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611475 - FY26 RFPFWBPECI26010 for Iowa Early Childhood Continuum of Care
Funding Opportunity Details
Early Intervention and Support
Final Application Deadline: Jun 25, 2025 4:00 PM
Status Posted
Posted Date May 19, 2025 2:18 PM
Award Amount RangeNo Limit - $100,000.00
Project Dates 08/30/2025 - 06/30/2026
Award Announcement Date 07/28/2025
Categorical Area
Recurring Opportunity
Program Officer John McMullen
Phone (515) 416-8565 x
Description
It is the responsibility of the Applicant to review all Attachments listed below for additional details regarding this Funding Opportunity.
The issuance of this Funding Opportunity in no way constitutes a commitment by Iowa HHS to award a contract.
Excerpts from the RFP:
Purpose
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) # FWBPECI26010 is to solicit applications that will enable the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (referred to as Agency) to select the most qualified applicants to provide Building Solutions and Expanding the Early Childhood Continuum of Care grants to a Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program (SWVPP) and a Licensed Child Care Center, to collaborate in providing a full-day of care. A full day of care would be inclusive of SWVPP preschool time and Child Care setting time for Eligible Children.
Iowa spends over $91 million annually for a SWVPP and at 67% participation, Iowa currently ranks fifth in the nation for access to four-year-old preschool. While preschool is widely available, some working families cannot participate if the program only covers a portion of the day or would require mid-day transportation to Child Care. This Request for Proposal is a solution that meets demands of parents' busy lives, one that allows their children to benefit from the SWVPP and have access to Child Care. The partnership approach outlined in this RFP leverages existing capacity and preserves our state’s Child Care infrastructure.
Schedule of Important Dates (All times and dates listed are local Iowa time.)
The following dates are set forth for informational purposes. The Agency reserves the right to change them.
EVENT
DATE
RFP Issued
May 19, 2025
Applicant’s Conference
May 21, 2025 at 9:30am
Written Questions and Responses
Round 1 Questions Due:
Responses Posted By:
May 27, 2025
June 4, 2025
Final Questions Due:
Responses Posted By:
June 10, 2025
June 17, 2025
Applications Due
June 25, 2025 by 4:00 PM Local Iowa Time
Post Notice of Intent to Award
July 28, 2025
Attachments
| Description | File Name | Type | Size | Upload Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. RFPFWBPECI26010 Expanding the Early Childhood Continuum of Care | A. RFPFWBPECI26010 Expanding the Early Childhood Continuum of Care 1.pdf | 620 KB | 05/19/2025 02:17 PM | |
| B. HHS Application Instructions Guidance | B. HHS Application Instructions_Guidance New IG.pdf | 2 MB | 03/24/2025 03:24 PM | |
| C. Expanding the Early Childhood Continuum of Care Draft Contract | C. Expanding the Early Childhood Continuum of Care Draft Contract.pdf | 325 KB | 05/19/2025 10:51 AM | |
| D. Expanding the Early Childhood Continuum of Care Draft Score Tool | D. Expanding the Early Childhood Continuum of Care Draft Score Tool.pdf | 197 KB | 05/19/2025 10:51 AM | |
| E. Attachment E Amendment 1 (1) | Attachment E Amendment 1 1.pdf | 99 KB | 05/23/2025 12:58 PM | |
| F. Continuum of Care Grant Applicant's Conference FAQ | Continuum of Care Grant Applicants Conference FAQ.pdf | 128 KB | 05/23/2025 12:58 PM | |
| G. Early Childhood Continuum of Care Grant Examples | Early Childhood Continuum of Care Grant Examples 1 2.pdf | 156 KB | 05/23/2025 01:00 PM |
Website links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| A. IowaGrants Registration and Login Instructions | https://dom.iowa.gov/state-government/grant-management |
| B. General Terms and Contingent Terms | https://hhs.iowa.gov/initiatives/contract-terms |
| C. Iowa Code § 1C.2. | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/1c.pdf |
| D. Child Care as defined in Iowa Code 237A.1 | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/237A.1.pdf |
| E. child shall be considered to be of compulsory attendance age as provided in section 299.1A, subsection 3 | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/299.1a.pdf |
| F. Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children (IowaAEYC) | https://iowaaeyc.org/ |
| G. T.E.A.C.H. | https://iowaaeyc.org/programs/teach/ |
| H. WAGE$ | https://iowaaeyc.org/programs/wages/ |
| Submitted Date | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 10:54 AM | We currently have a partnership with Davenport Community school district to hold SWVPP in one of our child care facilities. The funding flows through the school district and the agreement is with the state for SWVPP. We have a contract with Davenport schools to hold SWVPP in our building, we have an AM class that runs 9:00 am to 11:00 am M-F and a PM class that runs 12:00pm to 2:00 pm M-F. Two different sets of kids. We operate full day 6:30 am -6:00 pm as a child care facility to provide full day child care option for families. Are we able to apply as a partnership: Davenport Schools as the fiscal agent and the state agreement holder of the SWVPP and us as the child care facility. | When a licensed child care center is a SWVPP Partner site the school district still has overall responsibility for administration of the SWVPP classrooms. Therefore, the licensed child care center and the district can still partner for this grant opportunity as two entities and both the SWVPP portion of the day and the child care portion of the day can occur in the licensed child care program’s building. |
