Foa_Content_of_HHS-2025-ACF-OHS-YT-R11-0156.pdf

Administration for Children and Families

Office of Head Start

Tribal Colleges and Universities Head Start Partnership Program Grants

HHS-2025-ACF-OHS-YT-R11-0156

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 (UEI) 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

Funding Opportunity Title:

Tribal Colleges and Universities Head Start Partnership Program Grants Announcement Type:

Initial Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2025-ACF-OHS-YT-R11-0156

Assistance Listing 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), the Office of Head Start (OHS), announces the availability of $6 million to be competitively awarded to tribal colleges and universities. The goal of the Tribal Colleges and Universities Head Start (TCU-HS) Partnership Program award is to establish or enhance partnerships with, and increase the number of qualified education staff working in, American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The aim of the TCU-HS Partnership Program is for the entity that receives the award (TCU recipient) to partner with one or more AIAN Head Start recipients. Together, the partners will identify the number of current or potential AIAN Head Start staff to be enrolled, design a program that is responsive and provides effective support to retain students, and identify the number of expected conferred credentials or degrees. The TCU-HS Partnership Program design will include all the support necessary for current or potential AIAN Head Start staff to successfully participate in the program and acquire degrees or credentials.

I. Program Description

Statutory Authority Section 648 of the Head Start Act, as amended by the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act, 2007, codified at (42 U.S.C. 9843(g)).

Description Tribal Colleges and Universities Head Start Partnership Program

Program Goal and Activities

The goal of the TCU-HS Partnership Program is to offer carefully designed, high-quality, accessible, and flexible programs that increase the number of qualified staff eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start education positions. TCU-HS articulate a successful history of https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant administering an early childhood education degree program and commits to specific targets for the number of degrees or credentials to be awarded and the methods for recruiting and retaining students. TCU-HS recipients also demonstrate strong partnerships with one or more AIAN Head Start recipients.

Importantly, the TCU-HS recipient offers a degree program that fully reflects current early childhood education best practice. Degrees obtained through the TCU-HS Partnership Program should confer confidence that the holder has the knowledge and competencies needed to support children’s progress and development in a culturally and linguistically responsive manner. The TCU-HS recipient should be familiar with the research-based Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS), https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/45-cfr-chap-xiii.

These partnerships will explicitly identify the obligations and benefits to each partner, including identifying specific goals for enrollee numbers and timelines for degree or credential attainment;

describing methods of oversight and measurement, including financial management; and outlining the capacity for course correction and ongoing improvement.

OHS expects innovative and convincing proposals to meet the unique needs of individual AIAN communities. Earlier iterations of OHS awards to TCUs demonstrated that the following factors, among others, resulted in higher success:

• Strong, personal support for enrollees,

• Flexibility in course delivery and design (e.g., on-site, distance learning, innovative approach),

• Ability to provide preliminary or remedial instruction,

• Assistance with tuition, books, and other costs,

• Matriculation agreements that permit transfer of credit to and from multiple colleges or universities, and

• Credit for professional experience.

OHS anticipates partnerships will propose these and other specifically responsive strategies.

Management Accountability

TCU-HS Partnership Program implementation is expected to be complex with the strong financial management required to ensure efficient and allowable use of federal funds. TCU-HS recipients will need to develop effective ongoing communication and partnership with one or more AIAN Head Start recipients. Each partner is expected to provide meaningful initial and ongoing input in the design and oversight of the partnership. The partners should be mutually aware of goals and timelines to ensure expectations are being met. The successful TCU-HS recipient will provide an organized and transparent management structure to ensure adequate communication and support between partners and OHS to assure all stakeholders that the project will meet its specific goals to recruit, retain, and award credentials or degrees to the identified number of current or potential AIAN Head Start staff. A signed partnership agreement will define the responsibilities of the TCU-HS recipient and AIAN Head Start recipient(s).

