Opportunity Information: Apply for SGA 12 16
Apply for SGA 12 16
- The OASAM in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Protection of Internationally Recognized Labor Rights in Colombia" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 00.000 Not Elsewhere Classified.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 26, 2012 and posted on Oct 9, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 15, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 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).
- Eligible Applicants Any commercial, international, educational, or non profit organization(s), including any faith based, community based, or public international organization(s) capable of successfully building the capacity of worker rights in Colombia is eligible to apply. Organizations applying for this award must demonstrate a proven ability to manage complex projects in developing countries through actions that support these aims. Lack of past experience with USDOL cooperative agreements, grants, or contracts does not bar eligibility or selection under this solicitation. All Applicants and any proposed subgrantees or subcontractors must meet the following requirements Compliance with all audit requirements, including those established in OMB Circular A 133. Demonstrated presence in Colombia either independently or through a relationship with another organization with country presence (i.e., a subgrantee or subcontractor) enabling them to initiate program activities upon award of the cooperative agreement. The following Applicants (including subgrantees/subcontractors) will not be considered Foreign governments and entities that are agencies of, or operated by or for, a foreign state or government. Organizations designated by the USG to be associated with terrorism or that have been debarred or suspended will not be considered.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Strengthening Protection of Internationally Recognized Labor Rights in Colombia" is a discretionary funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). Through Funding Opportunity Number SGA 12-16, ILAB signaled its intent to award up to $1.5 million total via one or more cooperative agreements. The core purpose is to raise awareness in Colombia of internationally recognized labor rights and, more importantly, to improve workers' practical ability to protect and claim those rights when violations occur. The announcement sits in the Employment, Labor and Training activity area, and it was structured to support direct, on-the-ground improvements in how workers access information, guidance, and remedies.
The project concept is centered on strengthening the capacity of local organizations in Colombia, including NGOs and other nonprofit groups that interact with workers and worker communities. Rather than focusing only on broad messaging, the solicitation emphasizes building durable local capability to educate workers about the scope and applicability of relevant labor and criminal laws. It also highlights hands-on advising so workers can understand what protections exist, what legal pathways are available, and what steps they can realistically take to pursue enforcement or relief. A key feature is that, when needed, the program can support legal services to help workers meet procedural and documentation requirements involved in filing complaints and initiating official action. This includes assistance tied to initiating inspections, triggering investigations, and pursuing remedies through appropriate mechanisms.
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies a more active partnership role for the federal agency than a standard grant. While the notice does not spell out the specific collaborative mechanisms, the selection of this instrument usually indicates that ILAB expected to remain engaged in planning, oversight, and coordination as the project unfolds. The maximum project period described is up to four years and six months, providing enough runway to establish local capacity, train staff, develop resources, and demonstrate measurable improvements in workers' access to rights protection. Program start dates were to be negotiated after award, but the announcement set an outer limit requiring activities to begin no later than December 31, 2012.
In terms of funding details, the estimated total funding was $1,500,000, with an award ceiling of $1,500,000 and an award floor of $0. The posting timeline shows the opportunity was posted on October 9, 2012, created on October 26, 2012, and closed on November 15, 2012, with an archive date of December 15, 2012. The announcement indicated an expectation of one award, although the narrative also leaves room for "one or more" cooperative agreements, which suggests ILAB reserved discretion based on application quality and program design.
Eligibility was broad, covering commercial, international, educational, and nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community-based organizations, as well as public international organizations, as long as they could credibly build capacity around worker rights in Colombia. Applicants needed to demonstrate they could manage complex projects in developing-country contexts and deliver activities aligned with the aims of the solicitation. Importantly, the notice clarifies that not having previous USDOL cooperative agreements, grants, or contracts would not automatically disqualify an organization, which opens the door to capable implementers without prior USDOL funding history.
At the same time, the solicitation set several concrete eligibility and compliance expectations. Applicants and any proposed subgrantees or subcontractors were required to comply with all audit requirements, including those established in OMB Circular A-133 (the prevailing U.S. audit framework for entities expending federal funds at the time). They also needed to demonstrate a presence in Colombia either directly or through a relationship with an in-country partner (such as a subgrantee or subcontractor), and that presence needed to be sufficient to begin work promptly upon award. Certain applicants were explicitly excluded, including foreign governments and government-operated entities, as well as organizations designated by the U.S. government as associated with terrorism or those debarred or suspended.
Administration and points of contact were provided through USDOL, with the agency name listed as OASAM in the source record and the substantive program office identified as ILAB. Applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically were directed to contact the grant officers Brenda J. White (primary) or James Kinslow (alternate) at 202-693-4570, with email addresses provided (white.brenda.j@dol.gov and kinslow.james@dol.gov). The announcement also pointed readers to the ILAB website for additional information.
FAQs: Strengthening Protection of Internationally Recognized Labor Rights in Colombia (SGA 12-16)
1) What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Strengthening Protection of Internationally Recognized Labor Rights in Colombia."
2) Which U.S. agency is offering this funding?
The funder is the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).
3) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SGA 12-16.
4) What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
5) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (instead of a standard grant)?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates a more active partnership role for the federal agency than a standard grant. In this opportunity, ILAB expected to remain engaged in planning, oversight, and coordination as the project unfolds, even though the notice does not detail specific collaboration mechanisms.
6) What is the main purpose of the project?
The core purpose is to raise awareness in Colombia of internationally recognized labor rights and improve workers' practical ability to protect and claim those rights when violations occur.
7) What activity area does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is listed under the Employment, Labor and Training activity area.
8) What kinds of organizations is the project meant to strengthen in Colombia?
The project concept focuses on strengthening the capacity of local organizations in Colombia, including NGOs and other nonprofit groups that interact with workers and worker communities.
9) Is the focus mainly on broad public awareness campaigns?
No. While raising awareness is part of the goal, the solicitation emphasizes building durable local capability and hands-on advising so workers can better understand protections, legal pathways, and realistic steps to pursue enforcement or relief.
10) What types of worker support activities are emphasized?
The announcement highlights practical support such as educating workers about relevant labor and criminal laws, advising workers on protections and options, and helping workers navigate steps needed to pursue official action when rights are violated.
11) Can the project include legal services for workers?
Yes. When needed, the program can support legal services to help workers meet procedural and documentation requirements involved in filing complaints and initiating official action.
12) What does "initiating official action" include in this announcement?
The notice describes support related to filing complaints and initiating steps such as initiating inspections, triggering investigations, and pursuing remedies through appropriate mechanisms.
13) What is the maximum project period?
The maximum project period described is up to four years and six months.
14) When would activities have needed to begin?
Program start dates were to be negotiated after award, but the announcement required activities to begin no later than December 31, 2012.
15) How much total funding was ILAB planning to award?
ILAB signaled its intent to award up to $1.5 million total through one or more cooperative agreements.
16) What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling listed is $1,500,000.
17) What is the award floor?
The award floor listed is $0.
18) How many awards were expected?
The announcement indicated an expectation of one award, while also noting "one or more" cooperative agreements, meaning ILAB reserved discretion depending on application quality and program design.
19) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included commercial, international, educational, and nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community-based organizations, as well as public international organizations, as long as they could credibly build capacity around worker rights in Colombia.
20) Were organizations without prior USDOL funding allowed to apply?
Yes. The notice states that not having previous USDOL cooperative agreements, grants, or contracts would not automatically disqualify an organization.
21) What experience or capability did applicants need to demonstrate?
Applicants needed to demonstrate they could manage complex projects in developing-country contexts and deliver activities aligned with the aims of the solicitation.
22) Did applicants need to have a presence in Colombia?
Yes. Applicants needed to demonstrate a presence in Colombia either directly or through a relationship with an in-country partner, such as a subgrantee or subcontractor, and that presence needed to be sufficient to begin work promptly upon award.
23) Could an in-country partner meet the Colombia presence requirement?
Yes. The notice indicates the requirement could be met through an in-country partner relationship (for example, a subgrantee or subcontractor), provided it was sufficient to begin work promptly after award.
24) What audit and compliance requirements applied to applicants and partners?
Applicants and any proposed subgrantees or subcontractors were required to comply with all audit requirements, including those established in OMB Circular A-133 (the U.S. audit framework in effect at the time for entities expending federal funds).
25) Were any types of entities explicitly excluded from eligibility?
Yes. The solicitation explicitly excluded foreign governments and government-operated entities, organizations designated by the U.S. government as associated with terrorism, and entities that were debarred or suspended.
26) What were the key posting and closing dates for this opportunity?
The opportunity was posted on October 9, 2012, created on October 26, 2012, and closed on November 15, 2012. The archive date listed is December 15, 2012.
27) Who should applicants have contacted if they could not access the full announcement electronically?
Applicants were directed to contact the grant officers Brenda J. White (primary) or James Kinslow (alternate) at 202-693-4570, with emails white.brenda.j@dol.gov and kinslow.james@dol.gov.
28) Which office was identified as the substantive program office for this opportunity?
The substantive program office was identified as ILAB (Bureau of International Labor Affairs).
29) Was any other USDOL office name mentioned in the source record?
Yes. The agency name in the source record is listed as OASAM, while the substantive program office is ILAB.
30) Where could applicants find additional information referenced by the announcement?
The announcement pointed readers to the ILAB website for additional information.
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Applicants also applied for:
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| Funding Opportunity |
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| Workforce Development Program in Mexico Apply for SOL 523 13 000003 Funding Number: SOL 523 13 000003 Agency: Mexico USAID Mexico City Category: Employment, Labor and Training Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| NOI 6 Global Capacity Building Apply for NOI6 CAPBLDG Funding Number: NOI6 CAPBLDG Agency: OASAM Category: Employment, Labor and Training Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Face Forward Serving Juvenile Offenders Grants Apply for SGA DFA PY 12 09 Funding Number: SGA DFA PY 12 09 Agency: Employment and Training Administration Category: Employment, Labor and Training Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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