FOA-ILAB-26-44 FLIP.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of International Labor Affairs

Program Office:

Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking

Notice of Availability of Funds and Funding Opportunity Announcement for: Freedom Shield: Global Forced Labor Import Prohibition Initiative

Announcement Type: Discretionary Cooperative Agreement

Funding Opportunity Number: FOA-ILAB-26-44

Assistance Listing Number: 17.401

Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is September 21, 2026. 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 September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2026.

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 $18 million total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for two (2) cooperative agreements to fund projects that will strengthen accountability in key trade partner countries to implement and enforce prohibitions on imports made wholly or in part with forced labor. These projects will also leverage labor commitments in trade agreements, including Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ARTs), to address gaps in forced labor enforcement that create unfair competition against American workers and producers.

Up to $11 million will be awarded for a project in Latin America that must provide activities in four countries: Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala. The U.S. Department of Labor https://www.grants.gov/ reserves the right to designate additional Latin American countries in which the selected applicant will be required to provide activities in the project. Up to $7 million will be awarded for a project in Asia that must provide activities in two countries: Bangladesh and Malaysia. The U.S. Department of Labor reserves the right to designate additional Asian countries in which the selected applicant will be required to provide activities in the project. Applicants will propose the allocation of budget for each designated country in the regional project to which they are applying with the understanding that the budgets may require modifications to reallocate award funds among additional countries if so designated by USDOL.

The duration of the project will be 36 months from the award date. Applicants may propose a shorter period of performance in line with their proposed strategy. Proposed activities focused on adoption of forced labor import prohibitions should be of a shorter duration, focusing on adoption of measures as soon as feasible.

Applicants must ensure that their proposed activities and geographic focus align with all requirements of the FOA (e.g., country limitations, sectors, thematic areas, etc.) and respond directly to the programmatic intent described in Section I. Successful awardees must ensure that their activities align and comply with all relevant policies, Executive Orders, and strategies of the federal government for the life of the project regarding objectives, outcomes, monitoring and evaluation, fiscal transparency, and operational governance. Failure to align and comply risks termination of the project.

Applicants may apply for one or both cooperative agreements. If applicants choose to apply for both geographic regions, they must submit separate applications for each, and each application will be evaluated independently. 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.

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

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) increases American job and wage growth by combatting foreign labor abuses and unfair trade practices in global supply chains that undermine U.S. prosperity and security. ILAB works to ensure that U.S. workers and businesses benefit from the Administration’s trade and labor policies by countering overseas labor practices that impede fair competition, including through the robust enforcement of labor provisions in trade agreements.

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

In addition to the standard risk review of all applicants, ILAB will incorporate Transparency Tiers and Financial Health Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to identify implementing partners that demonstrate strong fiscal stewardship, operational efficiency, and low administrative burden. These factors support federal assistance requirements in accordance with 2 C.F.R. 200.

This FOA solicits applications to implement 2 cooperative agreements with the objective of advancing U.S. trade priorities by building accountability in key trade partner countries to implement and effectively enforce a prohibition on imports made wholly or in part with forced labor. These projects will leverage labor commitments in trade agreements, including Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ARTs), to address gaps in forced labor enforcement that create unfair competition for American workers and producers.

Up to $11 million will be awarded for a project in Latin America that must provide activities in four countries: Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala. The U.S. Department of Labor reserves the right to designate additional Latin American countries in which the selected applicant will be required to provide activities in the project. Up to $7 million will be awarded for a project in Asia that must provide activities in two countries: Bangladesh and Malaysia. The U.S. Department of Labor reserves the right to designate additional Asian countries in which the selected applicant will be required to provide activities in the project. Applicants will propose the allocation of budget for each designated country in the regional project to which they are applying with the understanding that the budgets may require modifications to reallocate award funds among additional countries if so designated by USDOL.

The projects will:

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

• guide trade partner countries to develop and enforce robust legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks that align with international labor standards and trade compliance obligations;

• build institutional capacity within customs, trade, and labor enforcement agencies to identify, monitor, and restrict the entry of forced labor–produced goods at ports of entry;

• ensure trade communities, businesses, and the broader public are informed, prepared, and engaged in efforts to eliminate forced labor from the global trading system; and

• create durable mechanisms for accountability and transparency in supply chains that can be replicated in other countries.

Possible project deliverables include 1) training tools and standard-operating procedures for foreign customs officials to identify and stop goods produced by forced labor, including forced child labor; and 2) establishment of coordinating mechanisms and working to monitor the enforcement of the prohibition of imported goods made with forced labor.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

ILAB is authorized to award and administer grants and cooperative agreements by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, Pub. L. 119-75 (February 3, 2026).

C. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Forced labor is an egregious violation of human dignity and poses economic and security risk to the United States.1 Globally, an estimated 28 million adults and children are subjected to forced labor, generating approximately $236 billion annually in illegal profits and contaminating global supply chains with labor exploitation.2 Unethical employers, recruiters, and in some cases, government authorities use coercion, threats, and penalties to compel individuals to work under terms that amount to modern slavery.3 When goods produced with forced labor and forced and indentured child labor move freely across international borders, their artificially low prices distort markets, weaken U.S. supply chain security, and erode U.S. jobs and wages.4

The United States prohibits the importation of goods made with forced labor, including forced or indentured child labor, and actively enforces this prohibition through a range of legal, regulatory, and investigative tools.5 While these efforts prevent forced labor-tainted goods from entering the U.S. market, ultimately the eradication of forced labor globally will require concerted action by other countries to ensure that such goods cannot find safe harbor elsewhere.

Through Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ARTs), partner countries identified for this project (Argentina, Bangladesh, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia) have committed to prohibiting the importation of goods made with forced labor. To implement these commitments effectively, these countries must strengthen legal and regulatory frameworks, establish procedures for risk assessment and investigations, and build institutional capacity for enforcement. They must also adopt rigorous systems and acquire technical expertise to deploy best practices in implementation and address common challenges, including divergent legal standards, inconsistent evidentiary requirements, and weak enforcement that creates the appearance of action without delivering real results. In addition, partner countries will need to engage importers, employers, and workers on the risks and consequences of trade in forced labor-produced goods and how to address forced labor in their supply chains. This will help ensure that enforcement agencies receive probative information to enforce the forced labor import prohibition and prevent the production and circulation of such goods in international markets.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a cooperative agreement. Approximately $18 million total costs are expected to be available to fund approximately two (2) awards. Applicants may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $11 million for implementation in Latin American countries (Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala) and up to $7 million for implementation in Asian countries (Bangladesh, Malaysia). 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 consistent with applicable federal law, regulations, and policies.

• 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 and collaborating to promote the continuation of project outcomes and benefits, including through replication of good practices.

• Providing guidance to ensure alignment with all relevant U.S. Presidential Executive Orders, policy memoranda, and other applicable government directives throughout the project’s lifecycle.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The required period of performance is 36 months from the award date. 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 C.F.R. 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 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 C.F.R. 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

This program does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Including such funds is not one of the application screening criteria, unless otherwise specified in the proposal requirements.

Absent such a requirement, 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 substantially meet all of the screening criteria, the application will not move forward to the merit review process.

2. Number of Applications to be Submitted

Applicants may apply to just one or each of the Latin America and Asia cooperative agreements; however, multiple applications from an organization for either the Latin America or the Asia cooperative agreement are not allowed. If applicants choose to apply for both geographic regions, they must submit separate applications for each, and each application will be evaluated independently. If multiple applications to the same cooperative agreement 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

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 $11M or $7M total costs, as applicable. Section II.A

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

• Project Design

• Project Milestones and Targets

• M&E Statement

• Work Plan

• Organizational Capacity

Section IV.B.1

Cost Proposal Section IV.B.2 SF-424A Budget Narrative Section IV.B.2 Budget Narrative for each country operation Section IV.B.2

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

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

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

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION

SUBMISSION

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

(1) a Technical Proposal, including attachments; and (2) a Cost Proposal, including the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance and related forms identified as follows. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the funding amount requested is consistent across all parts of the application. If the funding amount is not consistent, the amount requested on the SF-424 will be considered for the purpose of the award. Applicants who use or plan to use AI platforms (e.g., Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.) to develop their applications and/or implement project activities may do so, and are required to provide information about this in their proposals.

1. Technical Proposal

Applicants are required to complete all elements of the application package, including the various components of the technical narrative, budget documentation and justification, other narrative materials, and all forms, certifications, and attachments stated as necessary for submission. Applicants must ensure that every element is included according to FOA specifications to avoid disqualification. This includes every section within the categories of the project design, milestones & targets, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), work plan, organizational capacity, key personnel, management plan, budget narrative and budget line-itemization. Failure to include all these elements will render an application package incomplete.

