Foa_Content_of_HHS-2025-ACF-OHS-HI-0066 (1).pdf

Administration for Children and Families

Office of Head Start

American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Expansion, Early Head Start Expansion, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Grants

HHS-2025-ACF-OHS-HI-0066

Application Due Date: 01/21/2025

Table of Contents Executive Summary

I. Program Description

II. Federal Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

III.3. Other

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address to Request Application Package

IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Required Forms, Assurances, and Certifications

The Project Description

The Project Budget and Budget Justification

Application Submission Options

IV.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

IV.4. Submission Dates and Times

Explanation of Due Dates

Acknowledgement of Received Application

IV.5. Intergovernmental Review

IV.6. Funding Restrictions

IV.7. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Criteria

V.2. Review and Selection Process

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

VI. Federal Award Administration Information

VI.1. Federal Award Notices

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

VI.3. Reporting

VII. HHS Award Agency Contact(s)

VIII. Other Information

Reference Websites

Application Checklist

Appendix

Funding Opportunity Title:

American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Expansion, Early Head Start Expansion, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Grants Announcement Type:

Initial Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2025-ACF-OHS-HI-0066

Primary CFDA Number:

93.600 Due Date for Applications:

01/21/2025

Executive Summary Notice:

• Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the entire notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) carefully and observe the application formatting requirements listed in Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission. For more information on applying for an award, please visit "Applying for an ACF Award" at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS) announces the availability of approximately $9,177,455 to be competitively awarded. The purpose of this funding is to expand access to early learning services through Early Head Start (EHS) -Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP), or through the expansion of Early Head Start services. The services must be high quality and comprehensive. Beneficiaries of these services are newly enrolled, American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) pregnant women, and children from birth to compulsory school age.

I. Program Description

Statutory Authority The Head Start program is authorized by the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9801 et. seq.)

Description Program Background and Purpose

Defining what we mean by Expansion:

ACF defines expansion as the addition of new services in a community or the expansion of existing services. For Head Start, EHS, or EHS-CCP programs, expansion can include any of the following:

• Adding slots within a new or existing center-based classrooms or family child care programs;

• Adding new classrooms to a new or existing center;

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant

• Adding or establishing new centers or family child care providers;

• Adding new slots to a new or existing home-based program option;

• Expanding services provided by new or existing recipients to meet the needs of families pursuing employment, training, education, and other opportunities to support their well-being; and/or

• Expanding enrollment for existing recipients who reduced enrollment to increase staff compensation.

Head Start Expansion

Recipients under this model may establish or add new traditional Head Start slots. For any new Head Start center-based slots, OHS expects recipient will provide a service duration that meets the identified needs of the community and is not less than the requirements described in 1302.21(c)(2) of the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS). A Head Start program must provide at least 1,020 annual hours of service for at least 45 percent of its Head Start center-based funded enrollment. Recipient should ensure the service duration for newly proposed Head Start slots meets this percentage threshold and consider the child care needs of working families in community.

Early Head Start Expansion

Non-partnership EHS Expansion recipients will provide early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive services for child development and family support. These services will:

• Enhance the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of participating children;

• Support parents' efforts to fulfill their parental roles; and

• Help parents move toward self-sufficiency.

Given the need for continuity of care for very young age children, OHS expects that recipients will provide a full-day, full-year model with sufficient hours to meet the child care needs of families and not less than 1,380 hours per year.

Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships (EHS-CCP)

New or existing Head Start, EHS, and EHS-CCP recipients may partner with local child care, including family child care providers, to provide comprehensive, high-quality services to eligible infants and toddlers, and their families, through EHS-CCP. These EHS-CCP will:

• Enhance and support early learning settings to provide full-day, full-year, comprehensive services that meet the needs of working families;

• Enhance access to high-quality, full-time child care;

• Support the development of infants and toddlers through strong relationship-based experiences; and

• Prepare them for the transition into preschool.

EHS-CCP play an important role in the child care system by both expanding high-quality early learning services to infants and toddlers and applying resources and lessons learned to build the system's capacity. Through EHS-CCP, new or existing recipients will partner with local child care centers and/or family child care programs and will leverage current investments through the

Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) or other sources to extend the hours of service and increase comprehensive services available for EHS-eligible children. All infants and toddlers in an EHS-CCP site will benefit from facilities or family child care homes that meet licensing and EHS facility safety requirements. Other children in classrooms with EHS-CCP-enrolled children may benefit from lower teacher-child ratios and class sizes, higher qualifications of their teachers, ongoing supervision and coaching, an established curriculum, and parent engagement activities. While only children enrolled in the EHS-CCP program will be eligible for direct family-specific benefits through this funding, such as home visits, health tracking and promotion, and family partnership agreements, programs must operationalize services to ensure there is no segregation or stigmatization of EHS-CCP children or families due to the additional requirements or services.

