[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 231 (Wednesday, December 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66585-66586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32028]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection requests.

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SUMMARY: The Reports Clearance Officer invites comments on the proposed 
information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995.

DATES: An emergency review has been requested in accordance with the 
Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 3507(j)), since public harm is reasonably likely 
to result if normal clearance procedures are followed. Approval by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been requested by December 
30, 1998. A regular clearance process is also beginning. Interested 
persons are invited to submit comments on or before January 30, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the emergency review should be 
addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Attention: Danny Werfel, Desk Officer: National Science Foundation, 
Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, New 
Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503. Requests for copies of 
the proposed information collection request should be addressed to 
Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science 
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Rm. 295, Arlington, VA 22230, or should 
be electronically mailed to the Internet address [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Plimpton, 703-306-1125, x 
2017. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-
877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through 
Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Director of OMB 
provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity 
to comment on information collection requests. The Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) may amend or waive the requirement for public 
consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval 
process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate 
State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency's 
ability to perform its statutory obligations. The Reports Clearance 
Officer publishes this notice containing proposed information 
collection requests at the beginning of the Foundation's review of the 
information collection. Each proposed information collection, grouped 
by office, contains the following: (1) Type of review requested, e.g., 
new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) 
Summary of the collection; (4) Description of the need for, and 
proposed use of, the information; (5) Respondents and frequency of 
collection; and (6) Reporting and/or Recordkeeping burden. NSF invites 
public comment at the address specified above. Copies of the requests 
are available from Suzanne Plimpton at the address specified above.
    Type of Review: New.
    Title: Survey of 1996 and 1997 Research and Development Funding and 
Performance by Nonprofit Organizations; OMB Control Number 3145-0170.
    Abstract: OMB clearance for the NSF Survey of Research and 
Development Funding and Performance by Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs) 
expired June 30, 1998. The proposed information clearance request is 
for an extension of the time period for the survey that is now in the 
field. The survey collects information on the science and engineering 
(S&E) research and development (R&D) activities of nonprofit 
organizations in 1996 and 1997. A prior study with similar objectives 
was conducted in 1973. The purposes of the study are to: (1) develop 
estimates of the amounts of R&D funding provided by NPOs and the types 
of organizations supported; (2) develop estimates of the amount of R&D 
performed by NPOs; and (3) develop estimates of R&D researchers' 
employment in NPOs.
    Expected Respondents: Respondents are nonprofit organizations 
(NPOs) that funded and/or performed science and engineering research 
and development in 1996. It will be a mail survey with telephone 
follow-up as necessary.
    NSF is proposing the time extension of one form (Form 1400, the 
screening survey); the change in format of one form (Form 1402, the 
Funders survey form); and the reduction in the number of questions in 
one form (Form 1401, the Performers survey form).
    As the table below shows, 2,432 respondents will be asked to 
complete the qualifying screening survey Form 1400. If they are 
eligible to participate in the survey, they will also receive either a 
Form 1401 Performer survey or a Form 1402 Funder survey. Some NPOs have 
already responded to the Form 1400 (screener) and the 705 eligible 
organizations will be sent either a Form 1401 or 1402.
    Since the answers on the Form 1400 (screener) will determine 
whether newly contacted organizations will receive the Performer or 
Funder survey form, we are estimating the number that will be eligible 
based on the percentage of NPOs that reported themselves eligible in 
the March 31, 1998 screener mailing. The estimate for the Funders Form 
1402 is 245 organizations; the estimate for the Performers Form 1401 is 
815 organizations. These figures include both the NPOs that we estimate 
will be eligible in the next screener mailing and the NPOs that 
responded after June 30, 1998 to the March 31, 1998 screener (606 
Performers 99 Funders).
    Additional Information: NSF is requesting emergency clearance for 
the Survey of Research and Development Funding and Performance by 
Nonprofit Organizations due to unanticipated poor response to the 
mailings in March 1998 and June 1998. The universe of possible R&D 
funders and performers is much larger than we first anticipated. Our 
initial screening mail-out went to 8,771 organizations; 316 additional 
funders were selected in the sample but accidentally left off the 
mailing list. Many of the 5,548 NPOs that we have successfully 
contacted have either not been involved in R&D or have not met the 
minimum $250,000 requirement. We used more time than expected locating 
and contacting small organizations, which often are transient or short-
lived. Our plan to use the Employer Identification Number as a unique 
key to nonprofit organizations was flawed. Many NPOs had more than one 
EIN and we were unable to determine by EIN codes whether research 
institutes were independent and in-scope, or part of universities and 
out-of-scope. We also experienced technical problems. Performers 
complained about the length of time needed to complete the survey so we 
have scaled it down substantially. Slowness of the Website also

[[Page 66586]]

discouraged some would-be respondents.
    Need for data. Failure to continue and complete this survey will 
result in the U.S. Government continuing to use 1973 data in estimating 
the nonprofit sector's R&D and the national totals of R&D funding and 
performance. A complete accurate description of R&D funding and 
performance is necessary for policymakers for planning, reporting, and 
tax purposes. Considerable work in drawing the sample has already been 
completed and $546,000 has been spent. The most efficient and cost 
effective way for the U.S. Government to obtain the needed data is to 
complete this survey. Therefore, we are asking that emergency clearance 
be granted by December 30, 1998 so that we can mail out the survey 
forms, complete the survey and publish the report in a timely manner.
    Burden on the Public. The Foundation estimates that a total annual 
reporting and recordkeeping burden of 3,441 hours will result from the 
collection of information. The calculation is:

2,432 NPOs (1,030 Funders+1,402 Performers) x 1 screening survey Form 
1400 x  12.5 minutes=506 hours
815 Performers x 1 revised Form 1401 x 3 hours=2,445 hours
245 Funders x 1 reformatted Form 1402 x 2 hours=490 hours
    Total=3,441 hours

    Frequency: One-time survey; second form only to eligible Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions.

    Dated: November 25, 1998.
Suzanne Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer,
National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 98-32028 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P