[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18399-18400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06725]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Renew a Current Information Collection

AGENCY: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, 
National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics 
(NCSES) within the National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing 
plans to request renewal of the Higher Education Research and 
Development Survey. 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 that OMB approve 
clearance of this collection for three years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by May 31, 2022 
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, W18253, 
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 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday 
through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: Higher Education Research and Development 
Survey.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0100.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: August 31, 2022.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to extend an information 
collection for three years.
    Abstract: Established within NSF by the America COMPETES 
Reauthorization Act of 2010 Sec.  505, codified in the NSF Act of 1950, 
as amended, the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics 
(NCSES)--one of 13 principal federal statistical agencies--serves as a 
central Federal clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, 
analysis, and dissemination of objective data on science, engineering, 
technology, and research and development for use by practitioners, 
researchers, policymakers, and the public.
    The Higher Education Research and Development (R&D) Survey 
(formerly known as the Survey of R&D Expenditures at Universities and 
Colleges) originated in fiscal year (FY) 1954 and has been conducted 
annually since FY 1972. The survey represents one facet of the research 
and development component of NCSES's statistical program, which also 
includes R&D surveys on the business, federal government, higher 
education, state government, and nonprofit sectors.
    Use of the Information: The proposed project will continue the 
annual survey cycle for three years. The Higher Education R&D Survey 
will provide continuity of statistics on R&D expenditures by source of 
funding, type of R&D (basic research, applied research, or 
development), and field of research, with separate data requested on 
research equipment by field. Further breakdowns are collected on funds 
passed through to subrecipients and funds received as a subrecipient, 
and on R&D expenditures by field from specific federal agency sources. 
The survey also requests total R&D expenditures funded from foreign 
sources, R&D within an institution's medical school, clinical trial 
expenditures, R&D by type of funding mechanism (contracts vs. grants), 
and R&D by cost category (salaries, equipment, software, etc.). Since 
FY 2020, the survey has requested headcounts and full-time equivalents 
of R&D personnel (researchers, R&D technicians, and R&D support staff).
    Data are published in NSF's annual publication series Higher 
Education Research and Development, available on the web at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvyherd/.
    Expected respondents: The FY 2022 Higher Education R&D Survey will 
be administered to approximately 650 institutions. In addition, a 
shorter version of the survey asking for R&D expenditures by source of 
funding and broad field will be sent to approximately 275 institutions 
spending at least $150 thousand but less than $1 million on R&D in 
their previous fiscal year. A short population review screener is also 
sent to approximately 125 institutions before the survey cycle to 
identify potential eligible institutions not already in the survey 
frame. Finally, a survey requesting R&D expenditures by source of 
funds, cost categories, and type of R&D will be administered to the 43 
Federally Funded Research and Development Centers.
    Estimate of burden: The survey is a fully automated web data 
collection effort and is handled primarily by administrators in 
university sponsored programs and accounting offices. To minimize 
burden, institutions are provided with an abundance of guidance and 
resources on the web and can respond via downloadable spreadsheet if 
desired. Each institution's record is pre-loaded with the 2 previous 
years of comparable data that facilitate editing and trend checking. 
Response to this voluntary survey has exceeded 95 percent each year.
    The average burden estimate is 64 hours for the approximately 650 
institutions reporting at least $1 million in R&D expenditures, 8 hours 
for the approximately 275 institutions reporting less than $1 million, 
1 hour for the approximately 125 institutions in the population 
screener, and 11 hours for the 43 organizations completing the FFRDC 
survey. The total calculated burden across all forms is 44,398 hours.
    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

[[Page 18400]]

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 25, 2022.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2022-06725 Filed 3-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P