Research Performance Progress Report Updates, 13680-13682 [2014-05012]
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13680
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 47 / Tuesday, March 11, 2014 / Notices
Public Hearing: April 17, 2014,
9:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. Requests to
Participate: Submit requests to
participate at the meeting by March 24,
2014. Written Comments: Written
comments received by May 1, 2014 will
be part of the record.
ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be
held at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Library, 901 G St. NW., Washington, DC
20001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gladstone Payton, Congressional Affairs
Officer, Institute of Museum and Library
Services, gpayton@imls.gov. Written
comments should be directed to
comments@imls.gov. Comments
received by May 1, 2014 will be part of
the record. Requests to participate in the
hearing should be directed to
comments@imls.gov by March 24, 2014.
To make special arrangements for
persons with disabilities, contact:
elyons@imls.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For the
nation’s 123,000 school, public,
research and academic libraries and the
millions of Americans that they serve, it
is vital that libraries have the high speed
internet connections the public
demands for educational, cultural,
health and workforce information and
services. Presidential initiatives like
Connect-Ed and the FCC Chairman’s
call for modernization of the E-rate
program have put a spotlight on the
urgency to equip schools and libraries
with high speed broadband connections.
The Institute of Museum and Library
Services (IMLS) has primary
responsibility for the development and
implementation of policy to ensure the
availability of museum, library and
information services adequate to meet
the essential information, education,
research, economic, cultural and civic
needs of the people of the United States.
See 20 U.S.C. Section 9103(c)(1). In
carrying out this responsibility, IMLS is
authorized to engage with Federal,
State, and local government agencies
and private entities in assessing current
needs and coordinating the
development of plans, policies, and
activities to meet such needs effectively.
Id. at Section (c)(2). Pursuant to the
authority granted in 20 U.S.C. Section
9110, IMLS is conducting this public
hearing for the purpose of establishing
a public record specifically focused on
the need for and impact of high speed
broadband connectivity in America’s
libraries.
The Institute will hear from witnesses
on the following topics:
Panel One: The Vision, What’s
Working: This panel will explore
innovative practices and partnerships
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DATES:
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that are serving individuals and
communities well.
Panel Two: The Data: This panel will
explore what is known about broadband
connections and services in America’s
libraries.
Panel Three: The Urgency, What’s At
Risk: This panel will explore risks
associated with insufficient connectivity
in libraries.
The hearing is open to the public,
subject to space availability. Written
comments for the hearing will be
accepted and must be received on or
before May 1, 2014, in order to be
included in the hearing record. Each
comment must include the author’s
name and organizational affiliation, if
any.
Signed: March 5, 2014.
Nancy E. Weiss,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2014–05154 Filed 3–10–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036–01–P
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS
BOARD
Sunshine Act Meetings: March 2014
All meetings are held at
2 p.m.
Tuesday, March 11;
Wednesday, March 12;
Thursday, March 13;
Tuesday, March 18;
Wednesday, March 19;
Thursday, March 20;
Tuesday, March 25;
Wednesday, March 26;
Thursday, March 27.
PLACE: Board Agenda Room, No. 11820,
1099 14th St. NW., Washington, DC
20570.
STATUS: Closed.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Pursuant to
§ 102.139(a) of the Board’s Rules and
Regulations, the Board or a panel
thereof will consider ‘‘the issuance of a
subpoena, the Board’s participation in a
civil action or proceeding or an
arbitration, or the initiation, conduct, or
disposition . . . of particular
representation or unfair labor practice
proceedings under section 8, 9, or 10 of
the [National Labor Relations] Act, or
any court proceedings collateral or
ancillary thereto.’’ See also 5 U.S.C.
552b(c)(10).
CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Henry Breiteneicher, Associate
Executive Secretary, (202) 273–2917.
TIME AND DATES:
Dated: March 7, 2014.
William B. Cowen,
Solicitor.
