Securing Fair and Reliable Critical Mineral Supply Chains

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), a division of the U.S. Department of Labor, has released a funding opportunity titled Securing Fair and Reliable Critical Mineral Supply Chains. The program is offered under the Assistance Listings number 17.401, International Labor Programs, and will be funded through cooperative agreements. Approximately nine million dollars in total funds are available, subject to appropriations. The initiative seeks to support projects designed to eliminate child labor and forced labor from the supply chains of critical minerals, while ensuring that these supply chains remain reliable and fair for international markets. The program will fund two separate cooperative agreements, with one award of up to five million dollars dedicated to work in the Democratic Republic of Congo and one award of up to four million dollars intended for Indonesia. Each project is expected to last 54 months from the award date, though applicants may propose shorter timelines if appropriate to their strategy. Applicants are allowed to apply for one or both cooperative agreements, but separate applications must be submitted for each. The minerals targeted for intervention include cobalt, copper, tantalum, tin, and tungsten in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and nickel, with the option to also include tin, in Indonesia. Applicants must propose a comprehensive strategy that addresses both policy frameworks and capacity-building components. The first focus area requires applicants to work with governments and supply chain actors to align mining, labor, trade, and procurement frameworks with international standards such as International Labor Organization conventions and U.S. import requirements related to forced labor. The second focus area emphasizes strengthening national and local systems to identify, monitor, and enforce labor standards, including remediation measures for those affected by child labor or forced labor. In addition to these two focus areas, applicants must plan and execute a supply chain research study, to be completed and submitted within the first three years of the performance period. Eligible applicants include commercial, international, educational, and non-profit organizations, as well as public international organizations and faith-based or community-based organizations. There are no restrictions based on religious character or affiliation, and the Department of Labor affirms that no discrimination will occur in recipient selection. Small businesses, government entities, and individuals are not explicitly eligible under this opportunity. Matching funds are not required. All proposals must be submitted electronically by the deadline. Applications must be submitted no later than September 26, 2025, by 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Applications received after this deadline will not be accepted. The announcement was originally posted on August 27, 2025, with the most recent update occurring on August 28, 2025. The archive date for this opportunity is October 26, 2025. Applicants should use the Grants.gov system for submission and may contact the Office of Grants Management at OGM_ILAB@dol.gov if they encounter technical issues in accessing or submitting materials. Applications will be reviewed based on the quality and feasibility of the proposed strategy, the extent to which applicants demonstrate the ability to engage relevant stakeholders, and the soundness of their approaches to policy alignment, monitoring, enforcement, and remediation. The inclusion of a supply chain study and the timely submission of its results are also required. Selected applicants will receive cooperative agreements that allow for substantial involvement of the Department of Labor in project oversight and implementation. This funding opportunity reflects the Department’s continued efforts to reduce exploitative labor practices globally while strengthening supply chains critical to the international economy.