FOA-ILAB-23-28.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 Improve Adherence to International Labor Standards in the Agricultural Sector in Ecuador

Announcement Type: _________

Funding Opportunity Number: FOA-ILAB-23-28

Assistance Listing Number: 17.401

Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is 09/27/2023.

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 $4,740,000 total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for 1 cooperative agreement(s) to fund a technical assistance project in Ecuador to improve adherence to international labor standards, specifically related to child labor, forced labor, and the promotion of labor rights, within the agricultural sector, particularly in the banana and cut flower supply chains. This project seeks to address evidence regarding the prevalence of child labor in the banana and cut flower sectors, as well as to build awareness and capacity to mitigate the risk of other labor rights abuses, including forced labor, and to support efforts to address occupational safety and health issues.

https://www.grants.gov/

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.

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

Outcome 1: Increased capacity of government officials to enforce labor laws specifically related to child labor, forced labor, occupational safety and health and other labor rights in the agricultural sector.

Outcome 2: Increased worker knowledge about child labor, forced labor, occupational safety and health and other labor rights in the agricultural sector.

Outcome 3: Increased worker access to remediation of labor law violations within the agricultural sector.

This project will work in both the banana and cut flower sectors and will be implemented in two provinces. The applicant must select one of the following banana producing provinces: El Oro, Guayas, or Los Rios; and one of the following cut flower producing provinces: Azuay, Pichincha, and Cotopaxi.

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.

This FOA solicits applications to implement 1 project(s) with the objective to fund a technical assistance project in Ecuador to improve adherence to international labor standards, specifically related to child labor, forced labor, and the promotion of labor rights, within the agricultural sector, particularly in the banana and cut flower supply chains. This project seeks to address evidence regarding the prevalence of child labor in the banana and cut flower sectors, as well as to build awareness and capacity to mitigate the risk of other labor rights abuses, including forced labor, and to support efforts to address occupational safety and health issues.

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

Outcome 1: Increased capacity of government officials to enforce labor laws specifically related to child labor, forced labor, occupational safety and health and other labor rights in the agricultural sector.

Outcome 2: Increased worker knowledge about child labor, forced labor, occupational safety and health and other labor rights in the agricultural sector.

Outcome 3: Increased worker access to remediation of labor law violations within the agricultural sector.

This project will work in both the banana and cut flower sectors and will be implemented in two provinces. The applicant must select one of the following banana producing provinces: El Oro, Guayas, or Los Rios; and one of the following cut flower producing provinces: Azuay, Pichincha, and Cotopaxi.

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

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

Ecuador is a major supplier of goods imports to the United States (U.S.), with goods imports totaling $7 billion in 2019.1 Bananas and cut flowers are two of Ecuador’s largest exports to the U.S. and around the world. Ecuador is the second highest exporter of cut flowers to the United States. Twenty-three percent of the flowers2 and twenty-four percent of bananas sold in the United States3 are imported from Ecuador, placing both among the top list of imported agricultural goods to the United States. Although Ecuadorian law prohibits child labor, approximately fifteen percent of children between the ages of 8 and 14 work in Ecuador, many in the agriculture sector, including in banana plantations and in flower production.4

As noted in the Department of Labor’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor, agriculture, as a sector, accounts for almost 90 percent of all child labor in Ecuador, including major export sectors such as bananas and flowers. Children are engaged in hazardous child labor in the production of bananas and flowers, including the use of chemical products and machetes. In the banana sector, children work long hours, are subjected to physical and emotional abuse, and are denied basic necessities such as food and water. Children are also found in forced labor in small-scale banana plantations and floriculture. Agricultural workers in Ecuador often lack knowledge about their labor rights and face obstacles to accessing remediation when their rights are violated. Gaps remain in efforts to reach populations most vulnerable to hazardous child labor, in particular indigenous, migrant, and Afro-descendant populations. Additionally, indigenous and Afro-descendant populations are among the groups most affected by inequality and social exclusion in Ecuador. These two products, along with other agricultural goods, are included on ILAB’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor (TVPRA List) for child labor.5