[FR Doc. 2014–05379 Filed 3–7–14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 7545–01–P
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Research Performance Progress
Report Updates
AGENCY:
National Science Foundation
(NSF).
ACTION:
Request for public comment.
The Research Performance
Progress Report (RPPR) for use with
interim progress reports resulted from
an initiative of the Research Business
Models (RBM) Subcommittee of the
Committee on Science (CoS), a
committee of the National Science and
Technology Council (NSTC). The
updated RPPR will directly benefit
award recipients by making it easier for
them to administer Federal grant and
cooperative agreement programs
through standardization of the types of
information required in interim and
final performance reports—thereby
reducing their administrative effort and
costs. The RPPR will also make it easier
to compare the outputs, outcomes, etc.
of research programs across the
government.
SUMMARY:
Comments must be received by
May 12, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be
addressed to Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, Office of the
General Counsel, National Science
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd.,
Arlington, VA 22230, email: splimpto@
nsf.gov; telephone: (703) 292–7556; FAX
(703) 292–9242. We encourage
respondents to submit comments
electronically to ensure timely receipt.
We cannot guarantee that comments
mailed will be received before the
comment closing date. Please include
‘‘Research Performance Progress
Reporting’’ in the subject line of the
email message; please also include the
full body of your comments in the text
of the message and as an attachment.
Include your name, title, organization,
postal address, telephone number, and
email address in your message. To view
the RPPR format, see: https://
www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/rppr/
index.jsp.
DATES:
For
information on the RPPR, contact Jean
Feldman, Head, Policy Office, Division
of Institution & Support, National
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd.,
Arlington, VA 22230, email: jfeldman@
nsf.gov; telephone (703) 292–8243; FAX:
(703) 292–9171. For further information
on the NSTC RBM Interagency Working
Group, contact Kei Koizumi, at the
Office of Science and Technology
Policy, 1650 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20504; email:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM
11MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 47 / Tuesday, March 11, 2014 / Notices
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
kkoizumi@ostp.eop.gov; telephone 202–
456–6133; FAX 202–456–6021. See also
the RBM Working Group’s Internet Web
site located at: https://rbm.nih.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: One of the
RBM Subcommittee’s priority areas is to
create greater consistency in the
administration of Federal research
awards. Given the increasing
complexity of interdisciplinary and
interagency research, it is important for
Federal agencies to manage awards in a
similar fashion. On behalf of the RBM
Subcommittee, the NSF has agreed to
continue to serve as the ‘‘sponsor’’ of
this updated Federal-wide format.
Comments are invited on (a) whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of agencies funding
research and research-related activities,
including whether the information shall
have practical utility; (b) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information collected from
respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology;
and (c) 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.
After obtaining and considering
public comment, NSF on behalf of the
RBM, will prepare the submission
requesting OMB clearance of this
collection for no longer than three years.
I. Background
The NSF, on behalf of the National
Science & Technology Council’s
Research Business Models Interagency
Working Group, is soliciting public
comment on a revised standardized
RPPR format. The NSF has agreed to
continue to serve as the ‘‘sponsor’’ of
this Federal-wide format for receipt of
comments under this interagency
initiative. After an updated format is
adopted, Agencies will be required to
submit, through the PRA, revisions to
their currently approved performance
progress reporting information
collections in order to comply with the
updated RPPR format.
Development and maintenance of a
standardized RPPR is an initiative of the
Research Business Models (RBM)
Interagency Working Group of the
Committee on Science (CoS), a
Committee of the National Science and
Technology Council (NSTC). The
objective of this initiative is to
implement and maintain a uniform
format for reporting performance on
Federally-funded research projects.
Prior to the implementation of a
uniform format, Federal agencies
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:22 Mar 10, 2014
Jkt 232001
utilized a variety of formats for
reporting progress on activities
supported by research grants, though
similar information was usually
collected. These variations increased
administrative effort and costs for
recipients of Federal awards and made
it difficult to compare research
programs across government. This
format directly benefits award recipients
by making it easier for recipients to
administer Federal grant programs
through standardization of the types of
research information required in
performance reports.
The RPPR format was approved by the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) and the Office of Science and
Technology Policy (OSTP), which
released the Policy on Research
Performance Progress Report in April
2010. The OMB/OSTP-issued Policy
specified that the RPPR would be used
by agencies and awarding offices that
support research and research-related
activities for use in submission of
required annual or other interim
performance reporting on grants and
cooperative agreements. The RPPR is
intended to address progress for the
most recently completed period, at the
frequency required or designated by the
sponsoring agency. As indicated in the
Federal Register [75 FR 1816–1819,
January 13, 2010], the development of a
final RPPR format would take place
upon completion of the interim RPPR
exercise.
A working group was established in
March 2013 to handle development of a
final RPPR format. Representatives from
thirteen different departments/agencies
comprised the group. Drawing from
agency experiences and perspectives,
the group discussed potential revisions
to the RPPR format. The group
recommended changes in order to allow
the format to be used for submission of
both interim and final progress reports.
Several amendments have been inserted
throughout the document to update it,
though the proposed revised format
retains the same overall structure as the
original format.
Each of the categories specified is a
separate reporting component. Federal
agencies will direct recipients to report
on the mandatory category and may also
require reporting on optional categories,
as appropriate. Recipients will not be
required or expected to report on each
of the questions or items listed under a
particular category. They will be
advised to state ‘‘Nothing to report’’ if
they have nothing significant to report.
Agencies will utilize the standard
instructions that have been developed
for each category, but may provide
additional program-specific instructions
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Sfmt 4703
13681
necessary to clarify a requirement for a
particular program.
Agencies also may develop additional
agency- or program-specific reporting
categories and instructions (e.g., the
National Institutes of Health may need
to collect additional information on
clinical trial awards); however, to
maintain maximum uniformity,
agencies are instructed to minimize the
degree to which they supplement the
standard categories.
II. Proposed Revisions to Report
Format
The proposed revised format for
interim and final performance progress
reporting on grants and cooperative
agreements awarded under research
programs is available on the NSF Web
site at: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/
policy/rppr/index.jsp.
Revisions to the format have been
made so that it may be used for both
interim and final reports. Each report
will cover one reporting period (annual
or other interim period at the frequency
required or designated by the agency).
Instructions that are specific to the final
reporting period will be included as
applicable in the format. The
recommendation is made to maintain
consistency between interim and final
reporting for both agencies and
recipients.
All existing categories will be
retained, and one new category is
proposed. The new optional category
will be entitled ‘‘Project Outcomes’’ and
is intended to be completed as part of
the final report. This category enables
agencies to collect a summary of
outcomes or findings of the award,
thereby capturing cumulative
information needed by several agencies.
Language was revised throughout the
report. First, language was clarified
where necessary. Second, terminology
was made more inclusive of researchrelated activities. Third, verbs were
made past tense where appropriate.
New information, questions, or
instructions were inserted throughout
the format. More examples of ‘‘other
products’’ were added. The Participants
section now has a question on active
other support. The Impact section
contains a new question on the impact
on teaching and educational
experiences. Finally, a new, optional
category, Project Outcomes, was added.
To accompany the revisions in the
RPPR Format, amendments were also
made to the RPPR Data Dictionary. New
or amended data elements or fields
correspond to their counterparts in the
RPPR Format.
