Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

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 [email protected].

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]

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