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Executive Summary: This grant award is being made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5). Funding will support an increase in the enrollment of additional children as well as create new teaching and other positions in Head Start programs. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS), solicits applications from existing federally funded Head Start agencies to compete for funds, including training and technical assistance funds, that are available to provide services to unserved children and families residing in the defined Federally approved service areas or, as discussed below, nearby unserved areas. This expansion is to increase the number of pre-school age children served in Head Start. Each grantee currently has a defined, approved service area and may apply to serve additional low-income children in that area. In addition, grantees may propose to serve areas that are currently unserved as long as they can demonstrate they meet the statutory requirement to be a Head Start provider in that community; i.e. an agency that would be understood by the community as a local agency, within a community; an agency that has some presence in that community; or the community is contiguous to its current service area and the community demonstrates its support for the applicant to be a Head Start provider in the community. Applicants proposing to both expand within their current service area and to establish a new program in an unserved area must submit separate applications. Successful applicants will be subject to reporting requirements consistent with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (P.L. 111-5) and with current Head Start regulations. ACF, OHS, is publishing separate announcements to support Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Expansion and American Indian and Alaska Natives (AIAN) Head Start Expansion.
I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION Statutory Authority Funding is appropriated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5) and the Head Start program is authorized by Title VI, Subtitle A, Chapter 8, Subchapter B, of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law 97-35 (42 USC 9831 seq.), as amended by The Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, Public Law 110-134. Description Program Background and Purpose The Head Start program provides grants to local public and private non-profit and for-profit agencies to provide comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and families. Head Start promotes school readiness by enhancing the social, cognitive, physical and emotional development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families. Head Start programs engage parents in their children's learning and help them in making progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals. The Head Start Program also emphasizes the significant involvement of parents in the administration of local Head Start programs. Each Head Start program must assure that not less than 10 percent of the total number of children actually enrolled by the Head Start agency and delegates will be children with disabilities, unless a waiver is approved. Many Head Start programs provide part-day, center-based services or home-based services for eight or nine months a year. However, grantees have the option of providing full-day, full-year services and, in recent years, an increased number of grantees have been offering this option, often through collaborations with local child care providers, to help meet the child care needs of parents who are either working or in job training. Head Start is administered by the Administration for Children and Families, one of the principal components of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Since its beginning in 1965, Head Start has served more than 25 million children and their families. Head Start, in FY 2008, served 906,992 children, of whom 61,764 were served in Early Head Start programs. There are approximately 1,600 Head Start grantees, including 679 grantees providing Early Head Start services. Eligible Participants Head Start serves children from the age of three to the age when children enter kindergarten. Programs serve those families who have incomes below the poverty line or are eligible for public assistance. In addition, homeless children and children in foster care are categorically eligible for Head Start. The law permits up to 10 percent of enrolled Head Start children to be from families that do not meet these low-income criteria. A new provision in the Head Start Act, as discussed in Section 645(a)(1)(B), allows grantees that can ensure that all eligible children including homeless children are served, to enroll up to 35 percent of its participants from families with incomes greater than or equal to 100 but less than 130 percent of the poverty line. However, this expansion announcement is only for areas with children from families with incomes below the poverty line that are currently not served by Head Start. Programs may still propose that up to 10% of their enrollment be children from families not meeting Head Start income eligibility requirements. Head Start also requires that a minimum of 10 percent of children actually enrolled by the Head Start agency and delegates be children with disabilities unless a waiver is granted. Priority Area Head Start Expansion Description The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announces the availability of approximately $102 million to be competitively awarded to current Head Start grantees for the purpose of expanding enrollment by approximately 14,100 low-income children and their families. This expansion is only to increase the number of pre-school age children served in Head Start. ACF solicits applications from existing federally funded Head Start agencies to compete for funds that are available to provide services to unserved children and families residing in the defined federally approved service areas. Each grantee currently has a defined, approved service area and may apply to serve additional low-income children in that area. In addition, grantees may propose to serve areas that are currently unserved as long as they can demonstrate they meet the statutory requirement