E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM
11MRN1
13682
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 47 / Tuesday, March 11, 2014 / Notices
Dated: March 4, 2014.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science
Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2014–05012 Filed 3–10–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION
SAFETY BOARD
Public Forum—Cruise Ships:
Examining Safety, Operations and
Oversight
On Tuesday and Wednesday, March
25–26, 2014, The National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
will convene a forum titled, ‘‘Cruise
Ships: Examining Safety, Operations
and Oversight.’’ The forum will begin at
9:00 a.m. on both days and is open to
all. Attendance is free, and no
registration is required. NTSB Chairman
Deborah A.P. Hersman will serve as the
Presiding Officer of the forum, and all
five NTSB board members will serve as
members of the Board of Inquiry. The
forum is organized into six issue areas:
• Regulatory Framework
• Accident Investigations
• Ship Design and Fire Protection
• Vessel Operations
• Emergency Response
• Corporate Oversight
The forum will also explore some
recent high-profile accidents. The
forum’s goal is to encourage dialogue
among industry stakeholders, regulators,
and the general public to better
understand cruise ship safety and
oversight. Invited panelists will include
regulators such as the U.S. Coast Guard,
vessel owners and operators, researchers
and industry groups. Below is the
preliminary agenda:
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Tuesday, March 25, 2014 (9:00 a.m.–
5:00 p.m.)
1. Opening Statement by Chairman
Hersman.
2. Opening presentation by the U.S.
Coast Guard.
3. Introduction of the Technical
Panels and Panelists.
4. Presentations from Panels One,
Two, and Three and questions from the
Board of Inquiry and the Technical
Panels.
5. Closing Statement by Chairman
Hersman
Wednesday, March 26, 2014 (9:00 a.m.–
5:00 p.m.)
1. Opening Statement by Chairman
Hersman.
2. Opening presentation by the Cruise
Lines International Association.
3. Introduction of the Technical
Panels and Panelists.
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4. Presentations from Panels Four,
Five, and Six and questions from the
Board of Inquiry and the Technical
Panels.
5. Closing statement by Chairman
Hersman.
The full agenda and a list of
participants can be found at: https://
www.ntsb.gov/news/events/2014/
cruiseshipforum/.
The forum will be held in the NTSB
Board Room and Conference Center,
located at 429 L’Enfant Plaza E. SW.,
Washington, DC. The public can view
the forum in person or by live webcast
at https://www.ntsb.gov. Webcast
archives are generally available by the
end of the next day following the forum,
and webcasts are archived for a period
of 3 months after the date of the event.
Individuals requiring reasonable
accommodation and/or wheelchair
access directions should contact Ms.
Rochelle Hall at Rochelle.hall@ntsb.gov
or by telephone at (202) 314–6305 by
Wednesday, March 19, 2014.
NTSB Media Contact: Eric Weiss—
eric.weiss@ntsb.gov.
NTSB Forum Managers: Liam
LaRue—liam.larue@ntsb.gov, Barry
Strauch, Ph.D.—barry.strauch@ntsb.gov.
Candi R. Bing,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014–05150 Filed 3–10–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket No. NRC–2013–0226]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Submission for the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB)
Review; Comment Request
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Notice of the OMB review of
information collection and solicitation
of public comment.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) has recently
submitted to OMB for review the
following proposal for the collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35). The NRC hereby
informs potential respondents that an
agency may not conduct or sponsor, and
that a person is not required to respond
to, a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number. The NRC published a Federal
Register Notice with a 60-day comment
period on this information collection on
November 4, 2013 (78 FR 66076).
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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1. Type of submission, new, revision,
or extension: Revision.
2. The title of the information
collection: NRC Form 4, ‘‘Cumulative
Occupational Dose History.’’
3. Current OMB approval number:
3150–0005.
4. The form number if applicable:
NRC Form 4.
5. How often the collection is
required: On occasion. The NRC does
not collect NRC Form 4. However, NRC
inspects the NRC Form 4 records at
NRC-licensed facilities.
6. Who will be required or asked to
report: NRC licensees who are required
to comply with Part 20 of Title 10 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR).
7. An estimate of the number of
annual responses: 227,846 (223,700
third party disclosure + 4,146
recordkeepers).
8. The estimated number of annual
respondents: 4,146.
9. An estimate of the total number of
hours needed annually to complete the
requirement or request: 31,234 (24,523
recordkeeping + 6,711 third party
disclosure).
