Grantee Reporting Requirements for Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs)

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
MRSEC Final Report Guidelines.docx Supplementary Document	2019-09-16
MRSEC 2019 Annual Report Guidelines.docx Supplementary Document	2019-09-16
FINAL RPPR PRA Instructions.pdf Supplementary Document	2013-12-05
OMB MRSEC Supporting Statement 6-2019 Guidelines.docx Supporting Statement A	2019-06-05

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
208763	Guidelines for MRSEC Annual Progress Reports and Continuation Request Other-Reporting guidelines	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3145-0230	ICR Reference No: 201906-3145-001
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201607-3145-002
Agency/Subagency: NSF	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Grantee Reporting Requirements for Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs)
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 09/17/2019
	Date Received in OIRA: 06/05/2019
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	09/30/2022	36 Months From Approved	09/30/2019
Responses	20	0	21
Time Burden (Hours)	3,700	0	3,885
Cost Burden (Dollars)	192,400	0	370,188

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Abstract: The NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) program provides significant support ($1 – $4 million / year) for research, education, and infrastructure through cooperative agreements with a renewable term of 6 years. Because of the duration and size of these awards, it is necessary for the NSF to ensure that its substantial investment is spent appropriately, that each of the centers meets the goals stated in its strategic plan, and that each center's activities satisfy the goals and objectives of the MRSEC program. The MRSEC program currently funds a total of 22 Centers-12 were funded in FY08, and 10 FY11. For effective oversight of these substantial investments, the NSF requires that each currently funded Center submit an annual progress report that describes all activities of the Center; these reports begin in the first year of operation. Each Center is expected to submit a final report at the end of the award. Data contained in these reports are also submitted to a website managed by a contractor for NSF. Electronic submission facilitates program-wide data analysis.

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

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:
	84 FR 7405	03/04/2019
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 26162	06/05/2019
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Guidelines for MRSEC Annual Progress Reports and Continuation Request

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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	20	21	0	-1	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	3,700	3,885	0	-185	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	192,400	370,188	0	-177,788	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: A cooperative agreement ended with one of the Centers; however, the burden time for each center did not change.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $57,600

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

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: 06/05/2019

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