[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 201 (Monday, October 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55901-55902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27911]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Privacy Act of 1974: Revisions to System of Records

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), the 
National Science Foundation (NSF) is providing notice of revisions to 
two existing systems. Revisions to the current system NSF-64 ``Project 
Participant File'' are being made to delete references to data that 
will not be collected. NSF-65 ``Vendor File'' is being renamed to more 
accurately reflect the records contained therein, and one new routine 
use is added. The revised systems are reprinted in their entirety.

Effective Date: Sections 552a(e)(4) and (11) of Title 5 of the U.S. 
Code require that the public have thirty days to comment on the routine 
uses of systems of records. The new routine uses that are the subject 
of this notice will take effect on November 18, 1998, unless modified 
by a subsequent notice to incorporate comments received from the 
public.

Comments: Written comments should be submitted to Leslie Crawford, NSF 
Privacy Act Officer, National Science Foundation, Office of the General 
Counsel, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 1265, Arlington, VA 22230.

    Dated: October 13, 1998.
Leslie Crawford,
Privacy Act Officer.
NSF-64

SYSTEM NAME:
Project Participant File.

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    Central electronic data system of the National Science Foundation. 
Excerpts may be extracted or printed and held in separate files 
maintained by individual NSF offices and programs. National Science 
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    Individual participants who do work under NSF-supported projects, 
other than principal investigators or project directors. Includes, for 
example, other investigators, post-doctoral associates, graduate and 
undergraduate assistants.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    Information gathered primarily through reporting on funded projects 
about those who are supported by NSF awards or otherwise involved in 
projects supported by NSF awards. The information includes: Name; 
project identity or identities; involvement in project--nature and 
description of involvement, level of effort, whether financially 
supported by NSF; and demographic data--information on gender, race/
ethnicity, disability status, and citizenship. Submission of 
demographic data is voluntary. The individual participant may report 
``Do not wish to provide''.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    44 U.S.C. 3101; 42 U.S.C. 1870.

PURPOSE(S):
    Supplements other information gathered via project reporting on 
projects funded by NSF. The primary purpose is to enable NSF to 
identify outcomes of projects funded under NSF awards for management 
evaluation and for reporting to the Administration and Congress, 
especially under the Government Performance and Results Act, 5 U.S.C. 
306 and 39 U.S.C. 2801--2805. Information on participants will normally 
be aggregated, usually statistically, to identify outcomes of NSF 
programs. On occasion non-sensitive information might be used to 
identify persons who have achieved distinction in science, engineering, 
education, or the like (for example, by award of a prize) as 
beneficiaries of NSF support. The information in the system may also be 
used secondarily for compatible purposes including to (1) identify and 
contact scientists, engineers, or educators who may be interested in 
applying for support, in attending a scientific or similar meeting, in 
applying for a position, or in taking advantage of some similar 
opportunity; or (2) identify and contact possible candidates to serve 
as reviewers in the peer review system or for inclusion on a panel or 
advisory committee (information from this system may be entered in the 
NSF's reviewer databases, NSF-51 and NSF-54, for this purpose);

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
    An individual participant's name; the identity of any project on 
which the participant worked; and information on the nature and extent 
of the individual's involvement, level of effort, and NSF support may 
be publicly released.
    Demographic data pertaining to any individual may be released only 
to:
    1. Contractors who perform a service to or work on or under a 
contract with the Federal government in pursuit of a purpose described 
above. Individuals will be given access only if needed for their 
specific job. The contractors are subject to the provisions of the 
Privacy Act.
    2. A Federal agency so that it can identify and contact persons who 
might be interested in a scientific, technical, or educational program, 
meeting, vacancy, or similar opportunity.
    3. A Federal agency, or a researcher with appropriate scholarly 
credentials, to use the data for scholarly studies or for Federal 
program management, evaluation, or reporting only after scrutiny of 
research protocols and with appropriate controls. Information from this 
system may be merged with other computer files to complete such studies 
or evaluations. The results of such studies or evaluations are 
statistical in nature and do not identify individuals.
    4. The Department of Justice, to the extent disclosure is 
compatible with the purpose for which the record was collected and is 
relevant and necessary to litigation or anticipated litigation, in 
which one of the following is a party or has an interest: (a) NSF or 
any of its components; (b) an NSF employee in his/her official 
capacity; (c) an NSF employee in his/her individual capacity when the 
Department of Justice is representing or considering representing the 
employee; or (d) the United States, when NSF determines that litigation 
is likely to affect the Agency.
    5. Representatives of the General Services Administration and the 
National Archives and Records Administration who are conducting records 
management inspections under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, 
AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
STORAGE:
    Primary storage is in centralized electronic data tables. Extracts 
or paper printouts may be maintained in computers or paper files in 
individual program offices.

