Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA ILAB 23 30
The Strengthening Social Compliance Project is a U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) cooperative agreement designed to tackle forced labor in global supply chains by shifting social compliance toward a worker-driven model. The opportunity funds a global technical assistance effort that will be piloted in the Indonesian palm oil sector, a context where forced labor risks have been documented and where supply chains can be complex and difficult to monitor. The central idea is to move beyond traditional, audit-heavy compliance approaches and instead develop practical, usable tools and systems that place workers and their representative organizations at the center of prevention, detection, and remediation efforts, with an emphasis on protections that can be independently verified in real-world conditions.
ILAB is making approximately $2,000,000 available (subject to federal funds) to support one award under Phase I, with a project period of up to 36 months from the award start date. The Department signals that this is intended to be a multi-phase investment: after Phase I ends, ILAB may consider a second phase of roughly $4,000,000. If both phases proceed, the total potential project budget would be about $6,000,000 spread across approximately eight years, indicating an expectation of sustained work that begins with design and piloting and can later expand, deepen, or replicate successful approaches.
The project is organized around two main results. First, it must produce actionable resources that make it possible to establish or strengthen worker-driven social compliance systems capable of preventing, reducing, and remediating forced labor. These resources are meant to be practical and transferable, not just conceptual guidance, and they should support credible systems where worker voice, worker organization, and worker protection mechanisms are built into how compliance is defined and proven. Second, the project is expected to drive real uptake by the private sector: companies and other supply-chain actors should adopt worker-driven social compliance systems by using the resources produced in the first output, with adoption occurring in selected sectors and/or countries beyond the initial pilot context as appropriate.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number FOA-ILAB-23-30) issued by ILAB within the U.S. Department of Labor, with assistance listed under CFDA 17.401. The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means the government anticipates substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant. The opportunity anticipated a single award, with an award ceiling of $2,000,000 for Phase I. The original closing date was October 6, 2023, with applications required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 pm Eastern Time. The eligibility category is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement.Apply for FOA ILAB 23 30
- The Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Social Compliance Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 17.401.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 03, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 06, 2023 Applications must be submitted electronically no later than 1159 pm Eastern Time.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Strengthening Social Compliance Project (FOA-ILAB-23-30)
What is the Strengthening Social Compliance Project?
The Strengthening Social Compliance Project is a U.S. Department of Labor initiative (through the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, or ILAB) funded as a cooperative agreement. It is designed to tackle forced labor in global supply chains by shifting social compliance away from traditional audit-heavy approaches and toward a worker-driven model.
What problem is this project trying to address?
The project focuses on forced labor risks in global supply chains. It responds to documented forced labor risks in contexts where supply chains can be complex and difficult to monitor, and where traditional compliance systems may not reliably detect, prevent, or remediate abuses under real-world conditions.
What does "worker-driven social compliance" mean in this opportunity?
Based on the funding description, "worker-driven social compliance" refers to social compliance systems that place workers and their representative organizations at the center of prevention, detection, and remediation. The emphasis is on practical protections and mechanisms that can be independently verified in real-world conditions, rather than relying primarily on periodic audits.
How is this approach different from traditional social compliance models?
This opportunity explicitly aims to move beyond traditional, audit-heavy compliance approaches. Instead of primarily relying on audits, the project is intended to develop practical tools and systems that embed worker voice, worker organization, and worker protection mechanisms into how compliance is defined and demonstrated.
Who is offering this funding opportunity?
The funder is the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).
What is the funding opportunity number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FOA-ILAB-23-30.
What is the CFDA/assistance listing number associated with this opportunity?
The assistance listing is CFDA 17.401.
What type of award is being offered?
The award instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award instrument is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates that the government anticipates substantial involvement during implementation, compared to a standard grant. In other words, ILAB expects to be actively engaged as the project is carried out.
How much funding is available under Phase I?
ILAB is making approximately $2,000,000 available for Phase I (subject to the availability of federal funds).
How many awards does ILAB expect to make for Phase I?
The opportunity anticipates a single award for Phase I.
What is the award ceiling for Phase I?
The award ceiling for Phase I is $2,000,000.
How long is the Phase I project period?
The Phase I project period can be up to 36 months from the award start date.
