Head Start/Early Head Start Recipient -- Communities in the state of Georgia | HHS 2024 ACF OHS CH R4 0090

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2024 ACF OHS CH R4 0090

This funding opportunity is a competitive federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS), for organizations that want to operate Head Start and/or Early Head Start programs in specific, defined service areas within the state of Georgia. The purpose is to fund comprehensive early childhood services for eligible children and families, with awards tied to particular communities and geographic service areas identified by OHS. Because the available service areas are forecasted and can change before the official notice is posted, applicants are expected to rely on the “Link to Additional Information” referenced in the announcement to see the current list of open service areas, the funding amounts attached to each area, and any updates as OHS refines what will be competed.

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant under CFDA 93.600 and is intended to support the delivery of Head Start (generally preschool-aged children) and Early Head Start (generally infants, toddlers, and pregnant people, depending on program model). The key practical point is that you do not apply for a generic statewide pot of money; you apply to serve a particular service area (or areas) that OHS has made available for competition, and your proposed services must be designed for the eligible children and families living in that defined area. OHS also notes that eligibility rules differ depending on whether an applicant is applying for Head Start only, Early Head Start only, or a combined Head Start and Early Head Start approach, and that additional detail will be provided in the full funding opportunity announcement.

Eligibility is broad across public and private sectors, but it is not open to individuals. Eligible applicants include local public or private nonprofit organizations (including community-based and faith-based organizations) as well as for-profit organizations that can deliver Head Start and/or Early Head Start services in the identified service area. The source listing also includes a wide range of governmental and education-related entities that may apply, such as state, county, and city or township governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Small businesses and other for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are also listed as eligible in the source data, but the central operational requirement remains the same: the applicant must be able to provide the required Head Start and/or Early Head Start services to children and families in the specific service area OHS is competing.

There are two main eligibility tracks described. For applicants seeking Head Start only, or both Head Start and Early Head Start, eligibility is limited to local public or private nonprofits (including faith-based organizations) or for-profit organizations that can provide those services within the service area named in the funding announcement. For applicants seeking Early Head Start only, eligibility is similarly limited to public or private nonprofits (including faith-based organizations) or for-profit organizations that can provide Early Head Start services within the identified service area. The notice also clarifies that existing Head Start operators are allowed to operate Early Head Start, which matters for organizations that already run preschool services and want to expand into infant/toddler programming under the same overall grant umbrella.

Some entities are explicitly not eligible. Applications from individuals, including sole proprietorships, are not allowed, and neither are applications from foreign entities; those submissions will be disqualified from merit review and funding consideration. At the same time, the announcement emphasizes that faith-based organizations that otherwise meet the requirements are eligible to apply and be awarded on the same basis as any other organization. OHS also highlights federal protections and nondiscrimination principles related to religious character and affiliation, referencing 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., and stating that ACF will not discriminate in selection based on an organization’s religious character, affiliation, or exercise.

From an applicant’s perspective, the most important logistics in the listing are the competition identifier and timing. The funding opportunity number is HHS 2024 ACF OHS CH R4 0090, with an original closing date of March 26, 2024, and an expected two awards. The listed award ceiling is $4,283,518, which signals that at least one service area competition may be sizable, though actual award amounts depend on the specific service area funding levels shown in the detailed service area list. Because OHS notes that service areas and projections may be updated, prospective applicants are expected to monitor the official postings and the referenced service area list closely rather than relying only on the initial forecast.

For questions or clarifications while preparing to apply, OHS directs interested parties to contact the OHS Operations Center by email at OHSgrants@koniag-gs.com. This is in addition to checking the “Link to Additional Information” for the authoritative list of Georgia service areas available for competition, their corresponding funding levels, and any updates released before the notice of funding opportunity is finalized and posted.

• The Administration for Children and Families - OHS in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Head Start/Early Head Start Recipient -- Communities in the state of Georgia" 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 2024-01-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-26. (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 $4,283,518.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 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 2024 ACF OHS CH R4 0090

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