10. Abstract: The NRC Form 4 is used
to record the summary of an
occupational worker’s cumulative
occupational radiation dose, including
prior occupational exposure and the
current year’s occupational radiation
exposure. The NRC Form 4 is used by
licensees, and inspected by the NRC, to
ensure that occupational radiation doses
do not exceed the regulatory limits
specified in 10 CFR 20.1501.
The public may examine and have
copied for a fee publicly-available
documents, including the final
supporting statement, at the NRC’s
Public Document Room, Room O–1F21,
One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The
OMB clearance requests are available at
the NRC’s Web site: https://www.nrc.gov/
public-involve/doc-comment/omb/.
The document will be available on the
NRC’s home page site for 60 days after
the signature date of this notice.
Comments and questions should be
directed to the OMB reviewer listed
below by April 10, 2014. Comments
received after this date will be
considered if it is practical to do so, but
assurance of consideration cannot be
given to comments received after this
date.
Danielle Y. Jones, Desk Officer, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs
(3150–0005), NEOB–10202, Office of
Management and Budget,
Washington, DC 20503.
Comments can also be emailed to
Danielle_Y_Jones@omb.eop.gov or
E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM
11MRN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13680-13682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05012]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Research Performance Progress Report Updates
AGENCY: National Science Foundation (NSF).
ACTION: Request for public comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) for use with
interim progress reports resulted from an initiative of the Research
Business Models (RBM) Subcommittee of the Committee on Science (CoS), a
committee of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). The
updated RPPR will directly benefit award recipients by making it easier
for them to administer Federal grant and cooperative agreement programs
through standardization of the types of information required in interim
and final performance reports--thereby reducing their administrative
effort and costs. The RPPR will also make it easier to compare the
outputs, outcomes, etc. of research programs across the government.
DATES: Comments must be received by May 12, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports
Clearance Officer, Office of the General Counsel, National Science
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230, email:
splimpto@nsf.gov; telephone: (703) 292-7556; FAX (703) 292-9242. We
encourage respondents to submit comments electronically to ensure
timely receipt. We cannot guarantee that comments mailed will be
received before the comment closing date. Please include ``Research
Performance Progress Reporting'' in the subject line of the email
message; please also include the full body of your comments in the text
of the message and as an attachment. Include your name, title,
organization, postal address, telephone number, and email address in
your message. To view the RPPR format, see: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/rppr/index.jsp.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the RPPR, contact
Jean Feldman, Head, Policy Office, Division of Institution & Support,
National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230,
email: jfeldman@nsf.gov; telephone (703) 292-8243; FAX: (703) 292-9171.
For further information on the NSTC RBM Interagency Working Group,
contact Kei Koizumi, at the Office of Science and Technology Policy,
1650 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20504; email:
[[Page 13681]]
kkoizumi@ostp.eop.gov; telephone 202-456-6133; FAX 202-456-6021. See
also the RBM Working Group's Internet Web site located at: https://rbm.nih.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: One of the RBM Subcommittee's priority areas
is to create greater consistency in the administration of Federal
research awards. Given the increasing complexity of interdisciplinary
and interagency research, it is important for Federal agencies to
manage awards in a similar fashion. On behalf of the RBM Subcommittee,
the NSF has agreed to continue to serve as the ``sponsor'' of this
updated Federal-wide format.
Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
agencies funding research and research-related activities, including
whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected
from respondents, including through the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology; and (c) 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.
After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF on behalf of
the RBM, will prepare the submission requesting OMB clearance of this
collection for no longer than three years.
I. Background
The NSF, on behalf of the National Science & Technology Council's
Research Business Models Interagency Working Group, is soliciting
public comment on a revised standardized RPPR format. The NSF has
agreed to continue to serve as the ``sponsor'' of this Federal-wide
format for receipt of comments under this interagency initiative. After
an updated format is adopted, Agencies will be required to submit,
through the PRA, revisions to their currently approved performance
progress reporting information collections in order to comply with the
updated RPPR format.