For more information on the EHS-CCP model, please visit:

https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/programs/article/early-head-start-child-care-partnerships-programs.

Combination Approach

New or existing recipients can apply to expand a combination of Head Start, EHS, and EHS- CCP model slots to bring services to children and families.

General Information

OHS will fund high-quality programs. Recipients should prioritize enrolling the most vulnerable families, most in need of services. Consideration should be given to families living in poverty, and other measures of need such as:

• Those experiencing extreme poverty or homelessness;

• Community health problems;

• Rates of joblessness;

• Teen parents;

• Incarcerated parents; and/or

• Substance misuse.

OHS will fund:

• Effective model designs that fit the needs of the community to be served,

• Organizations with sustainable approaches toward staffing, which includes providing staff with competitive wages that are comparable to similar roles in local public schools and provide a minimum wage that covers basic necessities, comprehensive benefits, and wellness supports.

A well-compensated and supported workforce is essential to providing high-quality services to promote children’s optimal development and family well-being.

Funds awarded through this NOFO must not supplant existing subsidies or other funding.

Through this NOFO, applicants have the choice of applying to use the funds in one of four ways:

(1) Head Start Expansion (2) EHS Expansion (3) EHS-CCP, or (4) a mix of Head Start Expansion, EHS Expansion, and EHS-CCP.

https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/programs/article/early-head-start-child-care-partnerships-programs

Applicant entities may submit only one application per service area regardless of how they choose to apply. ACF will review only one application for a service area from any applicant. For more information, please see Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission.

Overview of the Head Start Program

The Head Start program is administered by ACF, an awarding agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). OHS awards funds for comprehensive child development services to predominately economically disadvantaged children and families. Head Start's primary purpose is to prepare children to be ready for school. In program year 2023, HS programs were funded to serve 778,420 children and families across more than 1,500 Head Start grant recipients.

Overview of Region XI American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN)

ACF established Region XI AIAN programs to serve federally recognized tribes, or consortia of tribes, and the children and families in their communities. The AIAN Head Start program currently provides funding to 152 tribal recipients in 26 states. AIAN recipients are tribes or corporations that have a formal treaty and sovereign status with the federal government or other tribal organization. AIAN recipients serve over 22,000 AIAN children with Head Start and EHS services.

AIAN recipients provide comprehensive Head Start and EHS services that fully integrate the cultural practices and traditions of their community into their services. Programs are committed to the Head Start principles of integrating language and culture into their daily activities. Many programs engage in language revitalization and maintenance efforts targeted at preserving their Native language in their Head Start and EHS programs. AIAN recipients are often located in rural, remote locations, and programs in that area are often affected by challenges associated with their geographic locations, such as limited transportation and relatively small numbers of preschool-aged children. The program provides daily, well-balanced, and healthy meals for children, as well as comprehensive services including screenings and assessment. Further, many programs provide transportation for children to help ensure regular attendance, thereby maximizing opportunities for learning.

AIAN programs establish strong community collaborations and close partnerships with Indian Health Services, local schools, and other early childhood and social service entities to help ensure that children and families receive comprehensive health, dental, and other necessary services.

Head Start Program Performance Standards

In addition to the Head Start Act, Head Start is governed by the HSPPS that define the scope of services necessary to support children's development and school readiness. These program performance standards are found in 45 CFR Parts 1301-1305 https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/45-cfr-chap-xiii. The HSPPS are the foundation on which programs design and deliver comprehensive, high-quality, individualized services to support the school readiness of children from families. The standards set forth the requirements local recipients must meet to support the cognitive, social, emotional, and healthy development of children from birth to age 5. They encompass requirements to provide education, health, mental health, nutrition, and family and community engagement services as well as rules for local https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/45-cfr-chap-xiii program governance and aspects of federal administration of the program. These standards are current as of October 1, 2024, and are subject to the new final rule, “Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming”.

Program Approach

Head Start and EHS are designed to increase the number of children receiving high-quality, comprehensive early education services that help facilitate healthy development, including physical and social/emotional development, and prepare them for school success. To meet this goal, it is critical that funds awarded through this NOFO do not supplant existing services.

Given the need for continuity of care to support the rapid development in the earliest years, OHS expects that recipients funded for the EHS or EHS-CCP Expansion will:

• Serve pregnant women, infants, and toddlers for at least 1,380 annual hours, as required in 45 CFR § 1302.21(c)(1), unless approved for a locally designed option; and

• Implement a full-year model, as described in 45 CFR Part 1302 Subpart B, that will require per-child costs that, in most circumstances, will be higher than the costs needed to provide part-year services.

Recipients funded for the Head Start Expansion model are expected to:

• Serve at least 45 percent of preschool slots for 1,020 annual hours, as required in 45 CFR § 1302.21(c)(2);

• All remaining slots must meet or exceed the minimum hours, as described in 45 CFR § 1302.21(c)(2); and

• Meet the needs of children and families over time.

Recipients are expected to serve a sufficient number of infants, toddlers and/or preschool aged children and their families, so that the funding level is adequate to support the full array of staffing and infrastructure for successful implementation.

Recipients are expected to consider the birth-to-5 continuum of care and education, and utilize duration to support families pursuing employment, training, education, and other opportunities to support their well-being in developing their proposals. Recipients are expected to leverage resources from existing community agencies that provide early learning services including early intervention, home visiting, and preschool programs that will support children and their families from birth through kindergarten entry.

OHS will prioritize approaches to ensure smooth and seamless transitions for children and families, particularly as infants transition into center-based or family child care services, as toddlers transition to preschool services, and as preschoolers transition into kindergarten.

Recipients are required to plan for transitions for children out of EHS, including assisting families with preschool options for children after their program ends through agreements with publicly funded Head Start, pre-kindergarten, and child care programs. Recipients are also required to plan for transitions for children out of Head Start and into kindergarten, as appropriate.

OHS encourages new and innovative ideas that are evidence-based or evidence-informed to maximize the extent to which EHS and Head Start, in collaboration with other partners and early childhood education providers, can prepare children and their families for school.

Program Options

Center-Based Option

Center-based services are delivered in a child care or early education center. Programs select the center-based design that provides enough hours to meet the needs of eligible children and families in their communities.

Head Start programs must provide at least 1,020 annual hours of service over at least 8 months per year for at least 45 percent of their preschool center-based funded enrollment. The remainder of a program’s preschool enrollment must meet or exceed the minimum service duration requirements specified in HSPPS. EHS center-based programs must provide a minimum of 1,380 hours of service per year. While length of day is not prescribed, for most EHS programs, this is a minimum of 6 hours per day, 46 weeks per year. OHS expects EHS-CCP recipients to provide a minimum of 10 hours per day all year to meet the needs of working families. Programs generally use resources in addition to Head Start and EHS funding to meet the full day needs of families.

The requirements for the center-based option are listed in the HSPPS, section 45 CFR § 1302.21.

Home-Based Option

The home-based option delivers the full range of required services to enrolled children and their families. EHS home-based programs must provide a minimum of 46 weekly visits with a child’s parent(s) and at least 22 group socialization experiences over the course of the year. Head Start home-based programs must provide a minimum of 32 visits and at least 16 group socialization activities over the course of the year. For example, for young infants or medically fragile children in very rural areas, and when families prefer not to send their children to center-based care, this option may be implemented when a parent is available at home. The home-based option is not compatible with the EHS-CCP model.

The requirements for this option are fully described in HSPPS section 45 CFR § 1302.22.

Family Child Care Option

The full range of Head Start services are delivered to children enrolled in family child care homes operated directly by the recipient or through a contract with the family child care provider(s). This model must operate sufficient hours to meet the needs of families and not less than 1,380 hours per year. This option may be implemented, for example, when families need flexible hours, prefer a home-like setting, or want siblings to attend together. It may also be the best option when there is no available facility in a community to operate a center-based program.

The requirements for this option are fully described in HSPPS section 45 CFR § 1302.23.

Locally Designed Program Options

Based on the strategic plan and community assessment, variations that respond to the needs of families in the community are allowable. Some communities or eligible populations may have unique needs for services that do not fall within the standard options or models described earlier.

OHS encourages innovative designs or a combination of existing program options using the waiver process for locally designed options described in section 45 CFR § 1302.24 of HSPPS.

Selection of this option must be supported by evidence that demonstrates the locally designed variation effectively supports appropriate development and progress in children’s early learning outcomes.

Start-Up and Implementation Period for All Recipients (regardless of model or option(s))

Newly awarded recipients, regardless of model or option(s), should anticipate a reasonable start-up period and will be expected to begin providing services as soon as high-quality services can reasonably be provided (i.e., when high-quality facilities are ready and staff have been trained).