Is this expected to be a multi-phase project?
Yes. The Department signals an intent for a multi-phase investment. After Phase I ends, ILAB may consider a second phase.
How much funding might be available in a potential Phase II?
After Phase I, ILAB may consider a second phase of roughly $4,000,000.
What is the total potential funding across both phases?
If both phases proceed, the total potential project budget would be about $6,000,000.
Over what time period could the full multi-phase effort run?
If both phases proceed, the description indicates funding spread across approximately eight years, suggesting sustained work that begins with design and piloting and can later expand, deepen, or replicate successful approaches.
Where will the project be piloted?
The global technical assistance effort will be piloted in the Indonesian palm oil sector.
Why is the Indonesian palm oil sector a focus for the pilot?
The opportunity notes that forced labor risks have been documented in this context and that palm oil supply chains can be complex and difficult to monitor, making it a relevant environment to pilot worker-driven compliance approaches.
Is this a global project or country-specific?
It is described as a global technical assistance effort, with an initial pilot in Indonesia (palm oil sector). It also expects adoption in selected sectors and/or countries beyond the pilot context, as appropriate.
What are the main expected results of the project?
The project is organized around two main results: (1) producing actionable, practical, and transferable resources that enable worker-driven social compliance systems to prevent, reduce, and remediate forced labor; and (2) driving real uptake by the private sector, where companies and other supply-chain actors adopt worker-driven social compliance systems using those resources, including beyond the initial pilot context as appropriate.
What kinds of deliverables are expected under the first main result?
The first result requires producing actionable resources that make it possible to establish or strengthen worker-driven social compliance systems. The opportunity emphasizes that these resources should be practical and usable, not just conceptual guidance, and should support credible systems where worker voice, worker organization, and worker protection mechanisms are built into compliance and how it is proven.
What does "actionable resources" imply in this announcement?
It implies outputs that are practical, usable, and transferable. The description draws a contrast with purely conceptual guidance and points toward tools and systems that can be applied to establish or strengthen worker-driven social compliance systems.
What does the project mean by "independently verified in real-world conditions"?
The funding description emphasizes protections that can be independently verified in real-world conditions. This suggests the project should support compliance approaches where worker protections and mechanisms are demonstrable and verifiable beyond paper-based policies or one-off inspections.
What is expected under the second main result (private sector uptake)?
The second result expects companies and other supply-chain actors to adopt worker-driven social compliance systems by using the resources produced under the first result. Adoption is expected in selected sectors and/or countries beyond the initial pilot context as appropriate.
Does the project have to expand beyond Indonesia?
The announcement indicates that adoption should occur in selected sectors and/or countries beyond the initial pilot context, as appropriate. This frames broader uptake as an expectation, while recognizing that the appropriate scope may depend on what is feasible and strategic.
What is meant by "global supply chains" in the context of this award?
In this opportunity, "global supply chains" refers to the cross-border networks of companies and supply-chain actors connected to production and sourcing, where forced labor risks may be present and where compliance can be difficult to monitor.
When was the application deadline for this funding opportunity?
The original closing date was October 6, 2023.
What time were applications due on the closing date?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 pm Eastern Time.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically.
What is the eligibility category for applicants?
The eligibility category is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement.
Where can applicants find the detailed eligibility requirements?
The announcement indicates that additional eligibility details are referenced in the full funding opportunity announcement.
Is the funding guaranteed?
The announcement notes that the approximately $2,000,000 for Phase I is subject to the availability of federal funds, meaning funding depends on federal appropriations and related availability.
Is Phase II funding guaranteed if Phase I is completed?
No. The announcement states ILAB may consider a second phase after Phase I ends. The wording indicates it is a possibility rather than a guarantee.
What kind of work does ILAB appear to expect over time?
The description suggests sustained work that starts with design and piloting (during Phase I) and may later expand, deepen, or replicate successful approaches (potentially during a later phase), with total activity potentially spanning about eight years if both phases proceed.
What does it mean that this is a discretionary funding opportunity?
It means the opportunity is issued as a discretionary funding opportunity by ILAB, rather than a formula-based award. The announcement frames it as a competitive, program-driven award under ILAB.
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