Opportunity Information: Apply for NOI ILAB 21 14
The "Improving compliance with labor laws in Mexico" opportunity is a Notice of Intent (NOI) issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). The key point is that this notice is not the actual grant solicitation and it is not accepting applications. Instead, it serves as an advance public heads-up that ILAB plans to release a formal Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) later, assuming funds are available. Any future competition would be run through a competitive process and would result in a single award.
If the FOA is published, USDOL expects to make one cooperative agreement (not a standard grant) with an anticipated award ceiling of up to $10,000,000 and an expected total number of awards of 1. The cooperative agreement structure typically implies a closer working relationship with the federal agency during implementation than a traditional grant, meaning the awardee may coordinate more actively with USDOL on project direction, milestones, and deliverables.
The intended purpose of the project is to reduce noncompliance with Mexican labor laws in specific target states by strengthening labor administration systems, particularly around enforcement and inspection. In addition to improving the capacity of labor authorities, the project is also expected to improve engagement with supply chain actors in USMCA priority sectors. In practical terms, that signals a focus on working not only with government inspection and enforcement bodies, but also with employers, suppliers, buyers, and other supply chain stakeholders in sectors prioritized under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), with the goal of improving workplace compliance through both stronger public enforcement systems and more effective private-sector engagement.
Administratively, the notice lists the opportunity as a discretionary funding opportunity under CFDA number 17.401, with the eligible applicant category shown broadly as "Others" (with further clarification expected in the eventual FOA). ILAB indicated that ETA's Office of Grants Management anticipated publishing the FOA around August 16, 2021, and that USDOL intended to make awards by December 31, 2021, although both dates were explicitly subject to change. The notice also emphasizes that it contains no attachments and is not itself the FOA, and it directs interested organizations to monitor Grants.gov because that is where any FOA would be posted and made available. It also states that no email or paper copies of the FOA would be provided, reinforcing that Grants.gov would be the official distribution channel.
For organizations trying to prepare early, the notice points to ILAB grant webpages with general guidelines and examples of prior cooperative agreement applications. The overall takeaway is that USDOL was signaling an upcoming, potentially large, single-award cooperative agreement focused on improving labor law compliance in Mexico through enhanced inspection and enforcement capacity and stronger supply chain engagement in USMCA priority sectors, but that applicants would need to wait for the formal FOA on Grants.gov to see exact eligibility, required activities, deliverables, geographic targeting, and application instructions.Apply for NOI ILAB 21 14
- 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 "Improving compliance with labor laws in Mexico" 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 Jul 30, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 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 $10,000,000.00 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Improving compliance with labor laws in Mexico (NOI)
1) What is the "Improving compliance with labor laws in Mexico" opportunity?
It is a Notice of Intent (NOI) issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). The NOI is an advance public notice that ILAB plans to release a formal Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) later, if funds are available.
2) Is this NOI the actual grant solicitation?
No. The notice explicitly states it is not the FOA and it is not the formal grant solicitation.
3) Can organizations apply right now?
No. The NOI is not accepting applications. Applications would only be possible if and when USDOL publishes the formal FOA.
4) What is the purpose of issuing a Notice of Intent (NOI)?
The NOI serves as an advance heads-up to the public that ILAB intends to launch a future competitive funding opportunity, assuming funds are available. It helps interested organizations plan early, but it does not provide the full application requirements.
5) Which USDOL office is behind this opportunity?
The notice is issued by USDOL's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). It also references ETA's Office of Grants Management as anticipating publication of the FOA.
6) What type of award is expected if an FOA is published?
USDOL expects to make one cooperative agreement (not a standard grant) if the FOA is published and funds are available.
7) What does it mean that this would be a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant?
The notice indicates that a cooperative agreement typically involves a closer working relationship with the federal agency during implementation than a traditional grant. In practice, the awardee may coordinate more actively with USDOL on project direction, milestones, and deliverables.
8) How many awards does USDOL expect to make?
The notice indicates an expected total number of awards of 1 (a single award).
9) What is the anticipated funding amount?
The anticipated award ceiling is up to $10,000,000.
10) Is the $10,000,000 amount guaranteed?
No. The notice is an advance signal and states the FOA would be released later assuming funds are available. The ceiling is anticipated, and final amounts and terms would be defined in the FOA (if issued).
11) What is the main goal of the project described in the NOI?
The stated purpose is to reduce noncompliance with Mexican labor laws in specific target states by strengthening labor administration systems, particularly enforcement and inspection.
12) What kinds of systems are expected to be strengthened?
The notice highlights strengthening labor administration systems with an emphasis on enforcement and inspection functions.
13) Does the project focus only on government labor authorities?
No. In addition to improving the capacity of labor authorities, the project is also expected to improve engagement with supply chain actors in USMCA priority sectors.
14) What does "engagement with supply chain actors" imply in this notice?
Based on the notice language, it signals a focus on working not only with government inspection and enforcement bodies, but also with employers, suppliers, buyers, and other supply chain stakeholders to improve workplace compliance.
15) What are "USMCA priority sectors" in the context of this NOI?
The notice indicates engagement is expected in supply chain actors within USMCA priority sectors. It does not list the specific sectors in the NOI, and those details would be expected in the FOA (if published).
16) Where would the project take place?
The notice states the project is intended to reduce noncompliance with Mexican labor laws in specific target states in Mexico. The NOI does not name the target states; the FOA would be expected to define the geographic targeting.
17) Will the NOI include detailed required activities, deliverables, or instructions?
No. The notice emphasizes that applicants would need to wait for the formal FOA to see exact eligibility, required activities, deliverables, geographic targeting, and application instructions.
18) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The notice lists the opportunity under CFDA number 17.401.
19) What kind of funding opportunity is this categorized as?
The NOI describes it as a discretionary funding opportunity.
20) Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant category is shown broadly as "Others." The notice also indicates that further clarification is expected in the eventual FOA.
21) When was the FOA expected to be published?
The notice indicates ETA's Office of Grants Management anticipated publishing the FOA around August 16, 2021, but it also states this date was subject to change.
22) When were awards expected to be made?
The notice indicates USDOL intended to make awards by December 31, 2021, and it explicitly states the date was subject to change.
23) Are the dates in the NOI final?
No. The notice explicitly states that both the anticipated FOA publication date and the intended award date were subject to change.
24) Where will the official FOA be posted (if it is released)?
The notice directs interested organizations to monitor Grants.gov, stating that is where any FOA would be posted and made available.
25) Will USDOL provide the FOA by email or mail?
No. The notice states that no email or paper copies of the FOA would be provided, reinforcing that Grants.gov would be the official distribution channel.
26) Does the NOI include any attachments?
No. The notice emphasizes that it contains no attachments.
27) How can organizations prepare in advance while waiting for the FOA?
The notice points interested organizations to ILAB grant webpages that include general guidelines and examples of prior cooperative agreement applications.
28) Will the award be competitive?
Yes. The notice states that any future competition would be run through a competitive process and would result in a single award.
29) What is the biggest takeaway for interested organizations?
USDOL/ILAB is signaling an upcoming, potentially large, single-award cooperative agreement focused on improving labor law compliance in Mexico through enhanced inspection and enforcement capacity and stronger supply chain engagement in USMCA priority sectors, but organizations must wait for the formal FOA on Grants.gov for definitive requirements.
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