[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 24 (Monday, February 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6465-6466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2301]


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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, Pub. L. 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 69 FR 62726, 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: NSF Proposal Review Process.
    OMB Control No.: 3145-0060.

Proposed Project Proposal Evaluation Process

    The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal 
agency created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 1861-75). The Act states the purpose of the NSF is 
``to promote the progress of science; [and] to advance the national 
health, prosperity, and welfare'' by supporting research and education 
in all fields of science and engineering.''
    From those first days, NSF has had a unique place in the Federal 
Government: It is responsible for the overall health of science and 
engineering across all disciplines. In contrast, other Federal agencies 
support research focused on specific missions such as health or 
defense. The Foundation also is committed to ensuring the nation's 
supply of scientists, engineers, and science and engineering educators.
    The Foundation fulfills this responsibility by initiating and 
supporting merit-selected research and education projects in all the 
scientific and engineering disciplines. It does this through grants and 
cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 
school systems, businesses, informal science organizations and other 
research institutions throughout the U.S. The Foundation accounts for 
about one-fourth of Federal support to academic institutions for basic 
research.
    The Foundation relies heavily on the advice and assistance of 
external advisory committees, ad-hoc proposal reviewers, and to other 
experts to ensure that the Foundation is able to reach fair and 
knowledgeable judgments. These scientists and educators come from 
colleges and universities, nonprofit research and education 
organizations, industry, and other Government agencies.
    In making its decisions on proposals, the counsel of these merit 
reviewers has proven invaluable to the Foundation in the identification 
of meritorious projects.
    Review of proposals may involve large panel sessions, small groups, 
use of individuals, ad hoc ``mail reviews'' by three or more reviewers, 
or some combination of these peer review methods. Proposals are 
reviewed carefully by scientists or engineers who are expert in the 
particular field represented by the proposal. About 50% are reviewed 
exclusively by panels of reviewers who gather, usually in Arlington, 
VA, to discuss their advice as well as to deliver it. About 35% are 
reviewed first by mail reviewers expert in the particular field, then 
by panels, usually of persons with more diverse expertise, who help the 
NSF decide among proposals from multiple fields or sub-fields. Finally, 
about 15% are reviewed exclusively by mail.

Use of the Information

    The information collected on the proposal evaluation forms is used 
by the Foundation in applying the following criteria when awarding or 
declining proposals submitted to the Agency: (1) What is the 
intellectual merit of the proposed activity? (2) What are the broader 
impacts of the proposed activity?

[[Page 6466]]

    The information collected on reviewer background questionnaire (NSF 
428A) is used by managers to maintain an automated database of 
reviewers for the many disciplines represented by the proposals 
submitted to the Foundation. Information collected on gender, race, and 
ethnicity is used in meeting NSF needs for data to permit response to 
Congressional and other queries into equity issues. These data also are 
used in the design, implementation, and monitoring of NSF efforts to 
increase the participation of various groups in science, engineering, 
and education.

Confidentiality

    When a decision has been made (whether an award or a declination), 
verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the identities of the reviewers, 
and summaries of review panel deliberations, if any, are provided to 
the PI. A proposer also may request and obtain any other releasable 
material in NSF's file on his or her proposal. Everything in the file 
except information that directly identifies either reviewers or other 
pending or declined proposals is usually releasable to the proposer.
    While listings of panelists' names are released, the names of 
individual reviewers, associated with individual proposals, are not 
released.
    The Foundation collects information regarding race, ethnicity, 
disability, and gender, as noted above. The FOIA and the Privacy Act 
protect this information from public disclosure.

Burden on the Public

    The Foundation estimates that anywhere from one hour to twenty 
hours may be required to review a proposal. It is estimated that 
approximately five hours are required to review an average proposal. 
Each proposal receives an average of 6.3 reviews, with a minimum 
requirement of three reviews.

    Dated: February 2, 2005.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 05-2301 Filed 2-4-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M