Opportunity Information: Apply for NOI ILAB 17 04
This opportunity is a Notice of Intent (NOI) from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), signaling that the agency may later release a formal Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to fund work focused on forced labor and human trafficking in the fishing sector. The key point is that this notice is not the actual solicitation and applications are not being accepted at this time. If funds are available, ILAB expects to make one or more awards through a competitive process using a cooperative agreement model, meaning the government typically stays more involved in project oversight and implementation than it would under a standard grant.
The planned project footprint includes Indonesia plus one additional country in the Asia-Pacific region that the applicant proposes. That second country must meet several requirements: it must be considered part of the U.S. State Department-defined East Asia and Pacific region (using the referenced State Department country list), it must be a U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) beneficiary country (per the referenced USTR list), and it must not already have a comparable, active program addressing similar outcomes to those described in the NOI. The notice gives Thailand as an example of a country where a similar initiative already exists (the ILO Ship to Shore Rights program), implying applicants should select a second country where this type of programming would not duplicate ongoing efforts.
The overall objective is straightforward: reduce forced labor and human trafficking on fishing vessels in the Asia-Pacific region. ILAB frames the strategy around two major outcome areas. The first outcome area centers on strengthening enforcement to combat labor exploitation at sea. This includes improving or tightening government regulations and policies that address labor exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking on fishing vessels; improving coordination inside government, particularly through interagency structures or task forces that deal with illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and related crimes, so that labor exploitation is addressed alongside fisheries and maritime enforcement; and expanding the use of multi-disciplinary inspections that explicitly incorporate labor exploitation checks into vessel inspection routines, rather than treating labor conditions as a secondary concern.
The second outcome area is aimed at reducing the actual presence of forced labor indicators on fishing vessels by changing what workers, industry, and institutions know and can do in practice. ILAB highlights improving understanding of acceptable working conditions and the warning signs of exploitation, forced labor, and trafficking; improving workers ability to report abusive or exploitative conditions on fishing vessels (which often requires trusted channels, confidentiality protections, and practical access for workers who may be at sea or in remote ports); and improving access to remedies when exploitation occurs, which can include complaint mechanisms, investigation pathways, victim services, legal assistance, restitution, and other forms of resolution that meaningfully address harms and deter повтор offenses.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary program, using cooperative agreements, under CFDA 17.401. The listing shows an award ceiling of $5,000,000 and an expected number of awards of 7, though the narrative also says ILAB intends to award one or more cooperative agreements, so final award count and sizing would ultimately be clarified in the FOA if and when it is released. The eligible applicant category is labeled broadly as "Others," with the expectation that the FOA would provide the real eligibility details and any restrictions or preferences. The notice also points prospective applicants to ILABs grants webpage and its solicitation guidance page for general guidelines and examples from prior cooperative agreement competitions, which can help organizations understand typical USDOL/ILAB expectations around project design, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and budgeting.
Timing-wise, the NOI indicates the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Office of Grants Management anticipated publishing the FOA around an estimated date that was not filled in within the text and could change. The practical instruction is to monitor Grants.gov, because that is where the FOA would be posted if it is issued, and the agency will not distribute the FOA by email or mail. Overall, this NOI is best read as an early heads-up for organizations working on labor rights, anti-trafficking, fisheries governance, maritime enforcement, or worker protection in the Asia-Pacific fishing industry, giving them time to think about partnerships and country selection while waiting for the formal application package and requirements to appear in the eventual FOA.Apply for NOI ILAB 17 04
- 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 "Combatting Forced Labor and Human Trafficking on Fishing Vessels in the Asia-Pacific Region" 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 04, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2017 NOTE This is a Notice of Intent. An announcement is not related to this notice. We are not accepting applications at this 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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: USDOL/ILAB Notice of Intent (NOI) - Forced Labor and Human Trafficking in the Fishing Sector (Asia-Pacific)
1) Is this announcement a live funding solicitation?
No. This is a Notice of Intent (NOI) from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). It signals that ILAB may later release a formal Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), but this notice itself is not the solicitation.
2) Are applications being accepted right now?
No. The NOI explicitly indicates that applications are not being accepted at this time. Application instructions and requirements would only appear in a future FOA, if one is issued.
3) Who is issuing this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by USDOL, Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). The NOI also notes that the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Office of Grants Management anticipated publishing the FOA (if released).
4) What issue is this potential project meant to address?
The overall objective described in the NOI is to reduce forced labor and human trafficking on fishing vessels in the Asia-Pacific region.
5) What type of funding instrument is expected?
ILAB expects to make one or more awards using a cooperative agreement model, if funds are available and an FOA is released. A cooperative agreement generally involves more government involvement in project oversight and implementation than a standard grant.
6) Is this a discretionary program?