TCU-HS Recipient Staff Accountability

It is expected that the TCU-HS recipient will employ at least one full-time (and more if needed based on design and enrollment) staff person who is dedicated to the project.

https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/45-cfr-chap-xiii

• The TCU-HS recipient staff will have responsibility for meeting all related coordination, communication, and reporting requirements.

• The TCU-HS recipient staff is expected to be familiar with the HSPPS and the partner program operations.

• The TCU-HS recipient’s staff must have knowledge of the potential strengths and challenges of adult learners who may be far removed from formal education.

• The TCU-HS recipient should have expertise in varying delivery methods needed to reach diverse adult students who may be spread across a wide geographic area with extremely varied experience and knowledge upon program entry.

• The TCU-HS recipient’s staff will be responsible for in-person attendance in Washington, DC, or other venue, up to two times per year.

• The TCU-HS recipient's staff may be asked to identify professors or other TCU-HS recipients and Head Start staff to attend or present during AIAN Head Start recipient partners' meetings.

Coursework and Delivery

The TCU-HS recipient must offer coursework that leads to degrees and credentials that meet the needs of their AIAN Head Start recipient partners. This may include associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees and/or an entry-level credential for infant and toddler teachers or preschool teacher assistants that has a pathway for matriculation to a degree.

TCU-HS recipients are expected to provide degree and credential options based on the needs of their AIAN HS recipient partners and may find a combination of credential and degree programs offers the best career pathway for their partner's staff (e.g., a credential that allows the staff member to be a teacher assistant with credit that applies to an associate degree program). Based on the assessment of need with AIAN Head Start recipient partners, TCU-HS recipients are encouraged to include tribal language and/or culture classes within their degree requirements.

TCU-HS recipients can review the free in-person and online higher education courses available through the EarlyEdU alliance (https://earlyedualliance.org/member-benefits/courses/). OHS funded the development of this high-quality coursework and it is available to colleges and universities.

Working with OHS

TCU-HS recipients will be required to attend no more than two meetings per year to share information on progress, improvements, and innovations with OHS and other TCU-HS recipients in Washington, DC, or other identified venue by OHS.

Program Performance: Evaluation Plan

Ultimately, TCU-HS recipients will be evaluated on their success in enrolling and graduating the target number of students within the identified timelines. We encourage recipients to accurately assess needs and barriers and propose robust solutions with a high likelihood of success.

TCU-HS recipients must have the ability to respond quickly and effectively to unforeseen events and challenges that will likely affect recipient success. TCU-HS recipients will collect and submit quarterly data about enrollment and progress and are expected to use such data within the partnership to constantly refine and improve their efforts.

https://earlyedualliance.org/member-benefits/courses/

Overview of the Head Start Program

The Head Start program is administered by ACF, an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). OHS awards funds to public and private non-profit and for-profit agencies to provide 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, Head Start programs were funded to serve 778,420 children and families across more than 1,500 Head Start grant recipients.

Overview of the Tribal Colleges and Universities Head Start Partnership Program

Head Start has played a historic role in professionalizing the field of early childhood education.

Educators who possess child development knowledge, key teaching and relationship competencies, and are culturally and linguistically responsive to the children and families they serve are vital to improving child outcomes. Head Start also recognizes parents as their children’s first teachers and requires that parents have roles in the program's operations and governance.

Partnerships with colleges and universities have contributed by increasing the number and accessibility to early childhood education degree programs, including the entry-level Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Head Start has had a trajectory of increasing the credential requirements of their staff since 1970. Parents have opportunities for Head Start employment. Often, parents begin their employment within the program in paraprofessional positions, then are supported in attaining degrees and achieving career mobility. This contributes to the ability of Head Start programs to employ staff who are representative of the enrolled children and families as well as offering career opportunities for parents. Over 23 percent of the Head Start work force are current or former Head Start parents.

The Head Start Act describes the minimum qualifications for Head Start educators, which includes the following requirements:

• CDA or equivalent for Early Head Start teachers;

• Associate’s degree for center-based preschool teachers; and

• Possessing, or being enrolled to obtain, a CDA or equivalent credential for preschool teacher assistants.

