Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request, 50329 [2015-20431]

Agencies

• NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 160 (Wednesday, August 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 50329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20431]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

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, Public Law 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 80 FR 26099, and no comments were 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. The full submission may be found at: 
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Comments regarding (a) 
whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information to be collected; (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 should be addressed to: Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for National 
Science Foundation, 725--17th Street NW. Room 10235, Washington, DC 
20503, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National 
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1265, Arlington, 
Virginia 22230 or send email to splimpto@nsf.gov. 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 these information collections 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.
    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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
    Abstract:
    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 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 14 centers for a total 
of 1400 hours.
    Respondents: Non-profit institutions; federal government.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One from each of the 
seventeen centers.

    Dated: August 13, 2015.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2015-20431 Filed 8-18-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P