| Description |
ii, 47 p. : digital, PDF file |
| System Details |
Mode of access via the GAO web site. |
| Note |
Title from title screen (viewed on Nov. 10, 2008). |
|
"October 2008." |
| Summary |
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). To improve the effectiveness of FFRDCs, GAO recommends that (1) DHS and HHS revise their personal conflict-of-interest policies to specifically address FFRDC contractor employees in a position to influence research findings or agency decision making and (2) agencies create an ongoing forum to share best practices for FFRDC oversight. DHS, DOD, and DOE concurred with GAO's recommendations, while HHS concurred with the need to revise its policies and is considering a best practices forum for FFRDCs. |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Note |
"GAO-09-15." |
| Subject |
Federal aid to research -- United States.
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Science -- Research grants -- United States.
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Institute for Defense Analyses.
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Research and development contracts, Government -- United States -- Evaluation.
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Research institutes -- United States.
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Military research -- United States.
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United States. Department of Health and Human Services.
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United States. Department of Homeland Security -- Management.
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United States. Department of Energy -- Management.
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United States. Department of Defense -- Management.
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| Added Title |
Opportunities exist to improve the management and oversight of federally funded research and development centers |
| Gpo Item No. |
0546-D (online) |
| Sudoc No. |
GA 1.13:GAO-09-15 |
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