[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66299-66300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23290]


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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 81 FR 36962, and no comments were 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

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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 22917. 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 Nanoscale Science and 
Engineering 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 Nanoscale 
Science and Engineering Centers (NSECs).
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0229.
    Type of Request: Intent to renew, without change, an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers (NSECs) 
Program supports innovation in the integrative conduct of research, 
education, and knowledge transfer. NSECs build intellectual and 
physical infrastructure within and between disciplines, weaving 
together knowledge creation, knowledge integration, and knowledge 
transfer. NSECs conduct world-class research through partnerships of 
academic institutions, national laboratories, industrial organizations, 
and/or other public/private entities. New knowledge thus created is 
meaningfully linked to society.
    NSECs enable and foster excellent education, integrate research and 
education, and create bonds between learning and inquiry so that 
discovery and creativity more fully support the learning process. NSECs 
capitalize on diversity through participation in center activities and 
demonstrate leadership in the involvement of groups underrepresented in 
science and engineering.
    NSECs are required to submit annual reports on progress and plans, 
which are used as a basis for performance review and determining the 
level of continued funding. To support this review and the management 
of a Center, NSECs are required to develop a set of management and 
performance indicators for submission annually to NSF via the Research 
Performance Project Reporting module in Research.gov and an external 
technical assistance contractor that collects programmatic data 
electronically. These indicators are both quantitative and descriptive 
and may include, for example, the characteristics of center personnel 
and students; sources of financial support and in-kind support; 
expenditures by operational component; characteristics of industrial 
and/or other sector participation; research activities; education 
activities; knowledge transfer activities; patents, licenses; 
publications; degrees granted to students involved in Center 
activities; descriptions of significant advances and other outcomes of 
the NSEC effort. Such reporting requirements are included in the 
cooperative agreement which is binding between the academic institution 
and the NSF.
    Each Center's annual report addresses 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 for the year, problems the Center has encountered in making 
progress towards goals, anticipated problems in the following year, and 
specific outputs and outcomes.
    NSECs are required to file a final report through the RPPR and 
external technical assistance contractor. 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 Centers, and to evaluate the progress of the program.
    Estimate of Burden: 200 hours per center for thirteen centers for a 
total of 2,600 hours.
    Respondents: Non-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One from each of the 
thirteen NSECs.

    Dated: September 22, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2016-23290 Filed 9-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P