The banana and flower industries are significant sources of employment and income for many Ecuadorians, particularly those living in the El Oro, Guayas, Los Rios,6 Azuay, Cotopaxi, and Pichincha provinces.7 Ninety-nine percent of banana production in Ecuador is concentrated in the El Oro, Guayas, and Los Rios, lowland provinces of the Pacific coast, which are home to around

3.4 million people.8 Over a third of those living in these three provinces reside in rural areas and work on plantations producing several crops, among them bananas. Estimates suggest that between 120,000 and 148,000 Ecuadorians labor in the country’s banana fields and packing plants.9 The largest flower producing provinces in Ecuador10 are Azuay, Cotopaxi11 and Pichincha.12 Nearly 100,000 Ecuadorians work in the flower industry. Overall, the success of these industries is critical not only to the livelihoods of Ecuadorians, but also to the country's economic growth and development.13

The Banana Sector The banana sector is a crucial part of the economy of Ecuador, with almost two thirds of banana production coming from small farms.14 In Ecuador, there are over 5,000 banana growers and some 200 banana exporting companies, including the big multinationals.15 The industry has been plagued by labor rights concerns, including unacceptable working conditions, occupational safety and health (OSH) violations, and a lack of job security for workers. Over 200,000 workers16 are employed in the banana sector in Ecuador, and a significant proportion of them are informal workers without formal contracts, social security, and/or other benefits. The high prevalence of informality in the sector leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination.17 Many workers in the Ecuadorian banana sector are paid very low wages, often well below the minimum wage. Women in the sector often suffer wage discrimination, sexual harassment and abuse and often are not granted maternity leave or access to other benefits related to pregnancy or childbirth.18

The Cut Flower Sector In Ecuador, flower production is characterized by large-scale monocultural plantations, high inputs of chemicals, and exploitation of both natural resources and low-wage labor. Within the sector there is a recorded presence of child labor.19 Among child laborers there have been consistent reports of debilitating neurological complications as a result of working with pesticides and chemicals.20 21 Additionally, more than half of all the workers in the sector are women who work on farms and in processing facilities.22 23 Many of them work long hours for low wages and lack adequate OSH protections, such as gloves and masks, despite being exposed to hazardous chemicals. According to reports, workers in the sector are often not given proper breaks or rest periods and some have reported being subjected to harassment and discrimination.

As noted in the Department of Labor’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor, significant efforts have been taken by the Ecuadorian government to address child labor in both the banana and cut flower sectors. However, challenges remain, including the need for better data collection and monitoring of child labor, stronger enforcement of labor laws, adequate training of labor inspectors, access to social services, and greater collaboration between government, industry, and civil society.25

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a cooperative agreement. Approximately $4,740,000 total costs is expected to be available to fund approximately 1 (one) award(s). Applicants may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $4,740,000 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 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 Section II.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

ceiling amount of $4,740,000.00 total costs 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) Resume for Other Required

Professional Personnel (3) 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 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) http://www.grants.gov

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 48 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 improve adherence to international labor standards in the agricultural sector, including in the banana and cut flower supply chains.

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 government officials to enforce labor laws specifically related to child labor, forced labor, occupational safety and health and other labor rights in the agricultural sector.

Applicants must describe their overall strategy for increasing government officials’ capacity to enforce labor laws, including by developing or updating tools; proposing training; improving the capacity of coordination bodies/mechanisms; and developing complimentary interventions that promote effective labor law enforcement, particularly in the agriculture sector. Applicants must describe their plan for integrating an intersectoral approach into efforts aimed at increasing government officials’ capacity, including by working to build capacity of officials in labor and agricultural ministries, including local agricultural extension workers.

As part of their proposals, applicants must describe current labor law enforcement in the agriculture sector in the proposed provinces and how they will assess any existing gaps in labor law enforcement. This must include assessing the content and quality of existing government tools to monitor and enforce legal requirements related to child labor, forced labor, OSH and other acceptable conditions of work; assessing any existing coordination and referral bodies/mechanisms; assessing gaps in collection and monitoring of data related to child labor and labor exploitation; and assessing victim identification and access to social services.

Applicants must describe how they will use the results and recommendations of these assessments to inform and contribute to their overall strategy to strengthen capacity. The applicant and USDOL will finalize areas for programmatic intervention post-award.

Outcome 2: Increased worker knowledge about child labor, forced labor, occupational safety and health and other labor rights in the agricultural sector.

