FOA-ILAB-25-15 Critical Minerals.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of International Labor Affairs

Program Office:

OCFT

Notice of Availability of Funds and Funding Opportunity Announcement for: Securing Fair and Reliable Critical Mineral Supply Chains

Announcement Type: _________

Funding Opportunity Number: FOA-ILAB-25-15

Assistance Listing Number: 17.401

Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is Friday, September 26, 2025. 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 09/30/2025 and 12/31/2025.

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 $9 million total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for 2 cooperative agreements aimed at securing fair and reliable critical mineral supply chains free of child labor (CL) and forced labor (FL). ILAB intends to fund one cooperative agreement of up to $5 million in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and one cooperative agreement of up to $4 million in Indonesia. The duration of each project will be 54 months from the award date. Applicants may propose a shorter period of performance in line with their proposed strategy. Applicants may choose to apply for one or both cooperative agreements. Applicants that wish to apply for both Cooperative Agreements must submit two distinct applications.

https://www.grants.gov/

The cooperative agreements will be focused on the supply chains of critical minerals identified in the List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor, published by the Department of Labor as required under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 and subsequent reauthorizations (TVPRA List). Applications must propose a strategy to address CL and/or FL in the supply chains of at least one (1) of the following minerals in one (1) of the following countries:

• DRC: Cobalt, copper, tantalum, tin, and/or tungsten.

• Indonesia: Nickel, with the option to also include tin.

Applicants must propose to work with key stakeholders to identify and address child labor and/or forced labor, and related labor abuses in their proposed country of implementation. Applicants must propose a strategy to conduct activities under each of the following two focus areas:

Focus Area 1: Policy and Legal Frameworks. Applicants will propose a strategy to assist partner governments and supply chain actors to bring their mining, labor, procurement, trade rules, and other relevant policy frameworks into full alignment with international standards, particularly U.S. forced-labor import requirements, International Labor Organization conventions, and other due diligence guidelines and best practices.0F

Focus Area 2: Capacity Building for Monitoring, Identification, Enforcement, and Remediation. Applicants will propose a strategy to improve national and local systems for monitoring and identifying child labor and/or forced labor in critical mineral supply chains.

Applicants must also propose a strategy to strengthen public and private sector entities responsible for addressing child labor and/or forced labor in critical mineral supply chains through enforcement actions and through remediation measures for children and individuals placed in conditions of child labor and/or forced labor.

In addition to work under the two Focus Areas outlined above, applicants must propose a strategy to conduct a supply chain research study and produce a final report in close coordination with ILAB. Applicants should plan to produce a final research product within the first three years of the project period of performance.

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.

Faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply, as are all organizations. Those that meet the eligibility requirements may receive awards under this funding opportunity. DOL will not, in the selection of recipients and administration of the grant, discriminate on the basis of an

1 Applicant may wish to refer to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas; OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Standard; U.S. Dodd-Frank Act; U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act; E.U. Forced Labor Regulation; Responsible Minerals Initiative;

Initiative for Responsible Mining Assistance.

organization’s religious character, affiliation, exercise, or lack thereof, or on the basis of conduct that would not be considered grounds to favor or disfavor a similarly situated secular organization.

Applicants must develop their proposals pursuant to a $5 million funding ceiling for DRC and a $4 million funding ceiling for Indonesia. Subject to the availability of funds, USDOL reserves the right to increase the amount of awards in order to expand project implementation to additional countries and/or supply chains in critical minerals.

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 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: Requirements for Application Submission APPENDIX D: Past Performance Questionnaire APPENDIX E: Sustainability Strategy Template

ENDNOTES

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) prioritizes the interests of American workers in U.S. trade and international labor and employment policy. ILAB’s mission is to promote a level global playing field for U.S. workers and companies. ILAB seeks to ensure that American workers and businesses benefit from the Administration’s trade agenda by counteracting labor practices overseas that undermine American competitiveness, including vigorously enforcing labor provisions in trade agreements.

ILAB’s Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking (OCFT) works to level the global playing field for U.S. workers and companies by tackling child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking violations around the world that undermine American competitiveness. OCFT uses a three-pronged approach to advance protections against child and forced labor: (1) undertaking international research, (2) policy engagement, and (3) technical cooperation. See ILAB’s webpage for additional information: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab.

This FOA solicits applications to implement 2 projects with the objective of securing America’s access to fair, reliable critical mineral supply chains free of child labor and forced labor. The cooperative agreements will be focused on critical minerals identified in the List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor, published by the USDOL as required under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 and subsequent reauthorizations (TVPRA List). ILAB intends to fund one cooperative agreement up to $5 million in the DRC and one cooperative agreement up to $4 million in Indonesia. Applicants must propose a strategy to address CL and/or FL in at least one (1) of the following minerals in one (1) of the following countries:

• DRC: Cobalt, copper, tantalum, tin, and/or tungsten.

