[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 121 (Tuesday, June 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37695-37696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13460]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request;
Grantee Reporting Requirements for National User Facilities Managed by
the NSF Division of Materials Research
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
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).
Copies of the submission may be obtained by calling 703-292-7556.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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: Evaluation of the Sustainability and Diffusion
of the NSF ADVANCE Program.
OMB Number: 3145-0234.
Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an
information collection.
Proposed Project:
The NSF Division of Materials Research (DMR) supports a number of
National User Facilities that provide specialized capabilities and
instrumentation to the scientific community on a competitive proposal
basis. In addition to the user program, these facilities support in-
house research, development of new instrumentation or techniques,
education, and knowledge transfer.
The facilities integrate research and education for students and
post-docs involved in experiments, and support extensive K-12 outreach
to foster an interest in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM) and STEM careers. Facilities capitalize on diversity through
participation in center activities and demonstrate leadership in the
involvement of groups underrepresented in science and engineering.
National User Facilities 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. User facilities
will be required to develop a set of management and performance
indicators for submission annually to NSF via the Research Performance
Project Reporting (RPPR) module in Research.gov. These indicators are
both quantitative and descriptive and may include, for example, lists
of successful proposal and users, the characteristics of facility
personnel and students; sources of financial support and in-kind
support; expenditures by operational component; research activities;
education activities; knowledge transfer activities; patents, licenses;
publications; degrees granted to students supported through the
facility or users of the facility; descriptions of significant advances
and other outcomes of this investment. Such reporting requirements are
included in the cooperative agreement which is binding between the
academic institution and the NSF.
Each facility's annual report will address the following categories
of activities: (1) Research, (2) education and training, (3) knowledge
transfer, (4) partnerships, (5) diversity, (6) management, and (7)
budget issues.
For each of the categories the report will describe overall
objectives and metrics for the reporting period, challenges or problems
the facility has encountered in making progress towards goals,
anticipated problems in the following year, and specific outputs and
outcomes.
Facilities are required to file a final report through the RPPR.
Final reports contain similar information and metrics
[[Page 37696]]
as annual reports, but are retrospective and focus on the period that
was not addressed in previous annual reports.
Use of the Information: NSF will use the information to continue
funding of the DMR National User Facilities, and to evaluate the
progress of the program.
Estimate of Burden: 790 hours per facility for three National User
Facilities for a total of 2,370 hours.
Respondents: Non-profit institutions.
Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One (1) from each of the
DMR user facilities.
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 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.
Dated: June 18, 2020.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2020-13460 Filed 6-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P