Under this outcome, the project will work with labor stakeholders to design and implement strategies to educate workers in the agricultural sector, with a focus on the banana and cut flower sectors about their labor rights, particularly acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health; access to protections against child and forced labor; and other violations of labor rights. This outcome must include activities to strengthen the collective voice and power of workers, as strategies for addressing child labor and forced labor. Research or gathering of information regarding knowledge of labor rights, working conditions, existing social services, should be used to inform project activities related to promoting worker voice.

Outcome 3: Increased worker access to remediation of labor law violations within the agricultural sector.

Under this outcome, applicants must describe a strategy for supporting workers in seeking and accessing remediation of labor violations. The applicant must propose strategies that will assess the existence of viable mechanisms for workers to report violations of labor law, increase the capacity of workers to address labor violations without fear of retaliation, and create systemic changes for the monitoring and reporting of labor violations in the agricultural sector, with a focus in the banana and cut flower sectors. These strategies should be worker-driven and propel enforcement of labor law compliance.

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.

Expected Outcomes

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 Ecuador. Applicants must include a mapping of the landscape of current relevant programming in Ecuador. 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.

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.

Applicants must describe their strategy for inclusion of vulnerable populations in the target areas, including Afro-descendant and indigenous populations who are susceptible to high rates of hazardous child labor and are among the groups most affected by inequality and social exclusion in Ecuador.

This project will work in both the banana and cut flower sectors and will be implemented in two provinces. The applicant must select one of the following banana producing provinces: El Oro, Guayas, or Los Rios; and one of the following cut flower producing provinces: Azuay, Pichincha, and Cotopaxi. These specific geographical areas have been selected based on high output and cultivation of either bananas and/or cut flowers.

Applicants may propose other geographical areas outside the ones listed above, if they have a rationale as to why including those geographic areas will contribute to the achievement of the project objective.

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

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.

3) 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).

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);

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;

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.

4) 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).

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

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-23-28, Reference, Applicant [insert applicant name] or if applicable Proposed Subrecipient [insert sub name], [insert reference giver’s name and organization]. USDOL is not responsible 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 http://OGM_ILAB@dol.gov 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 essential to the successful operation of the project and completion of all proposed activities and deliverables. ILAB retains the authority to approve all Key Personnel changes throughout the life of the award. Key Personnel must be available to staff the project no later than 45 calendar days after the award should the applicant be selected for award.

Applicants must summarize in the text the candidates’ past experience and qualifications to perform the duties of the position and execute the project strategies proposed by the applicant. ILAB encourages applicants to hire national/local staff for Key Personnel positions. If any of the proposed personnel do not meet all the requirements, applicants must explain how the proposed personnel will still benefit the project and be able to perform the required duties.

Recipients assume full responsibility for ensuring that all Key Personnel have a clear and thorough understanding of USDOL policies, procedures, and requirements and that all documents submitted to USDOL are in fluent English.

ILAB has designated the following position(s) as Key Personnel. Other requirements for each individual position follow:

Project Director:

Must be directly hired by the recipient, not a sub-recipient.

Minimum of five years of experience in project management, supervision, administration, and implementation of cooperative agreements and/or contract requirements (including meeting deadlines, achieving targets, establishing and maintaining systems for managing project operations, and overseeing the preparation and submission of required reports to donor agencies), preferably in the country of implementation.

Experience establishing and maintaining systems for managing project operations.

Proven success serving in a leadership role for a project addressing issues of child labor, forced labor, or workplace exploitation.

Experience maintaining working relationships with all project stakeholders, and engaging in coalition building and public-private partnership promotion.

Experience working in supply chains and/or skills training development.

Fluency in English and Spanish is required.

Must devote at least 90 percent level of effort to the project.

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer:

Minimum of five years of professional experience in a senior M&E position responsible for implementing M&E activities of international development projects.

Proven success in designing, implementing, and operating project M&E systems from project initiation to closeout stages.

Experience designing and managing beneficiary monitoring and database systems.

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in statistics, demographics, public policy, international development, economics, or related field. Master’s degree or Bachelor’s plus an advanced certificate in M&E, statistics, or economics preferred.

Experience in…