• Indonesia: Nickel with the option to also include tin.

Applicants can apply for either one or both cooperative agreements. Applicants that wish to apply for both Cooperative Agreements must submit two distinct applications.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

ILAB is authorized to award and administer grants and cooperative agreements by Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 2024, PL 118-47, Division D, Title I, as continued under the FY 2025 Full-year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, PL 119-4.

C. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The White House has prioritized unleashing American energy dominance through abundant, reliable, affordable energy production that drives economic growth, creates good-paying jobs, restores American leadership in manufacturing, and makes American workers more prosperous.1F i President Trump’s day-one Executive Order on Unleashing American Energy (E.O. 14154) recognized that critical mineral resources are essential to energy dominance and national security https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab priorities, and identified exploitative practices, including forced labor and child labor, as threats to U.S. mineral supply chains.2F ii An April 3, 2025 Report to the President on the America First Trade Policy, drafted by the Departments of Treasury and Commerce, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative, further identified wage suppression and labor arbitrage as means by which trade partners gain unfair trade advantage over the United States, harming American workers and producers.3F iii The President’s 2025 Trade Policy Agenda commits the United States to take action to rebalance trade relationships in order to raise wages and promote a strong national defense. In the critical mineral sector, achieving reliable, secure, and fair supply chains will require addressing opaque and exploitative supply chains that undermine American workers and producers.4F iv

In countries around the world, thousands of children and adults toil in hazardous and coercive conditions producing materials that are critical for strategic sectors such as manufacturing, electronics, and infrastructure.5F v These unfair child labor and forced labor practices undermine the competitiveness of American workers and producers, imperiling the reliability of America’s critical mineral supply chains and reducing prosperity. The ILO estimates that more than one million children work in mines and quarries worldwide6F vi, often in artisanal and small-scale mining operations that fall outside formal oversight. Mining and related lines of work in the informal sector leave workers – including minors – vulnerable to trafficking and other forms of exploitation, where dangerous and unacceptable working conditions, unfair wages, and child labor go undetected.7F vii Weak labor laws or poor and inconsistent enforcement in some countries allow abusive labor practices to persist even at larger industrial sites. These unfair practices are difficult to identify, trace, and remedy as raw materials pass through complex global supply networks involving numerous sub-suppliers.

The USDOL’s most recent List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor includes several critical materials that are at risk of being produced by child labor or forced labor.

Children as young as primary-school age have been found mining or processing these raw materials in countries such as the DRC and Indonesia, often in poorly regulated, dangerous conditions. Research published as part of the 2024 U.S. DOL TVPRA List indicates that labor exploitation is not a niche or isolated problem, but rather a widespread risk across mineral supply chains that can also impact byproducts, including those extracted in third countries. This backdrop of pervasive labor risks in critical mineral supply chains forms the fundamental problem requiring intervention.

Forced and child labor in critical mineral supply chains directly undermine key U.S. national interests. The economic repercussions are significant: American businesses that adhere to legal labor standards are effectively penalized in the marketplace, while foreign firms (and nation-states) that turn a blind eye to exploitation enjoy lower input costs. In some supply chains, these non-market practices have enabled competitors to dominate key materials and flood markets with supply produced below market production cost, lowering global prices below the threshold of profitability for any American producer. This “race to the bottom” in labor standards harms U.S.

competitiveness. U.S. firms need reliable sources of critical minerals that are free from unfair labor practices in order to mitigate regulatory, market, and reputational risks. The projects will help facilitate access to fair, reliable sources of supply, protecting U.S. industries from costly disruptions, reputational harm, and liability. Further, they will increase the competitiveness of existing and future U.S. producers of critical minerals.

Gaps in monitoring and identification of child labor and forced labor in critical minerals persist due to governments’ lack of capacity to conduct formal oversight of mine sites, refineries, and processing facilities, and due to underdeveloped real-time data collection and reporting systems.

Enforcement capacity is also limited in producer countries where enforcement entities are under-resourced, prosecutions are rare, and coordination mechanisms across government entities are under-utilized. Policy and legal frameworks in some countries also fall short of international standards or would otherwise be improved to mitigate supply chain risks and attract investment, improve regulatory processes, and improve coordination of miners, processors, and exporters to address labor abuses.