| May 21, 2025 12:39 PM | I am a HHS licensed child care center. I also hold a signed contract agreement with the school district and participate in the SWVPP for 16 hours per week, although I am not a district classroom. We follow all regulations according to our contract with the district and employee a licensed teacher per the Iowa BOEE. Is my classroom eligible to apply for this continuum of care funding opportunity? | When a licensed child care center is a SWVPP Partner site the school district still has overall responsibility for administration of the SWVPP classrooms. Therefore, the licensed child care center and the district can still partner for this grant opportunity as two entities and both the SWVPP portion of the day and the child care portion of the day can occur in the licensed child care program’s building |
| May 21, 2025 1:26 PM | What are the Round 1 Questions that are due by May 27th? | If the applicant has questions about the RFP it is there opportunity to ask in the funding opportunity. Questions about the RFP were due May 27th for the first of two rounds of questions and answers. |
| May 21, 2025 1:41 PM | Are partnerships with multiple childcare centers and a single SWVPP provider eligible for this grant, or must each partnership involve one specific childcare center and one specific SWVPP provider? | Each application is for one licensed child care center and one SWVPP provider. Each applicant can be a partner in up to three applications. |
| May 21, 2025 1:42 PM | As an existing daycare center with a current license, would we be required to meet any additional criteria to be eligible for the COC grant, or is the eligibility focused solely on the SWVPP provider? | A licensed child care center must also participate in T.E.A.C.H. and WAGE$ to be an eligible partner. |
| May 21, 2025 1:44 PM | Can the grant funds be used to cover the full cost of facility renovations and classroom equipment, or is there a limit on how much of the grant can be allocated to infrastructure? | No funding is allowed for infrastructure costs. |
| May 21, 2025 1:46 PM | Is there a specific minimum number of hours per week that must be dedicated to SWVPP services in order to qualify for the grant? If the daycare center already provides full-day services, will it be considered as meeting the required hours? | SWVPP is required to operate a minimum of 10 hours per week, while also following preschool program standards. |
| May 22, 2025 9:00 AM | I was reading through the Iowa Early Childhood Continuum of Care grant on IowaGrants. Here at Kuemper Catholic, we have a half-day four-year-old preschool program and a licensed child care facility down the hall from the preschool program called KuemperCares. Some preschool children utilize a program within KuemperCares called the wraparound program, where children have childcare in the morning and afternoon, opposite to their preschool session. Since we already have a program in place, can we still apply for this grant? Let me know if you have any questions or need more details regarding our program and collaboration with the school. | All partnerships must consist of two entities however, existing partnerships may be eligible for this grant if they meet all other eligibility requirements. |
| May 22, 2025 11:08 AM | 1.Has there been consideration of amending the restrictions on expenditures? 2. Financial concern: With our center specifically, if we enroll 25 children and receive $100,000 for 10 months, we will unfortunately make roughly $40,000 less than if we charged our current rate. Ex. 25 children will require 2 full time staff and 2 part time staff plus transportation which is very close to $100,000.00. This does not cover food costs, materials, overhead costs such as utilities. With centers, the threes and the fours classrooms are where centers start to profit to cover overhead expenses for the infants/toddlers. This will be very challenging as a center to not have the extra funds that we currently get. We currently charge $120 per child for 4 half days and 1 full day since swvpp is only 4 mornings (16 hours with bus time). $120 x 25 children x 43 weeks = $129,000. We will have to pay transportation to the school which let's assume it will be roughly $10,000. We lose $40,000 of annual revenue. We can house more than 25 children as well so there would additional funds not received. With these figures, free is not an option for us to sustain the enrollment that is needed to partner with the school district. We will need other ways of revenue for this to be possible. Please keep in mind, swvpp is only 16 hours of the 50 hours and they are receiving .5 of the department of education per child funding and also have other funding to cover overhead costs. Child care centers do not have other streams of revenue to cover the overhead costs for the reaming 34 hours of the week to provide care. I truly appreciate the intent and so so thankful the state is supporting childcare centers so much, but I hope this is highly considered for the health of all childcare centers. Thank you! Tiffany Finch, Director at Cambridge Little Achievers Center, Fairfield, Iowa | At this time, funding is limited to staffing and transportation costs. You may charge families for the hours of service that are offered. |
