[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 88 (Thursday, May 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25433-25444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10307]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Combating Exploitive Child Labor Through Education in Ecuador; 
Combating Exploitive Child Labor and Trafficking Through Education in 
Indonesia; Combating Exploitive Child Labor Through Education in 
Panama; Combating Exploitive Child Labor Through Education in Turkey

May 6, 2004.
AGENCY: Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Department of Labor.

[[Page 25434]]

    Announcement Type: New. Notice of availability of funds and 
solicitation for cooperative agreement applications.
    Funding Opportunity Number: SGA 04-08.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: Not 
applicable.

DATES: Deadline for Submission of Application is June 7, 2004.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor 
Affairs, will award up to U.S. $18 million through one or more 
cooperative agreements to an organization or organizations to improve 
access to quality education programs as a means to combat exploitive 
child labor in Ecuador (up to $3 million), Indonesia (up to $6 
million), Panama (up to $3 million), and Turkey (up to $6 million). The 
activities funded will complement and expand upon existing projects and 
programs to improve basic education in these countries, and, where 
applicable, provide access to basic education to children in areas with 
a high incidence of exploitive child labor. Applications must respond 
to the entire Statement of Work outlined in this Solicitation for 
Cooperative Agreement Applications. In Ecuador, activities under this 
cooperative agreement will work within the framework of the 
government's Timebound Program to provide access to improved basic and 
vocational education for children who are working, removed from work, 
or prevented from working in the banana and cut flower industries. In 
Indonesia, activities under this cooperative agreement will expand 
access and quality of basic education for children at-risk of being 
trafficked or who have been trafficked for exploitive labor, 
particularly in commercial sexual exploitation or domestic service. In 
Turkey, activities under this cooperative agreement will work within 
the government's Timebound Policy and Program Framework to expand 
access to basic and vocational education for children working in the 
agricultural sector, particularly children engaged or at-risk of 
engaging in seasonal migration work.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Bureau of International Labor 
Affairs (ILAB), announces the availability of funds to be granted by 
cooperative agreement to one or more qualifying organizations for the 
purpose of expanding access to and quality of basic education and 
strengthening government and civil society's capacity to address the 
education needs of working children and those at risk of entering work 
in Ecuador, Indonesia, Panama, and Turkey. ILAB is authorized to award 
and administer this program by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2003, Public Law 108-7, 117 Stat. 11 (2003). The cooperative agreement 
or cooperative agreements awarded under this initiative will be managed 
by ILAB's International Child Labor Program to assure achievement of 
the stated goals. Applicants are encouraged to be creative in proposing 
cost-effective interventions that will have a demonstrable impact in 
promoting school attendance in areas of those countries where children 
are engaged in or are most at risk of working in the worst forms of 
child labor.

A. Background and Program Scope

1. USDOL Support of Global Elimination of Exploitive Child Labor
    The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated that 211 
million children ages 5 to 14 were working around the world in 2000. 
Full-time child workers are generally unable to attend school, and 
part-time child laborers balance economic survival with schooling from 
an early age, often to the detriment of their education. Since 1995, 
USDOL has provided over $275 million in technical assistance funding to 
combat exploitive child labor in over 60 countries around the world.
    Programs funded by USDOL range from targeted action programs in 
specific sectors to more comprehensive efforts that target activities 
defined by ILO Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. 
From FY 2001 to FY 2004, the U.S. Congress appropriated US $148 million 
to USDOL for a Child Labor Education Initiative to fund programs aimed 
at increasing access to quality, basic education in areas with a high 
incidence of abusive and exploitive child labor. The cooperative 
agreement(s) awarded under this solicitation will be funded through 
this initiative.
    USDOL's Child Labor Education Initiative seeks to nurture the 
development, health, safety and enhanced future employability of 
children around the world by increasing access to basic education for 
children removed from work or at risk of entering work. Elimination of 
exploitive child labor depends in part on improving access to, quality 
of, and relevance of education.
    The Child Labor Education Initiative has four goals:
    a. Raise awareness of the importance of education for all children 
and mobilize a wide array of actors to improve and expand education 
infrastructures;
    b. Strengthen formal and transitional education systems that 
encourage working children and those at risk of working to attend 
school;
    c. Strengthen national institutions and policies on education and 
child labor; and
    d. Ensure the long-term sustainability of these efforts.
2. Barriers to Education for At Risk and Working Children, Countries 
Background, and Focus of Solicitation
    Throughout the world, there are complex causes of exploitive child 
labor as well as barriers to education for children engaged in or at 
risk of entering exploitive child labor. These include: Poverty; 
education system barriers; infrastructure barriers; legal and policy 
barriers; resource gaps; institutional barriers; informational gaps; 
demographic characteristics of children and/or families; cultural and 
traditional practices; and weak labor markets. Although these elements 
and characteristics tend to exist throughout the world in areas with a 
high rate of exploitive child labor, they manifest themselves in 
specific ways in each country of interest in this solicitation.
    In Ecuador, activities under this cooperative agreement will work 
within the framework of the government's Timebound Program to provide 
access to quality basic and vocational education to children working or 
at-risk of working under hazardous conditions in the banana and cut 
flower industries. In Indonesia, activities under this cooperative 
agreement will expand access to and quality of basic education for 
children at risk of being trafficked or who have been trafficked for 
exploitive labor, particularly in commercial sexual exploitation or 
domestic service. In Panama, activities under this cooperative 
agreement will provide educational opportunities for children working 
or at-risk of entering into hazardous commercial agriculture. In 
Turkey, activities under this cooperative agreement will work within 
the framework of the government's Timebound Program to expand access to 
basic and vocational education for children working under hazardous 
conditions in the agricultural sector, particularly children working or 
at risk of working in seasonal migration work. Applicants should be 
able to identify the specific barriers to education and the education 
needs of specific categories of children targeted in their proposed 
project (e.g., children withdrawn from work, children at high risk of 
dropping out of school into the

[[Page 25435]]