to be a Head Start provider in that community; i.e. an agency that would be understood by the community as a local agency, "within a community"; i.e. an agency that has some presence in that community or the community is contiguous to its current service area and the community demonstrates its support for the applicant to be a Head Start provider in the community. Applicants proposing to both expand within their current service area and to establish a new program in an unserved area must submit separate applications. (Attachment 3 lists counties currently not served by Head Start) This expansion provides an opportunity for Head Start programs to reach groups, communities and neighborhoods that have not been served in the past. These may include a variety of special populations of low-income families, such as homeless families, recent immigrant families, families who speak languages other than English, or families involved in the child welfare system. In many communities there is an unmet need for Head Start among children who are in foster care and applicants may wish to consider ways in which they could serve these children. Applicants are also encouraged to propose programs designed to meet the unique needs of children whose families are homeless. All applicants must base their proposals on a careful community wide strategic planning and needs assessment that includes the identification of training and technical assistance needs. An applicant can propose to serve additional 3 year old children if the community wide assessment supports that decision. Expansion funds are intended to increase the OHS funded enrollment of Head Start grantees as opposed to increase the hours that current enrollees are served. Applicants can propose to use funds for training and technical assistance needs created by expansion. It is expected that training and technical assistance funds would be approximately 2% of the budget. Head Start regulations allow for a variety of program options and designs. Applicants should propose a design or designs that best address the needs of the service area. Applicants have flexibility in determining the appropriate number of children to be served by the various program options (center-based, family child care, home-based, or combination) and program designs (hours per day, days per week, and weeks per year). There is no specific federal Head Start cost per child limit stipulated in this announcement. Because the cost of providing high quality services varies among programs due to differences in community conditions, program design and the amount of non-Head Start resources that may be available from partners, it is expected that there will be considerable variation in the Federal Head Start cost per child among successful applicants. However, we plan to increase Head Start enrollment by approximately 14,000 children through this competitive process. All proposals must meet the following conditions:
Applicants will compete against other applicants from the same competitive area. In other words, all applicants within a state will compete for the funds available for that area. Competitive areas and estimates for the amounts available in each competitive area are also shown in Attachment 2. These estimates were calculated according to the formula prescribed in Section 640 of the Head Start Act. Applicants may apply for any portion of the funds available in their competitive area. However, to enable more communities and children to participate in this expansion effort, successful applicants may be funded for less than their full requests. Given the importance of assuring that the advantages of Head Start will accrue to children and families as quickly as is possible, OHS expects all applicants funded under this competition will implement a high quality Head Start program as soon as possible, recognizing that the time required to do this can vary among successful applicants. Applicants will be required to submit a timeline for when children will begin to be served. II. AWARD INFORMATION
Please see Section IV.5 for any restrictions on the use of funds for awards made under this announcement. III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants are limited only to current Federally-funded Head Start agencies. Delegate agencies are not eligible to apply. Foreign entities are not eligible under this announcement. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Yes Grantees are required to meet a non-Federal share of the project costs, in accordance with Section 640(b) of the Head Start Act. Grantees 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, although applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash contributions. For example, in order to meet the match requirements, a project requesting $1,000,000, in ACF (Federal) funds must provide a non-Federal share of the approved total project cost of at least $250,000, which is 20 percent of total approved project cost of $1,250,000. Grantees will be held accountable for commitments of non-Federal resources even if they exceed the amount of the required match. The expansion funding is subject to the non-Federal share (match) requirements of the Head Start Act. However, the Congress, in its Conference Report accompanying the ARRA, reminds the Secretary of his/her authority, as discussed in the Head Start Act to temporarily waive the non-Federal share requirements and supports the Secretary’s exercise of this authority when appropriate. Any applicant that believes it will not be able to provide the required match for the requested increases should note this in its funding proposal and include a discussion of the reasons it believes it will not be able to generate all or a portion of the required match. To receive a waiver or a reduction in the required non-Federal share, the applicant must provide ACF with written documentation of need. This request must identify which of the five waiver criteria found at Section 640(b)(1-5) of the Head Start Act it believes to be relevant. It may be submitted with the grant proposal document, or during the budget negotiation period. Approval of the waiver request cannot be assumed by the applicant without written notice from ACF. In light of the current economic crisis ACF will be receptive to reasonable arguments for such waivers. The non-Federal match will be evaluated consistent with the criterion pertaining to Budget and Budget Justification which is found in Section V of this announcement. 3. Other: Disqualification Factors Applications with requests that exceed the ceiling on the amount of individual awards referenced in Section II. Award Information will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this announcement. Any application that fails to satisfy the deadline requirements referenced in Section IV.3., Submission Dates and Times, will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this announcement. Applications from all entities other than currently Federally-funded Head Start grantees will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this announcement. IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. Address to Request Application Package:
