Automated Head Start Grant Application

ACYF Administration on Children, Youth and Families	U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families
	1. Log No. ACYF-IM-HS-01-04	2. Issuance Date: 03/25/01
	3. Originating Office: Head Start Bureau
	4. Key Word: Automated Head Start Grant Application

Superseded November, 2004 by http://www.acfgabi.com/

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

TO: Head Start and Early Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies

SUBJECT: Automated Head Start Grant Application

INFORMATION: The Head Start Bureau is pleased to inform you that software is now available which will assist you in the preparation and submission of Head Start program grant applications.

The Grant Application and Budget Instrument (GABI) is programmed for use in a Windows 95 or higher environment. The software may be used to easily enter all budget and program schedule data. An edit routine will check to see that data has been entered correctly and will "cue" grantees if certain information appears to be missing or entered incorrectly. The software will also prepare Standard Forms 424 and 424a, based on the information applicants provide.

The software for the GABI is available from several sources.

The software and user manuals will be mailed to grantees upon request by the Head Start Information & Publication Center. Grantees may call the Publication Management Center on (703) 683-2878 or contact the center through the Head Start Bureau web site at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb by clicking on the Publications button on the Head Start Bureau home page. Please note that the Publication Management Center is not responsible for technical support. Technical support will be provided by the American Institutes for Research on 1-800-277-8552.

A copy of the software and user manual may be downloaded directly to grantee's computers from the American Institutes for Research (AIR)web site. This web site address is http://www.air.org/hsware(.) This web site contains "how to" information which will be useful to you when downloading the software. All future upgrades or system changes will be located at this site and the AIR development staff recommends that grantees visit the site from time to time to copy the most up-to-date software.

A paper copy of the GABI is available at the Head Start Bureau web site. When you reach the web site click on the "announcements" button on the home page and then click on the "what's new" button to print a paper copy of the application.

Grantees should check with their Regional Offices to determine how they wish to receive applications. In all cases applicants should provide a signed original Standard Form 424 and required assurances which will be generated by the GABI, and evidence of approval of the application by the Policy Council. In the future, based upon the recommendations of the Interagency Electronic Grants Committee, ACYF plans to issue a version of the automated GABI which will permit submission of the applications electronically.

As a final note, please be aware that if you are submitting lengthy first-year cycle grant applications, you may find it more efficient to write the application narrative in a separate document instead of on the diskette. In all cases, however, budgets and program schedules may be easily prepared and printed by using the GABI software. Also, please note that while the present version of the software may be used by migrant Head Start programs, we will be modifying the software in a later release to better reflect the special nature of migrant Head Start programs.

Please contact your Regional Offices or Kevin Costigan on 202-205-8396 with any questions or comments you have about our automated application software.

Douglas Klafehn
Acting Associate Commissioner
Head Start Bureau

Cc: Regional Administrators, ACF, Regions I-X
American Indian and Migrant Programs Branches