labor force, children still working in a particular sector) and how 
capacity building and policy change can be used to address these 
barriers and education needs. Short background information on education 
and exploitive child labor in each of the countries of interest is 
provided below. For additional information on exploitive child labor in 
these countries, applicants are referred to The Department of Labor's 
2002 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor available at http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/media/reports/iclp/tda2002/overview.htm or in hard 
copy from Lisa Harvey, U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services 
Center, telephone (202) 693-4570 (this is not a toll-free-number) or e-
mail: [email protected].
    Ecuador. In 2001, Ecuador's National Institute of Statistics and 
Censuses estimated that 24.9 percent of children 5 to 17 years of age, 
or 775,753 children, were working in Ecuador. Approximately 60 percent 
of these children were found working in agriculture, with other 
children found working in retail commerce, domestic service, 
construction, and in hotels and restaurants. The majority of working 
children are found in the rural areas of the highlands, the Amazon 
region, and urban coastal areas. In addition, 39 percent of working 
children do not attend school due to factors such as a lack of economic 
resources, long work hours, and lack of interest.
    While nearly universal coverage of primary education exists in 
urban areas, 20 percent of rural children of school age do not attend 
school and only 36 percent of rural children who enter primary school 
complete it. The average number of years of schooling in rural areas is 
4.8 years, compared to the national average of 7.5 years. This number 
drops to 3.7 years in indigenous communities. For many poor families, 
the costs associated with education are often prohibitive, especially 
for those in rural areas and indigenous communities. Access to 
secondary schools is also particularly scarce in rural areas compared 
to urban areas and older children and adolescents often lack 
opportunities to receive vocational education or skills training.
    Program efforts under this solicitation must focus on developing 
innovative and effective approaches to improve access to basic and 
vocational/technical education to children working or at risk of 
entering work in the banana and cut flower industries. Applicants must 
work within the framework of the Government of Ecuador's National Plan 
for the Progressive Elimination of Child Labor, 2003-2006. Geographic 
target areas must include the banana provinces of Los Rios, Guayas and 
El Oro on the coast, and the cut-flower provinces of Pichincha and 
Cotopaxi in the highlands.
    Applicants are strongly encouraged to support the concept of 
public-private partnerships and corporate social responsibility by 
building on preliminary efforts in the banana sector to provide basic 
and vocational education, and expanding them into the cut-flower 
industry. Public-private partnerships are expected to support family 
and community participation within the context of education, especially 
in indigenous communities. Lessons learned could eventually be applied 
to similar public-private partnerships in different sectors throughout 
the country and the region. Proposals funded under this solicitation 
are encouraged to leverage resources from the private sector to promote 
collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Culture, Labor and 
Human Resources, and other relevant ministries that have the 
responsibility to provide basic and technical/vocational services to 
vulnerable children living and working in the regions mentioned above. 
Applicants must also coordinate with current government initiatives, 
such as the Bono de Desarrollo Humano and Redes Amigas, and SECAP, as 
well as with private institutions and nongovernmental organizations 
(NGOs) working in the same regions and with similar populations, such 
as the ILO's International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor's 
(IPEC) Timebound Program where that would further the goals of this 
program.
    Indonesia. In 2000, the ILO estimated that 7.8 percent of children 
10 to 14 years of age, or 1.7 million children, were working in 
Indonesia. Boys in the same age group were working at slightly higher 
rates (8.7 percent) than girls (6.9 percent). Children have 
traditionally worked alongside their families in agricultural or 
domestic work, but are also found working in hazardous activities that 
include garbage scavenging, street peddling, deep-sea fishing, drug 
trafficking, and the commercial sex trade.
    Trafficking in persons, both within and across borders, is known to 
be a significant problem for women and children in Indonesia. In 
particular, children are trafficked internally from rural areas into 
large cities to assist their families by earning extra income. Children 
are most commonly trafficked for migrant work, domestic work, and 
commercial sexual exploitation. It is estimated that between 254,000 
and 422,000 children are vulnerable to being trafficked for domestic 
work or commercial sexual exploitation in Indonesia. The nature and 
relationships of traffickers vary and can include recruiting agents, 
government officials, employers, brothel owners and managers, marriage 
brokers, parents and relatives, and spouses.
    Since 1990, the formal education system has included 9 years of 
compulsory schooling; 6 years of primary schooling, SD-Sekolah Dasar, 
and 3 years of junior secondary schooling, SLTP-Sekolah Lanjutan 
Tingkat Peratma or SMP-Sekolah Menengah Pertama. While education is 
compulsory for children 7 to 15 years, it is not free. Parents have a 
responsibility to contribute to the financing of schools at the 
community level. Formal school fees and informal levies, plus the cost 
of books and uniforms, are often more than poor families can afford. 
Transportation costs can also be prohibitive for poor families. There 
are shortages of teachers in many areas, existing teachers are often 
poorly trained, and school curricula lack relevant skills training.
    The lack of access to schools beyond the primary level contributes 
to low transition rates to and high dropout rates from junior secondary 
schools. The lack of access to junior secondary schools prevented an 
estimated 6 million children from attending school in the 2000/2001 
school year. Children, especially girls, in this grade level and age 
group are particularly vulnerable to dropping out of school and 
entering the worst forms of child labor. For children who drop out of 
school, the reentry to the formal school system can be difficult due to 
the psychological and emotional trauma that child victims of the worst 
forms of child labor including trafficking have suffered.
    The provinces of Bali, Central Java, East Java, East Kalimantan, 
Jakarta, North Sulawesi, North Sumatra, Papua, Riau, West Java, West 
Kalimantan, and the eastern island provinces of West Nusa Tenggara 
(NTB) and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) are known as sending and/or 
receiving areas for children trafficked for commercial sex or domestic 
work. Applicants under this solicitation are requested to select from 
four to a maximum of six provinces in which to focus interventions in 
selected areas where there is a high incidence of child trafficking for 
exploitive labor. Applicants are strongly encouraged to focus program 
interventions on two main populations: (1) children in primary school 
at risk of dropping out, particularly those living in areas where there 
is limited or no access to junior secondary schools, and (2) children 
who have been trafficked and wish to return

[[Page 25436]]

and reintegrate into formal school or pursue alternative education, 
such as vocational/technical education and skills training.
    Applicants must work to support the policy of decentralization and 
within the framework of the Government of Indonesia's Presidential 
Decree No. 59/2002, National Plan of Action for the Elimination of the 
Worst Forms of Child Labor. Proposals must demonstrate how project 
activities will complement, support, and broaden existing efforts of 
international agencies, local NGOs, and the Government of Indonesia. In 
the development of proposals, applicants are encouraged to consult with 
the Coordinating Ministry for People's Welfare, the State Ministry for 
Women's Empowerment, the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry 
of Manpower and Transmigration, other relevant government ministries, 
and local government authorities and civil society groups in 
prospective project locations. Applicants are also encouraged to 
complement and strengthen, where feasible, educational activities in 
geographical areas where the ILO/IPEC's program Support to the 
Indonesian National Plan of Action and the Development of the Time-
Bound Program for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor 
will focus on the prevention and withdrawal of children trafficked for 
prostitution. These areas include Central Java, East Java, Greater 
Jakarta, West Java, and Yogyakarta. Applicants are strongly encouraged 
to coordinate with other U.S. Government-funded or international donor 
activities, including the U.S. Government's announced Education 
Initiative for Indonesia that will be carried out through the U.S. 
Agency for International Development (USAID).
    Panama. In 2000, the Panama Census and Statistics Directorate 
estimated that 57,524 children ages 5 to 17 years in Panama were 
working (7.6 percent of this age group). The highest concentrations of 
child laborers can be found in the provinces of Panama (28.4%), 
Veraguas (15.4%), and in indigenous areas (20.4%). Children are found 
working in rural areas during the harvesting periods for sugar cane, 
coffee, bananas, melons, and tomatoes. Most working children in Panama 
live in rural and indigenous areas, and are engaged in agricultural 
activities. Children in Panama also work as domestic servants. Child 
labor also exists in urban areas, especially in the informal sector. 
Children are also given tips to bag groceries and clean in supermarkets 
in urban sectors in Panama. The commercial sexual exploitation of 
children has also been reported.
    In Panama, education is free and compulsory through the ninth 
grade. There are instances of children dropping out of school, 
especially in rural and indigenous areas. Many rural areas do not have 
access to secondary education and the government does not cover 
transportation costs. Children from poor families often do not attend 
school due to lack of transportation and the need to migrate with their 
families during the harvesting season. Parents must buy books and 
school supplies for their children to attend school. There are 
sometimes matriculation fees, which can also be prohibitive. According 
to some estimates, only 55% of working children have completed primary 
school, and 22% have not completed any grade. School attendance is a 
particular problem in the Darien province and in indigenous 
communities. About one-third of children from indigenous communities 
miss the first 3 months of the academic year to work in the coffee 
harvest. According to the Ministry of Youth, Women, Children and 
Family, 82 percent of the children in rural areas are absent from 
school during the harvest season.
    The provinces of Chiriqui, Cocle, Herrera, Veraguas, and Los Santos 
have been identified as some of the country's most populous 
agricultural areas. Applicants under this solicitation are requested to 
focus educational interventions in some or all of the provinces 
identified above, and/or in the Darien Province, in order to reach 
children engaged in hazardous agricultural and/or seasonal migration 
work and children who are at high risk of entering the worst forms of 
child labor. Applicants are strongly encouraged to focus program 
interventions on: (1) children working or at risk of working in 
commercial agriculture, particularly in the coffee, sugarcane, melon, 
tomato, and banana sectors, (2) including indigenous and migrating 
children.
    Applicants must demonstrate their understanding of risk factors for 
working children and educational barriers to children in the selected 
areas, and knowledge of any exploitive child labor and education 
projects or programs already being carried out in these areas by 
international agencies, local NGOs, and the Government of Panama. In 
the development of proposals, applicants are encouraged to consult with 
the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of 
Youth, Women, Children, and Family, other relevant government 
ministries, local government authorities, and civil society groups in 
prospective project locations.
    A project awarded under this solicitation should provide or 
facilitate the direct delivery of education to children working in 
hazardous commercial agriculture, giving particular consideration to 
the coffee, sugarcane, melon, tomato, and banana sectors, and to 
migrant and indigenous populations. Teachers working in rural and 
indigenous/migrant communities should be trained in the special needs 
of child laborers.
    The project should develop innovative ways to provide remedial 
education, accelerated learning, and other forms of non-formal 
education to bridge the gap that exists in education delivery. 
Applicants should develop creative and innovative methods to reach 
indigenous, migrant, and/or rural communities. An education scheme 
could include a training/skills component, which would give them the 
tools to become better prepared and skilled workers once they reach 
legal working age, or to fill other identified economic demands in the 
rural commercial agriculture regions of Panama. A project could support 
and encourage vocational education, especially in the aforementioned 
sectors.
    The project should also encourage private-public partnerships in an 
effort to maximize resources focused on exploitive child labor and 
education activities, particularly in the commercial agriculture 
sector. The project could also use leveraged resources from the private 
sector to promote collaboration with the Ministries of Education, Labor 
and Youth, Women, Children, and Family to provide basic and technical/
vocational services to vulnerable children living and working in this 
area. Lessons learned could eventually be applied to similar public-
private partnerships in different sectors throughout the country and 
the region.
    Applicants are encouraged to consider the differences in the work 
activities undertaken by boys and girls and other gender-specific 
obstacles that keep children out of school to develop gender-sensitive 
interventions.
    Turkey. According to the 1999 National Child Labor Survey conducted 
by the State Institute of Statistics, the number of children ages 6 to 
14 working for a wage in Turkey was estimated to be 511,000. Over 1.1 
million (27.9 percent) of older children, aged 15 to 17, were also 
working. In urban areas, children work in auto repair, metal and 
woodworking, the production of

