[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 227 (Friday, November 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59468-59469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29876]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Title of Proposed Collection: An Evaluation of Design and 
Manufacturing Research Program Awards made in FY1986.
    In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the National Science Foundation 
(NSF) is publishing this announcement of its intention to collect 
evaluation data from Principal Investigators receiving awards under the 
Design, Manufacture and Industrial Innovation (DMII) program for the 
fiscal year cited above. To request more information on the proposed 
project, or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
instruments, call Herman Fleming, NSF Clearance officer, at (703) 306-
1243.
    Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information from respondents, including the 
use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Proposed Project: An Evaluation of DMII Awards made in FY 1986. The 
ability of the National Science Foundation to continue a high level of 
support for university-based research is becoming increasingly 
dependent on the ability of the NSF and its research partners to 
explain the impact of funded research on the lives of the U.S. citizens 
who provide those funds. While NSF has anecdotal accounts of 
manufacturing-related NSF projects that ultimately led to major new 
technologies with a significant impact on commerce, the Foundation has 
no systematic evidence regarding the frequency of such events, nor the 
process by which these outcomes may have occurred. Therefore, the NSF 
Director has requested that a pilot project be initiated to perform an 
exhaustive study of the outcomes of design and manufacturing-related 
awards made in FY1986.
    Some 200 Principal Investigators who were recipients of an award 
from DMII in FY1986 will be asked to provide a one-page narrative 
describing the impact of their work. They will need to consider their 
project in light of their knowledge of progress in the broad field in 
which it may have been applied. For instance, did their work provide 
key insights which led to important follow-on projects, in their lab or 
at other labs, carried out by the PI, by his or her students or 
industry engineers with whom they consulted? If so, they will asked to 
describe the chain of discovery in their narrative.
    The DMII is asking that PIs assist in this evaluation by providing 
the following information:
    (1) a brief one page narrative regarding the outcomes and impacts 
of the project;
    (2) citations to no more than 3 key journal articles, books or 
patents that resulted from the project, or in which the project played 
an important role;
    (3) the names, addresses and telephone numbers of between 3 and 5 
other individuals who are familiar with the work carried out under the 
project, and who could provide additional insights as to its outcomes 
and impacts; and
    (4) one hard copy of each of the journal articles and patent(s) 
that are cited. With regard to the narrative materials, the following 
information will be requested:
    (A) Complete project title.
    (B) PI, Co-PI and institutional affiliations.
    (C) Time frame during which project was conducted.
    (D) Principal outputs or results of the project.
    (E) Longer term outcomes and follow-on impacts of the project.
    (F) The PI's best assessment of the impact of this NSF-funded 
research on the current (1996) state of design and manufacturing 
technology, including any known commercial implementations.
    (G) Any other observations that the PI wishes to make (e.g., 
regarding the promotion of a significant discovery, creation of a 
significant research capability, promotion of new knowledge flowing to 
society).
    The narratives, citations, and names of others knowledgeable about 
the project may be submitted using the Internet or regular mail.
    The DMII will organize a panel of experts in the field who are 
knowledgeable about the types of projects funded, and the nature of 
innovations that have occurred over the past decades. The expert 
panel's first assignment will be to conduct a thorough review and 
assessment of the narratives submitted by the PIs. Once the narratives 
have been reviewed, a subset of 20 outstanding examples of awards with 
significant impacts will be chosen, and brief case studies will be 
prepared by the contractor in order to better understand the process by 
which the impacts occurred.
    Under the final phase of this evaluation, the expert panel will 
then review the case studies and, based upon findings from both the 
project narratives and the individual case studies, prepare an overall 
assessment of the contributions made by these awards.
    The DMII program staff will then review the findings and assess 
their implications for future program priorities and actions.
    DMII has contracted with Abt Associates Inc. of Cambridge, 
Massachusetts, to assist it in the survey and reports preparation 
process.
    Use of Information: The information collected will be used to 
assist the Foundation in the evaluation of this program, and in 
considering various program priorities and selection procedures for 
future projects in this area. NSF will also consider how best to 
satisfy the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) in reporting 
outcomes and impacts of programs of this type. Finally, NSF will 
determine how to improve future evaluation activities applied to 
subsequent awards made under this program.
    Confidentiality: Copies of the narratives will be reviewed by a 
panel of experts selected by NSF. The subsequent case studies will also 
be reviewed by this expert panel. Some materials may be disseminated by 
NSF

[[Page 59469]]

as a part of the program evaluation process. No sensitive information 
is being requested in the survey.
    Burden on the Public: The Foundation estimates that, on average, 
two hours will be required to prepare the narratives, or a total of 400 
hours for all PIs. In addition, it anticipates 4 hours of interviews 
for each of 20 case studies, or 80 hours. Thus, total burden is 
estimated at 480 hours.
    Send comments to Herman Fleming, Clearance Office, National Science 
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 485, Arlington, VA 2230. 
Written comments should be received by January 22, 1997.

    Dated: November 19, 1996.
Herman G. Fleming,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-29876 Filed 11-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M