The FFRDC Research and Development Survey is the primary source of information on separately accounted for R&D expenditures at federally funded research and development centers in the United States.
The FFRDC Research and Development Survey is the primary source of information on research and development (R&D) expenditures that are separately accounted for at federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) in the United States. Conducted annually for university-administered FFRDCs since FY 1953 and all FFRDCs since FY 2001, the survey collects information on R&D expenditures by source of funds and types of research and expenses. The survey is an annual census of the full population of eligible FFRDCs.
The FY 2022 survey was conducted by ICF under contract to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics.
Status | Active |
---|---|
Frequency | Annual |
Reference Period | FY 2022 |
Next Release Date | August 2025 |
The FFRDC Research and Development Survey is conducted by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the National Science Foundation (NSF). It is the primary source of information on research and development (R&D) expenditures that are separately accounted for at federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) in the United States.
None.
Annual.
2001.
FY 2022.
Establishment.
Census.
42.
The survey is a census of all known eligible FFRDCs.
Key variables of interest are listed below.
All FFRDCs.
The total survey universe is identified through the Master Government List of FFRDCs. NSF is responsible for maintaining this list and queries all federal agencies annually to determine any changes to, additions to, or deletions from the list.
The FFRDC R&D Survey is a census of all eligible organizations.
The FY 2022 survey announcements were sent by e-mail to all FFRDCs in November 2022. The data collection period concluded in April 2023. Respondents could choose to complete a questionnaire downloaded from the Web or use a Web-based data collection system to respond to the survey. Every effort was made to maintain close contact with respondents to preserve the consistency and continuity of the resulting data. Survey data reports were available on the survey website for each FFRDC; these reports showed comparisons between the current year and the 2 prior years of data and noted any substantive disparities.
Respondents using the Web-based data collection system were asked to explain significant differences between current and past year reporting while completing the questionnaire. Questionnaires were carefully examined by survey staff for completeness upon receipt. Reviews focused on unexplained missing data and explanations provided for changes in reporting patterns. If additional explanations or data revisions were needed, respondents were sent personalized e-mails asking them to provide any necessary revisions before the final processing and tabulation of data. Respondents were encouraged to correct prior year data, if necessary. When respondents updated or amended figures from past years, NCSES made corresponding changes to trend data in the FY 2022 data tables and to the underlying microdata. For accurate historical data, use only the most recently released data tables.
No data were imputed for FY 2022.
Because the FY 2022 survey was a survey distributed to all organizations in the universe, there was no sampling error.
Given the availability of a comprehensive FFRDC list, there is no known coverage error for this survey. FFRDCs are identified through the Master Government List of FFRDCs. NSF is responsible for maintaining the master list and queries all federal agencies annually to determine changes to, additions to, or deletions from the list.
Most FFRDCs have incorporated the data needed to complete most of the survey questions into their record-keeping systems. Eleven FFRDCs chose not to complete any of Question 4 (R&D costs), which asks for expenditures by type of cost. Ten of those FFRDCs are managed by private companies for whom salary information is considered proprietary. One FFRDC, which is managed by a university, does not capture direct and indirect costs in their financial system in a way that is reportable on Question 4. Other FFRDCs did not answer all sections of Question 4: two FFRDCs could not provide information on software and equipment expenditures, and one could not provide data on equipment expenditures. One FFRDC did not report its operating budget (Question 5). Eight FFRDCs chose not to complete Question 6, which asks for full-time equivalents and headcounts for R&D staff. Six of those FFRDCs are managed by private companies for whom staffing structure information is considered proprietary. Variables for Questions 4, 5, and 6 are not tabulated and are not included in the public use file.
NCSES discovered during the FY 2011 survey cycle that seven FFRDCs included capital project expenditures in the R&D totals reported on the survey. Corrections made for the FY 2011 survey cycle lowered total expenditures by $468 million. However, previous years still include an unknown amount of capital expenditures in the total. The amount is estimated to be less than $500 million per year.
