Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA ILAB 26 30
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), through its Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), is offering a discretionary funding opportunity titled Ensuring "Pro-American Worker" Critical Minerals Supply Chain in the Western Hemisphere (Funding Opportunity Number: FOA ILAB 26 30). The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the government expects substantial involvement during the life of the project compared to a standard grant. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 17.401, with an application deadline of 2026-09-21, and it was created/posted on 2026-08-21. Questions about the announcement are directed to OGMILAB@dol.gov.
Funding is structured as a single, larger award: ILAB expects to make 1 award, with an award ceiling of $5,000,000. The funding activity category is labeled "Other," and the overall theme is strengthening critical minerals supply chains in the Western Hemisphere in ways aligned with a "pro-American worker" framing. While the provided summary text does not spell out specific required activities, the title and ILAB’s mission context suggest the project will likely focus on labor-related standards, protections, and conditions connected to critical minerals extraction, processing, and related supply chain work across the region, aiming to reduce labor risks and improve compliance and accountability in supply chains that matter to U.S. economic and worker interests.
Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive. Applicants may be commercial organizations, international organizations, educational institutions, or nonprofit organizations. The announcement explicitly includes faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, and public international organizations (PIOs) as eligible, and it states that faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply. DOL also emphasizes a nondiscrimination commitment in both selecting recipients and administering the grant: it will not discriminate based on an organization’s religious character, affiliation, exercise, or lack thereof, and it will not treat an organization differently based on conduct that would not be used to favor or disfavor a similarly situated secular organization. This language is meant to reassure a wide range of applicants that they can compete on equal footing as long as they meet the stated eligibility and program requirements.
In practical terms, interested organizations should treat this as a competitive, high-value cooperative agreement with one expected recipient, meaning the application will likely need to present a strong, regionally credible plan, clear implementation capacity, and a compelling approach to labor-related outcomes in critical minerals supply chains in the Western Hemisphere. Because the excerpt does not include the full scope, deliverables, target countries, performance metrics, or cost-share rules (if any), the next step for an applicant would be to review the full FOA package and, if needed, email ILAB at OGMILAB@dol.gov with specific clarification questions well before the 2026-09-21 deadline.Apply for FOA ILAB 26 30
- The Bureau of International Labor Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ensuring “Pro-American Worker” Critical Minerals Supply Chain in the Western Hemisphere" 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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Ensuring "Pro-American Worker" Critical Minerals Supply Chain in the Western Hemisphere.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), through the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FOA ILAB 26 30.
What type of award is being offered?
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement. In general, that means the federal government expects substantial involvement during the project period compared to a standard grant.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 17.401.
When was this opportunity posted?
The announcement was created/posted on 2026-08-21.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is 2026-09-21.
How many awards does ILAB expect to make?
ILAB expects to make 1 award.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $5,000,000.
Is this a competitive opportunity?
Yes. Based on the description, this should be treated as a competitive discretionary funding opportunity with a single, larger award expected.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is labeled "Other".
What is the overall focus or theme of the project?
The theme is strengthening critical minerals supply chains in the Western Hemisphere in ways aligned with a "pro-American worker" framing.
Does the summary list specific required activities, deliverables, or target countries?
No. The provided summary does not spell out specific required activities, deliverables, target countries, performance metrics, or cost-share rules (if any).
Based on the information provided, what kinds of work might the project emphasize?
While specific requirements are not included in the excerpt, the title and ILAB mission context suggest the project will likely focus on labor-related standards, protections, and working conditions connected to critical minerals extraction, processing, and related supply chain work in the Western Hemisphere, with an aim to reduce labor risks and improve compliance and accountability in relevant supply chains.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Applicants may be:
- Commercial organizations
- International organizations
- Educational institutions
- Nonprofit organizations
- Faith-based organizations
- Community-based organizations
- Public international organizations (PIOs)
Are faith-based organizations eligible, and are they encouraged to apply?
Yes. The announcement explicitly includes faith-based organizations as eligible and states that faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply.
Does DOL have a nondiscrimination policy related to religious organizations?
Yes. DOL emphasizes that it will not discriminate in selecting recipients or administering the grant based on an organization’s religious character, affiliation, exercise, or lack thereof. It also states it will not treat an organization differently based on conduct that would not be used to favor or disfavor a similarly situated secular organization.
Where should applicants send questions about the announcement?
Questions should be directed to OGMILAB@dol.gov.
What should applicants do next if they need details not included in the excerpt?
Applicants should review the full FOA package for scope, deliverables, target geographies, metrics, and any cost-share requirements (if any). If clarification is still needed, they should email OGMILAB@dol.gov well before the 2026-09-21 deadline.
How should an applicant position their proposal given there is one expected award?
Because ILAB expects to make a single award at a relatively high ceiling amount, applicants should plan for a strong, competitive submission that demonstrates a regionally credible plan, clear implementation capacity, and a compelling approach to labor-related outcomes in critical minerals supply chains across the Western Hemisphere.
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