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, 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, http://www.grants.gov/

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 must describe the proposed project in plain language, including the information listed below. Omission of this attachment will result in the disqualification of an application, and it will not proceed to merit panel review.

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, 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." The information provided in the abstract may be published to a public facing website as a summary of the project, should it be selected for award.

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

c. Project Design Narrative The Project Narrative must describe in detail the applicant's response to the FOA. Project Design must present a coherent, evidence-based narrative that links the identified problem to the proposed intervention strategy, expected outcomes, monitoring and evaluation processes, performance measurement approach, and alignment with Administration priorities.

Applicants must demonstrate how their design reflects logical progression from problem analysis to activities, outputs, outcomes, and long-term impact that is maintained and continued after the conclusion of the ILAB funded technical assistance. Specifically, the Project Design must include a theory of change demonstrating how proposed activities will lead to an increase in American jobs and wage growth. The Project Design must also include how the applicant plans to monitor results from the project’s full theory of change through to increasing American job and wage growth

The Project Design Narrative must contain the following sections and fully address all associated criteria within each. The Project Design narrative is collectively worth a total of 80 points. Point Scoring will be allocated for this section as follows:

(1) LITERATURE REVIEW

2 points – Literature Review. Applicants must include a Literature Review describing the data relied upon to design the project and identify the outcomes sought. All assertions of fact, methodologies employed, and monitoring and evaluation analytics included in an application must be supported by reference materials cited in the Literature Review.

(2) PROJECT STRATEGY AND APPROACH

8 points – Activity Execution. Provide a step-by-step description of the strategic approach to deliver the outcomes necessary for achieving project objectives, including a description of all major areas of proposed interventions, demonstration of the long-term sustainability of all efforts, and attainment of outcomes.

5 points – Analytics. Describe the analytical underpinning for project design, monitoring, evaluation, efficacy, and risk assessment. Included in this section must be a detailed description of current and prior programs that address the same problem, within this sector, and within this country by the U.S. government or other entities. In addition, the Analytics must discuss how the activities noted in the Project Framework will compliment, rather than conflict, with current related activities. This includes a list of potential risks along with approaches to mitigate these risks.

5 points – Adaptive Management. Explain key points within the project where tactical changes in project activities are anticipated and how course correction will be implemented and justified to meet project objectives and outcomes.

5 points – Innovation. Identify novel approaches and new technologies, such as the use of digital financial tools, block chain, digital models, and targeted use of artificial intelligence within the project. This involves an expanded comparative analysis to explain how the project approach is different in both kind and degree from past programs addressing the problem.

5 points – U.S. Benefit. Provide a detailed analysis of how this activity in a foreign country (such as, but not limited to: [i] worker’s rights & fair-trade investigation and enforcement, [ii] combating forced labor, trafficked labor, and child labor, and [iii] advocating for multilateral and bilateral terms improving labor standards, etc.) contributes to increased

American job and wage growth consistent with Administration objectives using quantitative data and analyses to the appropriate extent practicable.

(3) PROJECT MILESTONES AND TARGETS

5 points – Milestone and Target Table. Provide a table of milestones and expected completion dates. 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.

(4) MONITORING AND EVALUATION

5 points – Outcomes. List the concrete outcomes by which the activity will be assessed.

Adequate M&E staffing capacity and resources must be made clear to support monitoring, evaluation and learning activities throughout the project’s period of performance. The project must align and comply with applicable federal law, regulations, standards and policies, to include the following:

o 2016 Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act (FATAA) of 2016 (22 USC 2151): Requires Federal agencies that administer foreign assistance to “apply rigorous monitoring and evaluation methodologies to such programs that clearly define program logic, inputs, outputs, intermediate outcomes, and end outcomes.”

o OMB M-18-04 Monitoring and Evaluation Guidelines for Federal Departments and Agencies that Administer United States Foreign Assistance (January 2018) o 2018 Foundations of Evidence-Based Policymaking Act (Evidence Act) of 2018

- Augments GPRMA to promote better use and management of data and evidence, such as through agency learning agendas, evaluation plans, data-driven performance and strategic reviews. A series of Memoranda from OMB provides more detailed guidance to agencies in fulfilling the obligations under this Act:

• Memorandum on Restoring Trust in the Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policy Making (January 27, 2021)

• OMB M-21-27 Evidence-Based Policymaking: Learning Agendas and Annual Evaluation Plans (June 2021)

• OMB M-20-12 Program Evaluation Standards and Practices (March 2020)

• OMB M-19-23 Learning Agendas, Personnel and Planning Guidance (July 2019)

5 points – Success Criteria. Explains what criteria and measurements will be used to ascertain whether the activity has been successful in delivering the outcomes necessary to achieve the project objectives, consistent with alignment and compliance with Administration policies. Implementation of the M&E plan includes collection, disaggregation, quality assessment, analysis, and reporting of milestones and indicator data throughout the period of performance as required by USDOL.

