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

The U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES) intends to issue a solicitation in early FY26 for the Data Repository and Restricted Use Data (DR-RUD) Program, which will provide a secure computing environment for researchers to access restricted education datasets from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE). The contractor will be responsible for hosting approximately 320 existing datasets in a FIPS-Moderate environment, provisioning secure workspaces for approved researchers, conducting export reviews to prevent disclosure of potentially identifying information, and developing user training materials on confidential information protection requirements. Key contract requirements include maintaining IT security compliance, managing data stewardship functions, providing statistical software access, and implementing robust controls to protect personally identifiable information. The performance will be evaluated based on quality of service, schedule adherence, cost control, business relations, and management of key personnel. Interested parties must submit their responses to this Request for Information by October 14, 2025, at 12:00 PM EST, with responses limited to 15 pages and including capabilities statements, technical responses, and feedback on the draft Performance Work Statement.

This opportunity does not currently have a set-aside designation, though the government encourages responses from small businesses to determine potential set-aside eligibility for future solicitation. No incumbent contractors or current service providers are identified in the documentation. The anticipated contract structure is firm-fixed price with one 12-month base period and four 12-month option periods, spanning from January 2026 through December 2030 for a total potential five-year performance period. The system must support up to 5,000 users with individual private workspaces and maintain a comprehensive data repository hosting hundreds of restricted educational datasets. The contract falls under NAICS code 518210 for Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services. While no specific contract value or budget range is disclosed in this pre-solicitation notice, the scope suggests a substantial investment given the multi-year timeline, extensive user base, and complex security requirements for handling sensitive educational data.