Head Start/Early Head Start Recipient - Multiple Communities in CO, DE, LA, NC, OK, OR, TN, TX | HHS 2025 ACF OHS CH 0085

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2025 ACF OHS CH 0085

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS) is planning a competitive grant opportunity for organizations that want to operate Head Start and/or Early Head Start programs in multiple communities across eight states: Colorado, Delaware, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas. This is a discretionary grant competition (Funding Opportunity Number: HHS 2025 ACF OHS CH 0085; CFDA/Assistance Listing: 93.600) intended to fund direct services for eligible young children and their families in specific service areas that will be identified in the formal funding opportunity announcement. The forecast notes it was updated to change the estimated posting date and the estimated application due date, and the currently listed closing date is April 29, 2025.

In terms of funding scale, OHS expects to make available about $70,714,054 in federal funding across roughly nine competitive opportunities spanning the eight states. While the overall total is provided, awards will vary by service area, and the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $20,276,444. The listing also indicates an expectation of about 20 awards, which suggests multiple grants may be issued within the broader set of competitions, depending on how the service areas and program designs are structured in the final announcement.

Eligibility is focused on organizations capable of delivering Head Start and/or Early Head Start services in the specific geographic service areas OHS designates. For applicants seeking to run Head Start only, or both Head Start and Early Head Start, eligibility is limited to local public or private non-profit organizations (including community-based and faith-based organizations) as well as for-profit organizations that can provide the required services. For applicants applying for Early Head Start only, eligibility is similarly limited to public or private non-profits (including faith-based organizations) or for-profit organizations that can deliver Early Head Start services in the identified service area. The notice emphasizes that Head Start and Early Head Start have different eligibility requirements, and applicants should expect more detail and distinctions in the final funding opportunity announcement. It also clarifies that organizations already operating Head Start programs are eligible to operate Early Head Start programs.

Certain applicants are explicitly not eligible. Applications from individuals, including sole proprietorships, are not allowed, and foreign entities are also ineligible; submissions from either will be disqualified from merit review and funding consideration. At the same time, the opportunity makes clear that faith-based organizations may compete on the same basis as any other eligible organization, and ACF states it will not discriminate in selection based on an organization’s religious character or affiliation, consistent with applicable federal protections and regulations (including 45 CFR Part 87 and related statutory protections).

The eligible applicant types listed in the source data are broad and include various public entities and organizations such as state, county, and local governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; non-profits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities, as long as they meet the program-specific eligibility rules described above and in the forthcoming announcement. Because the specific communities, funding amounts by area, and program expectations will be tied to the designated service areas, OHS directs interested applicants to review the detailed service area listings and related information on the OHS funding page at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohs/funding. Applicants can also request additional information by emailing the OHS Operations Center at OHSgrants@koniag-gs.com.

• 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 - Multiple Communities in CO, DE, LA, NC, OK, OR, TN, TX" 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 2025-02-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-04-29. (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 $20,276,444.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 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 2025 ACF OHS CH 0085

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