Recipients are expected to be fully enrolled to serve families as soon as possible and no later than 12 months after receiving the award.

ACF recognizes that the development and implementation of a start-up plan is critical to the success of new or expanded programs for all recipients, regardless of model. The development of the timeline for pre-operational activities, including orientation, training, and health and safety checks is also critical to ensure children have the necessary equipment and materials. Planning for program implementation should begin with this application and continue at the time of funding. Start-up planning and implementation will consist of:

• Negotiating and implementing contract agreements with a manageable number of partners;

• Creating an organizational structure to support provision of comprehensive services to children and families;

• Developing plans to provide high-quality, comprehensive services (health, mental health, family support services, and nutrition);

• Hiring qualified staff, including required background checks, and developing professional development plans for each staff member;

• Providing training and professional development activities, which move staff on a career pathway towards knowledge, skills, and credentials associated with enhanced quality;

• Developing plans to provide both EHS and Head Start, if applicable, child care staff with training as required by HSPPS; state, territory, or tribal and local child care licensing; and other regulations;

• Developing plans to ensure high-quality group care environments, including assessing and improving settings to ensure the safety, well-being, and developmental appropriateness for children, staff, and families;

• Developing plans to lessen barriers such as lack of transportation;

• Developing management, fiscal, and facilities plans;

• Developing service plans that include a schedule for screening and ongoing assessment and the selection and implementation of an evidence-based curriculum;

• Developing plans to implement and facilitate a coordinated system of care that will assist in meeting the needs of the children and families, including partnership with the local Part C (of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) intervention agency that coordinates services for infants and toddlers with disabilities;

• Developing systems of ongoing oversight and monitoring to ensure quality;

• Recruiting and enrolling children; and

• Planning for and providing access to safe, developmentally appropriate outdoor environments that allow children to grow and thrive in the natural environment.

Activities completed by all applicants during the planning process require a thorough review and understanding of relevant HSPPS and all relevant requirements in the Head Start Act. All Head Start Expansion, EHS Expansion or EHS-CCP applicants are strongly encouraged to use a start-up planner and/or a fiscal consultant to help ensure plans, policies, and procedures are in place to address all regulations. All newly funded Head Start and EHS recipients will have a variety of resources available to support their planning and implementation efforts, including the resources listed in Section VIII. Other Information, Reference Websites of this NOFO.

Applicants are encouraged to request start-up funds; however, the approval of start-up funding as requested is not guaranteed.

Administrative Costs

No more than 15 percent of total costs may be used for program administration. An HHS official may grant a waiver of the 15 percent limitation on allowable development and administration costs for a Head Start or EHS program approving a higher percentage for a specific period not to exceed 12 months (45 CFR § 1303.5).

Oversight and Monitoring Reviews

OHS is responsible for monitoring the quality of Head Start and/or EHS program services and the recipient's compliance with federal and other applicable requirements and to provide access to training and technical assistance, as needed. The federal government uses several mechanisms to conduct its oversight, including ongoing communication with ACF regional offices and periodic site visits. Federal monitoring reviews are required by the Head Start Act. Over the course of the project period, reviews are conducted to ensure compliance with HSPPS and other applicable regulations. Monitoring reviews may occur onsite or offsite, and include compliance with health and safety requirements, rules related to children's eligibility for the program, and financial management requirements.

Federal Evaluation

As a condition of acceptance of an award under this NOFO, all recipients are required to participate fully in ACF-sponsored evaluations and adhere to all evaluation protocols established by ACF to be carried out by its designee contractors. ACF-led evaluations are subject to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). ACF will obtain OMB approval prior to requiring recipients to respond to a collection of information.

Eligible Participants

Beginning 2024, and every year after, AIAN programs have the discretion to consider eligibility for Head Start services regardless of income. This provision applies to programs operated by an Indian tribe as defined in the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. 9801, or designated by an Indian tribe to operate on its behalf. See https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/pi/acf-ohs-pi-24-03.

Head Start serves children when they are at least 3 years old by the date used to determine eligibility for public school in the community where the Head Start program is located. EHS programs enroll pregnant women and infants and toddlers from birth to age 3. See https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/pi/acf-ohs-pi-24-03 for details. Additionally, programs must ensure that at least 10 percent of the total number of children enrolled by the Head Start or EHS agency and delegates are children with disabilities, unless a waiver is granted.

https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/pi/acf-ohs-pi-24-03 https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/pi/acf-ohs-pi-24-03

Facilities

Recipients proposing facility purchase, construction, or renovation will be required to meet the requirements in 45 CFR Part 1303 Subpart E–Facilities. This subpart prescribes what a recipient must establish to show it is eligible to purchase, construct, and renovate facilities, as outlined in section 644(c), (f), and (g) of the Act. It explains how a recipient may apply for funds; details what measures a recipient must take to protect federal interest in facilities purchased, constructed, or renovated with federal funds; and concludes with other administrative provisions.

