[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 18142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7758]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 69 FR 2732, and no comments were received. 
NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of 
management and Budget (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; (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, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. 
Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 
Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail 
to [email protected]. Comments regarding these information collections 
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 703-292-7556.
    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.
    Title: National Science Foundation Grant Proposal Guide.
    OMB Control Number: 3145-0058.
    Proposed Project: The National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (Pub. 
L. 81-507) set forth NSF's mission and purpose.
    ``To promote the progress of science; to advance the national 
health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense. * * 
*''
    The Act authorized and directed NSF to initiate and support:
     Basic scientific research and research 
fundamental to the engineering process;
     Programs to strengthen scientific and 
engineering research potential;
     Science and engineering education programs at 
all levels and in all the various fields of science and engineering;
     Programs that provide a source of information 
for policy formulations; and
     Other activities to promote these ends.
    Over the years, NSF's statutory authority has been modified in a 
number of significant ways. In 1968, authority to support applied 
research was added to the Organic Act. In 1980, The Science and 
Engineering Equal Opportunities Act gave NSF standing authority to 
support activities to improve the participation of women and minorities 
in science and engineering.
    Another major change occurred in 1986, when engineering was 
accorded equal status with science in the Organic Act. NSF has always 
dedicated itself to providing the leadership and vision needed to keep 
the words and ideas embedded in its mission statement fresh and up-to-
date. Even in today's rapidly changing environment, NSF's core purpose 
resonates clearly in everything it does: promoting achievement and 
progress in science and engineering and enhancing the potential for 
research and education to contribute to the Nation. While NSF's vision 
of the future and the mechanisms it uses to carry out its charges have 
evolved significantly over the last four decades, its ultimate mission 
remains the same.
    Use of the Information: The regular submission of proposals to the 
Foundation is part of the collection of information and is used to help 
NSF fulfilled this responsibility by initiating and supporting merit-
selected research and education projects in all the scientific and 
engineering disciplines. NSF receives more than 40,000 proposals 
annually for new projects, and makes approximately 10,500 new awards. 
Support is made primarily through grants, contracts, and other 
agreements awarded to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, academic 
consortia, nonprofit institutions, and small businesses. The awards are 
based mainly on evaluations of proposal merit submitted to the 
Foundation (proposal review is cleared under OMB control No. 3145-
0060).
    The Foundation has a continuing commitment to monitor the 
operations of its information collection to identify and address 
excessive reporting burdens as well as to identify any real or apparent 
inequities based on gender, race, ethnicity, or disability of the 
proposed principal investigator(s)/project director(s) or the co-
principal investigator(s)/co-project director(s).
    Burden on the Public: The Foundation estimates that an average of 
120 hours is expended for each proposal submitted. An estimated 40,000 
proposals are expected during the course of one year for a total of 
4,800,000 public burden hours annually.

    Dated: March 31, 2004.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 04-7758 Filed 4-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M