[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 179 (Monday, September 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56942-56944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22442]


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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 78 FR 40517, and one comment was received. 
NSF is forwarding the proposed submission to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously

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with the publication of this second notice. The full submission 
(including comments) 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; (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 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230 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).

DATES: 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.
    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:
    Comments: As required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), comments on the 
information collection activities as part of this study were solicited 
through publication of a 60-Day Notice in the Federal Register on July 
5, 2013, at 78 FR 40517. We received one comment, to which we here 
respond.
    Commenter: The Center for Equal Opportunity provided the following 
comment:
    We are not sure to what extent (or why) race and ethnicity will 
play a role in this program, but the references to ``minority-serving'' 
institutions, ``diversity,'' and ``underrepresented'' groups prompt us 
to ask that it play as little a role as possible under whatever 
statutes are applicable. As you know, it is generally illegal for the 
government to show favoritism or even use classifications based on race 
or ethnicity. See Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena, 515 U.S. 200, 227 
(1995) (``all racial classifications . . . must be analyzed by a 
reviewing court under strict scrutiny''). See also Title VI of the 1964 
Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 2000d (prohibiting discrimination on the 
basis of race, color, and national origin in federally funded 
programs). Indeed, such classifications and favoritism are 
``presumptively invalid'' (see Personnel Administrator v. Feeney, 442 
U.S. 256 (1979)).
    Response: NSF has standing authority to support activities to 
improve the participation of women and minorities in science and 
engineering under the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act 
(Pub. L. 96-516), and authority to collect data on those issues.
    The MRSEC program treats those issues in a Centers appropriate 
manner. The MRSEC program originates from the transfer of the 
Interdisciplinary Laboratories (IDLs) created by the Advanced Research 
Projects Agency in the 1960s. These were transferred to NSF in 1972, 
and with modifications, evolved into the current MRSEC program, which 
began in 1994. Under the requirement of all NSF proposals to address 
``Broader impacts'' and authority of Public Law 96-516, information on 
diversity in the program, after the award has been made, has been 
collected since the inception of the program. As noted in a 2007 
National Academies study, ``NSF does not require that specific 
activities or audiences be targeted by the MRSEC, with the exception of 
the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, and a general 
dictum to broaden participation by underrepresented groups in the STEM 
field.''
    This data collection described in the Federal Register notice is 
within the scope of NSF's authorization on such collection, and is only 
about collecting data on activities that exist after an award is made, 
so there is no favoritism as suggested by the comment.
    After consideration of this comment, we are moving forward with our 
submission to OMB.
    Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for Materials 
Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs).
    OMB Number: 3145-NEW.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an 
information collection.
    Overview of this Information Collection: The Materials Research 
Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs) Program supports innovation in 
interdisciplinary research, education, and knowledge transfer. MRSECs 
build intellectual and physical infrastructure within and between 
disciplines, weaving together knowledge creation, knowledge 
integration, and knowledge transfer. MRSECs 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.
    MRSECs enable and foster excellent education, integrate research 
and education, and create bonds between learning and inquiry so that 
discovery and creativity more fully support the learning process. 
MRSECs capitalize on diversity through participation in center 
activities and demonstrate leadership in the involvement of groups 
underrepresented in science and engineering.
    MRSECs 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, MRSECs will be required to develop a set of 
management and performance indicators for submission annually to NSF 
via the Research Performance Project Reporting module in Research.gov 
and an external technical assistance contractor that collects 
programmatic data electronically. These indicators are both 
quantitative and descriptive and may include, for example, the 
characteristics of center personnel and students; sources of financial 
support 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 MRSEC effort. Such reporting 
requirements will be included in the cooperative agreement that is 
binding between the academic institution and the NSF.
    Each Center's annual report will address the following categories 
of

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activities: (1) Research, (2) education, (3) knowledge transfer, (4) 
partnerships, (5) shared experimental facilities, (6) diversity, (7) 
management, and (8) budget issues.
    For each of the categories the report will describe overall 
objectives for the year, problems the Center has encountered in making 
progress towards goals, anticipated problems in the following year, and 
specific outputs and outcomes.
    MRSECs are required to file a final report through the RPPR and 
external technical assistance contractor. Final reports contain similar 
information and metrics as annual reports, but are retrospective.
    Use of the Information: NSF will use the information to continue 
funding of the Centers, and to evaluate the progress of the program.
    Estimate of Burden: 185 hours per center for 223 centers for a 
total of 4,070 hours.
    Respondents: Non-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One from each of the 22 
MRSECs.

    Dated: September 11, 2013.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2013-22442 Filed 9-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P