[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 32 (Thursday, February 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9272-9273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3605]


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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 76 FR 77854. 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: 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 email 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton at (703) 292-7556 
or send email 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, which is accessible 
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (including federal 
holidays).
    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: Grantee Reporting Requirements for the 
Engineering Research Centers (ERCs).
    OMB Number: 3145-New.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an 
information collection.
    Abstract:
    Proposed Project: The Engineering Research Centers (ERC) program 
supports an integrated, interdisciplinary research environment to 
advance fundamental engineering knowledge and engineered systems; 
educate a globally competitive and diverse engineering workforce from 
K-12 on; and join academe and industry in partnership to achieve these 
goals. ERCs conduct world-class research through partnerships of 
academic institutions, national laboratories, industrial organizations, 
and/or other public/private entities. New knowledge thus created is 
meaningfully linked to society.
    ERCs conduct world-class research with an engineered systems 
perspective that integrates materials, devices, processes, components, 
control algorithms and/or other enabling elements to perform a well-
defined function. These systems provide a unique academic research and 
education experience that involves integrative complexity and

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technological realization. The complexity of the systems perspective 
includes the factors associated with its use in industry, society/
environment, or the human body.
    ERCs enable and foster excellent education, integrate research and 
education, speed knowledge/technology transfer through partnerships 
between academe and industry, and prepare a more competitive future 
workforce. ERCs capitalize on diversity through participation in center 
activities and demonstrate leadership in the involvement of groups 
underrepresented in science and engineering.
    Centers will be required to submit annual reports on progress and 
plans, which will be used as a basis for performance review and 
determining the level of continued funding. To support this review and 
the management of a Center, ERCs will also be required to submit 
management and performance indicators annually to NSF via a data 
collection Web site that is managed by a technical assistance 
contractor. These indicators are both quantitative and descriptive and 
may include, for example, the characteristics of center personnel and 
students; sources of cash and in-kind support; expenditures by 
operational component; characteristics of industrial and/or other 
sector participation; research activities; education activities; 
knowledge transfer activities; patents, licenses; publications; degrees 
granted to students involved in Center activities; descriptions of 
significant advances and other outcomes of the ERC effort. Such 
reporting requirements will be included in the cooperative agreement 
which is binding between the academic institution and the NSF.
    Each Center's annual report will address the following categories 
of activities: (1) Vision and impact, (2) strategic plan, (3) research 
program, (4) innovation ecosystem and industrial collaboration, (5) 
education, (6) infrastructure (leadership, management, facilities, 
diversity) and (7) budget issues.
    For each of the categories the report will describe overall 
objectives for the year, progress toward center goals, problems the 
Center has encountered in making progress towards goals and how they 
were overcome, plans for the future and anticipated research and other 
barriers to overcome in the following year, and specific outputs and 
outcomes.
    Use of the Information: The data collected will be used for NSF 
internal reports, historical data, performance review by peer site 
visit teams, program level studies and evaluations, and for securing 
future funding for continued ERC program maintenance and growth.
    Estimate of Burden: 100 hours per center for 17 centers for a total 
of 1700 hours.
    Respondents: Academic institutions.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One from each of the 17 
ERCs.

    Dated: February 10, 2012.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2012-3605 Filed 2-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P