FOA-ILAB-23-29.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 Address Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Other Labor Violations in Domestic Work in Mexico

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: FOA-ILAB-23-29

Assistance Listing Number: 17.401

Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is 09/26/2023.

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 10/31/2023 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 $5,000,000 total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for one (1) cooperative agreement to fund a technical assistance project to address child labor, forced labor, and other labor violations in domestic work in Mexico. 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.

The project will achieve the following outcomes:

https://www.grants.gov/

Outcome 1: Awareness of child labor, forced labor, and other violations of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work is increased among domestic workers and key domestic worker stakeholders.

Outcome 2: Capacity to address child labor and forced labor and to promote the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work is strengthened among key domestic worker stakeholders.

Applicants must propose strategies to work in Mexico City and one of the following states:

Estado de Mexico, Puebla, Guanajuato, or Queretaro. Applicants must consider safety and feasibility of security situation when proposing state(s) to work in.

In addition, diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility should be at the core of all strategies.

Applicants are encouraged to consult and co-create with domestic workers and stakeholders to develop worker-driven approaches to the proposed strategies. Upon award, the grantee must conduct an assessment and can make changes with DOL’s approval to the proposed strategies, as needed.

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 one (1) project with the objective to increase actions to protect the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work for domestic workers, with a particular focus on child labor and forced labor.

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

This project is in support of Mexican Labor Law1 and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).2 The PATH (Projecto de Asistencia Tecnica para Trabajadoras del Hogar) project will do this by building the capacity3 of key stakeholders4 to promote and implement actions in support of the protection of the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work5 of domestic workers in Mexico.

The applicant must propose strategies to address child labor, forced labor and other labor violations6 and to promote the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in the domestic work7 sector. Strategies to promote the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work shall aim at increasing compliance for all such principles and rights, with a particular focus on addressing child labor and forced labor in the sector and as a strategy to promote decent work for adult domestic workers, in order to reduce vulnerability of families and households to child labor and forced labor.

The project will achieve the following outcomes:

Outcome 1: Awareness of child labor, forced labor, and other violations of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work is increased among domestic workers and key domestic worker stakeholders.

Outcome 2: Capacity to address child labor and forced labor and to promote the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work is strengthened among key domestic worker stakeholders.

Applicants must propose strategies to work in Mexico City and one of the following states:

Estado de Mexico, Puebla, Guanajuato, or Queretaro. Applicants must consider safety and feasibility of security situation when proposing state(s) to work in.

In addition, diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility should be at the core of all strategies.

Applicants are encouraged to consult and co-create with domestic workers and stakeholders to develop worker-driven approaches to the proposed strategies. Upon award, the grantee must conduct an assessment and can make changes with DOL’s approval to the proposed strategies, as needed.

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 USMCA Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019 (Pub. L. 116-113, title IX) to implement technical assistance to support reforms of the labor justice system in Mexico.

C. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Child labor in domestic work is a pervasive issue in Mexico. Data from the National Child Labor Survey (ENTI 2019)8, show that out of the 3.1 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 who engage in child labor, an estimated 122,000 children were engaged in domestic work.9 10

Children engaged in domestic work are particularly vulnerable as separation from their families and a dependency on their employers increases their risk of exploitation and abuse. According to the National Council to Prevent Discrimination (CONAPRED) survey data from 2015, 36% of adult domestic workers began working as minors,11 and despite efforts by the government and civil society organizations to address child labor in domestic work, challenges remain in addressing the root causes of the issue and ensuring the protection of children from exploitation.12

Research shows that child labor in domestic work is most prevalent in places where adults and youth of working age do not have access to decent work.13 The lack of decent employment for adults and safety nets for families leads to poverty, often leaving no alternative for families but to supplement income by sending their children to work. While child labor in domestic work occurs in various forms, many children and adolescents leave their rural homes to go to cities in search of work in exchange for room and board; others remain with their families but engage in domestic work in other people's houses14 or accompany and work with older relatives employed in domestic service who live in the same house as their employers.15

In addition to child labor, forced labor is also a pervasive issue for domestic workers. Globally, out of 27.6 million adults in forced labor, 1.4 million are engaged in domestic work.16 In Mexico, workplace abuse and labor violations are prevalent in the domestic work sector, where workers are often vulnerable to a wide range of abuses and exploitation, including excessive working hours, unpaid wages, confinement, and physical and/or sexual abuse.17 The use of child labor perpetuates household poverty across generations, slowing economic growth and social development. It can also weaken the power of adult workers by giving employers the option to replace them with cheap child labor. This undermines the ability of adult workers to demand better wages and working conditions.

