Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 16831 [2013-06211]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 16831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06211]



[[Page 16831]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Survey of State Government Research & Development
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0933.
    Form Number(s): State Coordinator Web Form, State Agency Web Form.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Burden Hours: 542.
    Number of Respondents: 552.
    Average Hours Per Response: State Coordinators--4 hours; State 
Agencies--1 hour and 45 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The Census Bureau is requesting a three year 
extension of the collection of state government research and 
development (R&D) expenditures conducted by the Census Bureau on behalf 
of the National Science Foundation (NSF). 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, NSF and its predecessors have 
sponsored surveys of R&D since 1953, including since 2006 the State 
Government R&D Survey. This survey has helped to expand the scope of 
R&D collections to include state governments, where previously there 
had been no established collection efforts.
    NSF sponsors surveys of R&D activities of Federal agencies, higher 
education institutions, and private industries. The data collected from 
this survey instrument fills the void that previously existed for 
collection of R&D activities at the state government department or 
agency level. The results of these surveys provide a consistent 
information base for government officials, industry professionals, and 
researchers to use in formulating public policy and planning in science 
and technology. These surveys allow for the analysis of current and 
historical trends in research and development in the U.S., as well as, 
comparisons with other countries.
    The Census Bureau, serving as collection agent, employs a 
methodology similar to the one used to collect information from state 
and local governments on established censuses and surveys. This 
methodology involves identifying a central coordinator in each state 
who will assist Census Bureau staff in identifying appropriate state 
departments/agencies to survey. These state contacts also verify data 
responses and assist with nonresponse follow-up. The collection 
approach using a central state contact is used successfully at the 
Census Bureau in surveys of local school districts, municipal and 
county governments, and state government finances.
    Items on the survey form include R&D expenditures according to the 
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 developmental), and by R&D plant (e.g., 
construction projects). Final results produced by NSF contain state and 
national estimates and are useful to a variety of data users interested 
in research and development performance including: The National Science 
Board; the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); the White House 
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and other science policy 
makers; institutional researchers; and private organizations.
    Legislators, policy officials, and researchers rely on statistics 
to make informed decisions about R&D investment at the Federal, state, 
and local level. These statistics are derived from the existing NSF 
sponsored surveys of Federal agencies, higher education institutions, 
and private industry. The total picture of R&D expenditures, however, 
had been incomplete due to the lack of relevant and timely data from 
state governments prior to this survey collection, which now fills that 
void.
    State government officials and policy makers garner the most 
benefit from the results of this survey. Governors and legislatures 
need a reliable, comprehensive source of data to help in evaluating how 
best to attract the high-tech, R&D industries to their state. Officials 
are able to evaluate their investment in R&D based on comparisons with 
other states. These comparisons include the sources of funding, the 
type of R&D being conducted, and the actual performer of the work.
    The information collected from the State Government R&D Survey is 
used at the Federal level to assess and direct investment in technology 
and economic issues. Congressional committees and the Congressional 
Research Service use results of the R&D surveys extensively. Inquiries 
made to NSF by congressional staff concerning industry and academic 
data are well documented. In addition, officials from several Federal 
agencies make use of the data.
    NSF also uses data from this survey in various publications 
produced about the state of R&D in the U.S. The Science and Engineering 
Indicators series, for example, is a biennial report mandated by 
Congress and describes quantitatively the condition of the country's 
R&D efforts. Results are also likely to be included in the National 
Patterns of Research and Development Resources tabulations and in the 
Science and Engineering Indicators report.
    The availability of state R&D data on the Internet makes this 
survey visible to several other users, as well. Media, university 
researchers, nonprofit organizations, and foreign government officials 
are also consumers of state R&D statistics. All users are able to 
utilize this information in an attempt to better understand the 
nation's R&D resources.
    Affected Public: State, local or Tribal Government.
    Frequency: Biennially.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Section 8(b).
    OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0336, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
jjessup@doc.gov).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) 
or email (bharrisk@omb.eop.gov).

    Dated: March 13, 2013.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-06211 Filed 3-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P