42 CFR §52h.9

1. (a)Except as otherwise provided by law, no awarding official shall award a contract based upon an unsolicited contract proposal covered by this part unless the proposal has been reviewed by a peer review group in accordance with the provisions of this part and the group has made recommendations concerning the scientific merit of that proposal.
2. (b)Except to the extent otherwise provided by law, peer review group recommendations are advisory only and not binding on the awarding official.