Manuscript Submission & Peer Review Platform Development

The contract seeks the design and implementation of a secure, scalable web-based platform for manuscript submission and open peer review, fully integrated with editorial workflows and downstream publishing systems. The solution must support end-to-end manuscript handling including submission, assignment, review, revision, and publication, with robust security protocols to protect sensitive author and reviewer data, ensure anonymity where required, and comply with recognized data governance standards. The system must be architected for high availability and adaptability to accommodate growing volumes of submissions and evolving editorial practices. Performance will be delivered to the National Institutes of Health under the Department of Health and Human Services, with the place of performance located in Bethesda, Maryland. This is a subcontract under NAICS code 541511, indicating it falls under custom software development services. The opportunity was posted on August 7, 2026, with a firm response deadline of August 27, 2026, and requires proposers to deliver a fully functional, production-ready platform that interfaces seamlessly with existing publishing infrastructure while enabling transparency and efficiency in the peer review process.