Protecting the American Seafood Supply Chain by Countering Unfair Labor Practices and Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing  

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs within the U.S. Department of Labor is offering approximately 11 million dollars for one discretionary cooperative agreement to fund a technical assistance project. The project aims to combat abusive labor practices associated with illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, specifically targeting commercial distant-water fishing vessels. The primary objective is to strengthen mechanisms that prevent these abuses in the global seafood supply chain to ensure American seafood workers and businesses can compete on a level playing field, with a specific geographic focus on coordination with Indonesia and the Philippines. The project will span 36 months from the award date and requires the engagement of partner government agencies, regional associations, worker organizations, and the private sector. Applicants must provide a detailed technical proposal, including a project design narrative, a staffing matrix with key personnel such as a Project Director and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, and a sustainability plan. Evaluation is based on a 100-point scale, considering factors such as past operations in the target sector and the quality of the project architecture. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov, adhering to strict formatting guidelines and including required certifications such as the SF-424 and a comprehensive cost proposal.