[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 16831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06211]
[[Page 16831]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. chapter 35).
Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
Title: Survey of State Government Research & Development
OMB Control Number: 0607-0933.
Form Number(s): State Coordinator Web Form, State Agency Web Form.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Burden Hours: 542.
Number of Respondents: 552.
Average Hours Per Response: State Coordinators--4 hours; State
Agencies--1 hour and 45 minutes.
Needs and Uses: The Census Bureau is requesting a three year
extension of the collection of state government research and
development (R&D) expenditures conducted by the Census Bureau on behalf
of the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF Act of 1950 includes
a statutory charge to ``provide a central clearinghouse for the
collection, interpretation, and analysis of data on scientific and
engineering resources and to provide a source of information for policy
formulation by other agencies in the Federal Government.'' Under the
aegis of this legislative mandate, NSF and its predecessors have
sponsored surveys of R&D since 1953, including since 2006 the State
Government R&D Survey. This survey has helped to expand the scope of
R&D collections to include state governments, where previously there
had been no established collection efforts.
NSF sponsors surveys of R&D activities of Federal agencies, higher
education institutions, and private industries. The data collected from
this survey instrument fills the void that previously existed for
collection of R&D activities at the state government department or
agency level. The results of these surveys provide a consistent
information base for government officials, industry professionals, and
researchers to use in formulating public policy and planning in science
and technology. These surveys allow for the analysis of current and
historical trends in research and development in the U.S., as well as,
comparisons with other countries.
The Census Bureau, serving as collection agent, employs a
methodology similar to the one used to collect information from state
and local governments on established censuses and surveys. This
methodology involves identifying a central coordinator in each state
who will assist Census Bureau staff in identifying appropriate state
departments/agencies to survey. These state contacts also verify data
responses and assist with nonresponse follow-up. The collection
approach using a central state contact is used successfully at the
Census Bureau in surveys of local school districts, municipal and
county governments, and state government finances.
Items on the survey form include R&D expenditures according to the
source of funding, by performer of the work (i.e., internal and
external to state agencies), by type (e.g., agriculture, energy,
health, transportation, etc.), by character of work (i.e., basic
research, applied research, or developmental), and by R&D plant (e.g.,
construction projects). Final results produced by NSF contain state and
national estimates and are useful to a variety of data users interested
in research and development performance including: The National Science
Board; the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); the White House
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and other science policy
makers; institutional researchers; and private organizations.
Legislators, policy officials, and researchers rely on statistics
to make informed decisions about R&D investment at the Federal, state,
and local level. These statistics are derived from the existing NSF
sponsored surveys of Federal agencies, higher education institutions,
and private industry. The total picture of R&D expenditures, however,
had been incomplete due to the lack of relevant and timely data from
state governments prior to this survey collection, which now fills that
void.
State government officials and policy makers garner the most
benefit from the results of this survey. Governors and legislatures
need a reliable, comprehensive source of data to help in evaluating how
best to attract the high-tech, R&D industries to their state. Officials
are able to evaluate their investment in R&D based on comparisons with
other states. These comparisons include the sources of funding, the
type of R&D being conducted, and the actual performer of the work.
The information collected from the State Government R&D Survey is
used at the Federal level to assess and direct investment in technology
and economic issues. Congressional committees and the Congressional
Research Service use results of the R&D surveys extensively. Inquiries
made to NSF by congressional staff concerning industry and academic
data are well documented. In addition, officials from several Federal
agencies make use of the data.
NSF also uses data from this survey in various publications
produced about the state of R&D in the U.S. The Science and Engineering
Indicators series, for example, is a biennial report mandated by
Congress and describes quantitatively the condition of the country's
R&D efforts. Results are also likely to be included in the National
Patterns of Research and Development Resources tabulations and in the
Science and Engineering Indicators report.
The availability of state R&D data on the Internet makes this
survey visible to several other users, as well. Media, university
researchers, nonprofit organizations, and foreign government officials
are also consumers of state R&D statistics. All users are able to
utilize this information in an attempt to better understand the
nation's R&D resources.
Affected Public: State, local or Tribal Government.
Frequency: Biennially.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Section 8(b).
OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained
by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance
Officer, (202) 482-0336, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at
[email protected]).
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice
to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245)
or email ([email protected]).
Dated: March 13, 2013.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-06211 Filed 3-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P