For programs awaiting a DRS competition, little information has been shared in recent months about the timeline for the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to be released. Usually, by late summer, a forecast for the NOFO is on Grants.gov and DRS competitions typically open in the fall or early winter. This time, those months came and went without any Head Start updates on Grants.gov. Earlier this week, the Office of Head Start (OHS) shared a communication with some programs about the timeline for DRS and what to expect next.

Each year, around this time, Head Start programs in DRS are beginning to prepare for their grant competition. Typically, there is a forecast on Grants.gov that alerts agencies to when the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for their grant will open and when applications will be due. As we head into the start of a new program year, there is not yet a forecast posted on Grants.gov for fall DRS grant competitions. While there is usually a forecast a month or more out, the lead time can be much shorter. We understand that this creates some uncertainty for program.

While there is uncertainty about the future of Head Start, children and families are being served and the core aspects of the federal program continue on – including DRS. We understand that having a program in DRS can be unsettling. With the right planning and tools, the process can go smoothly and successfully. Here, we talk about what to expect for the next round of DRS and how you can leverage efficiencies in planning.

On Thursday, February 27, the Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for Head Start/Early Head Start grant recipients in multiple communities in Colorado, Delaware, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas was posted to grants.gov. These grants were forecasted to post on January 28, 2025 but were delayed after the forecast was removed from grants.gov. Now that the NOFO has officially posted, it appears the grant competitions will move forward.

The upcoming round of DRS was scheduled to open for competition on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) were not released as scheduled. The forecast for these grants has not been updated with a new timeline.This week, federal grant recipients, including Head Start grantees, experienced uncertainty about their immediate funding and future of their grants. While it’s unclear when currently forecasted grant opportunities will move forward, we encourage programs awaiting a DRS competition to use this time to prepare.

Last week, a Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for Designation Renewal System (DRS) grant opportunities was forecasted on grants.gov.Per grants.gov, the geographic areas and funding amounts for the NOFOs include the following.Head Start/Early Head Start Recipient - Multiple Communities in CO, DE, LA, NC, OK, OR, TN, TX

The deadline for submission of DRS grant applications, January 6, 2025, is about three weeks away. At this stage in the process, you’re likely putting finishing touches on the narrative, gathering appendix items, and planning for submission of your application. This round of DRS is unique in that the final steps of the application process are taking place over the winter holidays when many programs have closures or staff are out of the office.