Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA ILAB 26 29

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), through its Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), is offering a discretionary funding opportunity titled "Protecting the American Seafood Supply Chain by Countering Unfair Labor Practices and Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing." The goal of this opportunity is to support work that helps protect the integrity of the seafood supply chain connected to the United States by addressing two closely related problems: labor abuses in the seafood sector and IUU fishing, which can distort markets, enable exploitation, and undermine legitimate businesses and workers. The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, meaning the government typically expects a more active role in the project compared with a standard grant, such as collaboration on planning, monitoring, or implementation elements.

This opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Announcement FOA ILAB 26 29 and falls under CFDA number 17.401. ILAB is the administering agency, and the funding activity category is listed as "Other." The announcement was created on 2026-08-21, and the application deadline is 2026-09-21. DOL anticipates making one award under this announcement, with a maximum funding level (award ceiling) of $11,000,000. Because only a single award is expected, this competition is likely to be highly competitive and structured around selecting one lead organization capable of running a large, coordinated project, potentially involving multiple partners, countries, or supply-chain actors.

Eligibility is broad and includes commercial organizations, international organizations, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations. The notice explicitly includes faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, and public international organizations (PIOs) as eligible, and it emphasizes that faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply on equal footing with other applicants. DOL also makes a clear nondiscrimination statement for both selection and administration of the award: it will not discriminate based on an organization's religious character or affiliation, whether or how it exercises religion, or based on conduct that would not be used to favor or disfavor a similarly situated secular organization. In practical terms, the agency is signaling that it will evaluate proposals on programmatic merit and eligibility criteria rather than religious identity or lack thereof.

For applicants needing clarification, the FOA provides a direct contact email for questions: OGMILAB@dol.gov. This is the designated channel for administrative or technical questions about the funding opportunity announcement, and organizations considering applying would typically use it to confirm eligibility details, request clarification on submission requirements, or ask how DOL interprets certain program expectations tied to labor practices and IUU fishing in the seafood supply chain.

  • The Bureau of International Labor Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Protecting the American Seafood Supply Chain by Countering Unfair Labor Practices and Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing  " 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 $11,000,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others.
Apply for FOA ILAB 26 29

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Protecting the American Seafood Supply Chain by Countering Unfair Labor Practices and Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing."

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is offering the opportunity through its Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).

What is the purpose or goal of the funding opportunity?

The goal is to support work that helps protect the integrity of the seafood supply chain connected to the United States by addressing two closely related problems: labor abuses in the seafood sector and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Why are labor abuses and IUU fishing addressed together in this announcement?

The announcement describes these issues as closely related because IUU fishing can distort markets, enable exploitation, and undermine legitimate businesses and workers, while labor abuses directly harm workers in the seafood sector. The intent is to protect supply-chain integrity by tackling both problems.

What type of award will be made (grant, contract, cooperative agreement, etc.)?

The award will be made as a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

In this announcement, a cooperative agreement indicates the government typically expects a more active role in the project than with a standard grant. Examples mentioned include collaboration on planning, monitoring, or implementation elements.

What is the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number?

The opportunity is identified as FOA ILAB 26 29.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 17.401.

How is the funding activity category described?

The funding activity category is listed as "Other."

When was the announcement created?

The announcement was created on 2026-08-21.

What is the application deadline?

The application deadline is 2026-09-21.

How many awards does DOL expect to make under this announcement?

DOL anticipates making one award under this announcement.

What is the maximum funding amount available?

The maximum funding level (award ceiling) is $11,000,000.

Does the announcement suggest this will be a competitive process?

Yes. Because only a single award is expected, the announcement indicates the competition is likely to be highly competitive and structured around selecting one lead organization capable of running a large, coordinated project, potentially involving multiple partners, countries, or supply-chain actors.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes commercial organizations, international organizations, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations.

Are faith-based organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The notice explicitly includes faith-based organizations as eligible and states they are encouraged to apply on the same basis as other applicants.

Are community-based organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Community-based organizations are explicitly listed as eligible.

Are public international organizations (PIOs) eligible to apply?

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

Does DOL have a nondiscrimination policy related to this funding opportunity?

Yes. The notice includes a nondiscrimination statement for both selection and administration of the award. It states DOL will not discriminate based on an organization's religious character or affiliation, whether or how it exercises religion, or based on conduct that would not be used to favor or disfavor a similarly situated secular organization.

How does the nondiscrimination statement affect proposal evaluation?

Based on the notice, the agency is signaling that proposals will be evaluated on programmatic merit and eligibility criteria rather than an organization's religious identity or lack thereof.

Who can applicants contact with questions or requests for clarification?

Applicants can email OGMILAB@dol.gov for questions about the FOA.

What types of questions should be sent to the FOA contact email?

The notice describes the email as the designated channel for administrative or technical questions, such as confirming eligibility details, requesting clarification on submission requirements, or asking how DOL interprets certain program expectations tied to labor practices and IUU fishing in the seafood supply chain.

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