[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 69 (Friday, April 11, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15482-15483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06202]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request;
Grantee Reporting Requirements for Science and Technology Centers
(STC): Integrative Partnerships
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.
ADDRESSES: Send comments and recommendations 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 call 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). 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.
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.
Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for Science and
Technology Centers (STC): Integrative Partnerships.
OMB Number: 3145-0194.
Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to extend an information
collection.
Proposed Project: The Science and Technology Centers (STC):
Integrative Partnerships Program supports innovation in the integrative
conduct of research, education and knowledge transfer. Science and
Technology Centers build intellectual and physical infrastructure
within and between disciplines, weaving together knowledge creation,
knowledge integration, and knowledge transfer. STCs conduct world-class
research through partnerships of academic institutions, national
laboratories, industrial organizations, and/or other public/private
entities. New knowledge thus created is meaningfully linked to society.
STCs enable and foster excellent education, integrate research and
education, and create bonds between learning and inquiry so that
discovery and creativity more fully support the learning process. STCs
capitalize on diversity through participation in center activities and
demonstrate leadership in the involvement of groups underrepresented in
science and engineering.
Centers selected will be required to submit annual reports on
progress and plans, which will be used as a basis for performance
review and determining the level of continued funding. To support this
review and the management of a Center, STCs will be required to develop
a set of management and performance indicators for submission annually
to NSF via an NSF evaluation technical assistance contractor. These
indicators are both quantitative and descriptive and may include, for
example, the characteristics of center personnel and students; sources
of financial support and in-kind support; expenditures by operational
component; characteristics of industrial and/or other sector
participation; research activities; education activities; knowledge
transfer activities; patents, licenses; publications; degrees granted
to students involved in Center activities; descriptions of significant
advances and other outcomes of the STC effort. Part of this reporting
will take the form of a database which will be owned by the institution
and eventually made available to an evaluation contractor. This
database will capture specific
[[Page 15483]]
information to demonstrate progress towards achieving the goals of the
program. Such reporting requirements will be included in the
cooperative agreement which is binding between the academic institution
and the NSF.
Each Center's annual report will address the following categories
of activities: (1) research, (2) education, (3) knowledge transfer, (4)
partnerships, (5) diversity, (6) management and (7) budget issues.
For each of the categories the report will describe overall
objectives for the year, problems the Center has encountered in making
progress towards goals, anticipated problems in the following year, and
specific outputs and outcomes.
Use of the Information: NSF will use the information to continue
funding of the Centers, and to evaluate the progress of the program.
Estimate of Burden: 100 hours per center for twelve centers for a
total of 1,200 hours.
Respondents: Non-profit institutions; federal government.
Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One from each of the
twelve centers.
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 appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Dated: April 8, 2025.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2025-06202 Filed 4-10-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P