[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 20688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08089]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Extend a Current Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request renewal of this collection. In accordance with the requirement 
of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13), we are providing opportunity for public comment on this 
action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will 
prepare the submission requesting that OMB approve clearance of this 
collection for three years.
    Comments: Written comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the NSF, including whether the information shall have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the NSF'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.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by June 7, 2016 
to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will 
be considered to the extent practicable.
    For Additional Information or Comments: Contact Suzanne H. 
Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 
Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1265, 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 between 8:00 a.m. 
and 8:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Higher Education Research and Development 
Survey
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0100.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: September 30, 2016.
    Type of Request: Intent to Extend a Current Information Collection.
    Abstract: The Higher Education Research and Development (R&D) 
Survey (formerly known as the Survey of R&D Expenditures at 
Universities and Colleges) originated in fiscal year (FY) 1954 and has 
been conducted annually since FY 1972. The survey represents one facet 
of the higher education component of the NSF's National Center for 
Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) statistical program 
authorized by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 Sec.  
505, codified in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (NSF Act), 
as amended, at 42 U.S.C. 1862. Under paragraph ``b'', NCSES is directed 
to
    ``(1) collect, acquire, analyze, report, and disseminate 
statistical data related to the science and engineering enterprise in 
the U.S. and other nations that is relevant and useful to 
practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and the public, including 
statistical data on
    (A) research and development trends;
    (B) the science and engineering workforce;
    (C) U.S. competitiveness in science, engineering, technology, and 
research and development . . .''
    Use of the Information: The proposed project will continue the 
annual survey cycle for three years. The Higher Education R&D Survey 
will provide continuity of statistics on R&D expenditures by source of 
funding, type of R&D (basic research, applied research, or 
development), and field of research, with separate data requested on 
research equipment by field. Further breakdowns are collected on funds 
passed through to subrecipients and funds received as a subrecipient, 
and on R&D expenditures by field from specific federal agency sources. 
As of FY 2010, the survey also requests total R&D expenditures funded 
from foreign sources, R&D within an institution's medical school, 
clinical trial expenditures, R&D by type of funding mechanism 
(contracts vs. grants), and R&D by cost category (salaries, equipment, 
software, etc.). The survey also requests headcounts of principal 
investigators and other personnel paid from R&D funds.
    Data are published in NSF's annual publication series Higher 
Education Research and Development, available on the web at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvyherd/.
    Expected respondents: The FY 2016 Higher Education R&D Survey will 
be administered to an expected minimum of 600 institutions. In 
addition, a shorter version of the survey asking for R&D expenditures 
by source of funding and broad field will be sent to approximately 300 
institutions spending under $1 million on R&D in their previous fiscal 
year. Finally, a survey requesting R&D expenditures by source of funds, 
cost categories, and type of R&D will be administered to the 42 
Federally Funded Research and Development Centers.
    Estimate of burden: The survey is a fully automated web data 
collection effort and is handled primarily by administrators in 
university sponsored programs and accounting offices. To minimize 
burden, institutions are provided with an abundance of guidance and 
resources on the web, and are able to respond via downloadable 
spreadsheet if desired. Each institution's record is pre-loaded with 
the 2 previous years of comparable data that facilitate editing and 
trend checking. Response to this voluntary survey has exceeded 95 
percent each year.
    The average burden estimate is 54 hours for the approximately 650 
institutions reporting over $1 million in R&D expenditures, 8 hours for 
the approximately 280 institutions reporting less than $1 million, and 
11 hours for the 42 organizations completing the FFRDC survey. The 
total calculated burden across all forms is 37,802 hours.

    Dated: April 5, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2016-08089 Filed 4-7-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P