| May 22, 2025 2:12 PM | Our school district's SWVPP is all day on Tuesdays - Fridays. Monday is the big challenge then locally. Would we be able to apply for assistance for that type of a schedule? | A SWVPP could partner with a licensed child care center to provide full day of service on Monday and any other additional hours that may need to be offered the other days of the week. |
| May 22, 2025 2:14 PM | Our licensed childcare is just finishing construction and will be open this fall (likely October/November timeframe). Would we be eligible, or does our center have to be licensed and operational as of the time of application? | The licensed child care center must be an existing licensed child care center at time of application. |
| May 22, 2025 4:51 PM | Can the SWVPP be our district, or one SWVPP specific site--For UEN districts that have multiple SWVPP sites under our one big district umbrella... does the SWVPP "entity" have to be one single preschool site, or can it be our District SWVPP as a whole umbrella; allowing us to navigate one partnership that could potentially impact many of our schools in our district SWVPP, with one licensed daycare provider? | The district offering SWVPP can partner with up to three licensed child care centers for the grant. |
| May 23, 2025 11:35 AM | Dear Grant Program Manager, Our community includes a school district that holds the SWVPP contract and operates multiple 4‑year‑old preschool sites. Our community also only has a single licensed childcare center, that also serves as one of the State Voluntary Preschool Program (SWVPP) partner sites. As stated in the RFP, it mentions the grant requires a "Licensed Child Care Center and an SWVPP partner to submit a joint application, with each role filled by a separate entity." May we submit two separate applications as follows? Proposal A: - Lead applicant: School district (SWVPP) - Subcontractor: Licensed childcare center - Scope: Support at the on‑campus preschool site and transportation/care at the childcare center Proposal B: - Lead applicant: Licensed childcare center - Subcontractor: School district - Scope: Support childcare staffing and operations for the SWVPP classroom housed in the childcare facility, including before/after care. Would submitting both of these applications comply with the grant’s eligibility rules? | Each application is for one licensed child care center and one SWVPP provider. Each applicant can be a partner in up to three applications. One partnership (meaning the same two entities) may not submit multiple applications. However, any one entity may be involved in up to three applications with different partners. |
| May 23, 2025 11:38 AM | Can the funding be used to pay for the SWVPP licensed teacher salary? | No, not during SWVPP time. If the SWVPP teacher provides extended child care beyond SWVPP, then funding could be used for salary support. |
| May 23, 2025 11:53 AM | I have been in discussion with my local school district, as my childcare center is looking into providing wrap around care for the students attending SWVPP at the school. I am unclear on the use of funding in relation to whether it could be used towards the salary of the district's existing preschool teacher. The district is maxed out on building space, so if it's needing to be a new preschool position, they are not able to participate. At that point, they'd only be able to use funding for transportation, which wouldn't be worth it. Can you help me with that question so I can know whether or not to schedule more discussions with the district? | If the SWVPP teacher provides extended child care beyond SWVPP, then funding could be used for salary support. |
| May 23, 2025 12:27 PM | Good afternoon, Will the recording of the Applicant Conference be posted on IowaGrants prior to the initial question cut-off on May 27? Thank you. | The recording of the Applicant Conference has been posted on the HHS website at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ozu4vbMa_E |
