80 FR 58703 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of State Government Research and Development (R&D)
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 189 (September 30, 2015)
Census Bureau
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 189 (September 30, 2015)
| Page Range | 58703-58704 | |
| FR Document | 2015-24768 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 189 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 58703-58704] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-24768] [[Page 58703]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Census Bureau Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of State Government Research and Development (R&D) AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on or before November 30, 2015. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [email protected]). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Lisa McNelis, U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233-6900; (888) 340-7525 (or via the Internet at [email protected].). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The United States Census Bureau plans to continue to conduct the Survey of State Government Research and Development (SGRD) on behalf of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to measure research and development performed and funded by state governments in the United States. The NSF Act of 1950, as amended, includes a statutory charge to ``provide a central clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data on scientific and engineering resources and to provide a source of information for policy formulation by other agencies in the Federal Government.'' Under the aegis of this legislative mandate, NSF has sponsored surveys of research and development (R&D) since 1953, including since 2006 the Survey of State Government R&D. The Census Bureau's authorization to undertake this work is found at 13 U.S.C. Section 8(b) which provides that the Census Bureau ``may make special statistical compilations and surveys for departments, agencies, and establishments of the Federal government, the government of the District of Columbia, the government of any possession or area (including political subdivisions thereof) . . . State or local agencies, or other public and private persons and agencies.'' The Survey of State Government R&D is the only comprehensive source of state government research and development expenditure data collected on a nationwide scale using uniform definitions, concepts, and procedures. The collection covers the expenditures of all agencies in the fifty state governments, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that perform or fund R&D. The National Science Foundation has coordinated with the Census Bureau for the data collection. The NSF uses this collection to satisfy, in part, its need to collect research and development expenditures data. Fiscal data provided by respondents aid data users in measuring the effectiveness of resource allocation. The products of this data collection make it possible for data users to obtain information on such things as expenditures according to source of funding (e.g., federal funds or state funds), by performer of the work (e.g., intramural and extramural to state agencies), by function (e.g., agriculture, energy, health, transportation, etc.), by type of work (e.g., basic research, applied research, or experimental development) for intramural performance of R&D, and by R&D plant (e.g., construction projects). Final results produced by NSF contain state and national estimates useful to a variety of data users interested in research and development performance including: The National Science Board; the Office of Management and Budget; the Office of Science and Technology Policy and other science policy makers; institutional researchers; and private organizations. In order to increase the timeliness of the statistics, we plan to change the collection from a biennial survey which collected two years of data to an annual survey collecting one year of data. The state coordinators will no longer be asked to monitor agency response. As a result of this change, the average burden for state coordinators will decrease from 4 hours to 1 hour per response. We are also changing the response mode for state coordinators from a web form to an emailed Excel spreadsheet. We are making changes to the content of the web form which agency respondents are asked to complete. The changes are designed to capture specific information on source of funds (e.g., internal or external) for R&D performer type (e.g., intramural and extramural); collect information on intramural R&D by type-of-work (e.g., basic research, applied research, and experimental development); and to collect specific information on federal support to states for R&D. In order to obtain this information, we are: (i) Asking state agencies to provide information on the source of funds for extramural performance; (ii) Asking state agencies to provide information on basic research, applied research, and experimental development, but instead of asking for these on the agencies' total R&D expenditures (as was done previously) this question only applies to agencies with intramural R&D; and (iii) No longer asking agencies to identify how much of their total R&D was supported from federal funds, but have replaced this with a question asking how much R&D funds did the state receive from a list of specific federal departments and independent agencies. These changes will increase the agencies' average burden from one hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours per response. The total respondent burden will increase as a net result of these changes. The survey announcements and forms used in the research and development survey are: Survey Announcement. The Governor's letter is mailed to the Governor's Office to announce the survey collection and to solicit assignment of a State Coordinator. The State Coordinator's Announcement is sent electronically at the beginning of each survey period to solicit assistance in identifying state agencies which may perform or fund R&D activities. Form SRD-1. This form contains item descriptions and definitions of the research and development items collected by the Census Bureau on behalf of the NSF. It is used primarily as a worksheet and instruction guide by the state agencies providing research and development expenditure data in their respective states. All states supply their data by electronic means. II. Method of Collection The Census Bureau will use a web-based collection strategy. State governors are emailed a request to appoint a state coordinator for the survey. Governors are asked to respond within 30 days. State coordinators are then emailed an Excel spreadsheet asking them to identify state agencies that may be active R&D performers. State coordinators are asked to respond within 30 days. State agencies identified [[Page 58704]] by their respective state coordinators are emailed a pdf version of the form and directed to the Census Bureau's Business Help Site where they can complete the survey form online. Agencies are asked to respond within 60 days. III. Data OMB Control Number: 0607-0933. Form Number(s): SRD-1. Type of Review: Regular submission. Affected Public: State Government Agencies. Estimated Number of Respondents: 52 governors, 52 state coordinators and approximately 500 state government agencies. Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for each governor, 1 hour for each state coordinator and 2 hours for each state agency surveyed. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,056. Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0. Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary. Legal Authority: Title 42 U.S.C. 1861-76: ``National Science Foundation Act of 1950'' as amended. Title 13, U.S.C. Section 8(b). IV. Request for 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 (including hours and cost) 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 respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record. Dated: September 25, 2015. Glenna Mickelson, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2015-24768 Filed 9-29-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
![58704 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Notices
by their respective state coordinators are DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Award recipients. The meeting is closed
emailed a pdf version of the form and to the public in order to protect the
directed to the Census Bureau’s National Institute of Standards and proprietary data to be examined and
Business Help Site where they can Technology discussed at the meeting.
complete the survey form online. The Chief Financial Officer and
Judges Panel of the Malcolm Baldrige Assistant Secretary for Administration,
Agencies are asked to respond within 60
National Quality Award with the concurrence of the Acting
days.
