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Service Federal Research Division

About this Service

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Federal Research Division

  • Watch the June 13, 2022 Expert Panel Discussion on Policy Research - Webcast
  • Read About the 75th Anniversary and Panelists Profiled in the Library of Congress Magazine - Gazette (PDF, 1.6 MB)

About FRD

The Federal Research Division (FRD) is a fee-based research and analysis unit within the Library of Congress that produces world-renowned and nonpartisan products to support research-informed policy- and decision-making. FRD provides custom research services to federal agencies, the District of Columbia government, and authorized federal contractors. Procurement is quick and merely requires an interagency agreement (IAA).

FRD oversees the Federal Research Program revolving fund, which was authorized by Congress as part of the Library of Congress Fiscal Operations Improvement Act of 2000 (PDF, 18 KB) (2 U.S.C. ยง 182c). The Federal Research Program allows federal agencies (excluding Congress), authorized federal contractors, and the District of Columbia government to benefit from the research, analysis, and translation services of the Library. All services are provided by Library staff and all procurement is via an interagency agreement (IAA) with the Library of Congress.

Cost-Recovery Program

FRD is a cost-recovery program that can accept federal funds and quickly procure the world-renowned research expertise that is housed within the Library of Congress.

Capabilities

The division’s highly qualified core research team has extensive experience using the Library’s collections and facilities to produce expert analyses. Staff have carried out research in more than 100 languages and collected hard-to-acquire datasets. Their expertise is organized into four primary sections: Defense and National Security; Healthcare and Business; Law and Criminal Justice; and Science and Technology. Subject areas include:

  • Domestic and global legal research;
  • Social and behavioral science;
  • Technology and data;
  • Health and medical science; and
  • Business, transportation, and economics.

Contact Us

Comments, questions, and suggestions related to The Federal Research Division and this website can be sent to us online.

Location

Federal Research Division
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave SE
John Adams Building, LA 5281
Washington, D.C. 20540-4840
Phone: 202-707-3900
Fax: 202-707-3920
Email: frds@loc.gov