[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16673-16674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05560]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: National Science 
Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Technology, Innovation and 
Partnerships (TIP) Reviewer Request Form

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 no comments were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed 
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, 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 regarding (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the NSF, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the NSF's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
use, and clarity of the information on respondents; 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 should be addressed to the points 
of contact in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    Copies of the submission may be obtained by calling 703-292-7556. 
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: National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate 
for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) Reviewer Request 
Form.
    OMB Control No.: 3145-New.
    Abstract: NSF has advanced the full spectrum of fundamental 
research and education in all fields of science, technology, 
engineering and mathematics, or STEM, for more than 70 years--from 
foundational, curiosity-driven research that has led to new knowledge 
about our world, to use-

[[Page 16674]]

inspired, solution-oriented research that has directly impacted 
people's everyday lives. At every stage, investments across this 
spectrum have been deeply intertwined.
    NSF's Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships 
(TIP) doubles down on the agency's commitment to support use-inspired 
research and the translation of research results to the market and 
society. In doing so, the new directorate strengthens the intense 
interplay between foundational and use-inspired work, enhancing the 
full cycle of discovery and innovation. This is best illustrated 
through the programs within the TIP Directorate portfolio--America's 
Seed Fund, Convergence Accelerator, Innovation Corps (I-Corps), 
Partnerships for Innovation, Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems, 
and Regional Innovation Engines--all reflect and represent the various 
phases of the technology transition/translation spectrum, while 
accentuating the core theme of use-inspired and solution-oriented 
research.
    Due to the specialized nature of these programs, it is necessary 
for the TIP Directorate to refine its reviewer recruitment efforts and 
reach out to individuals that have the adequate and appropriate 
combinations of expertise and experience to serve as proposal reviewers 
for these programs. To recruit cognizant reviewers that have the set of 
unique skills and credentials--ones that meet and align well with the 
needs of these programs, the NSF TIP Directorate requests the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval of a customizable, directorate-
wide Reviewer Request Form to collect information that is germane and 
bespoke to each program within the TIP Directorate.
    There are two parts to the Form. The first part is similar to the 
agency-wide Reviewer Request Form (NSF 428A), in that information 
pertaining to the individual's name, contact information, demographics, 
education level, and professional experience will be asked. The second 
part will vary based on the program, as some programs in TIP are more 
topically-driven, and/or theme-focused than others. The information 
collected on the second part encompasses, but is not limited to, the 
following areas: type of employing institutions, areas of expertise, 
provision of the individual's LinkedIn or professional web page, and 
potential conflict of interests. Such data collection will enable the 
Program Directors to better assess whether the combination of 
experience, expertise, and skills of the interested individuals are 
adequate and well-suited to help the programs to evaluate proposals 
through the merit review criteria as set forth by the agency and the 
National Science Board. (For more information on NSF merit review 
principles and criteria, please consult the NSF Proposal & Award 
Policies & Procedures Guides (PAPPG), Chapter III.A.)
    Following standard OMB requirements, NSF will require OMB approval 
in advance and provide OMB with a copy of the form containing these 
questions and/or data fields. Data collected will be used strictly for 
reviewer recruiting purposes. The data collection burden to the 
individuals will be limited to no more than 10 minutes of the 
respondents' time in each instance.
    Respondents: The respondents generally have the education and/or 
experience level commensurate to a university assistant professor.
    Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 5,000.
    Burden on the Public: The respondents of the NSF TIP Reviewer 
Request Form, albeit with varying education level and professional 
experience, are generally doctorate degree holders. According to a 
study conducted by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2021, the median 
income for doctorate degree holders was around $99,268 (``Education 
pays, 2021,'' Career Outlook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 
2022). Using that as the basis for the calculation--divide that median 
income by the number of standard annual work hours (2,080), which 
calculates to approximately $48 per hour, the annualized estimate of 
cost to the respondents is around $40,000 per year.

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                                                     Number of     Burden hours   Average hourly     Estimated
                 Respondent type                    respondents   per respondent       rate         annual cost
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PIs.............................................           5,000           0.167             $48         $40,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................  ..............             835  ..............          40,000
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    Dated: March 14, 2023.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2023-05560 Filed 3-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P