Master Government List

Information on this list is current as of April 2009. More recent updates are noted.

Grouped by:

• FFRDC
• Sponsoring agency
• Administrator type
• Location
• Activity type

by Activity Type

• Research and development laboratories
• Study and analysis centers
• Systems engineering and integration centers
• Definitions

Research and development laboratories

• Ames Laboratory  
  Administrator: Iowa State University of Science and Technology
  Location: Ames, IA
  Sponsor: Department of Energy
• Argonne National Laboratory  
  Administrator: UChicago Argonne, LLC
  Location: Argonne, IL
  Sponsor: Department of Energy
• • On January 1, 2007 the Argonne National Laboratory acquired a new university administrator (UChicago Argonne, LLC).
• Brookhaven National Laboratory  
  Administrator: Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC
  Location: Upton, Long Island, NY
  Sponsor: Department of Energy
• • On March 1, 1998 Brookhaven National Laboratory acquired a new nonprofit administrator (Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC.). The previous administrator was a university consortium.
• Center for Advanced Aviation System Development  
  Administrator: MITRE Corp.
  Location: McLean, VA
  Sponsor: Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration
• Centers for Communications and Computing  
  Administrator: Institute for Defense Analyses
  Location: Alexandria, VA
  Sponsor: Department of Defense, National Security Agency
• • Although the Institute for Defense Analyses Communications and Computing FFRDC has been in existence since 1956, the Department of Defense added it to the Master Government List of FFRDCs for the first time in October 1995.
• Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory  
  Administrator: Fermi Research Alliance, LLC
  Location: Batavia, IL
  Sponsor: Department of Energy
• • On October 1, 2006 the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory acquired a new university administrator (Fermi Research Alliance, LLC).
• Idaho National Laboratory  
  Administrator: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
  Location: Idaho Falls, ID
  Sponsor: Department of Energy
• • On February 1, 2005, the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory was renamed the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Also, INL's administrator, Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC, was renamed Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC.
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory  
  Administrator: California Institute of Technology
  Location: Pasadena, CA
  Sponsor: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory  
  Administrator: University of California
  Location: Berkeley, CA
  Sponsor: Department of Energy
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory  
  Administrator: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
  Location: Livermore, CA
  Sponsor: Department of Energy
• • On May 8, 2007, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory acquired a new industrial firm administrator (Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC). The previous administrator was the University of California.
• Lincoln Laboratory  
  Administrator: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  Location: Lexington, MA
  Sponsor: Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force
• Los Alamos National Laboratory  
  Administrator: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
  Location: Los Alamos, NM
  Sponsor: Department of Energy
• • On June 1, 2006, Los Alamos National Laboratory acquired a new industrial firm administrator (Los Alamos National Security, LLC). The previous administrator was the University of California.
• National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center  
  Administrator: Cornell University
  Location: Arecibo, PR
  Sponsor: National Science Foundation
• National Cancer Institute at Frederick  
  Administrator: Science Applications International Corp.; Charles River Laboratories, Inc.; Data Management Services, Inc.; Wilson Information Services, Inc.
  Location: Frederick, MD
  Sponsor: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health
• • In 2000, the name was changed from NCI Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center.
• National Center for Atmospheric Research  
  Administrator: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
  Location: Boulder, CO
  Sponsor: National Science Foundation
• National Optical Astronomy Observatories  
  Administrator: Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.
  Location: Tucson, AZ
  Sponsor: National Science Foundation
• • Since February 1984, this center includes three former FFRDCs: Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, Kitt Peak National Observatory and the National Solar Observatory (formerly Sacramento Peak Observatory).
• National Radio Astronomy Observatory  
  Administrator: Associated Universities, Inc.
  Location: Charlottesville, VA
  Sponsor: National Science Foundation
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory  
  Administrator: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
  Location: Golden, CO
  Sponsor: Department of Energy
• • In September 1991, the name was changed from Solar Energy Research Institute. On July 29, 2008 National Renewable Energy Laboratory acquired a new industrial firm administrator (Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC).
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory  
  Administrator: UT-Battelle, LLC
  Location: Oak Ridge, TN
  Sponsor: Department of Energy
• • On April 1, 2000, Oak Ridge National Laboratory acquired a new nonprofit administrator (UT-Battelle, LLC). The previous administrator was the industrial firm Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp.
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory  
  Administrator: Battelle Memorial Institute
  Location: Richland, WA
  Sponsor: Department of Energy
• Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory  
  Administrator: Princeton University
  Location: Princeton, NJ
  Sponsor: Department of Energy
• Sandia National Laboratories  
  Administrator: Sandia Corporation, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corp.
  Location: Albuquerque, NM
  Sponsor: Department of Energy
• Savannah River National Laboratory  
  Administrator: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
  Location: Aiken, SC
  Sponsor: Department of Energy
• • On August 1, 2007 Savannah River National Laboratory acquired a new industrial firm administrator (Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC).
  • The Savannah River National Laboratory changed its name and operating contractor to Washington Savannah River Co. on December 8, 2005. Before that, its name was the Savannah River Technology Center and the operating contractor was Westinghouse Savannah River Co.
• Software Engineering Institute  
  Administrator: Carnegie Mellon University
  Location: Pittsburgh, PA
  Sponsor: Department of Defense, Department of the Army
• • On June 1, 1997, Office of the Secretary of Defense became the sponsor of the Software Engineering Institute (SEI). The previous sponsor was Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. In December 2004, Department of the Army became the sponsor of SEI.
• Stanford Linear Accelerator Center  
  Administrator: Leland Stanford, Jr., University
  Location: Stanford, CA
  Sponsor: Department of Energy
• Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility  (Updated: July 9, 2009)
  Administrator: Jefferson Science Associates, LLC
  Location: Newport News, VA
  Sponsor: Department of Energy

