The U.S. Department of Education (ED), Office of Postsecondary Education, Higher Education Programs is seeking peer reviewers (field readers) to read and evaluate discretionary grant applications. Refer to the Competition Schedule for a listing of upcoming TRIO grant competitions. Peer reviewers are needed for the 2008-2009 grant competitions under the EOC, Student Support Services, Talent Search, and TRIO Training programs.

If you are interested in serving as a field reader for TRIO grant competitions or other programs within the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), you must use the Online Field Reader Application Form. The purpose of this form is to allow qualified individuals interested in reviewing applications for OPE grant programs to apply online without having to submit a separate resume. Please note that we are no longer accepting resumes by mail or fax.

The on-line field reader application form is available at http://opeweb.ed.gov/frs where first-time users may register into the Field Reader System and previously registered users may log in as well as update their profile information. On this site, potential readers provide OPE with information about their educational background and expertise, their technology skills, their grant reading history, and program experience history. Applying to be a field reader through this site is the first step in the selection process. Interested persons must still be deemed qualified for a particular reading, indicate their availability for a reading, and be selected before they actually become a reader.

Vendors and individuals who do business with the Department must also register in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) System and acquire a DUNS number. The CCR is maintained by the Department of Defense. It is a Web-based database of business information on more than 290,000 registered vendors. It is well established, well known, widely used, and provides for fast, free and easy registration. Please read the information regarding vendor registration in the CCR.

Persons interested in serving as readers can apply at any time. Experienced readers who have been in the OPE reader database previously are being contacted via email and/or by letter to update their information in the new application form. Letters and e-mails are being sent out to experienced field readers throughout the year.

We plan to use e-Reader, the Department's electronic field reading system to review TRIO grant applications. Information about the Department's e-Reader process is available at http://e-grants.ed.gov/e-read. The e-Reader Web page has a demo site available to assist readers in operating the software along with a User's Guide.

Field readers must have the following in order to use e-Reader:

1. Access to the Internet from home or office;
2. Microsoft Word; and
3. Cookies and JavaScript enabled in the browser.

The application review process involves orientation, reading and evaluating applications, and discussions with other panelists. Panelists will evaluate and score applications using the U.S. Department of Education's published selection criteria. Selected field readers will receive a copy of each assigned application electronically. Some applications will be mailed to readers, if the applicant had an approved waiver. They will review applications at their home or office and enter comments and scores on each application electronically into the Department's e-Grants database. Paneling of applications will be conducted through pre-scheduled telephone conference calls that require the participation of all panel members. All scores and comments must be entered into e-Reader by the designated date. No travel to Washington, D.C. will be necessary.

Field readers will receive a flat fee honorarium and a stipend for supplies (paper and ink) for the entire review period based on the established number of reading days and applications. Since the number of reading days and applications to be reviewed may vary, you will be informed of the amount of the honorarium at the time of your selection as a field reader.

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