While approximately 97 percent of Head Start preschool teachers nationwide have an associate’s degree and 74 percent of Head Start preschool teachers have a baccalaureate degree, AIAN Head Start programs often face greater challenges recruiting and retaining qualified staff for education positions than many other Head Start programs. AIAN Head Start programs are often geographically isolated, have reduced educational opportunities, and have higher poverty and unemployment rates compared to other communities. Additional challenges include finding staff who have the early childhood content expertise and education as well as cultural and language knowledge of the communities they are serving.

Currently, 77 percent of teachers in AIAN Head Start classrooms possess the required minimum of an associate degree and 67 percent of teachers in AIAN Early Head Start classrooms possess the minimum of a CDA or equivalent. An even larger number of preschool teacher assistants do not meet the minimum credential requirement and are not enrolled in a credential program.

Paradoxically, Head Start programs in closer (less than 20 miles) proximity to tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) have some of the lowest rates of credentialed teachers.

Paperwork Reduction Act and Information Collections

Note: Consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act (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 Office of Management and Budget (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 toolkits, resource guides, websites, and presentations

- describing the projects or programs funded - in whole 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 100 percent funded by ACF/HHS. 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."

For those recipients that use federal funds for website development, it will be important to make sure that the Federal page is separate from the organization’s page, especially in those instances where there might have been donation buttons and/or lobbying requests.

Subawards

As the prime recipient, you must maintain a substantive role in the project. We define a substantive role as conducting funded activities and providing services that are necessary and integral to completing the project. Monitoring your subrecipients’ activities alone as described in 45 CFR 75.352 is not a substantive role.

We do not fund awards where your role primarily serves as a conduit for passing funds to other organizations unless that arrangement is authorized by statute.

If they do not have one, all subrecipients must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through the System for Award Management (SAM).

Subrecipients will need to meet the same eligibility requirements as prime recipients.

Please reference the Award Term and Condition on Subawards, Administrative and National Policy Requirements on the ACF Administrative and National Policy Requirements website https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements for further requirements involving subawards.

Post-Award Requirements

The successful recipient awarded under this NOFO must adhere to the following:

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

• The project will be operational within 60 days following the notice of award date.

• Within 120 days of the project start date of the financial assistance award, key TCU-HS recipient staff will meet OHS for the initial briefing on plans, timelines, and deliverables for this project.

• Within 45 days of the initial project briefing with OHS, the TCU recipient(s) will address any OHS comments or requested clarifications.

II. Federal Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

G (Grant) Estimated Total Funding:

$6,000,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$6,000,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$500,000 Per Budget Period

Average Projected Award Amount:

$500,000 Per Budget Period

Anticipated Project Start Date:

09/30/2025 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:

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

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.

Award Ceiling

Please note that the award ceiling represents the total amount of funding available per budget period. Applications may request an award amount that is less than the award ceiling but must not exceed the award ceiling per budget period. Please see Section III.3. Other, Award Ceiling Disqualification for more information.

Non-competing continuation awards will be offered for the second and third budget periods of the project based on the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the recipient, and review and approval of the continuation application. The Federal Project Officer will use the recipient’s semi-annual performance progress and financial reports and other supporting documentation to determine if satisfactory progress is being made. Additionally, this information will be used to assess progress in: 1) accomplishing the project goals, objectives, and activities; 2) completing proposed activities; and 3) documenting allowable expenses that support project goals, objectives, and the approved budget. Please refer to Section VI.3. Reporting for more information on required reports.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants include the following: TCUs, as defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. § 1059c(b)).

Applicants other than TCUs will be disqualified from competitive review and from funding under this announcement. See Section III.3. Eligibility Information, Other, Application Disqualification Factors.

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.