According to the last trimester of the National Survey of Occupation and Employment (ENOE) 2021, 99% of domestic workers in Mexico lack written contracts, which makes it difficult for them to access public services such as social security and public health benefits. Currently, only 2.2% of all domestic workers are registered in the social security system. 18 19

In 2018, the National Supreme Court of Justice in Mexico found that excluding domestic workers from social security provisions was discriminatory and unconstitutional. As a result, the court mandated the implementation of a pilot program by the Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS) to design and implement a simplified social security scheme for domestic workers. The recent amendments to the Federal Labor Law and Social Security Law were made to include domestic workers under mandatory coverage, which took effect in November 2022. It is now the responsibility of the employer to register the domestic worker with IMSS and comply with labor regulations. Both changes in legislation supported Mexico’s commitment to International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Convention 189, ratified in 2020.

Although significant advancements in legislation in Mexico were made recently, in practice, many domestic workers do not enjoy their full rights. Out of the 2.5 million domestic workers in Mexico, an estimated 1,815,000 (72.6%) did not have any employment benefits,20 of which almost 154,100 (6%) did not have access to institutions that provide healthcare.21 Access to social security is critical for domestic workers. When labor relations are formalized with agreed upon wages and working days to be registered with the IMSS, other rights are more likely to be respected.22

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a cooperative agreement. Approximately $5,000,000 total costs is expected to be available to fund approximately one (1) award. Applicants may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $5,000,000 total costs. Awards made under this announcement are subject to the availability of federal funds. In the event that additional funds become available, USDOL reserves the right to increase the amount of an award or to use such funds to select additional recipients from applications submitted in response to this announcement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

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

200.1 Period of performance).

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• U.S. organizations:

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

• Non-U.S. organizations:

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

o

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.

USDOL welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received an award from USDOL, including minority-led organizations. USDOL expects applicants to allow for equal access to project services by all Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and workers’ organizations in target areas and should not enter into exclusivity agreements with any CSOs and workers’ organizations.

Applicants selected for award will be required, within the first six (6) months of award, to carry out additional in-country needs assessments and consultations with domestic workers, partners and relevant stakeholders to assess, refine, and/or validate the proposed theory of change, design, and strategies of the project. All post award refinements to the project strategy will be subject to approval by USDOL.

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 $5,000,000 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, Section IV.B.2.c

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 (2) 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.

including a Unique Entity Identifier Number 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(1)

• Project Management

Organizational Chart

Section IV.B.1

Cost Proposal Section IV.B.2 Budget Narrative Section IV.B.2.e http://www.grants.gov/

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) 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 40 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 increased actions to protect the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work for domestic workers, with a particular focus on child labor and forced labor.

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

Outcome 1: Awareness of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and other violations of the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work is increased among domestic workers and key domestic worker stakeholders.

For Outcome 1, applicants must propose a strategy for how they will increase awareness of the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work among domestic workers, employers, and other stakeholders. Applicants must describe the key gaps in awareness of adult and child domestic worker exploitation, including those related to implementation of the new social security law, and of the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work among domestic worker stakeholders. Applicants must propose a plan to develop and launch awareness raising campaigns or to make use of other awareness raising tools in targeted states, as part of a strategy to address child labor, forced labor, and other labor violations in domestic work. The strategy must also raise awareness about the labor rights of domestic workers and employer responsibilities under Mexico’s new labor and social security law. The applicant must provide a justification for their proposed awareness raising strategy, which reflects the efficiency and effectiveness of the approach for reaching the project’s intended audience.

