FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Vendor Request for Proposals Released for 2010 HSBS Preferred Provider List

RESTON, VA  (January 15, 2010) – Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play (HSBS) today announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) to vendors to participate in its 2010 Preferred Provider List for its four-year, $12 million physical activity project. Funding for HSBS is provided by The Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families, US Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of HSBS is to increase physical activity, outdoor play and healthy eating among Head Start and Early Head Start children, families and staff. A major activity of HSBS is to distribute almost $8 million of the $12 million grant directly to Head Start centers nationwide in the form of grant awards up to $5,000 each to improve their outdoor playspaces. HSBS awarded 351 grants during the first grant year, and will award approximately 380+ grants each year for the next three years (2010, 2011, and 2012). This year's Play Space RFP will be released in April 2010 and Play Space grants will be awarded in August 2010.

Playground companies, equipment manufacturers, and other creators of playground and play space-related resources are eligible to apply for inclusion on the 2010 Preferred Provider List, which will offer discounts or value-added packages of safe, developmentally appropriate equipment and materials to Head Start Play Space grant recipients. The Preferred Provider List will be made available to all Head Start centers and may be used by Head Start Play Space grant recipients who are selecting resources for their outdoor playspaces.

"Increasing physical activity and outdoor play for the nation's 900,000 Head Start children, their families and staff is one of the goals of the center," said Head Start Body Start Director Karin H. Spencer, Ed.D. "This is an exciting opportunity for companies who are dedicated to increasing physical activity to join our efforts and support the early childhood community in developing their outdoor play spaces."  

Vendors selected for inclusion on the Preferred Provider List will receive a press kit and will be entitled to use the official 2010 Head Start Body Start Preferred Provider logo. The Preferred Provider List will also be identified on the HSBS Web site, recognized in the HSBS and NASPE newsletters, displayed at various HSBS exhibit booths throughout the year, and included in HSBS resources which are available to the entire early childhood community beyond the Head Start community.

To apply to become a vendor listed as a Head Start Body Start Preferred Provider, please see the attached RFP for a detailed explanation of the proposal process. Direct any questions about the process to headstartbodystart@aahperd.org. Subject Line: Vendor PPL.

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Contact:
Michelle Martinez
mmartinez@aahperd.org
703-476-3420

Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play is a collaboration between the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR) and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and is funded by a grant from the Administration for Children and Families. Head Start Body Start aims to increase physical activity, outdoor play, and healthy eating among Head Start and Early Head Start children, families, and staff. We help Head Start and Early Head Start Centers to create healthy learning environments and promote physical activity that leads to the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of young children and reduces obesity and its associated costs.

AAHPERD, an alliance of five national associations, six district associations, and a Research Consortium, provides its members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support, and programs to help practitioners improve their skills to further the health and well-being of the American public. It is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, recreation, fitness, dance, health promotion and all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. AAHPERD serves 20,000 members and has its headquarters in Reston, Virginia, 25 miles west of Washington DC. To learn more, visit www.aahperd.org.