1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection.
Centennial Challenges is a NASA program that rewards the activities of the general public to fulfill technology development challenges in exchange for a cash purse. Ideas for the specific challenges can be generated within NASA, but an important source of the challenge ideas is the general public itself. The information collection requested, entitled Centennial Challenge Idea Submission Web Forms, facilitate the voluntary collection of challenge ideas from the general public.
The purpose of this program of competitions is to stimulate technology innovation. Allied organizations within the U.S. that have interest in this program administer the competitions at no cost and the competition winners receive monetary awards directly from NASA.
NASA is directed in the prize authorization legislation to broadly solicit ideas for prizes.
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.
Centennial Challenges is a highly visible program within NASA, generating numerous TV, print, and web articles, discussions, and blog entries.
The Centennial Challenges Idea Submission Web Page is more of a listening device than a data collection tool. It is a voluntary way for interested individuals to submit their ideas for new competitions to NASA. The availability of this Web site allows NASA to listen to the comments and inputs of anybody willing to submit their ideas.
Ideas will be reviewed by NASA and, as appropriate, considered in agency reviews for new Centennial Challenges. If feasible, the plan will be to post the submitted ideas to allow others to see the ideas and to generate additional ideas as a form of participatory brainstorming.
Because of the public interest in the Centennial Challenges program, and because any submission to the Web site is completely voluntary, it is recommended that Centennial Challenges Idea Submission Web Page be continued.
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.
The Centennial Challenge Idea Submission Web Forms rely entirely on the use of automated, electronic information technology and it is designed to be extremely easy to use.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
No other information collection duplicates the effort of the Centennial Challenge Idea Submission Web Forms.
It should be noted that NASA receives, at almost all levels of the organization at all the field centers, ideas of new technologies from many sources at a steady pace. Submissions of ideas for new technologies are not the types of submissions this Web page attempts to solicit. Those types of “unsolicited proposals” are received by almost all parts of the NASA organization at all the centers.
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.
Not applicable.
6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
The success of Centennial Challenges relies on the activities of the non-government sector not only to fulfill the goals of each challenge, but also to provide ideas for future challenges. The congressional authorization creating the Centennial Challenges program directs NASA to solicit ideas for challenges very broadly.
7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in certain manners (as listed).
Not applicable.
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.
The pre-OMB publication of NASA’s notice in the Federal Register for public comment occurred on February 14, 2006, Federal Register Vol. 71, No. 30, Page 7801. No comments were received from the public.
9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than renumeration of contractors or grantees.
Not applicable.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
Respondent confidentiality is assumed unless specifically requested to the contrary by the respondent. The following text is provided to convey this policy: “Your confidentially will be maintained unless you specifically make a request to the contrary.”
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.
Not applicable.
12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information.
If an individual decides to submit an idea in the Centennial Challenge Idea Submission Web Forms, it would take them no more than 15 minutes to complete the form. This estimate times the 300 estimated number of respondents results in our request for 75 burden hours. Participation is completely voluntary.
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information.
There is no cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from this collection of information.
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.
The annualized cost to the Federal government resulting from the Centennial Challenges Idea Submission Web Forms is minimal.
The effort to receive, report, and analyze the collected ideas for technology competitions requires approximately one hour per month, or 12 hours per year. At an approximate hourly rate of $80.25, this totals to approximately $1,000 per year in cost to the Federal government.
The original, one-time development cost for the Centennial Challenges Idea Submission Web Forms is estimated to have been approximately $25K.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB Form 83‑I.
There are no program changes or adjustments associated with this program.
16. For collections of information intended for publication, outline plans for tabulation and publication.
None.
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.
Not applicable.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in item 19, “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions” of OMB Form 83-1.
Not applicable.
Not applicable, as this collection does not employ any statistical methods.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| File Title | SUPPORTING STATEMENT |
| Author | Paul Brundage |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-02-03 |