Awareness campaigns must include a strategy to reach both domestic workers that live in and live out23 of their place of employment, with special emphasis on vulnerable populations, such as but not limited to, indigenous populations, people of African descent, single mothers, and migrants. Based on specific population needs, including language needs, work proposed in this outcome must set the foundation for an enabling environment for domestic workers to elevate their voice with their employers and government authorities.

Strategies proposed under this outcome should encourage collaboration and coordination with the government in order to achieve greater impact from proposed awareness-raising activities.

Outcome 2: Capacity to address Child Labor and Forced Labor and promote the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work is strengthened among key domestic worker stakeholders.

Applicants must propose a strategy to strengthen capacity among key domestic worker stakeholders to address Child Labor and Forced Labor and promote the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

Under this outcome, applicants must propose a strategy to build the capacity of domestic worker stakeholders, including strengthening the internal structures, policies, and procedures of stakeholder organizations. The project must support stakeholders’ ability to (1) provide opportunities for domestic workers' leadership development, professionalization and soft skills training, (2) develop and utilize evidence-based tools and strategies to promote decent employment among domestic workers, (3) promote access to legal and social services for children engaged in or at-risk of engaging in domestic work, adult domestic workers whose labor rights have been violated (including victims of forced labor), and their families, and (4) collect and disseminate improved information about the nature and extent of exploitation of domestic worker rights.

Applicants should design trainings for domestic workers related to leadership development, professionalization and soft skills training that are responsive to domestic workers’ needs and the evolving demands of the labor market.

Under this outcome, applicants must provide a description of the assessed current capacity and experience of proposed domestic worker stakeholders to be engaged through project activities. Applicants must describe how they will support domestic worker stakeholders efforts to create and maintain evidence-based tools and strategies to connect domestic workers with decent employment in the sector. Tools created with project support must uphold responsible and ethical labor intermediation, where employers must fulfill their legal obligations by ensuring that domestic workers receive at least minimum wage, social security registration, appropriate working hours, and a safe and healthy work environment. Furthermore, tools developed with project support must ensure that domestic workers receive information regarding their employment terms and conditions in a language they understand prior to accepting any work.

Under this outcome, applicants are encouraged to propose strategies to enhance government collaboration and coordination to provide access to legal, social and other direct services for children engaged in domestic work, adult domestic workers whose labor rights have been violated (including victims of forced labor), and their families. Applicants must also propose activities that leverage partnerships among stakeholders to support the inclusion of domestic workers in the social security system in line with recent changes in Mexican law. This should include coordination with local authorities, Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), and key stakeholders.

If the applicant, directly to and/or through sub-recipients, is proposing to provide direct services for domestic workers (i.e., legal services), the applicant must include the expected number of individuals to be provided direct services by the project.

Applicants must also propose strategies to increase domestic worker stakeholders’ capacity to systematically collect and analyze information about the nature and extent of child labor, forced labor, and other labor violations in target states.

Applicants must propose a strategy to support actions implemented by domestic worker stakeholders and domestic workers themselves to address Child Labor and Forced Labor and promote the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

Applicants must explain how these actions are worker-driven and how the stakeholders’ capacity will be integrated into the strategy.

Applicants must propose actions to increase coordination and/or collaboration among domestic worker stakeholders, civil society organizations, government agencies, and domestic workers to better advocate for the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and to promote social dialogue in the sector. In selected target states, applicants must propose spaces for social dialogue where domestic workers and stakeholders can come together to address issues affecting domestic workers, share ideas, and develop strategies to advance the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in the sector at the state level.

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.

Applicants should propose to work with locally led24 organizations with strong support and leadership of vulnerable groups that have experience and/or interest in contributing to achieve the project-level objective and the two outcomes throughout the life of the project.

Applicants must identify in their proposal potential risks to achieve the project-level objective and/or any of the two project outcomes in the project’s target areas, such as a lack of rule of law, illegal activities, and environmental degradation. In addition, applicants must propose a plan to support efforts to mitigate the impacts of the identified risk(s). Applicants must also explain how they will promote a “do no harm” approach in carrying out project activities and take steps to avoid inadvertently endangering project participants, stakeholders, or staff.