| May 23, 2025 3:31 PM | 1) We are currently operating a licensed Child Development Center in Atlantic, Iowa. We are managed by the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, which also manages a SWUPP, for 4 and 5 yr olds. We each have a separate license and are in separate buildings. Children enrolled in the Preschool program are bussed back and forth to our building for child care. Would we be able to qualify for this funding opportunity, to pay wages for our child care staff that are caring for the preschool children after their classes? 2) If approved for this funding, what are the requirements for once the SWUPP is done for the school year? We operate our Child Development Center all year round. 3) We have outgrown our Child Development Center, and are in the process of building a new larger building, but with a new name after the largest financial donor to our building. The new building should be done in 1 1/2 years. We will have the same staff, and will continue to operate and function as this building, and will collaborate with the SWUPP program, but with a new name. Will this affect the grant funding? 4) Can this grant funding help in paying wages to staff members at our Child Development Center, to provide continuance of care for children who are needing care in non-Preschool hours. We struggle with paying for additional staff, which would allow for us to provide more care for more children after Preschool hours. We are trying to provide for more care for children by building a larger building, and the grant opportunity would allow us to provide for staff wages. | Question 1: In the example provided it appears that the same entity operates both the SWVPP and the licensed child care. Only applications with include two entities in partnership with each other are eligible to apply. All partnerships must consist of two entities however; existing partnerships may be eligible for this grant if they meet all other eligibility requirements. Question 2: To be eligible for the five extra points, the applicant must provide verification that they have offered programming from August 2025-July 2026. Grant funding can be utilized from the date of the executed contract through the expiration date of the contract. Expenses incurred outside of the executed contract dates will not be eligible for reimbursement. Question 3: As long as the two partnering entities awarded remain the same, the grant would remain the same. Question 4: Grant funding is limited to classroom staff needed to meet minimum state ratio requirements. This is to provide “full-day” care from SWVPP time into child care time. Applicants must meet the minimum hours out care listed in the definition of “full-day of care” which can be found in Section 2.02(B). |
| May 26, 2025 7:03 PM | Is it possible to contract with a childcare program for wrap care that also has 2 community partner preschool programs under the same business name. The wrap portion of the day has separate staff and has a separate DHS ID number/childcare certification? | When a licensed child care center is a SWVPP Partner site the school district still has overall responsibility for administration of the SWVPP classrooms. Therefore, the licensed child care center and the district can still partner for this grant opportunity as two entities and both the SWVPP portion of the day and the child care portion of the day can occur in the licensed child care program’s building. |
| May 26, 2025 7:04 PM | Can a community partner preschool program use their own wrap provider - since the preschool program is affiliated with the district and the wrap portion has a separate DHS ID number/childcare certification? | When a licensed child care center is a SWVPP Partner site the school district still has overall responsibility for administration of the SWVPP classrooms. Therefore, the licensed child care center and the district can still partner for this grant opportunity as two entities and both the SWVPP portion of the day and the child care portion of the day can occur in the licensed child care program’s building. |
| May 27, 2025 9:14 AM | Can wage enhancement be structured as bonuses or supplements on top of base wages (including retention bonuses and T.E.A.C.H. program completion bonuses), or must it be incorporated into hourly pay rates? Are there reporting requirements for how wage enhancement is distributed? | The RFP states that wage enhancements/pay parity for licensed child care center classroom staff is an eligible use of funds but does not specify in what manner that must be provided. |
| May 27, 2025 9:14 AM | Can we hire additional staff beyond state-required ratios to provide enrichment programming and lower ratios for the wrap around portions of care provided by the licensed child care center or are we limited to only hiring enough staff to meet minimum state requirements? | Grant funding is limited to wage enhancement/pay parity or recruitment/retention of classroom staff needed to meet minimum state ratio requirements. |
| May 27, 2025 9:15 AM | Can we serve both families whose children attend SWVPP at our center AND families whose children attend SWVPP at the district site under the same grant? | Each application must include a partnership between a SWVPP entity and a licensed child care entity. If the district has multiple locations that provide SWVPP the children being provided SWVPP services from multiple sites (i.e. a district location and/or a community partner location) may be served for the child care portion of the day at the licensed child care location. |
| May 27, 2025 9:15 AM | Can a licensed childcare center that is also a SWVPP partner serve as the fiscal agent when partnering with a school district, using grant funds primarily for wraparound care wage enhancement without providing transportation services? | Either partner can be the fiscal agent. The RFP does not require partnerships to provide transportation it is just an eligible use of funds. Use of funds for salaries must be outlined in the response to the Request for Proposal. |
