Cooperation On Fair, Free, Equitable Employment (COFFEE) Project/

The Cooperation On Fair, Free, Equitable Employment (COFFEE) Project is a forecasted funding initiative from the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), which operates within the United States Department of Labor (DOL). This notice is a formal declaration of intent and not an open solicitation. ILAB is committed to addressing international labor issues, particularly those affecting vulnerable populations in global supply chains. The COFFEE Project is designed to support fair and equitable employment practices in the coffee industry by reducing labor exploitation and strengthening compliance with international labor standards. This initiative intends to award up to $5 million in additional funding to Verité, Inc., an organization recognized for its specialized expertise in implementing social compliance systems. These systems aim to eliminate child labor and forced labor in coffee supply chains by working directly with stakeholders across the sector. The justification for sole-source funding is authorized under DLMS 2-836 G.3, citing the unique qualifications of Verité, Inc. and the unavailability of viable alternatives. Therefore, this opportunity does not invite competition and is not open to public applications. The funding will be issued through a cooperative agreement, enabling a collaborative relationship between ILAB and Verité, Inc. Cooperative agreements typically entail substantial involvement by the federal agency in project execution. While this notice provides a total program funding estimate of $7.5 million, the new funding announced specifically covers a $5 million cost increase to an already existing project. The award floor is noted as $3 million, with the award ceiling set at $7.5 million. There is no matching requirement associated with this grant, and only one award is expected. Given that this is a notice of intent and not a funding announcement, eligibility is restricted. The announcement specifically states that this is not a request for applications and confirms that ILAB does not intend to open this opportunity to other applicants. As such, eligibility is limited to Verité, Inc., based on their unique qualifications and existing partnership with ILAB. The eligibility section reinforces that no additional organizations are considered under this notice. There are currently no posted dates for application opening, closing, or project start. Because this is not a public funding opportunity, standard submission procedures, evaluation criteria, and application questions do not apply. The notice serves solely to notify the public of ILAB’s intent to fund this specific activity under the stated authority without full and open competition. For any inquiries related to this notice, interested parties may contact Carlie Ortiz at the Bureau of International Labor Affairs. She can be reached by phone at (202) 693-9303 or via email at ortiz.carlie@dol.gov. This forecasted notice was issued and last updated on July 12, 2024, and applies to Fiscal Year 2024.