[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 242 (Monday, December 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75227-75228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-24192]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Extend and Revise a Current 
Information Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request renewal of this collection. In accordance with the requirement 
of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13), we are providing opportunity for public comment on this 
action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will 
prepare the submission requesting that OMB approve clearance of this 
collection for no longer than 3 years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by February 17, 
2006 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, 
Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send e-mail to 
[email protected]. 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. You also may obtain a copy of the data collection instrument 
and instructions from Ms. Plimpton.
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) Whether the proposed 
collection 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Academic Research and Development Survey 
Expenditures at Universities and Colleges, FY 2006 through FY 2008; OMB 
Control Number 3145-0100.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: August 31, 2006.
    Proposed Renewal Project: Separately budgeted current fund 
expenditures on research and development in the sciences and 
engineering performed by universities and colleges and federally funded 
research and development centers--A web survey, the Survey of 
Scientific and Engineering Expenditures at Universities and Colleges, 
originated in fiscal year (FY) 1954 and has been conducted annually 
since FY 1972. The survey is the academic expenditure component of the 
NSF statistical program that seeks to provide a ``central clearinghouse 
for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data on the 
availability of, and the current and projected need for, scientific and 
technical resources in the United States, and to provide a source of 
information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal 
government,'' as mandated in the National Science Foundation Act of 
1950.
    Use of the Information: The proposed project will continue the 
current survey cycle for three years. The Academic R&D Survey will be a 
census of the full population of an expected 656 institutions (619 
universities or colleges plus 37 federally funded research and 
development centers--FFRDCs) for academic years FY 2006 through FY 
2008. These institutions account for over 95 percent of the Nation's

[[Page 75228]]

academic R&D funds. The survey has provided continuity of statistics on 
R&D expenditures by source of funds and by science & engineering (S&E) 
field, with separate data requested on current fund expenditures for 
research equipment by S&E field. Further breakdowns are collected on 
passed through funds to subrecipients and received as a subrecipient, 
and on R&D expenditures by field by science and engineering from 
specific Federal Government agency sources. Information on R&D for non-
S&E fields is also requested. Data are published in NSF's annual 
publication series Academic Science and Engineering R&D Expenditures 
and are available electronically on the World Wide Web.
    The survey is a fully automated web data collection effort and is 
handled primarily by the administrators at the Institutional Research 
Offices. To minimize burden, institutions are provided with an 
abundance of guidance and help menus on the Web, in addition to 
printing and responding via paper copy if necessary. Each record is 
pre-loaded with the institutions 2 previous year's data and a complete 
program for editing and trend checking. Response to this voluntary 
survey in FY 2004 was 94.0 percent. Burden estimates are as follows: 
\1\
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    \1\ Average burden hours for institutions responding to burden 
item.

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                                                    Doctorate-       Masters-        Bachelors
          Total number of institutions               granting        granting      degree burden  FFRDC's burden
                                                   burden hours    burden hours        hours           hours
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FY 1999 480.....................................            20.8            13.0             7.5             9.4
FY 2000 700.....................................            21.0            12.0            10.5             9.2
FY 2001 625.....................................            30.2            11.9             9.0            12.1
FY 2002 625.....................................            28.7            14.9            12.2             4.5
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Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 05-24192 Filed 12-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M