Office of Head Start For hearing or speech impaired callers, contact the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 (TTY (Text Telephone) / ASCII (American Standard Code For Information Interchange)). 2. Content and Form of Application Submission: This section provides information on the required form and content of application submissions. Applicants are required to submit one original and two copies of all application materials if applying in hard-copy. The original signature of the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is required only on the original. Information on the required format, Standard Forms (SFs) and other forms, D-U-N-S Requirement, Project Description, Certifications, Assurances, Electronic Submission of applications, and Hard Copy submission of applications is available in this section. A Checklist of required application elements is available for applicants' use in Section VIII of this announcement. Application Format Applications must be organized according to the checklist in Section VIII of this announcement. The project description of the application must be double-spaced and single-sided on 8.5" x 11" plain white paper, with 1" margins on all sides. Applicants must use a 12 point font throughout the application. All sections of the application (including appendices, resumes, charts, references/footnotes, tables, maps and exhibits) must be sequentially numbered, beginning on the first page after the table of contents. The length of the narrative portion of the application must be limited to 60 pages (including the abstract, budget and budget justification), with an additional limit of 60 pages for all appendices and resumes. Anything over 60 pages in the narrative portion and the appendices of the application will be removed and will not be considered by the reviewers. The narrative section page length is based on double-spacing, and will be halved if single-spacing or one-and-a-half spacing is used. Numerical tables included as part of the narrative may be single-spaced. Each application should be submitted in the following order: SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, Table of Contents, Project Abstract, Objectives and Need for Assistance, Approach, Organizational Capacity, and Budget and Budget Justification. Additional supporting documentation should be placed in the appendices. Assurances and Certifications may be placed after the appendices. Each application will be duplicated. Therefore, please do not use or include colored paper, colored ink, separate covers, binders, clips, tabs, plastic inserts, over-sized paper, videotapes, or any other items that cannot be easily duplicated on a photocopy machine with an automatic feed. Do not bind, clip, staple, or fasten separate subsections of the application in any way, including the supporting documentation. Provide a Project Summary/Abstract that is a summary of the project description (one page or less) with reference to the funding request. It should include the following information:
Additional Information Applicants must include documentation of Policy Council/Committee approval of the application consistent with Section 642(c) of the Head Start Act. Applicants must submit the qualifications for board members, Executive Director, Head Start Director, and Financial Manager/Chief Financial Officer. Applicants, including faith based organizations, are required to submit: (1) proof of legal or corporate status; (2) proof of non-profit status if a non-profit agency; (3) certification of the organization's last audit report (4) a copy of its personnel policies and procedures; (5) resumes of key staff in the organization and in the proposed Head Start program; and (6) the organization's negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. Successful applicants to whom the Indirect Cost Rate Agreement is not applicable will be asked to submit a post-award Cost Allocation Plan. For-profit agencies must agree to waive their fee/profit. ACF reserves the right to deny funding to any applicant that is presently designated as "high risk", probationary or not in good standing, or has been debarred or defunded by any Federal agency. ACF may elect not to fund applicants that have management or financial problems that make it unlikely the applicant would be able to provide effective Head Start services. ACF reserves the right not to fund applicants with unacceptably high Federal Head Start per child costs when other highly ranked applications are available. Additionally, ACF may decide not to fund projects that would require unreasonably large initial start-up costs for facilities or equipment or which require unreasonably large on-going funding levels relative to the number of additional children and families proposed to be served. ACF also reserves the right to consider geographic distribution, unique or emerging populations, and pockets of high poverty in funding decisions. Non-Federal Reviewers Since ACF will be using non-Federal reviewers in the review process, applicants have the option of omitting from the application copies (not the original) specific salary rates or amounts for individuals specified in the application budget as well as Social Security Numbers, if otherwise required for individuals. The copies may include summary salary information. If applicants are submitting their application electronically, ACF will omit the same specific salary rate information from copies