Notice2024-10892
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
May 17, 2024
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 89 Issue 97 (Friday, May 17, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 97 (Friday, May 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43438-43439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10892]
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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 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, or send email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dcafacb0b5b1aca8b39cb2afbaf2bbb3aa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1063607c797d60647f507e63763e777f66">[email protected]</span></a>, or by
telephone to 703-292-7556. 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: 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.
Comments regarding (a) whether the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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 should be addressed to the points
of contact in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Request for
public comment was previously published March 13, 2024 at 89 FR 18442.
Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for NSF SBIR/
STTR Program.
OMB Number: 3145-0252.
Type of Request: Reinstatement and request for Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) approval of an information collection.
Abstract:
Proposed Project:
This request is for reinstating interim reporting requirements for
the NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business
Technology Transfer Research (STTR) programs.
The NSF SBIR/STTR programs focus on transforming scientific
discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or
societal benefit. Unlike fundamental or basic research activities that
focus on scientific and engineering discoveries, the NSF SBIR/STTR
programs support the creation of opportunities to move fundamental
science and engineering out of the lab and into the market at scale,
through startups and small businesses representing deep technology
ventures.
The NSF SBIR/STTR programs have two phases: Phase I and Phase II
(with an optional Phase IIB as matching supplements). SBIR/STTR Phase I
is a 6-12 month experimental or theoretical investigation that allows
the awardees to determine the scientific and technical feasibility, as
well as the commercial merit of the idea or concept. Phase II further
develops the proposed concept, building on the feasibility project
undertaken in Phase I, and accelerate the Phase I project to the
commercialization stage and enhance the overall strength of the
commercial potential. As such, Phase II SBIR/STTR awards have a longer
expected period of performance of 24 months.
The NSF SBIR/STTR programs request approval from OMB on the
reinstatement of the NSF SBIR/STTR Phase II interim/progress report
data collection.
The interim/progress report will be required every six months for
the life of the Phase II award. The report collects information on the
technical progress of the funded NSF work, which allows managing
Program Directors to monitor the project and ensure that the award is
in good standing.
The report is divided into 6 sections: (1) Basic Reporting Data,
(2) Level of Effort, (3) SBIR-wide Certifications, (4) Cooperative
Agreement (NSF-specific
[[Page 43439]]
Certifications), (5) Technical Narratives, and (6) Project Milestones.
The kinds of data collected from the report include name of the
startup company, information on the principal investigator (PI) (name,
email address, and phone number), the number of full-time equivalent
(FTE) employees working at the startup, amount of funding received
during the award period. In addition, information pertaining to company
officers and key personnel, their corresponding ownership status, and
their levels of efforts provided to the startups are also requested.
Collectively, these data will enable the managing Program Directors to
(1) evaluate a given company's business structure, (2) ascertain the
level of commitment of the PI(s), co-PI(s), and key personnel to the
startup venture, and (3) identify conflicts of interests (if any), as
part of the due diligence process that the programs undertake to verify
that there are no fraudulent or inappropriate business practices.
The report also asks about: inputs (i.e., project expenditures,
efforts exerted by key personnel), outputs (i.e., R&D activities,
technical progresses), outcomes (i.e., research milestones, fundraising
activities), and impacts (i.e., technical and/or commercial successes).
Finally, the report also requests: (1) a discussion of progresses
highlighting key technical and commercial activity/results during the
reporting period, (2) compliance requirements checklists from the Small
Business Administration (SBA) and NSF, and (3) a Gantt chart describing
the project status, as well as task assignments to key personnel in the
project.
Use of the Information: The data collected will be used primarily
for award monitoring. The data could also be used for congressional
requests, inquiries from the NSF's Office of the Inspector General,
supporting evidence of litigations, auditing, and other legal
investigations, NSF internal reports, and program evaluations, if
necessary.
Estimate of Burden: The estimated number of respondents is: 410.
Average time to complete the interim report: 18 hours. The estimated
total burden hours: 7,380 hours per year.
Respondents: The respondents are either PIs or Co-PIs listed on the
NSF SBIR/STTR Proposals, Founders, and/or Co-founders of the startups
funded by the NSF SBIR/STTR programs.
Dated: May 14, 2024.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2024-10892 Filed 5-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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