[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54019-54020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15122]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    DOC will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
clearance the following proposal for collection of information under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Survey of State Research & Development.
    Form Number(s): State R&D Coordinator Web Collection; State R&D 
Agency Web Collection.
    Agency Approval Number: None.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Burden: 1,378 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 832.
    Avg. Hours per Response: Coordinator collection--4 hours; Agency 
collection--1.5 hours.
    Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau is requesting a new 
collection of state government research and development (R&D) 
expenditures that will be planned and supported jointly by the Census 
Bureau and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

[[Page 54020]]

    This collection is authorized under Title 13, Sections 161 and 182 
of the United States Code, which allow the Secretary of Commerce to 
collect and disseminate ``data on * * * governmental receipts, 
expenditures * * * of states, counties, cities, and other governmental 
units.'' Title 15, Section 1525 of the United States Code also 
authorizes the Secretary of Commerce ``upon the request of any person, 
firm, organization, or others, public or private, to make special 
studies on matters within the authority of the Department of 
Commerce.''
    The NSF Act of 1950 includes a statutory charge to ``provide a 
central clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis 
of data on scientific and engineering resources and to provide a source 
of information for policy formulation by other agencies in the Federal 
Government.'' Under the aegis of this legislative mandate, NSF and its 
predecessors have sponsored surveys of R&D since 1953. This new survey 
will expand the scope of R&D collections to include state governments, 
for which there are no established collection efforts.
    NSF currently sponsors surveys of R&D activities of Federal 
agencies, higher education institutions, and private industries. The 
results of these existing surveys provide a consistent information base 
for government officials, industry professionals, and researchers to 
use in formulating public policy and planning in science and 
technology. These surveys allow for the analysis of current and 
historical trends in research and development in the U.S., as well as 
comparisons with other countries.
    The existing NSF surveys, however, do not canvass R&D activities at 
the state government department or agency level. Collection of data 
from state government units via this new survey instrument will fill 
the void that currently exists about our Nation's R&D expenditures.
    The Census Bureau, serving as collection agent, will employ a 
methodology similar to the one used to collect information from state 
and local governments on established censuses and surveys. This 
methodology involves identifying a central coordinator in each state 
who will assist Census Bureau staff in identifying appropriate state 
departments/agencies to survey. These state contacts will also be able 
to verify data responses and assist with nonresponse follow-up. The 
collection approach using a central state contact is used successfully 
at the Census Bureau in surveys of local school districts, municipal 
and county governments, and state government finances.
    Items on the survey form will include expenditures by performer, 
source of funding, and type of R&D (e.g., basic research). The scope of 
the collection includes amounts for all science and engineering 
outlays, including social science research. R&D capital expenditures, 
such as research lab construction and the purchase of buildings, will 
also be collected.
    Legislators, policy officials, and researchers rely on statistics 
to make informed decisions about R&D investment at the Federal, State, 
and local level. These statistics are derived from the existing NSF 
sponsored surveys of Federal agencies, higher education institutions, 
and private industry. The total picture of R&D expenditures, however, 
is incomplete due to the lack of relevant and timely data from state 
governments. This survey will fill this void that currently exists.
    State government officials and policy makers are likely to garner 
the most benefit from the results of this survey. Governors and 
legislatures need a reliable, comprehensive source of data to help in 
evaluating how best to attract the high-tech, R&D industries to their 
state. Officials will be able to evaluate their investment in R&D based 
on comparisons with other states. These comparisons will include the 
sources of funding, the type of R&D being conducted, and the actual 
performer of the work.
    The information collected from the Survey of State R&D will be used 
at the Federal level to assess and direct investment in technology and 
economic issues. Congressional committees and the Congressional 
Research Service use results of the current R&D surveys extensively. 
Inquiries made to NSF by congressional staff concerning industry and 
academic data are well documented. In addition, officials from several 
Federal agencies make use of the existing data.
    NSF will also use data from this survey in various publications 
produced about the state of R&D in the U.S. The Science and Engineering 
Indicators series, for example, is a biennial report mandated by 
Congress and describes quantitatively the condition of the country's 
R&D efforts. Results will also likely be included in the National 
Patterns of Research and Development Resources tabulations and in the 
Science and Engineering Indicators report.
    Private industry, either individually or through trade 
associations, will also find these data useful, particularly statistics 
concerning funds transferred from state agencies to businesses. The 
current R&D surveys often receive prominent mention in industry 
publications such as Research and Development magazine, which recently 
released its ``State of Global R&D'' report.
    The availability of state R&D data on the Internet will make this 
survey visible to several other users, as well. Media, university 
researchers, nonprofit organizations, and foreign government officials 
are also likely consumers of state R&D statistics. All users will 
utilize this information in an attempt to better understand the 
nation's R&D resources.
    Affected Public: State, local or tribal government.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 161 and 182; Title 15 
U.S.C., Section 1525; NSF Act of 1950.
    OMB Desk Officer: Susan Schechter, (202) 395-5103.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, room 6625, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Susan Schechter, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) or e-
mail ([email protected]).

    Dated: September 7, 2006.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-15122 Filed 9-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P