Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY:

National Science Foundation.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to request clearance for this collection. In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506 (c) (2) (A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting OMB clearance of this collection for no longer than three years.

Comments are invited on (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 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 of respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Written comments should be received by March 30, 2010, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments regarding the information collection and requests for copies of the proposed information collection request should be addressed to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 295, Arlington, VA 22230, or by e-mail to splimpton@nsf.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Suzanne Plimpton on (703) 292-7556 or send e-mail to splimpton@nsf.gov. 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title of Collection: International Cover Page Addendum.

OMB Control No.: 3145-0205.

Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2010.

Abstract: The Office of International Science and Engineering within the Office of the NSF Director will use the International Cover Page Addendum. Principal Investigators submitting proposals to this Office will be asked to complete an electronic version of the International Cover Page Addendum. The Addendum requests foreign counterpart investigator/host information and participant demographics not requested elsewhere in NSF proposal documents.

The information gathered with the International Cover Page Addendum serves four purposes. The first is to enable proposal assignment to the program officer responsible for activity with the primary countries involved. No current component of a standard NSF proposal requests this information. (The international cooperative activities box on the standard NSF Cover Page applies only to one specific type of activity, not the wide range of activities supported by OISE.) NSF proposal assignment applications are program element-based and therefore can not be used to determine assignment by country. The second use of the information is program management. OISE is committed to investing in activities in all regions of the world. With data from this form, the Office can determine submissions by geographic region. Thirdly, funding decisions can not be made without details for the international partner not included in any other part of the submission process. The fourth section, counts of scientists and students to be supported by the project, are also not available elsewhere in the proposal since OISE budgets do not include participant support costs. These factors are all important for OISE program management.

Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 600.

Burden on the Public: 150 hours (15 mins each respondent).