[Federal Register: January 9, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 6)]
[Notices]
[Page 964-965]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09ja09-66]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Notice of Intent to Seek Approval To Extend and Revise 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.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by March 10,
2009 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 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 292-
7556; or send e-mail to splimpto@nsf.gov. 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 a.m. and 8
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday. You also may obtain a copy
of the data collection instrument and instructions from Ms. Plimpton.
Comments: Comments are invited on (a) Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency'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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title of Collection: Survey of Research and
Development Expenditures at Universities and Colleges; OMB Control
Number 3145-0100.
Expiration Date of Current Approval: May 31, 2009.
Proposed Renewal Project: Separately budgeted current fund
expenditures on research and development in the sciences and
engineering performed by universities and colleges and federally funded
research and development centers--A web survey, the Survey of Research
and Development Expenditures at Universities and Colleges, originated
in fiscal year (FY) 1954 and has been conducted annually since FY 1972.
The survey is the academic research and development expenditure
component of the NSF statistical program that seeks to provide a
``central clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and
analysis of data on the availability of, and the current and projected
need for, scientific and technical resources in the United States, and
to provide a source of information for policy formulation by other
agencies of the Federal government,'' as mandated in the National
Science Foundation Act of 1950.
Use of the Information: The proposed project will continue the
annual survey cycle for up to three years. The Academic R&D Survey will
be a census of the full population-for FY 2009 an expected 751
institutions (713 universities or colleges plus 38 federally funded
research and development centers--FFRDCs). These institutions account
for over 95 percent of the Nation's academic R&D funds. NSF will also
conduct a pretest of a revised and expanded version of the survey for
planned implementation in FY 2010 with a subset of 40 universities or
colleges.
The survey has provided continuity of statistics on R&D
expenditures by source of funds and by science & engineering (S&E)
field, with separate data requested on current fund expenditures for
research equipment by S&E field. Further breakdowns are collected on
passed through funds to subrecipients and received as a subrecipient,
and on R&D expenditures by field of science and engineering from
specific Federal Government agency sources. Information on R&D for non-
S&E fields is also requested. Data are published in NSF's annual
publication series Academic R&D Expenditures and are available
electronically on the World Wide Web.
The survey is a fully automated web data collection effort and is
handled primarily by the administrators in university budget and
accounting offices. To minimize burden, institutions are provided with
an abundance of guidance and help menus on the web, in addition to
printing and responding via paper copy if necessary. Each record is
pre-loaded with the institution's 2 previous years data and a complete
program for editing and trend checking. Response to this voluntary
survey in FY 2007 was 96.9 percent.
Burden estimates \1\
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Doctorate- Masters- Bachelors
Total number granting granting degree FFRDC's
Year of burden burden burden burden
institutions hours hours hours hours
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FY 1999....................................... 480 20.8 13.0 7.5 9.4
FY 2000....................................... 700 21.0 12.0 10.5 9.2
FY 2001....................................... 625 30.2 11.9 9.0 12.1
FY 2002....................................... 625 28.7 14.9 12.2 4.5
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\1\Average burden hours for institutions responding to burden item.
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Dated: January 6, 2009.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. E9-196 Filed 1-8-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P