[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 88 (Friday, May 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27477-27478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10656]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice; 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 81 FR 1233, and one comment was received. 
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 Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 1265, 
Arlington, VA 22230, or by email to [email protected]. 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.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports 
Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Room 1265, Arlington, VA 22230, or by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Call or write, Suzanne Plimpton, 
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson 
Boulevard, Room 1265, Arlington, VA 22230, or by 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).
    NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
the collection of information displays a

[[Page 27478]]

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: Comment: 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 January 11, 2016, at 81 FR 1233. One comment came from 
Andrew Reamer, Research Professor in the George Washington Institute of 
Public Policy at George Washington University via email on January 12, 
2016. He expressed support for the survey and wanted a copy of the 
questionnaire and methodology.
    Response: The questionnaire was provided to Mr. Reamer on January 
15, 2016, and he agreed to wait until the methodological summary was 
finalized before receiving a copy. 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 may be found at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
    Title of Collection: Nonprofit Research Activities Survey.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-New.

Summary of Collection

    Approval to conduct a pilot of the new Nonprofit Research 
Activities Survey (NPRA) is being requested under 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, which 
under paragraph ``b'' directs the Foundation through NCSES 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.
    The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) 
plans to conduct a pilot of the new NPRA. This survey will collect R&D 
and other related data from U.S. nonprofit organizations. This survey 
will collect the following:
     Total amount spent on R&D activities within nonprofit 
organizations,
     Number of employees and R&D employees,
     Sources of funds for R&D expenditures,
     Expenditures by field of R&D,
     Total amount of R&D funding provided to others outside the 
nonprofit organization,
     Types of recipients receiving R&D funding, and
     Funding by field of R&D.
    Use of the information: The primary purpose of this pilot survey is 
to assess the feasibility of and to test the process of collecting the 
necessary information prior to the launch of a nationally 
representative survey planned for 2017. The pilot survey results will 
not be published. However, NCSES does plan to use the information 
provided to improve our national estimates of nonprofit research 
spending in our annual publication National Patterns of R&D Resources.
    Expected respondents: The pilot sample will be 4,000 nonprofit 
organizations.
    Estimate of burden: We expect a response rate of 80%. Based on the 
responses from the 28 cognitive interviews, we estimate the full survey 
to require 10 hours to complete. The response time for nonprofit 
organizations that do not conduct or fund research should be under 1 
hour. We estimate that of the 4,000 organizations surveyed, no more 
than 700 will identify as performer or funders and submit a full survey 
response. Therefore our estimate of burden for the pilot survey is 
10,300 hours (7,000 hours for the 700 performers and funders; 3,300 for 
the remainder of the sample).

    Dated: May 3, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2016-10656 Filed 5-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P