**GAO-09-15**                      Published: Oct 08, 2008. Publicly Released: Nov 07, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

In 2006, the federal government spent $13 billion--14 percent of its research and development (R&D) expenditures--to enable 38 federally funded R&D centers (FFRDCs) to meet special research needs. FFRDCs--including laboratories, studies and analyses centers, and systems engineering centers--conduct research in military space programs, nanotechnology, microelectronics, nuclear warfare, and biodefense countermeasures, among other areas. GAO was asked to identify (1) how federal agencies contract with organizations operating FFRDCs and (2) agency oversight processes used to ensure that FFRDCs are well-managed. GAO's work is based on a review of documents and interviews with officials from eight FFRDCs sponsored by the departments of Defense (DOD), Energy (DOE), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Homeland Security (DHS).

## Recommendations

## Recommendations for Executive Action

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## Topics

Homeland Security

Allowable costsConflict of interestsContract administrationContract oversightContractor personnelContractorsData centersData collectionData storageFederal agenciesFederal fund accountsFederal fundsFederal intelligence agenciesFederal legislationFederal regulationsInformation centersInformation managementInteragency relationsInternal controlsLaboratoriesNeeds assessmentPolicy evaluationResearch and developmentResearch and development contractsResearch and development costsResearch and development facilitiesResearch program managementResearch programsStrategic planningCost estimatesPolicies and procedures