Opportunity Information: Apply for OES OMM 13 004
Apply for OES OMM 13 004
- The Ocean and International Environmental Scientific in the environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Reducing the Use and Release of Mercury by Artisanal Gold Miners in Latin America" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.017 Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 22, 2013 and posted on Mar 22, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 22, 2013 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $198,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $198,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligibility is limited to non profit/nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) subject to section 501 (3) of the U.S. tax code, foreign not for profit organizations, private educational institutions, public U.S. and Canadian education institutions, and to public international organizations.
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) in its Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, released a discretionary grant opportunity called "Reducing the Use and Release of Mercury by Artisanal Gold Miners in Latin America" (Funding Opportunity Number: OES OMM 13 004). The core aim is to help build practical capacity in Latin American countries to cut down mercury use and mercury releases from artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM), while also helping countries get ready for potential responsibilities tied to the Minamata Convention on mercury pollution. The project is funded using FY2012 Economic Support Funds, and the agency signals that the initial award is expected to support an ASGM-focused project in Nicaragua.
The opportunity is grounded in the fact that ASGM is described as the single largest source of mercury pollution worldwide and is found in roughly 80 countries, mainly in developing regions. Mercury is commonly used in artisanal gold recovery because it is relatively inexpensive and technically simple to apply, but it can contaminate air, soils, rivers, and food chains when it is mishandled or burned off, creating serious health and environmental impacts. The announcement emphasizes that while many barriers to reducing mercury in ASGM are shared globally, Latin America has its own local dynamics, and proposals need to reflect that reality rather than copy a one size fits all approach.
From an implementation standpoint, the Department of State is looking for a project that is targeted to a specific area of need and designed around real on-the-ground conditions. The announcement highlights several factors that applicants should consider when shaping their proposed work: how aware miners, communities, and other stakeholders already are about mercury risks; the degree of government engagement and readiness to participate; what prior ASGM interventions have or have not accomplished in the region; the types of mining and processing methods being used; and other contextual variables that could affect adoption and long-term behavior change. In other words, the proposal is expected to show a clear understanding of how artisanal mining operates in Latin America and why the chosen approach is likely to reduce mercury use and releases in measurable ways.
A key requirement is that proposals address sustainability and replication. This means the project should not be built around temporary results that fade once funding ends. Instead, the Department is signaling that it values approaches that can last, such as durable training systems, institutional capacity building, stronger local governance, improved practices that miners can realistically maintain, or models that can be scaled or copied in other mining communities or neighboring countries. The overall intent is to move beyond short demonstrations and toward solutions that can be maintained locally and expanded over time.
In terms of funding details, the grant has an estimated total funding amount of $198,000, with an award ceiling of $198,000 and an award floor of $0, and the agency anticipated making one award. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The activity category is Environment and Natural Resources, and the CFDA number is 19.017 (Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs). The opportunity was posted on March 22, 2013, with an application deadline of April 22, 2013, and an archive date of May 22, 2013.
Eligibility is limited to certain organization types rather than individuals. Eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofit/nongovernmental organizations qualifying under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code, foreign not for profit organizations, private educational institutions, public U.S. and Canadian educational institutions, and public international organizations. Applicants are expected to be able to operate credibly in the ASGM context, demonstrate regional and technical understanding, and present a project design that aligns directly with the OES goal of reducing mercury use and releases while supporting readiness for Minamata-related obligations. For technical issues accessing the full announcement, the notice directs applicants to Grants.gov and GrantSolutions support channels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The grant opportunity is titled "Reducing the Use and Release of Mercury by Artisanal Gold Miners in Latin America."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is OES OMM 13 004.
Which U.S. government agency is offering this grant?
The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of State through the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues.
What is the main goal of the grant?
The core aim is to build practical capacity in Latin American countries to reduce mercury use and mercury releases from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), while also helping countries prepare for potential responsibilities associated with the Minamata Convention on mercury pollution.
What problem is the grant trying to address?
The opportunity is based on the description of ASGM as the single largest source of mercury pollution worldwide. Mercury is often used in artisanal gold recovery because it is relatively inexpensive and technically simple, but it can contaminate air, soils, rivers, and food chains when mishandled or burned off, leading to serious health and environmental impacts.
What geographic region is the project focused on?
The project focus is Latin America.
Is the Department of State signaling a specific country for initial work?
Yes. The agency indicates the initial award is expected to support an ASGM-focused project in Nicaragua.
What type of project approach is the Department of State looking for?
The Department of State is looking for a project targeted to a specific area of need and designed around real on-the-ground conditions, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
What local factors should proposals take into account?
The announcement highlights factors such as: existing awareness among miners, communities, and stakeholders about mercury risks; the degree of government engagement and readiness to participate; what prior ASGM interventions have or have not accomplished in the region; the mining and processing methods being used; and other contextual variables that could affect adoption and long-term behavior change.
Does the opportunity emphasize measurable outcomes?
Yes. Proposals are expected to demonstrate why the chosen approach is likely to reduce mercury use and releases in measurable ways.
What does the announcement require regarding sustainability?
Proposals must address sustainability, meaning the project should not rely on temporary results that disappear when funding ends. The Department signals a preference for approaches that can last locally.
What does the announcement mean by replication?
Replication refers to designing approaches or models that can be scaled or copied in other mining communities or neighboring countries, moving beyond short demonstrations toward solutions that can be maintained and expanded over time.
What are examples of approaches the Department appears to value for sustainability?
The notice points to durable training systems, institutional capacity building, stronger local governance, improved practices that miners can realistically maintain, and models that can be scaled or replicated.
What is the total estimated funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount is $198,000.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $198,000.
What is the award floor?
The award floor is $0.
How many awards does the agency anticipate making?
The agency anticipated making one award.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Environment and Natural Resources.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 19.017 (Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs).
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on March 22, 2013.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was April 22, 2013.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was May 22, 2013.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to certain organization types. Eligible applicants include: U.S. nonprofit/nongovernmental organizations qualifying under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code; foreign not-for-profit organizations; private educational institutions; public U.S. and Canadian educational institutions; and public international organizations.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
The opportunity describes eligibility in terms of organizations and does not list individuals as eligible applicants.
What capabilities are applicants expected to demonstrate?
Applicants are expected to be able to operate credibly in the ASGM context, demonstrate regional and technical understanding, and present a project design aligned with the OES goal of reducing mercury use and releases while supporting readiness for potential Minamata Convention-related obligations.
What is the funding source (fiscal year and fund type) mentioned in the announcement?
The project is funded using FY2012 Economic Support Funds.
How is the Minamata Convention connected to this opportunity?
The opportunity seeks to help countries prepare for potential responsibilities related to the Minamata Convention on mercury pollution, alongside reducing mercury use and releases from ASGM.
Why does the announcement caution against a one-size-fits-all model?
The notice states that while many barriers to reducing mercury in ASGM are shared globally, Latin America has local dynamics that proposals should reflect rather than copying approaches designed for other regions without adaptation.
Where should applicants go for technical help accessing the full announcement?
For technical issues accessing the full announcement, the notice directs applicants to Grants.gov and GrantSolutions support channels.
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