Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0005041
Abating Mercury Emissions Via Mobile Processing Units for Small-scale Gold Processing in Suriname is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity (Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs) focused on reducing mercury use in Suriname's artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector. The core idea is to help small-scale miners shift away from mercury-based gold extraction by introducing mercury-free processing equipment delivered through mobile processing units. By taking the equipment and technical approach directly to mining areas, the project is designed to be practical for remote operations while also acting as a visible, real-world demonstration that other miners can observe and potentially adopt.
The opportunity was offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning the federal agency expected to have substantial involvement in the project beyond simply providing funds. Cooperative agreements typically involve ongoing coordination, shared responsibilities, and technical or programmatic engagement by the agency during implementation, which fits the nature of an applied environmental project that depends on field realities, stakeholder trust, and measurable changes in practice. The activity is categorized under Environment, and it is associated with CFDA number 19.017, which reflects the State Department's assistance programming.
The stated purpose goes beyond environmental compliance and is framed around adoption and trust-building. It emphasizes helping miners adopt mercury-free processing techniques that are also more profitable, which is important because miners are more likely to switch methods when the alternative improves income or reduces operational risk. In practice, this kind of project typically needs to address real barriers in the ASGM sector such as habit, skepticism of new technology, the availability of spare parts and maintenance, training needs, and the economics of recovery rates. By highlighting profitability and trust, the opportunity signals that technical performance alone is not enough; the project must demonstrate that mercury-free methods can work under local conditions and make business sense for miners.
A central environmental objective is to reduce both the use and the release of mercury. In ASGM, mercury can be used to form an amalgam with gold, and subsequent heating releases mercury vapor while tailings can contaminate soil and waterways. The project therefore targets a direct pathway of toxic pollution reduction by replacing the process equipment and practices that require mercury. By positioning the mobile units as demonstration tools, the project also aims to create a ripple effect where successful pilots encourage broader voluntary uptake across other mining groups.
The funding parameters indicate a relatively focused, single-award effort. The award ceiling was listed at $200,000, with an expectation of one award. This suggests the State Department intended a contained pilot or proof-of-concept effort rather than a large multi-site national rollout. The original posting date was May 8, 2018, with an original closing date of June 29, 2018, indicating a standard competitive application window. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional details referenced in a separate eligibility clarification field, which often means the competition could be open to certain non-profits, NGOs, academic institutions, or other qualified organizations depending on the specific notice language.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a targeted environmental and public health intervention that tries to change behavior in a hard-to-regulate sector by making mercury-free processing accessible, financially attractive, and socially credible. The project design hinges on demonstrating workable alternatives through mobile processing units, building relationships with miners, and showing measurable reductions in mercury use and emissions in Suriname's small-scale gold supply chain.Apply for SFOP0005041
- The Department of State, Bureau of Oceans - Int. Environmental - Scientific in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Abating Mercury Emissions Via Mobile Processing Units for Small-scale Gold Processing in Suriname" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.017.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 08, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 29, 2018. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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