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards Assistant General Counsel for
III. Data and Technology, Department of Administration, formally determined on
Commerce. May 19, 2015, pursuant to Section 10(d)
OMB Control Number: 0607–0933. of the Federal Advisory Committee Act,
ACTION: Notice of closed meeting.
Form Number(s): SRD–1. as amended by Section 5(c) of the
Type of Review: Regular submission. SUMMARY: The Judges Panel of the Government in Sunshine Act, Public
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Law 94–409, that the meeting of the
Affected Public: State Government Judges Panel may be closed to the
Award (Judges Panel) will meet in
Agencies. public in accordance with 5 U.S.C.
closed session Monday through Friday,
Estimated Number of Respondents: 52 November 2–6, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. 552b(c)(4) because the meeting is likely
governors, 52 state coordinators and until 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time each day. to disclose trade secrets and commercial
approximately 500 state government The purpose of this meeting is to review or financial information obtained from a
agencies. recommendations from site visits, and person which is privileged or
Estimated Time per Response: 5 recommend 2015 Malcolm Baldrige confidential; and 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B)
minutes for each governor, 1 hour for National Quality Award recipients. The because for a government agency the
meeting is closed to the public in order meeting is likely to disclose information
each state coordinator and 2 hours for
to protect the proprietary data to be that could significantly frustrate
each state agency surveyed.
examined and discussed at the meeting. implementation of a proposed agency
Estimated Total Annual Burden DATES: The meeting will be held action. The meeting, which involves
Hours: 1,056. Monday through Friday, November 2–6, examination of current Award applicant
Estimated Total Annual Cost to 2015, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. data from U.S. organizations and a
Public: $0. Eastern Time each day. The entire discussion of these data as compared to
meeting will be closed to the public. the Award criteria in order to
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. recommend Award recipients, will be
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
Legal Authority: Title 42 U.S.C. 1861– closed to the public.
the National Institute of Standards and
76: ‘‘National Science Foundation Act of
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Richard Cavanagh,
1950’’ as amended. Title 13, U.S.C. Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899. Acting Associate Director for Laboratory
Section 8(b).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Programs.
IV. Request for Comments Robert Fangmeyer, Director, Baldrige [FR Doc. 2015–24733 Filed 9–29–15; 8:45 am]
Performance Excellence Program, BILLING CODE 3510–13–P
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether National Institute of Standards and
the proposed collection of information Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail
is necessary for the proper performance Stop 1020, Gaithersburg, Maryland DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
of the functions of the agency, including 20899–1020, telephone number (301)
whether the information shall have 975–2360, email robert.fangmeyer@ National Institute of Standards and
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the nist.gov. Technology
agency’s estimate of the burden SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Synthetic Biology Standards
(including hours and cost) of the Consortium—Planning and Progress
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3711a(d)(1) and the
proposed collection of information; (c) Federal Advisory Committee Act, as Workshop
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and amended, 5 U.S.C. App.
clarity of the information to be AGENCY: National Institute of Standards
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the Pursuant to the Federal Advisory & Technology, Department of
Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. Commerce.
burden of the collection of information
app., notice is hereby given that the ACTION: Notice of public workshop.
on respondents, including through the
Judges Panel will meet Monday through
use of automated collection techniques
Friday, November 2–6, 2015, from 8:30 SUMMARY: NIST announces the
or other forms of information a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time each Synthetic Biology Standards
technology. day. The Judges Panel is composed of Consortium (SBSC)–Planning and
Comments submitted in response to twelve members, appointed by the Progress Workshop to be held on
this notice will be summarized and/or Secretary of Commerce, chosen for their Tuesday November 3, 2015 from 9:00
included in the request for OMB familiarity with quality improvement a.m.–5:00 p.m. Pacific time. The SBSC
approval of this information collection; operations and competitiveness issues is a standards setting consortium
they also will become a matter of public of manufacturing companies, service focused on the shared standards
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
record. companies, small businesses, health development needs of consortium
Dated: September 25, 2015.
care providers, and educational participants. It will provide a forum for
institutions. Members are also chosen collaborative work through the
Glenna Mickelson, who have broad experience in for-profit formation of technical standards-setting
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief and nonprofit areas. The purpose of this working groups. Working groups are
Information Officer. meeting is to review recommendations organized around a clear vision of
[FR Doc. 2015–24768 Filed 9–29–15; 8:45 am] from site visits, and recommend 2015 specific metrology products—standards,
BILLING CODE 3510–07–P Malcolm Baldrige National Quality including reference materials; reference
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Document Created: 2015-12-15 09:32:22
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 09:32:22
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on or before November 30, 2015. | |
| Contact | Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Lisa McNelis, U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233-6900; (888) 340-7525 (or via the Internet at [email protected]). | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 58703 |
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