diff --git a/app/utilities/protocol_importers/protocols_io/v3/api_client.rb b/app/utilities/protocol_importers/protocols_io/v3/api_client.rb
index 4c739747f..eb7acb7b6 100644
--- a/app/utilities/protocol_importers/protocols_io/v3/api_client.rb
+++ b/app/utilities/protocol_importers/protocols_io/v3/api_client.rb
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ module ProtocolImporters
         #     id of page.
         #     Default is 1.
         def protocol_list(query_params = {})
+          local_sorting = false
           response = with_handle_network_errors do
             sort_mappings = CONSTANTS[:sort_mappings]
             query = CONSTANTS.dig(:endpoints, :protocols, :default_query_params)
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ module ProtocolImporters
             # If key is blank access show latest publications, otherwise use
             # normal endpoint
             if query['key'].blank?
+              local_sorting = true
               query = CONSTANTS.dig(:endpoints, :publications, :default_query_params)
               self.class.get('/publications', query: query)
             else
@@ -63,6 +65,10 @@ module ProtocolImporters
             end
           end
           check_for_response_errors(response)
+          if local_sorting && %w(alpha_asc alpha_desc newest oldest).include?(query_params[:sort_by])
+            response.parsed_response[:local_sorting] = query_params[:sort_by]
+          end
+          response
         end
 
         # Returns full representation of given protocol ID
diff --git a/app/utilities/protocol_importers/protocols_io/v3/protocol_normalizer.rb b/app/utilities/protocol_importers/protocols_io/v3/protocol_normalizer.rb
index a7ab6695c..e73fdf0fc 100644
--- a/app/utilities/protocol_importers/protocols_io/v3/protocol_normalizer.rb
+++ b/app/utilities/protocol_importers/protocols_io/v3/protocol_normalizer.rb
@@ -75,6 +75,20 @@ module ProtocolImporters
           protocols_hash = client_data.parsed_response.with_indifferent_access[:items]
           pagination = client_data.parsed_response.with_indifferent_access[:pagination]
 
+          if client_data.parsed_response[:local_sorting]
+            protocols_hash =
+              case client_data.parsed_response[:local_sorting]
+              when 'alpha_asc'
+                protocols_hash.sort_by { |p| p[:title] }
+              when 'alpha_desc'
+                protocols_hash.sort_by { |p| p[:title] }.reverse
+              when 'oldest'
+                protocols_hash.sort_by { |p| p[:created_on] }
+              else
+                protocols_hash.sort_by { |p| p[:created_on] }.reverse
+              end
+          end
+
           normalized_data = {}
           normalized_data[:protocols] = protocols_hash.map do |e|
             {