A map of the Department of Energy National Laboratories

The Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for the effective stewardship of 17 world-class national laboratories, 10 of which are under the purview of the Office of Science (SC). The Office of Laboratory Policy develops uniform SC-specific policies related to the management, operation, and overall well-being-of the ten DOE SC national laboratories. In addition, the Office works to ensure that these laboratories are focused, individually and collectively, on achieving the DOE mission, that government resources and support are allocated to ensure their long-term scientific and technical excellence, that a proper balance exists among them between competition and collaboration, and that they balance the benefits of open science with the practical concerns of national security.

The DOE national laboratory system represents the most comprehensive research system of its kind in the world. The laboratories perform R&D that is not well suited to university or private sector research facilities because of its scope, infrastructure, or multidisciplinary nature, and for which there is a strong public and national purpose. The laboratories are Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and follow a Management and Operating Contract Model (M&O).

The DOE national laboratory system represents the most comprehensive research system of its kind in the world. The laboratories perform R&D that is not well suited to university or private sector research facilities because of its scope, infrastructure, or multidisciplinary nature, and for which there is a strong public and national purpose. The laboratories are Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and follow a Management and Operating Contract Model (M&O).

Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC)

By Government-wide regulation, an FFRDC is a Federally-funded, privately-operated facility established to meet a special long-term research or development (R&D) need of the Federal Government which cannot be met effectively by existing in-house or contractor resources. FFRDCs are operated, managed, and/or administered by either a university, other nonprofit organization, or an industrial firm. There are 39 FFRDCs Government-wide; the DOE has 16 FFRDCs, including the 10 Office of Science (SC) national laboratories. All but one of DOE’s FFRDCs are sponsored under management and operating contracts. DOE is the only Federal agency with authority to use them.

Management & Operating (M&O) Contract Model

Some of the key attributes of the M&O contract model are:

  • Scientific and Technical Excellence: M&O contractors are able to attract world-leading scientific talent that likely would not work for a Government laboratory.
  • The results speak for themselves: DOE laboratory scientists have produced 62 Nobel Laureates and hundreds of R&D 100 awards.
  • Maximum Managerial Flexibility: Ability to maintain long-term relationships with the laboratories but swap out managing contractor as needed without wholesale disruption of the laboratory.
  • Low cost: DOE FFRDCs are managed for fees that average less than 3.5% of their annual operating costs; SC’s laboratory M&O contracts pay on average less than 1% of operating budgets in annual fees.
  • Value Added: Many of DOE’s M&O contractors provide significant contributions (e.g., long-term rent-free leases, other financial contributions) to the laboratories that benefit the Government because of their long-term relationship with their DOE sponsor and the laboratories.

Office of Laboratory Policy Portfolio

Contact Laboratory Policy

Address

U.S. Department of Energy
SC-42/Forrestal Building
1000 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20585

Phone

Tel: (202) 586-5447
Fax: (202) 586-3119