Federally funded research and development centers


Federally funded research and development centers are public-private partnerships which conduct research for the United States Government. They are administered in accordance with U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 48, Part 35, Section 35.017 by universities and corporations. There are currently 42 recognized FFRDCs that are sponsored by the U.S. government. FFRDCs are similar to the University Affiliated Research Centers run by the United States Department of Defense.

History

During World War II scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and other specialists became part of the United States massive war effort—leading to evolutions in radar, aircraft, computing and, most famously, the development of nuclear weapons through the Manhattan Project. The end of armed conflict did not end the need for organized research and development in support of the government.
As the Cold War became the new reality, government officials and their scientific advisors advanced the idea of a systematic approach to research, development, and acquisitions, one independent of the ups and downs of the marketplace and free of the restrictions on civil service. From this idea arose the concept of FFRDCs—private entities that would work almost exclusively on behalf of the government, be free of organizational conflicts of interest, and maintain a stable workforce composed of highly trained technical talent.
The U.S. Air Force created the first FFRDC, the RAND Corporation, in 1947. Others grew directly out of their wartime roles. For example, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, founded in 1951, originated as the Radiation Laboratory at MIT, and the Navy's Operation Research Group evolved into the Center for Naval Analyses. The first FFRDCs served the Department of Defense. Since then, other government organizations have sponsored FFRDCs to meet their specific needs. In 1969, the number of FFRDCs peaked at 74.

List

The following list includes all current FFRDCs:
FacilityAdministratorLocationSponsor
Aerospace FFRDCThe Aerospace CorporationEl Segundo, CA;
Chantilly, VA;
Colorado Springs, CO
Huntsville, AL
Albuquerque, NM		Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force
Ames LaboratoryIowa State University of Science and TechnologyAmes, IADepartment of Energy
Argonne National LaboratoryUChicago Argonne, LLCArgonne, ILDepartment of Energy
Arroyo CenterRAND CorporationSanta Monica, CADepartment of Defense, Department of the Army
Brookhaven National LaboratoryBrookhaven Science Associates, LLCUpton, NYDepartment of Energy
Center for Advanced Aviation System DevelopmentMITREMcLean, VADepartment of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration
Center for Communications and ComputingInstitute for Defense AnalysesAlexandria, VADepartment of Defense, National Security Agency
Center for Enterprise ModernizationMITREMcLean, VADepartment of the Treasury, Department of Veterans Affairs, Internal Revenue Service
Center for Naval AnalysesThe CNA CorporationArlington, VADepartment of Defense, Department of the Navy
Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory AnalysesSouthwest Research InstituteSan Antonio, TXNuclear Regulatory Commission
CMS Alliance to Modernize HealthcareMITREMcLean, VAUnited States Department of Health and Human Services
Fermi National Accelerator LaboratoryFermi Research Alliance, LLCBatavia, ILDepartment of Energy
Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer ResearchLeidos Biomedical ResearchFrederick, MDDepartment of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health
Homeland Security Operational Analysis CenterRAND CorporationCrystal City, VADepartment of Homeland Security, Under Secretary for Science and Technology
Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development InstituteMITREMcLean, VADepartment of Homeland Security, Under Secretary for Science and Technology
Idaho National LaboratoryBattelle Energy Alliance, LLCIdaho Falls, IDDepartment of Energy
Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadena, CANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Judiciary Engineering and Modernization CenterMITREMcLean, VAUnited States Courts
Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeley, CADepartment of Energy
Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryLawrence Livermore National Security, LLCLivermore, CADepartment of Energy
Lincoln LaboratoryMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyLexington, MADepartment of Defense, Department of the Air Force
Los Alamos National LaboratoryTriad National Security, LLCLos Alamos, NMDepartment of Energy
National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures CenterBattelle National Biodefense InstituteFrederick, MDDepartment of Homeland Security, Under Secretary for Science and Technology
National Center for Atmospheric ResearchUniversity Corporation for Atmospheric ResearchBoulder, CONational Science Foundation
National Cybersecurity FFRDCMITRERockville, MDDepartment of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology
National Defense Research InstituteRAND CorporationSanta Monica, CADepartment of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense
National Optical Astronomy ObservatoryAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.Tucson, AZNational Science Foundation
National Radio Astronomy ObservatoryAssociated Universities, Inc.Socorro, NM;
Charlottesville, VA		National Science Foundation
National Renewable Energy LaboratoryAlliance for Sustainable Energy, LLCGolden, CODepartment of Energy
National Security Engineering CenterMITREBedford, MA;
McLean, VA 		Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense
National Solar ObservatoryAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.Boulder, CONational Science Foundation
Oak Ridge National LaboratoryUT-Battelle, LLCOak Ridge, TNDepartment of Energy
Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryBattelle Memorial InstituteRichland, WADepartment of Energy
Princeton Plasma Physics LaboratoryPrinceton UniversityPrinceton, NJDepartment of Energy
Project Air ForceRAND CorporationSanta Monica, CADepartment of Defense, Department of the Air Force
Sandia National LaboratoriesNational Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, a subsidiary of HoneywellAlbuquerque, NM;
Livermore, CA		Department of Energy
Savannah River National LaboratorySavannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLCAiken, SCDepartment of Energy
Science and Technology Policy InstituteInstitute for Defense AnalysesWashington, DCNational Science Foundation
SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryStanford UniversityStanford, CADepartment of Energy
Software Engineering InstituteCarnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PADepartment of Defense, Department of the Army
Systems and Analyses CenterInstitute for Defense AnalysesAlexandria, VADepartment of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator FacilityJefferson Science Associates, LLCNewport News, VADepartment of Energy