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

No 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 do not require matching or cost-sharing by statute, where “cost-sharing” refers to any situation in which the recipient voluntarily shares in the costs of a project other than as statutorily required matching, 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. These include situations in which contributions are voluntarily proposed by a recipient or subrecipient and are accepted by ACF. Non-federal cost sharing will be included in the approved project budget so that the recipient will be held accountable for proposed non-federal cost-sharing funds as shown in the Notice of Award (NoA). A recipient’s failure to provide voluntary cost sharing of non-federal resources that have been accepted by ACF as part of the approved project costs and that have been shown as part of the approved project budget in the NoA, may result in the disallowance of federal funds. Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.

For more information see Commitment of Non-Federal Resources at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/prepare-budget.

III.3. Other Application Disqualification Factors https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/prepare-budget

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 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

Funding made available through this funding opportunity is limited to TCUs fully accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Applications received from entities who do not submit their accreditation verifying that they are fully accredited as a TCU will be disqualified from competitive review and from funding under this funding opportunity.

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-YT-R11-0156

Office of Head Start 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

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 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohs/funding 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

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 75 pages for the Project Summary/Abstract, Table of Contents, Project Description, and Appendices. Applications that exceed the 75-page limit for all components in the First and Second Files or pages will be removed from the application and will not be reviewed. 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)

• Approach

• Management Accountability

• TCU Staff Accountability

• Coursework and Delivery

• Working with OHS

• Program Performance Evaluation Plan

• Project Budget and Budget Justification

Second File Appendices

• (must be readable) o Proof of Legal Status of Applicant o Organizational Capacity documentation (e.g., resumes, curricula vitae, job descriptions, organizational charts) o Third-party agreements o Indirect cost rate agreement o Plan for Oversight of Federal Awards Funds and Activities o Protection of Sensitive and/or Confidential Information o Additional Eligibility Documentation o Other supporting documents

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.

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.

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

Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement Notes/Description

SF-424 - Application for Federal Assistance

Submission is required for all applicants by the application due date.

Required for all applications.

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

Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement Notes/Description

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) registration.

Required of all applicants.

Applicants must have a UEI and maintain an active SAM registration throughout the application and project award period.

Obtain a UEI and SAM registration at:

http://www.sam.g ov.

See Section IV.3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) for more information.

SF-424 Key Contact Form

Submission is required for all applicants by the application due date.

Required for all applications.

Certification Regarding Lobbying (Grants.gov Lobbying Form)

Submission required of all applicants with the application package. If it is not submitted with the application package, it must be submitted prior to award.

Submission of the certification is required for all applicants.

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

Submission is required for all applicants when applying for a non-construction project. SFs must be used. Forms

Required for all applications when applying for a non-construction project.

https://www.sam.gov/

Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement Notes/Description must be submitted by the application due date.

By signing and submitting the

SF-424B,

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

SF-Project/Performance Site Location(s) (SF-P/PSL)

Submission is required for all applicants by the application due date.

Required for all applications. In the SF-P/PSL, applicants must cite their primary location and up to 29 additional performance sites.

SF-LLL - Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

If submission of this form is applicable, it is due at the time of application. If it is not available at the time of application, it may also be submitted prior to award.

If any funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a member of Congress in connection with this commitment providing for the United States to insure or guarantee a loan, the applicant shall complete and submit the SF-LLL, "Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying," in accordance with its instructions.

Additional Required Assurances and Certifications Proprietary Information and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) In your application, you may identify salary or other proprietary information or personally identifiable information. ACF will remove this information from applications before they go to reviewers.

If you have an exemption for a paper submission, you can protect salary information and any proprietary information by placing that information only in the original application. You can remove the information from the copies, keeping summary information.

The Project Description The Project Description Overview

General Expectations and Instructions Purpose: The Project Description is used to evaluate and rank your application against others for financial assistance. Reviewers will evaluate this section based on the criteria in Section V.1.Criteria.

Content Requirements:

• Address all activities for which federal funds are requested.

• Meet all application requirements as stated in this section.

• Explain how the project will fulfill the purpose of the NOFO (see Section I. Program

Description).

Clarity and Conciseness: Ensure the Project Description is clear, concise, and complete.