[[Page 25437]]

clothing, textiles, footwear, and leather goods, and domestic service. 
In rural areas, the majority of children are seasonal agricultural 
workers. Children who perform seasonal migrant work rarely attend 
school and move from region to region with their families to pick 
tobacco, nuts, fruit, and cotton. These children endure dangerous 
working conditions and long work hours. They are often too tired to 
concentrate on their studies, or do not have access to schools. The 
provinces of Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Batman, Mardin, Aydin, and Mugla 
have been identified as areas with many seasonal migrant working 
children.
    Applicants under this solicitation are requested to focus 
educational interventions in all six of the provinces identified above 
in order to reach children working or at-risk of working under 
hazardous conditions in seasonal migrant work and children who are at 
high risk of entering other worst forms of child labor. Applicants must 
consider the differences in the work activities undertaken by boys and 
girls and other gender-specific obstacles that keep children out of 
school to develop gender-sensitive interventions. Applicants must 
demonstrate their understanding of risk factors for working children 
and educational barriers to children in the selected areas, and any 
work on exploitive child labor and education already carried out or 
being carried out in these areas by international agencies, local NGOs, 
and the Government of Turkey. For example, ILO/IPEC and the European 
Commission are currently supporting exploitive child labor elimination 
activities in the provinces of: Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Cankiri, 
Corum, Diyarbakir, Elazi, Erzurum Gaziantep, Istanbul, Izmir, 
Kastamono, Kocaeli, Ordu, Sanliurfa, Sinip, and Van. Every effort must 
be made to coordinate and collaborate with these organizations to avoid 
duplicative efforts.
    Program efforts under this solicitation are expected to provide 
access to basic and vocational/technical education to children working 
in the worst forms of child labor identified in the Time-Bound Policy 
and Program Framework for the Elimination of Child Labor in Turkey 
(TBPPF), particularly on developing innovative ways to provide remedial 
education, accelerated learning, and other forms of non-formal 
education to bridge the gap that exists in education delivery. 
Applicants must develop creative and innovative methods, while drawing 
on and enhancing existing or previous successful models, such as 
distance learning and mobile schools for the delivery of basic 
education to these children.
    Applicants are strongly encouraged to focus program interventions 
in Turkey on at least two areas: (1) At the national education policy 
level, targeting mainstreaming exploitive child labor issues within the 
national education strategy, and (2) at the provincial and local 
levels, focusing both on children working under hazardous conditions in 
the agricultural sector and on the communities where they live and 
work. Applicants must work within the framework of the Government of 
Turkey's TBPPF. Close coordination and communication with the Ministry 
of Labor and Social Security's (MLSS) Child Labor Unit and the Ministry 
of National Education (MONE) during the design and implementation of 
the project funded under this solicitation must be maintained 
throughout the project period. Applicants are expected to encourage 
MLSS and MONE and all other relevant line ministries to coordinate and 
collaborate in order to specifically take into account the special 
education needs of the working children.


    Note to Applicants for All Countries:
    Applicants are encouraged to include letters of endorsement from 
the host government's Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Education 
with the proposal. All applicants must have country presence, or 
partner with an established and eligible organization in that 
country.


    For additional information on exploitive child labor in Ecuador, 
Indonesia, Panama, and Turkey, applicants are strongly encouraged to 
refer to the Department of Labor's 2002 Findings on the Worst Forms of 
Child Labor available at http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/media/reports/iclp/tda2002/overview.htm.

B. Statement of Work

    Taking into account the challenges to educating working children in 
each country of interest, the applicant will facilitate, and implement, 
as appropriate, creative and innovative approaches to promote policies 
that will enhance the provision of educational opportunities to 
children engaged in or removed from exploitive child labor, 
particularly the worst forms. The expected outcomes/results of the 
project are, through improved policies and direct education service 
delivery, as applicable, to: (1) Increase educational opportunities and 
access (enrollment) for children who are engaged in, at risk of, and/or 
removed from exploitive child labor, particularly its worst forms; (2) 
encourage retention in, and completion of educational programs; and (3) 
expand the successful transition of children in non-formal education 
into formal schools or vocational programs.
    In the course of implementation, each project must promote the 
goals of USDOL's Child Labor Education Initiative listed above in 
Section I (A) (i). Because of the limited available resources under 
this award, applicants should implement programs that complement 
existing efforts, particularly those funded by USDOL, including 
Timebound Programs for the elimination of the worst forms of child 
labor and other projects implemented by ILO/IPEC, and, where 
appropriate, replicate or enhance successful models to serve expanded 
numbers of children and communities. However, applicants should not 
duplicate existing efforts and/or projects and should work within host 
government child labor and education frameworks. In order to avoid 
duplication, enhance collaboration, expand impact, and develop 
synergies, the cooperative agreement awardee (hereafter referred to as 
``Grantee'') should work cooperatively with national stakeholders in 
developing project interventions.
    Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss proposed 
interventions, strategies, and activities with host government 
officials during the preparation of an application for this cooperative 
agreement.
    Partnerships between more than one organization are also eligible 
and encouraged, in particular with qualified, community-based 
organizations in order to build local capacity; in such a case, 
however, a lead organization must be identified. Applicants whose 
strategies include the direct delivery of education are encouraged to 
enroll at least one-quarter of the targeted children the Grantee is 
attempting to reach in educational activities during the first year of 
project implementation. Under this cooperative agreement, vocational 
training for adolescents and income generating alternatives for parents 
are allowable activities.
    Although USDOL is open to all proposals for innovative solutions to 
address the challenges of providing increased access to education to 
the children targeted, the applicant must, at a minimum, prepare 
responses following the outline of a preliminary project document 
presented in appendix A. This response will be the foundation for the 
final project document that will be approved after award of the 
cooperative agreement.
    If the application does not propose interventions aimed toward the 
target group and geographical areas as

[[Page 25438]]

identified (where applicable), then the application may be considered 
unresponsive.


    Note to All Applicants: Grantees are expected to consult with 
and work cooperatively with stakeholders in the countries, including 
the Ministries of Education, Labor, and other relevant ministries, 
NGOs, national steering/advisory committees on child labor, 
education, faith and community-based organizations, and working 
children and their families. Grantees should ensure that their 
proposed activities and interventions are within those of the 
countries' national child labor and education frameworks and 
priorities, as applicable. Grantees are strongly encouraged to 
collaborate with existing projects, particularly those funded by 
USDOL, including Timebound Programs and other projects implemented 
by ILO/IPEC. However, applicants are reminded that this is a stand-
alone project and that other federal awards cannot supplement as 
matching funds a project awarded under this cooperative agreement.

II. Award Information

    Type of assistance instrument: cooperative agreement. USDOL's 
involvement in project implementation and oversight is outlined in 
Section VI (C). The duration of the projects funded by this 
solicitation is four (4) years. The start date of program activities 
will be negotiated upon awarding of the cooperative agreement, but no 
later than September 30, 2004.
    Up to US $18 million will be awarded under this solicitation, with 
up to $3 million for Ecuador, $6 million for Indonesia, $3 million for 
Panama, and up to $6 million for Turkey. USDOL may award one or more 
cooperative agreements to one, several, or a partnership of more than 
one organization that may apply to implement the program. Any sub-
contractor must be approved by USDOL.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

    Any commercial, international, educational, or non-profit 
organization, including any faith-based or community-based 
organizations, capable of successfully developing and implementing 
education programs for working children or children at risk of entering 
exploitive work in the countries of interest is eligible to apply. 
Partnerships of more than one organization are also eligible, and 
applicants are strongly encouraged to work with organizations already 
undertaking projects in the countries of interest, particularly local 
NGOs, including faith-based and community-based organizations. In the 
case of partnership applications, a lead organization must be 
identified. An applicant must demonstrate a country presence, 
independently or through a relationship with another organization(s) 
with country presence, which gives it the ability to initiate program 
activities upon award of the cooperative agreement. Applicants applying 
for more than one country must submit a separate application for each 
country. If applications for countries are combined, they will not be 
considered. (All applicants are requested to complete the Survey on 
Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants (OMB No. 1225-0083), which is 
available online at http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/grants/sga0408/bkgrdSGA0408.htm). The capability of an applicant or applicants to 
perform necessary aspects of this solicitation will be determined under 
the criteria outlined in the Application Review Information section of 
this solicitation, Section V.
    Please note that to be eligible, cooperative agreement applicants 
classified under the internal revenue code as a 501(c)(4) entity (see 
26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4)), may not engage in lobbying activities. According 
to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, as codified at 2 U.S.C. 1611, 
an organization, as described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, that engages in lobbying activities will not be 
eligible for the receipt of Federal funds constituting an award, grant, 
cooperative agreement, or loan.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

    This solicitation does not require applicants to share costs or 
provide matching funds. However, the leveraging of resources and in-
kind contributions is strongly encouraged.

C. Other Eligibility Criteria

    In accordance with 29 CFR part 98, entities that are debarred or 
suspended shall be excluded from Federal financial assistance and are 
ineligible to receive funding under this solicitation. Past performance 
of organizations that have implemented or are implementing projects or 
activities for USDOL will be taken into account. Past performance will 
be rated by the timeliness of deliverables, and the responsiveness of 
the organization and its staff to USDOL communications regarding 
deliverables and cooperative agreement or contractual requirements. 
Lack of past experience with USDOL projects, cooperative agreements, 
grants, or contracts will not be penalized.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address To Request Application Package

    This solicitation contains all of the necessary information and 
forms needed to apply for cooperative agreement funding. This 
solicitation is published as part of this Federal Register notice, and 
in the Federal Register, which may be obtained from your nearest U.S. 
Government office or public library or online at http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/index.html.

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

    One (1) blue ink-signed original, complete application in English 
plus two (2) copies (in English) of the application, must be submitted 
to the U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-5416, Attention: Lisa Harvey, 
Reference Solicitation 04-08, Washington, DC 20210, not later than 4:45 
p.m. eastern time, June 7, 2004. Applicants may submit applications for 
one or more countries. In the case where an applicant is interested in 
applying for a cooperative agreement in more than one country, a 
separate application must be submitted for each country.
    The application must consist of two (2) separate parts, as well as 
a table of contents and an abstract summarizing the application in not 
more that two (2) pages. (The table of contents and abstract are not 
included in the 45-page limit for Part II.)
    Part I of the application must contain the Standard Form (SF) 424, 
Application for Federal Assistance and Sections A-F of the Budget 
Information Form SF 424A, available from ILAB's Web site at http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/grants/sga0408/bkgrdSGA0408.htm. Copies of these forms 
are also available online from the U.S. General Services Administration 
Web site at http://contacts.gsa.gov/webforms.nsf/0/B835648 D66D1B8 
F985256 A72004 C58C2/$file/sf424.pdf and http://contacts.gsa.gov/webforms.nsf/0/5AEB1 FA6FB3 B832385256 A72004C 8E77/$file/Sf424a.pdf. 
The individual signing the SF 424 on behalf of the applicant must be 
authorized to bind the applicant. The budget/cost proposal must be 
written in 10-12 pitch font size.
    Part II must provide a technical application that identifies and 
explains the proposed program and demonstrates the applicant's 
capabilities to carry out that proposal. The technical application must 
identify how it will carry out the Statement of Work (Section I (B) of 
this

[[Page 25439]]

solicitation) and address each of the Application Review Criteria found 
in Section V.
    The Part II technical application must not exceed 45 single-sided 
(8\1/2\'' x 11''), double-spaced, 10 to 12 pitch typed pages for each 
country, and must include responses to the application evaluation 
criteria outlined in this solicitation. Part II must include a project 
design document submitted in the format shown in appendix A. The 
application should include the name, address, telephone and fax 
numbers, and e-mail address (if applicable) of a key contact person at 
the applicant's organization in case questions should arise.
    Applications will only be accepted in English. To be considered 
responsive to this solicitation, the application must consist of the 
above-mentioned separate parts. Any applications that do not conform to 
these standards may be deemed non-responsive to this solicitation and 
may not be evaluated. Standard forms and attachments are not included 
in the 45-page limit for part II. However, additional information not 
required under this solicitation will not be considered.

C. Submission Dates and Times

    Applications must be delivered to: U.S. Department of Labor, 
Procurement Services Center, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-5416, 
Attention: Lisa Harvey, Reference: Solicitation 04-08, Washington, DC 
20210. Applications sent by e-mail, telegram, or facsimile (FAX) will 
not be accepted. Applications sent by other delivery services, such as 
Federal Express and UPS, will be accepted; however, the applicant bears 
the responsibility for timely submission. The application package must 
be received at the designated place by the date and time specified or 
it will not be considered. Any application received at the Procurement 
Services Center after 4:45 p.m. eastern time, June 7, 2004, will not be 
considered unless it is received before the award is made and:
    1. It is determined by the Government that the late receipt was due 
solely to mishandling by the Government after receipt at USDOL at the 
address indicated;
    2. It was sent by registered or certified mail not later than the 
fifth calendar day before 30 days from the date of publication in the 
Federal Register; or
    3. It was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day 
Service-Post Office to Addressee, not later than 5 p.m. at the place of 
mailing two (2) working days, excluding weekends and Federal holidays, 
prior to June 7, 2004.
    The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a 
late application sent by registered or certified mail is the U.S. 
Postal Service postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the original 
receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. If the postmark is not legible, 
an application received after the above closing time and date shall be 
processed as if mailed late. ``Postmark'' means a printed, stamped, or 
otherwise placed impression (not a postage meter machine impression) 
that is readily identifiable without further action as having been 
applied and affixed by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service on the 
date of mailing. Therefore, applicants should request that the postal 
clerk place a legible hand cancellation ``bull's-eye'' postmark on both 
the receipt and the envelope or wrapper.
    The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a 
late application sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day 
Service-Post Office to Addressee is the date entered by the Post Office 
clerk on the ``Express Mail Next Day Service-Post Office to Addressee'' 
label and the postmark on the envelope or wrapper on the original 
receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. ``Postmark'' has the same meaning 
as defined above. The Procurement Service Center on the application 
wrapper or other documentary evidence of receipt maintained by that 
office.
    Confirmation of receipt can be made with Lisa Harvey, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, telephone (202) 693-
4570 (this is not a toll-free-number) or e-mail: [email protected]. 
All applicants are advised that U.S. mail delivery in the Washington, 
DC, area can be slow and erratic due to concerns involving 
contamination. All applicants must take this into consideration when 
preparing to meet the application deadline.

