Scientific Peer Review Support for the Institute of Education Sciences

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the requirements for providing integrated support for the full range of scientific peer review activities conducted at the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). This includes the review of applications for discretionary research grant competitions, unsolicited grant applications, and external scientific peer review of report manuscripts. The contract will also involve operating and maintaining the PRIMO (Peer Review Management Online) system, which provides critical infrastructure for application processing, peer review management, and applicant notification.

• Support for scientific peer review activities for grant applications, report manuscripts, and unsolicited grant applications.

• Operation and maintenance of the PRIMO system, including its modules for Letters of Intent (LOI), application management, reviewer database, panel development, applicant notification, and reporting.

• Conducting compliance and responsiveness screening for grant applications.

• Managing reviewer assignments to panels and applications.

• Facilitating peer review panel meetings (primarily via video teleconference).

• Generating various reports related to applications, reviews, and panel outcomes.

• Providing help desk support for PRIMO users.

• The PWS details numerous deliverables and tasks, implying performance will be measured against the timely and accurate completion of these activities.

• Specific reports are required at various stages of the peer review process.

• The contract includes one (1) 12-month Base Year with four (4) 12-month Option Years.

• The period of performance is firm-fixed price.

• The place of performance is not explicitly stated but implies remote work and potential onsite support for in-person meetings.

• Contractor must comply with U.S. Department of Education requirements for Information Technology, including accessibility standards (Section 508) and information security.

• Contractor must maintain the PRIMO system and associated Applicant Notification System (ANS).

• The contract involves managing a large number of external expert peer reviewers (over 400 annually).

• Honoraria for peer reviewers are incorporated into the contractor's pricing structure.

Request for Information (RFI)

This RFI is issued by the U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (IES) to gather information regarding industry capabilities for providing integrated support for its scientific peer review activities. This includes the scientific review of discretionary research grant applications, external scientific peer review of report manuscripts, unsolicited grant applications, and grant supplement applications. The RFI also seeks information on vendors' ability to provide IT support for the Peer Review Management Online (PRIMO) system.

• Managing virtual and in-person scientific peer review panels.

• Maintaining and supporting the PRIMO system.

• Operating a help desk and providing technical support.

• Supporting grant application processing, external reviewer recruitment, onboarding, honorarium processing, and conflict of interest tracking.

• Coordinating panel logistics and reviewer communications.

• Preparing peer review summary statements and scoring reports.

• Communicating with applicants via the Applicant Notification System.

• Ensuring compliance with federal IT, accessibility, cybersecurity, and privacy standards.

• Supporting a high volume of research grant applications and external peer reviewers annually.

• Responses to the RFI are due no later than 12pm ET, February 4, 2026.

• Responses shall not exceed 8 pages and must be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact, Anastasia Jones (Anastasia.Jones@ed.gov).

• Prior experience in managing research grant scientific peer review panels and report manuscript reviews.

• Experience operating and maintaining a web-based platform for scientific peer review.

• Feedback on the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) and ideas for structuring the procurement as a firm-fixed-price contract.

• Experience complying with federal requirements (Paperwork Reduction Act, Section 508, cybersecurity, privacy).

• Availability of services on existing ED contracts or GSA Schedule.

• Identification of any unduly restrictive language in the draft PWS.

Not specified in this RFI.

• This notice is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute an RFP, RFQ, or a commitment to a future solicitation.
• No reimbursement will be made for costs associated with providing a response.
• The draft PWS is attached and should be referenced for detailed requirements.