[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1670-1671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00272]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Renew an Information
Collection
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation
(NSF) is inviting the general public or other Federal agencies to
comment on this proposed continuing information collection. NSF will
publish periodic summaries of the proposed projects.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by March 16,
2015, to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address
below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
[[Page 1671]]
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite
1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 292-7556; 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).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the Foundation, including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Foundation's estimate
of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of
automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for the
Engineering Research Centers (ERCs).
OMB Number: 3145-0220.
Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2015.
Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information
collection.
Abstract:
Proposed Project: The Engineering Research Centers (ERC) program
supports an integrated, interdisciplinary research environment to
advance fundamental engineering knowledge and engineered systems;
educate a globally competitive and diverse engineering workforce from
K-12 on; and join academe and industry in partnership to achieve these
goals. ERCs 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.
ERCs conduct world-class research with an engineered systems
perspective that integrates materials, devices, processes, components,
control algorithms and/or other enabling elements to perform a well-
defined function. These systems provide a unique academic research and
education experience that involves integrative complexity and
technological realization. The complexity of the systems perspective
includes the factors associated with its use in industry, society/
environment, or the human body.
ERCs enable and foster excellent education, integrate research and
education, speed knowledge/technology transfer through partnerships
between academe and industry, and prepare a more competitive future
workforce. ERCs capitalize on diversity through participation in center
activities and demonstrate leadership in the involvement of groups
underrepresented in science and engineering.
Centers are 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, ERCs also are required to submit management
and performance indicators annually to NSF via a data collection Web
site that is managed by a technical assistance contractor. These
indicators are both quantitative and descriptive and may include, for
example, the characteristics of center personnel and students; sources
of cash 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 ERC effort. Such reporting
requirements will be included in the cooperative agreement which is
binding between the academic institution and the NSF.
Each Center's annual report will address the following categories
of activities: (1) Vision and impact, (2) strategic plan, (3) research
program, (4) innovation ecosystem and industrial collaboration, (5)
education, (6) infrastructure (leadership, management, facilities,
diversity) and (7) budget issues.
For each of the categories the report will describe overall
objectives for the year, progress toward center goals, problems the
Center has encountered in making progress towards goals and how they
were overcome, plans for the future and anticipated research and other
barriers to overcome in the following year, and specific outputs and
outcomes.
Use of the Information: The data collected will be used for NSF
internal reports, historical data, performance review by peer site
visit teams, program level studies and evaluations, and for securing
future funding for continued ERC program maintenance and growth.
Estimate of Burden: 150 hours per center for 17 centers for a total
of 2,550 hours.
Respondents: Academic institutions.
Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One from each of the 17
ERCs.
Dated: January 7, 2015.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2015-00272 Filed 1-12-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P