Notice of Intent To Reinstate Information Collection

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to request reinstatement of the National Training, Education, and Workforce Survey (NTEWS) (OMB Control Number 3145-0264). In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, NSF is providing an opportunity for public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting that Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve clearance of this collection for three years.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 166 (Friday, August 28, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 166 (Friday, August 28, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55625-55626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17556]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Reinstate Information Collection

AGENCY: U.S. National Science Foundation, National Center for Science 
and Engineering Statistics.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics 
(NCSES) within the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing 
plans to request reinstatement of the National Training, Education, and 
Workforce Survey (NTEWS) (OMB Control Number 3145-0264). In accordance 
with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, NSF is 
providing an opportunity for public comment on this action. After 
obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will prepare the 
submission requesting that Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
approve clearance of this collection for three years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by October 27, 
2026 to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to the 
address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, U.S. National Science Foundation, Randolph Building, 401 
Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292-7556; or 
send email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#80f3f0ece9edf0f4efc0eef3e6aee7eff6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d6a5a6babfbba6a2b996b8a5b0f8b1b9a0">[email&#160;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 between 8:00 a.m. 
and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: 2027 National Training, Education, and 
Workforce Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 3145-0264.
    Expiration Date: 12/13/2024.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to reinstate an 
information collection for three years.
    Abstract: Established within the U.S. National Science Foundation 
(NSF) by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 Sec.  505, 
codified in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended, 
the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (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.
    The 2027 National Training, Education, and Workforce Survey (NTEWS) 
is designed to comply with these mandates by improving the measurement 
of the science and engineering (S&E) workforce in the United States. 
The NTEWS will integrate three previous NCSES workforce surveys--the 
NTEWS, the National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG), and the Survey 
of Doctorate Recipients (SDR)--to provide national estimates on the 
employment, education, and training of non-institutionalized U.S. 
adults (18-75 years old) with a special focus on S&E occupations and 
degrees, the skilled technical workforce, and the U.S.-trained doctoral 
S&E workforce (see Table 1).

    Table 1--Merging Three NCSES Surveys Into One OMB Control Number
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Merging into
                 Survey                     OMB Control       one OMB
                                                No.         Control No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Training, Education, and              3145-0264       3145-0264
 Workforce Survey (NTEWS)...............
National Survey of College Graduates           3145-0141
 (NSCG).................................

[[Page 55626]]

 
Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR)....       3145-0020
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This integration comes as an effort to reduce respondent burden and 
streamline collections while continuing to uphold statutory 
requirements. The consolidated questionnaire has undergone cognitive 
testing.
    The 2027 NTEWS production sample will select new sample members 
from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2025 American Community Survey (ACS) and 
the NCSES's 2022-2025 Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), an annual 
census of research doctorate recipients from U.S. academic 
institutions. Returning sample members will be selected from the 2022 
NTEWS Pilot, 2025 NSCG, and 2023 SDR, which will provide the needed 
coverage of and estimation reliability for the U.S. adult workforce 
across all education levels. The U.S. Census Bureau will serve as the 
data collection contractor for the ACS-based sample, which includes new 
sample members from the 2025 ACS and returning sample members from the 
2022 NTEWS Pilot and the 2025 NSCG. The new sample based on the SED and 
the returning 2023 SDR sample will be collected under a separate 
contractual mechanism.
    The Census Bureau also will serve as the data collection contractor 
for a non-production sample included within this information collection 
request, the SED Bridge Panel. The bridge panel sample will be selected 
from the SED. It is considered a non-production sample because its data 
will not be used to generate official statistics. The purpose of the 
SED Bridge Panel is to examine the feasibility of a single data 
collection contractor managing the full set of sample components within 
the integrated design and to explore potential linkages to supplement 
and complement the survey data collection with the goal of reduced 
respondent burden.
    The survey data collection for both the production sample and non-
production bridge panel sample is expected to begin in May 2027 and 
continue for approximately six months. Respondents will be able to 
complete the survey in English or Spanish, either by web or paper. 
Response to the survey will be voluntary. The ACS-based sample portion 
of the survey, administered by the Census Bureau, will be conducted in 
conformance with Census Bureau statistical quality standards and will 
be afforded confidentiality protection under the applicable Census 
Bureau confidentiality statutes. The sample based on the SED and the 
returning sample members from the SDR will be afforded confidentiality 
protection under the Confidential Information Protection and 
Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) of 2018.
    Use of the Information: As was done with data from the prior three 
workforce surveys, NCSES intends to use information from the NTEWS for 
its two congressionally mandated reports: Science and Engineering 
Indicators (<a href="https://ncses.nsf.gov/indicators">https://ncses.nsf.gov/indicators</a>) and Characteristics of 
Scientists and Engineers. Public release files of collected data, 
designed to protect respondent confidentiality, will be made available 
on the NCSES website (<a href="https://ncses.nsf.gov/">https://ncses.nsf.gov/</a>) and will be accessible 
through NCSES online data tools (<a href="https://ncses.nsf.gov/explore-data">https://ncses.nsf.gov/explore-data</a>).
    Expected Respondents: For the 2027 NTEWS production sample, a 
statistical sample of approximately 341,000 individuals will be 
contacted. There will be approximately 145,000 returning sample members 
from the 2022 NTEWS Pilot, 2025 NSCG, and 2023 SDR and approximately 
196,000 new sample members from the 2025 ACS and the 2022-2025 SED. For 
the non-production SED Bridge Panel sample, a statistical sample of 
approximately 15,000 individuals will be contacted. NCSES expects the 
overall response rate to be 60-65 percent.
    Estimate of Burden: The amount of time to complete the 2027 NTEWS 
questionnaire will vary depending on an individual's educational 
history and employment status, but NCSES estimates a median completion 
time of 35 minutes across both web and paper modes. For the production 
sample, NCSES estimates that the average annual burden for the 2027 
NTEWS over the course of the three-year OMB clearance period will be no 
more than 43,099 hours [(341,000 individuals x 65% response rate x 35 
minutes)/3 years]. For the non-production SED Bridge Panel, NCSES 
estimates that the average annual burden for the 2027 NTEWS over the 
course of the three-year OMB clearance period will be no more than 
1,896 hours [(15,000 individuals x 65% response rate x 35 minutes)/3 
years].
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of NCSES's estimate of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information; (c) 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 (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.

    Dated: August 25, 2026.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, U.S. National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2026-17556 Filed 8-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P


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