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

The Cooperation On Fair, Free, Equitable Employment (COFFEE) Project is a forecasted federal funding opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of Labor through its Bureau of International Labor Affairs. This notice is structured as a Notice of Intent rather than an open funding announcement, meaning it serves to inform the public of the agency’s plan to fund a specific initiative without full and open competition. The Bureau of International Labor Affairs focuses on improving global labor standards, enforcing labor provisions in trade agreements, and combating exploitative labor practices such as child labor and forced labor. This project aligns with those priorities by targeting labor conditions within international coffee supply chains. The primary purpose of the COFFEE Project is to strengthen the implementation of social compliance systems among stakeholders in the coffee sector. These systems are designed to ensure that labor practices meet acceptable standards, including the elimination of child labor and forced labor. The initiative emphasizes collaboration across supply chain actors, including producers, suppliers, and monitoring entities, to improve transparency and accountability in labor conditions. By enhancing compliance mechanisms, the project aims to create sustainable improvements in working conditions across coffee-producing regions. Funding for this project is expected to be provided through a cooperative agreement, with substantial involvement anticipated between the Department of Labor and the selected recipient. The total estimated program funding is $7,500,000, with a single award anticipated. While the notice references an intended award to Verite, Inc. for a cost increase to an existing project, the broader scope indicates continued investment in strengthening labor compliance frameworks within global agricultural supply chains. Allowable uses of funds are inferred to include program implementation, stakeholder engagement, monitoring systems, and activities directly tied to improving labor conditions and compliance verification. Eligibility for this opportunity is not open to general competition, as the notice explicitly states that applications are not being accepted at this time. Instead, the Department of Labor has determined that the intended recipient possesses unique qualifications necessary to carry out the project. This determination is justified under federal acquisition and assistance guidelines permitting awards without full competition when only one responsible source is capable of fulfilling the program requirements. As such, this notice functions as a transparency mechanism rather than a call for proposals. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this funding. The project is categorized under International Labor Programs (Assistance Listing 17.401), reinforcing its global focus and alignment with U.S. efforts to promote fair labor practices internationally. While specific performance periods and project timelines are not detailed in the notice, such cooperative agreements typically involve multi-year implementation phases with ongoing monitoring and reporting requirements. The timeline for this opportunity reflects its status as a forecasted notice. The forecast date was July 12, 2024, and the notice was last updated on April 6, 2026. No application deadline, award date, or project start date is provided, consistent with its non-competitive nature. Interested stakeholders cannot submit applications, but may direct inquiries to the listed contact. The primary contact for this opportunity is Carlie Ortiz, who can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at (202) 693-9303. This notice does not indicate recurrence, and given its specificity to a single intended award, it is not expected to represent a recurring funding cycle.