81 FR 78210 - Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Renew an Information Collection

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 215 (November 7, 2016)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to request clearance of this collection. In accordance with the requirements of of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 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 three years.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 215 (Monday, November 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78210-78212]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26818]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Renew 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 clearance of this collection. In accordance with the 
requirements of of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 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 three years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by January 6, 
2017 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, Room 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). You also may obtain a copy of the data collection instrument 
and instructions from Ms. Plimpton.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for the 
Industry University Cooperative Research Centers Program (I/UCRC).
    OMB Number: 3145-0088.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2017.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/
UCRC) Program was initiated in 1973 to develop long-term partnerships 
among industry, academe and government. The National Science Foundation 
(NSF) invests in these partnerships to promote research programs of 
mutual interest, contribute to the Nation's research infrastructure 
base, enhance the intellectual capacity of the engineering or science 
workforce through the integration of research and education, and 
facilitate technology transfer. As appropriate, NSF encourages 
international collaborations that advance these goals within the global 
context.
    The I/UCRC program seeks to achieve these goals by:
     Contributing to the nation's research enterprise by 
developing long-term partnerships among industry, academe, and 
government;
     Leveraging NSF funds with industry to support graduate 
students performing industrially relevant pre-competitive research;
     Expanding the innovation capacity of our nation's 
competitive workforce through partnerships between industries and 
universities; and
     Encouraging the nation's research enterprise to remain 
competitive through active engagement with academic and industrial 
leaders throughout the world.
    To meet national needs, multi-university I/UCRCs are preferred to 
single-university I/UCRCs because multi-university Centers contribute 
to an increased research base as well as to increased interaction among 
Center participants. The Centers are catalyzed by an investment from 
NSF with primary support derived from the private and public sector. 
NSF takes a supporting role in the development and evolution of the I/
UCRC, providing a framework for membership and operations as well as 
requirements derived from extensive Center experience and evaluation.
    NSF invests in nationwide Centers that do not overlap in research 
foci with existing I/UCRCs. PIs should review the I/UCRC Center 
Directory found on the Program's Web page http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/iucrc/ of potential overlaps prior to proposing a new Center. In the 
event of a potential overlap, the PIs should consider joining the 
already existing I/UCRC. The I/UCRC program initially offers five-year 
(Phase I) continuing awards. This initial five-year period of support 
allows for the development of a strong partnership between the academic 
researchers and interested industrial and government parties. A 
significant proportion of the Center's support for research projects is 
expected to come from industrial, state, and other funds. As a Center 
progresses, it is likely to have increased opportunities for funding 
from additional firms, other federal agencies and laboratories, and 
state and local governments; thus, increasing the leverage of NSF 
funds. After five years, Sites within Centers that continue to meet the 
I/UCRC Program requirements may request support for a second five-year 
(Phase II) period. Phase II grants allow Centers to continue to grow, 
and to leverage and diversify their memberships and research portfolio 
during their Phase II period. After ten years, Sites within Centers may 
apply for a third five-year (Phase III) period. Phase III awards are 
provided for Centers that demonstrate significant impact on industry 
research as measured through robust and sustained membership, student 
impact, annual reports, Site visits, and adherence to I/UCRC 
requirements. Centers are expected to be fully supported by private and 
public partners after fifteen years as an I/UCRC.
    Centers will be required to provide data to NSF and its authorized 
representatives (contractors or grantees). These data will be used for 
NSF internal reports, historical data, and for securing future funding 
for continued I/UCRC program maintenance and growth. Updates to the 
IUCRC database of performance indicators will be required annually. 
Centers will be responsible for submitting the following information 
after the award expires for their fiscal year of activity. The 
indicators are both quantitative and descriptive.
     Quantitative information from the most recently completed 
fiscal year such as:

[cir] Number and diversity (race, gender, US, non-US) of students, 
faculty, and industrial numbers involved in the center
[cir] Students contact information
[cir] Degrees granted to students involved in center activities
[cir] Employer information of graduated students involved in center 
research activities (members and non-members) traceable by students' 
demographic information
[cir] Amounts and sources of income to the center, and
[cir] Lists of patents, licenses, and publications created
[cir] List of affiliated institutions/faculty (not official Sites in or 
faculty of the Center)
     Operating budget and total funding:
[cir] Total funding
[cir] NSF I/UCRC funding received
[cir] Other NSF funding received
[cir] Additional support broken down by Industry, State, University, 
Other Federal, Non-Federal and other support
[cir] Any contract income from IAB members that is done outside the 
IUCRC, but that is within the scope of the Center's topic
     Capital and in-kind support:
[cir] Equipment
[cir] Facilities
[cir] Personnel
[cir] Software
[cir] Other support
     Human resources:

[cir] Researchers (number of faculty scientists and engineers, number 
of non-faculty scientists and engineers)
[cir] Students (number of graduates, number of undergraduates)
[cir] Number of Postdoctoral fellows
[cir] Administration, number of full and part time professional and 
clerical staff

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[cir] Information about broadening participation on the above with 
plans to increase broadening participation, if necessary
[cir] Industry Advisory Board members information (total number, number 
of new and leaving members by year, company size by number of employees 
and sector/sub-sector)
     Center director descriptors:
    [cir] Position and rank of director
[cir] Status of tenure
[cir] Estimate of the percent of time the director devotes to center 
administration, other administration, research, teaching, other
     Center outcomes:

[cir] Students receiving degrees and type degree earned
[cir] Students hired by industry (member and non-member) by type of 
degree
[cir] Publications
[ssquf] Number with center research
[ssquf] Number with Industrial Advisory Board Members
[ssquf] Number of presentations at professional society meetings
[ssquf] Number of presentations/booths at trade shows
[ssquf] Number of presentations under different categories (symposia, 
etc) related to center activities

     Intellectual property events:
[cir] Invention disclosures
[cir] Patent applications
[cir] Software copyrights
[cir] Patents granted and derived or both
[cir] Licensing agreements
[cir] Royalties realized

    I/UCRCs will also include evaluation conducted by independent 
assessment coordinator who cannot be from the department(s) with the 
institution(s) receiving funding for the I/UCRC award. The center 
assessment coordinator will be responsible for:

[cir] Preparing an annual report of center activities with respect to 
industrial collaboration
[cir] Conducting a survey of all center participants to probe the 
participant satisfaction with center activities
[cir] Compiling a set of quantitative indicators determined by NSF to 
analyze the management and operation of the center
[cir] Participating in I/UCRC center and informational meetings
[cir] Reporting to NSF on the center's status using a checklist 
provided by NSF to help determine if the center is adhering to the 
IUCRC policy and guidelines
[cir] Bi-annual reporting to NSF
[cir] Performing exit interviews to determine why members chose to 
withdraw from the center
[cir] Participating in continuous quality process improvement by 
providing information to the NSF I/UCRC program

    Use of the Information: The data collected will be used for NSF 
internal reports, historical data, and for securing future funding for 
continued I/UCRC program maintenance and growth and maintenance of an 
alumni network of center participants.
    Estimate of Burden: 150 hours per center (201 sites) for seventy 
centers for a total of 10,500 hours, subject to change in a near future 
as NSF is revising impact indicators, metrics and data collected, and a 
mechanism to collect them.
    Respondents: Industry, academic institutions; non-profit 
institutions; government.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One from each of the 201 
sites.
    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.

    Dated: November 2, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2016-26818 Filed 11-4-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P