D. Intergovernmental Review

    This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order (EO) 
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''

E. Funding Restrictions

    1. In addition to those specified under OMB Circular A-122, the 
following costs are also unallowable:
    a. Construction with funds under this cooperative agreement should 
not exceed 10% of the project budget's direct costs and should be, 
preferably, limited to improving existing school infrastructure and 
facilities in the project's targeted communities. USDOL encourages 
applicants to leverage funds or in-kind contributions from local 
partners when proposing construction activities in order to ensure 
sustainability.
    b. Under this cooperative agreement, vocational training for 
adolescents and income generating alternatives for parents are 
allowable activities. However, federal funds under this cooperative 
agreement cannot be used to provide micro-credits, revolving funds, or 
loan guarantee.
    c. Awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs.
    2. The following activities are also unallowable under this 
solicitation:
    a. Under this cooperative agreement, awareness raising and advocacy 
cannot include lobbying or fund-raising (see OMB Circular A-122).
    b. The U.S. Government is opposed to prostitution and related 
activities, which are inherently harmful and dehumanizing, and 
contribute to the phenomenon of trafficking in persons. U.S. non-
governmental organizations, and their sub-awardees, cannot use U.S. 
Government funds to lobby for, promote or advocate the legalization or 
regulation of prostitution as a legitimate form of work. Foreign non-
governmental organizations, and their sub-awardees, that receive U.S. 
Government funds to fight trafficking in persons cannot lobby for, 
promote or advocate the legalization or regulation of prostitution as a 
legitimate form of work. It is the responsibility of the primary 
Grantee to ensure its sub-awardees meet these criteria.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Harvey. E-mail address: 
[email protected].

V. Application Review Information

A. Application Evaluation Criteria

    Technical panels will review applications written in the specified 
format (see Section I, Section IV (2) and appendix A) against the 
various criteria on the basis of 100 points. Up to five additional 
points will be given for the inclusion of non-federal or leveraged 
resources as described below. Applicants are requested to prepare their 
technical proposal (45 page maximum) on the basis of the following 
rating factors, which are presented in the order of emphasis that they 
will receive, and the maximum rating points for each factor.

Program Design/Budget-Cost Effectiveness: 45 points
Organizational Capacity: 30 points
Management Plan/Key Personnel/Staffing: 25 points
Leveraging Resources: 5 extra points

[[Page 25440]]

1. Project/Program Design/Budget-Cost Effectiveness (45 Points)
    This part of the application constitutes the preliminary project 
document described in Section I (B) and outlined in appendix A. The 
applicant's proposal should describe in detail the proposed approach to 
comply with each requirement.
    This component of the application should demonstrate the 
applicant's thorough knowledge and understanding of the issues, 
barriers and challenges involved in providing education to children 
engaged in or at risk of engaging in exploitive child labor, 
particularly its worst forms; best-practice solutions to address their 
needs; and the implementing environment in the selected country. When 
preparing the project document outline, the applicant should at minimum 
include a description of:
    a. Children Targeted--The applicant must identify which and how 
many children will benefit from the project, including the sectors in 
which they work, geographical location, and other relevant 
characteristics. Children are defined as persons under the age of 18 
who have been engaged in the worst forms of child labor as defined by 
ILO Convention 182, or those under the legal working age of the country 
and who are engaged in other hazardous and/or exploitive activities.
    b. Needs/Gaps/Barriers--The applicant must describe the specific 
gaps/educational needs of the children targeted that the project will 
address.
    c. Proposed Strategy--The applicant must discuss the proposed 
strategy to address gaps/needs/barriers of the children targeted and 
its rationale.
    d. Description of Activities--The applicant must provide a detailed 
description of proposed activities that relate to the gaps/needs/
barriers to be addressed, including training and technical assistance 
to be provided to project staff, host country nationals, and community 
groups involved in the project. The proposed approach is expected to 
build upon existing activities, government policies, and plans, and 
avoid needless duplication.
    e. Work Plan--The applicant must provide a detailed work plan and 
timeline for the proposed project, preferably with a visual such as a 
Gantt chart. Applicants whose strategies include the provision of 
direct delivery of education are also encouraged to enroll one-quarter 
of the targeted children in educational activities during the first 
year of project implementation.
    f. Program Management and Performance Assessment--The applicant 
must describe: (1) How management will ensure that the goals and 
objectives will be met; (2) how information and data will be collected 
and used to demonstrate the impacts of the project; and (3) what 
systems will be put in place for self-assessment, evaluation and 
continuous improvement. Note to All Applicants: USDOL has already 
developed common indicators and a database system for monitoring 
children's educational progress that can be used and adapted by 
Grantees after award so that they do not need to set up this type of 
system from scratch. Guidance on common indicators will be provided 
after award, thus applicants should focus their program management and 
performance assessment responses toward the development of their 
project's monitoring strategy in support of the four goals of the Child 
Labor Education Initiative. For more information on the Child Labor 
Education Initiative's common indicators and for examples of commonly 
used education indicators, please visit http://www.clear-measure.com.
    g. Budget/Cost Effectiveness--The applicant must show how the 
budget reflects program goals and design in a cost-effective way so as 
to reflect budget/performance integration. The budget should be linked 
to the activities and outputs of the implementation plan listed above. 
This section of the application should explain the costs for performing 
all of the requirements presented in this solicitation, and for 
producing all required reports and other deliverables. Costs must 
include labor, equipment, travel, annual audits, evaluations, and other 
related costs. Applications should allocate sufficient resources to 
proposed studies, assessments, surveys, and monitoring and evaluation 
activities. When developing their applications, applicants should 
allocate the largest proportion of resources to educational activities 
aimed at targeted children, rather than direct costs. Preference may be 
given to applicants with low administrative costs and with a budget 
breakdown that provides a larger amount of resources to project 
activities. All costs should be reported, as they will become part of 
the cooperative agreement upon award. In their cost proposal, 
applicants must reflect a breakdown of the total administrative costs 
into direct administrative costs and indirect administrative costs. 
This section will be evaluated in accordance with applicable Federal 
laws and regulations. The budget must comply with Federal cost 
principles (which can be found in the applicable OMB Circulars).
    Applicants are encouraged to discuss the possibility of exemption 
from customs and Value Added Tax (VAT) with host government officials 
during the preparation of an application for this cooperative 
agreement. While USDOL encourages host governments to not apply custom 
or VAT taxes to USDOL-funded programs, some host governments may 
nevertheless choose to assess such taxes. USDOL may not be able to 
provide assistance in this regard. Applicants should take into account 
such costs in budget preparation. If major costs are omitted, a Grantee 
may not be allowed to include them later.
2. Organizational Capacity (30 Points)
    Under this criterion, the applicant must present the qualifications 
of the organization(s) implementing the program/project. The evaluation 
criteria in this category are as follows:
    a. International Experience--The organization applying for the 
award has international experience implementing basic, transitional, 
non-formal or vocational education programs that address issues of 
access, quality, and policy reform for vulnerable children including 
children engaged in or at risk of exploitive child labor, preferably in 
the countries of interest.
    b. Country Presence--An applicant, or its partners, must be 
formally recognized by the host government(s) using the appropriate 
mechanism, e.g., Memorandum of Understanding, local registration of 
organization. An applicant must also demonstrate a country presence, 
independently or through a relationship with another organization(s) 
with country presence, which gives it the ability to initiate program 
activities upon award of the cooperative agreement, as well as the 
capability to work directly with government ministries, educators, 
civil society leaders, and other local faith-based or community 
organizations. For applicants that do not have independent country 
presence, documentation of the relationship with the organization(s) 
with such a presence must be provided. Applicants are strongly 
encouraged to work collaboratively with local partners and 
organizations.
    c. Fiscal Oversight--The organization shows evidence of a sound 
financial system. The results of the most current independent financial 
audit must accompany the application, and applicants without one will 
not be considered.
    d. Coordination--If two or more organizations are applying for the 
award in the form of a partnership, they must

