DOE National Laboratories
17 laboratories operated by the Department of Energy
Argonne National Laboratory
Multidisciplinary research lab focusing on energy storage, nuclear engineering, advanced computing, and materials science. Argonne manages major DOE user facilities and issues contracts for scientific instrumentation, computing infrastructure, and environmental remediation.
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Home to major particle physics and nuclear science facilities including RHIC and the National Synchrotron Light Source II. Brookhaven contracts for accelerator components, detector systems, computing services, and environmental monitoring.
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
America's premier particle physics and accelerator laboratory, leading the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) and PIP-II accelerator projects. Fermilab contracts for superconducting magnets, cryogenic systems, and large-scale civil construction.
Idaho National Laboratory
The nation's lead nuclear energy research laboratory, supporting advanced reactor development, fuel cycle research, and critical infrastructure protection. INL issues contracts for nuclear engineering services, cybersecurity, and environmental cleanup of legacy waste sites.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Leading research in energy sciences, biosciences, computing, and physics. Berkeley Lab manages the Advanced Light Source and NERSC supercomputing center, contracting for scientific equipment, computing hardware, and building construction on its hillside campus.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
National security laboratory focused on nuclear weapons stockpile stewardship, high-performance computing, and laser science including the National Ignition Facility. LLNL issues contracts for advanced manufacturing, HPC systems, and laser components.
Los Alamos National Laboratory
The nation's largest science and technology institution, responsible for nuclear weapons design and stockpile stewardship, plutonium pit production, and threat reduction. Los Alamos contracts for construction, environmental remediation, computing, and specialized manufacturing.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The nation's primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research, covering solar, wind, bioenergy, hydrogen, and grid modernization. NREL contracts for research equipment, testing facilities, and technology transfer partnerships.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
DOE's largest science and energy laboratory, home to the Frontier exascale supercomputer, the Spallation Neutron Source, and the High Flux Isotope Reactor. ORNL issues contracts for advanced manufacturing, computing systems, neutron science instruments, and facility construction.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Advances science in chemistry, earth sciences, data analytics, and national security. PNNL supports Hanford cleanup, cybersecurity research, and biological sciences, contracting for environmental remediation, analytical instruments, and computing infrastructure.
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
The nation's laboratory for fusion energy research, developing magnetic confinement approaches to harness fusion power. PPPL contracts for superconducting magnet systems, plasma diagnostics, vacuum systems, and power supply equipment.
Sandia National Laboratories
National security engineering laboratory responsible for nuclear weapon systems engineering, nonproliferation, energy research, and homeland security. Sandia contracts for microelectronics, testing services, advanced manufacturing, and large-scale system integration.
Savannah River National Laboratory
Applied research laboratory supporting environmental stewardship, national security, and clean energy. SRNL focuses on nuclear materials processing, hydrogen technology, and environmental cleanup, contracting for waste management, analytical services, and engineering support.
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Home to the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), the world's most powerful X-ray free-electron laser. SLAC conducts research in photon science, particle physics, and accelerator technology, contracting for precision instruments, vacuum systems, and detector components.
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
Nuclear physics laboratory operating the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) for studying the quark structure of matter. Jefferson Lab contracts for superconducting RF cavities, cryogenic systems, and detector electronics.
Ames National Laboratory
Materials research laboratory specializing in rare earth elements, advanced alloys, and computational materials science. Ames Lab contracts for specialized metals processing, analytical equipment, and materials characterization services.
National Energy Technology Laboratory
DOE's only government-owned, government-operated national laboratory, focused on fossil energy, carbon management, and energy infrastructure. NETL manages billions in extramural research contracts for carbon capture, natural gas technologies, and critical minerals.
Federally Funded Research & Development Centers
42 FFRDCs organized by sponsoring agency
DODDepartment of Defense(13)
RAND Arroyo Center
Army-sponsored FFRDC providing research and analysis on military strategy, force development, and operational planning. Contracts focus on defense policy analysis, wargaming, and readiness assessments for the U.S. Army.
RAND Project AIR FORCE
Air Force-sponsored FFRDC conducting research on aerospace strategy, force structure, and resource management. Contracts cover air power analysis, logistics optimization, and technology assessment for USAF programs.
