Applications competing for financial assistance will be reviewed and evaluated by non-federal objective review panels using only the criteria described in Section V.1. Criteria of this funding opportunity. Each panel is composed of non-federal subject matter experts with knowledge and experience in the area under review. Generally, review panels include three reviewers and one chairperson.

Evaluation criteria vary for each notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Applicants should refer to the specific NOFO to which they are applying, but some common categories include:

1. Demonstration of Need: Location, Population, and Service Delivery Options 
2. Achieving Early Learning and Development Outcomes to Promote School Readiness for Children 
3. Past Performance 
4. Staffing and Supporting a Strong Early Learning Workforce 
5. Planning and Implementation   
6. Organizational Capacity and Governance 
7. Budget and Budget Justification 

Results of the competitive objective review are taken into consideration by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the selection of projects for funding; however, objective review scores and rankings are not binding. Scores and rankings are only one element used in the award decision-making process. ACF reserves the right to evaluate applications in the larger context of the overall portfolio by considering geographic distribution of federal funds (e.g., ensuring coverage of states, counties, or service areas) in its pre-award decisions.

ACF may elect not to fund applicants with problematic management or financial records that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the proposed project. In addition, ACF may elect to not allow a prime recipient to sub-award if there is any indication that they are unable to properly monitor and manage subrecipients.

Applications may be funded in whole or in part. Successful applicants may be funded at an amount lower than that requested.

The following is a brief overview of the process of submitting an application and is not exhaustive. Applicants must follow all instructions in the Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) and on Grants.gov.

1. Download the instructions and application kit from Grants.gov. The application kit includes everything you need to complete an application, including all the forms. Save the kit to your computer and complete it off-line.
   
   ***REMEMBER! In order to view application packages and instructions, you will need to download and install a gov compatible version of Adobe Reader on your computer.
2. Complete the Application, including all required forms, assurances, and certifications. When complete, save the application to your computer. Be sure to click the "Check for Errors" button, which will validate your application and activate the "Save and Submit" button.
3. Save and Submit only after you have double-checked your application for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with the page limit and application submission requirements (e.g., electronic applications must be submitted in only two separate files). After you click "Save and Submit," you will enter your username and password. Assuming you are registered with Grants.gov, you can click the "Sign and Submit" button to authenticate and submit your application.
   
   As stated in the NOFO in Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission, under Application Upload Requirements, applicants submitting their applications electronically are required to upload ONLY two electronic files, excluding Standard Forms (SFs). No more than two files will be accepted for the review and additional files will be removed. Standard Forms will not be considered as additional files.
   
   You may not attach additional documents to the SF-424 at Question 14 and/or after Question 15. Instead of providing a separate response to Question 14, you are required to submit the SF for Project/Performance Site Location(s) (SF-P/PSL). In the SF-P/PSL, you may cite your primary location and up to 29 additional performance sites. Any documents attached to the SF-424 form will be removed from the review.
   
   ***REMEMBER! All ACF applicants must submit their application electronically unless they have received an exemption from this requirement through the process described in the NOFO.
4. Watch your Email.You will receive a series of emails from Grants.gov that will help you track your application. You can get the same information by logging into your account at Grants.gov.

For any systems issues experienced with Grants.gov and/or SAM.gov, please refer to the ACF Policy for Applicants Experiencing Federal Systems Issues [PDF, 168KB] document for complete guidance.

Tips on the Submission Process

• Know Your Role
  Each role in the submission process carries specific responsibilities. Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PIs) work with their organization to prepare the application, and pass the completed application on to their Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Only AORs have the ability to submit a grant application to ACF via Grants.gov. The E-Biz POC has the ability to designate the AOR for their organization.
• Obtain Software – Adobe Reader
  Applicants must download a Grants.gov compatible version of Adobe Reader software in order to view and complete the application forms. Users can identify and download Grants.gov compatible versions of Adobe Reader by visiting the Adobe Software Compatibility page on the Grants.gov website.
• Creating Portable Document Formats (PDFs)
  Some applicants choose to submit their applications in a PDF.

The free Adobe Reader used to complete an application cannot be used to create PDF attachments or merge multiple documents. To comply with instructions in the NOFO, some applicants may need to merge multiple documents together into one PDF file. Watch this video for instructions on using one software to create and merge PDF documents. ACF does not endorse any of the software, and applicants are not required to use a specific type of PDF conversion software to submit an application.

The content on this page is for informational purposes and should not be construed as instructions for submitting an application. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Announcement of interest for detailed instructions.

Applications received by ACF receive a thorough and comprehensive review. Although the time varies from program to program, it takes approximately four to six months from the time ACF receives a new application to the time awards are made. Usually each Notice of Funding Opportunties (NOFO) will contain an estimated date as to when awards will be made. This information can be found in Section V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates of the NOFO.

Successful applicants will be notified via email, informing them how to access their Notice of Award (NoA) and Terms and Conditions. Successful applicants can find instructions on accessing document(s) that pertain to their award (e.g., Applicant Panel Summary Report) in the remarks section of the NoA. ACF will send electronic notices to the Authorized Representative and contact person noted on the SF-424 form.

ACF program offices will notify applicants that were not funded either via email or through hard copy mail. These applicants will also receive a copy of their Applicant Panel Summary Report. The Applicant Panel Summary Report is a compilation of the reviewer's strengths and weakness statements on all criteria from the reviewed NOFO. If the application was reduced in response to NOFO requirements, the applicant will also receive a letter explaining why the application was reduced.