(5) WORK PLAN

5 points – Timeline. Provide a narrative timeline for operations from start up, execution, and closeout or termination. The timeline must identify major project activities and milestones, 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 timeline must correspond to activities identified in the Project Design, Budget and Budget Narrative.

5 points – Map and/or Flowchart. Provide a map or flow chart to portray the project architecture, mapping project phases into small, management work packages, and breaking major deliverables into logical hierarchical components. This visualization should demonstrate the path needed to ensure which critical tasks must be completed before the next phase can begin.

(6) CAPACITY AND PARTNER STATEMENT

4 points – Experience in Country. List and provide a description of the applicant’s past and current operations in the target countries and the performance outcomes.

3 points – Experience in Proposed Target Sector. List and describe past and current operations in the target sector(s) by the applicant.

4 points – Partner Experience. List and describe applicant’s partners and/or sub-awardees (foreign government entities, civil society organizations, private sector industries, unions, faith groups, U.S. agencies, etc.) used in past projects, as well as partnerships used in current activities in the target countries and sectors designated in the funding opportunity announcement and targeted by the applicant’s proposal.

(7) KEY PERSONNEL

5 points – Staffing Matrix. Provide a list and describe the positions and duties for all senior or key personnel the applicant identifies as required to accomplish the goals and objectives listed in the FOA. Key personnel positions are deemed essential to the successful operation of the project and completion of all proposed deliverables. Names and a brief summary of qualifications for proposed key personnel positions identified by the proposal must be included for each key personnel position described by the applicant. Should the applicant be accepted for award, the applicant must fill each of the key personnel positions within 30 days of award. ILAB, the Federal awarding agency, retains the authority to approve all key personnel changes throughout the life of the award as stated in 2 CFR 200.308(f). Approved key personnel must be available to staff the project no later than 14 calendar days after receiving ILAB permission to hire. Based upon experience and prior ILAB evaluations, ILAB recommends that the Project Director and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer should be designated as key personnel, devoting at least 90 percent of their time to the project. Applicants may propose alternate solutions that depart from this recommendation to meet the experience and level of effort required to achieve the concrete outcomes of the proposal with appropriate justification.

(8) MANAGEMENT PLAN

4 points – Project Management Organizational Chart. The chart will be evaluated based on how well it demonstrates an ability to support proper oversight, reporting, implementation of the project activities, monitoring and assessment, and delivery of project outcomes necessary to achieve its objectives.

5 points – Project Management Narrative. This narrative must discuss their project’s Management Plan, including a description of the structure of the project’s proposed management team, key personnel roles and responsibilities, and the lines of authority between key personnel and other project staff responsible for providing services related to the project intervention. The narrative description must address project start-up and closeout procedures, as well as for potential termination of the program.

2. Cost Proposal

Applicants must prepare a cost proposal as part of the application. The cost proposal must reflect consistency between the proposed costs and the work to be performed as outlined in the Project Narrative of the applicant’s technical proposal.

If an applicant proposes cost sharing, cost sharing information must be included as part of the cost proposal. Cost sharing is not required for this program. Applications that include any form of cost sharing will not receive additional consideration during the review process. Any approved cost sharing will be subject to the same compliance and reporting requirements as any awarded federal funds.

To promote transparency and full accountability consistent with Administration policy guidance, the Cost Proposal Budget Narrative must present a complete and traceable map of the project’s financial structure, clearly showing how funds move through all direct and indirect cost components.

• Detailed Line-Item Budget: Applicants must fully itemize all proposed costs—including personnel, fringe, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual services, and indirect charges—to demonstrate that requested funds support necessary and nonduplicative programmatic functions.

• Subrecipient and Vendor Disclosure: Applicants must list all proposed subrecipients and vendors, including legal names, EINs, and entity classifications, to ensure full transparency in financial and organizational relationships to the extent allowed by law.

