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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]There is real RAND hater on this thread!

FFRDCs and for profit contractors have different business models. The latter can serve as body shops and staff government offices.  They do a huge amount of valuable staff work.

FFRDCs are defined in the FAR:  https://www.acquisition.gov/far/35.017
Government organizations are not legally allowed to give work to FFRDCs that are outside their mission. If a for-profit can do it, it should not go to an FFRDC. All the studies and analyses FFRDCs have serious PhD nerds who are happy doing studies.  They are supposed to be independent and offer independent advice, but have the expertise and clearances necessary to do all kinds of work. These are long term investments made by the government in folks who can give good advice.

I love dcum. Where else could I write about the FAR and know people will track?
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This poster isn't correct and doesn't seem to fully understand FFRDC contracts. I work on the government side and help oversee FFRDC contracts so here's my perspective. Industries can operate them (Leidos operates FNLCR). The big sticking point is conflict of interest or, equally as important, appearances of conflict of interest. Several FFRDCs, in their attempt to grow, have started taking money from places that increases the chances a reasonable person would view these non-government funding streams as conflicts. Now it's likely that FFRDCs may not believe these are conflicts of interest or have convinced themselves there's no appearance of conflicts. People can agree or disagree with these assessments. But my agency is cracking down on this practice largely under pressure from OMB.

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