Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2024 / Notices 8459 

activities within the larger project 

(including informing interpretation of 

interviews with NSF staff, document 

review analyses, and interpretation of 

extant data analysis of review analyses). 

For example, we anticipate that 

participants in these focus groups may 

raise issues around their understanding 

and interpretation of Broader Impacts, 

which can be compared to perceptions 

that NSF staff report during interviews. 

Background 

NSF sets forth an ambitious vision for 

the United States: a nation that leads the 

world in science and engineering 

research and innovation, to the benefit 

of all, without barriers to participation. 

Toward this end, NSF promotes the 

progress of science by investing in 

research and capacity-building activities 

that expand knowledge in science, 

engineering, and education. In fiscal 

year (FY) 2022, NSF evaluated almost 

40,000 proposals for research and 

education activities, making nearly 

11,000 new awards totaling more than 

$8.5 billion. 

At the cornerstone of NSF’s mission 

and its investments is its merit review 

process. NSF program directors with 

technical and programmatic expertise 

lead this process, with support from 

external experts who help evaluate 

submitted proposals for two main 

criteria: (1) Intellectual Merit—the 

potential to advance knowledge; and (2) 

Broader Impacts—the potential to 

contribute to society and achieve 

specific, desired societal outcomes. 

With these two criteria, NSF has 

established a commitment to projects 

that provide tangible benefits to society 

beyond advancing knowledge. 

It is critically important that NSF 

implement its merit review process in a 

way that is fair, thorough, competitive, 

and transparent, and that those internal 

and external to NSF recognize the 

process as such. However, as NSF 

noted, PIs and reviewers might lack 

clarity about the Broader Impacts 

criterion, despite NSF’s efforts to 

provide additional guidance. NSF has 

also noted a lack of consistency in how 

NSF implements the criterion across 

directorates, divisions, and programs. 

Specific challenges related to the 

understanding and application of 

Broader Impacts include a lack of 

consensus on how to define Broader 

Impacts, and a disconnect between the 

Broader Impacts requirements stated in 

the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & 

Procedures Guide and how panelists 

review these activities (National 

Alliance for Broader Impacts 2018). The 

purpose of this work, then, is to ‘‘assess 

how the Broader Impact review criterion 

is applied across the Foundation and 

make recommendations for improving 

the effectiveness for meeting the goals 

established in section 526 of the 

America Creating Opportunities to 

Meaningfully Promote Excellence in 

Technology, Education, and Science 

Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 

1862p–14)’’ (America COMPETES 

Reauthorization Act of 2010). This 

evaluation is congressionally directed in 

section 10341 of the Creating Helpful 

Incentives to Produce Semiconductors 

[CHIPS] for America Fund Act 2022. 

Methodology 

Focus groups will be conducted with 

two types of respondents: PIs and 

reviewers. 

The evaluation will include three PI 

focus groups of up to seven people each. 

Participants in these groups will be PIs 

who submitted a proposal within the 

last five years. The study team will 

select participants via a stratified 

random sample by NSF directorate, 

institutional characteristics (such as 

Carnegie classification, MSI status, and 

locale), and participant characteristics 

(such as race/ethnicity, gender, years 

since terminal degree, and new 

investigator status). PIs have firsthand 

experience addressing the Broader 

Impacts review criterion in their 

proposals. Among this group, key 

insights include the following: 

1. Questions they have about how to 

address the Broader Impacts review 

criterion in their research and 

proposals. 

2. Strategies they have employed as a 

PI in addressing the Broader Impacts 

review criterion in their research and 

proposals. 

3. Resources or supports received 

from their respective institutions for 

developing well-thought-out proposals 

that address the Broader Impacts review 

criterion. 

Reviewer focus groups will consist of 

three focus groups of up to seven people 

each. Participants in these groups will 

be people who served on a review panel 

within the last five years. The study 

team will select participants via a 

stratified random sample by directorate 

and participant characteristics (such as 

how long they have been reviewing NSF 

proposals). Reviewers have firsthand 

knowledge about applying the Broader 

Impacts review criterion. Among this 

group, key insights include the 

following: 

1. Interpretating and applying the 

criterion as a reviewer (and compared 

with as a PI). 

2. Reviewer training and guidance. 

Affected Public: NSF reviewers and 

PIs. 

AVERAGE EXPECTED ANNUAL NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES

Collection method 

Estimated 

lower bound 

(number of 

responses) 

Estimated 

upper bound 

(number of 

responses) 

Estimated 

average 

response time 

(min) 

Approximate 

lower bound 

response burden 

(hours) 

Approximate 

upper bound 

response burden 

(hours) 

Focus groups ............................................... 4*6=24 7*6=42 90 minutes (24*90)/60=36 (42*90)/60=72 

Respondents: Lower-bound estimate 

of 24 individuals and upper-bound 

estimate of 48 individuals. 

