[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79012-79013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30869]


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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 22916, and one comment was 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 (including 
comments) 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; (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).
    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 April 17, 2013, at 78 FR 22916. We received one comment, to 
which we here respond.
    Commenter: The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) raised a 
general concern that additional reporting requirements presented added 
burden on their members.
    Response: The reporting requirements and estimates on the hourly 
burden were discussed with the management of the Centers. Center 
Directors and their management staff, the primary respondents to this 
data collection, were consulted for feedback on the availability of 
data, frequency of data collection, the clarity of instructions, and 
the data elements. Their feedback confirmed that the frequency of data 
collection was appropriate and that they did not provide these data in 
other data collections. After consideration of this comment, we are 
moving forward with our submission to OMB.
    Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for National 
user facilities managed by the NSF Division of Materials Research.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145--NEW.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an 
information collection.
    Abstract: The NSF Division of Materials Research (DMR) supports a 
number of National user facilities that provide specialized 
capabilities and instrumentation to the scientific community on a 
competitive proposal basis. In addition to the user program, these 
facilities support in-house research, development of new 
instrumentation or techniques, education, and knowledge transfer.
    The facilities integrate research and education for students and 
post-docs

[[Page 79013]]

involved in experiments, and support extensive K-12 outreach to foster 
an interest in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) 
and STEM careers. Facilities capitalize on diversity through 
participation in center activities and demonstrate leadership in the 
involvement of groups underrepresented in science and engineering. 
National User Facilities 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. User facilities 
will be required to develop a set of management and performance 
indicators for submission annually to NSF via the Research Performance 
Project Reporting (RPPR) module in Research.gov. These indicators are 
both quantitative and descriptive and may include, for example, lists 
of successful proposal and users, the characteristics of facility 
personnel and students; sources of financial support and in-kind 
support; expenditures by operational component; research activities; 
education activities; knowledge transfer activities; patents, licenses; 
publications; degrees granted to students supported through the 
facility or users of the facility; descriptions of significant advances 
and other outcomes of this investment. Such reporting requirements are 
included in the cooperative agreement, which is binding between the 
academic institution and the NSF.
    Each facility's annual report will address the following categories 
of activities: (1) Research, (2) education, (3) knowledge transfer, (4) 
partnerships, (5) diversity, (6) management, and (7) budget issues. For 
each of the categories the report will describe overall objectives and 
metrics for the reporting period, challenges or problems the facility 
has encountered in making progress towards goals, anticipated problems 
in the following year, and specific outputs and outcomes. Facilities 
are required to file a final report through the RPPR. 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 DMR national user facilities, and to evaluate the 
progress of the program.
    Estimate of Burden: 790 hours per facility for three national user 
facilities for a total of 2,370 hours.
    Respondents: Non-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One from each of the DMR 
user facilities.

    Dated: December 20, 2013.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2013-30869 Filed 12-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P