Securing Fair and Reliable Critical Mineral Supply Chains

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), part of the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), has released a forecasted grant opportunity under the title "Securing Fair and Reliable Critical Mineral Supply Chains." This notice of intent outlines ILAB’s future plans to competitively award up to two cooperative agreements, totaling $9,000,000, subject to the availability of funds. The grant aims to support projects that address child labor and forced labor within critical mineral supply chains, particularly in Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These practices, according to the agency, place American workers and businesses at a disadvantage and threaten the integrity of critical sectors important to U.S. economic security. The primary goal of the forecasted funding is to support initiatives that strengthen policy frameworks and monitoring systems in countries involved in the extraction and export of critical minerals. These projects are expected to aid in identifying instances of child labor and forced labor, while also enhancing mechanisms for enforcement and remediation. While outcomes will be finalized post-award, ILAB has emphasized that the projects will focus on promoting fair labor practices and supporting systemic change through multi-stakeholder engagement and strategic validation processes. This opportunity will be awarded as a cooperative agreement, suggesting significant involvement of ILAB in the funded projects. The anticipated start date for awarded projects is December 31, 2025. While the estimated posting date is August 15, 2025, and the estimated due date for applications is September 26, 2025, the opportunity is currently not accepting applications. ILAB recommends that interested organizations subscribe via Grants.gov to receive updates, as no official announcement has yet been published. Eligible applicants for this funding include a broad range of entities such as commercial, international, educational, and nonprofit organizations. Public international organizations (PIOs), faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations are also explicitly stated as eligible. This inclusive eligibility scope is intended to encourage collaboration and leverage the expertise of diverse actors who are capable of effecting labor reforms in international mineral supply chains. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this funding, which reduces the financial burden on applicants. The award ceiling per project is set at $5,000,000, and the floor at $4,000,000, with an anticipated total program funding of $9,000,000. The assistance listing associated with this opportunity is 17.401 – International Labor Programs. Questions regarding this FOA may be directed to Sue Levenstein at OGM_ILAB@dol.gov. However, ILAB has noted that only limited information can be shared while the FOA is still in development. The grant does not currently offer information on application questions or evaluation criteria, and ILAB has indicated that project outcomes and strategic frameworks will be developed post-award. Prospective applicants are encouraged to engage early and monitor the posting schedule closely in anticipation of the formal announcement in mid-August 2025.