[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 164 (Friday, August 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40602-40603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18078]


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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 on the National 
Science Foundation Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. 
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.

DATES: Comments regarding these information collections are best 
assured of having their full effect if received September 25, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Comments 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).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, 703-292-7556.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is the second notice for public 
comment; the

[[Page 40603]]

first was published in the Federal Register at 82 FR 23840, and 50 
comments were received 57 responses were received from 3 different 
organizations/institutions/individuals. 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.
    The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request renewed clearance of this collection. The primary purpose of 
this revision is to implement changes described in the Supplementary 
Information section of this notice. 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.

Summary of Comments on the National Science Foundation Proposal and 
Award Policies and Procedures Guide and NSF's Responses

    The draft NSF PAPPG was made available for review by the public on 
the NSF Web site at http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/. NSF received 
57 responses from three commenters in response to the First Federal 
Register notice published on May 24, 2017, at 82 FR 23840. Please see 
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain for the comments received, 
and NSF's responses.
    Title of Collection: ``National Science Foundation Proposal & Award 
Policies & Procedures Guide.''
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0058.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to extend with revision an 
information collection for three years.
    Proposed Project: The National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (Pub. 
L. 81-507) sets forth NSF's mission and purpose:
    ``To promote the progress of science; to advance the national 
health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense . . . 
.''
    The Act authorized and directed NSF to initiate and support:
     Basic scientific research and research fundamental to the 
engineering process;
     Programs to strengthen scientific and engineering research 
potential;
     Science and engineering education programs at all levels 
and in all the various fields of science and engineering;
     Programs that provide a source of information for policy 
formulation; and
     Other activities to promote these ends.
    NSF's core purpose resonates clearly in everything it does: 
Promoting achievement and progress in science and engineering and 
enhancing the potential for research and education to contribute to the 
Nation. While NSF's vision of the future and the mechanisms it uses to 
carry out its charges have evolved significantly over the last six 
decades, its ultimate mission remains the same.
    Use of the Information: The regular submission of proposals to the 
Foundation is part of the collection of information and is used to help 
NSF fulfill this responsibility by initiating and supporting merit-
selected research and education projects in all the scientific and 
engineering disciplines. NSF receives more than 50,000 proposals 
annually for new projects, and makes approximately 11,000 new awards.
    Support is made primarily through grants, contracts, and other 
agreements awarded to approximately 2,000 colleges, universities, 
academic consortia, nonprofit institutions, and small businesses. The 
awards are based mainly on merit evaluations of proposals submitted to 
the Foundation.
    The Foundation has a continuing commitment to monitor the 
operations of its information collection to identify and address 
excessive reporting burdens as well as to identify any real or apparent 
inequities based on gender, race, ethnicity, or disability of the 
proposed principal investigator(s)/project director(s) or the co-
principal investigator(s)/co-project director(s).

Burden on the Public

    It has been estimated that the public expends an average of 
approximately 120 burden hours for each proposal submitted. Since the 
Foundation expects to receive approximately 52,000 proposals in FY 
2017, an estimated 6,240,000 burden hours will be placed on the public.
    The Foundation has based its reporting burden on the review of 
approximately 50,500 new proposals expected during FY 2018. It has been 
estimated that anywhere from one hour to 20 hours may be required to 
review a proposal. We have estimated that approximately 5 hours are 
required to review an average proposal. Each proposal receives an 
average of 3 reviews, resulting in approximately 757,500 hours per 
year.
    The information collected on the reviewer background questionnaire 
(NSF 428A) is used by managers to maintain an automated database of 
reviewers for the many disciplines represented by the proposals 
submitted to the Foundation. Information collected on gender, race, and 
ethnicity is used in meeting NSF needs for data to permit response to 
Congressional and other queries into equity issues. These data also are 
used in the design, implementation, and monitoring of NSF efforts to 
increase the participation of various groups in science, engineering, 
and education. The estimated burden for the Reviewer Background 
Information (NSF 428A) is estimated at 5 minutes per respondent with up 
to 10,000 potential new reviewers for a total of 833 hours.
    The aggregate number of burden hours is estimated to be 6,817,500. 
The actual burden on respondents has not changed.

    Dated: August 22, 2017.
Ann Bushmiller,
Senior Counsel, National Science Board.
[FR Doc. 2017-18078 Filed 8-24-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P