Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; State Government Research and Development (R&D) Survey, 64952-64953 [2012-26186]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• U.s. Census Bureau

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64952-64953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26186]



[[Page 64952]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; State 
Government Research and Development (R&D) Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before December 24, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at jjessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Lisa McNelis, U.S. Census Bureau, Governments 
Division, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233-6800; (301) 763-
7344.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the United States Census 
Bureau plan to continue to conduct the biennial State Government 
Research and Development Survey (SGRD) to measure research and 
development supported and performed by state governments in the United 
States. This survey is a joint effort between the NSF and the Census 
Bureau. The NSF Act of 1950 includes a statutory charge to ``provide a 
central clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis 
of data on scientific and engineering resources and to provide a source 
of information for policy formulation by other agencies in the Federal 
Government.'' Under the aegis of this legislative mandate, the NSF 
sponsored surveys of research and development since 1953, including 
since 2006 the State Government R&D Survey. The Census Bureau's 
authority to undertake this work is found at 13 U.S.C. 8(b) which 
provides that the Census Bureau ``may make special statistical 
compilations and surveys for departments, agencies, and establishments 
of the Federal government, the government of the District of Columbia, 
the government of any possession or area (including political 
subdivisions thereof) * * * State or local agencies, or other public 
and private persons and agencies.''
    The State Government Research and Development Survey is the only 
comprehensive source of research and development expenditure data 
collected on a nationwide scale using uniform definitions, concepts, 
and procedures. The collection covers the expenditures of all agencies 
in the fifty state governments, the District of Columbia, and Puerto 
Rico that conduct research and development. The NSF has coordinated 
with the Census Bureau for the data collection. The NSF uses this 
collection to satisfy its need to collect research and development 
expenditures data.
    Fiscal data provided by respondents aid data users in measuring the 
effectiveness of resource allocation. The products of this data 
collection make it possible for data users to obtain information on 
such things as expenditures according to source of funding, by 
performer of the work (i.e., internal and external to state agencies), 
by type (e.g., agriculture, energy, health, transportation, etc), by 
character of work (i.e., basic research, applied research, or 
development), and by R&D plant (e.g., construction projects). Final 
results produced by the NSF contain state and national estimates useful 
to a variety of data users interested in research and development 
performance including: the National Science Board; the Office of 
Management and Budget; the Office of Science and Technology Policy and 
other science policy makers; institutional researchers; and private 
organizations.
    The survey announcements and forms used in the research and 
development survey are:
    Survey Announcement. The Governor's letter is mailed to solicit the 
Governor's Office to announce the survey collection and for assignment 
of a State Coordinator to facilitate the assistance of the state 
agencies. The State Coordinator's Announcement is sent electronically 
at the beginning of each survey period with information regarding their 
role in facilitating their state agency responses and data submissions. 
It establishes the conditions by which the state agencies provide their 
research and expenditure data to the Census Bureau.
    Form SRD-1. This form contains item descriptions and definitions of 
the research and development items collected jointly by the Census 
Bureau and the NSF. It is used primarily as a worksheet and instruction 
guide by the state agencies providing research and development 
expenditure data in their respective states. All states supply their 
data by electronic means.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau collects all of the research and development 
expenditure data from approximately 500 state agencies facilitated by a 
State Coordinator appointed by their Governor. Once an agency completes 
and submits their data to the State Coordinator, the State Coordinator 
reviews and submits this information to the Census Bureau in electronic 
format over the Internet via file transfer protocol.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0933.
    Form Number: SRD-1.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State Government Agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 52 state coordinators and 500 
State agencies.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 4 hours for every state coordinator 
and 1 hour and 45 minutes for every state agency.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 542.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $19,000.
    Respondents Obligation: Voluntary.

    Authority: U.S. Code: 42 U.S.C. 1862: ``National Science 
Foundation Act of 1950''as amended. Title 13, U.S.C., 8 (b), 161, 
and 182. Title 15 United States Code, 1525.

IV. Request for 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 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.


[[Page 64953]]


    Dated: October 19, 2012.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-26186 Filed 10-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P