Applicants must propose interventions in at least one of the following mineral supply chains in their target country of implementation:

Cobalt: USDOL’s 2024 TVPRA List identifies DRC as a country where cobalt is produced with child labor and forced labor.8F viii Cobalt is primarily utilized in battery technology, superalloys for jet engines, and various industrial applications due to its ferromagnetism, hardness, and high melting point. The U.S. sources about 80 percent of its cobalt from imports and stock releases, with the DRC being the leading producer. Despite some activity in cobalt-related projects, there is no significant active mining of cobalt as a principal commodity within the United States;

instead, cobalt is produced as a byproduct in operations focused primarily on other metals like nickel or platinum-group elements.9F ix

Copper: USDOL’s 2024 TVPRA List identifies DRC as a country where copper is produced with child labor. Copper, scrap copper, and copper’s derivative products play a vital role in defense applications, infrastructure, and emerging technologies. Although the United States has ample copper reserves, it faces significant vulnerabilities in the copper supply chain. A single foreign producer dominates global copper smelting and refining, controlling over 50 percent of global smelting capacity and holding four of the top five largest refining facilities.

Nickel: USDOL’s 2024 TVPRA List identifies Indonesia as a country where nickel is produced with forced labor.10F x Nickel is an essential mineral input to produce high-temperature aerospace alloys, stainless steel, and chemicals for lithium-ion batteries. The United States has only one operating nickel mine with a current, publicly announced life of mine extending through 2026.11F xi As a result, U.S. industry relies heavily on nickel imported from overseas. Chinese firms are dominant players in Indonesia’s nickel production.12F xii On April 24, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources, which identified nickel as a mineral of strategic interest and called on the US to “ensure secure supply chains for our defense, infrastructure, and energy sectors.”13F xiii

Tantalum: USDOL’s 2024 TVPRA List identifies DRC as a country where tantalum ore is produced with child labor and forced labor.14F xiv Tantalum is primarily utilized in electronic applications, particularly in the production of capacitors for high-end devices such as cell phones, computers, and implantable medical devices due to its remarkable conductivity, hardness, and corrosion resistance. U.S. supply of tantalum is heavily reliant on imports, and while some efforts exist to explore tantalum resources domestically, significant active production as a principal commodity is not occurring.15F xv

Tin: USDOL’s 2024 TVPRA List identifies DRC as a country where tin is produced with forced labor and child labor, and Indonesia as a country where tin is produced with child labor.16F xvi Tin is primarily used as a solder that connects electronic circuits, including those used in defense equipment, as well as in manufacture of alloys and various chemicals. The U.S. has no domestic tin mining, making American manufactures 100% reliant on imported tin.17F xvii

Tungsten: USDOL’s 2024 TVPRA List identifies DRC as a country where tungsten is produced using child labor and forced labor. Tungsten is primarily utilized in industrial applications, particularly in the production of cemented carbide parts for cutting tools and wear-resistant components in various sectors such as construction, metalworking, and oil and gas drilling, due to its exceptional hardness and high melting point. The U.S. supply of tungsten is heavily reliant on imports, with over 50% of the apparent consumption coming from imported sources. While efforts are being made to explore tungsten resources domestically, significant active production as a principal commodity has not occurred since domestic mining ceased in 2015.18F xviii

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a cooperative agreement. Approximately $9 million total costs is expected to be available to fund approximately 2 awards. Applicants may apply for a ceiling of $5 million for a project in the DRC and $4 million for a project in Indonesia. 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 project monitoring activities, including but not limited to, work plans, progress reports, evaluations, attestation engagements, site visits, conference calls.

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

• Providing highly specialized input on the design and implementation of activities related to strengthening international labor standards, labor justice institutions, and legal and policy frameworks, among others.

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

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

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The required period of performance is 54 months from the award date. Applicants may propose a shorter period of performance in line with their project strategy. 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). Applicants may propose a shorter period of performance in line with their proposed strategy.

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 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) o Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities o Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions o Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions

(AANAPISIs) o Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs) o Minority Serving Institutions o Native American tribal organizations (Federally recognized) 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.

Faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply, as are all organizations. Those that meet the eligibility requirements may receive awards under this funding opportunity. DOL will not, in the selection of recipients and administration of the grant, discriminate on the basis of an organization’s religious character, affiliation, exercise, or lack thereof, or on the basis of conduct that would not be considered grounds to favor or disfavor a similarly situated secular organization.

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.

2. Number of Applications to be Submitted Multiple applications from an organization are allowed. Applicants can submit up to one application per country. If multiple applications for one country 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.

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

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

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

Funding request on SF-424 does not exceed the ceiling amount of $5 million total costs for a project in the DRC and $4 million total costs for a project in Indonesia.

