[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51950-51952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20680]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Center for 
Economic Studies Research Project Management System

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before November 3, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Dr. Brian P. Holly, Senior Research Project 
Coordinator, Research and Methodology Directorate, U.S. Census Bureau, 
Room 2K273, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the 
Internet at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The U.S. Census Bureau through its network of Research Data Centers 
(RDCs) supports and encourages research activity using Census Bureau 
microdata to improve Census Bureau data and programs. The RDCs provide 
access to researchers from universities, federal and state agencies and 
other research institutions meeting the requirements of Title 13 United 
States Code, 23(c) to non-publicly available

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Census Bureau data files. The Center for Economic Studies operates the 
RDC network on behalf of the Census Bureau.
    The objective of the Research Data Centers (RDCs) is to increase 
the utility and quality of Census Bureau data products. The external 
research program supported through the RDCs increases the quality and 
utility of Census data in several ways. First, access to microdata 
encourages knowledgeable researchers to become familiar with Census 
data products and Census data collection and processing methods. More 
importantly, providing qualified researchers to confidential microdata 
enables research projects that are not possible without access to 
respondent-level information. This increases the value of data already 
collected and promotes innovation on new data products and methods. 
Creative use of microdata can address important policy questions 
without the need for additional data collections.
    In addition, the best means by which the Census Bureau can check on 
the quality of the data it collects, edits, and tabulates is to make 
its microdata records available in a controlled, secure environment to 
sophisticated users who, by employing the micro records in the course 
of rigorous analysis, will uncover the strengths and weaknesses of the 
micro records. Each set of observations results from many decision 
rules covering definitions, classifications, coding procedures, 
processing rules, editing rules, disclosure rules, and so on. The 
validity and consequences of all these decision rules only become 
evident when the Census Bureau's micro databases are tested in the 
course of analysis. Exposing to the light of research the conceptual 
and processing assumptions that are embedded in the Census Bureau's 
micro databases constitutes a core element in the Census Bureau's 
commitment to quality. The CES and the RDCs conduct, facilitate, and 
support microdata research.

The Proposal Process

    Persons wishing to conduct research at a Research Data Center must 
submit a research proposal using the Center for Economic Studies (CES) 
web application (https://www.ces.census.gov). Detailed guidelines 
describe the research proposal submission process. Two distinct steps 
are required to submit a research proposal. The first step is the 
development of a preliminary proposal. The second step is the 
submission of a final proposal for review.

Preliminary Proposal Development

    Researchers who wish to develop a proposal to conduct research at a 
Census Bureau RDC initially contact the RDC Administrator, who is a 
Census Bureau employee, at the center where the research will occur. 
The researcher discusses the proposed project with the administrator to 
determine whether the research fits with the Census Bureau's mission, 
is feasible, and is likely to provide benefits to Census Bureau 
programs under Title 13, Chapter 5 of the U.S. Code.
    Each researcher must register as a user by means of an account in 
the system. Only the RDC Administrator can request the creation of a 
user account via a request utility in the system. All researchers must 
have an enabled and unlocked user account in order to submit 
preliminary and final proposals through the Web application.
    Working closely with the RDC Administrator, researchers develop a 
preliminary research proposal that includes information about the 
researcher(s), RDC location(s) where the research will be conducted, 
purpose of the research, funding source(s), duration, requested 
dataset, a brief narrative description of the research project, and 
proposed Title 13, Chapter 5 benefits to the Census Bureau. This 
information is entered into the CES database via the Web application, 
resulting in a project record with a system generated unique 
identification number.
    Upon creation of the preliminary proposal, the RDC Administrator 
reviews it for accuracy and completeness and advises the submitting 
researcher of any needed improvements. The Administrator must approve 
the preliminary proposal before the researcher may submit a final 
proposal to CES.

Final Proposal Submission

    The final proposal consists of three separate documents in Adobe 
Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF): (1) A one-page abstract of the 
proposal, (2) the project description (full proposal), and (3) a 
statement of benefits to the Census Bureau. The submitter uploads the 
final documents using the Web application and submits for formal RDC 
review via a button link.
    Document length varies by type. The abstract is limited to one 
page. The proposal narrative is limited to fifteen pages single-spaced 
or thirty pages double-spaced. The benefits statement can range from 
five to as many as fifteen pages depending upon proposal scale and 
scope.

Progress Reports

    Each project research team is required to file annual progress 
reports and agrees to submit a final project report called a Post 
Project Certification (PPC). The annual progress reports may vary in 
length and content, but submitters are urged to use the PPC format as 
described below. The Post Project Certification follows a fixed format 
and may be generated as a template in Rich Test Format (RTF) by the 
project management system.

II. Method of Collection

User Account

    Each researcher affiliated with a project must have a user account 
in the project management system. The system contains an account 
management utility for new account requests and approvals, enabling and 
disabling accounts, locking and unlocking accounts, addition and 
subtraction of account privileges, and for changes to account 
information such as change of affiliation, email address or name. Only 
RDC Administrators and other authorized Census Bureau staff can submit 
requests using the account manager tool. All requests for new user 
accounts and for changes to existing accounts must be routed through 
RDC Administrators by researchers. Once a researcher's account has been 
enabled and unlocked by Census staff, he or she may gain access to the 
Web application for the purposes of submitting new or modified proposal 
documents, for checking on the status of a proposal under review, and 
for changing his or her password, which expires after 45 days of 
inactivity.
    Information collected and retained in user accounts consists of 
first and last name, email address (the user's log on ID to the 
system), organizational affiliation, and whether a US citizen or not.

Research Project Information Template

    Researchers with an enabled user account may create a research 
project entry in the system by clicking on the ``New Proposal'' button. 
This action opens a page containing a six item prerequisite checklist 
to which the user must agree before continuing to the next page. The 
second page presents a template where the user enters required 
information about a research project he or she wishes to conduct at a 
Census Research Data Center. The requested information consists of 
project title, field of study (selected from a drop-down list) duration 
in months, funding source, primary RDC location, brief project 
description, proposed Title 13 benefits (from a drop-down list), 
research personnel (selected from a presented list of current user 
accounts),

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and requested datasets (selected from a presented list). The submitter 
then saves the project information to the database. The system assigns 
a unique project number, sets the project's status to NEW, and sends an 
email to the RDC Administrator. The Administrator may approve the 
preliminary proposal, request revisions, or reject it. Upon RDC 
Administrator approval, the researcher is invited to submit the 
required proposal documents.

Research Project Documents

     Abstract--A one-page document that summarizes the 
project's objectives, lists requested datasets, and identifies the 
proposed Title 13 benefits to the Census Bureau.
     Project Narrative--Describes in detail the research 
question(s) to be addressed, Census Bureau and researcher provided 
datasets to be used, a description of the research design (methodology, 
hypotheses, statistical models), expected duration and outcomes, source 
of funding, and a list of references cited in the text.
     Predominant Purpose Statement--This document is generated 
in draft form by the system. It is populated with some standard 
language and project metadata. This is editable by the submitter, 
primarily to expand upon the narrative statements associated with each 
proposed benefit.
     Annual Progress Report--Required of all multiyear 
projects. It describes progress on reaching the proposed research 
objectives and Title 13 benefits at the end of each year.
     Post Project Certification--This document is submitted 
following completion of the project and summarizes the findings in 
terms of benefits to the Census Bureau. It resembles the Predominant 
Purpose Statement in form and content except that it describes how and 
whether the project's proposed benefits were achieved. Census Bureau 
staff review this document and either certify it or return it to the 
submitter for revision.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0967.
    Form Number(s): Not Applicable.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 75.
    Estimated Time per Response: 60.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S. C. Section 9 and section 23(c).

IV. Request for 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 
(including hours and cost) 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 respondents, including through the use of 
automated 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: August 26, 2014.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-20680 Filed 8-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P