[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35189-35190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16671]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Modification 
OMB No. 3145-0101; Comment Request; Submission to OMB Review

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing efforts to reduce 
paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation (NSF) 
is inviting the general public and other federal agencies to comment on 
this proposed continuing information collection. This is the second 
notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal 
Register at 64 FR 19831 (April 22, 1999). We did not receive any 
comments. NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission, the 
comments with our responses, to OMB for clearance simultaneously with 
the publication of this second notice. Comments regarding (a) whether 
the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance 
of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection 
of information on those who are to respond, including through the use 
of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology should be addressed to: Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for National Science 
Foundation, 725--17th Street, N.W. Room 10235, Washington, D.C. 20503, 
and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science 
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230 
or send email to [email protected]. Please include current OMB Control 
Number 3145-0101 with your comments.
    NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control 
number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to 
the collection of information that such persons are not required to 
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.

DATES: Comments regarding this information collection are best assured 
of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this 
notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling 
703-306-1125 X 2017.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Suzanne H. Plimpton, 
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson 
Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 306-
1125 X 2017; or send email to [email protected]. You also may obtain a 
copy of the data collection instrument and instructions from Ms. 
Plimpton.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Abstract

    In 1995 OMB approved both the 1996 and 1998 survey cycles of the 
NSF Survey of Scientific and Engineering Research Facilities at 
Colleges and Universities (OMB No. 3145-0101). The survey collects 
information on the science and engineering (S&E) research facilities at 
the nation's higher education institutions. The 1999 Facilities Survey 
will also collect information on S&E research facilities at the 
nation's higher education institutions. The modifications to the 
approved 1998 questionnaire will make the data more useful to federal 
agencies and policymakers. The Federal Government intends to use the 
aggregate data to review average costs of construction. The Follow-Up 
Survey responds to a revision to OMB Circular A-21 which requires an 
adequate internal review and approval process for facility costs when 
an institution has a new large facility costing at least $25 million. 
The Follow-Up Survey will collect more specific information on each 
project fitting OMB's qualifications as determined using data reported 
in the Facilities Survey.

Proposed Modifications to the OMB-Approved 1999 Survey

     Sample size. We are requesting that the 1999 survey sample 
be increased from a sample of 365 to a census of 579 to allow for more 
precise data estimates and more complex analyses such as subgroup 
analyses.
     Modifications to the 1999 questionnaire wording focused on 
improving the clarity of the questions and increasing the ease of 
response. The changes include:
     A check-off box was added above each question allowing 
institutions who participated in the 1998 cycle of the survey and whose 
information has not changed to simply mark the check-off box instead of 
copying repeat information into the grids. The check-off boxes are 
explained in detail on the main instruction page at the beginning of 
the questionnaire.
     The instructions provided for each question were condensed 
and made more precise, in an effort to avoid respondent confusion.
     A statement was added to the instructions reminding 
respondents that animal research facility space should be included in 
cost calculations.
     Basic skip patterns were added to Items 4A, 4C, 4E, 6A, 
and 7A to allow respondents to skip over questions that do not apply to 
their particular institution.
     In an effort to increase specificity, the columns in Item 
3 were renamed and a column was added for ``Not Applicable.'' The 
column headings read: Suitable Space; Requires Minor Repair/Renovation; 
Requires Major Repair/Renovation; Requires Replacement; and Not 
Applicable. The definitions of these categories were revised 
accordingly.
     Items 4C and 4D were reworded to clarify the appropriate 
inclusion of non-fixed equipment. The wording specifies that non-fixed 
equipment costs refer to single pieces of non-fixed equipment costing 
at least $1 million.
     In Items 4B and 6B, a category was added for construction 
costs equal to or greater than $500,000 for biomedical research 
facilities.
     A definition of the term ``project'' was added to the 
appropriate item glossaries.
     Item 8 was redesigned in an effort to collect more useful 
data regarding animal research facilities. A question was added in this 
section asking respondents to rate, as adequate or inadequate, the 
amount of total animal research NASF available to their institutions. 
In a new question following the design of Item 3, respondents are asked 
to rate the current condition of their institution's animal research 
space. The final question in this section was altered, in the form of a 
grid, follows the design of Item 4B, requesting the costs and amounts 
of NASF for animal facility improvements involving repair/renovation 
and new construction over $100 million scheduled to begin in FY 1000 or 
FY 2001. Question 3 of Item 8

[[Page 35190]]

from the 1998 questionnaire was dropped from the survey.
    There are no modifications to the Follow-Up Survey, because the 
first cycle of the survey (1998) has not yet been completed.

Use of the information

    The information from the Facilities survey will be used by Federal 
policymakers, planners, and budget analysis in making policy decisions 
as well as by academic officials, the S&E establishment, and State 
agencies that fund universities and colleges. The survey will provide 
updated data on the status of and trends in S&E research facilities to 
help policymakers with decisions about the health of academic S&E 
research, funding, regulations, and reporting guidelines. The Follow-Up 
Survey will collect additional information to supplement the original 
survey data. The data collected using the Follow-Up Survey is expected 
to be used to make more exact and, as a result, more valid judgements 
concerning the reasonableness of facility costs.
    Specifically, the Facilities data will be used in:
     A separate report of the findings for Congress;
     A special report for NIH on the Status of Biomedical 
Research Facilities;
     Other NSF compilations such as National Patterns of R&D 
Resources and Science and Engineering Indicators;
     Special reports for other Federal agencies on an as-needed 
basis; and
     A public release file of collected data in aggregate form 
made available to researchers on the World Wide Web.

Expected Respondents

    The sample size for the 1999 survey is planned to be increased to 
the size of the universe of institutions in the NSF 1997 Survey of 
Scientific and Engineering Expenditures at Universities and Colleges. 
This universe is selected to provide nationally representative data for 
both undergraduate and graduate degree-granting schools. The 
respondents will have the option to complete the survey on the World 
Wide Web. Based on experience with similar populations, we expect some 
forty percent (40%) of the institutions to respond via the Internet. 
Eligibility for inclusion in the Follow-up Survey is based upon 
responses to the Facilities Survey. There is no sampling involved in 
the determination of institutions who will be asked to participate. All 
qualified institutions will be included in this study. It is estimated 
that approximately 43 academic institutions will be eligible for the 
Follow-Up Survey.

Burden on the Public

    The average completion time for the survey by academic institutions 
was reduced from 43 to 24 hours between 1988 and 1998. This decrease 
reflected continued improvements in the questionnaire, institutional 
databases, and, more recently, the introduction of the option to 
complete the survey on disk.
    Much of the data noted in the the proposed modification are readily 
available to the respondents. It is expected that the proposed 
modifications to the questionnaire will decrease burden hours due to 
the inclusion of skip patterns on the survey itself, clarification of 
all instructions to the respondent, and the option to use an Internet-
based version of the survey. We expect that the overall response time 
will be an average of 22 hours.
    The Follow-Up Survey will be sent to qualifying institutions, of 
which there is expected to be approximate 43. The completion time per 
academic institution is expected to average 1.5 hours

    Dated: June 25, 1999.
Suzanne Plimpton,
NSF Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-16671 Filed 6-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M