Prior to the FY 2011 survey, the five FFRDCs administered by the MITRE Corporation had reported only internally funded R&D expenditures. After discussions with NCSES, these five FFRDCs agreed to report all FY 2011 operating expenditures for R&D and to revise their data for FYs 2008–10.
NCSES discovered during the FY 2013 survey cycle that Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) was reporting some expenditures that were not for R&D as defined by this survey. Corrections made for the FY 2013 survey cycle lowered the laboratory’s total expenditures by $349 million. LANL also was incorrectly reporting that all expenditures were for basic research. In corrections made for FY 2013, LANL reported that $1,554 million (91%) of its total research expenditures was for applied research. LANL data from previous years still include an unknown amount of expenditures that were not for R&D and categorize all expenditures as basic research.
Prior to FY 2014, the Aerospace FFRDC reported only expenditures on internal R&D projects. After discussions with NCSES, the Aerospace Corporation agreed to report all R&D expenditures for FY 2014 and provide revised data to include all R&D expenditures for FYs 2010–13. R&D expenditures increased by more than $800 million each year.
Prior to the FY 2021 collection, NCSES discovered that the Green Bank Observatory had split from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory on 1 October 2016, both retained FFRDC status. For FYs 2017–20, R&D expenditures reported for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, include the expenditures for the Green Bank Observatory. The Green Bank Observatory began reporting separately on the FY 2021 survey.
NCSES discovered during the FY 2022 survey cycle that two FFRDCs, Idaho National Laboratory and Savannah River National Laboratory, were incorrectly classified as industry-administered FFRDCs for select years. Idaho National Laboratory’s industrial firm administrator, Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC, was replaced by a nonprofit administrator, Battelle Energy Alliance LLC, in February 2005. The classification was corrected for FY 2022 and Idaho National Laboratory’s FYs 2005–21 data were reclassified as coming from a nonprofit-administered FFRDC. Savannah River National Laboratory’s industrial firm administrator, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC, was replaced by a nonprofit administrator, Battelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC, in December 2020. The classification was corrected for FY 2022 and Savannah River National Laboratory’s FY 2021 data were reclassified as coming from a nonprofit-administered FFRDC.
Annual data are available for all FFRDCs for FYs 2001–22.
When the review for consistency between each year’s data and submissions in prior years reveals discrepancies, it is sometimes necessary to modify prior years’ data. For accurate historical data, use only the most recently released data tables. Individuals wishing to analyze trends other than those in the most recent NCSES publication are encouraged to contact the Survey Manager for more information about the comparability of data over time.
The data from this survey are published annually and available at https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/ffrdc-research-development/. Information from this survey is also included in Science and Engineering Indicators.
Public use files are available at https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ffrdc/pub_data.cfm.
Purpose. The FFRDC Research and Development Survey is conducted by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the National Science Foundation (NSF). It is the primary source of information on research and development (R&D) expenditures that are separately accounted for at federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) in the United States.
Data collection authority. The information is solicited under the authority of the NSF Act of 1950, as amended, and the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010. The Office of Management and Budget control number for the FY 2022 FFRDC R&D Survey is 3145-0100, with an expiration date of 31 July 2025.
Survey contractor. ICF.
Survey sponsor. NCSES.
Frequency. Annual.
Initial survey year. 2001.
Reference period. FY 2022.
Response unit. Establishment.
Sample or census. Census.
Population size. 42.
Sample size. The survey is a census of all known eligible FFRDCs.
Target population. All FFRDCs.
Sampling frame. The total survey universe is identified through the Master Government List of FFRDCs (https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ffrdclist/). NSF is responsible for maintaining this list and queries all federal agencies annually to determine any changes to, additions to, or deletions from the list.
Sample design. The FFRDC R&D Survey is a census of all eligible organizations.
Data collection. The FY 2022 survey announcements were sent by e-mail to all FFRDCs in November 2022. The data collection period concluded in April 2023. Respondents could choose to complete a questionnaire downloaded from the Web or use a Web-based data collection system to respond to the survey. Every effort was made to maintain close contact with respondents to preserve the consistency and continuity of the resulting data. Survey data reports were available on the survey website for each FFRDC; these reports showed comparisons between the current year and the 2 prior years of data and noted any substantive disparities.
