Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 203 / Monday, October 23, 2023 / Notices 72799 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: Comment Request 

AGENCY: National Science Foundation. 

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; 

comment request. 

SUMMARY: The National Science 

Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 

following information collection 

requirement to OMB for review and 

clearance under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995. This is the 

second notice for public comment; the 

first was published in the Federal 

Register and 121 responses from 32 

organizations were received. NSF is 

forwarding the proposed renewal 

submission to the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB) for clearance 

simultaneously with the publication of 

this second notice. 

DATES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ 

PRAmain. Find this particular 

information collection by selecting 

‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open 

for Public Comments’’ or by using the 

search function. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 

Officer, National Science Foundation, 

2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, 

VA 22314, or send email to splimpto@

nsf.gov. Individuals who use a 

telecommunications device for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877– 

8339, which is accessible 24 hours a 

day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year 

(including Federal holidays). Comments 

regarding this information collection are 

best assured of having their full effect if 

received within 30 days of this 

notification. Copies of the submission(s) 

may be obtained by calling 703–292– 

7556. 

NSF may not conduct or sponsor a 

collection of information unless the 

collection of information displays a 

currently valid OMB control number, 

and the agency informs potential 

persons who are to respond to the 

collection of information that such 

persons are not required to respond to 

the collection of information unless it 

displays a currently valid OMB control 

number. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Summary of Comments on the National 

Science Foundation Proposal and 

Award Policies and Procedures Guide 

and NSF’s Responses 

The draft NSF PAPPG was made 

available for review by the public on the 

NSF website at http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/ 

dias/policy/. NSF received 121 

responses from 32 organizations in 

response to the first Federal Register 

notice published on April 13, 2023, at 

88 FR 22488. All comments have been 

considered in the development of the 

proposed version (please see http://

www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/). A 

summary of the significant changes and 

clarifications to the PAPPG has been 

incorporated into the document. 

Title of Collection: ‘‘National Science 

Foundation Proposal & Award Policies 

& Procedures Guide.’’ 

OMB Approval Number: 3145–0058. 

Type of Request: Intent to seek 

approval to extend with revision an 

information collection for three years. 

Proposed Project: The National 

Science Foundation Act of 1950 (Pub. L. 

81–507) sets 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. 

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 six 

decades, its ultimate mission remains 

the same. 

Use of the Information: The regular 

submission of proposals to the 

Foundation is part of the collection of 

information and is used to help NSF 

fulfill this responsibility by initiating 

and supporting merit-selected research 

and education projects in all the 

scientific and engineering disciplines. 

In FY 2024, NSF expects to receive more 

than 46,500 proposals annually for new 

or renewal support for research in math/ 

science/engineering/education projects 

and make approximately 12,900 new 

awards. 

Support is made primarily through 

grants, contracts, and other agreements 

awarded to approximately 3,000 

institutions of higher education (IHEs), 

K–12 school systems, for-profit 

organizations, informal science 

organizations and other research 

organizations throughout the U.S. The 

awards are based mainly on merit 

evaluations of proposals submitted to 

the Foundation. 

Burden on the Public 

It has been estimated that the public 

expends an average of approximately 

120 burden hours for each proposal 

submitted. Since the Foundation 

expects to receive approximately 46,500 

proposals in FY 2024, an estimated 

5,580,000 burden hours will be placed 

on the public. 

The Foundation has based its 

reporting burden on the review of 

approximately 46,500 new proposals 

expected during FY 2024. It has been 

estimated that anywhere from one hour 

to 20 hours may be required to review 

a proposal. We have estimated that 

approximately 5 hours are required to 

review an average proposal. Each 

proposal receives an average of 3 

reviews, resulting in approximately 

697,500 hours per year. 

The information collected on the 

reviewer background questionnaire 

(NSF 428A) is used by managers to 

maintain an automated database of 

reviewers for the many disciplines 

represented by the proposals submitted 

to the Foundation. Information collected 

on gender, race, and ethnicity is used in 

meeting NSF needs for data to permit 

response to Congressional and other 

queries into equity issues. These data 

also are used in the design, 

implementation, and monitoring of NSF 

efforts to increase the participation of 

various groups in science, engineering, 

and education. The estimated burden 

for the Reviewer Background 

Information (NSF 428A) is estimated at 

5 minutes per respondent with up to 

10,000 potential new reviewers for a 

total of 833 hours. 

The aggregate number of burden 

hours is estimated to be 6,278,333. The 

actual burden on respondents has not 

changed. 


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72800 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 203 / Monday, October 23, 2023 / Notices 

1See Docket No. RM2018–3, Order Adopting 

Final Rules Relating to Non-Public Information, 

June 27, 2018, Attachment A at 19–22 (Order No. 

4679). 

1See Docket No. RM2018–3, Order Adopting 

Final Rules Relating to Non-Public Information, 

June 27, 2018, Attachment A at 19–22 (Order No. 

4679). 

Dated: October 18, 2023. 

Suzanne H. Plimpton, 

Reports Clearance Officer, National Science 

Foundation. 