Focus on Strategies and Outcomes: Emphasize strategies for achieving intended performance and measurable outcomes. Substance is more important than length.

Cross-Referencing: Use cross-referencing to avoid repetition.

Supporting Documents: Include all required supporting documents in the Appendix of the application.

Table of Contents List the contents of the application including corresponding page numbers. The table of contents may be single spaced.

Project Summary Provide a summary of the project description. The summary must include a brief description of the applicant's proposed project including the needs to be addressed, the proposed activities or services, and if applicable, the population group(s) to be served. The summary must be clear, accurate, concise, and without cross-references to other parts of the application. Please place the following at the top of the Project Summary:

• Project Title

• Applicant Name

• Address

• Contact Phone Numbers (Voice, Fax, Cell)

• Email Address

• Website Address, if applicable

The Project Summary must be single-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font, and limited to one page in length. Additional pages will be removed and will not be reviewed.

Legal Status of Applicant Entity Applicants must provide the following documentation:

Funding made available through this funding opportunity is limited to TCUs fully accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Applications received from entities who do not submit their accreditation verifying that they are fully accredited as a TCU will be disqualified from competitive review and from funding under this funding opportunity.

Non-Profit Organizations

Proof of Non-Profit Status Options:

Option 1: 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) non-profit organizations are eligible Non-profit organizations applying for funding are required to submit proof of their non-profit status. Proof of non-profit status is any one of the following:

• A reference to the applicant organization's listing in the IRS's most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in the IRS Code.

• A copy of a currently valid IRS tax-exemption certificate.

• A statement from a state taxing body, state attorney general, or other appropriate state official certifying that the applicant organization has non-profit status and that none of the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.

• A certified copy of the organization's certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit status.

• Any of the items in the subparagraphs immediately above for a state or national parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local non-profit affiliate.

Unless directed otherwise, applicants must include proof of non-profit status in the Appendices file of the application submission.

Additional Eligibility Documentation Applicants must provide the additional, required documentation, or required credentials, to support eligibility for an award, as described in Section III. Eligibility Information of this funding opportunity.

Approach Outline a plan of action that describes the scope and detail of how the proposed project will be accomplished. Applicants must account for all functions or activities identified in the application.

Cite potential obstacles and challenges to accomplishing project goals and explain strategies that will be used to address these challenges.

Applicants must include a plan for how the TCU-HS Partnership Program will increase the number of qualified Head Start and Early Head Start educators working in, or available to work in, AIAN Head Start recipient programs.

• Applicants must describe their partnership with one or more AIAN Head Start recipients;

• The need for the partnership, including current staff qualification gaps in AIAN Head Start recipient programs;

• The solutions to existing barriers;

• The number of people to be enrolled; the supports to ensure the access and success of enrolled students; and

• How many students are projected to receive credentials or degrees.

Additionally, applicants must outline a plan of action for 5 years of the project and a detailed plan for year one, specifically describing:

• How current or potential AIAN Head Start staff will be recruited;

• Target outcomes; and,

• How activities will be accomplished to meet the goals for credential or degree attainment.

Management Accountability

Applicants must describe effective ongoing communication and partnership with one or more AIAN Head Start recipients. Describe how the AIAN Head Start recipient partners will provide meaningful initial and ongoing input in the design and oversight of the partnership, including recruitment and support of enrolled staff members. Explain how partners will be mutually aware of goals and timelines to ensure expectations are being met.

Applicants must describe their management structure that will ensure adequate communication between partners and with OHS to assure all stakeholders that the project is meeting its specific goals to recruit, retain, and award credentials or degrees to the identified number of current or potential AIAN Head Start staff. A signed partnership agreement will define the responsibilities of the TCU-HS recipient and AIAN Head Start program(s) partners and must be submitted with the application.