Development and maintenance of a standardized RPPR is an initiative
of the Research Business Models (RBM) Interagency Working Group of the
Committee on Science (CoS), a Committee of the National Science and
Technology Council (NSTC). The objective of this initiative is to
implement and maintain a uniform format for reporting performance on
Federally-funded research projects. Prior to the implementation of a
uniform format, Federal agencies utilized a variety of formats for
reporting progress on activities supported by research grants, though
similar information was usually collected. These variations increased
administrative effort and costs for recipients of Federal awards and
made it difficult to compare research programs across government. This
format directly benefits award recipients by making it easier for
recipients to administer Federal grant programs through standardization
of the types of research information required in performance reports.
The RPPR format was approved by the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), which
released the Policy on Research Performance Progress Report in April
2010. The OMB/OSTP-issued Policy specified that the RPPR would be used
by agencies and awarding offices that support research and research-
related activities for use in submission of required annual or other
interim performance reporting on grants and cooperative agreements. The
RPPR is intended to address progress for the most recently completed
period, at the frequency required or designated by the sponsoring
agency. As indicated in the Federal Register [75 FR 1816-1819, January
13, 2010], the development of a final RPPR format would take place upon
completion of the interim RPPR exercise.
A working group was established in March 2013 to handle development
of a final RPPR format. Representatives from thirteen different
departments/agencies comprised the group. Drawing from agency
experiences and perspectives, the group discussed potential revisions
to the RPPR format. The group recommended changes in order to allow the
format to be used for submission of both interim and final progress
reports. Several amendments have been inserted throughout the document
to update it, though the proposed revised format retains the same
overall structure as the original format.
Each of the categories specified is a separate reporting component.
Federal agencies will direct recipients to report on the mandatory
category and may also require reporting on optional categories, as
appropriate. Recipients will not be required or expected to report on
each of the questions or items listed under a particular category. They
will be advised to state ``Nothing to report'' if they have nothing
significant to report.
Agencies will utilize the standard instructions that have been
developed for each category, but may provide additional program-
specific instructions necessary to clarify a requirement for a
particular program.
Agencies also may develop additional agency- or program-specific
reporting categories and instructions (e.g., the National Institutes of
Health may need to collect additional information on clinical trial
awards); however, to maintain maximum uniformity, agencies are
instructed to minimize the degree to which they supplement the standard
categories.
II. Proposed Revisions to Report Format
The proposed revised format for interim and final performance
progress reporting on grants and cooperative agreements awarded under
research programs is available on the NSF Web site at: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/rppr/index.jsp.
Revisions to the format have been made so that it may be used for
both interim and final reports. Each report will cover one reporting
period (annual or other interim period at the frequency required or
designated by the agency). Instructions that are specific to the final
reporting period will be included as applicable in the format. The
recommendation is made to maintain consistency between interim and
final reporting for both agencies and recipients.
All existing categories will be retained, and one new category is
proposed. The new optional category will be entitled ``Project
Outcomes'' and is intended to be completed as part of the final report.
This category enables agencies to collect a summary of outcomes or
findings of the award, thereby capturing cumulative information needed
by several agencies.
Language was revised throughout the report. First, language was
clarified where necessary. Second, terminology was made more inclusive
of research-related activities. Third, verbs were made past tense where
appropriate.
New information, questions, or instructions were inserted
throughout the format. More examples of ``other products'' were added.
The Participants section now has a question on active other support.
The Impact section contains a new question on the impact on teaching
and educational experiences. Finally, a new, optional category, Project
Outcomes, was added.
To accompany the revisions in the RPPR Format, amendments were also
made to the RPPR Data Dictionary. New or amended data elements or
fields correspond to their counterparts in the RPPR Format.
[[Page 13682]]
Dated: March 4, 2014.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2014-05012 Filed 3-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P