Yes. The NOI categorizes this as a discretionary program.
7) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The NOI lists CFDA 17.401.
8) What is the maximum award amount mentioned?
The listing shows an award ceiling of $5,000,000.
9) How many awards are expected?
The listing shows an expected number of awards of 7. However, the narrative also states ILAB intends to award one or more cooperative agreements. The final number of awards and award sizes would be clarified in the FOA, if and when it is released.
10) Where would the project take place?
The planned project footprint includes Indonesia plus one additional country in the Asia-Pacific region proposed by the applicant (subject to the requirements described in the NOI).
11) What requirements must the second (additional) country meet?
Based on the NOI, the proposed second country must:
- Be part of the U.S. State Department-defined East Asia and Pacific region (per the referenced State Department country list).
- Be a U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) beneficiary country (per the referenced USTR list).
- Not already have a comparable, active program addressing similar outcomes to those described in the NOI.
12) Can Thailand be selected as the second country?
The NOI cites Thailand as an example where a similar initiative already exists (the ILO Ship to Shore Rights program). The implication is that applicants should select a second country where comparable programming does not already exist, to avoid duplicating ongoing efforts.
13) What are the major outcome areas ILAB describes?
ILAB frames the strategy around two major outcome areas:
- Strengthening enforcement to combat labor exploitation at sea.
- Reducing forced labor indicators on fishing vessels through improved knowledge, reporting, and access to remedies.
14) What does "strengthening enforcement" include in this NOI?
The NOI describes enforcement-focused work that may include:
- Improving or tightening government regulations and policies addressing labor exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking on fishing vessels.
- Improving coordination within government, including through interagency structures or task forces addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and related crimes, so that labor exploitation is addressed alongside fisheries and maritime enforcement.
- Expanding multi-disciplinary inspections that incorporate labor exploitation checks into vessel inspection routines.
15) What does the second outcome area focus on?
The second outcome area focuses on reducing the presence of forced labor indicators on fishing vessels by improving what workers, industry, and institutions understand and can do in practice. The NOI highlights work such as:
- Improving understanding of acceptable working conditions and the warning signs of exploitation, forced labor, and trafficking.
- Improving workers' ability to report abusive or exploitative conditions, including through trusted channels, confidentiality protections, and practical access for workers who may be at sea or in remote ports.
- Improving access to remedies when exploitation occurs, including complaint mechanisms, investigation pathways, victim services, legal assistance, restitution, and other forms of resolution that address harms and deter repeat offenses.
16) Does the NOI list eligible applicants?
The eligible applicant category is labeled broadly as "Others." The NOI indicates that the FOA (if issued) would provide the detailed eligibility requirements, including any restrictions or preferences.
17) When will the FOA be published?
The NOI indicates ETA Office of Grants Management anticipated publishing the FOA around an estimated date, but that date was not filled in within the text and could change. The NOI emphasizes that timing is subject to change.
18) Where will the FOA be posted if it is released?
The NOI instructs prospective applicants to monitor Grants.gov, as that is where the FOA would be posted if issued.
19) Will ILAB email or mail the FOA to interested applicants?
No. The NOI states the agency will not distribute the FOA by email or mail. The practical instruction is to monitor Grants.gov.
20) What preparation steps does the NOI suggest for interested organizations?
Because the NOI is an early heads-up (not an application stage), it is best used to begin planning around partnerships and selecting an eligible second country, while waiting for the formal FOA to specify application requirements and submission instructions.
21) Are there any referenced resources for understanding ILAB expectations?
Yes. The NOI points prospective applicants to ILAB's grants webpage and ILAB's solicitation guidance page for general guidelines and examples from prior cooperative agreement competitions, which can help organizations understand typical expectations around project design, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and budgeting.
22) What does the NOI mean by avoiding duplication with comparable active programs?
The NOI indicates the second country must not already have a comparable, active program addressing similar outcomes. It provides Thailand as an example where a similar initiative exists (ILO Ship to Shore Rights), suggesting applicants should choose a second country where the proposed work would not duplicate ongoing efforts.
23) Is Indonesia required in the project footprint?
Yes. The NOI states the planned project footprint includes Indonesia plus one additional country in the Asia-Pacific region proposed by the applicant (meeting the stated requirements).
24) Does the NOI provide submission requirements, evaluation criteria, or a budget template?
No. The NOI is not the FOA and does not provide application submission requirements, formal evaluation criteria, or a complete application package. Those details would be expected in the FOA, if released.
25) What is the main takeaway from this NOI for potential applicants?
The main takeaway is that ILAB is signaling potential future funding focused on forced labor and human trafficking in the fishing sector (Asia-Pacific), using cooperative agreements, and interested organizations should monitor Grants.gov and use the time to think through country selection and partnerships ahead of a possible FOA.
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