[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 129 (Monday, July 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36317-36318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17536]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Comment Request; Submission for OMB Review

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Comment request; submission for OMB review.

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    Title of Collection: Baseline Data Collection for FastLane Project.
SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation, as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment 
on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)). This is the second notice for public comment, the first 
was published in the Federal Register on April 21, 1997 at Vol. 62, No. 
76, page 19358. No comments were received in response to the first 
notice. NSF is submitting this proposed collection to OMB for clearance 
simultaneously with the publication of this second notice.

COMMENT DUE DATE: Written comments must be received on or before August 
4, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for National Science 
Foundation, 725-17th Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC. 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gail A. McHenry, the NSF Reports Clearance Officer on (703) 306-1125 
x2010 or send email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Abstract

    The NSF FastLane project is a 3-year experimental program using 
advanced information technology to re-design and streamline the way NSF 
does business with the research community. The long-term goals of 
FastLane are to reduce administrative burden, lower costs, and increase 
access to information for the research and education communities. The 
National Science Foundation (NSF) designed this new collection effort 
to assemble baseline information from

[[Page 36318]]

research institutions about the administrative burden (time and cost 
measurements) and workflow processes associated with the preparation, 
submission, and post-award administration of proposals to NSF and other 
federal research funding agencies.

2. Use of the Information

    The purpose of this study is to collect baseline data about 
administrative processes that NSF expects to improve with FastLane. NSF 
will then be able to gauge the impact of FastLane on specific 
administrative processes at research institutions by comparing out-year 
measurements to these baselines. The results of these comparisons will 
help to guide future FastLane development efforts.

3. Expected Respondents

    The collection effort will involve approximately 55 institutions 
and will be conducted as a telephone survey. In the course of the 
survey, both administrative and research staff will be contacted at 
each institution.

4. Burden on the Public

    The Foundation estimates that a total annual reporting and 
recordkeeping burden of 363 hours will result from the collection of 
information. The calculation is: 484 respondents (11 individuals per 
institution x 55 institutions x 80% estimated response rate) x 1 
response (one-time survey) x 45 minutes/respondent=363 hours.

    Dated: June 24, 1997.
Gail A. McHenry,
NSF Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-17536 Filed 7-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M