[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13661-13662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04936]


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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 91959, and no comments were received. 
NSF is forwarding the proposed 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: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Foundation, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Foundation's estimate 
of the burden 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 those who are to respond, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by April 13, 
2017, to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 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, 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 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:
    Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for National 
User Facilities managed by the NSF Division of Materials Research.
    OMB Number: 3145-0234.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2017.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information 
collection.
    Overview of This Information Collection:
    The NSF Division of Materials Research (DMR) supports a number of 
National User Facilities that provide specialized capabilities and 
instrumentation to the scientific community on a competitive proposal 
basis. In addition to the user program, these facilities support in-
house research, development of new instrumentation or techniques, 
education, and knowledge transfer.
    The facilities integrate research and education for students and 
post-docs involved in experiments, and support extensive K-12 outreach 
to foster an interest in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics 
(STEM) and STEM careers. Facilities capitalize on diversity through 
participation in center activities and demonstrate leadership in the 
involvement of groups underrepresented in science and engineering.
    National User Facilities will be required to submit annual reports 
on progress and plans, which will be used as a basis for performance 
review and determining the level of continued funding. User facilities 
will be required to develop a set of management and performance 
indicators for submission annually to NSF via the Research Performance 
Project Reporting (RPPR) module in Research.gov. These indicators are 
both quantitative and descriptive and may include, for example, lists 
of successful proposal and users, the characteristics of facility 
personnel and students; sources of financial support and in-kind 
support; expenditures by operational component; research activities; 
education activities; knowledge transfer activities; patents, licenses; 
publications; degrees granted to students supported through the 
facility or users of the facility; descriptions of significant advances 
and other outcomes of this investment. Such reporting requirements are 
included in the cooperative agreement which is binding between the 
academic institution and the NSF.
    Each facility's annual report will address the following categories 
of activities: (1) Research, (2) education and training, (3) knowledge 
transfer, (4) partnerships, (5) diversity, (6) management, and (7) 
budget issues.
    For each of the categories the report will describe overall 
objectives and metrics for the reporting period, challenges or problems 
the facility has encountered in making progress towards goals, 
anticipated problems in the following year, and specific outputs and 
outcomes.
    Facilities are required to file a final report through the RPPR. 
Final reports contain similar information and metrics as annual 
reports, but are retrospective and focus on the period that was not 
addressed in previous annual reports.
    Use of the Information: NSF will use the information to continue 
funding of

[[Page 13662]]

the DMR National User Facilities, and to evaluate the progress of the 
program.
    Estimate of Burden: 200 hours per facility for three National User 
Facilities for a total of 600 hours.
    Respondents: Non-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One (1) from each of the 
DMR user facilities.

    Dated: March 8, 2017.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2017-04936 Filed 3-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P