Begun as an experiment in 1986 between five federal agencies (National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Office of Naval Research, Department of Energy, and US Department of Agriculture) and the Florida State University System and the University of Miami to test and evaluate a grant mechanism utilizing a standardized and simplified set of terms and conditions across all participating agencies, the FDP has evolved into an organization of 10 federal agencies and more that 90 research institutions dedicated to finding efficient and effective ways to support research by maximizing resources available for research and minimizing administrative costs.
Phase I (Florida Demonstration Project) 1986-1988
Phase II (Federal Demonstration Project) 1988-1996
As the end of Phase IV neared, a strategic planning committee was created to develop the overarching goals and objectives for the FDP in Phase V. The basic theme of the strategic plan is: Researchers doing science, not administration. During Phase V we will be increasing the number of demonstrations that are performed, putting the “D” back into the FDP. A main source for ideas on which to base demonstration will be the results of the Faculty Burden Survey. This report outlines how researchers spend their time on federally funded research and will be able to help us see where streamlining is possible without sacrificing accountability.