This subpart only applies to minor renovations and repairs when they are included with a purchase application and are part of purchase costs.

Mortgages and Long-Term Lease Agreements

If directed by OHS, the newly funded recipient must accept assignment of any existing mortgages, long-term lease agreements, or security agreements (in the case of a modular unit) on properties subject to a federal interest occupied by the current recipient. By accepting this condition, the recipient must comply with real property and reporting requirements, including submission of the Standard Form SF-429 Attachment A on an annual basis until disposition is approved by ACF. For more information, see Real Property Guidance.

If a recipient intends to finance, refinance, or amendment a financing arrangement on a real property or real property project, the SF-429 Attachment C must be submitted, along with supporting documentation, in Grant Solutions/Online Data Collection (GS/OLDC). This is considered an encumbrance that requires Chief Grants Management Officer decision, which may delay recipients. Recipients that proceed on these arrangements before receiving official ACF approval do so at their own risk. For more information, see Real Property Guidance.

Paperwork Reduction Act and Information Collections

Note: Consistent with the PRA of 1995, (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521) OHS will not conduct or sponsor

– and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information covered by such Act, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. If the PRA applies to any activities under this award, OHS will work with the office on OMB approval.

Identification of Federal Support

Note: When issuing statements, press releases, publications, requests for proposal, bid solicitations and other documents-such as tool kits, resource guides, websites, and presentations -

- describing the projects or programs funded in whole or in part with HHS federal funds, the grantee must include a certification statement as follows:

"This [project/publication/program/website, etc.] [is/was] supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $XX with XX percentage funded by ACF/HHS and $XX amount and XX percentage funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit the ACF website, Administrative and National Policy Requirements."

Subawards https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/manage-grant/property/real-property https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/manage-grant/property/real-property https://www.acf.hhs.gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements

Recipients under this program may opt to transfer a portion of substantive programmatic work to other organizations through subaward(s). The prime recipient must maintain a substantive role in the project. ACF defines a substantive role as conducting activities and/or providing services funded under the award that are necessary and integral to the completion of the project.

Subrecipient monitoring activities alone as specified in 45 CFR § 75.352 do not constitute a substantive role. Furthermore, ACF does not fund awards where the role of the applicant is primarily to serve as a conduit for passing funds to other organizations, unless that arrangement is authorized by statute. An award recipient or any subrecipient may not use grant funds, whether directly or indirectly, to support or oppose union organizing.

Subrecipient(s) must meet the eligibility requirements identified in the NOFO, Section III.1.

Eligible Applicants. Additionally, all subrecipient(s) must obtain a Data Universal Numbering System number, or after government-wide implementation, a UEI assigned by the SAM, if they do not already have one. Prime recipients are required to check SAM to verify that the subrecipient(s) is/are not debarred, suspended, or ineligible.

Please reference the Award Term and Condition on Subawards on the ACF Administrative and National Policy Requirements website for further requirements involving subawards.

II. Federal Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

G (Grant) Estimated Total Funding:

$9,177,455 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$9,177,455 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$1,000,000 Per Budget Period

Average Projected Award Amount:

$1,000,000 Per Budget Period

Anticipated Project Start Date:

07/01/2025 Length of Project Periods:

60-month project period with five 12-month budget periods

Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other'

Additional Information on Awards:

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements

Awards made under this funding opportunity are subject to the availability of federal funds.

Applicants must submit an annual (12-month) budget. The funding amount listed on Line 18a (Federal) of the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, must reflect a full 12 months of funding. The federal funding amounts reflected on the SF-424 and in the applicant's budget submission must match.

If an application asks for more money than the award ceiling, it will not be considered for review or funding. Please see Section III.3. Other, Application Disqualification Factors.

The applicant's 12-month budget request should include both base and training and technical assistance (T/TA) funding. Base funding is for use in program operations, staff, materials, equipment, facilities, etc. In addition to base funding, applicants should request an additional 2.5 percent of the base funding for training and technical assistance (T/TA) funding.

