[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49026-49028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20060]


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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

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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 77 
FR 30330, and three 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 email 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 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 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.
    The following are the comments, and associated responses, resulting 
from the May 20, 2012 Federal Register notice (77 FR 30330):
    Comment: One institutional Financial Official (FO) questioned why 
it was the responsibility of the FO to submit the Completion Report and 
not the responsibility of the Coordinating Official (CO). The FO was 
concerned that the information gathered by them may not be accurate.
    Response: The CO and FO will have access to the same Completion 
Report module. The CO and FO can add information to the Completion 
Report, but only the FO can submit the Completion Report which is tied 
to the Annual Report. The CO can assist the FO in obtaining accurate 
information regarding the entries to the Completion Report. The module 
has a General Comments section in which the CO can communicate with the 
FO regarding the Completion Report update, as well as alerting the FO 
of when the report is ready for their submission. The FO will certify 
the information, electronically sign and date the report, and submit 
the report.
    Comment: One institutional CO requested clarification of the 
``current degree status''. Did it mean type of degree (i.e. MS or 
Ph.D.), or years remaining until conferral of degree, or something 
else. The CO stated that knowledge of the specific information 
requested by NSF is necessary in order for them to obtain the needed 
personnel to perform the work, as that institution has a significant 
number of Fellows.
    Response: The Completion Report menu will have four columns to 
populate, (1.) Degree Status, (2.) Graduate Program Start Date, (3.) 
Degree Sought, and (4.) Graduation Date. The Degree Status will have 
four pull-down choices- In Progress, Graduated, Transferred, or 
Withdrawn. The Graduate Program Start Date will require a month and a 
year. The Degree Sought will be pre-populated from the Degree Sought 
field of the Fellow's Annual Activity Report. The Graduation Date is 
required only if the Fellow's degree status is marked as ``Graduated''.
    Comment: One institutional CO asked how to report Fellows who are 
on an approved leave (medical or military deferral), as ``In Progress'' 
does not fit their situation.
    Response: All Fellows within the Fellowship Period will be defined 
as In Progress in the Completion Report. The Fellowship Period is a 
five-year Fellowship Period which includes three Tenure Years of 
Financial Support (Stipend and institutional Cost-of-Education 
Allowance) and two Reserve Years. In addition, Forfeit, Medical 
Deferral, or Military Deferral are included in the Fellowship Period.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for the 
Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
    OMB Control No.: 3145-NEW.
    Abstract: The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship 
Program is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific 
and engineering workforce in the United States. The program recognizes 
and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-
based master's and doctoral degrees in fields within NSF's mission. The 
GRFP provides three years of support, to be used during a five-year 
fellowship period, for the graduate education of individuals who have 
demonstrated their potential for significant achievements in science 
and engineering research.
    The Graduate Research Fellowship Program uses several sources of 
information in assessing and documenting program performance and 
impact. These sources include reports from program evaluation, the GRFP 
Committee of Visitors, and data compiled from the applications. In 
addition, GRFP Fellows submit annual activity reports to NSF.
    The GRFP Completion report is proposed as a new component of the 
annual reporting submitted by each GRFP institution to NSF. The 
Completion Report and the existing Program Expense Report will comprise 
the GRFP Annual Report. GRFP institutions will certify the current 
status of all GRFP Fellows at the institution. The current status will 
be reported as either In Progress, Graduated, Transferred, or 
Withdrawn. For Graduate Fellows with Graduated status, the graduation 
date is a required reporting element. Collection of this information 
will allow the program to obtain information on the current status of 
Fellows, the number and/or percentage of Graduate Fellowship recipients 
who complete a science or engineering graduate degree, and an estimate 
of time to degree completion. The report must be certified and 
submitted by the institution's designated Financial Official (FO) 
annually.
    Use of the Information: The completion report data will provide the 
GRFP with accurate Fellow information regarding their completion of 
their graduate programs. The data will be used by NSF in its assessment 
of the impact of its investments in the GRFP, and will inform its 
program management.

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    Respondents: Academic institutions with GRFP Fellows.
    Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: One from each of the 228 
current GRFP institutions.
    Burden on the Public: Overall average time will be 15 minutes per 
Fellow (6886 Fellows) for a total of 1722 hours for all institutions 
with Fellows. An estimate for institutions with 12 or fewer Fellows 
will be 1 hour, institutions with 12-48 fellows will be 4 hours, and 
institutions over 48 Fellows will be 10 hours.

    Dated: August 10, 2012.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2012-20060 Filed 8-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P