IES Data Repository and Restricted Use Data (DR-RUD) Program

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) intends to issue a solicitation in early FY26 to support a computing environment where researchers approved by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) can obtain secure, remote access to approved IES Restricted Use Data (RUD), most notably data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE), for approved research projects.

That environment should permit the robust analysis of those data, and should implement controls such that potentially identifying information can be exported. Please see the attached draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) for more details about this requirement.

PLEASE NOTE: All information contained in this notice is preliminary in nature and subject to change. This notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposals (RFP), Request for Quotations (RFQ), Invitation for Bids (IFB), or a commitment on the part of the Government to conduct a solicitation in the future.

All information provided is strictly voluntary and no reimbursement will be made by the Government for any costs associated with providing a response to this notice or otherwise participating in market research activities. Further, the U.S. Department of Education offers no assurance that a solicitation will result from this notice. All interested parties are highly encouraged to submit a response including small businesses to determine whether or not this requirement can be set-aside for the small businesses.