T/TA funding is used for the purposes of improving program quality and helping prepare children to succeed in school and is described in Section 648 of the Head Start Act. Therefore, the total federal funds requested in the applicant’s budget and on the applicant’s SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, Line 18a (Federal) should include the sum of the applicant’s proposed base and T/TA funding.

Expected Number of Awards

Please note that the expected number of awards represents an estimated range of awards that OHS might make as the result of this NOFO.

Start-up/Pre-award Costs

Pre-award costs, including start-up costs, may be requested by an applicant in addition to the base operating and T/TA funds. If requested, applicants must provide a separate budget for start-up/pre-award costs, in addition to a 12-month budget for the base funding awarded, within the page limitations stated for The Project Budget and Budget Justification in Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission. If awarded, start-up/pre-award costs would apply to costs incurred up to 90 days prior to the award start date. Examples of start-up activities are facility renovations, purchase of classroom supplies, building purchase, licensing, background checks, etc.

Approval of start-up/pre-award costs is not guaranteed; they are negotiated at the time of award and are based on reasonableness, necessity, and the availability of funds. The incurrence of start-up/pre-award costs in anticipation of an award is done at the applicant’s own risk and imposes no obligation on ACF either to make an award or to increase the amount of the approved budget if an award is made for less than the amount anticipated and is inadequate to cover the start-up/pre-award costs incurred. It is possible that ACF may honor start-up/pre-award costs by reducing the base amount of the award to include these costs.

Inclusion of start-up/pre-award costs in the application submission is not subject to the “Award Ceiling Disqualification” that is explained in this section of the announcement and in Section III.3. Other, Application Disqualification Factors. However, if an applicant does not segregate start-up/pre-award costs from the base funding award request (SF-424, line 18a, Federal), the “Award Ceiling Disqualification” will apply.

Start-up budgets will be evaluated against the criteria listed in Section V.1. Criteria.

Note: Costs incurred for grant application preparation are not considered an approved use of pre-award costs and may not be included in the project budget or budget justification.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants are any public or private non-profit agencies, including community-based and faith-based organizations, or for-profit agencies pursuant to section 645A(d) of the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. 9840A(d).

Eligible applicants are also subject to section 641(e) of the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. 9836, Prohibition Against Non-Indian Head Start Agency Receiving a Grant for an Indian Head Start program. Based on the Head Start Act, as amended December 2007 [42 U.S.C. 9801 et seq.], Indian tribe means any tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group or community of Indians, including any Native village described in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602(c)) or established pursuant to such Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), that is recognized as eligible for special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.

Eligible entities include the following: (1) entities operating Head Start, (2) entities operating Indian Head Start or Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs, and (3) other public entities and non-profit or for-profit private entities, including community-based and faith-based organizations, capable of providing child and family services that meet the standard for participation in programs under the Head Start Act. AIAN recipients are tribes or corporations that have a formal treaty and sovereign status with the federal government or other tribal organization.

Please note, “(1) entities operating Head Start programs” includes entities operating Head Start, EHS, and/or EHS-CCP programs.

Applications from individuals, including sole proprietors, and foreign entities are not allowed and will not be considered for review or funding. See Section III.3. Other, Application Disqualification Factors.

Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity. Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same basis as any other organization, as set forth at and, subject to the protections and requirements of 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., ACF will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate against an organization on the basis of the organization's religious character, affiliation, or exercise.

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement:

Yes

Recipients are required to meet a non-federal share of the project cost, in accordance with Section 640(b) of the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9835 (b).

Recipients must provide at least 20 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total approved cost of the project is the sum of the ACF (federal) share and the non-federal share. The non-federal share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions. For example, if the total approved project cost is $ 11,471,819 , in order to meet the match requirements, a project requesting $9,177,455 in ACF (federal) funds must provide a non-federal share of the approved total project cost of at least $ 2,294,364 , which is 20 percent of total approved project cost.

For all federal awards, any shared costs or matching funds and all contributions, including cash and third-party in-kind contributions, must be accepted as part of the recipient’s cost-sharing or matching when such contributions meet all criteria listed in 45 CFR § 75.306.

For awards that require matching by statute, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period, or by project period for fully funded awards, even if the projected commitment exceeds the amount required by the statutory match. A recipient’s failure to provide the statutorily required matching amount may result in the disallowance of federal funds.

Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.

Matching Waiver Pursuant to 48 U.S.C. 1469a(d) Matching requirements (including in-kind contributions) of less than $200,000 are waived under awards made to the governments of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (other than those consolidated under other provisions of 48 U.S.C. 1469) pursuant to 48 U.S.C. 1469a(d). This waiver applies whether the matching required under the award equals or exceeds $200,000.

III.3. Other Application Disqualification Factors Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity.

Award Ceiling Disqualification

If an application asks for more money than the award ceiling, it will not be considered for review or funding.

Required Electronic Application Submission

ACF requires electronic submission of applications at Grants.gov. Paper applications are not allowed unless they have prior approval.

You may contact ACF for an exemption if you do not have an internet connection or sufficient capacity to upload large documents to the internet. Please see the ACF Policy for Requesting an Exemption from Electronic Application Submission for more information.

Missing the Application Deadline (Late Applications)

Electronic applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm ET on the due date listed in the Overview and in Section IV.4. Submission Dates and Times. Applications https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/main/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/main/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf submitted after 11:59 pm ET on the due date, as indicated by a dated and time-stamped email from Grants.gov, will be disqualified from review and funding.

Applications which fail their Grants.gov validation check will not be received or acknowledged by ACF. If you submit an application for the same NOFO more than once, only the last on-time submission will be acknowledged.

Paper applications with an approved exemption from the electronic submission requirement must be received by 4:30 pm ET on the due date listed in the Overview and in Section IV.4. Submission Dates and Times. Paper applications received after 4:30 pm ET on the due date will be disqualified from the merit review and funding.

Additional Application Disqualification Factors

• In accordance with 45 CFR § 1304.13, recipients terminated for cause by ACF within 5 years prior to the posting date of this NOFO will be disqualified from competitive review and from funding under this announcement.

• A Head Start or EHS agency that has had a denial of refunding in the preceding 5 years is also excluded from competing (45 CFR § 1304.13).

Notification of Application Disqualification Applicants will be notified of a disqualification determination by email or by USPS postal mail within 30 federal business days from the closing date of this NOFO.

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address to Request Application Package

HHS-2025-ACF-OHS-HI-0066

Office of Head Start OHS Grant Review Team c/o Guardians of Honor 1990 K Street, NW.

Suite 650 Washington

DC

20006

(888) 242-0684 OHSgrants@koniag-gs.com Application Packages

Electronic Application Submission:

The electronic application submission package is available in the NOFO's listing at Grants.gov.

IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

FORMATTING APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS

General Requirements https://www.grants.gov/

1. Two-File Requirement: Upload only two electronic files via Grants.gov, excluding Standard Forms (SFs) and OMB-approved forms. Extra files will be removed before review.

2. Authorized Organization Representative (AOR): Designate an AOR to sign all required forms. The AOR's signature confirms compliance with all applicable Federal statutes and regulations.

3. Font Style and Size: Use Times New Roman 12-point font for the main text and 10-point font for footnotes. Ensure scanned documents are legible and are no more than one scan to a page. Blurred or illegible pages will be removed.

4. Language and Currency: Submit applications in English and in U.S. dollars. See 45 CFR §75.111 for more information.

5. Page Limitations: Follow the page limits specified under "PAGE LIMITATIONS AND CONTENT FOR ALL SUBMISSION FORMATS." Extra pages will be removed and not reviewed.

6. Double-space all application pages. Exemptions: The following can be single-spaced:

o Table of Contents o One-page Project Summary o Required Assurances and Certifications o SFs and OMB-approved forms o Resumes, Logic Models, Proof of Legal Status/Non-Profit Status, Third-Party

Agreements, Letters of Support, footnotes, and tables o Line-Item Budget and/or Budget Justification

7. Formatting Adherence: Applications that do not observe the formatting requirements will have pages removed before merit review. Applicants will be notified of any adjustments and the reason for the adjustment after awards are issued.

8. Corrections/Updates: Only the last on-time application will be considered for pre-review under the Application Disqualification Factors. See Section III.3. Other, Application Disqualification Factors and Section IV.2. Application Submission Options.

9. Copies Required: Submit one complete copy of the application package electronically via Grants.gov.

10. Accepted Application Format: Use 8 ½" x 11" white paper with 1-inch margins. Include page numbers if possible.

The page limitation is 150 pages for the Project Summary/Abstract, Table of Contents, Project Description (First File), and Appendices. Page limitations are identical for electronic and paper formats application submissions.

