SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title of Collection: Request for Comment regarding Common Disclosure Forms for the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support.

OMB Approval Number: 3145-0279.

Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information collection.

I. Background

Section 4(b) of NSPM-33 directs that “research funding agencies shall require the disclosure of information related to potential conflicts of interest and commitment from participants in the Federally funded R&D enterprise . . . The appropriate disclosure requirement varies depending on the individual's role in the United States R&D enterprise.” Section 4(b)(vi) directs that “agencies should standardize forms for initial disclosures as well as annual updates, . . . and should provide clear instructions to accompany these forms and to minimize any associated administrative burden.”

The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Research Security Subcommittee developed consistent disclosure requirements from senior personnel, as well as common disclosure forms for the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support sections of an application for Federal research and development (R&D) grants or cooperative agreements. The purpose of the Biographical Sketch is to assess how well qualified the individual, team, or organization is to conduct the proposed activities. The purpose of Current and Pending (Other) Support is to assess the capacity of the individual to carry out the research as proposed and to help identify any potential scientific and budgetary overlap/duplication, as well as overcommitment with the project being proposed. NSF has agreed to continue to serve as the steward for collection and resolution of public comments, as well as for posting and maintaining the latest versions of the above-mentioned documents of the common forms and other associated documents.

These common forms are intended to clarify what is expected of senior personnel applying for R&D funding from Federal research funding agencies. Variations among research agencies will be limited to cases: (a) where required by statute or regulation; (b) where more stringent protections are necessary for protection of R&D that is classified, export-controlled, or otherwise legally protected; or (c) for other compelling reasons consistent with individual agency authorities and as coordinated through the NSTC.

As stated in the NSPM-33 Implementation Guidance, “the goal of these common forms and accompanying instructions is to ensure that applying for awards from any Federal research funding agency will require disclosing the same information in the same manner, to increase clarity and reduce administrative burden on the research community. In some cases, research agencies may adapt the forms and instructions, where required by their legal authorities. Such common forms also will allow the research community to identify and point out where greater clarity may be needed.”

Agencies may develop agency- or program-specific data elements and instructions, if necessary, to meet programmatic requirements, although agencies will be instructed to minimize the degree to which they supplement the common forms. Modification and/or supplementation of these common forms will require clearance by OMB/OIRA under the PRA process.

These common forms replace forms/formats currently used by agencies for these sections of applications, thereby increasing the consistency of disclosure forms and reducing administrative burden.

II. Invitation To Comment

The following documents are available for review and comment on the NSF website (see www.nsf.gov/​bfa/​dias/​policy/​nstc_​disclosure.jsp):

a. A common Biographical Sketch form, including data elements and associated instructions; and

b. A common Current and Pending (Other) Support form, including data elements and associated instructions. ( printed page 55125)

91 FR 55124