Head Start Expansion, Early Head Start Expansion, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Grants | HHS 2024 ACF OHS HP 0157

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2024 ACF OHS HP 0157

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Office of Head Start (OHS), is offering a competitive discretionary grant opportunity to expand early childhood services for low-income children and families. The funding is aimed at increasing access to high-quality, comprehensive programming in three main ways: expanding Head Start preschool services, expanding Early Head Start services for infants and toddlers, and creating or expanding Early Head Start-Child Care (EHS-CC) Partnerships that blend Early Head Start standards with child care settings. In practical terms, this opportunity is designed to help communities add more funded slots, reach more eligible families, and strengthen the availability of full-day, full-year early learning and family support services, especially for infants and toddlers.

ACF expects to award roughly 102 million dollars total under this announcement, with an estimated 60 awards. The stated award ceiling is 20,509,347 dollars per award, meaning individual grants can be substantial depending on the scope and scale of the proposed expansion. The opportunity is listed as a grant (not a contract) under the Income Security and Social Services funding activity category, with CFDA/Assistance Listing number 93.600, which is the primary federal listing associated with Head Start.

Eligible applicants are broad and include many public and private entities that can operate Head Start or Early Head Start programming consistent with the Head Start Act. On the public side, eligible applicants include state governments, counties, cities or townships, independent school districts, public housing authorities (including Indian housing authorities), federally recognized tribal governments, and public or state-controlled institutions of higher education. On the private side, eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and other eligible entities, as long as they meet the statutory eligibility requirements in Section 645A(d) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840A(d)). A notable point for existing operators is that entities already operating Head Start programs are eligible to operate Early Head Start programs as well, which can make it easier for experienced grantees to broaden services to younger children.

There are also clear eligibility exclusions. Individuals, including sole proprietorships, are not eligible to apply and will be disqualified from merit review. Foreign entities are also not eligible for funding under this announcement. The notice also explicitly addresses faith-based and community organizations: they are eligible to apply and may compete on the same basis as any other organization, and ACF states it will not discriminate in selection based on an organization’s religious character or affiliation. This assurance is tied to federal protections and requirements, including 45 CFR Part 87 and relevant federal law.

The application timeline in the source information shows an original closing date of May 14, 2024. Applicants are directed to standard federal grant submission processes through Grants.gov, and OHS encourages prospective applicants to use ACF’s "How to Apply for a Grant" resources, which walk through registration steps, submission mechanics, and what to expect in the federal review process. For questions or additional information specific to this funding opportunity, the contact email provided is OHSgrants@koniag-gs.com. The official opportunity identifier is HHS-2024-ACF-OHS-HP-0157, which is the number applicants would use to locate the full notice and instructions in grants systems.

Overall, the focus of this grant opportunity is expansion: increasing the supply of Head Start and Early Head Start services and strengthening partnerships that connect Early Head Start standards with child care providers, with the broader goal of delivering comprehensive early learning, health, and family support services to low-income infants, toddlers, preschool-aged children, and their families.

• The Administration for Children and Families - OHS in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Head Start Expansion, Early Head Start Expansion, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.600.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,509,347.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for HHS 2024 ACF OHS HP 0157

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