[[Page 25441]]

demonstrate an approach to ensure the successful collaboration 
including clear delineation of respective roles and responsibilities. 
The applicants must also identify the lead organization and submit the 
partnership agreement.
    e. Experience--The application must include information about 
previous grant, cooperative agreements, or contracts of the applicant 
that are relevant to this solicitation including:
    (1) The organizations for which the work was done;
    (2) A contact person in that organization with their current phone 
number;
    (3) The dollar value of the grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement for the project;
    (4) The time frame and professional effort involved in the project;
    (5) A brief summary of the work performed; and
    (6) A brief summary of accomplishments.
    This information on previous grants, cooperative agreements, and 
contracts held by the applicant must be provided in appendices and will 
not count in the maximum page requirement.
3. Management Plan/Key Personnel/Staffing (25 Points)
    Successful performance of the proposed work depends heavily on the 
management skills and qualifications of the individuals committed to 
the project. Accordingly, in its evaluation of each application, USDOL 
will place emphasis on the applicant's management approach and 
commitment of personnel qualified for the work involved in 
accomplishing the assigned tasks. This section of the application must 
include sufficient information to judge management and staffing plans, 
and the experience and competence of program staff proposed for the 
project to assure that they meet the required qualifications. 
Information provided on the experience and educational background of 
personnel should include the following:
    a. The identity of key personnel assigned to the project. ``Key 
personnel'' are staff (Project Director, Education Specialist, and 
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer) who are essential to the successful 
operation of the project and completion of the proposed work and, 
therefore, may not be replaced or have hours reduced without the 
approval of the Grant Officer.
    b. The educational background and experience of all staff to be 
assigned to the project.
    c. The special capabilities of staff that demonstrate prior 
experience in organizing, managing and performing similar efforts.
    d. The current employment status of staff and availability for this 
project. The applicant must also indicate whether the proposed work 
will be performed by persons currently employed or is dependent upon 
planned recruitment or sub-contracting.
    Note that management and professional technical staff members 
comprising the applicant's proposed team should be individuals who have 
prior experience with organizations working in similar efforts, and are 
fully qualified to perform work specified in the Statement of Work. 
Where sub-contractors or outside assistance are proposed, 
organizational control should be clearly delineated to ensure 
responsiveness to the needs of USDOL.


    Note to All Applicants: USDOL strongly recommends that key 
personnel allocate at least 50 percent of their time to the project 
and be present in the project country. USDOL prefers that key 
personnel positions not be combined unless the applicant can propose 
a cost-effective strategy that ensures that all key management and 
technical functions (as identified in this solicitation) are clearly 
defined and satisfied. Key personnel must sign letters of agreement 
to serve on the project, and indicate availability to commence work 
within three weeks of cooperative agreement award. Applicants must 
submit these letters as part of the application.


    In this section, the following information must be furnished:
    (1) Key personnel--For each country for which an application is 
submitted, the applicant must designate the key personnel listed below. 
If key personnel are not designated, the application will not be 
considered.
    (a) A Project Director to oversee the project and be responsible 
for implementation of the requirements of the cooperative agreement. 
The Program Director must have a minimum of three years of professional 
experience in a leadership role in implementation of complex basic 
education programs in developing countries in areas such as education 
policy; improving educational quality and access; educational 
assessment of disadvantaged students; development of community 
participation in the improvement of basic education for disadvantaged 
children; and monitoring and evaluation of basic education projects. 
Consideration will be given to candidates with additional years of 
experience including experience working with officials of ministries of 
education and/or labor. Preferred candidates must also have knowledge 
of exploitive child labor issues, and experience in the development of 
transitional, formal, and vocational education of children removed from 
exploitive child labor and/or victims of the worst forms of child 
labor. Fluency in English is required and working knowledge of the 
official language(s) spoken in the target countries is preferred.
    (b) An Education Specialist who will provide leadership in 
developing the technical aspects of this project in collaboration with 
the Project Director. This person must have at least three years 
experience in basic education projects in developing countries in areas 
including student assessment, teacher training, educational materials 
development, educational management, and educational monitoring and 
information systems. This person must have experience in working 
successfully with ministries of education, networks of educators, 
employers' organizations and trade union representatives or comparable 
entities. Additional experience with exploitive child labor/education 
policy and monitoring and evaluation is an asset. Working knowledge of 
English preferred, as is a similar knowledge of the official 
language(s) spoken in the target countries.
    (c) A Monitoring and Evaluation Officer who will serve at least 
part-time and oversee the implementation of the project's monitoring 
and evaluation strategies and requirements. This person should have at 
least three years progressively responsible experience in the 
monitoring and evaluation of international development projects, 
preferably in education and training or a related field. Related 
experience can include strategic planning and performance measurement, 
indicator selection, quantitative and qualitative data collection and 
analysis methodologies, and knowledge of the Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA). Individuals with a demonstrated ability to build 
capacity of the project team and partners in these domains will be 
given special consideration.
    (2) Other Personnel--The applicant must identify other program 
personnel proposed to carry out the requirements of this solicitation.
    (3) Management Plan--The management plan must include the 
following:
    (a) A description of the functional relationship between elements 
of the project's management structure; and
    (b) The responsibilities of project staff and management and the 
lines of authority between project staff and other elements of the 
project.

[[Page 25442]]

    (4) Staff Loading Plan--The staff loading plan must identify all 
key tasks and the person-days required to complete each task. Labor 
estimated for each task must be broken down by individuals assigned to 
the task, including sub-contractors and consultants. All key tasks 
should be charted to show time required to perform them by months or 
weeks.
    (5) Roles and Responsibilities--The applicant must include a resume 
and description of the roles and responsibilities of all personnel 
proposed. Resumes must be attached in an appendix. At a minimum, each 
resume must include: the individual's current employment status and 
previous work experience, including position title, duties, dates in 
position, employing organizations, and educational background. Duties 
must be clearly defined in terms of role performed, e.g., manager, team 
leader, and/or consultant. Indicate whether the individual is currently 
employed by the applicant, and (if so) for how long.
4. Leverage of Grant Funding (5 Points)
    USDOL will give up to five (5) additional rating points to 
applications that include non-Federal resources that significantly 
expand the dollar amount, size and scope of the application. These 
programs will not be financed by the project, but can complement and 
enhance project objectives. Applicants are also encouraged to leverage 
activities such as micro-credit or income generation projects for 
adults that are not directly allowable under the cooperative agreement. 
To be eligible for the additional points, the applicant must list the 
source(s) of funds, the nature, and possible activities anticipated 
with these funds under this cooperative agreement and any partnerships, 
linkages or coordination of activities, cooperative funding, etc.

