[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 20688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08089]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Extend a Current Information
Collection
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to
request renewal of this collection. In accordance with the requirement
of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.
L. 104-13), we are providing opportunity for public comment on this
action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will
prepare the submission requesting that OMB approve clearance of this
collection for three years.
Comments: Written comments are invited on (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, 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.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by June 7, 2016
to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will
be considered to the extent practicable.
For Additional Information or Comments: Contact Suzanne H.
Plimpton, Reports Clearance 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 between 8:00 a.m.
and 8:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title of Collection: Higher Education Research and Development
Survey
OMB Approval Number: 3145-0100.
Expiration Date of Current Approval: September 30, 2016.
Type of Request: Intent to Extend a Current Information Collection.
Abstract: The Higher Education Research and Development (R&D)
Survey (formerly known as the Survey of R&D Expenditures at
Universities and Colleges) originated in fiscal year (FY) 1954 and has
been conducted annually since FY 1972. The survey represents one facet
of the higher education component of the NSF's National Center for
Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) statistical program
authorized by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 Sec.
505, codified in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (NSF Act),
as amended, at 42 U.S.C. 1862. Under paragraph ``b'', NCSES is directed
to
``(1) collect, acquire, analyze, report, and disseminate
statistical data related to the science and engineering enterprise in
the U.S. and other nations that is relevant and useful to
practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and the public, including
statistical data on
(A) research and development trends;
(B) the science and engineering workforce;
(C) U.S. competitiveness in science, engineering, technology, and
research and development . . .''
Use of the Information: The proposed project will continue the
annual survey cycle for three years. The Higher Education R&D Survey
will provide continuity of statistics on R&D expenditures by source of
funding, type of R&D (basic research, applied research, or
development), and field of research, with separate data requested on
research equipment by field. Further breakdowns are collected on funds
passed through to subrecipients and funds received as a subrecipient,
and on R&D expenditures by field from specific federal agency sources.
As of FY 2010, the survey also requests total R&D expenditures funded
from foreign sources, R&D within an institution's medical school,
clinical trial expenditures, R&D by type of funding mechanism
(contracts vs. grants), and R&D by cost category (salaries, equipment,
software, etc.). The survey also requests headcounts of principal
investigators and other personnel paid from R&D funds.
Data are published in NSF's annual publication series Higher
Education Research and Development, available on the web at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvyherd/.
Expected respondents: The FY 2016 Higher Education R&D Survey will
be administered to an expected minimum of 600 institutions. In
addition, a shorter version of the survey asking for R&D expenditures
by source of funding and broad field will be sent to approximately 300
institutions spending under $1 million on R&D in their previous fiscal
year. Finally, a survey requesting R&D expenditures by source of funds,
cost categories, and type of R&D will be administered to the 42
Federally Funded Research and Development Centers.
Estimate of burden: The survey is a fully automated web data
collection effort and is handled primarily by administrators in
university sponsored programs and accounting offices. To minimize
burden, institutions are provided with an abundance of guidance and
resources on the web, and are able to respond via downloadable
spreadsheet if desired. Each institution's record is pre-loaded with
the 2 previous years of comparable data that facilitate editing and
trend checking. Response to this voluntary survey has exceeded 95
percent each year.
The average burden estimate is 54 hours for the approximately 650
institutions reporting over $1 million in R&D expenditures, 8 hours for
the approximately 280 institutions reporting less than $1 million, and
11 hours for the 42 organizations completing the FFRDC survey. The
total calculated burden across all forms is 37,802 hours.
Dated: April 5, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2016-08089 Filed 4-7-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P