[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 60 (Friday, March 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17369-17370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06427]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request;
Grantee Reporting Requirements for National User Facilities Managed by
the NSF Division of Materials Research
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to
renew this collection. In accordance with the requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for
public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public
comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for no longer
than 3 years.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by May 26, 2020
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: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite
W18200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; 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).
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: June 30, 2020.
Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an
information collection.
Proposed Project
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
[[Page 17370]]
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 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.
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 of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on
respondents, including through the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology; and (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.
Dated: March 23, 2020.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2020-06427 Filed 3-26-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P