[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64742-64743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29221]


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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 74 FR 27829, 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. The full submission may be found at: 
http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 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 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 
this information collection 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton at (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.
    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:
    Request for Clearance for Program Review of the Science and 
Technology Centers (STC): Integrative Partnership Program.
    Title of Collection: Program Review of the National Science 
Foundation's (NSF) Science and Technology Centers: Integrative 
Partnership 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 interviews) from graduate student and postdoctoral participants in 
the Science and Technology Centers: Integrative Partnerships (STC) 
Program. Other STC stakeholders typically are limited to PhD scientists 
and engineers and faculty and administrators from universities and not-
for-profit institutions and industrial/business partners, NSF employees 
and former NSF employees and intergovernmental personnel act (IPA) 
appointees.
    The STC program provides multiyear (up to ten years) support to 
STCs as continuing awards that are among the largest (up to $4 million 
a year) awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This support 
fuels innovation and builds intellectual and physical infrastructure 
within and among disciplines in the integrative conduct of research, 
education, and knowledge transfer. The STC program currently funds a 
total of 17 Centers--five beginning in 2000, six beginning in 2002, two 
beginning in 2005, and four beginning in 2006. STCs conduct world-class 
research through partnerships among academic institutions, national 
laboratories, industrial organizations, and/or other public/private 
entities, and via international collaborations, as appropriate. 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. In addition, STCs capitalize on diversity through 
participation in Center activities and demonstrate leadership in the 
involvement of groups underrepresented in science and engineering.
    Based on prior evaluations of the program, the National Science 
Board (NSB) approved the continuation of Science and Technology Centers 
through the establishment of new program solicitations and several new 
competitions. As part of the continuation, the NSB required the program 
to conduct a program evaluation of the outcomes and impact of the 
program seven years after the first new cohort of Centers were 
established (Memorandum to Members of the National Science Board, 
February 13, 1997).
    A related data collection effort that consists of general grantee 
reporting is approved for program monitoring under OMB 3145-0194. To 
enable effective oversight of its investment, the NSF requires that 
each currently funded Center submit an annual progress report that 
describes all activities of the Center; each existing Center began 
submitting an annual report at the end of its first year. While a 
database of Centers' characteristics, activities, and outcomes has been 
created using data from these annual reports, supplemental information 
is required to fulfill the evaluative needs of the program.
    NSF has planned a new program review of STC, and has contracted 
with Abt Associates Inc. to provide for analytic and technical support, 
to include data collection and analysis, for an expert peer review of 
the program. To help fulfill the evaluation needs of the program, NSF 
has planned to collect data that is designed to explore the structures 
and processes the STCs and their participating universities have in 
place for developing the human capital of program participants and for 
fostering a variety of career paths. The primary methods of data 
collection will include data gathering from open sources and

[[Page 64743]]

from records at NSF and grantee centers and from surveys of program 
participants. There are a bounded (or limited) number of respondents 
within the general public who will be affected by this research, 
including former graduate student and postdoctoral fellow participants 
of the centers. NSF will use the STC program evaluation data and 
analyses to provide members of an expert peer review panel with 
information about the program's role in the talent development and on 
the career paths taken by students who participated in STCs and were 
involved in particular STC activities.
    Respondents: Individuals or households, Federal Government, and 
not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,700.
    Burden on the Public: 850 hours.

    Dated: December 3, 2009.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. E9-29221 Filed 12-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P