Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA ILAB 26 28

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), through its Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), is offering a discretionary funding opportunity titled "Supporting Implementation of the Labor Provisions of Trade Arrangements for American Worker Competitiveness" (Funding Opportunity Number: FOA ILAB 26 28). The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the government expects to have substantial involvement during the period of performance compared with a standard grant. The program is listed under CFDA 17.401 and is categorized under the broad funding activity area "Other."

This opportunity is designed to support work that strengthens the implementation of labor provisions embedded in trade arrangements, with the stated aim of promoting American worker competitiveness. In practical terms, opportunities like this generally focus on helping ensure that partner countries uphold labor commitments associated with trade, which can reduce unfair labor-based competitive advantages and contribute to more level conditions for workers and employers. Because this is a cooperative agreement, applicants should anticipate regular coordination with ILAB, shared planning or decision points, and government engagement in shaping or monitoring key deliverables.

The funding opportunity anticipates making 2 awards, with an award ceiling of $18,000,000. While the notice does not provide the full structure of budgets, activities, or performance targets in the excerpt provided, the ceiling signals that DOL is open to funding large, multi-year, and potentially multi-country or multi-component efforts, depending on the full FOA requirements. Applicants should be prepared to justify scale, management capacity, and measurable outcomes consistent with implementation support for labor provisions in trade contexts.

Eligibility is broad. DOL states that eligible applicants include commercial, international, educational, and non-profit organizations. This explicitly includes faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, and public international organizations (PIOs). Faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply, and DOL emphasizes that it will not discriminate in the selection or administration of awards based on an organization’s religious character, affiliation, exercise (or lack of exercise), or based on conduct that would not be used to favor or disfavor a similarly situated secular organization. The intent is to make clear that the competition is open to a wide range of capable entities as long as they meet the stated eligibility and program requirements.

Key dates provided include a creation date of 2026-08-21 and an original application closing date of 2026-09-21. That gives applicants roughly a month from posting to deadline based on the dates shown, so organizations interested in applying would need to move quickly to assemble partnerships, confirm compliance and eligibility, develop a technical approach, and prepare a budget and supporting documentation.

For questions about the Funding Opportunity Announcement, DOL instructs applicants to email OGMILAB@dol.gov. Applicants would typically use that contact to confirm eligibility questions, clarify allowable activities or costs, verify submission mechanics, and address technical questions that could affect responsiveness to the FOA requirements.

  • The Bureau of International Labor Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Supporting Implementation of the Labor Provisions of Trade Arrangements for American Worker Competitiveness" 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 2026-08-21.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-21. (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 $18,000,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others.
Apply for FOA ILAB 26 28

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Supporting Implementation of the Labor Provisions of Trade Arrangements for American Worker Competitiveness."

2) Who is offering this grant opportunity?

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), through its Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), is offering this discretionary funding opportunity.

3) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is FOA ILAB 26 28.

4) What type of award will be made?

The award will be made as a cooperative agreement.

5) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal government during the period of performance, compared with a standard grant. Based on the information provided, applicants should expect regular coordination with ILAB, shared planning or decision points, and government engagement in shaping or monitoring key deliverables.

6) What is the CFDA number for this program?

The program is listed under CFDA 17.401.

7) What is the broad funding activity area/category?

This opportunity is categorized under the broad funding activity area "Other."

8) What is the main purpose of this opportunity?

The opportunity is designed to support work that strengthens the implementation of labor provisions embedded in trade arrangements, with the stated aim of promoting American worker competitiveness.

9) What kinds of work does this opportunity generally support (based on the description provided)?

Based on the provided description, efforts like this generally focus on helping ensure that partner countries uphold labor commitments associated with trade arrangements. This can help reduce unfair labor-based competitive advantages and contribute to more level conditions for workers and employers.

10) How many awards does DOL anticipate making?

DOL anticipates making 2 awards.

11) What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $18,000,000.

12) Does the excerpt specify the full budget structure, activities, or performance targets?

No. The excerpt notes that the notice does not provide the full structure of budgets, activities, or performance targets in the portion provided.

13) What does the $18,000,000 ceiling suggest about the possible scope of projects?

The ceiling suggests DOL is open to funding large efforts. The excerpt indicates these may be multi-year and potentially multi-country or multi-component efforts, depending on the full FOA requirements.

14) What should applicants be prepared to demonstrate given the potential scale?

Applicants should be prepared to justify project scale, management capacity, and measurable outcomes consistent with supporting implementation of labor provisions in trade contexts.

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include commercial, international, educational, and non-profit organizations.

16) Are faith-based organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes faith-based organizations, and faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply.

17) Are community-based organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Community-based organizations are explicitly included among eligible applicants.

18) Are public international organizations (PIOs) eligible to apply?

Yes. Public international organizations (PIOs) are explicitly included among eligible applicants.

19) Does DOL state anything about nondiscrimination related to religious character for this opportunity?

Yes. DOL emphasizes it will not discriminate in the selection or administration of awards based on an organization’s religious character, affiliation, exercise (or lack of exercise), or based on conduct that would not be used to favor or disfavor a similarly situated secular organization.

20) What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?

The creation date is 2026-08-21, and the original application closing date is 2026-09-21.

21) How much time is there between the posting date and the deadline (based on the dates provided)?

Based on the provided dates, there is roughly one month between the creation date (2026-08-21) and the original closing date (2026-09-21).

22) What does the timeline imply for applicants?

The timeline implies organizations will need to move quickly to assemble partnerships, confirm compliance and eligibility, develop a technical approach, and prepare a budget and supporting documentation.

23) Who should applicants contact with questions about the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)?

DOL instructs applicants to email OGMILAB@dol.gov with FOA-related questions.

24) What types of questions is that email contact typically used for?

Applicants would typically use that contact to confirm eligibility questions, clarify allowable activities or costs, verify submission mechanics, and address technical questions that could affect responsiveness to the FOA requirements.

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