82 FR 20921 - Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Renew an Information Collection

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 85 (May 4, 2017)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to request approval for the collection of research and development data through the Nonprofit Research Activities survey. In accordance with the requirement 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 3 years. Comments: 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 82, Number 85 (Thursday, May 4, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20921-20922]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09044]


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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 approval for the collection of research and development data 
through the Nonprofit Research Activities survey. In accordance with 
the requirement 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 3 years.
    Comments: 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 July 3, 2017 
to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will 
be considered to the extent practicable.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports 
Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Suite 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230; 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: 

[[Page 20922]]

    Title of Collection: Nonprofit Research Activities Survey.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0240.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: July 31, 2019.
    Type of Request: Intent to renew an information collection.
    Abstract: The new Nonprofit Research Activities (NPRA) survey 
represents one facet of the R&D measurement component of the NSF's 
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) 
statistical program authorized by the America COMPETES Reauthorization 
Act of 2010 Sec.  505, codified in the National Science Foundation Act 
of 1950 (NSF Act), as amended, at 42 U.S.C. 1862. Under paragraph 
``b'', NCSES is directed to
    ``(1) collect, acquire, analyze, report, and disseminate 
statistical data related to the science and engineering enterprise in 
the U.S. and other nations that is relevant and useful to 
practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and the public, including 
statistical data on:
    (A) Research and development trends;
    (B) the science and engineering workforce;
    (C) U.S. competitiveness in science, engineering, technology, and 
research and development . . .''
    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 (a) 
compatible with data collected on the business, government, and higher 
education sectors of the U.S. economy and (b) appropriate for 
international comparisons. Since the last survey of research activity 
in the nonprofit sector occurred in 1996 and 1997, interest from the 
community has grown significantly in recent years. Thus, it is 
important that a new survey of nonprofit R&D be fielded to update 
current national estimates for the nonprofit sector.
    NCSES recently concluded a pilot test of the new Nonprofit Research 
Activities Survey (NPRA) with 3,640 nonprofit organizations. Using the 
lessons learned from the pilot, NCSES now plans to conduct a full 
survey.
    Use of the information: The primary purpose of this survey is to 
collect nationally representative data on nonprofit research spending 
and funding.
    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 sectors' 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 20 years since NSF last collected R&D 
data from nonprofit organizations.
    The full NPRA survey 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 (biological and health 
sciences, engineering, physical sciences, social sciences, etc.),
     Expenditures by type of R&D (basic research, applied 
research, or experimental development),
     Total amount of R&D funding provided to entities outside 
the nonprofit organization,
     Types of recipients receiving R&D funding, and
     Funding by field of R&D (biological and health sciences, 
engineering, physical sciences, social sciences, etc.).
    Expected respondents: The sample will be 6,500 nonprofit 
organizations. The target population for the NPRA Survey includes all 
NPOs categorized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as 501(c)(3) 
public charities, 501(c)(3) private foundations, and other exempt 
organizations [e.g., 501(c)(1), 501(c)(2)]. To increase the efficiency 
of sampling organizations performing or funding research, organizations 
that are highly unlikely to be conducting research activities or 
already included in the other NCSES R&D surveys will be removed. In 
addition, organizations that do not meet a minimum size threshold, 
based on assets for private foundations and expenses for public 
charities, will be eliminated. The sample will be allocated to obtain a 
minimum of 800 completed responses from performers and 800 from 
funders.
    Estimate of burden: We expect a response rate of 60%. Based on the 
responses to the pilot survey, we estimate the survey to require 4 
hours to complete if the respondent both funds and performs research. 
The response time for nonprofit organizations that do not conduct or 
fund research should be under 20 minutes. We estimate that of the 6,500 
organizations surveyed, no more than 1,300 will identify as performer 
or funders and submit a full survey response. Therefore our estimate of 
burden for the survey is 6,067 hours (5,200 hours for the 1,300 
estimated performers and funders; 867 hours for the remaining 2,600 
organizations estimated to complete the survey).

    Dated: May 1, 2017.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2017-09044 Filed 5-3-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P