[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3453-3454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00765]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Establish an Information 
Collection System

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation 
(NSF) is inviting the general public or other Federal agencies to 
comment on this proposed continuing information collection.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Foundation, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Foundation's estimate 
of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by March 18, 
2013, to

[[Page 3454]]

be assured consideration. Comments received after that date will be 
considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports 
Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (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).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for the 
Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation program.
    OMB Number: 3145-NEW.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Not applicable.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an 
information collection system.

Abstract

Proposed Project

    The Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) program 
recommends, prioritizes, and funds interdisciplinary initiatives at the 
emerging frontier of engineering research and education. These 
investments represent transformative opportunities, potentially leading 
to: New research areas for NSF, ENG, and other agencies; new industries 
or capabilities that result in a leadership position for the country; 
and/or significant progress on a recognized national need or grand 
challenge.
    Established in 2007, EFRI supports cutting-edge research that is 
difficult to fund through other NSF programs, such as single-
investigator grants or large research centers. EFRI seeks high-risk 
opportunities with the potential for a large payoff where researchers 
are encouraged to stretch beyond their ongoing activities. Based on 
input from workshops, advisory committees, technical meetings, 
professional societies, research proposals, and suggestions from the 
research community the EFRI program identifies those emerging 
opportunities and manages a formal process for funding their research. 
The emerging ideas tackled by EFRI are ``frontier'' because they not 
only push the understood limits of engineering but actually overlap 
multiple fields. The EFRI funding process inspires investigators with 
different expertise to work together on one emerging concept.
    EFRI awards require multi-disciplinary teams of at least one 
Principal Investigator and two Co-Principal Investigators. The 
anticipated duration of all awards is 4-years. The anticipated funding 
level for each project team may receive support of up to a total of 
$2,000,000 spread over four years, pending the availability of funds. 
In that sense EFRI awards are above the average single-investigator 
award amounts.
    EFRI-funded projects could include research opportunities and 
mentoring for educators, scholars, and university students, as well as 
outreach programs that help stir the imagination of K-12 students, 
often with a focus on groups underrepresented in science and 
engineering.
    We are seeking to collect additional information from the grantees 
about the outcomes of their research that goes above and beyond the 
standard reporting requirements used by the NSF and spans over a period 
of 5 years after the award. This data collection effort will enable 
program officers to longitudinally monitor outputs and outcomes given 
the unique goals and purpose of the program. This is very important to 
enable appropriate and accurate evidence-based management of the 
program and to determine whether or not the specific goals of the 
program are being met.
    Grantees will be required to submit this information on an annual 
basis to support performance review and the management of EFRI grants 
by EFRI officers. EFRI grantees will be required to submit these 
indicators to NSF via a data collection Web site that will be embedded 
in NSF's IT infrastructure. These indicators are both quantitative and 
descriptive and may include, for example, the characteristics of 
project personnel and students; sources of complementary cash and in-
kind support to the EFRI project; characteristics of industrial and/or 
other sector participation; research activities; education activities; 
knowledge transfer activities; patents, licenses; publications; 
descriptions of significant advances and other outcomes of the EFRI 
effort. Such reporting requirements will be included in the cooperative 
agreement which is binding between the academic institution and the 
NSF.
    Each submission will address the following major categories of 
activities: (1) Knowledge transfer across disciplines, (2) innovation 
of ideas in areas of greater opportunity, (3) potential for 
translational research, (4) project results advance the frontier/
creation of new fields of study, (5) innovative research methods or 
discoveries are introduced to the classroom, and (6) fostering 
participation of underrepresented groups in science.
    For each of the categories the report will enumerate 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 EFRI program maintenance and growth.
    Estimate of Burden: Approximately 10 hours per grant for 
approximately 80 grants per year for a total of 800 hours per year.
    Respondents: Principal Investigators who lead the EFRI grants.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One report collected for 
each of the approximately 80 grantees every year.

    Dated: January 11, 2013.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2013-00765 Filed 1-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P