[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 25, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64523-64524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23208]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Establish an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the 
National Science Foundation (NSF) is inviting the general public or 
other Federal agencies to comment on this proposed continuing 
information collection.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by December 27, 
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, 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).
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Foundation, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Foundation's estimate 
of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: NSF's Computer and Information Science and 
Engineering (CISE) Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) Pilot 
Survey.
    OMB Number: 3145-NEW.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Not applicable.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an 
information collection for post-award output and outcome monitoring 
system.
    Abstract: Guided by its Strategic Plan, the National Science 
Foundation (NSF) has had a longstanding commitment to broadening 
participation of underrepresented groups and diverse institutions in 
science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). In recent years, the 
Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Directorate has 
made a concerted effort to address underrepresentation of various 
groups in the field of computer science, including women, persons with 
disabilities, Blacks and African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, 
American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Other Pacific 
Islanders. Underrepresentation in the computer science field has 
resulted in unwelcoming work and academic environments, the belief 
among those in positions of influence (e.g., counselors, teachers, 
faculty, and recruiters) that some people are not well suited to 
computing or are less likely to excel, and a lack of policies promoting 
equity within educational institutions and private companies.
    This underrepresentation has important implications for society. 
Computing is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, and the 
lack of diversity deprives the field of a wealth of experience, 
knowledge, expertise, and perspective. The CISE Strategic Plan for 
Broadening Participation (November 2012) recognizes that the ``. . . 
causes of longstanding underrepresentation are complex and deeply 
rooted in the cultures of different demographic groups as well as in 
our society, in our educational institutions, and in our popular media. 
They will not be easily or quickly changed.''
    The NSF CISE Directorate requests the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approval of this clearance to initiate new data 
collections to be conducted as part of an external evaluation of the 
CISE BPC pilot. These collections, to be conducted by the evaluation 
contractor, include:
    Survey of BPC pilot projects. A one-time web-based survey of all 
BPC pilot projects funded between FY19 to FY21. The purpose is to 
corroborate and confirm key findings from reviews of existing project 
documentation (e.g., types of strategies that BPC pilots are using to 
address systemic barriers, as described in Research Performance 
Progress Reports), as well as to collect data about topics not covered 
by existing documentation. The survey data will enable NSF to assess 
the feasibility and value of specific data elements that might be 
included in recommendations for how to document the characteristics and 
outcomes of BPC pilots in future years.
    Interviews with BPC pilot projects. Interviews with representatives 
from a purposeful sample of 30 BPC pilot projects funded between FY19 
to FY21. The interviews, to be conducted using a virtual meeting 
platform at a time convenient for the participants, will provide in-
depth information about specific topics of interest to NSF (e.g., how 
BPC pilot project plans and Departmental plans are being implemented, 
effective strategies for broadening participation across a range of 
preK-20 settings). An added purpose is to corroborate findings obtained

[[Page 64524]]

through prior reviews of existing documents and dive more deeply on 
selected areas that are of interest to CISE staff and other 
stakeholders.
    This data collection is necessary to provide NSF with timely and 
actionable information about the characteristics, broad strategies and 
activities, short-term outputs, and outcomes associated with the 
approximately 800 awards funded through the CISE broadening 
participation in computing (BPC) pilot. The information collected will 
provide a better understanding of: (1) the outputs and outcomes of the 
BPC pilot projects and whether they are correlated with national trends 
related to computing, (2) the feasibility of measuring the types of 
impacts associated with BPC pilots; and (3) promising strategies.
    Use of the Information: Aggregate results from the survey and 
interviews will be summarized in reports developed by the evaluation 
contractor that will be provided to NSF. While the individual survey 
and interview responses will be identifiable to the contractor, the 
reports provided to NSF will only include overall results. Westat will 
not report any No individual survey or individual responses will be 
reported to NSF, and no information about individuals participating in 
the surveys and interviews will be released to anyone outside the 
contractor's organization. The data collected and reported on will be 
used for planning, management, and evaluation purposes. These data are 
needed for effective administration, program monitoring, evaluation, 
and for strategic reviews and measuring attainment of NSF's program and 
strategic goals, as identified by the President's Accountable 
Government Initiative, the Government Performance and Results Act 
Modernization Act of 2010, Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, and 
NSF's Strategic Plan.
    Expected Respondents: The respondents are either Principal 
Investigators (PIs) and/or other key personnel on grants funded through 
the NSF CISE pilot. The survey will include all PIs with awards that 
required a BPC plan funded from FY 19 to FY 21 (approximately 800 
total). The interviews will include PIs and/or other key personnel from 
a sample of 30 projects.
    Estimate of Burden:

Estimates of Annualized Cost to Respondents for the Hour Burdens

    The overall annualized cost to the respondents is estimated to be 
$21,070. The following table shows the estimated burden and costs to 
respondents, who are generally computer science teachers at the 
postsecondary level. This estimated hourly rate is based on a report 
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wages, 
May 2021).\1\ According to this report, the average hourly rate is 
$43.08.
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    \1\ https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes251021.htm.

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                                                   Burden hours
        Collection title           Total number         per         Total hour        Average        Estimated
                                  of respondents    respondent        burden        hourly rate     annual cost
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Survey of BPC pilot projects....             800              .5             400             $43         $17,200
Interviews with BPC pilot                     90               1              90              43           3,870
 projects.......................
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    Total.......................             890  ..............             490  ..............          21,070
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    Estimated Number of Responses per Report:
    Data collection for the collections involves all awardees in the 
programs involved for the survey and a sample of 90 representatives 
from 30 projects for the interviews.

    Dated: October 20, 2022.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2022-23208 Filed 10-24-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P