Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request, 35140-35141 [2021-14108]

Download as PDF 35140 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 124 / Thursday, July 1, 2021 / Notices NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request AGENCY: National Science Foundation. Submission for OMB review; comment request. ACTION: 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. This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal Register and one comment was 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. SUMMARY: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAmain. Find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function. DATES: khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314, 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 this information collection 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: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:45 Jun 30, 2021 Jkt 253001 Summary of Comments on the National Science Foundation Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide and NSF’s Responses NSF received one comment in response to the First Federal Register notice published on April 1, 2021, at 86 FR 17207. The comment and summary responses are included in the supporting statement for the information collection request. Title of Collection: National Science Foundation’s Education and Training Application Pilot. OMB Approval Number: 3145–0248. Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to extend with revision an information collection for three years. The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to develop and pilot test an electronic data collection system that supports applications to education and training opportunities funded by NSF and allows tracking of participants’ program experiences and career outcomes over time. The pilot aims to provide NSF with information to inform decisions in developing an effective and low-burden approach to collect data needed to monitor programs, report to NSF leadership, and comply with congressional requirements. The main goal of the current project is to build upon a system originally developed for the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. The work involves revising and enhancing the system based on the lessons from the initial REU pilot and conducting further testing to prepare it for adoption for the REU program and other education and training programs at NSF. The original REU data system was designed to collect data required by Congress in the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, which states that students in the REU program must ‘‘be tracked, for employment and continued matriculation in STEM fields, through receipt of the undergraduate degree and for at least three years thereafter’’ (Section 514[a][6] of Pub. L. 111–358). A study conducted by the Science and Technology Policy Institute determined the need for NSF to create new data collection because ‘‘the status quo of [REU] participants providing demographic information to NSF’s Research Performance Report System, coupled with voluntary tracking of participants’ career choices by the REU [principal investigators], was clearly insufficient to meet the [congressional] mandate’’ i. To respond to the America i Zuckerman, B.J. Doyle, A. Mudd, T. Jones, and G. Davis. ‘‘Assessment of the Feasibility of Tracking Participants from the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 COMPETES mandate, NSF commissioned a data system for the REU program. The current project is the evolution of this early test that originated with the REU program to leverage the system and scale its pilot test to include other NSF programs that similarly invest in human capital development. The new system—The Education and Training Application (ETAP)—supports NSF’s learning agenda and is in alignment with the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115– 435), which requires NSF to collect, use, or acquire data to support decision making. In addition to developing and enhancing the system, the present study will pilot test collecting data from a sample of Sites that volunteer to participate. (A Site is an instance of an NSF award offering an education and training opportunity at a given point in time.) By participating in this study, principal investigators (PIs) from these Sites will experience the data collections firsthand and provide feedback to help NSF improve the system before expanding its use. For example, PIs will have an opportunity to determine whether the system facilitates managing applications more efficiently than the usual process, comment on whether the system is user friendly, assess the usefulness of data reports the system produces, and suggest enhancements to the system. Four key activities define the pilot: 1. Testing a web-based approach to obtain basic background and participation information while supporting applications to individual Sites. Specifically, PIs choose whether they will be running a competitive application process for their Site (for example, an REU Site award recruiting participants nationally) or noncompetitive application (for example, an REU Supplement award that invites its participants). Data collected from applicants will therefore depend on the type of application process for their Sites of interest. The system will include the following: • Common registration form. All applicants will need to register to apply and participate in an NSF-funded opportunity participating in the pilot. Individuals who are participating in awards that do not have a competitive application process will only need to complete a profile with basic demographic and contact information and provide other information not captured in the profile but that is Undergraduates (REU) Sites Program.’’ Final report Washington, DC: STPI, 2016. E:\FR\FM\01JYN1.SGM 01JYN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 124 / Thursday, July 1, 2021 / Notices required for program monitoring and evaluation purposes, such as students’ current enrollment or class standing (if applicable). • Additional application requirements. Individuals wishing to apply for awards that run competitive applications will be able to use the ETAP to apply to multiple NSF awards through a fully operational electronic application. They will first complete the common registration form (described above), which collects basic demographic and contact information needed for analysis and tracking purposes. Next, they will proceed to the application form, through which they will submit additional information that competitive Sites require as part of their applications, such as resume, transcripts, and contact information for their references. PIs and other authorized staff will use the system to provide information needed by prospective applicants (such as the application deadline), retrieve applicant information, record application decisions and participation status among admitted applicants, and produce reports of data submitted by applicants to their Sites. 2. Gathering program experiences and satisfaction. After participating in the NSF program, participants will be administered an exit survey to capture program experiences and participants’ attitudes and opinions. 3. Obtaining and integrating educational and employment information. Following a sample of students who had used the predecessor system (REU data system) to apply to the NSF award, this study will do the following: • Obtain information on educational outcomes from administrative data (National Student Clearinghouse) that NSF can purchase at low cost to the government and no burden to students • Administer a short survey to obtain information on employment outcomes • Obtain information on research productivity outcomes (such as publications or patents) from Web of Science, Scopus, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. (NSF already subscribes to these administrative databases, so they are accessible through NSF systems.) 4. Conducting usability testing and gathering user feedback. This testing will focus on new system enhancements or functionality and seeks to obtain indepth feedback from users on the common registration form, additional application requirements, and data reports available. Estimate of Burden: At present, most education and training opportunities VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:45 Jun 30, 2021 Jkt 253001 funded by NSF use applications that are submitted directly to each Site, if such applications are required as is the case with the REU Sites program. Sites might run competitive and noncompetitive applications to select their program participants. We estimate that individuals applying for noncompetitive Sites will spend 3.25 hours submitting information through the ETAP system; for competitive Sites, this estimate is 7 hours. We estimate that individuals writing letters of reference for students will spend 0.5 hours drafting a letter in support of a student’s application to a competitive Site. We estimate that PIs (or their designated users) will spend 4.7 hours using the system to track and manage applications to their Site. Respondents: Individuals. Estimated Number of Respondents: 66,499. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 146,710 hours. Frequency of Responses: Three rounds of data collection. Dated: June 28, 2021. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation. [FR Doc. 2021–14108 Filed 6–30–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P POSTAL SERVICE Product Change—Priority Mail and First-Class Package Service Negotiated Service Agreement AGENCY: ACTION: Sean Robinson, Attorney, Corporate and Postal Business Law. [FR Doc. 2021–14022 Filed 6–30–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7710–12–P POSTAL SERVICE Product Change—Priority Mail Negotiated Service Agreement Postal ServiceTM. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Postal Service gives notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add a domestic shipping services contract to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule’s Competitive Products List. DATES: Date of required notice: July 1, 2021. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Robinson, 202–268–8405. The United States Postal Service® hereby gives notice that, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3632(b)(3), on June 16, 2021, it filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission a USPS Request to Add Priority Mail Contract 707 to Competitive Product List. Documents are available at www.prc.gov, Docket Nos. MC2021–103, CP2021–106. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sean Robinson, Attorney, Corporate and Postal Business Law. [FR Doc. 2021–14023 Filed 6–30–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7710–12–P POSTAL SERVICE Notice. The Postal Service gives notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add a domestic shipping services contract to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule’s Competitive Products List. Date of required notice: July 1, 2021. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Robinson, 202–268–8405. The United States Postal Service® hereby gives notice that, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3632(b)(3), on June 14, 2021, it filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission a USPS Request to Add Priority Mail & First-Class Package Service Contract 196 to Competitive Product List. Documents are available at SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 www.prc.gov, Docket Nos. MC2021–102, CP2021–105. Postal ServiceTM. SUMMARY: DATES: 35141 Frm 00083 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Product Change—Priority Mail Negotiated Service Agreement Postal ServiceTM. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Postal Service gives notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add a domestic shipping services contract to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule’s Competitive Products List. DATES: Date of required notice: July 1, 2021. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Robinson, 202–268–8405. The United States Postal Service® hereby gives notice that, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3632(b)(3), on June 25, 2021, it filed with the Postal Regulatory SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\01JYN1.SGM 01JYN1