Respondents using the Web-based data collection system were asked to explain significant differences between current year reporting and past year reporting while completing the questionnaire. Questionnaires were carefully examined by survey staff for completeness upon receipt. Reviews focused on unexplained missing data and explanations provided for changes in reporting patterns. If additional explanations or data revisions were needed, respondents were sent personalized e-mails asking them to provide any necessary revisions before the final processing and tabulation of data. These e-mails included a link to the Web-based collection system, to help respondents review and correct their data.
Respondents were encouraged to correct prior year data, if necessary. When respondents updated or amended figures from past years, NCSES made corresponding changes to trend data in the FY 2022 data tables and to the underlying microdata. For accurate historical data, use only the most recently released data tables.
Mode. Respondents could respond to the survey by completing a PDF questionnaire downloaded from the Web or by using a Web-based data collection system. All FFRDCs submitted data using the Web-based survey.
Response rates. All 42 FFRDCs included on the Master Government List of FFRDCs during the FY 2022 survey cycle completed the key survey questions.
Data editing. The FFRDC R&D Survey was subject to very little editing; respondents were contacted and asked to resolve possible self-reporting issues themselves. Questionnaires were carefully examined by survey staff upon receipt. These reviews focused on unexplained missing data and explanations provided for changes in reporting patterns. If additional explanations or data revisions were needed, respondents were sent personalized e-mail messages asking them to provide any necessary revisions before the final processing and tabulation of data.
Imputation. No data were imputed for FY 2022.
Weighting. FFRDC R&D Survey data were not weighted.
Variance estimation. No variance estimation techniques were used.
Sampling error. Because the FY 2022 survey was a survey distributed to all organizations in the universe, there was no sampling error.
Coverage error. Given the availability of a comprehensive FFRDC list, there is no known coverage error for this survey. FFRDCs are identified through the NSF Master Government List of FFRDCs. NSF is responsible for maintaining the master list and queries all federal agencies annually to determine changes to, additions to, or deletions from the list.
Nonresponse error. Most FFRDCs have incorporated the data needed to complete most of the survey questions into their record-keeping systems. Eleven FFRDCs chose not to complete any of Question 4 (R&D costs), which asks for expenditures by type of cost. Ten of those FFRDCs are managed by private companies for whom salary information is considered proprietary. One FFRDC, which is managed by a university, does not capture direct and indirect costs in their financial system in a way that is reportable on Question 4. Other FFRDCs did not answer all sections of Question 4: two FFRDCs could not provide information on software and equipment expenditures, and one could not provide data on equipment expenditures. One FFRDC did not report its operating budget (Question 5). Eight FFRDCs chose not to complete Question 6, which asks for full-time equivalents and headcounts for R&D staff. Six of those FFRDCs are managed by private companies for whom staffing structure information is considered proprietary. Variables for Questions 4, 5, and 6 are not tabulated and are not included in the public use file.
Measurement error. NCSES discovered during the FY 2011 survey cycle that seven FFRDCs were including capital project expenditures in the R&D totals reported on the survey. Corrections made for the FY 2011 survey cycle lowered total expenditures by $468 million. However, previous years still include an unknown amount of capital expenditures in the total. The amount is estimated to be less than $500 million per year.
Prior to the FY 2011 survey, the five FFRDCs administered by the MITRE Corporation had reported only internally funded R&D expenditures. After discussions with NCSES, these five FFRDCs agreed to report all FY 2011 operating expenditures for R&D and to revise their data for FYs 2008–10.
NCSES discovered during the FY 2013 survey cycle that Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) was reporting some expenditures that were not for R&D, as defined by this survey. Corrections made for the FY 2013 survey cycle lowered the laboratory’s total expenditures by $349 million. LANL also was incorrectly reporting that all expenditures were for basic research. In corrections made for FY 2013, LANL reported that $1,554 million (91%) of its total research expenditures was for applied research. LANL data from previous years still include an unknown amount of expenditures that were not for R&D and categorize all expenditures as basic research.
