[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33254-33255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13586]


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OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY


Expediting Transition of Government Performed and Sponsored 
Aeronautics Research and Development

AGENCY: National Science and Technology Council, Office of Science and 
Technology Policy.

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The National Science and Technology Council seeks public 
comment on potential means to expedite the transition of government 
performed or sponsored research and development (R&D) to the private 
sector for use in developing new civil and military applications that 
foster economic growth, the creation of high-quality jobs, and national 
security. In addition, as a means to improve future national 
aeronautics R&D plans and progress assessments, the Council seeks 
public comment on the utility of certain national aeronautics R&D 
planning documents for providing transparency of goals, priorities, and 
outcomes, with an emphasis on understanding their utility in aiding 
investment strategies of non-Federal stakeholders.

DATES: Comments will be received through July 16, 2012, 11:59 p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: Concise comments are requested and may be submitted by any 
of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``AERONAUTICS COMMENTS'' in 
the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Office of Science and Technology Policy, National 
Science and Technology Council, Eisenhower Executive Office Building, 
1650 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20504. Attention: 
``AERONAUTICS COMMENTS.''
    All submissions must be in English and must include your name and 
return or email address, if applicable. At the discretion of the ASTS, 
responders may be contacted to seek further clarification or additional 
information; if you do not wish to be contacted please so indicate in 
your response. Submitted comments may be subject to public release 
under applicable law. Submitters are advised to not submit any 
personally identifiable information (such as social security numbers), 
or classified or copyrighted material. Any proprietary or business 
confidential information that is submitted in response to this notice 
should be clearly labeled at the top of each page.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
Dr. Michael C. Romanowski, 202-456-4444. Questions about the content of 
this notice should be sent to [email protected]. Include ``AERONAUTICS 
COMMENTS'' in the subject line of the message. Questions may also be 
sent by mail (please allow additional time for processing) to: Office 
of Science and Technology Policy, Eisenhower Executive Office Building, 
1650 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20504. Attention: 
``AERONAUTICS COMMENTS.'' Further information or updates related to 
this notice may be posted at http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose

    The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), through the 
Aeronautics Science and Technology Subcommittee (ASTS) of the Committee 
on Technology (CoT), seeks public comment on ways to maximize the 
benefits of Federal aeronautics research and development (R&D) 
investments.

Background

    ASTS seeks to identify innovative means whereby Federal agencies 
conducting or sponsoring aeronautics R&D can accelerate the transition 
of advancements to the non-Federal community, thereby further 
increasing the effectiveness of the national aeronautics enterprise and 
supporting the creation of high-wage, high-skill jobs within the 
aerospace sector. ASTS has

[[Page 33255]]

particular interest in proposals that are actionable within existing 
legislative authorities, and that would have measurable anticipated 
payoffs. As rapid progress is desired, it would be helpful if 
responders identify near-term opportunities as well as improvements 
with medium-to-long-term payoffs. Responders are encouraged to rank 
their relative priorities if submitting multiple suggestions.
    In December 2006, the National Aeronautics Research and Development 
Policy was published (see http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/releases/national_aeronautics_rd_policy_dec_2006.pdf), marking the first 
time that a national policy for government performed or sponsored 
aeronautics R&D was approved by the President. Since then, the first 
cycle of plans and progress assessments in response to the Policy were 
completed. The Federal Government published its initial National Plan 
for Aeronautics Research and Development and Related Infrastructure in 
2007, with follow-on updates published in 2010 and 2011. In 2008, an 
initial assessment of progress against the 2007 plan was also 
published. Likewise, in December 2011, an assessment against the 2010 
aeronautics research and development plan was published. With the 
completion of the 2011 Progress Assessment of the 2010 National 
Aeronautics Research and Development Plan, ASTS has completed a five-
year national aeronautics R&D planning and assessment cycle. ASTS seeks 
public comment on the contents and utility of these plans and 
assessment documents as a means to improve the effectiveness of the 
federal aeronautics enterprise.
    We encourage responders to be specific and to identify innovative 
approaches, broader use of current best practices, and past practices 
no longer employed that might be re-implemented. No prioritization is 
implied by the order in which questions are asked. Please consider the 
following documents, as appropriate, when responding to the questions:
     National Plan for Aeronautics Research & Development and 
Related Infrastructure (2007) (http://www.whitehouse.gov/files/documents/ostp/default-file/Final%20National%20Aero%20RD%20Plan%20HIGH%20RES.pdf)
     Technical Appendix to the National Plan for Aeronautics 
Research and Development and Related Infrastructure (2008) (http://www.whitehouse.gov/files/documents/ostp/default-file/technical_appendix_high.pdf)
     2010 National Aeronautics Research and Development Plan 
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/aero-rdplan-2010.pdf)
     2011 Progress Assessment of the 2010 National Aeronautics 
Research and Development Plan (http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/NARDP_2011_Progress_Assessment_final.pdf)

Questions on Technology Transfer and National Aeronautics R&D

    Responders are encouraged to respond to any or all of the following 
questions, and to provide proposed metrics to index improvements where 
appropriate.
    1. Through what mechanisms are you, or your organization, able to 
obtain visibility into the progress of aeronautics R&D activities 
conducted or sponsored by the Federal Government? In what ways could 
your visibility be improved?
    2. Through what mechanisms, and to what extent, are you, or your 
organization, able to access the products of federally sponsored or 
conducted aeronautics R&D activities? In what ways could access be 
improved?
    3. Since 2007, have you, or your organization, been able to 
transition any of the products from the specific Federal R&D activities 
that were performed under the National Aeronautics Research & 
Development Plans into the products or services developed by your 
organization? Please discuss, and provide examples of specific 
mechanisms that facilitated technology transfer or that impeded the 
process.
    4. What other ideas or thoughts do you have for maximizing the 
benefits of Federal aeronautics R&D, or for increasing the 
effectiveness of technology transfer from Federally conducted or 
sponsored R&D to the private sector? Do you have recommendations for 
success criteria or metrics associated with these areas?
    5. Through what mechanisms, and to what extent, are you, or your 
organization, able to provide input into overall priorities and goals 
for Federal aeronautics R&D, or into the specific department and agency 
R&D plans or programs? How could this be improved?
    6. What do you perceive to be the impact of the National 
Aeronautics R&D Policy and its associated plans on the U.S. aeronautics 
enterprise?
    7. To what extent have the national aeronautics plans and 
assessments helped you, or your organization, understand the overall 
goals and status of Federal aeronautics R&D?
    8. To what extent have the national aeronautics plans and 
assessments helped you, or your organization, guide your internal R&D 
strategies, planning or execution?
    9. What recommendations would you provide to make future national 
aeronautics plans and assessments more useful to you or your 
organization?

Ted Wackler,
Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-13586 Filed 6-4-12; 8:45 am]
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