A partnership between the TCU-HS recipient and AIAN Head Start recipient will include the following:

• Evidence that the AIAN Head Start recipient partner(s) was included in the application development;

• Detailed education plans, including the identification of existing plans, to be adopted or developed course work; Established matriculation agreements;

• Established explicit requirements for course work per semester;

• Plan for individualized student advising and coaching; and

• Plan for providing ongoing support to help the current or potential AIAN Head Start staff overcome the added challenges that nontraditional students face

TCU Recipient Staff Accountability

Applicants must provide a staffing plan that includes at least one full-time staff person who is dedicated to the award and has full responsibility for meeting all related coordination, communication, and reporting requirements, including financial requirements.

Applicant staff is expected to be familiar with the HSPPS and the partner program operations.

Describe expertise in varying delivery methods needed to reach and retain diverse adult students who may be spread across a wide geographic area with extremely varied experience and knowledge upon program entry. Include a plan for how TCU-HS recipient staff will provide quarterly reporting to OHS and attend in-person meetings in Washington, DC, or other venue, up to two times per year.

Coursework and Delivery

Applicants must explain how coursework will lead to degrees and credentials that meet the needs of their AIAN Head Start recipient partners. Applicants must also describe which of the following degrees will be offered: associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees or entry- level credential for infant and toddler teachers or preschool teacher assistants. TCUs recipients must determine the need for the proposed credential and degree programs and describe how the selection offers the best career pathway for AIAN Head Start recipient partner staff (e.g., applicants describe the degree and credential options they will provide based on the needs of their AIAN Head Start recipient partners and how entry-level credentials may articulate with degree programs).

Applicants will explain how their credential and degree paths will increase the number of qualified AIAN Head Start staff through programming that meets the following requirements:

Is responsive to the specific needs of the AIAN Head Start recipient partner(s), including identifying need for specific credentials and degree;Identifies and meets needs for access to technology and corresponding technical support;Meets the educational needs of adult learners with diverse backgrounds;Mitigates or eliminates access barriers, such as location or scheduling, through distance learning, on-site or community-based classes, or innovative approaches;Includes both knowledge and competencies required for effective teaching of young children in AIAN Head Start programs, including tribal culture and language;Supports individual enrollee needs, as necessary, through help accessing tuition reimbursement programs, direct tuition assistance, provision of books and technology, assistance with transportation, and other costs related to enrollment as well as ongoing student support and academic counseling;Considers and incorporates course design and delivery methods, such as online course work with necessary technical and location-based coaching, that yield highest completion rates for adults in higher education; andIncorporates learning cohorts or communities, use of on-site tutors or coaches, and other program and peer supports shown to result in higher completion rates.

Working with OHS

Applicants will be required to attend no more than two meetings per year to share information on progress, improvements, and innovations with OHS and other TCU-HS Partnership recipients in Washington, DC, or other identified venue by OHS.

Organizational Capacity Provide the following information on the applicant organization and, if applicable, on any cooperating partners:

• Organizational charts.

• Resumes.

• Curricula Vitae (CV).

• Copy or description of the applicant organization's fiscal control and accountability procedures.

• Evidence that the applicant organization, and any partnering organizations, have relevant experience and expertise with administration, development, implementation, management, and evaluation of programs similar to that offered under this funding opportunity.

In addition to these requested documents, please include the following:

• Clear descriptions of TCU-HS recipient staff roles and identify how these roles will meet the requirements of the program, as described in Section I. Program Description; and

• A detailed narrative of each partners' staff, activities, outputs, and expected outcomes on this project.

If known at the time of application submission, the applicant must disclose their intent to enter into subaward arrangements in their application. For each proposed subaward, the applicant must include a description of the work to be performed by the subrecipient(s).

Plan for Oversight of Federal Award Funds and Activities Recipients are required to ensure proper oversight in accordance with 45 CFR Part 75 Subpart D.