made for use during the review and selection process. Forms Applicants seeking financial assistance under this announcement must file the appropriate Standard Forms (SFs) as described in this section. All applicants must submit an SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. For non-construction programs, applicants must also submit an SF-424A, Budget Information and an SF-424B, Assurances. For construction programs, applicants must also submit SF-424C, Budget Information and SF-424D, Assurances. All required Standard Forms are available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. Non-profit private organizations (not including private universities) are encouraged to submit the "Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants" with their applications. Applicants using a hard copy application, place the completed survey in an envelope labeled "Applicant Survey." Seal the envelope and include it along with your application package. Applicants applying electronically, please submit this survey along with your application. The Survey may be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. D-U-N-S Requirement All applicants must have a D&B Data Universal Numbering System (D-U-N-S) number. A D-U-N-S number is required. A D-U-N-S number is required for every application for a new award or renewal/continuation of an award, including applications or plans under formula, entitlement, and block grant programs. A D-U-N-S number may be acquired at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free D-U-N-S number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number online at http://www.dnb.com. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Part I THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION OVERVIEW PURPOSE The project description provides the majority of information by which an application is evaluated and ranked in competition with other applications for available assistance. The project description should be concise and complete. It should address the activity for which Federal funds are being requested. Supporting documents should be included where they can present information clearly and succinctly. In preparing the project description, information that is responsive to each of the requested evaluation criteria must be provided. Awarding offices use this and other information in making their funding recommendations. It is important, therefore, that this information be included in the application in a manner that is clear and complete. GENERAL EXPECTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS ACF is particularly interested in specific project descriptions that focus on outcomes and convey strategies for achieving intended performance. Project descriptions are evaluated on the basis of substance and measurable outcomes, not length. Extensive exhibits are not required. Cross-referencing should be used rather than repetition. Supporting information concerning activities that will not be directly funded by the grant or information that does not directly pertain to an integral part of the grant-funded activity should be placed in an appendix. Part II GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING A FULL PROJECT DESCRIPTION INTRODUCTION Applicants that are required to submit a full project description shall prepare the project description statement in accordance with the following instructions while being aware of the specified evaluation criteria. The text options give a broad overview of what the project description should include while the evaluation criteria identify the measures that will be used to evaluate applications. TABLE OF CONTENTS List the contents of the application including corresponding page numbers. PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Provide a summary of the project description (one page or less) with reference to the funding request. OBJECTIVES AND NEED FOR ASSISTANCE Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and subordinate objectives of the project must be clearly stated; supporting documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any relevant data based on planning studies should be included or referred to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In developing the project description, the applicant may volunteer or be requested to provide information on the total range of projects currently being conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be outside the scope of the program announcement. APPROACH Outline a plan of action that describes the scope and detail of how the proposed work will be accomplished. Account for all functions or activities identified in the application. Cite factors that might accelerate or decelerate the work and state your reason for taking the proposed approach rather than others. Describe any unusual features of the project such as design or technological innovations, reductions in cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvement. Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in such terms as the number of people to be served and the number of activities accomplished. When accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or function, list them in chronological order to show the schedule of accomplishments and their target dates. If any data is to be collected, maintained, and/or disseminated, clearance may be required from OMB. This clearance pertains to any "collection of information that is conducted or sponsored by ACF." Provide a list of organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other key individuals who will work on the project along with a short description of the nature of their effort or contribution. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The following are requests for additional information that must be included in the application:
BUDGET AND BUDGET JUSTIFICATION Provide a budget with line-item detail and detailed calculations for each budget object class identified on the Budget Information Form (SF-424A or SF-424C). Detailed calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to be duplicated. If matching is a requirement, include a breakout by the funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424. Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, and allocation of the proposed costs.
