[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 120 (Thursday, June 23, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37532-37533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13399]


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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 one request for a copy of the information collection was 
received. NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with 
the publication of this second notice.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAmain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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). Comments regarding this information collection are 
best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of 
this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by 
calling 703-292-7556.
    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

[[Page 37533]]

appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    As required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), comments on the information 
collection activities as part of this study were solicited through 
publication of a 60-Day Notice in the Federal Register on March 30, 
2022, at 87 FR 18399. One comment was received, to which we here 
respond. The comment came from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). 
They expressed general support for the HERD and FFRDC surveys and 
requested that they be informed of any future questionnaire 
modifications. NCSES is in regular contact with BEA about their data 
needs and sends annual data files to support their national income and 
product accounts (NIPAs), industry economic accounts (IEAs), and gross 
domestic product (GDP) by state estimates. BEA noted the specific items 
used from each survey.
    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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: Higher Education Research and Development 
Survey.
    OMB Number: 3145-0100.
    Type of Request: Renewal with change of an information collection.
    Proposed Project: 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 higher education component of the NSF's National Center for 
Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) statistical program 
authorized by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 Sec.  
505, codified in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (NSF Act), 
as amended, at 42 U.S.C. 1862. The collection also includes the 
Federally Funded Research and Development (FFRDC) R&D survey, which has 
been conducted annually for all FFRDCs since 2001. Between 1953 and 
2001, only FFRDCs administered by academic institutions were surveyed.
    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.
    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/.
    The Federally Funded Research and Development Centers R&D survey 
will also provide continuity of statistics on R&D expenditures by 
source of funding (federal, state and local, business, nonprofit, or 
other, and federal agency source), and type of R&D (basic research, 
applied research, or development). Beginning with FY 2022, the FFRDC 
R&D survey will collect 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 FFRDC 
Research and Development Survey, available on the web at https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvyffrdc/.
    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 42 
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. Response to this 
voluntary survey has exceeded 95 percent each year.
    The total annual calculated burden across all forms is 44,613 
hours. Additional details on the burden calculation can be found in the 
first Federal Register Notice. This estimated burden includes 100 
average annual burden hours requested for research on the development 
of national totals for R&D capital expenditures and depreciation of R&D 
assets. This research will be conducted in 2022 and 2023.

    Dated: June 16, 2022.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2022-13399 Filed 6-22-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P