Section II.A

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

• Evidence of Country Presence

• 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/

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)

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 institutions5 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, 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 12 points)

a) Scope of the Problem (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. Applicants must identify how the problem affects American workers and/or businesses. Include relevant cultural, economic, social, labor and/or legal factors contributing to the problem. This information must be supported by relevant empirical data and evaluations, 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.

b) Intended Population / Institutions Requiring Assistance (up to 4 points)

The analysis must include discussion of specific actors within the system (individuals, groups, institutions, coalitions, or networks) that have influence and/or interest in addressing the problem. This discussion should clearly describe the needs of the intended population(s) or institution(s). For projects involving institutional strengthening, the problem analysis should clearly describe institutional barriers to the adherence to international labor standards. The problem analysis must be supported by relevant empirical data, including citations.

c) Proposed Geographic Scope (up to 3 points):

In addition to identifying the target country, the applicant must identify and provide a justification for the proposed target implementation area(s) and the number of individuals and institutions/groups that the applicant expects to work with.

Applicants may choose one or more of the following scopes: local (municipal or provincial), regional (contiguous area within country), sectoral or supply chain (within country), national, industry or supply chain. Within the chosen geographic scope, applicants must identify the specific site(s) where awarded applicants will implement project interventions.

2) Project Design (up to 37 points)

a) Project Strategy and Sustainability Strategy (up to 32 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 applicant must propose a strategy to address CL and/or FL in at least one (1) mineral in one (1) of the following countries:

• DRC: Cobalt, copper, tantalum, tin, and/or tungsten

• Indonesia: Nickel, with the option to also include tin.

Applicants must propose a strategy to conduct activities under each of the following two focus areas:

Focus Area 1: Policy and Legal Frameworks (up to 12 points). Under Focus Area 1, applicants will propose a strategy to assist partner governments and supply chain actors to bring their mining, labor, procurement, trade rules, and other relevant policy frameworks into full alignment with international standards, particularly U.S. forced-labor import requirements, ILO conventions, and other due diligence guidelines and best practices.

Applicants must propose an overarching strategy for how they would strengthen the country’s mining, labor, procurement, trade rules, or other relevant policy frameworks to address child labor and/or forced labor in mineral supply chains.

The applicant’s proposal must include, at a minimum, a strategy to identify the roles and responsibilities of government stakeholders and supply chain actors, map existing legal and policy frameworks and processes, and assess any gaps and weaknesses in the relevant legal and policy frameworks. In addition, the applicant must clearly demonstrate how it intends to support relevant public and private sector entities in bringing policy or legal frameworks into compliance with international standards and support its adoption by governments and supply chain actors. The strategy will be refined by the grantee in close consultation with USDOL during the startup phase of project implementation.

Focus Area 2: Capacity Building for Monitoring, Identification, Enforcement, and Remediation (up to 12 points). Under Focus Area 2, applicants must propose a strategy to improve national and local systems for monitoring and identifying child labor and/or forced labor within critical mineral supply chains. Applicants must also propose a strategy to strengthen public and private sector entities responsible for addressing child labor and/or forced labor in critical mineral supply chains through enforcement actions and through remediation measures for children and individuals placed in conditions of child labor and/or forced labor.

Applicants must present a comprehensive strategy that addresses monitoring, identification, enforcement, and remediation of child labor and/or forced labor within the selected mineral supply chain. The proposal should, at a minimum, outline a strategy to define the roles and responsibilities of both public and private sector stakeholders, map existing structures, systems, and processes for monitoring, identifying, enforcing, and remediating cases of child labor and/or forced labor, and identifying any gaps and weaknesses within these areas. The strategy must clearly detail how the applicant intends to enhance oversight of critical mineral supply chains to ensure compliance with labor laws, regulations, and other pertinent frameworks, including voluntary guidelines. Additionally, the proposal should assess existing monitoring, enforcement, and remediation programs, and evaluate the effectiveness of current mechanisms. Importantly, applicants must highlight how they will engage with workers, worker organizations, and private sector stakeholders, including companies importing goods made with critical minerals into the U.S., to bolster enforcement efforts, facilitate effective remediation, and support the creation or maintenance of sources of critical minerals supply that are free from child labor and/or forced labor. Applicants should consider worker-driven approaches, including risk assessments, workplace monitoring, peer-to-peer education, and grievance and reporting mechanisms.

Under Focus Area 2, must propose a series of concrete milestones of government action over the project lifecycle that would constitute substantive buy-in from the government in the country of implementation.