First File

• Project Summary/Abstract (single-spaced)–limited to 1 page

• Table of Contents (single-spaced)–suggested 1 page

• Project Description (double-spaced)–suggested 75 pages o Substantiation of Need o Community Need and Objectives o Project Design and Approach o Staffing and Compensation o Planning and Implementation o Organizational Infrastructure and Management Systems o Budget and Budget Justification

Second File

• Appendices (must be readable)–suggested 73 pages o Certificate of Good Standing o Board of Directors Attestation o Proof of Legal Status of Applicant o Proof of Policy Council Approval o Organizational Capacity documentation (e.g., resumes, job descriptions, organizational charts) o Third-party agreements o Indirect cost rate agreement (IDR) o Letters of support o Plan for Oversight of Federal Award Funds and Activities o Protection of Sensitive and/or Confidential Information o Executed Leases, draft leases, unsigned leases, or a letter of intent for each proposed property(ies). Note: The lease documentation will not count towards the page limitation o Other supporting documents

Enforcement of NOFO Formatting, Font, and Page Limitation Requirements

In instances where formatting and font requirements are not adhered to, ACF uses a formula to recalculate the number of pages the application would include if it conformed to the formatting and font requirements listed in this section. The formula counts the number of characters an applicant uses when following the instructions and using 12-point Times New Roman (TNR) and compares the resulting number with that of the submitted application. For example, an applicant using TNR, 11-point font, with 1-inch margins all around, and single-spacing, would have an additional 26 lines, or 1,500 characters, per page, which is equal to 4/5 of an additional page.

Recalculation of pages using this formula may cause applications to exceed the page limitation, which would cause pages to be removed from the end of the Second File, which includes the Appendices, and excluded from review.

PAGE LIMITATIONS AND CONTENT FOR ALL SUBMISSION FORMATS:

Electronic Application Submission

1. Submission: Only through Grants.gov. No applications will be accepted through facsimile or email.

2. File Upload: Upload only two files, excluding Standard Forms and OMB-approved forms:

o File One: Entire Project Description, Budget, and Budget Justification.

o File Two: All documents required in the Appendices.

3. File Naming: Follow Grants.gov naming conventions. Limit file names to 50 characters.

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/submitting-utf-8-special-characters.

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/submitting-utf-8-special-characters

4. Suggested File Format: PDF format for both files. ACF recommends applicants merge documents electronically using Adobe Acrobat Reader or PDF converter software compatible with Grants.gov.

5. Other supported File Formats:

o Adobe PDF (.pdf) o Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) o Microsoft Excel (.xls or .xlsx) o Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt) o Image Formats (.JPG, .GIF, .TIFF, .BMP)

Documents in file formats not listed here will be removed from the application and will not be used in the merit review. This may make the application incomplete, and ACF will not make awards based on an incomplete application.

1. No Encryption or Password Protection: Do not encrypt or password-protect files.

Inaccessible files will not be reviewed.

Paper Application Submission

1. Exemption Requirement: Obtain an exemption to submit a paper application. Follow the ACF Policy for Requesting an Exemption from Required Electronic Application Submission.

2. Application Requirements: Download the forms package associated with the NOFO’s synopsis on Grants.gov under the Package Tab.

3. Submission Package: Submit one original and two copies of the complete application, including all SFs and OMB-approved forms. The original must have original signatures.

All pages must be one-sided and sequentially numbered. Submit all copies in a single package. Clearly label with the NOFO title and Funding Opportunity Number.

By following these simplified instructions, you can ensure your application is formatted correctly and meets all submission requirements.

Required Forms, Assurances, and Certifications Please submit the listed SFs, assurances, and certification with the application. All required SFs, assurances, and certifications are available in the Application Package posted for this NOFO at www.Grants.gov.

Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement Notes/Description

Proof of Policy Council Approval

Submission is required of applicants that are current Head Start and/or Early Head Start recipients.

Proof of Policy Council Approval of the application is required of recipients that are current Head Start and/or Early Head Start recipients by 42 U.S.C. § 9837(c)(2)(D)(iii) and

45 CFR § 1301.3.

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf https://www.grants.gov/

Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement Notes/Description

Certificate of Good Standing

Submission is required for all for-profit organizations.

Sole proprietorships are not eligible applicants. The submission of the Certificate of Good Standing, along with the current list of board members, and organizational documents that require the establishment and maintenance of a Board of Directors, provide proof of eligibility for for-profit organizations.

SF-424A Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs / SF- 424B Assurances - Non- Construction Programs and SF- 424C - Budget Information Construction Programs / SF-424D

- Assurances Construction Programs

Submission is required for all applicants when applying for both, non-construction and construction activities, under the proposed project. SFs must be used and submitted by the application due date.

By signing and submitting the SF-424B and/or

SF-424D,

applicants are making the appropriate certification of their compliance with all Federal statutes relating to…