RAND National Defense Research Institute
OSD-sponsored FFRDC providing analysis on defense-wide policy issues including acquisition reform, personnel, health affairs, and international security. Contracts support cross-service studies and SecDef decision-making.
IDA Systems and Analyses Center
DOD's premier FFRDC for operational test and evaluation, joint force analysis, and cost assessment. IDA contracts support weapons system testing, force structure analysis, and acquisition program oversight for OSD and the Joint Staff.
IDA Center for Communications and Computing
Provides research and analysis on communications security, information assurance, and advanced computing for the National Security Agency. Contracts cover cryptographic research, cybersecurity analysis, and signals intelligence technology.
CNA Center for Naval Analyses
Navy and Marine Corps-sponsored FFRDC providing operations research and systems analysis. CNA embeds analysts with fleet units and contracts for naval warfare analysis, force structure studies, and readiness modeling.
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Premier defense R&D laboratory developing advanced technology for air defense, space surveillance, communications, and cybersecurity. Lincoln Lab contracts for radar systems, satellite technology, advanced electronics, and prototype development.
Aerospace Corporation
Space Force-sponsored FFRDC providing technical guidance for national security space programs. Aerospace contracts cover satellite systems engineering, launch vehicle integration, space domain awareness, and orbital mechanics analysis.
MITRE National Security Engineering Center
DOD-sponsored FFRDC supporting command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) systems. MITRE contracts cover systems engineering, cybersecurity framework development, and enterprise IT modernization for defense agencies.
MITRE Center for Advanced Studies in Security
Intelligence community FFRDC providing systems engineering and technical analysis for national intelligence programs. Contracts support IC IT modernization, data integration, and intelligence analysis tools development.
Software Engineering Institute
DOD-sponsored FFRDC advancing software and cybersecurity practices. Home of CERT and the CMMI framework. SEI contracts cover software assurance, vulnerability analysis, secure coding standards, and DevSecOps transformation.
Center for Missile Defense Studies
Supports the Missile Defense Agency with technical analysis and systems engineering for ballistic missile defense. Contracts cover interceptor design evaluation, sensor integration, and missile defense architecture assessment.
Center for Strategic Studies
Provides classified and unclassified research and analysis on strategic defense and intelligence issues. Contracts cover threat assessment, strategic competition analysis, and emerging technology evaluation for senior defense leaders.
DOEDepartment of Energy(7)
Kansas City National Security Campus
NNSA production facility manufacturing non-nuclear components for the nuclear weapons stockpile. Contracts cover precision manufacturing, electronics production, engineering services, and quality assurance for national security systems.
Pantex Plant
NNSA's primary facility for nuclear weapons assembly, disassembly, and high-explosive operations. Contracts cover weapons lifecycle management, security systems, environmental monitoring, and facility modernization.
Y-12 National Security Complex
NNSA facility for processing and storing highly enriched uranium and manufacturing nuclear weapons components. Contracts cover uranium processing, lithium operations, security upgrades, and environmental compliance at this historic Manhattan Project site.
Nevada National Security Site
NNSA's primary site for subcritical nuclear experiments, stockpile stewardship, and emergency response training. Contracts cover test operations, remote sensing, environmental monitoring, and waste management across the 1,360-square-mile site.
Savannah River Site
DOE environmental management and nuclear materials processing site, managing legacy defense nuclear waste and tritium production. Contracts cover liquid waste processing, decommissioning, tritium operations, and MOX fuel fabrication.
Hanford Site
Former plutonium production complex and the largest environmental cleanup project in the world. Multi-billion dollar contracts cover tank waste treatment (WTP), groundwater remediation, facility decommissioning, and the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
The nation's only deep geologic repository for transuranic radioactive waste from defense activities. Contracts cover underground mining, waste characterization and handling, radiation monitoring, and long-term repository performance assessment.
NSFNational Science Foundation(6)
IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute
Provides rigorous analysis of science and technology policy issues for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and federal agencies. Contracts cover R&D portfolio analysis, STEM workforce studies, and research infrastructure assessments.
National Center for Atmospheric Research
NSF-sponsored center for atmospheric and Earth system science, operating supercomputers and research aircraft for climate modeling and weather prediction. Contracts cover scientific computing, observing systems, and atmospheric instrumentation.
NSF National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory
Operates NSF's ground-based optical and infrared observatories including Gemini, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, and Kitt Peak. Contracts cover telescope systems, adaptive optics, detector arrays, and observatory infrastructure.
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Operates NSF's premier radio telescope facilities including the Very Large Array (VLA) and ALMA. Contracts cover radio receiver development, antenna systems, signal processing electronics, and telescope operations support.
National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center
Formerly home to the Arecibo Observatory, NAIC continues ionospheric and atmospheric research in the Caribbean. Contracts cover radar systems, radio science instrumentation, and STEM education and outreach programs.
Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory
Operates twin gravitational-wave detectors in Washington and Louisiana that made the first direct detection of gravitational waves. Contracts cover precision optics, seismic isolation systems, laser systems, and ultra-high vacuum equipment.
DHSHomeland Security(4)
MITRE Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute
DHS-sponsored FFRDC providing systems engineering for homeland security missions including cybersecurity, border security, and immigration services. Contracts cover critical infrastructure protection, identity management, and emergency communications.
RAND Homeland Security Research Division
DHS-sponsored FFRDC providing research on terrorism, border security, immigration, and disaster resilience. Contracts cover risk assessment modeling, infrastructure protection analysis, and emergency preparedness studies.
Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute
DHS-sponsored FFRDC providing independent analysis on homeland security strategy, operations, and policy. Contracts cover risk and threat analysis, program evaluation, and strategic planning for DHS components.
National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center
DHS-sponsored FFRDC conducting biodefense research including bioforensics and threat characterization. Contracts cover biological threat assessments, laboratory equipment, biosafety infrastructure, and biodetection technology development.
NASANASA(3)
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NASA's lead center for robotic exploration of the solar system, operating Mars rovers, deep space missions, and Earth observation satellites. JPL contracts for spacecraft components, ground systems, telecommunications equipment, and scientific instruments.
Space Telescope Science Institute
Operates the science program for the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes, managing observation scheduling, data archiving, and community grants. Contracts cover data processing systems, archive infrastructure, and scientific software development.
National Space Science Data Center
Permanent archive for NASA space science mission data, providing public access to astrophysics, planetary, and heliophysics datasets. Contracts cover data management systems, archive storage infrastructure, and data standards development.
HHSHealth & Human Services(2)
MITRE Center for Enterprise Modernization
HHS-sponsored FFRDC supporting healthcare IT modernization, CMS systems engineering, and public health data infrastructure. Contracts cover health information exchange, claims processing systems, and federal health program analytics.
Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research
NCI-sponsored FFRDC supporting cancer research, AIDS research, and biodefense. The only national laboratory dedicated to biomedical research, contracting for genomic sequencing, drug development, clinical trial support, and biomanufacturing.
CommerceDepartment of Commerce(2)
NIST Center for Neutron Research
Operates the nation's premier neutron scattering facility for materials research, supporting measurements in polymers, biology, and engineering materials. Contracts cover neutron instrumentation, cold source technology, and reactor operations support.
Census Bureau Research and Methodology Directorate
Conducts statistical research and methodology development supporting the decennial census and economic surveys. Contracts cover survey methodology, data linkage, privacy-preserving techniques, and statistical computing infrastructure.
TreasuryDepartment of the Treasury(1)
DOTDepartment of Transportation(1)
VADepartment of Veterans Affairs(1)
About National Laboratories & FFRDCs
The Department of Energy operates 17 National Laboratories — the backbone of America's scientific research infrastructure. These labs conduct fundamental and applied research in energy, national security, computing, and environmental science. Each lab is managed by a contractor (university or private entity) under a management and operating (M&O) contract, and they collectively issue billions in subcontracts annually.
Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) are unique organizations sponsored by federal agencies to meet long-term research and engineering needs that cannot be met by the government or private sector alone. FFRDCs operate in the public interest, free from organizational conflicts of interest. The NSF maintains the official list of FFRDCs, which spans defense, energy, health, space, and fundamental science.
Contracting with national labs and FFRDCs offers opportunities in scientific equipment, facility construction and maintenance, IT services, environmental remediation, and specialized technical support. Many labs have dedicated small business offices and actively seek diverse suppliers.