Notice2021-21254
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 30, 2021
Issuing agencies
National Science Foundation
Abstract
The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the following information collection requirement to the Office of Management Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal Register, and NCSES received five comments. NCSES is forwarding the proposed new submission to OMB for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 187 (Thursday, September 30, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 187 (Thursday, September 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54250-54251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21254]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.
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SUMMARY: The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
(NCSES) within the National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the
following information collection requirement to the Office of
Management Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995. This is the second notice for public comment;
the first was published in the Federal Register, and NCSES received
five comments. NCSES is forwarding the proposed new submission to OMB
for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second
notice.
DATES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find this
particular information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite
18200, Alexandria, VA 22314 or send email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ccbfbca0a5a1bcb8a38ca2bfaae2aba3ba"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7201021e1b1f02061d321c01145c151d04">[email protected]</span></a>.
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). Comments regarding this information
collection are best assured of having their full effect if received
within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission may be
obtained by calling 703-292-7556.
NCSES may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control
number and the agency informs potential persons who are respond to the
collection of the information that such persons are not required to
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently
valid OMB control number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments: As required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), comments on the
information collection activities as part of this study were solicited
through the publication of a 60-Day Notice in the Federal Register on
April 16, 2020, at 85 FR 21271. We received five (5) comments to the
NTEWS (version dated 6/2/2020).
In sum, each of the five comments expressed strong support for the
collection and offered suggestions for modified or additional survey
content, such as collecting additional details about work credentials
or collecting data in a way that would better enable international
comparisons. NCSES responded to each commenter individually, providing
background information about the survey, its goals for this initial
survey cycle, and the feasibility of adding new content. Some of the
commenters' suggestions will be incorporated into the non-production
bridge panel for this initial survey cycle. NSF is proceeding with the
information collection request.
Title of Collection: The National Training, Education, and
Workforce Survey.
OMB Control Number: 3145-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The National Center for Science and
Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the National Science Foundation
(NSF) requests a three-year approval for a new collection referred to
as the 2022 National Training, Education, and Workforce Survey (NTEWS).
The 2022 NTEWS will be a voluntary data collection sponsored by NCSES
and cosponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
within the U.S. Department of Education. The content of the 2022 NTEWS
builds upon NCES's former federal survey, the 2016 Adult Training and
Education Survey (ATES). This collection serves to measure and
understand two research concepts that are of national interest: (1) the
education, training, and career pathways of skilled technical workers,
and (2) the prevalence and interplay of education (postsecondary
degrees and certificates), work credentials (certifications and
licenses), and work experience programs among American workers.
Established within NSF by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act
of 2010 Sec. 505, codified in the NSF Act of 1950, as amended, NCSES
serves as a central Federal clearinghouse for the collection,
interpretation, analysis, and dissemination of objective data on
science, engineering, technology, and research and development for use
by practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and the public.
As the initial NTEWS, the 2022 data collection effort will serve as
the baseline cycle for a planned biennial, rotating panel design.
Respondents will have the option to complete the survey by web, paper,
or computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). NCSES plans to
incorporate a couple of methodological experiments to examine response
mode and incentive options in the initial administration.
The U.S. Census Bureau will serve as the Federal data collection
contractor on behalf of NCSES and NCES. The NTEWS data will be
protected under the applicable Census Bureau confidentiality statutes.
Use of the information: NCSES and NCES intend to publish national
estimates from the 2022 NTEWS and use the results to inform the next
survey cycle. NCSES plans to use the NTEWS data for the two
congressionally mandated biennial reports: Women, Minorities, and
Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering and Science and
Engineering Indicators. NCES plans to release a special-topic
statistical report on the status of educational and professional
credentials in the United States. Also, a public release file of
collected data, designed to protect respondent confidentiality, will be
made available to policymakers, researchers, and the public on the
internet.
Expected Respondents: NCSES expects an estimated total of 30,565
respondents. With three samples in the 2022 NTEWS collection, the
expected number of respondents for each sample is 27,000 respondents
from production, 3,125 respondents from the bridge panel, and 440
respondents from the seeded sample. NCSES will select adults ages 16-75
(inclusive) and not enrolled in high school. The production will select
its sample from the 2018 American Community Survey, collected by the
U.S. Census Bureau. The bridge panel (non-production because data
cannot generate official statistics) will select its sample from a
commercial list. Finally, the seeded sample (non-production because
data will not be released to the public but will be used for NCSES and
NCES analysis for future postsecondary certificates measurement
improvements) will be chosen from a list of recent postsecondary
certificate
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awardees from four postsecondary community/technical colleges or
systems. The NTEWS sample design will meet the needs of both NCSES and
NCES by providing coverage of the workforce-eligible adult population
and including an oversample of adults who are in skilled technical
occupations.
Estimate of Burden: The expected response rate for the overall
NTEWS sample is 62 percent, or 30,565 respondents. The amount of time
to complete the survey may vary depending on an individual's
circumstances and the collection mode (web, paper, or telephone). NCSES
estimates an average completion time of 15 minutes. NCSES estimates
that the average annual burden for the initial NTEWS for the three-year
OMB clearance period will be no more than 2,547 hours [(30,565
completed cases x 15 minutes)/3 years].
Updates: A few changes occurred between the publication of the
first FRN and this second FRN. The first FRN did not include the
estimated burden of the non-production seeded sample and bridge panel
studies, which are reflected in this FRN. The estimated burden for the
production sample in the first FRN approximated the average annual
burden for the initial NTEWS throughout the three-year OMB clearance
period to be 2,084 hours [(25,000 completed cases x 15 minutes)/3
years]. NCSES increased the production sample size from 42,000 to
43,200 to meet precision requirements for NTEWS estimates. This FRN
contains revised burden information.
Comments: Comments are invited on (a) aspects of the data
collection effort (including, but not limited to, the following: the
availability of administrative and supplemental sources of data on the
skilled technical workforce, survey content, contact strategy, and
statistical methods); (b) whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
NCSES, including whether the information shall have practical utility;
(c) the accuracy of the NCSES's estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information; (d) ways to enhance the quality, use, and
clarity of the information on respondents, including through the use of
automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology; and (e) 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: September 27, 2021.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2021-21254 Filed 9-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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