• Merit-Based Compensation: Consistent with Administration policy guidance, applicants must disclose the compensation levels of all Key Personnel and justify them based on merit, responsibilities, and required technical expertise.

• Historical Financial Documentation: Applicants must provide three years of organizational financial statements to demonstrate solvency, fiscal reliability, and responsible historical expenditure patterns.

As part of the process of developing a cost proposal, the applicant must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and be registered in System for Award Management (SAM). In addition, the cost proposal must contain the following:

• SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance;

• SF-424A Budget Information Form;

• SF-424A Budget Narrative;

• Country-Specific Budget Narrative; and

• Indirect cost supporting documentation.

a. Requirement for SAM Registration Applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting an application. Instructions for registering with SAM can be found at https://www.sam.gov.

A recipient must maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application under consideration. To remain registered in the SAM database after the initial registration, the applicant is required to review and update the registration at least every 12 months from the date of initial registration or from the date of subsequent updates to ensure it is current, accurate, and complete. If applicant entities do not renew their SAM registration, it will expire. An expired registration can delay or prevent application submission in Grants.gov. Registration and renewal can take up to ten business days to complete. For clarification, the applicant is the entity that meets the eligibility criteria and has the legal authority to apply and to receive the award. If an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time the Grant Officer is ready to make a federal award, the Grant Officer may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

b. Requirement for Unique Entity Identifier (UEI Number) All applicants for federal grant and funding opportunities must have a UEI and must supply their UEI on the SF-424. The UEI is a 12-character alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies all entities. Any entity registering to do business with the government is required to have one. UEIs are issued by SAM.gov and are a part of an entity’s record in the Entity Information section of SAM.gov. If your organization does not have a UEI, one can be obtained for free at https://sam.gov.

Grant recipients authorized to make subawards must meet these requirements related to UEIs:

• Grant recipients must notify potential sub-recipients that no entity may receive a subaward unless the entity has provided its UEI.

• Grant recipients may not make a subaward to an entity unless the entity has provided its UEI.

See Appendix A to 2 CFR Part 25.

c. SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance Applicants must complete the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, available for review at SF-424 Family | Grants.gov. The SF-424 instructions are also available at the same link. (Please note that the PDF forms available at this link are for sample purposes only and cannot be submitted with your application package. If you are applying for a grant, please complete and submit your application using Grants.gov Workspace.)

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1.

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview/

The SF-424 must clearly identify the applicant and must be signed by an individual with authority to enter into an award agreement. Upon confirmation of an award, the individual signing the SF-424 on behalf of the applicant is considered the Authorized Representative of the applicant. As stated in block 21 of the SF-424 form, signature of the Authorized Representative on the SF-424 certifies that the organization is in compliance with the Assurances and Certifications form SF-424B, also available at SF-424 Family | Grants.gov.The SF-424B is not required to be submitted with the application.

Box 8b should include the applicant's Employer Identification Number (EIN) as applicable.

Domestic entities should have an EIN whereas international entities may or may not have an EIN. For international entities without an EIN, this box should be marked 44-4444444.

Further information on the EIN is available at https://www.irs.gov.

IMPORTANT NOTE for applicants with non-U.S. addresses: On the SF-424, page 1, Section 8d, please enter “DC” into the State field and "20210" into the Zip/Postal Code field.

This is extremely important for ensuring your application is received by USDOL.

d. SF-424A Budget Information (Non-Construction Programs) Applicants must complete the SF-424A Budget Information Form, available for review at SF-424 Family | Grants.gov.(Please note that the PDF forms available at this link are for sample purposes only and cannot be submitted with your application package. If you are applying for a grant, please complete and submit your application using Grants.gov Workspace.) Applicants must use the columns in Section B of the SF-424A to provide line-item costs for each year of the cooperative agreement’s period of performance.

e. SF-424A Budget Narrative and the Country-Specific Budget and Budget Narrative (20 points) The SF-424A Budget Narrative will be evaluated on the following:

1. the extent to which it supports the overall project strategy and reflects proposed project activities (5 points);

2. the extent to which it is reasonable and proportionate relative to the expected outcomes and impact (5 points); and,

3. The extent to which it follows the instructions outlined for the applicable budget requirements that follow (10 points):

Applicants must submit a SF-424A Budget Narrative that provides a detailed description of component costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A. The line-item explanations must also describe in detail the cost variances that occur across each year of the period of performance (e.g. compare/contrast proposed costs for Year 2 vs. Year 1). The SF-424A Budget Narrative must include a detailed justification for each line-item cost and clearly state how each cost item supports the project. The budget narrative must be detailed enough so ILAB can understand how each cost is calculated and how each cost directly relates to the proposed project activity. The SF-424A Budget Narrative should also include a section describing any leveraged resources, if applicable, to support grant activities. Leveraged resources are all resources, including cash and in-kind, in excess of the award and associated https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.irs.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview/ cost sharing. Valuation of leveraged resources follows the same requirements as cost sharing.

