General Questions

• Q:

  Did you want a separate budget for startup, training/technical assistance, and implementation? Or did you want those costs identified within one budget?

   

• A:

  Each applicant must submit two budgets for the first year: a startup budget and an ongoing operating budget. A training and technical assistance budget must be included in both the startup and the ongoing operating budget. It is not a separate budget.

   

• Q:

  Did you want ALL of an organizations personnel policies and procedures, which is extensive and includes Staff Responsibilities, Procedures to Follow, Policies and Requirements, and Working with Students and Clients?

   

• A:

  It is not necessary to submit the entire personnel policies and procedures manual with the application. Applicants can include the cover page and the table of contents.

   

• Q:

  If an applicant may submit two applications, must the ceiling of the award for both applications together be $5 million, or will each application have a ceiling of $5 million? In other words, does the $5 million ceiling apply to each agency seeking funds, or to each application submitted?

   

• A:

  The ceiling applies to each application.

   

• Q:

  The application states that there is a limit of 60 pages for all appendices and resumes. Does this include all attachments beyond the narrative and budget documents, (including certifications, assurances, letters of support, third-party agreements, audit reports, job descriptions, etc.)?

   

• A:

  Yes.

   

• Q:

  If successful in obtaining the award, when would the program have to commence?

   

• A:

  Applicants must submit a startup plan with timelines for implementation of services.

   

• Q:

  For those applicants that OHS ultimately becomes interested in potentially awarding these grants to, will it be a potential negotiation process, or, an all-or-nothing straight up-and-down decision?

   

• A:

  There may be a potential negotiation process.

   

• Q:

  If the proposed expansion would necessitate a different facility, and/or other costs, should those anticipated costs manifest in the requested funding per slot, or as a separate set of costs deemed necessary to successfully implement these additional slots?

   

• A:

  Anticipated facilities costssuch as construction or renovation costsshould be included in the startup budget.

   

• Q:

  I am requesting some clarification in regards to whether expansion can include partnerships with existing childcare facilities.

   

• A:

  Programs are encouraged to collaborate with child care and other partners. All applicants, including those with childcare partnerships, must offer program services that meet all Head Start regulations, such as staffing ratios and group size.

   

• Q:

  Everything is to be double spaced. What about footnotes? Should they be double spaced also?

   

• A:

  No. Footnotes do not have to be double spaced.

   

• Q:

  What is the Web site for updates?

   

• A:

  Answers to questions can be accessed at http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc.

   

• Q:

  In the section titled, "Non-Federal Reviewers," it is stated that the original copy needs to have salary levels for individuals including Social Security numbers, but not to include this in the two copies. Please confirm that this is required for the original copy.

   

• A:

  This information is required for the original application only.

   

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Questions specific to American Indian and Alaska Native Expansion

• Q:

  Is a Tribal Resolution required? If yes, where is this indicated in the RFP?

   

• A:

  No, a Tribal Resolution is not required but the application must be approved by the Governing Body

   

• Q:

  Are 3 bids required for a Construction Grant? If yes, do they need to be submitted with proposal?

   

• A:

  No. However, if funded, any grantee would need to follow all of the property / procurement regulations in 45 CFR 92 and Head Start regulations.

   

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Questions specific to Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Expansion

Questions on Migrant and Seasonal expansion are coming soon.

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Questions specific to Head Start Expansion

• Q:

  Are the funding levels in the Head Start announcement 1-year or 2-year numbers?

   

• A:

  They are one year numbers. There will be approximately $100 million awarded to successful applicants nationally in fiscal year 2009 and another $100 million awarded to these same applicants in fiscal year 2010. The amounts in the state allocation in the announcement are also one year numbers.

   

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Questions specific to Early Head Start Expansion

Questions on Early Head Start expansion are available here.

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