[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 97 (Friday, May 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43438-43439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10892]


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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 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, VA 22314, or send email to [email protected], or by 
telephone to 703-292-7556. 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).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
    Comments regarding (a) whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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. Request for 
public comment was previously published March 13, 2024 at 89 FR 18442.
    Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for NSF SBIR/
STTR Program.
    OMB Number: 3145-0252.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement and request for Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) approval of an information collection.
    Abstract:
    Proposed Project:
    This request is for reinstating interim reporting requirements for 
the NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business 
Technology Transfer Research (STTR) programs.
    The NSF SBIR/STTR programs focus on transforming scientific 
discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or 
societal benefit. Unlike fundamental or basic research activities that 
focus on scientific and engineering discoveries, the NSF SBIR/STTR 
programs support the creation of opportunities to move fundamental 
science and engineering out of the lab and into the market at scale, 
through startups and small businesses representing deep technology 
ventures.
    The NSF SBIR/STTR programs have two phases: Phase I and Phase II 
(with an optional Phase IIB as matching supplements). SBIR/STTR Phase I 
is a 6-12 month experimental or theoretical investigation that allows 
the awardees to determine the scientific and technical feasibility, as 
well as the commercial merit of the idea or concept. Phase II further 
develops the proposed concept, building on the feasibility project 
undertaken in Phase I, and accelerate the Phase I project to the 
commercialization stage and enhance the overall strength of the 
commercial potential. As such, Phase II SBIR/STTR awards have a longer 
expected period of performance of 24 months.
    The NSF SBIR/STTR programs request approval from OMB on the 
reinstatement of the NSF SBIR/STTR Phase II interim/progress report 
data collection.
    The interim/progress report will be required every six months for 
the life of the Phase II award. The report collects information on the 
technical progress of the funded NSF work, which allows managing 
Program Directors to monitor the project and ensure that the award is 
in good standing.
    The report is divided into 6 sections: (1) Basic Reporting Data, 
(2) Level of Effort, (3) SBIR-wide Certifications, (4) Cooperative 
Agreement (NSF-specific

[[Page 43439]]

Certifications), (5) Technical Narratives, and (6) Project Milestones.
    The kinds of data collected from the report include name of the 
startup company, information on the principal investigator (PI) (name, 
email address, and phone number), the number of full-time equivalent 
(FTE) employees working at the startup, amount of funding received 
during the award period. In addition, information pertaining to company 
officers and key personnel, their corresponding ownership status, and 
their levels of efforts provided to the startups are also requested. 
Collectively, these data will enable the managing Program Directors to 
(1) evaluate a given company's business structure, (2) ascertain the 
level of commitment of the PI(s), co-PI(s), and key personnel to the 
startup venture, and (3) identify conflicts of interests (if any), as 
part of the due diligence process that the programs undertake to verify 
that there are no fraudulent or inappropriate business practices.
    The report also asks about: inputs (i.e., project expenditures, 
efforts exerted by key personnel), outputs (i.e., R&D activities, 
technical progresses), outcomes (i.e., research milestones, fundraising 
activities), and impacts (i.e., technical and/or commercial successes).
    Finally, the report also requests: (1) a discussion of progresses 
highlighting key technical and commercial activity/results during the 
reporting period, (2) compliance requirements checklists from the Small 
Business Administration (SBA) and NSF, and (3) a Gantt chart describing 
the project status, as well as task assignments to key personnel in the 
project.
    Use of the Information: The data collected will be used primarily 
for award monitoring. The data could also be used for congressional 
requests, inquiries from the NSF's Office of the Inspector General, 
supporting evidence of litigations, auditing, and other legal 
investigations, NSF internal reports, and program evaluations, if 
necessary.
    Estimate of Burden: The estimated number of respondents is: 410. 
Average time to complete the interim report: 18 hours. The estimated 
total burden hours: 7,380 hours per year.
    Respondents: The respondents are either PIs or Co-PIs listed on the 
NSF SBIR/STTR Proposals, Founders, and/or Co-founders of the startups 
funded by the NSF SBIR/STTR programs.

    Dated: May 14, 2024.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2024-10892 Filed 5-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P