Federal Research: DOD's Use of Study and Analysis Centers

For decades, the government has contracted and entered into agreements to sponsor academic, nonprofit, or private organizations to operate FFRDCs. DOD military departments and other DOD components sponsor 10 FFRDCs to help develop innovative solutions to diverse national security threats. Five FFRDCs - referred to as S and A Centers - aim to provide independent analyses to support DOD policy development. Federal regulation and DOD guidance specify sponsors oversight activities, including the establishment, use, and review of FFRDCs. A Senate Armed Services Committee report included a provision that GAO review DOD's use of FFRDCs. This report describes, among other objectives: (1) DOD obligations (in dollars) to DODs FFRDCs from fiscal years 2013 through 2018; (2) factors that led DOD to use S and A Centers for research; and (3) how DOD used this research. GAO analyzed obligation data for DOD's 10 FFRDCs. GAO focused further review on DOD's five S and A Centers that primarily provide studies and analysis. GAO analyzed sponsoring agreements, comprehensive reviews, and 22 S and A Center research projects selected based on factors such as obtaining a mix of project costs, and interviewed DOD and FFRDC representatives.