| May 27, 2025 9:17 AM | What happens if we don't reach our projected enrollment numbers? Can we adjust staffing levels and budget accordingly, or are we committed to serve a minimum number of children? | There is not a specific deadline for reaching projected enrollment, however we expect that entities awarded Contracts as a result of this RFP will follow their approved work plan and lack of progress towards the projected enrollment would be discussed on an individual basis with the Contract Manger. |
| May 27, 2025 9:24 AM | The Attachment F document states that "10 hours per day is considered a full day of care for this grant." Does that 10 hours include the SWVPP portion of the day, or does the childcare center need to provide up to 10 hours of wraparound care in addition to SWVPP time? For example, if SWVPP is 3 hours daily and our center operates 10.5 hours per day, would we provide 7 hours of wraparound care (totaling 10 hours with SWVPP), or would the grant expect 10 hours of wraparound care plus the 3 hours of SWVPP? | This includes the 10 hours of SWVPP per week. The intent is to support families for a full day of service, for at least 10 hours per day. |
| May 27, 2025 9:26 AM | Budget Flexibility: "If enrollment fluctuates during the contract year, can we modify our approved budget and staffing plan, or do we need a contract amendment for significant changes?" | Contract amendments are needed for significant changes. Entities that are awarded contracts as a result of this RFP can work with the Contract Manager to determine what constitutes a significant change. |
| May 27, 2025 9:26 AM | Performance Measure Minimums: "Are there minimum thresholds for the performance measures (number of children served, hours of care provided) that must be met to maintain the grant?" | There is not a minimum threshold for number of SWVPP Eligible Children served. Applicants must meet the minimum hours out care listed in the definition of “full-day of care” which can be found in Section 2.02(B). |
| May 27, 2025 9:26 AM | Enrollment Timeline: "Is there a deadline for reaching projected enrollment numbers, or can we build enrollment gradually throughout the contract year?" | There is not a specific deadline for reaching projected enrollment, however we expect that entities awarded Contracts as a result of this RFP will follow their approved work plan and lack of progress towards the projected enrollment would be discussed on an individual basis with the Contract Manger. |
| May 27, 2025 9:26 AM | Family Withdrawal: "If families withdraw from the program mid-year, how does this affect our grant funding and reporting requirements?" | The grant isn’t focused on “slots”. The grant is focused on having sufficient staff (i.e. wage enhancements/pay parity and recruitment/retention) to provide extended child care time beyond SWVPP time, and/or transportation expenses. |
| May 27, 2025 9:33 AM | Our school participates in the SWVPP. We have 3 and 4 year old preschool. 2 years ago The CAL CSD took over the child care center (Cub Cadet) located on our property. The eligibility requirements state this: Only a Licensed Child Care Center and a SWVPP are eligible to submit a joint, collaborative application in accordance with this RFP. Applicants may not serve as both the SWVPP and Licensed Child Care Center roles to receive an award. I assume this means because we are already doing this, we do not qualify to apply for this grant. Please let me know if I am correct and I thank you for your time. | If the school district operates the child care center and the SWVPP program, this would not be considered a partnership between two entities and would not be eligible for grant funding. |
| May 27, 2025 10:08 AM | As a licensed childcare provider interested in partnering with [Pleasant Valley Community School District] for their SWVPP program through the Early Childhood Continuum of Care grant, I would like to clarify the fee structure for transportation services. Question: Under the Early Childhood Continuum of Care grant partnership, are childcare providers permitted to charge families a reasonable transportation fee to help offset the costs of transporting children between the SWVPP site (located at the school district facility) and our licensed childcare center for wraparound care services? Specifically, I am asking about: Transportation from the school district SWVPP location to our childcare center (afternoon pickup) Transportation from our childcare center to the school district SWVPP location (morning drop-off) Whether such fees would be considered allowable under the grant guidelines while maintaining the "no cost" requirement for the core SWVPP programming This transportation service would enable working families to access seamless full-day care by connecting the free SWVPP hours with our licensed wraparound childcare services, which aligns with the grant's goal of providing comprehensive early childhood care solutions. Thank you for your clarification on this matter. | If funding from this grant will be used to cover the full cost of transportation between the SWVPP location and the licensed child care location, it would not be permitted to also charge the family for transportation fees. If funding from the grant does not cover the full cost of transportation then families may be charged a transportation fee as long as the combination of grant funding and family fees do not exceed the actual cost of providing transportation. |