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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 124 (Thursday, July 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35140-35141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14108]



[[Page 35140]]

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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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. This is the second 
notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal 
Register and one comment was 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.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAmain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, 
Alexandria, VA 22314, 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). Comments regarding this information collection 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:

Summary of Comments on the National Science Foundation Proposal and 
Award Policies and Procedures Guide and NSF's Responses

    NSF received one comment in response to the First Federal Register 
notice published on April 1, 2021, at 86 FR 17207. The comment and 
summary responses are included in the supporting statement for the 
information collection request.
    Title of Collection: National Science Foundation's Education and 
Training Application Pilot.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0248.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to extend with revision an 
information collection for three years.
    The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to develop and pilot 
test an electronic data collection system that supports applications to 
education and training opportunities funded by NSF and allows tracking 
of participants' program experiences and career outcomes over time. The 
pilot aims to provide NSF with information to inform decisions in 
developing an effective and low-burden approach to collect data needed 
to monitor programs, report to NSF leadership, and comply with 
congressional requirements.
    The main goal of the current project is to build upon a system 
originally developed for the NSF Research Experiences for 
Undergraduates (REU) program. The work involves revising and enhancing 
the system based on the lessons from the initial REU pilot and 
conducting further testing to prepare it for adoption for the REU 
program and other education and training programs at NSF. The original 
REU data system was designed to collect data required by Congress in 
the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, which states that 
students in the REU program must ``be tracked, for employment and 
continued matriculation in STEM fields, through receipt of the 
undergraduate degree and for at least three years thereafter'' (Section 
514[a][6] of Pub. L. 111-358). A study conducted by the Science and 
Technology Policy Institute determined the need for NSF to create new 
data collection because ``the status quo of [REU] participants 
providing demographic information to NSF's Research Performance Report 
System, coupled with voluntary tracking of participants' career choices 
by the REU [principal investigators], was clearly insufficient to meet 
the [congressional] mandate'' \i\. To respond to the America COMPETES 
mandate, NSF commissioned a data system for the REU program. The 
current project is the evolution of this early test that originated 
with the REU program to leverage the system and scale its pilot test to 
include other NSF programs that similarly invest in human capital 
development. The new system--The Education and Training Application 
(ETAP)--supports NSF's learning agenda and is in alignment with the 
Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-
435), which requires NSF to collect, use, or acquire data to support 
decision making.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \i\ Zuckerman, B.J. Doyle, A. Mudd, T. Jones, and G. Davis. 
``Assessment of the Feasibility of Tracking Participants from the 
National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergraduates 
(REU) Sites Program.'' Final report Washington, DC: STPI, 2016.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to developing and enhancing the system, the present 
study will pilot test collecting data from a sample of Sites that 
volunteer to participate. (A Site is an instance of an NSF award 
offering an education and training opportunity at a given point in 
time.) By participating in this study, principal investigators (PIs) 
from these Sites will experience the data collections firsthand and 
provide feedback to help NSF improve the system before expanding its 
use. For example, PIs will have an opportunity to determine whether the 
system facilitates managing applications more efficiently than the 
usual process, comment on whether the system is user friendly, assess 
the usefulness of data reports the system produces, and suggest 
enhancements to the system.
    Four key activities define the pilot:
    1. Testing a web-based approach to obtain basic background and 
participation information while supporting applications to individual 
Sites. Specifically, PIs choose whether they will be running a 
competitive application process for their Site (for example, an REU 
Site award recruiting participants nationally) or noncompetitive 
application (for example, an REU Supplement award that invites its 
participants). Data collected from applicants will therefore depend on 
the type of application process for their Sites of interest. The system 
will include the following:
     Common registration form. All applicants will need to 
register to apply and participate in an NSF-funded opportunity 
participating in the pilot. Individuals who are participating in awards 
that do not have a competitive application process will only need to 
complete a profile with basic demographic and contact information and 
provide other information not captured in the profile but that is

[[Page 35141]]

required for program monitoring and evaluation purposes, such as 
students' current enrollment or class standing (if applicable).
     Additional application requirements. Individuals wishing 
to apply for awards that run competitive applications will be able to 
use the ETAP to apply to multiple NSF awards through a fully 
operational electronic application. They will first complete the common 
registration form (described above), which collects basic demographic 
and contact information needed for analysis and tracking purposes. 
Next, they will proceed to the application form, through which they 
will submit additional information that competitive Sites require as 
part of their applications, such as resume, transcripts, and contact 
information for their references. PIs and other authorized staff will 
use the system to provide information needed by prospective applicants 
(such as the application deadline), retrieve applicant information, 
record application decisions and participation status among admitted 
applicants, and produce reports of data submitted by applicants to 
their Sites.
    2. Gathering program experiences and satisfaction. After 
participating in the NSF program, participants will be administered an 
exit survey to capture program experiences and participants' attitudes 
and opinions.
    3. Obtaining and integrating educational and employment 
information. Following a sample of students who had used the 
predecessor system (REU data system) to apply to the NSF award, this 
study will do the following:
     Obtain information on educational outcomes from 
administrative data (National Student Clearinghouse) that NSF can 
purchase at low cost to the government and no burden to students
     Administer a short survey to obtain information on 
employment outcomes
     Obtain information on research productivity outcomes (such 
as publications or patents) from Web of Science, Scopus, and the United 
States Patent and Trademark Office. (NSF already subscribes to these 
administrative databases, so they are accessible through NSF systems.)
    4. Conducting usability testing and gathering user feedback. This 
testing will focus on new system enhancements or functionality and 
seeks to obtain in-depth feedback from users on the common registration 
form, additional application requirements, and data reports available.
    Estimate of Burden: At present, most education and training 
opportunities funded by NSF use applications that are submitted 
directly to each Site, if such applications are required as is the case 
with the REU Sites program. Sites might run competitive and 
noncompetitive applications to select their program participants. We 
estimate that individuals applying for noncompetitive Sites will spend 
3.25 hours submitting information through the ETAP system; for 
competitive Sites, this estimate is 7 hours. We estimate that 
individuals writing letters of reference for students will spend 0.5 
hours drafting a letter in support of a student's application to a 
competitive Site. We estimate that PIs (or their designated users) will 
spend 4.7 hours using the system to track and manage applications to 
their Site.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 66,499.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 146,710 hours.
    Frequency of Responses: Three rounds of data collection.

    Dated: June 28, 2021.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2021-14108 Filed 6-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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