explains how the agencies decide which research 

 programs and projects to fund and how they con- 

 duct i.^tramural research. Chapter 6 presents the 

 problems caused by both general and specific leg- 

 islation affecting the support and conduct of re- 

 search. Chapter 7 deals in part with funding prob- 

 lems but emphasizes organizational barriers such 

 as internal budget and personnel procedures and 

 the interpretation of legislative restrictions such 

 as the Mansfield amendment. 



this subject; it traces the coordination process his- 

 torically and provides an overview of current in- 

 teragency mechanisms, such as the "lead agency" 

 concept, for achieving greater coordination of the 

 Federal research effort. 



Priorities and Gaps 



Coordination of Basic Research 



While there are obvious problems in coordinat- 

 ing basic research in support of individual agency 

 missions (including definition of the term), the 

 extent of joint funding, management, consulta- 

 tion, and other activities designed to achieve this 

 goal is surprising. Chapter 8 is devoted entirely to 



Despite the impressive record of accomplish- 

 ments and the large and diverse current research 

 agenda, the agencies clearly indicate that there is 

 continuing need for advancement of basic knowl- 

 edge in order to perform their missions. In many 

 cases, their current research programs address 

 most or all of the priority and gap areas. Chapter 

 9 deals primarily with how each agency views its 

 needs for more knowledge and how it is hoped 

 that the research imderway or projected will fill 

 these needs. 



240 



INTRODUCTION 



