[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38030-38031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-12725]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
[Docket No. NSF-2026-OTR-0001]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request;
National Science Foundation Proposal/Award Information--NSF Guidance on
Financial Assistance
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans
to renew and revise its collection for its financial assistance
policies and procedures. In accordance with the requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, NSF is providing the opportunity for
public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public
comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for no longer
than three years.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be submitted by August 24,
2026 to be considered.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to electronically submit
written comments identified by information collection 3145-0058 through
the Federal eRulemaking portal: https://regulations.gov under the
docket no. NSF-2026-OTR-0001.
Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite Information
Collection 3145-0058 in all correspondence related to this collection.
To confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check regulations.gov,
approximately two-to-three business days after submission to verify
posting. In general, all in-scope comments received will be included in
the public docket without change including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes threats. Please do not include
any confidential business information or sensitive personal privacy
information in your comments.
[[Page 38031]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
Officer, National Science Foundation, Randolph Building, 401 Delany
Street, 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).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Abstract: The primary purpose of this revision is to update NSF
policies through the development of the U.S. NSF Proposal and Award
Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), now to be renamed the NSF
Guidance on Financial Assistance (GFA), to incorporate plain language,
clarify language, separate policies from procedures, remove policies no
longer relevant, incorporate mandated statutory, regulatory, Executive
Order, and policy-related changes. The GFA directs users to originating
statutes, guidance, and regulations, where practicable. The draft NSF
GFA is available in the docket no. NSF-2026-OTR-0001.
Title of Collection: ``U.S. National Science Foundation Proposal/
Award Information--NSF Guidance on Financial Assistance.''
OMB Approval Number: 3145-0058.
Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2026.
Type of Request: The U.S. NSF intends to seek approval to extend
with revision an information collection for three years.
Proposed Project: The National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (Pub.
L. 81-507) sets forth NSF's mission and purpose:
``To promote the progress of science; to advance the national
health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense. . .
.''
Use of the Information: The regular submission of proposals to the
Foundation is part of the collection of information and is used to help
NSF fulfill this responsibility by initiating and supporting merit-
selected research and education projects in all the scientific and
engineering disciplines. NSF receives more than 43,000 proposals
annually for new projects and makes approximately 8,300 financial
assistance awards, including grants and cooperative agreements.
NSF funding is primarily made through issuance of grants,
cooperative agreements awarded to approximately 3,000 institutions of
higher education, non-profit organizations, tribal nations, for-profit
organizations, and state and local governments. The awards are based
primarily on the merit review of proposals submitted to the Foundation.
Burden on the Public: The Foundation estimates that an average of
120 hours is expended for each proposal submitted. An estimated 43,000
proposals are expected to be received during the course of one year for
a total of 5,160,000 public burden hours annually.
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; and (e) feedback on the new
design and display of information for users. Comments, including
attachments to regulations.gov, will be posted publicly to the docket
unchanged. Commenters are encouraged to provide clarity as to the guide
number and section that each comment is referencing by beginning each
comment with the relevant section number in brackets. For example; if
the comment is on Guide 2, Section A. Term and Definition 2. Dear
Colleague Letters (DCLs), include the following before the comment
[G2.A.Term 2].
Dated: June 22, 2026..
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2026-12725 Filed 6-23-26; 8:45 am]
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