Applicants should include an integrated communication and outreach strategy that supports the overall implementation of the project. Applicants should describe how the communication and outreach strategy will promote dialogue and awareness-raising in support of the project-level objective and both outcomes. As part of this strategy, applicants should incorporate information and experience exchanges (e.g., best practices and lessons learned) between relevant project stakeholders in targeted states. The communication and outreach strategy should demonstrate how the following are taken into account: (1) audience analysis and messaging tailored to Domestic Work Stakeholders, project participants, and other stakeholders and (2) the role of traditional, digital, and social media in reporting on issues relevant to the project. The cost of the integrated communication and outreach strategy must be reflected in the outcome-based budget and budget narrative.

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

Efforts must be made to avoid duplication and to build upon relevant previous or ongoing activities in Mexico, including those funded by the State Department Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Applicants must include a mapping of the landscape of current relevant programming in Mexico funded by the U.S.

Government and other donors. Applicants must also demonstrate how they intend to coordinate and share best practices and lessons learned with other relevant projects and initiatives in both countries, including those supported by the host government (both national and state), USDOL, other USG, other donor governments and organizations, and the private sector. Applicants must include a brief description of the consultative process undertaken in preparing their proposal.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

b) Project Targets (up to 10 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 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.

Applicants must include (1) a focus on the most vulnerable populations that are likely to be involved in child labor, forced labor or other labor violations in domestic work, such as but not limited to single mothers, Afro-descendant, indigenous, and domestic migrant populations, and (2) actions and strategies to reach and organize live in and live out domestic workers in targeted states.

In addition, applicants must include a list of Domestic Worker Stakeholders, Civil Society organizations, and Governmental Institutions they intend to work with for all Outcomes. Applicants must describe how these target populations, domestic worker stakeholders, and institutions are relevant for the proposed strategies to build the capacity of domestic worker organizations and other stakeholders to promote the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

For the Domestic worker stakeholders identified under Outcome 2, applicants must include both a description of their current capacity and experience working on issues related to the objectives of the project and a description of the applicant’s approach for working with the selected organizations to implement project activities. In addition, when identifying partner organizations, applicants must describe how they intend to work with the proposed stakeholders and organizations to build the capacity and skills necessary to accomplish Outcomes 2, describing what resources are necessary to carry out these activities ensuring sustainability of proposed interventions.

Under Outcome 2, if the applicant is proposing to provide direct services for domestic workers, including whether the applicant proposes to provide services directly to and/or through sub-recipients, the applicant must include the number of expected individuals to be provided direct services by the project. Applicants must provide a rationale for this number, taking into account the type and cost of services planned, quality considerations, and budget implications. Applicants must also provide the initial criteria for eligibility and selection of potential participants across all outcomes. Applicants should work with Domestic Worker Stakeholders and CSOs to determine the initial criteria for the selection of potential project participants and should prioritize, to the extent possible, members of vulnerable households and communities who undertake domestic work.

The project field office(s) must be located in at least one (1) target state as to minimize travel time and expenses, provide a significant and continuous project presence near areas of intervention, and strengthen the capacity of individuals in the location. If the applicant chooses to locate the project field office in another city or area, the applicant must describe how this approach will strengthen the overall proposal.

Applicants may propose project activities in communities with past or existing domestic worker programs aimed at strengthening civil society and local capacity;

increasing resiliency; alleviating poverty; and reducing forced labor, child labor, and other labor violations. They should describe in their application how they will develop activities that complement and leverage existing structures, programs, and/or best practices while avoiding the duplication of efforts.

All refinements will be subject to approval by USDOL.

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 definitions (as applicable);

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

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

As part of project monitoring and evaluation activities, the Grantee will be required to work with USDOL post award to develop appropriate indicators and a plan for assessing the effectiveness and sustainability of key components (or activities) of the project, including proposed activities to build capacity to address Child Labor and Forced Labor and promote the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work among key domestic worker stakeholders.

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

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 7 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)…