Originally Posted by Michilander

FFRDC's are non-profit organizations funded by the Federal Government. They include places like Sandia and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories. To the best of my knowledge, they have their own pay scale and are not technically Government employees. They do, however, enjoy a special relationship with the Government. According to this link

http://www.marriott.com/File%20Block...eals/chart.htm

Marriott considers them eligible for Federal Government rates. I suspect that they are subject to federal per diem reimbursement limits when they travel for business.