Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request, 67675-67676 [2024-18653]

Agencies

• NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 21, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67675-67676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18653]


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

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.
    Comments: Comments regarding (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the NSF, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the NSF's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
use, and clarity of the information on respondents; and (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 the points 
of contact in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. The first 
request for public comment was published on December 21, 2023, at 88 FR 
88419.
    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.
    Title of Collection: NSF's Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES 
Initiative National Network Survey.
    OMB Number: 3145-0256.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew with change an 
information collection.
    Abstract: NSF's Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES Initiative (the 
INCLUDES Initiative) is a comprehensive national effort to enhance U.S. 
leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) 
discoveries and innovations by catalyzing the STEM enterprise for 
inclusive change, resulting in a STEM workforce that reflects the 
diverse population of the Nation. The INCLUDES Initiative aligns with 
NSF's commitment to equity, inclusion, and broadening participation in 
the STEM fields and NSF's strategic objectives communicated in the NSF 
Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2022-2026 (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2022/nsf22068/nsf22068.pdf).
    The INCLUDES initiative is supported by NSF's Eddie Bernice Johnson 
INCLUDES Coordination Hub (INCLUDES Coordination Hub; 
www.includesnetwork.org), an NSF-supported project that provides 
focused capacity building supports around data and information 
gathering; learning, community building and engagement; and 
storytelling, and communications to NSF's Eddie Bernice Johnson 
INCLUDES National Network (INCLUDES National Network).
    NSF is requesting OMB approval for the INCLUDES Coordination Hub to

[[Page 67676]]

collect information from members of the INCLUDES National Network.
    Why you are collecting it: The INCLUDES Coordination Hub seeks to 
collect data from INCLUDES National Network members to: (1) shape 
INCLUDES Coordination Hub's activities (e.g., to identify support needs 
in the coming year; to inform Shared Measures and Network 
communication, engagement, learning, and community building, and 
expansion goals); (2) assess the development and progress of the 
INCLUDES National Network; and (3) inform the INCLUDES Coordination 
Hub's assessment of progress toward its theory of change.
    What information is being collected: The collected information will 
include information on how and why respondents engage with the Network, 
each respondent's perspectives on desired outcomes and ways in which 
the INCLUDES National Network is informing and supporting their efforts 
to change systems to broaden participation in STEM, in addition to full 
name, affiliated organizations, email addresses, and home states. 
Personally identifiable information (PII) is collected primarily to 
categorize responses based on respondents' roles in the INCLUDES 
National Network. PII will be accessed only by the INCLUDES 
Coordination Hub. Any public data reporting will be in aggregate form, 
and any personal identifiers will be removed.
    Respondents: All members of the INCLUDES National Network will be 
invited to respond to the survey. The INCLUDES National Network is 
comprised of individuals who are interested in or working directly to 
broaden participation in STEM. Some of these individuals are INCLUDES 
grantees; others have received NSF awards outside of INCLUDES or pursue 
broadening participation in STEM with support from other sources, 
including grants from federal, state, philanthropic, or business 
entities. Some are representatives of these various types of funders or 
businesses, such as program officers at NSF, other federal agencies, 
and private foundations, as well as interested individuals unaffiliated 
with particular grant programs.
    Estimated number of respondents: 840 (representing a 21% response 
rate).
    Use of the Information: The information collected is primarily for 
the use of the INCLUDES Coordination Hub to track the health, 
development, expansion, and diversification of the Network, understand 
the utility of the INCLUDES Coordination Hub in supporting Network 
members' success, and for informing design decisions the INCLUDES 
Coordination Hub will make regarding future programming and support 
provided to National Network members.
    Estimate burden on the public: Estimated at 280 hours, per year, 
for the duration of the Coordination Hub's cooperative agreement with 
NSF. It is beneficial for NSF and the Coordination Hub to have access 
to this information annually to track progress toward the INCLUDES 
Initiative's goals of supporting constituencies in identifying shared 
goals and objectives and understanding National Network members' 
impact.
    Average Time per Reporting: The online survey is comprised 
primarily of closed-ended questions and is designed to be completed by 
respondents in approximately 25 minutes.
    Frequency: Once per year for the duration of the INCLUDES 
Coordination Hub's cooperative agreement with NSF.
    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 of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; 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.
    Please submit one copy of your comments by only one method. All 
submissions received must include the agency name and collection name 
identified above for this information collection. Commenters are 
strongly encouraged to transmit their comments electronically via 
email. Comments, including any personal information provided become a 
matter of public record. They will be summarized and/or included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information 
collection request.

    Dated: August 15, 2024.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2024-18653 Filed 8-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P