers. All activities should be undertaken in close coordination with relevant local, national, regional, and global union bodies, and ensure that workers and their unions have ownership and leadership of activities.

Applicants must propose plans to increase the ability and willingness of workers to take effective collective action; build the capacity of workers and leaders (especially workers from underserved populations including women) to affiliate with, form, and strengthen worker organizations; and increase the membership of worker organizations. Applicants must clearly identify barriers and entry points and describe how proposed interventions will strengthen capacity of workers, workers’ organizations, and other key actors to participate in and facilitate strong implementation of MDB labor safeguards. Applicants must include specific citations to evidence used to support their proposed strategies.37 Evidence can include lessons learned and promising practices from labor programming as well as other relevant initiatives. 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) through complexity-aware monitoring, to be approved by USDOL post-award.38

In both countries the applicant’s interventions will result in strengthening worker organizations to be able to better articulate and advocate for priorities through evidence-based assessments of sector-wide patterns of alleged labor rights violations or concerns regarding working conditions.

Outcome 2: Enhanced engagement by MDB project workers and their unions to improve labor rights and working conditions, particularly through collective bargaining.

Applicants must propose evidence-based interventions targeting specific leverage points that will result in strengthened networks among individuals and/or institutions to achieve systemic improvements in fundamental labor rights and improved working conditions. These interventions should be part of a strategy that includes collaboration with individuals, communities, and institutions such as the private sector, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and other civil society organizations.

Activities may include, but are not limited to, the identification of and increased awareness of occupational health and safety issues among workers, workers’ organizations, and employers. Activities on occupational health and safety should cover violence and harassment in the world of work, including gender-based violence, in keeping with Convention 190. The project should center non-discrimination and equal opportunity, women, and other historically marginalized, underrepresented, and vulnerable groups. Applicants should propose evidence-based interventions to assist worker organizations in promoting safer, healthier, and more prosperous employment with fair wages in infrastructure, and other workers’ rights, including the right to organize and bargain collectively. Where worker organizations do not exist, the project may propose other strategies to educate workers about their rights as a foundation for future organizing. Applicants should identify gaps, barriers, and entry points, and describe how the proposed interventions will increase the likelihood that MDB project workers and employers choose to use collective bargaining to address labor rights issues. Applicants must include specific citations to evidence used to support their proposed strategies. Evidence can include lessons learned and promising practices from labor programming as well as other relevant initiatives. 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) through complexity-aware monitoring to be approved by USDOL post-award.

Outcome 3: Increased involvement of workers and workers’ organizations as partners with MDBs, borrowers, and employers within the infrastructure project cycle.

Applicants should propose to strengthen existing local, national, and/or regional mechanisms for dialogue and collective bargaining in the target countries. The project may work with workers’ organizations as well as bipartite and tripartite dialogue mechanisms to identify best practices, lessons learned, and opportunities for cross-sector collaboration as well as direct engagement with relevant government agencies at the national, regional, and/or local level. Interventions could include, but are not limited to, building the long-term relationships of worker organizations with the MDBs, including country offices, sector departments, environmental and social departments, and management, and contribute to better stakeholder engagement by MDBs and borrowers with unions.

Applicants must propose a project design that embraces a “local systems approach,” which for this project means that sustained impact on labor rights will be achieved by local and regional system actors and linkages among them, strengthened by organized worker voice to collectively diagnose the root causes and economic drivers of a given problem, determine the key leverage points in the system, and implement appropriate interventions to shift the conditions holding the problem in place. At the end of this project, the interventions implemented and outcomes achieved will have enabled workers in the target sectors in the two countries to use their collective power to influence their terms and conditions of employment and work, to influence regulation and enforcement, and to improve their livelihoods. Applicants should identify gaps, barriers, and entry points, and describe how the proposed interventions will increase involvement of workers and workers’ organizations as partners with MDBs, borrowers, and employers within the infrastructure project cycle. Applicants must include specific citations to evidence used to support their proposed strategies.

Evidence can include lessons learned and promising practices from labor programming as well as other relevant initiatives. 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) through complexity-aware monitoring to be approved by USDOL post-award.

All proposed interventions for all three Outcomes must be grounded in a “Do No Harm” approach and should seek to engage and be particularly sensitive to members of marginalized communities and underserved populations.

The project summaries and evaluations of active and recent ILAB-funded projects in Indonesia and the Philippines and other countries should also be considered when applicable as part of the proposed project design.39

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 Indonesia and the Philippines. Applicants must include a mapping of the landscape of current relevant programming in Indonesia and the Philippines. 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.