81 FR 1233 - Notice of Intent to Seek Approval to Establish an Information Collection

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 6 (January 11, 2016)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to request approval 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 no longer than 3 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.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1233-1234]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00229]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent to Seek Approval to Establish an 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 approval 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 no longer than 3 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 March 11, 
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, which is accessible 
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (including federal 
holidays).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: Nonprofit Research Activities Survey.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-New.
    Expiration Date: Not applicable.
    Type of Request: Intent to conduct a pilot test for an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The nonprofit sector is one of four major sectors that 
perform and/or fund research and development (R&D) in the U.S. 
Historically, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has combined this 
sector's data with the business, government, and higher education 
sector data to estimate total national R&D expenditures via the annual 
National Patterns of R&D Resources report. The other three sectors are 
surveyed annually; however, it has been more than 18 years since NSF 
last collected R&D data from nonprofit organizations.
    The primary objective of the new survey is to fill data gaps in the 
National Patterns of R&D Resources in such a way that it is compatible 
with data collected on the business, government, and higher education 
sectors of the U.S. economy and appropriate for international 
comparisons. Since the last survey of research activity in the 
nonprofit sector occurred more than 18 years ago, and because of the 
more than 21% growth in IRS filings by nonprofits between 2001 and 
2011, it is important that a new survey of nonprofit R&D be fielded to 
update current national estimates for the nonprofit sector.
    The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) 
plans to conduct a pilot of the new Nonprofit Research Activities 
Survey (NPRA). NPRA will collect R&D and other related data from U.S. 
nonprofit organizations. This survey will collect the following:
     Total amount spent on R&D activities within nonprofit 
organizations,
     Number of employees and R&D employees,
     Sources of funds for R&D expenditures,
     Expenditures by field of R&D,
     Total amount of R&D funding provided to others outside the 
nonprofit organization,
     Types of recipients receiving R&D funding, and
     Funding by field of R&D.
    The process of developing the questionnaire involved several major 
steps. First, at NSF's request, in February 2014 the Committee on 
National Statistics convened a steering committee on Measuring R&D 
Expenditures in the U.S. Nonprofit Sector. Second, NCSES (through its 
contractor) conducted 23 interviews with representatives of nonprofit 
organizations. Third, an expert panel was convened in September 2014 
for the

[[Page 1234]]

purpose of helping NSF shape the content and coverage of data related 
to R&D in the nonprofit sector. Finally, in the summer of 2015 
cognitive interviews were conducted with representatives of 28 
nonprofit organizations that perform and fund research to test the 
prenotification letter, a handout that will be included with the 
letter, and the survey instrument. The pilot test will be a web survey 
with a paper version of the questionnaire available for download. The 
initial contact with the nonprofit organizations will be via mail, but 
the remainder of the contacts will occur via email.
    Use of the information: The primary purpose of this pilot survey is 
to assess the feasibility of and to test the process of collecting the 
necessary information prior to the launch of a nationally 
representative survey planned for 2017. The pilot survey results will 
not be published. However, NCSES does plan to use the information 
provided to improve our national estimates of nonprofit research 
spending in our annual publication National Patterns of R&D Resources.
    Expected respondents: The pilot sample will be 4,000 nonprofit 
organizations.
    Estimate of burden: We expect a response rate of 80%. Based on the 
responses from the 28 cognitive interviews, we estimate the full survey 
to require 10 hours to complete. The response time for nonprofit 
organizations that do not conduct or fund research should be under 1 
hour. We estimate that of the 4,000 organizations surveyed, no more 
than 700 will identify as performer or funders and submit a full survey 
response. Therefore our estimate of burden for the pilot survey is 
10,300 hours (7,000 hours for the 700 performers and funders; 3,300 for 
the remainder of the sample).

    Dated: January 5, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2016-00229 Filed 1-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P