[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 80687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27505]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Research Performance Progress Report

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Effective with the publication of this Notice in the Federal 
Register, agencies will be able to utilize the updated standardized 
Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) format for both interim and 
final progress reporting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To view the updated Standardized 
Research Performance Progress Report Format to be used for both Interim 
and Final Performance Progress Reporting, see: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/rppr/index.jsp. For information on the RPPR, contact Jean 
Feldman, Head, Policy Office, Division of Institution & Award Support, 
National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 22230, 
email: [email protected]; telephone (703) 292-8243; FAX: (703) 292-9171.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Research Performance Progress Report 
(RPPR) directly benefits award recipients by making it easier for them 
to administer Federal grant and cooperative agreement programs through 
standardization of the types of information required in performance 
reports--thereby reducing their administrative effort and costs. The 
RPPR also will make it easier to compare the outputs, outcomes, etc. of 
research and research-related programs across the government.
    The RPPR resulted from an initiative of the Research Business 
Models (RBM), an Interagency Working Group of the Social, Behavioral & 
Economic Research Subcommittee of the Committee on Science (CoS), a 
committee of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). One of 
the RBM Subcommittee's priority areas is to create greater consistency 
in the administration of Federal research awards. Given the increasing 
complexity of interdisciplinary and interagency research, it is 
important for Federal agencies to manage awards in a similar fashion. 
The RPPR is to be used by agencies that support research and research-
related activities for use in submission of progress reports. It is 
intended to replace other performance reporting formats currently in 
use by agencies. The RPPR does not change the performance reporting 
requirements specified in 2 CFR part 200.
    On July 23, 2015 the National Science Foundation (NSF) submitted a 
request for public comment on an Updated Standardized Research 
Performance Progress Report Format to be used for Both Interim and 
Final Performance Progress Reporting in the Federal Register [80 FR 
43802, July 23, 2015]. All comments were carefully considered in 
developing the final version of the RPPR. A table listing the comments 
and responses is posted on the NSF Web site at: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/rppr/index.jsp. It should be noted that substantive changes 
were not made to the RPPR as a result of the comment process.
    On behalf of the RBM, NSF has agreed to continue to serve as the 
sponsor of the updated version of this Federal-wide performance 
progress reporting format. The final version of the updated 
Standardized Research Performance Progress Report Format to be used for 
both Interim and Final Performance Progress Reporting incorporates the 
public comments mentioned above, and may be viewed at: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/rppr/index.jsp. Each Federal research 
agency that supports research and research-related activities must post 
their policy or an implementation plan on the NSF and RBM Web sites 
within nine months after issuance of the Federal Register Notice. Each 
implementation plan will address whether the agency plans to implement 
the RPPR in paper or electronic format, and include an anticipated 
implementation date.

    Dated: November 10, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2016-27505 Filed 11-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P