Better Tools for Fair Cotton: Traceability Solutions to Protect U.S. Supply Chains from Chinese Forced Labor
At a glance
Better Tools for Fair Cotton: Traceability Solutions to Protect U.S. Supply Chains from Chinese Forced Labor is a forecasted federal cooperative agreement opportunity from the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (Department of Labor). The agency's forecast estimates an application due date of September 4, 2026; forecast dates can change. Individual awards are listed as $6M, with about 1 award expected and $6M in total estimated funding. Applicant types listed as eligible include others (see notice). Cost sharing is not required. It is funded under Assistance Listing 17.401 (International Labor Programs).
Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.
Key facts
- Posted
- Jul 17, 2026
- Est. close date
- Sep 4, 2026
- Award floor
- $6,000,000
- Award ceiling
- $6,000,000
- Est. total funding
- $6,000,000
- Expected awards
- 1
- Cost sharing
- Not required
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Opportunity category
- Discretionary
- Fiscal year
- FY2026
Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
Additional information on eligibility (from the notice)
Eligible applicants include any commercial, international, educational, or non-profit organizations, including any faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, or public international organizations (PIOs). Faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply, as are all organizations. Those that meet the eligibility requirements may receive awards under this funding opportunity. DOL will not, in the selection of recipients and administration of the grant, discriminate on the basis of an organization's religious character, affiliation, exercise, or lack thereof, or on the basis of conduct that would not be considered grounds to favor or disfavor a similarly situated secular organization.
Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.
What it funds
Official synopsis as published by the agency, formatted for readability.
The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $6 million total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for one cooperative agreement to fund a project that will strengthen traceability and responsible sourcing in cotton supply chains in South Asia. These efforts will enhance the reputation of U.S.-produced cotton as a sustainable and labor-compliant alternative, further promoting export opportunities for American producers.
The duration of the project will be 36 months from the award date. Applicants may propose a shorter period of performance in line with their proposed strategy.
The objective of the project is to incentivize suppliers to adopt responsible labor and sourcing practices, improve verification of cotton origin, and reduce the risk of forced-labor-tainted goods entering the U.S. market.
* Project outcomes will be developed by the applicant.
Questions regarding this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Forecast may be emailed to OGM_ILAB@dol.gov; however, please note there is limited information that may be shared with the public, as this FOA is currently under development. We encourage prospective applicants and interested parties to use the Grants.gov subscription option to register for future updates provided for this particular FOA.
Assistance Listing
What is an ALN?Reported obligations under ALN 17.401
Historical data · not a predictionAgency contact (as published)
Sue Levenstein
OGM_ILAB@dol.gov
1-877-872-5627
Quick answers
Is this opportunity open for applications yet?
Not yet. It is a forecast — an agency's advance notice of an expected opportunity. The agency estimates posting the full notice around August 5, 2026. Forecast details and dates can change.
Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?
The official notice lists these applicant types as eligible: Others (see notice). Additional restrictions may apply; review the full notice.
How much funding is available through this opportunity?
Per the notice, individual awards are listed as $6m, total estimated program funding is $6,000,000 and the agency expects to make about 1 awards.
How do I apply for this opportunity?
Applications are submitted through the official source, not through GrantsJunction. Open the official notice on Grants.gov (opportunity FOA-ILAB-26-42), and review the full announcement and application package. Organizations applying through Grants.gov generally need an active SAM.gov registration and a Grants.gov account, which can take several weeks to set up.
Related open opportunities
Matched on shared Assistance Listings, agency, categories and eligible applicant types.
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Employment and Training Administration- Award range
- Up to $9M
- Est. close
- Sep 26, 2024 (est.)
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)