[Federal Register: April 6, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 66)]
[Notices]
[Page 18142]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06ap04-144]
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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 69 FR 2732, and no comments were received.
NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of
management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the
publication of this second notice. 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 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail
to splimpto@nsf.gov. 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.
Title: National Science Foundation Grant Proposal Guide.
OMB Control Number: 3145-0058.
Proposed Project: The National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (Pub.
L. 81-507) set forth NSF's mission and purpose.
``To promote the progress of science; to advance the national
health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense. * *
*''
The Act authorized and directed NSF to initiate and support:
Basic scientific research and research
fundamental to the engineering process;
Programs to strengthen scientific and
engineering research potential;
Science and engineering education programs at
all levels and in all the various fields of science and engineering;
Programs that provide a source of information
for policy formulations; and
Other activities to promote these ends.
Over the years, NSF's statutory authority has been modified in a
number of significant ways. In 1968, authority to support applied
research was added to the Organic Act. In 1980, The Science and
Engineering Equal Opportunities Act gave NSF standing authority to
support activities to improve the participation of women and minorities
in science and engineering.
Another major change occurred in 1986, when engineering was
accorded equal status with science in the Organic Act. NSF has always
dedicated itself to providing the leadership and vision needed to keep
the words and ideas embedded in its mission statement fresh and up-to-
date. Even in today's rapidly changing environment, NSF's core purpose
resonates clearly in everything it does: promoting achievement and
progress in science and engineering and enhancing the potential for
research and education to contribute to the Nation. While NSF's vision
of the future and the mechanisms it uses to carry out its charges have
evolved significantly over the last four decades, its ultimate mission
remains the same.
Use of the Information: The regular submission of proposals to the
Foundation is part of the collection of information and is used to help
NSF fulfilled this responsibility by initiating and supporting merit-
selected research and education projects in all the scientific and
engineering disciplines. NSF receives more than 40,000 proposals
annually for new projects, and makes approximately 10,500 new awards.
Support is made primarily through grants, contracts, and other
agreements awarded to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, academic
consortia, nonprofit institutions, and small businesses. The awards are
based mainly on evaluations of proposal merit submitted to the
Foundation (proposal review is cleared under OMB control No. 3145-
0060).
The Foundation has a continuing commitment to monitor the
operations of its information collection to identify and address
excessive reporting burdens as well as to identify any real or apparent
inequities based on gender, race, ethnicity, or disability of the
proposed principal investigator(s)/project director(s) or the co-
principal investigator(s)/co-project director(s).
Burden on the Public: The Foundation estimates that an average of
120 hours is expended for each proposal submitted. An estimated 40,000
proposals are expected during the course of one year for a total of
4,800,000 public burden hours annually.
Dated: March 31, 2004.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 04-7758 Filed 4-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M