Average Minutes per Response: 90. 

Burden Hours: Lower- and upperbound estimates of approximately 36 

and 72 hours. 

Dated: January 3, 2023. 

Suzanne H. Plimpton, 

Reports Clearance Officer, National Science 

Foundation. 

[FR Doc. 2024–02500 Filed 2–6–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7555–01–P 

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION 

[Docket No. CP2022–110] 

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 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
8460 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2024 / 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). 

1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 

2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 

3The ‘‘SIP’’ refers to the centralized securities 

information processors. 

4See ‘‘How Subdollar Securities are Trading 

Now’’ (March 16, 2023). Available at https://

www.cboe.com/insights/posts/how-subdollarsecurities-are-trading-now/. 

5 Id. 

6Trade Reporting Facilities are facilities through 

which FINRA members report off-exchange 

transactions in NMS stocks, as defined in SEC Rule 

600(b)(47) of Regulation NMS. See Securities 

Exchange Act Release No. 96494 (December 14, 

2022), 87 FR 80266 (December 29, 2022) (‘‘Tick Size 

Proposal’’) at 80315. 

7Supra note 4. 

notice informs the public of the filing, 

invites public comment, and takes other 

administrative steps. 

DATES: Comments are due: February 8, 

2024. 

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).: CP2022–110; Filing 

Title: USPS Notice of Amendment to 

Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, 

First-Class Package Service & Parcel 

Select Contract 20, Filed Under Seal, 

Filed Under Seal; Filing Acceptance 

Date: January 31, 2024; Filing Authority: 

39 CFR 3035.105; Public Representative: 

Cherry Yao; Comments Due: February 8, 

2024. 

This Notice will be published in the 

Federal Register. 

Jennie L. Jbara, 

Alternate Certifying Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2024–02435 Filed 2–6–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 

COMMISSION 

[Release No. 34–99458; File No. SR– 

CboeEDGA–2024–003] 

Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe 

EDGA Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing 

of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend 

Rule 11.6(n)(4) and Rule 11.10(a)(4)(D) 

To Permit the Use of the Post Only 

Order Instruction at Prices Below $1.00 

February 1, 2024. 

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the 

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 

‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2

notice is hereby given that on January 

19, 2024, Cboe EDGA Exchange, Inc. 

(the ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘EDGA’’) filed with 

the Securities and Exchange 

Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the 

proposed rule change as described in 

Items I, II, and III below, which Items 

have been prepared by the Exchange. 

The Commission is publishing this 

notice to solicit comments on the 

proposed rule change from interested 

persons. 

I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s 

Statement of the Terms of Substance of 

the Proposed Rule Change 

Cboe EDGA Exchange, Inc. (the 

‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘EDGA’’) proposes to 

amend Rule 11.6(n)(4) and Rule 

11.10(a)(4)(D) to permit the use of the 

Post Only order instruction at prices 

below $1.00. The text of the proposed 

rule change is provided in Exhibit 5. 

The text of the proposed rule change 

is also available on the Exchange’s 

website (http://markets.cboe.com/us/ 

equities/regulation/rule_filings/edga/), 

at the Exchange’s Office of the 

Secretary, and at the Commission’s 

Public Reference Room. 

II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s 

Statement of the Purpose of, and 

Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule 

Change 

In its filing with the Commission, the 

Exchange included statements 

concerning the purpose of and basis for 

the proposed rule change and discussed 

any comments it received on the 

proposed rule change. The text of these 

statements may be examined at the 

places specified in Item IV below. The 

Exchange has prepared summaries, set 

forth in sections A, B, and C below, of 

the most significant aspects of such 

statements. 

A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s 

Statement of the Purpose of, and 

Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule 

Change 

1. Purpose 

Trading in sub-dollar securities both 

on- and off-exchange has grown 

significantly since early 2019. An 

analysis of SIP 3 data by the Exchange 

found that sub-dollar average daily 

volume has increased over 300% as 

compared to volumes in the first quarter 

of 2019.4 During this period, onexchange average daily volume in subdollar securities grew from 442 million 

shares per day to 1.8 billion shares per 

day.5 A separate analysis of SIP and 

FINRA Trade Reporting Facility 

(‘‘TRF’’) 6 data indicated that exchanges 

represented approximately 39.8% 

market share in sub-dollar securities, 

with a total of 1,638 securities trading 

below $1.00.7 As an exchange group, 

Cboe had approximately 13.3% of 

market share in sub-dollar securities in 


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