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93.600 HEAD START

FEDERAL AGENCY

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION

Community Opportunities, Accountability, Training, and
Educational Services Act of 1998, Title I, Sections 101-119, Public Law
105-285.

OBJECTIVES

To promote school readiness by enhancing the social and
cognitive development of low-income children, including children on
federally recognized reservations and children of migratory farm workers,
through the provision of comprehensive health, educational, nutritional,
social and other services; and to involve parents in their children's
learning and to help parents make progress toward their educational,
literacy and employment goals. Head Start also emphasizes the significant
involvement of parents in the administration of their local Head Start
programs.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE

Project Grants.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS

At least 90 percent of the enrollees in a program must come
from families whose income is below the poverty guidelines as established
by the Office of Management and Budget or from families receiving public
assistance. Training and technical assistance grants are available to Head
Start programs and to agencies, competitively chosen, which provide
services to Head Start programs.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicant Eligibility

Any local government, federally-recognized Indian tribe, or
public or private nonprofit or for profit agency which meets the
requirements may apply for a grant. However, application will be
considered only when submitted in response to a specific announcement,
published via the Internet at the following website address:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_hsb.html, which solicits proposals to
establish new Head Start Programs. Grantee agencies may subcontract with
other child-serving agencies to provide services to Head Start children.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Head Start/Early Head Start programs are for children from
birth up to the age when the child enters the school system; however, Head
Start programs only serve pre-school age children. (i.e. children three or
four years old) while Early Head Start programs serve children from birth
through age three. No less than 10 percent of the total enrollment
opportunities in each Head Start program shall be available for children
with disabilities.

Credentials/Documentation

Nonprofit organizations must submit proof of nonprofit
status. Applicable costs and administrative procedures will be determined
in accordance with Part 74 and 92 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal
Regulations.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS

Preapplication Coordination

The standard application forms as furnished by DHHS must be
used for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.
12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should
consult the office or official designated as the Single Point of Contact
(SPOC) in his or her State for more information on the process. (NOTE:
State/territory participation in the intergovernmental review process does
not signify applicant eligibility for financial assistance under a
program. A potential applicant must meet the eligibility requirements of
the program for which it is applying prior to submitting an application to
its SPOC.)

Application Procedure

The Administration for Children, and Families regional
representative will provide each applicant agency with a completed check
list form showing exactly which items must be completed by each applicant
and delegate agency.

Award Procedure

All funds are awarded directly to the grantees. Funds for
local Head Start/Early Head Start programs, including a portion of
training and technical assistance funds are awarded by the Regional
Offices. Funds for the following are awarded by the Administration on
Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) Headquarters: Indian programs
(reservation only); Migrant programs; research, demonstration and
evaluation efforts and some training and technical assistance efforts.

Deadlines

Applications for new projects may be submitted at any time
or at times specified by announcement published via the Internet at the
following website: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_hsb.html.
Applications for continuation grants must be received at least 90 days
prior to the start of the new budget period.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

This, depending on the nature of the proposal, can vary
considerably from 90 days to as much as several months.

Appeals

Grantees who are denied refunding may appeal adverse
decisions to the HHS Departmental Appeals Board. There is no appeal for
new grants denials.

Renewals

HHS Headquarters or Regional Offices will inform grantees
of the application procedures for renewal.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Formula and Matching Requirements

The statistical factor used for fund allocation among
States is: the relative number of children (age birth to 4) living with
families with incomes below the poverty line in each state as compared to
all States and the source is the latest information available from the
Bureau of the Census; Head Start grantees are required to provide 20
percent of the total cost of the program, although this maybe waived
wholly or in part if certain conditions pertain. Matching share may be in
cash or in-kind fairly evaluated.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds are available for a 12-month budget period. Funds are
released by monthly allowance on an Electronic Transfer System or by
monthly check.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

Reports

Semiannual financial and annual program reports are
required.

Audits

Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in
45 CFR, Parts 74 and 92.

Records

Grantee must maintain an accounting system adequate to meet
the purposes of the grant. Requirements for records are found in 45 CFR,
Part 74 and 92.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Account Identification

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Grants) FY 05 $6,704,499,000; FY 06 est $6,646,831,000;
and FY 07 est $6,647,410,000. (Contracts) FY 05 $75,226,000; FY 06 est
$75,000,000; and FY 07 est $75,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$133,000 to $199,043,000; $4,120,000.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Since 1965, Head Start has served more than 23 million
children from low-income families in 50 States, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Outer Pacific. The program has
provided education, health, nutrition and social services to the target
population. In fiscal year 2005, there were 1,604 Head Start grantees. We
estimate the same number of grantees in fiscal years 2006 and 2007.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE

Chapter XIII of Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations,
including 45 CFR 1301 - 1311. These are available on request at no charge.

INFORMATION CONTACTS

Regional or Local Office

Regional Administrator, Administration for Children, and
Families. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for list of addresses of
Regional Offices.)

Headquarters Office

Head Start Bureau, 330 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20447.
Telephone: (202) 205-8572.

Web Site Address

http://www2.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/hsb

RELATED PROGRAMS

10.550, Food Donation.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS

(1) Full-Year and Full-Day Head Start Programs; (2)
Full-Year and Part-Day Head Start Programs; and (3) Part-Year and Part-Day
Head Start Programs.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS

The degree to which the proposed project will meet the Head
Start Program Performance Standards and other program objectives as
specified in a program announcement.

General Services Administration
Office of Chief Acquisition
Officer
Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR)