Securing Fair and Reliable Critical Mineral Supply Chains
ID: 360111Type: Posted
Overview

Buyer

Bureau of International Labor Affairs (DOL-ILAB)

Award Range

$4M - $5M

Eligible Applicants

Others

Funding Category

Other

Funding Instrument

Cooperative Agreement

Opportunity Category

Discretionary

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

Yes

Original Source

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/360111

Additional Information

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

    The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) of the U.S. Department of Labor is offering approximately $9 million in funding for two cooperative agreements aimed at securing fair and reliable critical mineral supply chains, specifically targeting child labor (CL) and forced labor (FL) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Indonesia. The funding includes one award of up to $5 million for projects in the DRC, focusing on minerals such as cobalt, copper, tantalum, tin, and tungsten, and another award of up to $4 million for projects in Indonesia, primarily targeting nickel and optionally tin. Eligible applicants include commercial, international, educational, and non-profit organizations, with a strong encouragement for faith-based organizations to apply. Applications must be submitted electronically via grants.gov by September 26, 2025, no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, and technical questions should be directed to the Office of Grants Management at OGM_ILAB@dol.gov at least 10 business days prior to the deadline.

    Point(s) of Contact
    OGM_ILAB@dol.gov
    Files
    Title
    Posted
    FOA-ILAB-25-15.pdf
    The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) has announced a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA-ILAB-25-15) for approximately $9 million to fund two cooperative agreements. These agreements aim to secure fair and reliable critical mineral supply chains, specifically targeting child labor (CL) and forced labor (FL) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Indonesia. One award of up to $5 million is allocated for the DRC, and one of up to $4 million for Indonesia, with a project duration of 54 months. Applicants can apply for one or both agreements, submitting distinct applications for each. The projects will focus on critical minerals such as cobalt, copper, tantalum, tin, and tungsten in DRC, and nickel (with an option for tin) in Indonesia, as identified on the DOL's TVPRA List. The strategy must address policy and legal frameworks, capacity building for monitoring, identification, enforcement, and remediation of CL/FL, and include a supply chain research study. Eligible applicants include commercial, international, educational, and non-profit organizations, with faith-based organizations encouraged to apply. Applications must be submitted via grants.gov by September 26, 2025, no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Technical questions must be submitted 10 business days prior to the close date.
    Similar Opportunities
    Better Work Global
    Bureau of International Labor Affairs
    The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (DOL) intends to fund a project under the "Better Work Global" initiative through a cooperative agreement, with a total funding amount of $10 million. This opportunity is a Notice of Intent (NOI) and not a request for applications, indicating that the DOL plans to provide funding to the International Labor Organization (ILO) without full and open competition due to the unique qualifications of the recipient. The funding aims to support activities that enhance labor standards and improve working conditions globally, reflecting the DOL's commitment to international labor rights. Interested parties can reach out to Carlie Ortiz at ortiz.carlie@dol.gov or call 202-693-9303 for further information, noting that the opportunity is forecasted for fiscal year 2024.
    Cooperation On Fair, Free, Equitable Employment (COFFEE) Project
    Bureau of International Labor Affairs
    The Bureau of International Labor Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor intends to award a cooperative agreement for the Cooperation On Fair, Free, Equitable Employment (COFFEE) Project, focusing on enhancing social compliance systems within the coffee sector. The project aims to improve working conditions and eliminate child and forced labor in coffee supply chains, with a funding allocation of up to $5 million directed towards Verite, Inc. This initiative underscores the importance of ethical labor practices in the coffee industry, and while this is a Notice of Intent, no applications are currently being accepted. For further inquiries, interested parties can contact Carlie Ortiz at (202) 693-9303 or via email at ortiz.carlie@dol.gov.
    Migrant Resilience Collaborative
    Bureau of International Labor Affairs
    The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (DOL-ILAB) intends to award a Cooperative Agreement for the Migrant Resilience Collaborative project, aimed at reducing vulnerability to forced labor among internal migrant workers in South/Southeast Asia. The project will focus on strengthening access to social security and worker protections by enhancing social protection service delivery, with an initial implementation planned for Bangladesh. This funding opportunity, which is a Notice of Intent and not a request for applications, has an estimated total program funding of $9 million, with individual awards ranging from $3 million to $9 million. Interested parties can contact Carlie Ortiz at ortiz.carlie@dol.gov or (202) 693-9303 for further information.
    Promoting the Voices and Engagement of Persons with Lived Experience to Prevent Labor Exploitation
    Bureau of International Labor Affairs
    The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (DOL-ILAB) intends to award a Cooperative Agreement to Free the Slaves for a project aimed at promoting the voices and engagement of individuals with lived experience to prevent labor exploitation. This initiative focuses on providing technical assistance to amplify the perspectives of those who have directly faced human trafficking, forced labor, child labor, and other forms of labor exploitation, while also supporting governments in integrating these voices into their policies and procedures. The total funding for this project is estimated at $2 million, with a single award expected to be made in fiscal year 2024. For further inquiries, interested parties can contact Carlie Ortiz at (202) 693-9303 or via email at ortiz.carlie@dol.gov.
