# Federal Agencies Address Research Data Gaps

Federal research databases, surveys, and measurement systems are changing in scope, accessibility, and demographic coverage, making it harder for agencies and researchers to compare outcomes over time or assess whether research investments are delivering public benefits. The signals identify a continuing need for reliable, interoperable research-spending and award data and usable public-access tools, but cite no specific solicitation, agency requirement, or funding amount.

- Contractors working in federal data governance, analytics, and program evaluation may find opportunities to support continuity across changing datasets and improve interoperability.
- Agencies and industry stakeholders assessing research outcomes should account for changes in data coverage and access when comparing investment results or workforce trends.
- The signals point to a market need, not a confirmed procurement: they provide no contract vehicle, solicitation timeline, or mandatory technical standard.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology
**Topics:** Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** October 23, 2026

### Government Entities
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
- Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)

### Sources
- [
        The systems used to measure how well research investments are working keep changing - Federal News Network](https://federalnewsnetwork.com/management/2026/10/the-systems-used-to-measure-how-well-research-investments-are-working-keep-changing) - Federal News Network
- [
        It’s hard to know whether research investments are paying off if the systems used to measure results keep changing - Federal News Network](https://federalnewsnetwork.com/podcast/federal-drive-with-terry-gerton-podcast/its-hard-to-know-whether-research-investments-are-paying-off-if-the-systems-used-to-measure-results-keep-changing) - Federal News Network