Supporting Statement

NASA Guidance for Completing PRA/ICB Supporting Statement

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

2700- 0010

A. Justification.

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.

Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection.

All federal agencies are authorized under 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.5 to require patent licensees to periodically submit reports which describe the steps taken to achieve and maintain practical application of the licensed inventions.

2. Indicate how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

The information is used by NASA attorneys and technology transfer specialists to determine if a licensee is achieving and maintaining practical application of the licensed inventions as required by its license agreement.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.

No Web-based and/or electronic techniques are used to collect the information. The use of such techniques is not contemplated.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.

There is no duplication, and no such similar information is available.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities (Item five of form OMB 83-I, the Paperwork Reduction Act Submission form), describe any methods used to minimize burden.

N/A.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.

If the information was not collected, NASA would have no means to monitor the activities of its licensees. The terms of each NASA license specify that the licensee must commercialize the invention and that NASA has the right to terminate the license if commercialization ceases. The annual reports allow NASA to make a determination on the extent of commercialization by the licenseee and to make an informed decision as to whether the license should be terminated.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in certain manners (as listed).

None.

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR § 1320.8 (d), soliciting comments on the information collection before submission to OMB.

TBD.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than renumeration of contractors or grantees.

N/A.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

Confidentiality of information submitted is required by 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.14.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.

N/A.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information.

The estimated number of respondents for Fiscal Year 2004 is 90. Each licensee is required to report annually. It takes approximately 0.5 hours to complete the report. The annual hour burden for Fiscal Year 2004 is estimated to be 45 hours.

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information.

The estimated total annual cost burden to respondents is zero.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses, and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.

It takes approximately 2 hours (including time it takes to update TecTracS to review evaluate every license report. The total number of hours for 90 reports is 180 hours. At the attorney hourly rate of $65. The annualized Federal government cost is $11,700.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB Form 83‑I.

No change.

16. For collections of information intended for publication, outline plans for tabulation and publication.

N/A.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display may be inappropriate.

N/A.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in item 19, “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions” of OMB Form 83-1.

N/A

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods.

No statististical methods are or will be employed.

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