[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 179 (Monday, September 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56942-56944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22442]
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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 78 FR 40517, and one comment was received.
NSF is forwarding the proposed submission to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously
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with the publication of this second notice. The full submission
(including comments) may be found at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Comments: 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 [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).
DATES: 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:
Comments: As required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), comments on the
information collection activities as part of this study were solicited
through publication of a 60-Day Notice in the Federal Register on July
5, 2013, at 78 FR 40517. We received one comment, to which we here
respond.
Commenter: The Center for Equal Opportunity provided the following
comment:
We are not sure to what extent (or why) race and ethnicity will
play a role in this program, but the references to ``minority-serving''
institutions, ``diversity,'' and ``underrepresented'' groups prompt us
to ask that it play as little a role as possible under whatever
statutes are applicable. As you know, it is generally illegal for the
government to show favoritism or even use classifications based on race
or ethnicity. See Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena, 515 U.S. 200, 227
(1995) (``all racial classifications . . . must be analyzed by a
reviewing court under strict scrutiny''). See also Title VI of the 1964
Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 2000d (prohibiting discrimination on the
basis of race, color, and national origin in federally funded
programs). Indeed, such classifications and favoritism are
``presumptively invalid'' (see Personnel Administrator v. Feeney, 442
U.S. 256 (1979)).
Response: NSF has standing authority to support activities to
improve the participation of women and minorities in science and
engineering under the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act
(Pub. L. 96-516), and authority to collect data on those issues.
The MRSEC program treats those issues in a Centers appropriate
manner. The MRSEC program originates from the transfer of the
Interdisciplinary Laboratories (IDLs) created by the Advanced Research
Projects Agency in the 1960s. These were transferred to NSF in 1972,
and with modifications, evolved into the current MRSEC program, which
began in 1994. Under the requirement of all NSF proposals to address
``Broader impacts'' and authority of Public Law 96-516, information on
diversity in the program, after the award has been made, has been
collected since the inception of the program. As noted in a 2007
National Academies study, ``NSF does not require that specific
activities or audiences be targeted by the MRSEC, with the exception of
the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, and a general
dictum to broaden participation by underrepresented groups in the STEM
field.''
This data collection described in the Federal Register notice is
within the scope of NSF's authorization on such collection, and is only
about collecting data on activities that exist after an award is made,
so there is no favoritism as suggested by the comment.
After consideration of this comment, we are moving forward with our
submission to OMB.
Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for Materials
Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs).
OMB Number: 3145-NEW.
Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an
information collection.
Overview of this Information Collection: The Materials Research
Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs) Program supports innovation in
interdisciplinary research, education, and knowledge transfer. MRSECs
build intellectual and physical infrastructure within and between
disciplines, weaving together knowledge creation, knowledge
integration, and knowledge transfer. MRSECs 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.
MRSECs 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.
MRSECs capitalize on diversity through participation in center
activities and demonstrate leadership in the involvement of groups
underrepresented in science and engineering.
MRSECs 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, MRSECs will be required to develop a set of
management and performance indicators for submission annually to NSF
via the Research Performance Project Reporting module in Research.gov
and an external technical assistance contractor that collects
programmatic data electronically. 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 MRSEC effort. Such reporting
requirements will be included in the cooperative agreement that is
binding between the academic institution and the NSF.
Each Center's annual report will address the following categories
of
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activities: (1) Research, (2) education, (3) knowledge transfer, (4)
partnerships, (5) shared experimental facilities, (6) diversity, (7)
management, and (8) 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.
MRSECs are required to file a final report through the RPPR and
external technical assistance contractor. Final reports contain similar
information and metrics as annual reports, but are retrospective.
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: 185 hours per center for 223 centers for a
total of 4,070 hours.
Respondents: Non-profit institutions.
Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One from each of the 22
MRSECs.
Dated: September 11, 2013.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2013-22442 Filed 9-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P