Study and analysis centers

• Arroyo Center  
  Administrator: RAND Corp.
  Location: Santa Monica, CA
  Sponsor: Department of Defense, Department of the Army
• • The following portions of the RAND Corporation are FFRDCs: National Defense Research Institute (formerly Defense/Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), Project Air Force, and the Arroyo Center.
• Center for Naval Analyses  
  Administrator: The CNA Corporation
  Location: Alexandria, VA
  Sponsor: Department of Defense, Department of the Navy
• Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses  
  Administrator: Southwest Research Institute
  Location: San Antonio, TX
  Sponsor: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute 
  Administrator: Analytic Services, Inc.
  Location: Arlington, VA
  Sponsor: Department of Homeland Security, Under Secretary for Science & Technology
• • On March 5, 2009, the Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute was created. This new FFRDC together with the Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute replaced the Homeland Security Institute in March 2009.
• National Biodefense Analysis & Countermeasures Center  
  Administrator: Battelle National Biodefense Institute
  Location: Frederick, MD
  Sponsor: Department of Homeland Security, Under Secretary for Science & Technology
• National Defense Research Institute  
  Administrator: RAND Corp.
  Location: Santa Monica, CA
  Sponsor: Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense
• • The following portions of the RAND Corporation are FFRDCs: National Defense Research Institute (formerly Defense/Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), Project Air Force, and the Arroyo Center.
• Project Air Force  
  Administrator: RAND Corp.
  Location: Santa Monica, CA
  Sponsor: Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force
• • The following portions of the RAND Corporation are FFRDCs: National Defense Research Institute (formerly Defense/Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), Project Air Force, and the Arroyo Center.
• Science and Technology Policy Institute  
  Administrator: Institute for Defense Analyses
  Location: Washington, DC
  Sponsor: National Science Foundation
• • On October 1, 1998, the Critical Technologies Institute was renamed the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI). As of December 1, 2003, RAND Corp. was replaced by the Institute for Defense Analyses as STPI's administrator.
• Studies and Analyses Center  
  Administrator: Institute for Defense Analyses
  Location: Alexandria, VA
  Sponsor: Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense

Systems engineering and integration centers

• Aerospace Federally Funded Research and Development Center  
  Administrator: The Aerospace Corporation
  Location: El Segundo, CA
  Sponsor: Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force
• C3I Federally Funded Research & Development Center  
  Administrator: MITRE Corp.
  Location: Bedford, MA, and McLean, VA
  Sponsor: Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense
• Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute 
  Administrator: MITRE Corp.
  Location: McLean, VA
  Sponsor: Department of Homeland Security, Under Secretary for Science & Technology
• • On March 5, 2009, the Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute was created. This new FFRDC together with the Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute replaced the Homeland Security Institute in March 2009.
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Veterans Affairs Federally Funded Research and Development Center  
  Administrator: Center for Enterprise Modernization, MITRE Corp.
  Location: McLean, VA
  Sponsor: Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service
• • In October 1998, the Tax Systems Modernization Institute (IIT Research Institute) Lanham, MD, contract expired. TSMI was replaced with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Federally Funded Research and Development Center administered by the MITRE Corp. in McLean, VA. On October 1, 2008 the Department of Veterans Affairs was designated a co-sponsor of the Center for Enterprise Modernization.

Definitions

The following Department of Defense definitions were used to classify the centers:

Research and development laboratories fill voids where in-house and private sector research and development centers are unable to meet agency core area needs. Specific objectives for these FFRDCs are to: (1) maintain over the long-term a competency in technology areas where the Government cannot rely on in-house or private sector capabilities, and (2) develop and transfer important new technology to the private sector so the Government can benefit from a wider, broader base of expertise. R&D laboratories engage in research programs that emphasize the evolution and demonstration of advanced concepts and technology, and the transfer or transition of technology.

Study and analysis centers deliver independent and objective analyses and advise in core areas important to their sponsors in support of policy development, decision making, alternative approaches, and new ideas on issues of significance.

System engineering and integration centers provide required support in core areas not available from sponsor's in-house technical and engineering capabilities to ensure that complex systems meet operational requirements. The centers assist with the creation and choice of system concepts and architectures, the specification of technical system and subsystem requirements and interfaces, the development and acquisition of system hardware and software, the testing and verification of performance, the integration of new capabilities, and continuous improvement of system operations and logistics. They often play a critical role in assisting their sponsors in technically formulating, initiating, and evaluating programs and activities undertaken by firms in the for-profit sector.

Source of definitions: FFRDC Management Plan, effective May 1, 1996, Department of Defense, Director of Defense Research and Engineering, pp. 2-3.