RETRIEVABILITY:
    Information can be retrieved electronically using participant 
names.

SAFEGUARDS:
    NSF employees, contractors, advisers, and others will have access 
only after entering the NSF data system using a personal identifier and 
password only

[[Page 55902]]

as needed for their specific assignments. Principal investigators will 
have access only to information about their own awards, and only after 
identifying themselves using a personal identifier and personal 
identification number. Even then, they will not have access through 
this system to demographic data on individuals other than themselves. 
Persons covered by the system will have access only to information 
about themselves.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
    The file is cumulative and is maintained indefinitely.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:
    Chief Information Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson 
Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
    The NSF Privacy Act Officer should be contacted in accordance with 
procedures set forth at 45 CFR part 613.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
    See ``Notification Procedure'' above.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
    See ``Notification Procedure'' above.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    Information other than demographic data is entered by the principal 
investigator on the relevant award. Demographic data is obtained either 
by having the individual participant enter it directly (preferred) or 
by having the principal investigator enter it on the participant's 
behalf.

EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:
    None.
NSF-65

System name:
    NSF Electronic Payment File.

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    National Science Foundation, Division of Financial Management, 4201 
Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    Employees, former employees, other individuals and vendors who will 
or do receive electronic payment from the National Science Foundation 
for goods or services.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    Name, address, Social Security Number, and payee banking 
information.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 provides authority for 
the National Science Foundation to implement mandatory electronic 
payments for all obligations.

PURPOSE(S):
    This system enables NSF to comply with the electronic payment 
provisions of the Debt Collection Act of 1996.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
    Information from this system of records may be disclosed to:
    1. The Department of the Treasury for the purpose of issuing the 
payment directly to the financial account of the payee, and reporting 
income paid in accordance with reporting requirements.
    2. Financial institutions for the purpose of direct deposit.
    3. The Department of Justice, to the extent disclosure is 
compatible with the purpose for which the record was collected, and is 
relevant and necessary to litigation or anticipated litigation, in 
which one of the following is a party or has an interest: (a) NSF or 
any of its components; (b) an NSF employee in his/her official 
capacity; (c) an NSF employee in his/her individual capacity when the 
Department of Justice is representing or considering representing the 
employee; or (d) the United States, when NSF determines that litigation 
is likely to affect the Agency.
    4. Contractors, experts, and other individuals who perform a 
service to or work on or under a contract, or other arrangement with or 
for the Federal government, as necessary to carry out their duties.
    5. Another Federal agency, a court, or a party in litigation before 
a court or in an administrative proceeding being conducted by a Federal 
agency when the Government is a party to the judicial or administrative 
proceeding.
    6. Representatives of the General Services Administration and the 
National Archives and Records Administration who are conducting records 
management inspections under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, 
AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
STORAGE:
    These records are maintained electronically.

RETRIEVABILITY:
    These records are retrieved by Social Security Number or vendor 
institution number.

SAFEGUARDS:
    These records are available only to those persons whose official 
duties require access. A password is required for access to the 
computer system. Printed reports of the data have restricted access and 
are treated as confidential information.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
    Updated information automatically replaces the old information. 
File is cumulative and maintained permanently.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:
    Director, Division of Financial Management, National Science 
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
    The NSF Privacy Act Officer should be contacted in accordance with 
procedures found at 45 CFR part 613.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
    See ``Notification'' procedures above.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
    See ``Notification'' procedures above.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    Information in this system of records obtained from the individual 
or payees.

EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:
    None.

[FR Doc. 98-27911 Filed 10-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P