Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 532-533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection requests.

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SUMMARY: The Reports Clearance Officer invites comments on the proposed 
information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is inviting the 
general public and other Federal agencies to comment on this proposed 
continuing information collection. This is the second notice for public 
comment; the first was published in the Federal Register at 63 FR 
66585-66586 on December 2, 1998 and no comments were received. NSF will 
forward the proposed renewal submission to OMB for clearance with the 
publication of this second notice.

DATES: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) should receive written 
comments by January 30, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the emergency review should be 
addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Attention: Danny Werfel, Desk Officer: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, 
Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, New 
Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503. Requests for copies of 
the proposed information collection request should be addressed to 
Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, NATIONAL SCIENCE 
FOUNDATION,

[[Page 533]]

4201 Wilson Blvd., Rm. 295, Arlington, VA 22230, or should be 
electronically mailed to the Internet address splimpto@nsf.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Plimpton, 703-306-1125, x 
2017. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-
877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through 
Friday.
    NSF invites public comment at the address specified above. Copies 
of the requests are available from Suzanne Plimpton at the address 
specified above.
    Type of Review: New.
    Title: Survey of 1996 and 1997 Research and Development Funding and 
Performance by Nonprofit Organizations.
    Abstract: OMB clearance for the NSF Survey of Research and 
Development Funding and Performance by Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs) 
expired June 30, 1998. The proposed information clearance request is 
for an extension of the time period for the survey that is now in the 
field. The survey collects information on the science and engineering 
(S&E) research and development (R&D) activities of nonprofit 
organizations in 1996 and 1997. A prior study with similar objectives 
was conducted in 1973. The purposes of the study are to: (1) develop 
estimates of the amounts of R&D funding provided by NPOs and the types 
of organizations supported; (2) develop estimates of the amount of R&D 
performed by NPOs; and (3) develop estimates of R&D researchers' 
employment in NPOs.
    Expected Respondents: Respondents are nonprofit organizations 
(NPOs) that funded and/or performed science and engineering research 
and development in 1996. It will be a mail survey with telephone 
follow-up as necessary.
    NSF is proposing the time extension of one form (Form 1400, the 
screening survey); the change in format of one form (Form 1402, the 
Funders survey form); and the reduction in the number of questions in 
one form (Form 1401, the Performers survey form).
    As the table below shows, 2,432 respondents will be asked to 
complete the qualifying screening survey Form 1400. If they are 
eligible to participate in the survey, they will also receive either a 
Form 1401 Performer survey or a Form 1402 Funder survey. Some NPOs have 
already responded to the Form 1400 (screener) and the 705 eligible 
organizations will be sent either a Form 1401 or 1402.
    Since the answers on the Form 1400 (screener) will determine 
whether newly contacted organizations will receive the Performer or 
Funder survey form, we are estimating the number that will be eligible 
based on the percentage of NPOs that reported themselves eligible in 
the March 31, 1998 screener mailing. The estimate for the Funders Form 
1402 is 245 organizations; the estimate for the Performers Form 1401 is 
766 organizations. These figures include both the NPOs that we estimate 
will be eligible in the next screener mailing and the NPOs that 
responded after June 30, 1998 to the March 31, 1998 screener (606 
Performers, 99 Funders).
    Need for data: Failure to continue and complete this survey will 
result in the U.S. Government continuing to use 1973 data in estimating 
the nonprofit sector's R&D and the national totals of R&D funding and 
performance. A complete accurate description of R&D funding and 
performance is necessary for policymakers for planning, reporting, and 
tax purposes. Considerable work in drawing the sample has already been 
completed and $568,000 has been spent. The most efficient and cost 
effective way for the U.S. Government to obtain the needed data is to 
complete this survey. Therefore, we are asking for extension of the OMB 
clearance that we can mail out the survey forms, complete the survey 
and publish the report in a timely manner.
    Burden on the Public: The Foundation estimates that a total annual 
reporting and recordkeeping burden of 3,294 hours will result from the 
collection of information. The calculation is:

2,432 NPOs (1,030 Funders 1,402 Performers)  x  1 screening survey Form 
1400  x  12.5 minutes = 506 hours
766 Performers  x  1 revised Form 1401  x  3 hours = 2,298 hours
245 Funders  x  1 reformatted Form 1402  x  2 hours = 490 hours
Total: 3,443 responses, 3,294 hours

     Frequency: One-time survey; second form only to eligible Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions.

    Dated: December 29, 1998.
Suzanne Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 99-26 Filed 1-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-U