77898 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 24, 2024 / Notices 

2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, 

Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292– 

7556; 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). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments: Comments regarding (a) 

whether the proposed collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of the 

NSF, including whether the information 

shall have practical utility; (b) the 

accuracy of the NSF’s estimate of the 

burden of the proposed collection of 

information; (c) ways to enhance the 

quality, use, and clarity of the 

information on respondents; and (d) 

ways to minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on those who 

are to respond, including through the 

use of appropriate automated, 

electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology 

should be addressed to the points of 

contact in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT section. 

Copies of the submission 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. 

Title of Collection: NSF Small 

Business Innovation Research (SBIR) 

Program Phase I, NSF Small Business 

Technology Transfer (STTR) Program 

Phase I, and NSF Fast-Track Pilot Presubmission Project Pitch Form. 

OMB Control No.: 3145–NEW. 

Abstract: The NSF Small Business 

Innovation Research Program (SBIR) 

Phase I, Small Business Technology 

Transfer Program (STTR) Phase I, and 

SBIR/STTR Fast-Track Pilot Project 

Pitch is an NSF SBIR/STTR presubmission process that conveys 

information needed to direct the 

proposed SBIR/STTR project to the 

appropriate NSF Program Director (PD) 

for review and possible proposal 

submission invitation. The Project Pitch 

is to be submitted by the applying small 

business concern (as ‘‘proposer’’) to the 

relevant NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I or 

Fast-Track Pilot technology topic. The 

Project Pitch outlines solicitationspecific aspects of the project (such as 

the proposed technology innovation)) 

and captures the same requested 

information, as outlined in the NSF 

SBIR/STTR Phase I and Fast-Track 

Program solicitations, but all within one 

secure, web-based form. Specifically, 

the form collects the submitting 

proposer company and team 

information, the proposed technology 

innovation; the technical objectives and 

challenges, and the market opportunity. 

The form also allows the proposer to 

choose (from a drop-down menu) the 

most relevant NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I 

and Fast-Track Pilot technical topic 

area, ensuring that the submitted Project 

Pitch goes to the most appropriate 

Program Director. For the SBIR/STTR 

Fast-Track Pilot submission, the Project 

Pitch encompasses the same questions 

as outlined in the Phase I Project Pitch 

but also seeks responses to three key 

eligibility requirements: NSF lineage, 

customer-discovery experience, and 

confirmation that the team members are 

currently employed by the company. 

These requirements expand on the 

details of the previously required 

information on the proposed technology 

innovation, the market opportunity, and 

the company and team, respectively. 

Respondents: Small business 

concerns who submit proposals to 

NSF’s SBIR/STTR Phase I and FastTrack Pilot Programs. 

Estimated Number of Annual 

Respondents: 2,500. 

Burden on the Public: 3 hours (per 

response) for an annual total of 7,500 

hours. 

Dated: September 19, 2024. 

Suzanne H. Plimpton, 

Reports Clearance Officer, National Science 

Foundation. 

[FR Doc. 2024–21843 Filed 9–23–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7555–01–P 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: Comment Request; Louis 

Stokes Alliances for Minority 

Participation (LSAMP) Program 

Evaluation 

AGENCY: National Science Foundation. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The National Science 

Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans 

to establish this collection. In 

accordance with the requirements of the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we 

are providing the opportunity for public 

comment on this action. After obtaining 

and considering public comment, NSF 

will prepare the submission requesting 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) clearance of this collection for no 

longer than 3 years. 

DATES: Written comments on this notice 

must be received by November 25, 2024 

to be assured consideration. Comments 

received after that date will be 

considered to the extent Practicable. 

Send comments to the address below. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 

Officer, National Science Foundation, 

2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite E6447, 

Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone 

(703) 292–7556; 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). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments: Comments regarding (a) 

whether the proposed collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of the 

NSF, including whether the information 

shall have practical utility; (b) the 

accuracy of the NSF’s estimate of the 

burden of the proposed collection of 

information; (c) ways to enhance the 

quality, use, and clarity of the 

information on respondents; and (d) 

ways to minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on those who 

are to respond, including through the 

use of appropriate automated, 

electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology 

should be addressed to the points of 

contact in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT section. 

Title of Collection: Louis Stokes 

Alliances for Minority Participation 

(LSAMP) Program Evaluation. 

OMB Control No.: 3145–NEW. 

Expiration Date of Approval: Not 

applicable. 

