[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 69 (Thursday, April 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19931-19932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07963]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 
(44 USC U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), and as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation 
invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this 
opportunity to comment on this information collection.

DATES: Written comments should be received by June 9, 2014 to be 
assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be 
considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the information collection and 
requests for copies of the proposed information collection request 
should be addressed to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, 
National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Rm. 1265, Arlington, VA 
22230, or by email to [email protected].

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:  ontact Suzanne Plimpton, the 
NSF Reports Clearance Officer, phone (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: Evaluation of National Science Foundation's Partnerships for 
International Research and Education Program.
    OMB Approval Number: Not applicable.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Not applicable.
    Abstract. This is a request that the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approve, under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, a 
three year clearance for Abt Associates Inc. to conduct data collection 
efforts for an outcome evaluation of the National Science Foundation's 
Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) Program. 
The PIRE program offers researchers an opportunity to forge 
collaborative relationships with foreign scientists and engineers and 
provides educational and professional development opportunities for 
U.S.-based postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students to 
acquire on-site research experience at an international laboratory, 
institution or research site, whether university-, industry- or 
government-based. The PIRE program funds projects across a broad array 
of scientific and engineering disciplines in an effort to catalyze 
long-term, sustainable international partnerships for collaborative 
research. Across its first four award cohorts in 2005, 2007, 2010 and 
2012, PIRE has made a total of 59 awards. PIRE grant awards range from 
$2.5 million to $5 million and typically last five years. These 
projects range from relatively small, bi-national consortia (e.g., two 
U.S. and two non-U.S. institutions in one foreign country) to large, 
multi-national, multi-institutional awards (e.g., a dozen U.S. 
institutions and 11 non-U.S. institutions representing eight foreign 
nations). Many are multi-disciplinary, combining, for example, the 
expertise of econometricians with researchers in fluid dynamics; and, 
notably, many feature partnerships between academic and industrial or 
non-profit institutions. Collectively, these 59 PIRE projects have 
provided research and educational opportunities for more than 100 
postdoctoral fellows, more than 625 graduate students and approximately 
600 undergraduates. More than 600 U.S.-based and over 400 foreign-based 
faculty and researchers at university and non-academic institutions 
have participated in one or more PIRE-funded collaborations.
    To assess the program's outcomes, NSF plans to collect data to 
explore the number and quality of publications produced by PIRE 
projects and participants, the international experiences of 
participants, their educational and career outcomes, the extent to 
which program participants establish and maintain collaborations with 
foreign researchers, and what effect the PIRE program has on policies 
and practices at U.S. and foreign institutions. The primary methods of 
data collection will include analyses of NSF program records and 
bibliometric data, and web-based surveys of principal investigators, 
postdoctoral and student participants, foreign senior investigators, 
and administrative officials at U.S. institutions.
    Expected Respondents: Includes PIRE principal and co-principal 
investigators; postdoctoral, graduate student and undergraduate PIRE 
participants; foreign senior investigators (individuals with whom PIRE 
principal investigators have formed partnerships); administrative 
officials within international affairs and/or study abroad offices at 
U.S. institutions of the lead PIRE principal investigators; and 
principal or co-principal investigators, postdoctoral and graduate 
student participants in NSF-funded projects other than PIRE, selected 
for similarity to PIRE based on award year, amount, and duration, 
research fields, and degree of emphasis on international collaboration.
    Use of the Information: The purpose of these studies is to provide 
NSF with outcome data on the PIRE program. These data would be used for 
internal program management and for reporting to stakeholders within 
and outside of NSF.
    Burden on the Public: NSF estimates 3,000 survey responses 
collected one

[[Page 19932]]

time at an average of 20 minutes per response for a total of 1,000 
hours.
    Consult With Other Agencies & The Public: NSF has not consulted 
with other agencies. However, the contractor conducting the evaluation 
has gathered information from an external working group of subject 
matter experts on the study design and data collection plan. A request 
for public comments will be solicited through announcement of data 
collection in the Federal Register.
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; and (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. Comments submitted in response 
to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for 
OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: April 4, 2014.
Suzanne Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2014-07963 Filed 4-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P