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Executive Summary: Funds are provided for Head Start Graduate Student Research grants to support dissertation research by advanced graduate students who are working in partnership with Head Start and Early Head Start programs and faculty mentors.
I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION Statutory Authority These grants are authorized under Section 649 of the Head Start Act, as amended by the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, codified at 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) 9844. Description Since 1991, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has explicitly supported the association between Head Start programs and their local research community through the Head Start Graduate Student Research grants. These awards attract applications from leading academic researchers and their graduate students, specializing in social sciences, education and/or health. In close collaboration with their Head Start program partners, these experts design high-quality projects that directly address the needs of low-income children and families and their early childhood educators. The results inform and improve Head Start policies and practice. This funding mechanism also serves as an important research capacity-building effort. The grants foster the mentor-student relationship between leading researchers and their graduate students, in order to maximize the quality of the current work and build the skills of the graduate student. Within this supportive relationship, student researchers learn both theory and the hands-on features of conducting applied research within community service organizations. The researchers often contribute directly to their local Head Start partner programs (e.g., providing trainings, establishing databases, identifying key resources, and pursuing research that addresses questions of interest to programs), and many continue to make significant contributions to the early childhood and Head Start research field throughout their careers. The goals of the Head Start Graduate Student Research grant program are to:
Given these goals, proposed projects must address applied research questions that will inform and improve Head Start policies and practice. Applicants for the Graduate Student Research Grants will be most likely to succeed if they address issues of both local and national significance for Head Start programs. The application must contain evidence of the collaborative research partnership with the Head Start programs in project development and throughout the research plan. In addition, details of the mentor's plan for supporting the student should be included in the application. Topics of current interest to the Office of Head Start include (but are not limited to):
In addition to working closely with their Head Start partner program(s), it is strongly recommended that potential applicants review the Head Start Program Performance Standards (http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/Program%20Design%20and%20Management/Head%20Start%20Requirements/Head%20Start%20Requirements) and/or the Early Head Start Program Performance Measures (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/ehs/perf_measures/index.html) in order to assess whether their proposals are relevant to the child, family, program and/or community systems that are features of the Head Start and Early Head Start programs. For additional information, descriptions of previous Head Start Graduate Student Research projects can be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/grad_student/index.html. Other:
II. AWARD INFORMATION
Awards under this announcement are subject to the availability of funds. 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 institutions of higher education in the U.S. applying on behalf of enrolled, doctoral-level students. To be eligible to administer the grant on behalf of the student, the institution must be fully accredited by one of the regional accrediting commissions recognized by the Department of Education and the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation. Eligible U.S. institutions may apply on behalf of their own university faculty who will serve as a mentor/principal investigator for an international non-U.S. citizen who is an advanced graduate student enrolled in their programs. Faith-based and community organizations that also qualify as institutions of higher education are eligible to apply under this announcement. Foreign entities are not eligible under this announcement. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible to apply under this announcement. Please see "Eligibility Certification" found in Section IV.2 for any required documentation supporting eligibility. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: None 3. Other: The PI/mentor must have a Ph.D. or equivalent in the respective field, conduct research as a primary professional responsibility, and have published or have been accepted for publication in major peer-reviewed research journals as a first or second author. Doctoral students must have completed their Master's Degree or equivalent in their field. If not completed by the submission deadline, graduate students must submit to ACF formal notification from their institution regarding their eligibility to pursue dissertation work by August 1, 2009. The graduate student must have established a collaborative partnership with Head Start or Early Head Start programs. The evidence of this partnership should be apparent throughout the research proposal (e.g., development, piloting, interpretation of results, etc.), and in the signed letters of support from the participating Head Start or Early Head Start program(s) and from the relevant Head Start or Early Head Start Policy Council. 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.
IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. Address to Request Application Package: Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation 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. The graduate student must write the Project Abstract and Project Description/Narrative Statement in their entirety. The proposal should be consistent with the format and style guidelines of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th ed. (American Psychological Association (APA), 2001). The research should comply with the "Ethical Standards" detailed in the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (APA 2002; http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html). Application Format: Graduate students must limit their application to 100 pages, double-spaced, with standard one-inch margins and 12-point fonts (such as Times New Roman or Courier). This page limit applies to both narrative text and supporting materials but not to the Standard Forms (SF) (see list below). Graduate students must number the pages of their application beginning with the Table of Contents. Students are advised to use Headings and Sub-Headings that correspond to the required information, the evaluation criteria, and required proposal sections. Graduate students are further advised to include all required forms and materials and to organize these materials according to the format, and in the order, presented below: b. Contact Information Sheet: The contact information sheet should include addresses, phone and fax numbers, and email addresses for the graduate student applicant, the Principal Investigator, and the institution's fiscal representative (person who signs the SF-424). c. Standard Federal Forms (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm): d. Table of Contents e. Project Abstract: See Section V.1, for more information. f. Project Description/Narrative Statement: The project narrative should be carefully developed in accordance with ACF's research goals and agenda as described in the Purpose, Background, and Priorities sections of this funding opportunity, and the structure requirements listed in Section V, Application Review Information. Please see Section V.1 for criteria for preparing the full project description. g. Budget and Budget Justification (See information under the Budget and Budget Justification section below.) h. Appendix, including: Letters of Support 1) from Mentor: The Principal Investigator serving as a mentor must write the letter, stating that s/he has reviewed and approved the application, affirming the status of the project as advanced, doctoral-level research and the student's status in the doctoral program, and describing how the faculty member will regularly monitor the student's work. This Letter of Support from the Mentor should be included in the appendix of the completed application. 2) from the Head Start program partner(s): For research conducted with Head Start, the application must contain the signed letter from the Head Start or Early Head Start program(s) certifying that they have entered into a research partnership with the applicant. 3) from the applicant's local Head Start Program Policy Council: In addition, for research conducted with Head Start, a separate signed letter certifying that the application has been reviewed and approved by the local Head Start Program Policy Council must be included in the application. This certification of approval or pending approval by the Policy Council must be the original letter from the official representative of the Policy Council itself. Non-Federal ReviewersSince 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. Funding for the Head Start Graduate Student Research grants will support projects that include human subjects (potentially including women and minorities). As such, applicants must submit a completed Assurance Regarding Protection of Human Subjects form, which can be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm, by the award date. Evidence of completed or pending Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval should be included in the application. 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 whether an applicant is submitting a paper application or using the government-wide electronic portal, Grants.gov. 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. LETTER OF INTENT Applicants are strongly encouraged to notify ACF of their intention to submit an application under this announcement. Please submit the letter of intent by the deadline date listed in Section IV.3 Submission Dates and Times. The letter of intent should include the following information: number and title of this announcement; the name and address of the applicant organization; and/or Fiscal Agent (if known); and the name, phone number, fax number and email address of a contact person. Letter of intent information will be used to determine the number of expert reviewers needed to evaluate applications. The letter of intent is optional. Failure to submit a letter of intent will not impact eligibility to submit an application and will not disqualify an application from competitive review. 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. RESULTS OR BENEFITS EXPECTED Identify the results and benefits to be derived. For example, explain how the proposed project will achieve the detailed goals and objectives; specify the number of programs, teachers, children and/or families to be involved; and explain specifically how the information obtained will benefit the greater Head Start community. What benefits will programs derive from these results? Discuss how the project will inform Head Start policies and practices.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. EVALUATION Provide a narrative addressing how the conduct of the project and the results of the project will be evaluated. In addressing the evaluation of results, state how you will determine the extent to which the project has achieved its stated objectives and the extent to which the accomplishment of objectives can be attributed to the project. Discuss the criteria to be used to evaluate results, and explain the methodology that will be used to determine if the needs identified and discussed are being met and if the project results and benefits are being achieved. With respect to the conduct of the project, define the procedures to be employed to determine whether the project is being conducted in a manner consistent with the work plan presented and discuss the impact of the project's various activities that address the project's effectiveness. 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.) CertificationsApplicants 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. AssurancesBy 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 SubmissionApplicants 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 webpages 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 ApplicationsApplicants 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 Letter of Intent: 04/30/2009 Due Date for Applications: 06/01/2009 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 due 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 not 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:
4. 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. Construction is not an allowable activity or expenditure under this grant award. Due to the small amount of the grant, the applicant institution is strongly encouraged to waive indirect costs. An authorized representative of the institution must submit a written acknowledgement that the indirect costs are being waived. In the event that waiving the indirect costs is not possible, the applicant is strongly encouraged to apply the University's or non-profit institution's off-campus research rates for indirect costs. A second year budget-period will not be granted if the student has graduated by the end of the first year budget period. The graduate student and mentor must both agree to attend two meetings for each year of the grant. The first meeting consists of the annual meeting for all Head Start Graduate Student grantees. The second meeting of each year alternates between the biennial Head Start National Research Conference (Washington, D.C., June 2010) and the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development (Montreal, Canada, March/April 2011). The grant budget should reflect travel and housing funds for the graduate student and mentor for all four meetings (two per year). However, if the faculty mentor will utilize another source of travel funds, such arrangements are encouraged and should be clearly noted in the application. Transferability Grants awarded as a result of this competition are not transferable to another institution without prior approval from ACF. In addition, grant funds may not be used to support project activities outside of the scope of the proposal of the awarded project without prior approval by ACF. Sharing of Awards The awards are for support of an individual graduate student researcher. Awards cannot be divided among two or more students (i.e., no co-investigators). 6. Other Submission Requirements: Submit applications to one of the following addresses: Submission by Mail Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluationc/o Educational Services, Inc. 4350 East West Highway 11th Floor, Suite 1100 Bethesda, MD 20814 Hand Delivery Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluationc/o Educational Services, Inc. 4350 East West Highway 11th Floor, Suite 1100 Bethesda, MD 20814 Electronic Submission See Section IV.2 for application requirements and for guidance when submitting applications electronically via http://www.Grants.gov. For all submissions, see Section IV.3 for information on due dates.
V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 1. CRITERIA: Competing applications for financial assistance will be reviewed and evaluated against the criteria described in this section. The corresponding score values indicate the relative importance that ACF places on each review criterion. Applicants should address these criteria in the process of developing their application, as they are the basis upon which their applications will be judged. 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).
Each application will be scored on the extent to which:
Each application will be scored on the extent to which:
Each application will be scored on the extent to which:
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. It is unlikely that multiple applications with the same principal investigator (i.e., mentor) will be funded if there are at least 10 applications from different mentors/institutions that qualify for support. The competitive review will be conducted in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area by panels of Federal and non-Federal experts knowledgeable in the areas of early childhood education and intervention research, early learning, child care, and other relevant program areas. Application review panels will assign a score to each application and identify its strengths and weaknesses. The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) will conduct an administrative review of the applications and results of the competitive review panels and make recommendations for funding to the Director of OPRE, taking into account priorities of the Office of Head Start. The Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families is responsible for the final selection. Applications may be funded in whole or in part depending on: (1) the ranked order of applicants resulting from the competitive review; (2) staff review and consultations; (3) the combination of projects that best meets the objectives of the Office of Head Start; (4) the funds available; and (5) the best interests of the government. The Director may also elect not to fund any applicants with known management, fiscal, reporting, program, or other problems, which make it unlikely that they would be able to provide effective services. 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: The grant review process and new award processing can take an extensive amount of time. It is anticipated that Award decision letters will be mailed out on or before September 30, 2009.
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. Other Administrative and National Policy RequirementsFunding for the Head Start Graduate Student Research grants will support projects that include human subjects (potentially including women and minorities). As such, applicants must submit a completed Assurance Regarding Protection of Human Subjects form, which can be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm, by the award date. Evidence of completed or pending Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval should be included in the application. The Head Start Act mandates that all studies, reports, proposals, and data produced or developed with Federal funds awarded under the Act shall become the property of the United States (see Section 649(f) of the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. 9844(f)). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS ) authorizes grantee institutions, their researchers and other persons to make use of all studies, reports, proposals, and data produced or developed under grants funded under Section 649 of the Head Start Act in activities in furtherance of the purposes of the Head Start program. 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. Beginning with FY 2009 awards, most ACF grantees will begin using the a 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-AnnuallyFinancial Reports: Semi-Annually VII. AGENCY CONTACTS Program Office Contact: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation
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Grants Management Office Contact: David Kadan
For hearing or speech impaired callers, contact the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339
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VIII. OTHER INFORMATION Additional information regarding the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) of the Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services can be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/. Checklist You may use the checklist below as a guide when preparing your application package.
Posted on March 16, 2009 |
