3145-0205 Supporting Statement 2013

SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR PAPERWORK REDUCTION SUBMISSION

International Cover Page Addendum

A. JUSTIFICATION

1. CIRCUMSTANCES MAKING COLLECTION OF INFORMATION NECESSARY

Background. The National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (Public Law 81-507) set forth

NSF's mission and purpose: “To promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense....” The Act authorized and directed NSF to initiate and support: basic scientific research and research fundamental to the engineering process, programs to strengthen scientific and engineering research potential, science and engineering education programs at all levels and in all the various fields of science and engineering, programs that provide a source of information for policy formulation, and other activities to promote these ends.

Over the years, NSF's statutory authority has been modified in a number of significant ways. In

1968, authority to support applied research was added to the Organic Act. In 1980, the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act gave NSF standing authority to support activities to improve the participation of women and minorities in science and engineering. Another major change occurred in 1986, when engineering was accorded equal status with science in the Organic Act. NSF has always dedicated itself to providing the leadership and vision needed to keep the words and ideas embedded in its mission statement fresh and up-to-date. Even in today's rapidly changing environment, NSF's core purpose resonates clearly in everything it does: promoting achievement and progress in science and engineering and enhancing the potential for research and education to contribute to the Nation. While NSF's vision of the future and the mechanisms it uses to carry out its charges have evolved significantly over the last four decades, its ultimate mission remains the same.

2. HOW, BY WHOM, AND PURPOSE FOR WHICH INFORMATION IS TO BE USED

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 purpose, providing counts of scientists and students to be supported by the project, are also not available elsewhere in the proposal since OISE budgets do not break out costs for scientists and students. These factors are all important for OISE program management.

3. USE OF AUTOMATION

The collection of information will be fully electronic and occur via NSF's already existent web-based program, FastLane.

4. EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY DUPLICATION

The information the Office is requesting is unique. The Office of International Science and Engineering has a continuing commitment to monitor its information collection in order to preserve its applicability and necessity. Through periodic updates and revisions, the Office ensures that only useful, non-redundant information is collected.

5. SMALL BUSINESS CONSIDERATIONS

There is no significant impact on small entities.

6. CONSEQUENCES OF LESS FREQUENT COLLECTION

The collected information is specific to each proposal being submitted, so it is most reasonably collected at the time of proposal submission. Proposals are submitted in response to different solicitations that vary in terms of 1) the proposed international activity and 2) the submission deadlines. If the information is not collected at submission, NSF program staff must contact the submitting organization/investigator before final funding decisions are made, creating an additional burden for both parties.

7. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR COLLECTION

N/A

8. FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE.

The International Cover Page Addendum form was published for public comment in the Federal Register at 78 FR 23598 (April 19, 2013). No comments were received.

OUTSIDE CONSULTATION

Every three years, OISE is reviewed by a panel of outsiders referred to as a Committee of Visitors. The Committee reviews all Divisional activities and will have the opportunity to comment on the form's use, appropriateness, and effectiveness.

9. GIFTS OR REMUNERATION

There are no payments or gifts associated with this information collection.

10. CONFIDENTIALITY PROVIDED TO RESPONDENTS

As participation is voluntary and no sensitive information is being collected, no assurance of confidentiality is given to respondents.

11. QUESTIONS OF A SENSITIVE NATURE

None of the information being collected is of a sensitive nature

12. ESTIMATE OF BURDEN

The estimated annual hour burden is 150 hours. The Office anticipates 600 respondents each giving one response. The estimated time per response is 15 minutes. This was calculated by averaging the response time of a sample of five individuals.

ANNUALIZED COST TO RESPONDENTS

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary in 2012 for "Biological science teachers, postsecondary" (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes251042.htm) is $92,870 which translates to an hourly wage of $44.65. The quarter-hour rate would be $11.16; therefore, the total estimated annualized cost to respondents is therefore $6,696 ($10.00 x600).

13. CAPITAL/STARTUP COSTS

NSF does not require respondents to purchase or lease equipment to complete our information collection.

14. ANNUALIZED COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Making use of preexisting infrastructure for collection and maintenance, this information collection comes at no additional cost to the federal government.

15. CHANGES IN BURDEN

N/A

16. PUBLICATION OF COLLECTION

N/A

17. SEEKING APPROVAL TO NOT DISPLAY OMB EXPIRATION DATE

N/A

18. EXCEPTION(S) TO THE CERTIFICATION STATEMENT (19) ON OMB 83-I

N/A