Notice2023-27872
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; Awardee Reporting Requirements for the Established Program To Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Research Infrastructure Improvement Programs
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
December 19, 2023
Issuing agencies
National Science Foundation
Abstract
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the following information collection requirement to 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 no comments were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 242 (Tuesday, December 19, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87815-87816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27872]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request;
Awardee Reporting Requirements for the Established Program To Stimulate
Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Research Infrastructure Improvement
Programs
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.
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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the
following information collection requirement to 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 no comments were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed
submission to the Office of Management and Budget (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">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,
Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-292-7556, or send email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#83f0f3efeaeef3f7ecc3edf0e5ade4ecf5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a6d5d6cacfcbd6d2c9e6c8d5c088c1c9d0">[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).
Copies of the submission may be obtained by calling 703-292-7556.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NSF 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 to respond to the collection of information that such
persons are not required to respond to the collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Title of Collection: Awardee Reporting Requirements for the
Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Research
Infrastructure Improvement Programs.
OMB Number: 3145-0243.
Type of Request: Renewal with change of an established information
collection.
Proposed Project: The mission of the National Science Foundation
(NSF) is to promote the progress of science; to advance the national
health, welfare, and prosperity; and to secure the national defense,
while avoiding the undue concentration of research and education. In
1977, in response to congressional concern that NSF funding was overly
concentrated geographically, a National Science Board task force
analyzed the geographic distribution of NSF funds, which resulted in
the creation of an NSF Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive
Research (EPSCoR). The American Innovation and Competitiveness Act
(sec. 103 D, Pub. L. 114-329) effectively changed the program's name
from ``Experimental'' to ``Established'' in FY 2016. Congress specified
two objectives for the EPSCoR program in the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 1988: (1) to assist States that
[[Page 87816]]
historically have received relatively little Federal research and
development funding; and (2) to assist States that have demonstrated a
commitment to develop their research bases and improve science and
engineering research and education programs at their universities and
colleges.
The EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) Investment
Strategies advance science and engineering capabilities in EPSCoR
jurisdictions for discovery, innovation and overall knowledge-based
prosperity. These projects build human, cyber, and physical
infrastructure in EPSCoR jurisdictions, stimulating sustainable
improvements in their Research & Development (R&D) capacity and
competitiveness.
EPSCoR projects are unique in their scope and complexity; in their
integration of individual researchers, institutions, and organizations;
and in their role in developing the diverse, well-prepared, STEM-
enabled workforce necessary to sustain research competitiveness and
catalyze economic development. In addition, these projects are
generally inter- or multi-disciplinary and involve effective
jurisdictional and regional collaborations among academic, government,
and private sector stakeholders that advance scientific research,
promote innovation, and provide multiple societal benefits. They also
broaden participation in science and engineering by engaging multiple
institutions and organizations at all levels of research and education,
and people within and among EPSCoR jurisdictions. These projects
usually involve between 100 to 300 participants per year over the
performance period, and the projects reach thousands more through their
extensive STEM outreach activities. The American Innovation and
Competitiveness Act of 2016, section 103 (Pub. L. 114-329) requires NSF
EPSCoR to submit annual reports to both Congress and OSTP that contain
data detailing project progress and success (new investigators,
broadening participation, dissemination of results, new workshops,
outreach activities, proposals submitted and awarded, mentoring
activities among faculty members, collaborations, researcher
participating on the review process, etc.).
EPSCoR RII Track-1, Track-2, and Track-4 projects are required to
submit annual reports on progress and plans, which are used as a basis
for performance review and determining the level of continued funding.
To support this review and the management of EPSCoR RII projects, teams
are required to develop a set of performance indicators for building
sustainable infrastructure and capacity in terms of a strategic plan
for the project; measure performance and revise strategies as
appropriate; report on the progress relative to the project's goals and
milestones; and describe changes in strategies, if any, for submission
annually to NSF. These indicators are both quantitative and descriptive
and may include, for example, the characteristics of project personnel
and students; aggregate demographics of participants; sources of
financial support and in-kind support; expenditures by operational
component; characteristics of industrial and/or other sector
participation; research activities; workforce development activities;
external engagement activities; patents and patent licenses;
publications; degrees granted to students involved in project
activities; and descriptions of significant advances and other outcomes
of the EPSCoR project's efforts. Part of this reporting takes the form
of several spreadsheets to capture specific information to demonstrate
progress towards achieving the goals of the program. Such reporting
requirements are included in the cooperative agreement which is binding
between the awardee institution and NSF.
Each project's annual report addresses the following categories of
activities: (1) research, (2) education, (3) workforce development, (4)
partnerships and collaborations, (5) communication and dissemination,
(6) sustainability, (7) diversity, (8) management, and (9) evaluation
and assessment.
For each of the categories the report is required to describe
overall objectives for the year; specific accomplishments, impacts,
outputs and outcomes; problems or challenges the project has
encountered in making progress towards goals; and anticipated problems
in performance during the following year.
Use of the Information: NSF will use the information to continue
its oversight of funded EPSCoR RII projects, and to evaluate the
progress of the program.
The change would facilitate reporting better aligned with program
goals and provides data as legislatively required for NSF EPSCoR.
Estimate of Burden: Approximately 59 hours per project for 181
projects for a total of 10,679 hours.
Respondents: Non-profit institutions; federal government.
Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One.
Dated: December 14, 2023.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2023-27872 Filed 12-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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