Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0019538
The grant opportunity titled "DRL Ensuring Resilient Seafood Supply Chains: Countering Forced Labor and any associated Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing" is a U.S. Department of State program administered by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL). It is a discretionary grant competition (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0019538; CFDA 19.345) focused on reducing forced labor risks in seafood supply chains and addressing related illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices where those issues intersect. The core idea is to strengthen the integrity and resilience of seafood supply chains by targeting labor exploitation and the broader governance gaps that often allow both forced labor and IUU fishing to persist.
Geographically, the program is aimed at seafood supply chains connected to countries that have signed Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ART). Priority regions include East Asia and the Pacific (specifically excluding Indonesia and the Philippines) and the Western Hemisphere. The opportunity also leaves room to work in other strategically important countries and prospective ART partners when engagement supports U.S. economic, trade, and maritime interests. In practice, that means proposals should be tightly framed around countries and supply chain nodes that matter for U.S. trade relationships and maritime strategy, and should show how the planned work aligns with those interests while improving labor conditions and combating IUU-linked abuses.
The main problem the program seeks to confront is the way forced labor can be embedded in seafood harvesting and processing, particularly in complex international supply chains where transparency is limited and oversight is weak. Because IUU fishing and labor exploitation can reinforce each other (for example, illegal operators cutting costs through coercive labor arrangements, document confiscation, debt bondage, or abuse at sea), the opportunity explicitly connects forced labor countermeasures with efforts to reduce IUU fishing where it is associated with those labor harms. Applicants should expect that credible approaches will involve improving traceability and accountability, strengthening detection and reporting of labor abuses, and reducing opportunities for illicit actors to profit from opaque sourcing.
The award structure indicates a single expected award, with a maximum funding amount (award ceiling) of USD 1,973,359. The original application closing date is September 3, 2026, and the opportunity was created on August 6, 2026. With only one anticipated award, the competition is likely to be selective, and proposals generally need to present a clear, well-scoped program design, strong partnerships, and an implementation plan that is realistic across multiple jurisdictions and supply chain segments.
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and NGOs, foreign organizations and NGOs, private or public institutions of higher education, and for-profit organizations or businesses. That range suggests DRL is open to applicants that can combine human rights and labor rights expertise with operational capacity in supply chain risk management, monitoring, research, technology-enabled traceability, worker voice mechanisms, legal support, or industry engagement. For-profit participation is notable because seafood supply chain solutions often involve private-sector systems and tools, but proposals typically still need to demonstrate public-benefit outcomes consistent with DRL objectives rather than purely commercial aims.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a targeted, strategic initiative to reduce forced labor in seafood supply chains tied to ART countries in key regions, while also addressing IUU fishing when it is linked to labor exploitation. A strong application would be expected to show a nuanced understanding of how seafood moves from vessel to market, where labor vulnerabilities tend to arise (at sea, in ports, during transshipment, in processing plants, and through labor recruitment), and how interventions can measurably reduce exploitation and improve supply chain resilience in ways that align with U.S. trade and maritime priorities.Apply for DFOP0019538
- The Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DRL Ensuring Resilient Seafood Supply Chains: Countering Forced Labor and any associated Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-06.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-03. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,973,359.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FAQs: DRL Ensuring Resilient Seafood Supply Chains: Countering Forced Labor and Associated IUU Fishing
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "DRL Ensuring Resilient Seafood Supply Chains: Countering Forced Labor and any associated Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing."
Which U.S. government office is offering and administering this program?
This is a U.S. Department of State program administered by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL).
What type of funding opportunity is this?
It is a discretionary grant competition.
What are the identifying numbers for this opportunity?
Funding Opportunity Number (FON): DFOP0019538. CFDA: 19.345.
What is the main goal of the program?
The core goal is to strengthen the integrity and resilience of seafood supply chains by reducing forced labor risks, while also addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices where those issues intersect with labor exploitation.
How does the opportunity connect forced labor with IUU fishing?
The program recognizes that IUU fishing and labor exploitation can reinforce each other, such as when illegal operators reduce costs through coercive labor arrangements. The opportunity therefore focuses on countering forced labor and addressing IUU fishing when it is associated with labor harms.
What kinds of forced labor risks does the opportunity highlight?
The description points to risks such as coercive labor arrangements, document confiscation, debt bondage, and abuse at sea, especially in complex international supply chains where transparency is limited and oversight is weak.
What geographic areas are prioritized?
The program is aimed at seafood supply chains connected to countries that have signed Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ART). Priority regions include East Asia and the Pacific (specifically excluding Indonesia and the Philippines) and the Western Hemisphere.
Are Indonesia and the Philippines included in the East Asia and Pacific focus?
No. The opportunity explicitly excludes Indonesia and the Philippines from the East Asia and the Pacific priority region.
Can projects focus on countries outside the listed priority regions?
Yes. The opportunity leaves room to work in other strategically important countries and prospective ART partners when engagement supports U.S. economic, trade, and maritime interests.
What does "ART" refer to in this opportunity?
ART refers to Agreements on Reciprocal Trade. The program is aimed at seafood supply chains connected to countries that have signed these agreements, and it may also include prospective ART partners when strategically relevant.
How should applicants frame the country focus of their proposals?
Proposals are expected to be tightly framed around countries and supply chain nodes that matter for U.S. trade relationships and maritime strategy, and to explain how the planned work aligns with U.S. economic, trade, and maritime interests while improving labor conditions and reducing IUU-linked abuses.
What seafood supply chain stages does the opportunity suggest are important?
The opportunity highlights the need to understand how seafood moves from vessel to market and where labor vulnerabilities tend to arise, including at sea, in ports, during transshipment, in processing plants, and through labor recruitment.
What types of approaches are likely to be viewed as credible under this program?
The opportunity indicates that credible approaches will likely involve improving traceability and accountability, strengthening detection and reporting of labor abuses, and reducing opportunities for illicit actors to profit from opaque sourcing.
How many awards does the funder expect to make?
The award structure indicates a single expected award.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is USD 1,973,359.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 6, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The original application closing date is September 3, 2026.
How competitive is this opportunity expected to be?
Because only one award is anticipated, the competition is likely to be selective. The description suggests proposals should have a clear and well-scoped program design, strong partnerships, and an implementation plan that is realistic across multiple jurisdictions and supply chain segments.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and NGOs, foreign organizations and NGOs, private or public institutions of higher education, and for-profit organizations or businesses.
Are for-profit companies allowed to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations or businesses are included in the listed eligibility categories.
What kind of capabilities or expertise does DRL appear to be looking for?
The opportunity suggests DRL is open to applicants that can combine human rights and labor rights expertise with operational capacity relevant to seafood supply chains. Examples mentioned or implied include supply chain risk management, monitoring, research, technology-enabled traceability, worker voice mechanisms, legal support, and industry engagement.
Does the opportunity emphasize public-benefit outcomes?
Yes. While for-profit participation is noted as relevant because supply chain solutions may use private-sector systems and tools, the framing emphasizes outcomes consistent with DRL objectives (reducing forced labor risks and strengthening supply chain integrity and resilience) rather than purely commercial aims.
What is the program ultimately trying to improve in seafood supply chains?
It is aimed at improving transparency, oversight, and accountability in seafood supply chains so forced labor is harder to hide and illicit actors have fewer opportunities to profit from opaque sourcing, while also reducing IUU fishing when it is linked to labor exploitation.
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