(As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, P.L. 104-13, the public reporting burden for the Project Description is estimated to average 40 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection information. The Project Description information collection is approved under OMB control number 0970-0139, which expires 4/30/2010. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.) Certifications Applicants must furnish, prior to award, an executed copy of the Certification Regarding Lobbying. Applicants must sign and return the certification with their application. 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 Standard Form (SF)-LLL, "Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying," in accordance with its instructions. The Certification Regarding Lobbying may be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. When required for programs that involve human subjects, the Protection of Human Subjects Assurance Identification/IRB Certification/Declaration of Exemption form must be submitted. All forms may be reproduced for use in submitting applications. Applicants must sign and return the appropriate standard forms with their application. The Protection of Human Subjects Assurance Identification/IRB Certification/Declaration of Exemption (Common Rule) form may be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. Assurances By signing and submitting the application, applicants are making the appropriate certification of their compliance with all Federal statutes relating to nondiscrimination. The Pro-Children Act of 1994, 20 U.S.C. 7183, imposes restrictions on smoking in facilities where federally funded children's services are provided. HHS grants are subject to these requirements only if they meet the Act's specified coverage. The Act specifies that smoking is prohibited in any indoor facility (owned, leased, or contracted for) used for the routine or regular provision of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary education or library services to children under the age of 18. In addition, smoking is prohibited in any indoor facility or portion of a facility (owned, leased, or contracted for) used for the routine or regular provision of federally funded health care, day care, or early childhood development, including Head Start services to children under the age of 18. The statutory prohibition also applies if such facilities are constructed, operated, or maintained with Federal funds. The statute does not apply to children's services provided in private residences, facilities funded solely by Medicare or Medicaid funds, portions of facilities used for inpatient drug or alcohol treatment, or facilities where WIC coupons are redeemed. Failure to comply with the provisions of the law may result in the imposition of a civil monetary penalty of up to $1,000 per violation and/or the imposition of an administrative compliance order on the responsible entity. Additional information may be found in the HHS Grants Policy Statement at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_related.html. Electronic Submission Applicants to ACF may submit their applications in either electronic or paper (hard copy) format. To submit an application electronically, applicants must use the http://www.Grants.gov site. ACF will not accept applications via facsimile or email. IMPORTANT NOTE: Before submitting an application electronically, applicants must complete the organization registration process as well as obtain and register "electronic signature credentials" for the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Applicants also must be registered in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). CCR registration must be updated annually. Applicants will not be able to upload an application to Grants.gov without current CCR registration and electronic signature credentials for the AOR. This process may take more than five business days, so it is important to start this process early, well in advance of the application deadline. Be sure to complete all Grants.gov registration processes listed on the Organization Registration Checklist at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/registration_checklist.html. Applicants will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it off-line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. If planning to submit an application electronically via http://www.Grants.gov:
After the application is submitted electronically, the applicant will receive two emails from Grants.gov:
ACF will retrieve the electronically submitted application from Grants.gov. Applicants will receive an email notification from ACF acknowledging that ACF has received the application. ACF may request that the applicant provide original signatures on forms at a later date. The Grants.gov website complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Grants.gov web pages are designed to work with assistive technologies such as screen readers. If an applicant uses assistive technology and is unable to access any material on the site, contact the Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov for assistance. Hard Copy Submission of Applications Applicants that are submitting their application in paper format should submit one original and two copies of the complete application with all attachments, unless directed otherwise. The original and each of the two copies must include all required forms, certifications, assurances, and appendices, be signed by the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR), and be unbound. The original copy of the application must have original signature(s). See Section IV.6 of this announcement for address information for application submissions. Please refer to Section VIII for a checklist of application requirements, their location and due dates that applicants may use in developing and organizing application materials. Please refer to Section IV.3 for details concerning acknowledgement of received applications. 3. Submission Dates and Times: Due Date for Applications: 06/23/2009 Explanation of Due Dates The due date for receipt of applications is referenced above. Applications received after 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on the due date will be classified as late and will not be considered in the current competition. