Descriptive and Exploratory Study of the National Science Foundation's Small Grants for Exploratory Research Funding Mechanism

Forms and Documents

Document	Type	Status	Availability
3145SGER Part B.pdf	Supporting Statement B	Uploaded 2008-05-21	Available
3145SGER Part A.pdf	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2008-05-21	Available

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
185010	SGER Survey of Non-Awardees	Other-Survey	New
185009	Survey of SGER Principal Investigators	Other-Survey	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3145-0208	ICR Reference No: 200805-3145-006
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: NSF	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Descriptive and Exploratory Study of the National Science Foundation's Small Grants for Exploratory Research Funding Mechanism
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 08/25/2008
	Date Received in OIRA: 05/21/2008
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	08/31/2011	36 Months From Approved
Responses	4,358	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	1,430	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: Since 1989, the Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER), a special grant-making mechanism, has been in place to fund activities that are judged to be small-scale, exploratory, and high-risk. This special funding mechanism allows program directors to make small grants with Division Director concurrence and without external review (NSF, Proposal and Awards Manual NSF Manual #10; NSF, Grant Proposal Guide NSF 04-23). SGER proposals are appropriate for • Preliminary work on untested and innovative ideas; • Ventures into emerging and potentially transformative research areas; • Application of new expertise or approaches to “established” research topics; • Urgent situations regarding the availability of or access to, data, facilities, or specialized equipment, including quick response research on natural or anthropogenic disasters and similar unanticipated events; and •Efforts of similar character likely to catalyze rapid and innovative advances.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 1861 et seq. Name of Law: National Science Foundation Act of 1950
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	72 FR 59116	10/18/2007
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	73 FR 29539	05/21/2008
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Survey of SGER Principal Investigators
SGER Survey of Non-Awardees

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	4,358	0	0	4,358	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,430	0	0	1,430	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new survey the National Science Foundation would like to conduct to capture data on the small grant portfolio.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government:

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 05/21/2008

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