[FR Doc. 2023–23375 Filed 10–20–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7555–01–P 

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION 

[Docket Nos. MC2024–15 and CP2024–15] 

New Postal Products 

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a 

recent Postal Service filing for the 

Commission’s consideration concerning 

a negotiated service agreement. This 

notice informs the public of the filing, 

invites public comment, and takes other 

administrative steps. 

DATES: Comments are due: October 25, 

2023. 

ADDRESSES: Submit comments 

electronically via the Commission’s 

Filing Online system at http://

www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit 

comments electronically should contact 

the person identified in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT section by 

telephone for advice on filing 

alternatives. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 

202–789–6820. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents 

I. Introduction 

II. Docketed Proceeding(s) 

I. Introduction 

The Commission gives notice that the 

Postal Service filed request(s) for the 

Commission to consider matters related 

to negotiated service agreement(s). The 

request(s) may propose the addition or 

removal of a negotiated service 

agreement from the Market Dominant or 

the Competitive product list, or the 

modification of an existing product 

currently appearing on the Market 

Dominant or the Competitive product 

list. 

Section II identifies the docket 

number(s) associated with each Postal 

Service request, the title of each Postal 

Service request, the request’s acceptance 

date, and the authority cited by the 

Postal Service for each request. For each 

request, the Commission appoints an 

officer of the Commission to represent 

the interests of the general public in the 

proceeding, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505 

(Public Representative). Section II also 

establishes comment deadline(s) 

pertaining to each request. 

The public portions of the Postal 

Service’s request(s) can be accessed via 

the Commission’s website (http://

www.prc.gov). Non-public portions of 

the Postal Service’s request(s), if any, 

can be accessed through compliance 

with the requirements of 39 CFR 

3011.301.1

The Commission invites comments on 

whether the Postal Service’s request(s) 

in the captioned docket(s) are consistent 

with the policies of title 39. For 

request(s) that the Postal Service states 

concern Market Dominant product(s), 

applicable statutory and regulatory 

requirements include 39 U.S.C. 3622, 39 

U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR part 3030, and 39 

CFR part 3040, subpart B. For request(s) 

that the Postal Service states concern 

Competitive product(s), applicable 

statutory and regulatory requirements 

include 39 U.S.C. 3632, 39 U.S.C. 3633, 

39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR part 3035, and 

39 CFR part 3040, subpart B. Comment 

deadline(s) for each request appear in 

section II. 

II. Docketed Proceeding(s) 

1. Docket No(s).: MC2024–15 and 

CP2024–15; Filing Title: USPS Request 

to Add Priority Mail, USPS Ground 

Advantage, Parcel Select & Parcel 

Return Service Contract 1 to 

Competitive Product List and Notice of 

Filing Materials Under Seal; Filing 

Acceptance Date: October 17, 2023; 

Filing Authority: 39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR 

3040.130 through 3040.135, and 39 CFR 

3035.105; Public Representative: 

Christopher C. Mohr; Comments Due: 

October 25, 2023. 

This Notice will be published in the 

Federal Register. 

Mallory S. Richards, 

Attorney-Advisor. 

[FR Doc. 2023–23377 Filed 10–20–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P 

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION 

[Docket Nos. MC2024–12 and CP2024–12; 

MC2024–13 and CP2024–13; MC2024–14 

and CP2024–14] 

New Postal Products 

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a 

recent Postal Service filing for the 

Commission’s consideration concerning 

a negotiated service agreement. This 

notice informs the public of the filing, 

invites public comment, and takes other 

administrative steps. 

DATES: Comments are due: October 24, 

2023. 

ADDRESSES: Submit comments 

electronically via the Commission’s 

Filing Online system at http://

www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit 

comments electronically should contact 

the person identified in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT section by 

telephone for advice on filing 

alternatives. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 

202–789–6820. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents 

I. Introduction 

II. Docketed Proceeding(s) 

I. Introduction 

The Commission gives notice that the 

Postal Service filed request(s) for the 

Commission to consider matters related 

to negotiated service agreement(s). The 

request(s) may propose the addition or 

removal of a negotiated service 

agreement from the Market Dominant or 

the Competitive product list, or the 

modification of an existing product 

currently appearing on the Market 

Dominant or the Competitive product 

list. 

Section II identifies the docket 

number(s) associated with each Postal 

Service request, the title of each Postal 

Service request, the request’s acceptance 

date, and the authority cited by the 

Postal Service for each request. For each 

request, the Commission appoints an 

officer of the Commission to represent 

the interests of the general public in the 

proceeding, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505 

(Public Representative). Section II also 

establishes comment deadline(s) 

pertaining to each request. 

The public portions of the Postal 

Service’s request(s) can be accessed via 

the Commission’s website (http://

www.prc.gov). Non-public portions of 

the Postal Service’s request(s), if any, 

can be accessed through compliance 

with the requirements of 39 CFR 

3011.301.1

The Commission invites comments on 

whether the Postal Service’s request(s) 

in the captioned docket(s) are consistent 

with the policies of title 39. For 

request(s) that the Postal Service states 

concern Market Dominant product(s), 


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