This work has been done as part of the effort to plan the National Institute of Education (NIE). The report, one of a series, describes four different methods used by three Federal agencies--the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Office of Naval Research--in managing fundamental research. Fundamental research is defined as activity undertaken to add to a store of knowledge about basic processes. Separate sections describe the dual panel, single panel, mail, and "no" review methods used by the agencies. Each section overviews and summarizes the method and examines the supporting activities and organization of the research agency involved. (Author/DN)