[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 5, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26162-26163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11720]


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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. This is the second 
notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal 
Register, 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 may be found at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

DATES: Comments regarding this information collection are best assured 
of having their full effect if received by July 5, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 
Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science 
Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314, 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).
    Copies of the submission may be obtained by calling 703-292-7556.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
    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 the points 
of contact in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for Materials 
Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs).
    OMB Number: 3145-0230.
    Overview of this Information Collection:
    The Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs) 
Program supports innovation in interdisciplinary research, education, 
and knowledge transfer. MRSECs build intellectual and physical 
infrastructure within and between disciplines, weaving together 
knowledge creation, knowledge integration, and knowledge transfer. 
MRSECs 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.
    MRSECs 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. 
MRSECs capitalize on diversity through participation in center 
activities and demonstrate leadership in the involvement of groups 
underrepresented in science and engineering.
    MRSECs 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, MRSECs will be 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 MRSEC effort. Such reporting requirements are included in the 
cooperative agreement that is binding between the academic institution 
and NSF.
    Each Center's annual report will address the following categories 
of activities: (1) Research, (2) education, (3) knowledge transfer, (4) 
partnerships, (5) shared experimental facilities, (6) diversity, (7) 
management, and (8) 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.
    MRSECs 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, effectively they constitute 
the last annual report; the Program Officer maintains a cumulative 
database with all relevant achievements and metrics.
    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: 80 hours per center for 20 centers for a total 
of 1,600 hours.
    Respondents: Non-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One from each of the 20 
MRSECs.


[[Page 26163]]


    Dated: May 31, 2019.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2019-11720 Filed 6-4-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P