| May 27, 2025 10:24 AM | In one of our communities (which would be the Service Delivery Area outlined in 1.04), we would have ONE SWVPP partner and ONE childcare center partner (with three licensed locations). Can one partnership application encompass the three licensed childcare locations in that Service Delivery Area, or would this situation require three separate applications (one for each licensed location)? | If the same entity owns multiple licensed child care locations they are still considered one entity however the partnership agreement would need to define which licensed child care location(s) are participating in the partnership. |
| May 27, 2025 1:14 PM | Can grant funds be used to cover professional development costs, substitute wages and benefits, additional staff hired specifically to achieve better staff-to-child ratios, and enrichment program specialists during wraparound care hours (such as music/movement instructors, STEM specialists, art teachers, or language instructors), or are grant funds limited only to basic childcare staff wages required to meet minimum state ratios? | Grant funds may be used to support costs for child care classroom staff wage enhancements/pay parity or recruitment/retention to meet minimum state ratio requirements. |
| May 27, 2025 1:24 PM | What happens if the partnered SWVPP doesn't have any currently attending children at the Child Care Center? As an example, "Center" is partnered with SWVPP and it's anticipated that 3 children will need wrap around full day care. However, when the school year starts all 3 families decide not to enroll at "center" what happens? Can those funds still be used for the teacher in the Center because those spots are held for anyone participating in the SWVPP? | There is not a timeline to reach the specified number of children enrolled. However, we expect that entities awarded Contracts as a result of this RFP will follow their approved work plan and lack of progress towards the projected enrollment would be discussed on an individual basis with the Contract Manger. |
| May 27, 2025 4:57 PM | As a child care provider serving as an SWVPP partner with two school districts, would we be able to apply to serve students with this grant who are enrolled for SWVPP at our centers for the upcoming school year? Thank you. | When a licensed child care center is a SWVPP Partner site the school district still has overall responsibility for administration of the SWVPP classrooms. Therefore, the licensed child care center and the district can still partner for this grant opportunity as two entities and both the SWVPP portion of the day and the child care portion of the day can occur in the licensed child care program’s building. If there are two school districts to partner with, this would be two separate applications. |
| May 27, 2025 4:59 PM | Revision to previously submitted question - We are a licensed child care provider serving as an SWVPP community program partner with a school district. Children are dropped off at our center by their parents for SWVPP and some of them stay all day for before/after care. Would we be eligible to apply as the licensed child care provider to serve students with this grant who are enrolled for SWVPP at our center for the upcoming school year? | When a licensed child care center is a SWVPP Partner site the school district still has overall responsibility for administration of the SWVPP classrooms. Therefore, the licensed child care center and the district can still partner for this grant opportunity as two entities and both the SWVPP portion of the day and the child care portion of the day can occur in the licensed child care program’s building. |
| May 27, 2025 6:58 PM | We are wondering if there can be more clarification regarding the "licensed child care center and SWVPP" and when they can and cannot be the same. It is our understanding that the SWVPP that offer wrap around care do not qualify on their own, is that correct? We have a separate daycare center, but there is no way they would have the space to support wrap around care for all our SWVPP centers. This center offers a SWVPP classroom and wrap around care in the same center, can they submit an application and be both the SWVPP and the daycare?? | When a licensed child care center is a SWVPP Partner site the school district still has overall responsibility for administration of the SWVPP classrooms. Therefore, the licensed child care center and the district can still partner for this grant opportunity as two entities. |
| May 28, 2025 9:41 AM | How can we (Head Start) become an SWVPP community-based provider in partnership with the Department of Education? | A program wishing to provide SWVPP must work directly with their community school district. |
| May 29, 2025 10:04 AM | If a center that is not yet open, but plans to be open and licensed by June 30, 2026 is eligible to apply for this funding opportunity? | No. The child care program must have an existing license as this award begins for the 2025-2026 school year. |
