Cloud Hosting, System Administration, and Website Support and Development for the Institute of Education Science
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES), under the Department of Education, is conducting market research through a Sources Sought notice for Cloud Hosting, System Administration, and Website Support and Development services. This effort aims to support IES's web operations, which primarily host survey collection and dissemination websites within Amazon Web Services (AWS). This opportunity is designated as a Total Small Business Set-Aside. Responses are due by April 7, 2026.
Scope of Work
IES requires services for its virtual data center hosted in AWS, encompassing web servers, database servers, web applications, and a system management/web development environment. Key areas include:
- AWS Cloud Services: Providing cost-effective AWS hosting in GovCloud-West and US-East, ensuring high availability (99.9%), rapid recovery (1 hour), and compliance with federal IT security requirements (FISMA, FedRAMP). This involves managing existing AWS accounts and maintaining technical documentation.
- System Operations and Security Support: Offering off-site support staff experienced in federal IT mandates. This includes managing the IES virtual data center (VPCs, servers, backups, security policies), maintaining various operating systems (Windows Server, Linux) and applications (SQL Server, IIS, Drupal), and ensuring compliance with FISMA, NIST, and OMB regulations.
- Website Administration and Development: Supporting approximately 40 websites and 400 databases, including troubleshooting, migration, user account management, and load balancer management. Development work involves .NET, .NET Core, Classic ASP, and Drupal, with a focus on Section 508 compliance and updating dissemination tools.
- Software and Applications: Supporting a wide range of software, including AWS services, Microsoft products, Linux, Drupal, and various analytical and security tools, and providing necessary software licenses.
Contract & Timeline
- Contract Opportunity Type: Sources Sought
- Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
- Period of Performance (Anticipated): Base Year: July 26, 2026 – July 25, 2027, with four one-year option periods extending through July 25, 2031.
- Response Due: April 7, 2026, at 4:00 PM ET
- Published: March 27, 2026
Special Requirements
- Staffing: All personnel must be U.S. citizens eligible for High-Risk Public Trust positions, requiring background investigations and security clearances.
- Security: Strict adherence to federal IT security mandates, including FISMA, FedRAMP, NIST standards, and data protection regulations (Privacy Act, CIPSEA, FERPA). Encryption (FIPS 140-2 validated) for data at rest and in transit is mandatory.
- Compliance: Adherence to Section 508 for accessibility, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) handling, and Records Management Obligations.
- Equipment: Contractor must provide all necessary equipment; Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) will not be supplied.
- Reporting: Monthly reports on progress, accomplishments, issues, spending, and future work are required.
Additional Notes
This Request for Information (RFI) is for market research and planning purposes only. It does not constitute a commitment to solicit or award a contract, and no reimbursement will be made for response costs. IES is seeking vendor capabilities and feedback on the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS).