[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 237 (Monday, December 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73485-73486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23888]


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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 70 FR 55174, and one comment was 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:

[[Page 73486]]

    Comment: On September 20, 2005, we published in the Federal 
Register (70 FR 55174) a 60-day notice of our intent to request renewal 
of this information collection authority from OMB. In that notice, we 
solicited public comments for 60 days ending November 21, 2005. One 
comment was received in response to the public notice from B. Sachau of 
Florham Park, NJ, via e-mail on September 20, 2005. Ms. Sachau objected 
to the information collection but had no specific suggestions for 
altering the data collection plans other than suggesting that `` * * * 
(t)he ``bonds'' between NSF and industry have become far too strong, so 
that the full public interest is becoming lost with this agency.''
    Response: NSF believes that because the comment does not pertain to 
the collection of information on the required forms for which NSF is 
seeking OMB approval, NSF is proceeding with the clearance request.
    Title: Grantee Reporting Requirements for Science and Technology 
Centers (STC): Integrative Partnerships.
    OMB Control Number: 3145-0194.
    Abstract: The National Science Foundation (NSF) requests extension 
of data collection (annual reports) called ``Grantee Reporting 
Requirements for Science and Technology Centers (STC): Integrative 
Partnerships''. The current data collection, designed to measure the 
Science and Technology Centers' progress and plans, had been approved 
for use through January 2006. The annual reports have proven an 
effective means for efficiently gathering data from Centers. The data 
gathered through the annual reports under the current OMB approval has 
been used in making decisions about continued funding of individual 
Centers. In addition, a database of Centers' characteristics, 
activities, and outcomes has been created using data from these annual 
reports.
    The Science and Technology Centers (STC): Integrative Partnerships 
Program supports innovation in the integrative conduct of research, 
education and knowledge transfer. Science and Technology Centers build 
intellectual and physical infrastructure within and between 
disciplines, weaving together knowledge creation, knowledge 
integration, and knowledge transfer. STCs conduct world-class research 
through partnerships of academic institutions, national laboratories, 
industrial organizations, and/or other public/private entities. Thus, 
new knowledge created is meaningfully linked to society.
    In addition, STCs enable and foster excellence in education, the 
integration of research and education, and the creation of bonds 
between learning and inquiry so that discovery and creativity more 
fully support the learning process. STCs capitalize on diversity 
through participation in Center activities and demonstrate leadership 
in the involvement of groups underrepresented in science and 
engineering.
    All Centers will be required to submit annual reports on progress 
and plans that are used as a basis for performance review and 
determining the level of continued funding. This continues the practice 
established under the previously approved data collection. To support 
this review and the management of a Center, new STCs are required to 
develop a set of management and performance indicators (continuing 
Centers have already developed these indicators). These indicators are 
submitted annually to NSF via FastLane. These indicators are both 
quantitative and descriptive and include, for example, the 
characteristics of Center personnel and students; sources of financial 
support and in-kind support; expenditures by operational component; 
characteristics of industrial and/or other sector participation; 
research activities; education activities; knowledge transfer 
activities; patents and licenses; publications; degrees granted to 
students involved in Center activities; descriptions of significant 
advances and other outcomes of the STCs efforts. The reporting will be 
added to the STC program database that has been compiled by an NSF 
evaluation technical assistance contractor to support decisions for 
continued funding of the Centers and will be made available for the 
2007 program evaluation. This database captures specific information 
that demonstrates progress towards achieving the goals of the 
individual Centers and the goals of the program. Such reporting 
requirements are included in the cooperative agreement that is binding 
between the academic institution and the NSF.
    Each Center's annual report provides information about the 
following categories of activities: (1) Research, (2) education, (3) 
knowledge transfer, (4) partnerships, (5) diversity, (6) management, 
and (7) budget issues.
    For each of the categories the report describes overall objectives 
for the year, problems the Center has encountered in making progress 
towards goals for the year, specific outputs and outcomes for the year, 
and expected accomplishments and anticipated problems in the coming 
year.
    Use of the Information: NSF will use the information to make 
decisions on continued funding for the Centers, to evaluate the yearly 
progress of the program and to inform the upcoming 2007 Program 
Evaluation. The data will be analyzed to evaluate progress towards 
specific goals of the STC program.
    Estimate of Burden: Total hours per center are estimated to be 90-
120 hours, on average approximately 100 hours; the maximum burden is 
expected in the first year of reporting. In the years that follow, the 
burden often is reduced given that a Center's internal practices and 
procedures are established. In most cases, the burden in subsequent 
years is reduced to 75% of the hourly burden in the first year, 
although we provide estimates allowing for the average maximum 
anticipated effort in the first year.
    Total number of hours for 17 centers: approximately 1700 hours.
    Respondents: Non-profit institutions; federal government.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One from each of the 13 
funded Centers and 4 anticipated Centers.
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information on respondents, including 
through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology; 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.

    Dated: December 6, 2005.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 05-23888 Filed 12-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M