[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 111 (Friday, June 9, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 33492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5239]



[[Page 33492]]

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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 71 FR 4382, 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; or (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 Catherine Hines, Acting 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 703-292-4414.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katharine Hines at (703) 292-4414 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.
    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: Evaluation of the 
National Science Foundation's (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development 
(CAREER) Program.
    OMB Control No.: 3145-NEW.
    Abstract: The National Science Foundation (NSF) requests a three-
year clearance for research, evaluation and data collection (e.g., 
surveys and interview) from actual and potential applicants to and 
other stakeholders in the Faculty Early Career Development Program 
(CAREER). CAREER stakeholders typically are limited to PhD scientists 
and engineers and faculty and administrators from universities and not-
for-profit institutions (e.g., museums, non-degree granting educational 
or research institutions), and former NSF employees and 
intergovernmental personnel act (IPA) appointees. A preliminary, 
predecessor study to this new evaluative research was approved through 
September 2001 as an external (third-party) program evaluation under 
the EHR Generic Clearance (OMB 345-0136). The earlier CAREER study was 
conducted by Abt Associates, Inc., Cambridge, MA, and it examined only 
the first three years that NSF provided CAREER grants to eligible 
institutions in Fiscal Years (FY) 1995 through 1997. A coy of Abt's 
final report to NSF entitled Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) 
Program: External Evaluation Summary Report) (NSF 01-134) was posted in 
August 2001 on NSF's Web site and remains available at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2001/nsf01134/nsf01134.pdf pdf. The new CAREER program 
evaluation is estimated to cover from FY 1995 through FY 2005.
    NSF established the CAREER Program to support career-development 
for beginning teacher-scholars in Science, Technology, Engineering and 
Mathematics (STEM), within the context of the mission of their 
employing organization. CAREER typically awards a grant to support the 
research and educational activities conducted by individual scientists 
and engineers with PhDs (or the equivalent). For specific details and 
the most updated information regarding CAREER program operations, 
please visit the NSF Web site at: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5262&from=fund fund.
    NSF has contracted a new program evaluation of CAREER, to be 
conducted by Abt Associates Inc. Through this new evaluation of the 
CAREER Program NSF aims to identify, measure and document:
    (i) The longer-term impacts of this program on the research 
activities, educational activities and career advancement of CAREER 
awardees;
    (2) The program's impacts on the integration of research and 
education by individual STEM faculty;
    (3) The impacts of the CAREER program on the institutions 
(including at the department or other sub-institutional level) that 
administer the NSF funding to a CAREER scientist or engineer; and
    (4) Changes within NSF that may be attributed to the CAREER 
program's operations, benefiting scientists and engineers, and other 
CAREER stakeholders.
    The primary methods of data collection will include meta-data 
collection from open sources and from records at NSF and grantee 
institutions; surveys, institutional site visits, and in-person and 
telephone interviews. There is a bounded (or limited) number of 
respondents within the general public who will be affected by this 
research, including current and former CAREER awardees, scientists and 
engineers currently or once eligible to apply to CAREER, other 
scientists and engineers and the STEM research and education 
communities. NSF will use the CAREER program evaluation data and 
analyses to respond to requests from Committees of Visitors (COV), 
Congress and the Office of Management and Budget, particularly as 
related to the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) and the 
Program Effectiveness Rating Tool (PART). NSF will also use the program 
evaluation to improve communication with CAREER stakeholders and to 
share the broader impacts of the CAREER program with the general 
public.
    Respondents: Individuals or households, business or other for 
profit, Federal Government, State, local or Tribal Government and not-
for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4000.
    Burden on the Public: 2000 hours.

    Dated: June 5, 2006.
Catherine J. Hines,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 06-5239 Filed 6-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M