(a) The grantee may not advertise for bids or award a contract for any part of construction or major renovation funded by grant funds until the grantee has submitted to the responsible HHS official final working drawings and written specifications for the project, a written certification by a licensed engineer or architect as to technical appropriateness of the proposed construction or renovation and the conformity of the project as shown in the final working drawings and specifications with Head Start programmatic requirements, and a written estimate of the costs of the project by a licensed architect or engineer.

(b) The responsible HHS official may authorize the grantee to advertise bids or award a contract after receiving the information provided under paragraph (a) of this section and determining that sufficient funding is, or will be, available to cover the costs of the project as estimated by the architect or engineer, and that the scope of the project as described in the drawings and specifications is appropriate to the needs of the grantee.