Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA ILAB 20 09
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) is offering a competitive discretionary grant under a cooperative agreement to support a technical assistance project in Colombia focused specifically on the port sector. The opportunity, titled "Advancing Labor Compliance in Colombia's Port Sector" (Funding Opportunity Number FOA ILAB 20 09), makes up to about $5,000,000 available in total costs, depending on the availability of federal funds, with the expectation of making one award. The project period can run for up to 4.5 years (54 months) from the effective date of the award, giving the recipient enough time to assess underlying challenges, pilot solutions, and promote broader uptake of successful practices.
The central purpose of the grant is to strengthen compliance with Colombian national labor laws that align with internationally recognized labor rights in port-related work. The solicitation highlights core labor rights and protections that the project should address, including freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, protections against workplace discrimination, and the elimination of forced labor and child labor. It also emphasizes "acceptable conditions of work," which in this context includes compliance related to minimum wages, working hours, and occupational safety and health. In other words, the project is not framed as creating new labor standards, but as improving adherence to existing national legal requirements and reinforcing the practical conditions needed for those rights to be respected in day-to-day port operations.
ILAB lays out a clear results pathway with four intended outcomes. First, the project should produce an increased understanding of the barriers that prevent effective compliance in Colombia's port sector. That implies a strong diagnostic component, such as mapping how employment is structured in ports, where enforcement breaks down, what incentives or pressures drive noncompliance, and what workers and employers experience in practice. Second, based on that diagnostic, the project is expected to develop concrete approaches that can support better compliance. These approaches could include improved guidance, systems, coordination mechanisms, training models, or other practical tools that enable employers, workers, and relevant institutions to meet legal requirements more consistently.
Third, the opportunity expects demonstrated effectiveness, meaning the project should not stop at designing ideas on paper. It should test and show that the selected approaches work in real settings, using evidence to validate that they improve compliance or strengthen the conditions under which labor rights can be exercised. Finally, the grant seeks increased awareness and adoption of the proven approaches, signaling that ILAB wants results that spread beyond a small pilot and can be taken up more broadly across the port sector. This last outcome points toward communication, stakeholder engagement, and strategies to institutionalize successful practices so they continue after the project ends.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which generally means substantial involvement by the federal agency during implementation compared with a standard grant. The posting identifies the agency as the Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, and associates it with CFDA number 17.401. The opportunity was originally posted on September 3, 2020, with an original closing date of October 8, 2020, and it indicates an award ceiling of $5,000,000 with one expected award. Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement, suggesting that nontraditional or varied organization types may be allowed depending on the FOA's eligibility language.
Overall, the opportunity is aimed at producing practical, evidence-backed improvements in how labor rights are respected and enforced in Colombia's port sector. It is structured to move from diagnosing compliance barriers, to developing solutions, to proving they work, and then driving wider adoption so that improvements become standard practice rather than isolated successes.Apply for FOA ILAB 20 09
- 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 "Advancing Labor Compliance in Colombia’s Port Sector" 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 Sep 03, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 08, 2020. (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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: Advancing Labor Compliance in Colombia's Port Sector (FOA ILAB 20 09)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Advancing Labor Compliance in Colombia's Port Sector" with Funding Opportunity Number FOA ILAB 20 09.
Which U.S. government agency is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of Labor, specifically the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).
What type of funding instrument is being used?
This is a competitive discretionary grant awarded under a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally means there is substantial involvement by the federal agency during implementation compared with a standard grant. In this case, ILAB is expected to be more actively engaged as the project is carried out.
How much funding is available?
The opportunity makes available up to about $5,000,000 in total costs, depending on the availability of federal funds.
Is this funding amount a ceiling?
Yes. The posting indicates an award ceiling of $5,000,000.
How many awards does ILAB expect to make?
The opportunity states an expectation of making one award.
How long can the project last?
The project period can run for up to 4.5 years (54 months) from the effective date of the award.
Where will the project take place?
The project is focused on Colombia, specifically on the port sector.
What sector is targeted by this opportunity?
The targeted sector is port-related work in Colombia (the port sector).
What is the central purpose of the project?
The central purpose is to strengthen compliance with Colombian national labor laws that align with internationally recognized labor rights in port-related work.
Is the project intended to create new labor standards in Colombia?
No. The opportunity is framed as improving adherence to existing national legal requirements and reinforcing the practical conditions needed for those rights to be respected in day-to-day port operations.
Which core labor rights and protections are highlighted?
The solicitation highlights a focus on:
- Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining
- Protections against workplace discrimination
- Elimination of forced labor
- Elimination of child labor
- Acceptable conditions of work (including compliance related to minimum wages, working hours, and occupational safety and health)
What does "acceptable conditions of work" mean in this opportunity?
In this context, "acceptable conditions of work" includes compliance related to minimum wages, working hours, and occupational safety and health.
What are the main outcomes ILAB wants this project to achieve?
ILAB outlines a results pathway with four intended outcomes:
- Increased understanding of barriers that prevent effective compliance in Colombia's port sector
- Development of concrete approaches that support better compliance
- Demonstrated effectiveness of selected approaches in real settings
- Increased awareness and adoption of proven approaches across the port sector
What does the first outcome (understanding barriers) imply for project activities?
It implies a strong diagnostic component, such as mapping how employment is structured in ports, identifying where enforcement breaks down, understanding incentives or pressures that drive noncompliance, and documenting what workers and employers experience in practice.
What does the second outcome (developing approaches) involve?
Based on the diagnostic findings, the project is expected to develop concrete approaches that can support better compliance. The opportunity notes these could include improved guidance, systems, coordination mechanisms, training models, or other practical tools that help employers, workers, and relevant institutions meet legal requirements more consistently.
What does "demonstrated effectiveness" mean for this project?
It means the project should not stop at designing ideas on paper. It should test and show the selected approaches work in real settings, using evidence to validate that they improve compliance or strengthen the conditions under which labor rights can be exercised.
What is meant by "increased awareness and adoption" of proven approaches?
It signals that ILAB wants results that spread beyond a small pilot. The project is expected to support broader uptake across the port sector through activities like communication, stakeholder engagement, and strategies to help successful practices become more institutionalized and continue after the project ends.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 17.401.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting indicates it was originally posted on September 3, 2020, with an original closing date of October 8, 2020.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others", with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement. This suggests a potentially varied set of organization types may be allowed depending on the specific eligibility language in the FOA.
What is the overall approach ILAB is looking for?
The opportunity is structured to move from (1) diagnosing compliance barriers, to (2) developing solutions, to (3) proving the solutions work, and then (4) driving wider adoption so improvements become standard practice rather than isolated successes.
Is the funding guaranteed?
No. The availability of up to about $5,000,000 is described as being dependent on the availability of federal funds.
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