The U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Justice are currently seeking qualified peer reviewers to read and evaluate grant applications that will be submitted under the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative grant competition. 

Reviewers selected by the Departments will read and evaluate 6* grant applications, post scores and comments online, and participate in four mandatory conference calls.  This review is scheduled to include two rounds: 

Round One: The first round will occur from April 1 through April 14, 2008, with four mandatory conference calls scheduled for:

1. Wednesday, April 2, 2008 from 1:00pm-2:00pm OR 3:30pm-4:30pm (ET) (NOTE: This is an introductory panel call and will not be used to discuss applications.)
2. Monday, April 7, 2008 from 1:00pm-3:00pm OR 3:30pm-5:30pm (ET)
3. Wednesday, April 9, 2008 from 1:00pm-3:00pm OR 3:30pm-5:30pm (ET)
4. Friday, April 11, 2008 from 1:00pm-3:00pm OR 3:30pm-5:30pm (ET)

Round Two: The second round will occur from April 15 through April 28, 2008, with four mandatory conference calls scheduled for:

1. Wednesday, April 16, 2008 from 1:00pm-2:00pm OR 3:30pm-4:30pm (ET) (NOTE: This is an introductory panel call and will not be used to discuss applications.)
2. Monday, April 21, 2008 from 1:00pm-3:00pm OR 3:30pm-5:30pm (ET)
3. Wednesday, April 23, 2008 from 1:00pm-3:00pm OR 3:30pm-5:30pm (ET)
4. Friday, April 25, 2008 from 1:00pm-3:00pm OR 3:30pm-5:30pm (ET)

In anticipation of this review, the Departments are requesting prospective reviewers to send an e-mail message indicating interest and a copy of their current resume to the 2008 peer review contractor, Federal Business Services (FBS) at osdfs@fbs-dc.com and carbon copy (cc) the email to Jane Hodgdon-Young at Jane.Hodgdon@ed.gov.  In the e-mail message, please indicate availability for the first or second round of reviews, or both.

Areas of Expertise: Qualified reviewers for this grant competition MUST have expertise and experience in at least one of the following areas: comprehensive, collaborative planning; law enforcement; juvenile justice; mental health; early childhood development; school-community partnerships; alcohol, tobacco, other drug and violence prevention and early intervention; social and emotional learning; program management; or evaluation of community or school-based programs.

Required Trainings: Prospective reviewers must fully participate in two trainings to be considered for the review.  The first training is the 2008 Safe Schools/Healthy Students Peer Reviewer Training.  This on-line training will cover the logistics of peer review and the 2008 Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant application.  The training is scheduled to go live on Monday, February 25, 2008.  Potential reviewers expressing an interest will receive an email from FBS with necessary information for accessing the training prior to February 25, 2008.

The second training is the U.S. Department of Education E-Reader on-line peer review platform.  Potential reviewers will have three opportunities to complete the E-Reader training.  Each training will allow for up to 100 participants and is based on a first come, first served basis (no reservations will be accepted).

1. Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 1 pm Eastern (1-866-209-6102; ID # 32379820)    View e-Reader PPT presentation
2. Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 1 pm Eastern (1-866-209-6102; ID# 32380406)    View e-Reader PPT presentation
3. Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 1 pm Eastern (1-866-209-6102; ID # 32380946)    View e-Reader PPT presentation

NOTE: If a potential reviewer completed the 2007 Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools E-Reader Training, IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPEATED.  The potential reviewer’s name will be compared to the 2007 E-Reader training roster to ensure completion of the E-Reader training requirement.

Confirmation of reviewers is based on the number of applications received, appropriate mix of reviewers' qualifications, availability, and other factors.

Conflict of Interest: Please be aware that if you were involved in the writing of an FY 2008 application or are named in an application that is submitted under this competition, and would have a financial interest if the project were funded, you have a conflict of interest and may not participate as a peer reviewer under this grant competition.

The honorarium for reviewing 6 applications, according to the established review schedule, is $1,000.*

If you have any questions or need additional information about this peer reviewer opportunity, please send an e-mail message to Jane.Hodgdon@ed.gov, referencing Potential Peer Reviewer (84.184L) in the subject line.

*We anticipate that each panel will be assigned 6 applications; however, the peer review’s signed agreement will allow for reading up to 7 applications in the event that a panel must be assigned an additional application.  The 2008 peer review contract is currently under review; the exact amount for the reviewer honorarium will be based on the approved contract.