SLAC Management Plan

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC) is one of 10 Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science laboratories and a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC).  SLAC is operated by Stanford University (Stanford) on behalf of DOE and, within Stanford, is treated as a unit of Stanford, with the SLAC Laboratory Director reporting jointly to the Stanford President and Stanford Provost. 

SLAC is located on Stanford land that has been leased to the U.S. government since 1962, and DOE has renewed SLAC’s Management and Operating contract (Contract) to Stanford continuously over this period. DOE has developed the land with numerous federally-owned scientific facilities and structures as SLAC’s mission has expanded and evolved. This mission includes research in basic and applied science conducted by SLAC faculty and staff as well as by thousands of external users and collaborators from around the world. Apart from managing and operating the land, Stanford also continues to support this vital mission by providing valuable facilities, expertise and services to SLAC.    

Through SLAC’s unique Contract model, Stanford policies and its dual governance structure generally apply at SLAC, and all SLAC employees are Stanford employees. However, there are also important differences between SLAC and Stanford policies and governance. These differences are based on the Contract, national laboratory practices and sponsor expectations given SLAC’s FFRDC status. For example, in contrast to Stanford, SLAC’s strategic and research direction is generally set by SLAC leadership in partnership with DOE as opposed to through faculty-led programs, SLAC is managed and organized like other national laboratories, and SLAC follows distinct safety, security, financial and conflict-of-interest requirements. 

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SLAC Management Plan (PDF)