Applicants are encouraged to leverage resources to increase stakeholder investment in the project and broaden the impact of the project itself. The SF-424A Budget Narrative should also include a section detailing voluntary cost share, if applicable. Note that subrecipient costs should be explained in the OTHER line item. Detailed subrecipient budgets will be requested of selected awardees post-award.

For multi-country applications, applicants must also provide a separate line-item budget for each country of implementation. Each Country-Specific Budget must include the same line items of the SF-424A. Applicants must also submit a Country-Specific Budget Narrative for each Country-Specific Budget, following the instructions provided below for the SF-424A Budget Narrative, explaining in detail costs associated with activities in that country, ensuring full transparency and consistency across budget documents. A recommended format for the country line item budget is as follows:

Budget Summary Categories

Year

XX

Year

XX

Cost Share (if applicable)

Total Federal Funds Requested

Total Cost of Project (includes cost-share, if applicable)

1. Personnel

2. Fringe Benefits

3. Travel

4. Equipment

5. Supplies

6. Contractual

7. Construction

8. Other Direct Costs

9. Total Direct Costs (lines 1-8)

10. Indirect Costs

11. Total Costs (lines 9-10)

The sum of the budget categories must align with the total funding referenced on the SF- 424 and SF-424A. All budgets must comply with federal cost principles. Allowable costs include those specifically defined in 2 CFR Part 200. If selected for funding, the approved budgets will become part of the award, and any costs omitted by the applicant may not be allowed after award. Applicants may not rely on other contracts, grants, or awards to implement the applicant's proposed strategy. The budget(s) and budget narrative(s) submitted with the application must include all necessary funds to implement the proposed project strategy. ILAB will not provide any additional funding to cover unanticipated costs.

The GOR and the Grant Officer reserve the right to request more detailed line-item budget information post-award, if they deem it necessary.

Applicants must use the following guidance in preparing their Budget Narratives for both the SF-424A and Country-Specific Budgets:

1) Personnel Enter funds required for compensation of personnel for the proposed project. List all staff positions by title and/or proposed role on the project. Give the annual salary of each position, the percentage of each position’s time devoted to the project, the amount of each position’s salary funded by the award, and the total personnel cost for the period of performance. Include only personnel costs of employee salaries and wages engaged in activities under the program. Costs associated with M&E personnel must be included under the personnel line item. See 2 CFR §200.430 for more information on allowable compensation for personnel costs. Do not include the personnel costs of consultants, contractors and subrecipients under this category. If not applicable, leave blank.

2) Fringe Benefits Enter funds required for compensation of fringe benefits for the proposed project by position. Costs of employee fringe benefits are allowances and services provided by employers to their employees in addition to regular salaries and wages. For more information on fringe benefits, please refer to 2 CFR §200.431.

Do not include the fringe benefits of consultants, contractors, and subrecipients, because those costs should be listed under the “Contractual” category as part of the total value of the contract or agreement. Typically, fringe benefit amounts are determined by applying a calculated rate for a particular class of employee (full-time or part-time) to the salary and wages requested. Fringe rates are often specified in the approved indirect cost rate agreement. Fringe benefits may be treated as a direct cost or indirect cost in accordance with the applicant's accounting practices. Only fringe benefits as a direct cost should be entered under this category. If not applicable, leave blank.

3) Travel For the applicant’s project staff only, specify the purpose, number of staff traveling, per diem, estimated number of trips, and other estimated costs for each type of travel.

Include costs of project-related travel (i.e., transportation, lodging, subsistence, and other related items) by employees who are in travel status on official business of the project operator. Travel by non-employees such as consultants, contractors or subrecipients should be included under the “Contractual” category. Local travel for https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.430 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.431 employees in non-travel status should be listed on the "Other" category.