Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) SMART Grant

The Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) SMART Grant, solicitation number HHS-2026-ACF-ECD-TP-0039, is a funding opportunity from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the Department of Health and Human Services. This program provides targeted, one-year investments to states and territories to enhance statewide early care and education (ECE) technology and analytic data infrastructure. Applicants must choose between two priority areas: technology infrastructure investment or innovation testing investment. The primary goal is to strengthen the ability to generate actionable information for decision-making and improve coordination across mixed-delivery systems to better support children from birth through age five. The agency expects to award approximately 25 grants from a total funding pool of 222 million dollars, with individual awards ranging from a minimum of 500,000 dollars to a maximum ceiling of 15 million dollars. A critical requirement for applicants is a 30 percent cost-sharing match by the end of the project period. The project is expected to start on December 31, 2026, and includes a requirement for at least four attendees to participate in a three-day meeting in Washington, DC. Applications are due by November 20, 2026, and are evaluated based on a 130-point scale plus 8 possible bonus points, with a heavy emphasis on alignment with ACF vision, mission, and priorities. Submission requirements include a combined 75-page limit for two primary files: a narrative file containing the project summary, narrative, and budget, and an attachments file containing an indirect cost agreement, eligibility documentation, and organizational capacity information. Applicants must also complete standard federal forms, including SF-424 and SF-LLL, and maintain an active registration in SAM.gov. Evaluation factors include merit review, geographic distribution, past performance, and the ability to serve underserved populations, while strictly prohibiting the use of funds for DEI and DEIA activities. All projects must adhere to 2 CFR Part 200 and prioritize data privacy and security.