B. Review and Selection Process

    USDOL will screen all applications to determine whether all 
required elements are present and clearly identifiable. Each complete 
application will be objectively rated by a technical panel against the 
criteria described in this announcement. Applicants are advised that 
panel recommendations to the Grant Officer are advisory in nature. The 
Grant Officer may elect to select a Grantee on the basis of the initial 
application submission; or, the Grant Officer may establish a 
competitive or technically acceptable range from which qualified 
applicants will be selected. If deemed appropriate, the Grant Officer 
may call for the preparation and receipt of final revisions of 
applications, following which the evaluation process described above 
may be repeated, in whole or in part, to consider such revisions. The 
Grant Officer will make final selection determinations based on panel 
findings and consideration of factors that represent the greatest 
advantage to the government, such as geographic distribution of the 
competitive applications, cost, the availability of funds and other 
factors. The Grant Officer's determinations for awards under this 
solicitation are final.


    Note to All Applicants: Selection of an organization as a 
cooperative agreement recipient does not constitute approval of the 
cooperative agreement application as submitted. Before the actual 
cooperative agreement is awarded, USDOL may enter into negotiations 
about such items as program components, funding levels, and 
administrative systems in place to support cooperative agreement 
implementation. If the negotiations do not result in an acceptable 
submission, the Grant Officer reserves the right to terminate the 
negotiation and decline to fund the application. Award may also be 
contingent upon an exchange of project support letters between USDOL 
and the relevant ministries in target countries.


    USDOL is not obligated to make any awards as a result of this 
solicitation, and only the Grant Officer can bind USDOL to the 
provision of funds under this solicitation. Unless specifically 
provided in the cooperative agreement, USDOL's acceptance of a proposal 
and/or award of Federal funds does not waive any cooperative agreement 
requirements and/or procedures.

C. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    Designation decisions will be made, where possible, within 45 days 
after the deadline for submission of proposals.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

    The Grant Officer will notify applicants of designation results as 
follows:
    Designation Letter: The designation letter signed by the Grant 
Officer will serve as official notice of an organization's designation. 
The designation letter will be accompanied by a cooperative agreement 
and USDOL/ILAB's Management Procedures and Guidelines (MPG).
    Non-Designation Letter: Any organization not designated will be 
notified formally of the non-designation and given the basic reasons 
for the determination.
    Notification by a person or entity other than the Grant Officer 
that an organization has or has not been designated is not valid.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

1. General
    Grantee organizations are subject to applicable U.S. Federal laws 
(including provisions of appropriations law) and the applicable Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars. If during project 
implementation, a Grantee is found in violation of U.S. government 
regulations, the terms of the cooperative agreement awarded under this 
solicitation may be modified by USDOL, costs may be disallowed and 
recovered, the cooperative agreement may be terminated, and USDOL may 
take other action permitted by law. Determinations of allowable costs 
will be made in accordance with the applicable U.S. Federal cost 
principles. Grantees will also be required to submit to an annual 
independent audit, and costs for such an audit should be included in 
direct or indirect costs, whichever is appropriate.
    The cooperative agreements awarded under this solicitation are 
subject to the following administrative standards and provisions, and 
any other applicable standards that come into effect during the term of 
the grant agreement, if applicable to a particular Grantee and any 
others that subsequently come into effect:
    a. 29 CFR Part 31--Nondiscrimination In Federally Assisted Programs 
of the Department of Labor-- Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964.
    b. 29 CFR Part 32--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap In 
Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal Financial 
Assistance.
    c. 29 CFR Part 33--Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of 
Handicap In Programs or Activities Conducted by the Department of 
Labor.
    d. 29 CFR Part 36--Federal Standards for Nondiscrimination on the 
Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal 
Financial Assistance.
    e. 29 CFR Part 93--New Restrictions on Lobbying.
    f. 29 CFR Part--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and 
Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and other 
Non-Profit Organizations, and with Commercial Organizations, Foreign 
Governments, Organizations Under the Jurisdiction of Foreign 
Governments and International Organizations.
    g. 29 CFR Part 96--Federal Standards for Audit of Federally Funded 
Grants, Contracts and Agreements.
    h. 29 CFR Part 98--Federal Standards for Government-wide Debarment 
and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Government-wide Requirements for 
Drug-Free Workplace (Grants).

[[Page 25443]]

    i. 29 CFR Part 99--Federal Standards for Audits of States, Local 
Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations.
    Applicants are reminded to budget for compliance with the 
administrative requirements set forth. This includes the cost of 
performing administrative activities such as annual financial audits, 
closeout, mid-term and final evaluations, document preparation, as well 
as compliance with procurement and property standards. Copies of all 
regulations referenced in this solicitation are available at no cost, 
on-line, at http://www.dol.gov.
    Grantees should be aware that terms outlined in this solicitation, 
the cooperative agreement, and the MPGs are applicable to the 
implementation of projects awarded under this solicitation.
2. Sub-Contracts
    Sub-contracts must be awarded in accordance with 29 CFR 95.40-48. 
In compliance with Executive Orders 12876, as amended, 13230, 12928 and 
13021, as amended, Grantees are strongly encouraged to provide sub-
contracting opportunities to Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges and 
Universities. To the extent possible, sub-contracts awarded after the 
cooperative agreement is signed must be awarded through a formal 
competitive bidding process, unless prior written approval is obtained 
from USDOL/ILAB.
3. Key Personnel
    The applicant shall list the individual(s) who has/have been 
designated as having primary responsibility for the conduct and 
completion of all project work. The applicant must submit written proof 
that key personnel will be available to begin work on the project no 
later than three weeks after award. Grantees agree to inform the Grant 
Officer's Technical Representative (GOTR) whenever it appears 
impossible for this individual(s) to continue work on the project as 
planned. A Grantee may nominate substitute key personnel and submit the 
nominations to the GOTR; however, a Grantee must obtain prior approval 
from the Grant Officer for all changes to key personnel (Project 
Director, Education Specialist, and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer). 
If the Grant Officer is unable to approve the key personnel change, he/
she reserves the right to terminate the cooperative agreement.
4. Encumbrance of Cooperative Agreement Funds
    Cooperative agreement funds may not be encumbered/obligated by a 
Grantee before or after the period of performance. Encumbrances/
obligations outstanding as of the end of the cooperative agreement 
period may be liquidated (paid out) after the end of the cooperative 
agreement period. Such encumbrances/obligations shall involve only 
specified commitments for which a need existed during the cooperative 
agreement period and which are supported by approved contracts, 
purchase orders, requisitions, invoices, bills, or other evidence of 
liability consistent with a Grantee's purchasing procedures and 
incurred within the cooperative agreement period. All encumbrances/
obligations incurred during the cooperative agreement period shall be 
liquidated within 90 days after the end of the cooperative agreement 
period, if practicable.
    All equipment purchased with project funds should be inventoried 
and secured throughout the life of the project. At the end of the 
project, USDOL and the Grantees will determine how to best allocate 
equipment purchased with project funds in order to ensure 
sustainability of efforts in the projects' implementing areas.
5. Site Visits
    USDOL, through its authorized representatives, has the right, at 
all reasonable times, to make site visits to review project 
accomplishments and management control systems and to provide such 
technical assistance as may be required. If USDOL makes any site visit 
on the premises of a Grantee or a sub-contractor(s) under this 
cooperative agreement, a Grantee shall provide and shall require its 
sub-contractors to provide all reasonable facilities and assistance for 
the safety and convenience of government representatives in the 
performance of their duties. All site visits and evaluations shall be 
performed in a manner that will not unduly delay the implementation of 
the project.