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that applications are mailed or hand-delivered or submitted electronically well in advance of the application due date and time. Applications that are submitted by mail must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on the due date referenced above at the address listed in Section IV.6. Hand Delivery Applications hand carried by applicants, applicant couriers, other representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail couriers must be received on or before the due date referenced above, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, at the address referenced in Section IV.6., between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). Electronic Submission Applications submitted electronically via Grants.gov must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on the date referenced above. ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by facsimile or email. Late Applications Applications that do not meet the requirements above are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late applicant that its application will not be considered in the current competition. ANY APPLICATION RECEIVED AFTER 4:30 P.M., EASTERN TIME, ON THE DUE DATE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR COMPETITION. Extension of Deadlines ACF may extend application deadlines when circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur; when there are widespread disruptions of mail service; or in other rare cases. A determination to extend or waive deadline requirements rests with the Chief Grants Management Officer. Acknowledgement of Received Application ACF will provide acknowledgement of receipt of hard copy application packages submitted via mail, courier services, or by hand delivery. Applicants who submit their application packages electronically via http://www.Grants.gov will receive two email acknowledgements from that website:
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs: State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) This program is covered under Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs," and 45 CFR Part 100, "Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services Programs and Activities". Under the Executive Order, States may design their own processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance under covered programs. Applicants should go to the following URL for the official list of the jurisdictions that have elected to participate in E.O. 12372 http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc/. Applicants from participating jurisdictions should contact their SPOC, as soon as possible, to alert them of their prospective applications and to receive instructions on their jurisdiction's procedures. Applicants must submit all required application materials to the SPOC and indicate the date of submission on the Standard Form (SF) 424 at item 19. Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60 days from the application due date to comment on proposed new awards. SPOC comments may be submitted directly to ACF to: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., 6th Floor East, Washington, DC 20447. Entities that meet the eligibility requirements of this announcement are still eligible to apply for a grant even if a State, Territory or Commonwealth, etc., does not have a SPOC or has chosen not to participate in the process. Applicants from non-participating jurisdictions need take no action with regard to E.O. 12372. Applications from Federally-recognized Indian Tribal governments are not subject to E.O. 12372. 5. Funding Restrictions: Costs of organized fund raising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred solely to raise capital or obtain contributions, are unallowable under this grant award. Grant awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs. 6. Other Submission Requirements: Submit applications to one of the following addresses: Submission by Mail Office of Head Startc/o ACYF Operations Center 118 Q Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Hand Delivery Office of Head Startc/o ACYF Operations Center 118 Q Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 For all submissions, see Section IV.3 for information on due dates. Electronic Submission See Section IV.2 for application requirements and for guidance when submitting applications electronically via http://www.Grants.gov. V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 1. CRITERIA: The corresponding score values indicate the relative importance that ACF places on each evaluation criterion; applicants should develop their applications precisely according to the order presented. Application components may be organized such that a reviewer will be able to follow a seamless and logical flow of information (i.e., from a broad overview of the project to more detailed information about how it will be conducted). In considering how applicants will carry out the responsibilities addressed under this announcement, competing applications for financial assistance will be reviewed and evaluated against the following criteria. OBJECTIVES AND NEED FOR ASSISTANCE - 30 points The applications must identify the geographic location it is currently approved to serve, or in cases of unserved areas, that it proposes to serve. The applicant must define the area(s) of greatest need and show how it will direct Head Start resources to these areas. The following factors will be used to assist in the review and evaluation of applicants under this criterion:
APPROACH - 35 points The applicant must describe the design and approach of the proposed program and how it will meet the needs of the population it plans to serve. Program services must meet the Head Start Program Performance Standards and other regulations and the provisions of the Head Start Act. The following factors will be used to assist in the review and evaluation of applicants under this criterion:
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY - 15 points This section measures the capabilities of the applicant to implement and sustain its plan for expansion. The following factors will be used to evaluate this criterion:
BUDGET AND BUDGET JUSTIFICATION - 20 points This section will evaluate the extent to which the project's costs are appropriate and reasonable in view of the activities to be carried out and the anticipated outcomes. The following factors will be used to assist in the review and evaluation of applications under this criterion:
2. Review and Selection Process: No grant award will be made under this announcement on the basis of an incomplete application. Initial ACF Screening: Each application will be screened to determine whether it was received by the closing date and time and whether the requested amount exceeds the stated ceiling. Late applications or those exceeding the funding limit will be returned to the applicants with a notation that they were unacceptable and will not be reviewed. Applications will be reviewed against the evaluation criteria described in Section V of this announcement. The review will be conducted by one or more panels of reviewers who are knowledgeable about Head Start programs and early childhood development. Each panel is composed of three reviewers and one chair. The results of the competitive review will be taken into consideration by ACF in deciding the project to be funded but are not in themselves binding. The responsible HHS official will consider other relevant factors, some of which are described below, in making the final decision. ACF may elect not to fund applicants who have management or financial problems that make it unlikely that the applicant would be able to provide effective Head Start services. Also, ACF may decide not to fund projects with what it regards as unreasonably large initial start-up costs for facilities or equipment, or projects with unreasonably high operating costs. Applications which are not from entities "in the community" to be served do not meet the requirements for designation as a Head Start agency in Section 641 of the Head Start Act and cannot be considered for a grant. We will consider all "qualified applicants in such community" as required by Section 641 (d) where the application demonstrates it has an organizational base within the community to be served. This could be established by virtue of the grantee being a provider of services in the community or having a clear relationship to the community as evidenced, for example, by board representation from the community or by evidence of the support of community leaders, including, but not limited to mayors, city council members, school principals, presidents of local chambers of commerce, county government officials, social service provider organizations, community organizations representing low income, minority or other relevant sectors of the community, and child care providers and organizations. For-profit agencies which wish to apply for Head Start funding should be aware that there are regulatory and statutory provisions that relate specifically to them. The most important of the regulations is at 45 CFR Part 74, Subpart E "Special Provisions for Awards to Commercial Organizations," which states that "no HHS funds may be paid as profit to any recipient." As a result, applications from for-profit, nonprofit, and public agencies will be reviewed in the same manner. Applications may be funded in whole or in part. Successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a Financial Assistance Award which sets forth the amount of funds awarded, the terms and conditions of the grant, the budget period for which support is given, the non-federal share to be provided, and the total period for which support is provided. ACF reserves the right to consider unique populations, geographic distribution and pockets of poverty in funding decisions. Please refer to Section IV.2 of this announcement for information on non-Federal reviewers in the review process. Approved but Unfunded Applications Applications that are approved but unfunded may be held over for funding in the next funding cycle, pending the availability of funds, for a period not to exceed one year. 3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates: Not Applicable. VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION 1. Award Notices: Successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a Notice of Award (NoA) document that sets forth the amount of funds granted, the terms and conditions of the grant, the effective date of the grant, the budget period for which initial support will be given, the non-Federal share to be provided (if applicable), and the total project period for which support is contemplated. The NoA will be signed by the Grants Officer and transmitted via postal mail. Following the finalization of funding decisions, organizations whose applications will not be funded will be notified by letter, signed by the Program Office head. 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Grantees are subject to the administrative requirements in 45 CFR Part 74 (for non-governmental entities) or 45 CFR Part 92 (for governmental entities). Direct Federal grants, sub-award funds, or contracts under this ACF program shall not be used to support inherently religious activities such as religious instruction, worship, or proselytization. Therefore, organizations must take steps to separate, in time or location, their inherently religious activities from the services funded under this program. Regulations pertaining to the Equal Treatment for Faith-Based Organizations, which includes the prohibition against Federal funding of inherently religious activities, can be found at the HHS web site at: http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/waisgate21.pdf. A faith-based organization receiving HHS funds retains its independence from Federal, State, and local governments, and may continue to carry out its mission, including the definition, practice, and expression of its religious beliefs. For example, a faith-based organization may use space in its facilities to provide secular programs or services funded with Federal funds without removing religious art, icons, scriptures, or other religious symbols. In addition, a faith-based organization that