    Understanding the Intersection of Forced Scamming and Child Labor in Southeast Asia
    Bureau of International Labor Affairs
    The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) of the U.S. Department of Labor is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Understanding the Intersection of Forced Scamming and Child Labor in Southeast Asia." This RFI aims to gather insights and feedback to inform future programming that addresses the complex relationship between online scam operations, trafficking for forced criminality, and child labor in Southeast Asia. The context of this initiative highlights the alarming rise of forced scamming as a form of human trafficking, particularly in regions like Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Philippines, where vulnerable populations are exploited through deceptive job offers and coerced into illegal activities. Interested parties are invited to submit their responses by January 15, 2025, via email to Carter Quinley at quinley.carter.k@dol.gov, with a copy to Peltzer.angela.k@dol.gov, and must include RFI Number RFI-ILAB-24-01 in the subject line.
    Notice of Intent to Issue Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): Mines and Metals Capacity Expansion – Piloting By-Product Critical Minerals and Materials Recovery at Domestic Industrial Facilities
    National Energy Technology Laboratory
    The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is preparing to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled “Mines and Metals Capacity Expansion – Piloting By-Product Critical Minerals and Materials Recovery at Domestic Industrial Facilities.” This initiative aims to enhance domestic production of critical minerals and reduce dependence on foreign sources by facilitating the development of large pilot-scale facilities that recover valuable mineral byproducts from various industrial sectors, including mining, oil and gas, and power generation. The anticipated NOFO, expected to be released in Q4 2025, will likely include two funding topics, with a total of $250 million available for awards, requiring a cost share of 20-50% and targeting a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 7. Interested applicants should register with SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eXCHANGE in advance, as these processes may take several weeks, and can reach out to Cheng Carr at cheng.carr@netl.doe.gov for further information.
    Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – Mines & Metals Capacity Expansion – Piloting Byproduct Critical Minerals and Materials Recovery at Domestic Industrial Facilities
    National Energy Technology Laboratory
    The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is offering a funding opportunity under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for projects focused on piloting the recovery of byproduct critical minerals and materials at domestic industrial facilities. This initiative aims to support American industries, including mining, mineral processing, and power generation, in addressing critical mineral vulnerabilities by utilizing existing industrial processes to produce valuable byproducts. The total estimated program funding is $275 million, with individual awards ranging from $1 to $75 million, and the application deadline is December 15, 2025. Interested applicants can find more information and application instructions on the NETL Exchange website or contact the NOFO team at de-foa-0003583@netl.doe.gov.
    Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): Mine of the Future - Proving Ground Initiative
    National Energy Technology Laboratory
    The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is offering a funding opportunity under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) titled "Mine of the Future - Proving Ground Initiative." This initiative aims to establish mining technology proving grounds to accelerate the development of innovative technologies for the U.S. mining sector, with a focus on transforming mining practices and enhancing domestic coal mine methane supply networks. The program has an estimated total funding of $80 million, with individual awards ranging from $1 to $40 million, and applications are open to all eligible applicants without cost-sharing requirements. Interested parties can find more information and application details on the NETL Exchange website, with a submission deadline set for December 15, 2025. For inquiries, applicants may contact the grantor at DE-FOA-0003390@netl.doe.gov.
    Improving Working Conditions in the Processing of Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (E-Waste)
    Bureau of International Labor Affairs
    The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) of the U.S. Department of Labor is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) aimed at gathering insights to enhance working conditions in the processing of electronic waste (E-waste). This RFI seeks to collect information on the current state of E-waste processing, including the collection, recycling, and disposal practices, as well as the labor rights and safety conditions faced by workers in this sector. Given the significant global increase in E-waste, which is projected to rise from 62 billion kg in 2020 to 82 billion kg by 2030, understanding and improving the working conditions for the approximately 64 million workers in this field is critical. Responses to this RFI are voluntary and should be submitted via email to Pilar Velasquez at velasquez.pilar@dol.gov by February 24, 2025, at 11:59 PM EDT, with the subject line including RFI Number RFI-ILAB-25-01.
    Promoting Human Rights For Vulnerable Children in Haut-Katanga
    U.S. Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo
    The U.S. Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo is offering a grant opportunity titled "Promoting Human Rights For Vulnerable Children in Haut-Katanga," aimed at supporting activities that promote children's rights in the region. The grant, which can provide up to $395,000 in FY 2020 Economic Support Funds, seeks to enhance local awareness of children's rights, improve the capacity of human rights defenders, and increase accountability among local authorities regarding child protection. This initiative is critical for addressing the challenges faced by vulnerable children in Haut-Katanga and fostering a supportive environment for their rights. Interested applicants, including those registered solely in the DRC, must submit their proposals by August 4, 2021, and can direct inquiries to Stephanie Burk at PolGrantsKinshasa@state.gov.