[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10428-10429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04733]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Office of the Secretary


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Research 
Performance Progress Report

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, Office of the 
Secretary, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to

[[Page 10429]]

take this opportunity to comment on a proposed extension of an existing 
information collection: The standardized Research Performance Progress 
Report (RPPR), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before May 8, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``0690-0032 comment'' 
in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Jennifer Jessup, Departmental PRA Clearance Officer, 
Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to the Office of Policy and Governance, Paperwork Reduction 
Act Compliance, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230, or via email to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The development of the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) 
resulted from an initiative of the Research Business Models (RBM), an 
Interagency Working Group of the Social, Behavioral & Economic 
Research, Subcommittee of the Committee on Science (CoS), a committee 
of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). One of the RBM 
Subcommittee's priority areas was to create greater consistency in the 
administration of Federal research awards. Given the increasing 
complexity of interdisciplinary and interagency research, it is 
important for Federal agencies to manage awards in a similar fashion. 
The RPPR is an OMB approved uniform format to be used by Federal 
agencies in submission of progress reports that support research and 
research-related activities. It is intended to replace other 
performance reporting formats currently in use by Federal agencies. 
However, the RPPR does not change the performance reporting 
requirements specified in 2 CFR 200.
    The Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) directly benefits 
award recipients by making it easier for them to administer Federal 
grant and cooperative agreement programs through standardization of the 
types of information required in performance reports--thereby reducing 
their administrative effort and costs. The RPPR also will make it 
easier to compare the outputs, outcomes, etc. of research and research-
related programs across the government.
    The RPPR is intended to address progress for the most recently 
completed period, at the frequency required or designated by the 
sponsoring agency. Information, once reported, does not have to be 
provided again on subsequent reports. The RPPR requests various types 
of information, regarding: accomplishments, products, participants and 
other collaborating organizations, impact, changes/problems, budgetary 
information and outcomes.

II. Method of Collection

    A paper format, email, and electronic submission.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0690-0032.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations; Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local, or 
Tribal government; Federal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,550.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 12,750.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0. (This is not the cost of 
respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur for 
such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed to 
report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance services 
required specifically by the collection.)
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: The Federal Financial Assistance Management 
Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-107), and 2 CFR Section 200.328.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) 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 respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-04733 Filed 3-8-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-17-P