receives Federal funds retains its authority over its internal governance, and it may retain religious terms in its organization's name, select its board members on a religious basis, and include religious references in its organization's mission statements and other governing documents in accordance with all program requirements, statutes, and other applicable requirements governing the conduct of HHS funded activities. Additional information on "Understanding the Regulations Related to the Faith-Based and Community Initiative" can be found at: http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/regulations/index.html. HHS Grants Policy Statement The HHS Grants Policy Statement (GPS) is the Department of Health and Human Services new single policy guide for discretionary grants and cooperative agreements. Unlike previous HHS policy documents, the GPS is intended to be shared with and used by grantees. It became effective October 1, 2006 and is applicable to all Operating Divisions (OPDIVS), such as the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), except the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The GPS covers basic grants processes, standard terms and conditions, and points of contact, as well as important OPDIV-specific requirements. Appendices include a glossary of terms and a list of standard abbreviations for ease of reference. The GPS may be accessed at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_related.html. The regulations relevant to Head Start are:
Copies of the current applicable Head Start regulations are available at the websites identified at the end of this announcement. In addition, copies of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars that apply to Head Start grantees can be found at: 3. Reporting Requirements: Grantees will be required to submit performance progress and financial reports periodically throughout the project period. Frequency of reporting is listed later in this section. [Standard ARRA Terms and Conditions language to be inserted when available] Beginning with FY 2009 awards, most ACF grantees will begin using the Standard Form (SF) for required performance progress reporting (PPR). The SF-PPR is a standard government-wide performance progress reporting format consisting of a series of forms implemented by Federal agencies to collect performance information from award recipients. Most ACF grantees will begin using the standard format implemented through ACF's Office of Grants Management (OGM), entitled the "ACF-OGM-SF-PPR." Use of the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR will begin for new awards and continuation awards made by ACF in FY 2009. At a minimum, grantees will be required to submit the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR, which consists of the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR Coversheet and the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR Appendix B Program Indicators. ACF Programs that utilize other SF-PPR reporting formats, or other reporting forms or formats that differ from the new ACF-OGM-SF-PPR, have listed those forms or formats below. Grant award documents will inform grantees of the appropriate performance progress report form or format to use beginning in FY 2009. Grantees will continue to use the Financial Status Report (FSR) SF-269 (long form) for required financial reporting. The SF-269 (long form) and the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR may be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. Grantees should consult their award documents to determine the appropriate performance progress report format required under their award. Performance progress and financial reports are due 30 days after the end of the reporting period. Final program performance and financial reports are due 90 days after the close of the project period. Final reports may be submitted in hard copy to the Grants Management Office Contact listed in Section VII. of this announcement.
Program Progress Reports: Semi-Annually Recipient Reporting Recipients of Federal awards from funds authorized under Division A of the ARRA must comply with all requirements specified in Division A of the ARRA (Public Law 111-5), including reporting requirements outlined in Section 1512 of the Act. For purposes of reporting, ARRA recipients must report on ARRA sub-recipient (sub-grantee and sub-contractor) activities as specified below. Not later than 10 days after the end of each calendar quarter, starting with the quarter ending June 30, 2009 and reporting by July 10, 2009, the recipient must submit quarterly reports to HHS that will be posted to Recovery.gov, containing the following information:
The definition of terms and data elements, as well as any specific instructions for reporting, including required formats, will be provided in subsequent guidance issued by HHS. (See Standard Terms and Conditions, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Division A Funds as Attachment 1 at the end of this announcement.)VII. AGENCY CONTACTS Program Office Contact:
Colleen Rathgeb For hearing or speech impaired callers, contact the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 (TTY (Text Telephone) / ASCII (American Standard Code For Information Interchange)). Grants Management Office Contact:
David Kadan For hearing or speech impaired callers, contact the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 (TTY (Text Telephone) / ASCII (American Standard Code For Information Interchange)). VIII. OTHER INFORMATION ChecklistYou may use the checklist below as a guide when preparing your application package.
For any sub-award equal to or larger than $25,000, the following information:
Attachment 2: Funds Available by Competitive Area
Attachment 3: Counties Not Served by Head Start
Attachment 4 - References
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_07/45cfrv4_07.html#1301 http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/grants/tobacco.htm http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09fedreg.pdf http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_07/45cfrv1_07.html http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_07/45cfrv1_07.html Posted on May 8, 2009 |