In addition to work under the two Focus Areas outlined above, applicants must propose a strategy to conduct a supply chain research study and produce a final report (up to 8 points). The final report must be developed and finalized in close coordination with ILAB within the first three years of project implementation. Applicants must propose a strategy to produce a supply chain research study focused on a mineral of their choice produced in the country of implementation. The mineral selected for the study does not need to be identical to those chosen as the focus of the project intervention. Applicants are encouraged to conduct a supply chain research study on a mineral listed in the TVPRA List but may propose a mineral absent from the List if able to substantiate the selection by providing sufficient evidence of CL and/or FL in that mineral supply chain and evidence that the mineral or its derivative products are exported in significant quantities from the country of implementation. The purpose of this supply chain research study component is to support USDOL/ILAB’s research and priority policy initiatives. The final deliverable will be a standalone report of new, non-duplicative research of value to USDOL’s ongoing work in this area.

The grantee must propose a systematic strategy to conduct a robust research process, including but not limited to:

• Mapping supply chains and supply chain actors;

• Analyzing child labor and/or forced labor risks in different supply chain tiers and processes;

• Identifying and analyzing traceability, trade, and shipping data;

• Providing overviews of efforts of market actors in the sector, and their effectiveness and remaining gaps;

• Conducting initial evidence reviews, key informant interviews, direct observations, and focus groups;

• Analyzing both original and existing data to create research reports, including supply chain mapping, risk, and data visuals;

• Produce and share case profiles, supply chain mapping, and surveys, as well as other available raw data to DOL;

• Creating an electronic source file with data files, references, and interview notes that trace the supply chain of identified goods;

• Generating information that describes sector-specific supply chain tracing methodologies, and remaining gaps in traceability;

• Coordinating and engaging with internal and external stakeholders; and

Applicants should take into account that work on the supply chain research component of this project may cross national borders and entail the conduct of research activities in neighboring countries and further abroad.

The award of a Cooperative Agreement to the applicant does not constitute final DOL approval of the applicant’s selection of the mineral supply chain for the study. Research on supply chains will only commence after DOL provides final approval to the grantee during the project startup phase. During the project startup period, USDOL will reassess the grantee's proposed selection of mineral supply chain for the study, which may lead to changes in the selection. Both DOL and the grantee may suggest alternative supply chains for consideration under this activity after award.

Aligning proposals with United States national priorities: Applicants should take United States policy into account when crafting proposals. In particular, applicants should take into account, and keep aware of, United States policy in their proposed country of implementation, such as the July 22, 2025, White House Joint Statement on Framework For United States–Indonesia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade19F xix and the United States Department of State’s July 27, 2025, Release titled Peace Agreement Between Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda20F

xx. Applicants should also refer to the April 2, 2025, White House Executive Order Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits, which identifies weak labor standards and protections among the underlying conditions that contribute to the trade imbalances harming American workers, hollowing out the American manufacturing base, and compromising U.S. economic security.21F xxi

Representing ILAB: Efforts must be made to incorporate ILAB research, reporting and tools into the applicant’s proposed project strategy. Additionally, applicants must describe how they would effectively communicate ILAB's work, including but not limited to research, reporting, and tools, to key stakeholders and the public.

Requirements Across Technical Proposal

Applicants must propose a strategy to achieve the project-level objective stated above, including a description of all major areas of proposed project interventions.

Applicants must propose outcomes necessary to achieve the project-level objective, how the outcomes are interrelated, and a rationale for how they contribute to the achievement of the project’s overall objective. Outcomes proposed by applicants may be revised during the project validation process post-award in consultation with

USDOL.

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 clearly describe how the proposed project interventions will benefit American workers and/or businesses either directly or indirectly.

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, including appropriate allocation in the M&E budget, 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 and risk management into their project strategy, beginning in the early stages of project implementation. For the purpose of this FOA, sustainability refers to outcomes and impacts that maintained or expanded after a project withdraws its resources through the exit process. Applicants are not required to develop an integrated sustainability strategy for every outcome, but rather, only where appropriate and needed to maximize long-term impact.

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

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.

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

• 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, social, 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. At a minimum, applicants must include a risk register table that lists potential risks along with strategies to mitigate these risks in this section.

• 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.

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 Milestones and Targets (up to 5 points)

The applicant's Project Milestones and 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. In the Technical Proposal, applicants will propose outcomes clearly linked to the project objective. Outcomes should be able to demonstrate benefit to target populations, institutions, systems or processes, including American workers and/or businesses.

In this narrative section, applicants must propose outcome measures and tangible, annual milestones to track progress of proposed outcomes. Applicants must describe how American workers and/or businesses will be impacted by the project directly or indirectly, as well as the underlying criteria informing the…