Prior to FY 2014, the Aerospace FFRDC reported only expenditures on internal R&D projects. After discussions with NCSES, the Aerospace Corporation agreed to report all R&D expenditures for FY 2014 and provide revised data to include all R&D expenditures for FYs 2010–13. R&D expenditures increased by more than $800 million each year.
Prior to the FY 2021 collection, NCSES discovered that the Green Bank Observatory had split from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory on 1 October 2016, both retained FFRDC status. For FY 2017–20, R&D expenditures reported for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, include the expenditures for the Green Bank Observatory. The Green Bank Observatory began reporting separately on the FY 2021 survey.
NCSES discovered during the FY 2022 survey cycle that two FFRDCs, Idaho National Laboratory and Savannah River National Laboratory, were incorrectly classified as industry-administered FFRDCs for select years. Idaho National Laboratory’s industrial firm administrator, Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC, was replaced by a nonprofit administrator, Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, in February 2005. The classification was corrected for FY 2022 and Idaho National Laboratory’s FYs 2005–21 data were reclassified as coming from a nonprofit-administered FFRDC. Savannah River National Laboratory’s industrial firm administrator, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC, was replaced by a nonprofit administrator, Battelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC, in December 2020. The classification was corrected for FY 2022 and Savannah River National Laboratory’s FY 2021 data were reclassified as coming from a nonprofit-administered FFRDC.
Annual data are available for FYs 2001–22. When the review for consistency between each year’s data and submissions in prior years reveals discrepancies, it is sometimes necessary to modify prior year data. For accurate historical data, use only the most recently released data tables. Individuals wishing to analyze trends other than those in the most recent NCSES publication are encouraged to contact the Survey Manager for more information about the comparability of data over time.
Changes in survey coverage and population. Most years, there are some changes to the FFRDC population that may affect trend analyses. FFRDCs have been created, decertified, renamed, or restructured, as described below:
Changes in questionnaire. FFRDCs are asked to provide R&D expenditures by source of funding and type of R&D. In FY 2016, NCSES added a question asking for R&D expenditures funded by seven specific federal agencies. In FY 2019, NCSES added a question asking which federal agencies not specifically listed in the previous question funded the expenditures. In FY 2022, NCSES added a question (Question 6) asking for full-time equivalents (FTEs) and headcounts for personnel by R&D function.
Changes in reporting procedures or classification. The FFRDC R&D Survey has been conducted annually for university-administered FFRDCs since FY 1953 and for all FFRDCs since FY 2001.
The FFRDC Research and Development Survey is the primary source of information on R&D expenditures that are separately accounted for at federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) in the United States. Conducted annually for university-administered FFRDCs since FY 1953 and all FFRDCs since FY 2001, the survey collects information on R&D expenditures by source of funds and types of research and expenses. The survey is an annual census of the full population of eligible FFRDCs. See https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ffrdclist/ for the Master Government List of FFRDCs.
Michael T. Gibbons of the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) developed and coordinated this report under the guidance of Amber Levanon Seligson, NCSES Program Director, and under the leadership of Emilda B. Rivers, NCSES Director; Christina Freyman, NCSES Deputy Director; and John Finamore, NCSES Chief Statistician.
Under contract to NCSES, ICF conducted the survey and prepared the tables. ICF staff members who made significant contributions include Kathryn Harper, Project Director; Jennifer Greer, Data Management Lead; Sindhura Geda, Data Management Specialist; Alison Celigoi, Data Management Specialist; Cameron Shanton, Data Collection Specialist; Audrey Nankobogo, Data Collection Specialist; Henry Levee, Data Collection Specialist; Vladimer Shioshvili, Survey Systems Lead.
NCSES thanks the FFRDCs that provided information for this report.
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES). 2023. FFRDC Research and Development Expenditures: Fiscal Year 2022. NSF 23-347. Alexandria, VA: National Science Foundation. Available at https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/ffrdc-research-development/2022.
For additional information about this survey or the methodology, contact