NonSub Change - HS Final Rule updates

To: Kelsi Feltz

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

From: Moushumi Beltangady

Office of Early Childhood Development

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Date: October 2, 2024

Subject: NonSubstantive Change Request – Tribal Early Childhood Facilities Combined Application Guide (OMB #0970-0632)

This memo requests approval of nonsubstantive changes to the approved information collection, Tribal Early Childhood Facilities Combined Application Guide (OMB #0970-0632).

Background

The Tribal Early Childhood Facilities Guide draft was approved in May 2024. When approved, the relevant program regulations were not final. These regulations, 45 CFR Parts 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, and 1305, were finalized on 08/21/2024 (89 FR 67720). As a result, the ACF Office of Early Childhood Development made minor updates to the guide to reflect these changes. These updates do not change the content in a substantive way, nor the process for programs to submit their applications. 

Overview of Requested Changes

The Tribal Early Childhood Facilities Combined Application Guide has been updated as follows:

• Clarified that Head Start grant recipients may submit a written request for one-time funding or use available base grant funds with approval from the Regional Office.

• Inclusion of additional details on Head Start’s definition of major renovation.

• Changed the requirement to have a "real estate professional" provide a statement on cost effectiveness in their supporting documents to allow "an individual designated by the Tribe" to provide this statement.

• Changed the requirement to include an estimate of a facility's "fair market value after proposed facilities project" to an "estimate of facility's value after proposed facilities project."

• Adjusted the requirements in the "Need for Facility" portion of the application to state "If applicable Tribes indicate that the construction of a facility is more cost-effective than a renovation or purchase of an existing facility."

• Removed resources that linked to documents that do not reflect the updates to the final rule.