Head Start and/or Early Head Start Grantee - City of Oakland, California | HHS 2016 ACF OHS CH R09 1085

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2016 ACF OHS CH R09 1085

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Office of Head Start (OHS), is seeking applicants to serve as the Head Start and/or Early Head Start grantee for the City of Oakland, California. The goal of the opportunity is to fund a high-quality, comprehensive birth-to-five early childhood program that can deliver Head Start services, Early Head Start services, or an integrated program that combines both funding streams, for eligible children and families living in Oakland.

The funding available is substantial: up to $18,587,933 per year in annual federal funds to support program operations and services. The announcement anticipates making multiple awards (expected awards: 4), meaning the service area and funded enrollment may be served by more than one organization depending on how ACF structures awards and what applicants propose. This is a discretionary grant under CFDA 93.600 (Head Start). The listed award ceiling matches the annual amount available for the Oakland service area.

A key administrative point in this notice is that the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) was modified. Specifically, ACF updated Sections III.2. and IV.2., and revised the electronic Grant Application Package on Grants.gov. Applicants are required to re-download the updated package and use that version when submitting their application. The FOA also points applicants to Section IV.2. for instructions on uploading three required application files. Even though the package and instructions changed, the application due date did not change; the original closing date shown is December 18, 2015. Applicants who need help or clarifications are directed to email the OHS Operations Center at OHSTech@reviewops.org.

Eligibility depends on what an organization is applying to operate, and the FOA emphasizes that Head Start and Early Head Start have different statutory eligibility rules. For applicants seeking to operate Head Start only, or to operate a program that includes Head Start (either Head Start alone or Head Start combined with Early Head Start), eligibility is limited to local public or private non-profit agencies (including community-based and faith-based organizations) or local for-profit agencies located in the service area, consistent with Section 641(a)(1) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836(a)(1)). These applicants must also demonstrate they meet the statutory requirements to be designated as a Head Start and/or Early Head Start agency under the Head Start Act, which typically involves showing the organizational capacity, governance and oversight structure, and ability to meet Head Start Program Performance Standards for comprehensive services.

For applicants seeking to operate Early Head Start only, eligibility is broader under Section 645A(d) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840A(d)). Any public or private non-profit agency (including community-based and faith-based organizations) or for-profit agency in the service area that can provide Early Head Start services to eligible children and families in Oakland may apply. The FOA also makes clear that organizations already operating Head Start programs are eligible to operate Early Head Start, and that faith-based and community organizations are eligible as long as they meet the standard requirements. Faith-based entities are encouraged to review ACF policy specific to grants and faith-based organizations (linked in the FOA).

The opportunity explicitly excludes certain applicants. Individuals, including sole proprietorships, are not eligible and will be disqualified from competitive review. Foreign entities are also not eligible. The FOA’s eligible applicant categories listed in the source data include a wide range of domestic organization types, such as state, county, and city governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including entities other than small businesses and small businesses). Regardless of organizational type, applicants must be able to serve the Oakland service area and comply with the program requirements tied to the specific model they propose (Head Start, Early Head Start, or both).

Overall, this grant competition is designed to select one or more capable local providers to deliver comprehensive early childhood education, health, family support, and related services for low-income infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families in Oakland, backed by significant annual federal funding. The most immediate practical takeaway for applicants is to rely on the modified FOA, re-download the corrected Grants.gov application package, and follow the updated submission instructions in Section IV.2. to avoid technical or compliance issues at submission.

• The Administration for Children and Families - OHS in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Head Start and/or Early Head Start Grantee - City of Oakland, California" 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 2015-10-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2015-12-18. (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 $18,587,933.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 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.

Apply for HHS 2016 ACF OHS CH R09 1085

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