| May 29, 2025 2:29 PM | What's required by the fiscal agent as indicated in RFP | The fiscal agent must be able to accept grant funds, manage the funds, and make local payments between the two grant entities accordingly. |
| May 29, 2025 2:30 PM | Does the fiscal agent have to be who issues the checks (business manager) or can it be the individual who manages the grant | The fiscal agent has to be the entity authorized to do business with the State of Iowa. The fiscal agent will be the entity responsible for receiving payment, managing grant funds, and distributing funds accordingly to relevant partners within the grant. |
| Jun 2, 2025 12:11 PM | Can the Applicant partner with themselves if they also have a childcare business. Our school district is the SWVPP and also operates a Licensed Child Care Center. We want to collaborate to provide a full date of care. We are a separate Early Childhood Center (Enterprise Fund). | No, there must be two separate entities to create a partnership. Please see Attachment G, Early Childhood Continuum of Care Grant Examples. |
| Jun 2, 2025 2:21 PM | I would like to add our partner agency as an additional contact for the grant; however, I do not see that this is an option. As the district agency that is applying for the grant, is there a way to add the contact for the childcare provider agency? | If the district entity is applying for the grant, enter their information in the primary contact information section. Writing for both entities will be a part of the application’s narrative. The personnel section could be used to indicate additional key staff from either entity. |
| Jun 3, 2025 4:12 PM | 1. What will the typical turnaround time be for invoices, as in how long in arrears should the fiscal agent expect invoices to be paid? 2. Are we able to request an increasing amount of funds for the subsequent years so that we are able to potentially expand the program to offer care to more children and families? 3. When calculating staff costs are training hours or payroll taxes allowable expenses? | Question 1. Once a claim is submitted in IowaGrants for an awarded grant, there may be up to a 90-day turnaround for payment. Established electronic deposits (EFT) increase efficiencies. Question 2: The amount for a Contract to provide services awarded as a result of this RFP, shall not exceed $100,000 in any annual Contract Year per lead entity. If an Applicant requests less than $100,000 in the first year it is possible to request more in additional years as long as any one year does not exceed $100,000. Applicants will be expected to submit budgets for the first annual contract period (Contract Year 1), refer to section 2 and 3 of this RFP. Question 3: Allowable expenses are for staff salaries and benefits and/or transportation expenditures. |
| Jun 4, 2025 2:56 PM | If the childcare center applies as the primary contract entity and fiscal agent, do any contacts from the SWVPP need to be linked through an iowagrants.gov account to the application? | Entities who are indicated to be primary points of contacts to manage the grant should be identified and granted access to the grant in IowaGrants. This can be edited, as needed, through the term of the grant award. |
| Jun 5, 2025 8:32 AM | If the childcare center applies as the primary contract entity and fiscal agent, do any contacts from the SWVPP need to be linked through an iowagrants.gov account to the application? | Entities who are indicated to be primary points of contacts to manage the grant should be identified and granted access to the grant in IowaGrants. This can be edited, as needed, through the term of the grant award. |
| Jun 5, 2025 11:38 AM | Ogden CSD is considering partnering with a local childcare center and completing the recently announced grant to expand childcare and preschool programs. The school district has its own SWVPP as well as a community partner SWVPP located at a church. The community partner is under our direction and we ensure they are meeting all PK requirements. If we received the grant, would the childcare center be able to accept students from both our locations? Accept meaning, provide wrap-around care and transportation services. | Yes. Ogden CSD would be the SWVPP entity, even when the SWVPP classroom is located at the church. Then, the child care center at the church would be the second entity in the partnership. Wrap-around care and transportion services would be allowable for this grant. |
| Jun 5, 2025 3:16 PM | Under the Work Plan section it states "Please upload an email correspondence between the child care entity and IowaAEYC, indicating there is a willingness to support child care staff in the “T.E.A.C.H.” and “WAGE$” programs and/or have an active agreement to support eligible child care staff in “T.E.A.C.H.” and “WAGE$” programs." However, there is not an upload button here. Is the intent to copy/paste narrative into the text box? | This will be uploaded in the Background and Demonstrated Experience section. Please upload a copy of an email correspondence with IowaAEYC to verify active engagement with T.E.A.C.H. and WAGE$. |
