[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 150 (Monday, August 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52215-52216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16765]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Public 
Comment on Common Disclosure Forms for the Biographical Sketch and 
Current and Pending (Other) Support for Use in Submission of Research 
Applications

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF), on behalf of the 
National Science and Technology Council's (NSTC) Research Security 
Subcommittee, has submitted the following information collection to OMB 
for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. This is the second notice for 
public comment; the first was published in the Federal Register on 
August 31, 2022, and 100 discrete comments were received. Commenters 
included individuals, professional societies, institutions of high 
education, and Federal agencies. All comments have been considered in 
the development of the proposed version. A summary of the responses to 
the comments received, including the significant changes and 
clarifications to the common forms has been incorporated into the 
Comment Table. Please see http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/. NSF is 
forwarding the proposed Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending 
(Other) Support sections of a research application as common disclosure 
forms to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance 
simultaneously with the publication of this second notice. The full 
submission may be found at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 
The National Science Foundation has agreed to serve as steward for 
collection and resolution of public comments, as well as for posting 
and maintaining these common disclosure forms (including subsequent 
revisions), as well as other associated documents. The NSTC Research 
Security Subcommittee, has developed this information collection as 
common disclosure forms to permit Federal research funding agencies 
beyond NSF to streamline the information collection process in 
coordination with OMB.

DATES: Written comments 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 information collection by 
selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' 
or by using the search function.

ADDRESSES: Please address comments to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports 
Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, 
Suite E7400, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292-7556; or 
send an 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).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the proposed common 
disclosure forms, contact Jean Feldman, Head, Policy Office, Division 
of Institution & Support, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower 
Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314, email: [email protected]; telephone (703) 
292-8243; FAX: (703) 292-9171.
    For further information on the NSTC Research Security Subcommittee, 
contact Dr. Cole Donovan, Assistant Director for Research Security and 
Infrastructure, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive 
Office of the President, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503; 
email: [email protected], telephone 202-881-4675; FAX 202-
456-6027.
    Comments: Comments regarding any fatal flaws in the proposed common 
disclosure forms should be addressed to the points of contact in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), comments on 
the information collection activities were solicited through the 
publication of a 60-day notice in the Federal Register at 87 FR 53505. 
NSF received 100 discrete comments in response to the 60-day notice. 
Commenters included individuals, professional societies, institutions 
of high education, and Federal agencies.
    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.
    Title of Collection: Request for Comment regarding Common 
Disclosure Forms for the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending 
(Other) Support.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-NEW.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an 
information collection for common disclosure forms for the Biographical 
Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support for three years.

I. Background

    Section 4(b) of NSPM-33 directs that ``research funding agencies 
shall require the disclosure of information related to potential 
conflicts of interest and commitment from participants in the federally 
funded R&D enterprise . . . The appropriate disclosure requirement 
varies depending on the individual's role in the United States R&D 
enterprise.'' Section 4(b)(vi) directs that ``agencies should 
standardize forms for initial disclosures as well as annual updates, . 
. . and should provide clear instructions to accompany these forms and 
to minimize any associated administrative burden.''
    The NSTC Research Security Subcommittee has worked to develop 
consistent disclosure requirements from senior personnel, as well as to 
develop proposed common disclosure forms for the Biographical Sketch 
and Current and Pending (Other) Support sections of an application for 
Federal research and development (R&D) grants or cooperative 
agreements. The purpose of the Biographical Sketch is to assess how 
well qualified the individual, team, or organization is to conduct the 
proposed activities. The purpose of Current and Pending (Other) Support 
is to assess the capacity of the individual to carry out

[[Page 52216]]

the research as proposed and to help identify any potential scientific 
and budgetary overlap/duplication, as well as overcommitment with the 
project being proposed.
    These common forms are intended to clarify what is expected of 
senior personnel applying for R&D funding from Federal research funding 
agencies. Variations among research agencies will be limited to cases: 
(a) where required by statute or regulation; (b) where more stringent 
protections are necessary for protection of R&D that is classified, 
export-controlled, or otherwise legally protected; or (c) for other 
compelling reasons consistent with individual agency authorities and as 
coordinated through the NSTC.
    As stated in the NSPM-33 Implementation Guidance, ``the goal of 
these common forms and accompanying instructions is to ensure that 
applying for awards from any Federal research funding agency will 
require disclosing the same information in the same manner, to increase 
clarity and reduce administrative burden on the research community. In 
some cases, Federal research funding agencies may adapt the forms and 
instructions, where required by their legal authorities. Such common 
disclosure forms also will allow the research community to identify and 
point out where greater clarity may be needed.''
    Agencies may develop agency- or program-specific data elements and 
instructions, if necessary, to meet programmatic requirements, although 
agencies will be instructed to minimize the degree to which they 
supplement the common forms. Modification, supplementation, or 
deviation from these common disclosure forms will require clearance by 
OMB/OIRA under the PRA process.
    These common disclosure forms are intended to replace existing 
forms/formats currently used by agencies for these sections of 
applications, thereby increasing the consistency of disclosure forms 
and reducing administrative burden.

II. Invitation to Comment

    The following documents are available for review and comment on the 
NSF website (see https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/nstc_disclosure.jsp):
    a. A common Biographical Sketch form comprised of data elements and 
associated instructions; and
    b. A common Current and Pending (Other) Support form comprised of 
data elements and associated instructions.
    Input is welcome on any fatal flaws associated with the proposed 
common disclosure forms, including the accompanying instructions.

                                              Burden on the Public
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                                              Number of         Number of      Burden time per
                Form name                     proposals        respondents       respondent           Total
                                             (estimated)       (estimated)         (hours)
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Biographical Sketch.....................            46,500                 4                 2           372,000
Current and Pending (Other) Support.....            46,500                 4                 2           372,000
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    Total burden hours..................  ................  ................  ................           744,000
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Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2023-16765 Filed 8-4-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P