[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 196 (Thursday, October 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63587-63588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22318]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; 
Grantee Reporting Requirements for the NSF Accelerating Research 
Through International Network-to-Network Collaboration (AccelNet) 
Program

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
establish 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 December 7, 
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 the NSF Accelerating Research through International 
Network-to-Network Collaboration (AccelNet) Program.
    OMB Number: 3145-NEW.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Not applicable.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an 
information collection.
    Proposed Project: The NSF's Office of International Science and 
Engineering (OISE), within the Office of the Director, serves a wide 
range of grantees across 3 major programs. The AccelNet (Accelerating 
Research through International Network-to-Network Collaboration) 
program is designed to link U.S. research networks with complementary 
networks abroad to coordinate approaches to address grand research 
challenges. The goals of the program are to accelerate the process of 
discovery and to prepare the next generation of U.S. researchers to 
conduct and lead international collaborations.
    The NSF AccelNet program has two award types: Design and 
Implementation. AccelNet Design projects are up to a 24 month planning 
opportunity, and allows the grantees to determine the research and 
professional development needs, priorities, and goals to link networks 
as well as to develop partnerships and collaboration strategies. 
Implementation track projects support more established networks of 
networks to implement coordination across networks. As such, AccelNet

[[Page 63588]]

Implementation awards have an expected period of performance of 36 to 
60 months.
    Reporting Requirements in addition to the standard reporting 
requirements include information on:
     International collaborators (country, affiliation, title, 
career stage);
     International location(s) visited, duration of stay, and 
research activity undertaken by all participants, noting the career 
stage of each participant; and
     Metrics of success demonstrating progress towards 
achieving the specific project goals, and the goals of the AccelNet 
program overall.''
    Awardees will be required to participate in program-level 
evaluation by which NSF can assess implementation processes and 
progress toward program level outcomes. NSF, an NSF contractor, or a 
grantee on behalf of NSF, may periodically conduct program evaluations 
or special projects that necessitate access to project level staff and 
data. This activity may occur at any time during the grant period and 
could occur after the grant has ended. Project-level participation 
includes responding to inquiries, interviews and other methods of 
common data collection and/or aggregation across individual grants. In 
addition, PIs and project-level evaluators will be asked to assist in 
developing a program evaluation that will mutually benefit the agency 
and program participants.
    Annual reports are required for the duration of the project. We 
will use this report to collect information on the technical progress 
of the funded NSF work, which will allow the managing Program Director 
to monitor the project and ensure that the award is in good standing. 
This report will also be used to ensure awardee compliance with both 
AccelNet-wide and NSF-wide compliance requirements. Finally, it will be 
used to collect data by the Office of International Science and 
Engineering for program evaluation.
    All the information collected is for internal use by the Office of 
International Science and Engineering, and will not be made publicly 
available.
    Burden on the Public: Estimated at 5 hours per award for 10 to 14 
awards for a total of 70 hours (per year).
    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: October 5, 2020.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2020-22318 Filed 10-7-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P