| Jun 5, 2025 3:36 PM | How detailed does the agreement between the childcare center and the school have to be? We are already listed on your site as having Universal Preschool partnership with our school district we just have never had a written agreement. | This agreement must outline the coordinated and agreed upon arrangement between the child care center and the school district. You are encouraged to work with appropriate legal counsel for formalized agreements. |
| Jun 9, 2025 10:08 AM | When will I know if this was awarded? | As indicated in the RFP, Notice of Intent to Award – A Notice of Intent to Award the contract(s) will be posted for 10 business days on the Agency Web page https://hhs.iowa.gov/about/fundingopportunities/notice-intent-award under Funding Opportunities link by 4:30 pm on the date specified in the Schedule of Events table (July 28, 2025). Applicants are solely responsible for reviewing the Notice of Intent to Award to determine their award status. |
| Jun 9, 2025 12:33 PM | Why can't the application be submitted at this time? | The Application can be submitted at this time. Please make sure you’ve saved all sections of the application. Make sure your budget is $100,000 or less. All sections must be saved before a Mark as Complete can be selected for grant submission. |
| Jun 9, 2025 2:28 PM | I am a current licensed center with an already existing partnership with our local school district and am working on applying for this grant. What does it mean to be participating in both TEACH and WAGE$? I have one active employee that is under a TEACH contract and I share the WAGE$ information with employees that qualify...but I don't know if any of them actually apply for the WAGE$ program...nor can I control if they do or not? | Please upload a copy of an email exchange with IowaAEYC and the child care entity involved in the application to verify the child care entity has a plan to offer T.E.A.C.H. and WAGE$ to their staff. The upload feature is a component of the application’s work plan. |
| Jun 9, 2025 9:08 PM | Our district owns and operates Mustang Child Care, which provides daycare services for children ages 0–4, as well as before- and after-school care for our full-day, five-day-a-week preschool program. Since the child care center is operated by the district rather than through an external community partnership, are we still eligible to apply for this grant? | No, there must be two separate entities to create a partnership. Please see Attachment G, Early Childhood Continuum of Care Grant Examples. This example indicates there is one lead entity providing oversight for both roles. |
| Jun 9, 2025 9:08 PM | Our district owns and operates Mustang Child Care, which provides daycare services for children ages 0–4, as well as before- and after-school care for our full-day, five-day-a-week preschool program. Since the child care center is operated by the district rather than through an external community partnership, are we still eligible to apply for this grant? | No, there must be two separate entities to create a partnership. Please see Attachment G, Early Childhood Continuum of Care Grant Examples. This example indicates there is one lead entity providing oversight for both roles. |
| Jun 10, 2025 12:20 PM | Can churches be the licensed childcare provider for the before/after care programming? | Yes, a church can be the licensed child care provider as long as they have an active license with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. |
| Jun 10, 2025 2:08 PM | If a school district with SWVPP and community child care center are partnering and the school district is the fiscal agent, do we complete the application with the school as the business organization and the childcare center as the subcontractor? | Yes, the school would be the business organization and the child care center would be the subcontractor. |
| Jun 10, 2025 4:51 PM | When structuring year round programming, especially within the first year, if Wrap Care/Day Care is offered when the preschool is not in session to all 4 year olds that attend SWVPP, does this meet the threshold of Year Round full day model? For example, we have daycare accessible by all SWVPP students starting Aug. 1, preschool teachers meet with parents and do home visits through Sept. 15th and start the 4 year old and 3 year old preschool program on the 15th. Then have this carry through May 15th as the preschool year would finish, but the day care offering would still carry through July 30 for full year coverage. | Yes, this would represent a year-round programming model. |
| Jun 10, 2025 8:45 PM | When structuring year round programming, especially within the first year, if Wrap Care/Day Care is offered when the preschool is not in session to all 4 year olds that attend SWVPP, does this meet the threshold of Year Round full day model? For example, we have daycare accessible by all SWVPP students starting Aug. 1, preschool teachers meet with parents and do home visits through Sept. 15th and start the 4 year old and 3 year old preschool program on the 15th. Then have this carry through May 15th as the preschool year would finish, but the day care offering would still carry through July 30 for full year coverage. | Yes, this would represent a year-round programming model. |