C. Reporting and Deliverables

    In addition to meeting the above requirements, a Grantee must be 
expected to monitor the implementation of the program, report to USDOL 
on a quarterly basis, and undergo evaluations of program results. 
Guidance on USDOL procedures and management requirements will be 
provided to Grantees in MPGs with the cooperative agreement. The 
project budget must include funds to: Plan, implement, monitor, and 
evaluate programs and activities (including mid-term and final 
evaluations and annual audits); conduct studies pertinent to project 
implementation; establish education baselines to measure program 
results; and finance travel by field staff and key personnel to meet 
annually with USDOL officials in Washington, DC. Applicants based both 
within and outside the United States should also budget for travel by 
field staff and other key personnel to Washington, DC, at the beginning 
of the project for a post-award meeting with USDOL. Indicators of 
performance will also be developed by a Grantee and approved by USDOL. 
Unless otherwise indicated, a Grantee must submit copies of all 
required reports to ILAB by the specified due dates. Specific 
deliverables are the following:
1. Project Design Document
    Applicants will prepare a preliminary project document in the 
format described in Appendix A, with design elements linked to a 
logical framework matrix. (Note: The supporting logical framework 
matrix will not count in the 45-page limit but should be included as an 
annex to the project document. To guide applicants, a sample logical 
framework matrix for a hypothetical Child Labor Education Initiative 
project is available at http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/grants/sga0408/bkgrdSGA0408.htm.) The project document will include a background/
justification section, project strategy (goal, purpose, outputs, 
activities, indicators, means of verification, assumptions), project 
implementation timetable and project budget. The narrative will address 
the criteria/themes described in the Program Design/Budget-Cost 
Effectiveness section below.
    Within six months after the time of the award, the Grantee will 
deliver the final project design document, based on the application 
written in response to this solicitation, including the results of 
additional consultation with stakeholders, partners, and ILAB. The 
final project design document will also include sections that address 
coordination strategies, project management and sustainability.
2. Progress and Financial Reports
    The format for the progress reports will be provided in the MPGs 
distributed after the award. Grantees must furnish a typed technical 
progress report and a financial report (SF269) to USDOL/ILAB on a 
quarterly basis by 31 March, 30 June, 30 September, and 31 December of 
each year during the cooperative agreement period. Also, a copy of the 
Federal Cash Transactions Report (PSC 272) should be submitted to ILAB 
upon submission to the Health and Human Services--Payment Management 
System (HHS-PMS).

[[Page 25444]]

3. Annual Work Plan
    Grantees must develop an annual work plan within six months of 
project award for approval by ILAB so as to ensure coordination with 
other relevant social actors throughout the country. Subsequent annual 
work plans will be delivered no later than one year after the previous 
one.
4. Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
    Grantees must develop a performance monitoring and evaluation plan 
in collaboration with USDOL/ILAB including beginning and ending dates 
for the project, indicators and methods and cost of data collection, 
planned and actual dates for mid-term review, and final end of project 
evaluations. The performance monitoring plan will be developed in 
conjunction with the logical framework project design and common 
indicators for GPRA reporting selected by ILAB. The plan will include a 
limited number of key indicators that can be realistically measured 
within the cost parameters allocated to project monitoring. Baseline 
data collection will be tied to the indicators of the project design 
document and the performance monitoring plan. A monitoring and 
evaluation plan will be submitted to ILAB within six months of project 
award.
5. Project Evaluations
    Grantees and the GOTR will determine on a case-by-case basis 
whether mid-term evaluations will be conducted by an internal or 
external evaluation team. All final evaluations will be external and 
independent in nature. A Grantee must respond in writing to any 
comments and recommendations resulting from the review of the mid-term 
report. The budget must include the projected cost of mid-term and 
final evaluations.


    Note to All Applicants: USDOL provides its Grantees with 
training and technical assistance to refine the quality of 
deliverables. This assistance includes workshops to refine project 
design and improve performance monitoring plans, and reporting on 
Child Labor Education Initiative common indicators.

    Exact timeframes for completion of deliverables will be addressed 
in the cooperative agreement and the MPGs.

VII. Agency Contacts

    All inquiries regarding this solicitation should be directed to: 
Ms. Lisa Harvey, U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, 
200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-5416, Washington, DC 20210; 
telephone (202) 693-4570 (this is not a toll-free-number) or e-mail: 
[email protected].

VIII. Other Information

A. Production of Deliverables

1. Materials Prepared Under the Cooperative Agreement
    Grantees must submit to USDOL/ILAB, for approval, all media-
related, awareness-raising, and educational materials developed by it 
or its sub-contractors before they are reproduced, published, or used. 
USDOL/ILAB considers that materials include brochures, pamphlets, 
videotapes, slide-tape shows, curricula, and any other training 
materials used in the program. USDOL/ILAB will review materials for 
technical accuracy.
2. Acknowledgment of USDOL Funding
    USDOL has established procedures and guidelines regarding 
acknowledgment of funding. USDOL requires, in most circumstances, the 
following must be displayed on printed materials: ``Funding provided by 
the United States Department of Labor under Cooperative Agreement No. 
E-9-X-X-XXXX.''
    With regard to press releases, requests for proposals, bid 
solicitations, and other documents describing projects or programs 
funded in whole or in part under this cooperative agreement, all 
Grantees are required to consult with USDOL/ILAB on: acknowledgment of 
USDOL funding; general policy issues regarding international child 
labor; and informing USDOL, to the extent possible, of major press 
events and/or interviews. More detailed guidance on acknowledgement of 
USDOL funding will be provided upon award to the Grantee(s) in the 
cooperative agreement and MPG.
    In consultation with USDOL/ILAB, USDOL will be acknowledged in one 
of the following ways:
    a. The USDOL logo may be applied to USDOL-funded material prepared 
for worldwide distribution, including posters, videos, pamphlets, 
research documents, national survey results, impact evaluations, best 
practice reports, and other publications of global interest. A Grantee 
must consult with USDOL/ILAB on whether the logo may be used on any 
such items prior to final draft or final preparation for distribution. 
In no event will the USDOL logo be placed on any item until USDOL/ILAB 
has given a Grantee written permission to use the logo on the item.
    b. The following notice must appear on all documents: ``This 
document does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. 
Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial 
products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.''
    In addition, any information submitted in response to this 
solicitation will be subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act and 
the Freedom of Information Act, as appropriate. USDOL is not obligated 
to make any awards as result of this solicitation, and only the Grant 
Officer can bind USDOL to the provision of funds under this 
solicitation. Unless specifically provided in the cooperative 
agreement, USDOL's acceptance of a proposal and/or award of Federal 
funds do not waive any cooperative agreement requirements and/or 
procedures.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 30th day of April, 2004.
Lisa Harvey,
Acting Grant Officer.

Appendix A: Project Document Format

Executive Summary

1. Background and Justification
2. Target Groups
3. Program Approach and Strategy
    3.1 Narrative of Approach and Strategy (linked to Logical 
Framework matrix)
    3.2 Project Implementation Timeline (Gantt Chart of Activities 
linked to Logical Framework)
    3.3 Budget (with cost of Activities linked to Outputs for Budget 
Performance Integration)
4. Project Monitoring and Evaluation
    4.1 Indicators and Means of Verification
    4.2 Baseline Data Collection Plan
5. Institutional and Management Framework
    5.1 Institutional Arrangements for Implementation
    5.2 Collaborating and Implementing Institutions (Partners) and 
Responsibilities
    5.3 Other Donor or International Organization Activity and 
Coordination
    5.4 Project Management Organizational Chart
6. Inputs
    6.1 Inputs provided by the DOL
    6.2 Inputs provided by the Grantee
    6.3 National and/or Other Contributions
7. Sustainability
Annex A: Full presentation of the Logical Framework matrix
Annex B: Out-put Based Budget example

(A worked example of a Logical Framework matrix, an Out-put Based 
Budget, and other background documentation for this solicitation are 
available from the USDOL/ILAB Web site at http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/grants/sga0408/bkgrdSGA0408.htm.)

[FR Doc. 04-10307 Filed 5-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-28-P