These regulations set forth the following standards for effective oversight:

• Financial and Program Management

• Property Management

• Procurement

• Performance and Financial Monitoring and Reporting

• Subrecipient Monitoring and Management

• Record Retention and Access

• Remedies for Noncompliance

• Prior Written Approval

Describe the framework (e.g., governance, policies and procedures, risk management, systems) in place to ensure proper oversight of federal funds and activities in accordance with 45 CFR Part 75 Subpart D. The description must include: system(s) for record-keeping and financial management; procedures to identify and mitigate risks and issues (e.g., audit findings, continuous program performance assessment findings, program monitoring); and those key staff that will be responsible for maintaining oversight of program activities staff, and, if applicable, partner(s) and/or subrecipient(s).

Program Performance Evaluation Plan Applicants must describe a plan for the program performance evaluation that will contribute to continuous quality improvement. The program performance evaluation must monitor ongoing activities and the progress towards the goals and objectives of the project. Include descriptions of the inputs (e.g., organizational profile, collaborative partners, key staff, budget, service processes and other resources), key activities, and expected outcomes of the funded activities. The plan must explain how the inputs, activities, and outcomes will be measured; how the information will be used to inform improvement of funded activities; and any processes that support data quality.

Applicants must describe the organizational systems and processes that will effectively track performance outcomes, including a description of how the organization will collect and manage data (e.g., assign skilled staff, data management software, data integrity, etc.) in a way that allows for accurate and timely reporting of performance outcomes. Applicants must describe any potential obstacles for implementing the program performance evaluation and how those obstacles will be addressed. Applicants must include a timeline for how information from the quality improvement evaluation will be reviewed and applied to the ongoing project.

Specifically, the plan will include a description for how the applicant will measure and report staff enrollment, progress, and attainment of goal.

Protection of Sensitive and/or Confidential Information Provide a description of how protected PII and other information that is considered sensitive, consistent with applicable federal, state, local and tribal laws regarding privacy and obligations of confidentiality, will be collected and safeguarded. The applicant must provide the methods and/or systems that will be used to ensure that confidential and/or sensitive information is properly handled and if applicable, address the process for subrecipient(s) and/or contractors.

Also, provide a plan for the disposition of such information at the end of the project period. See 45 CFR § 75.303(e) for more information.

Third-Party Agreements

Third-party agreements include Letters of Commitment, Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) and Memoranda of Agreement (MOA). Letters of Commitment, MOUs and MOAs must clearly describe the roles and responsibilities for project activities and the support and/or resources that the third-party (i.e., subrecipient, contractor, or other cooperating entity) is committing. Letters of Commitment, MOUs, and MOAs must be signed by the person in the third-party organization with the authority to make such commitments on behalf of their organization. General letters of support are not considered third-party agreements.

Applicants must provide Letters of Commitment, MOUs, or MOAs between recipients and third-parties (i.e., subrecipients, contractors, or other cooperating entities). In addition to clearly describing the roles and responsibilities for project activities and support and/or resources that the third-party is committing, these agreements must detail work schedules and estimated remuneration with an understanding that a finalized agreement will be negotiated once the aware is made to the successful applicant.

The Project Budget and Budget Justification All applicants are required to submit a project budget and budget justification with their application. The project budget is entered on the Budget Information SF, either SF- 424A or SF- 424C. Applicants are encouraged to review the form instructions in addition to the guidance in this section. The project budget consists of a budget narrative and a line-item budget detail that includes detailed calculations for "object class categories" identified on the Budget Information SF. Applicants must indicate the method they are selecting for their indirect cost rate. See Indirect Charges for further information.

Project budget calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to be duplicated. If cost sharing or matching is a requirement, applicants must include a detailed listing of any funding sources identified in Block 18 of the SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance). See the table in Section IV.2. Required Forms, Assurances, and Certifications listing the appropriate budget forms to use in this application.

Salary Special Note:

Salaries in excess of Executive Level II. are unallowable, in compliance with the Annual appropriations legislation for the Department of Health and Human Services.

• For the Executive Level II salary level, please see "Executive & Senior Level Employee Pay Tables" under https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/

• The salary limitation reflects an individual's base salary exclusive of fringe benefits, indirect costs and any income that an individual may be permitted to earn outside of the duties of the applicant organization.

• This salary limitation…