Abstract: This proposed data 

collection is a core component of a 

larger comprehensive evaluation 

strategy to assess the effectiveness and 

functioning of the Louis Stokes 

Alliances for Minority Participation 

(LSAMP) program, funded through 

grants from the National Science 

Foundation (NSF). LSAMP alliances are 

entities at member higher education 

institutions that support the learning 

and development of STEM 

undergraduates from underrepresented 

backgrounds. 

This current research seeks to 

consider the experiences of those 

leading and participating in LSAMP 

since the last full evaluation (which 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 24, 2024 / Notices 77899 

concluded in 2007), as well as current 

experiences, at ten select site locations. 

The ten sites were selected by the NSF 

in collaboration with our research 

partner who will conduct all data 

collection, NORC at the University of 

Chicago. A key component of the site 

selection process has been to assure 

variability in site representation, to 

include sites with more remote 

geographies, differing populations, and 

alliance types. 

This work will enable the program to 

better understand where successes can 

be modeled and opportunities can be 

identified to better support the 

underrepresented students in these 

fields, by encouraging greater inclusion 

in academic and professional 

development opportunities. Currently, 

we are seeking approval to conduct 

interviews and focus groups with 

individuals who are affiliated with the 

LSAMP alliances at these pre-identified 

sites using the procedures discussed 

below. 

As of FY2021, there were 61 LSAMP 

alliances, 55 of which were led by fouryear institutions. There are three groups 

of LSAMP alliances: 11 STEM Pathways 

Implementation Only (SPIO) alliances 

in existence less than 10 years, 22 STEM 

Pathways Research Alliances (SPRA) in 

existence at least 10 years, and 22 

alliances that had not yet applied for 

funding under the 2018 solicitation. Ten 

of the alliances in existence at least 10 

years also have Bridge to the Doctorate 

(BD) projects that provide additional 

funding to support students’ graduate 

work. An additional 6 alliances are 

Bridge to the Baccalaureate (B2B) 

alliances led by two-year institutions. 

Each alliance consists of a lead 

institution and several other affiliated 

institutions all operating towards the 

same alliance goals. Affiliated 

institutions typically are in the same 

geographic region and may vary by type 

(e.g., two-year institutions). 

Participating underrepresented minority 

(URM) STEM students in alliance 

schools could be defined in three 

groups: Level 1 students who receive 

direct financial support through the 

alliance for activities, Level 2 students 

who attended activities sponsored by 

LSAMP funds, and Level 3 students 

who are students at LSAMP institutions 

who did not receive funds or participate 

in LSAMP activities. 

Research suggests that collaboratives, 

such as the alliances funded by the 

LSAMP program can improve STEM 

degree completion rates, but long-term 

success requires sustained change at the 

institutional level (Center for Urban 

Education, 2019; May & Bridger, 2010). 

LSAMP has a 30-year history of 

increasing the diversity of science, 

technology, engineering, and 

mathematics (STEM) disciplines and the 

STEM workforce. 

NORC at the University of Chicago’s 

(NORC) is leading the present approach 

for evaluating the operations, success, 

and opportunities of LSAMP, under the 

guidance and sponsorship of the NSF 

Directorate for Education and Human 

Resources (EHR) Division of Human 

Resource Development (HRD). This 

evaluation aims to identify and 

characterize the organizational structure 

and institutionalization of LSAMP 

alliances and assess the impact of 

LSAMP strategies to strengthen 

pathways and increase undergraduate 

and graduate STEM degrees earned by 

students from populations 

underrepresented in STEM on all 

educational levels. 

As part of this comprehensive 

evaluation, and with a focus on fully 

utilizing all preexisting data, NORC has 

completed a thorough review of 

available data (e.g., annual reports). The 

LSAMP program anticipates using the 

results of this evaluation (both the 

review of existing data and data from 

site visits) to identify ‘‘LSAMP best 

practices’’ that can be implemented by 

both LSAMP grantee/alliance 

institutions and non-LSAMP grantees/ 

alliance institutions to sustain and grow 

impacts of the LSAMP programming on 

diversity in STEM and inform the 

LSAMP program on sustainability 

mechanisms and goals appropriate for 

LSAMP alliance institutions to maintain 

their successful outcomes. 

Respondents: LSAMP Faculty and 

Staff (200); LSAMP Students (120). 

Estimated Number of Annual 

Respondents: 320. 

Burden on the Public: Estimated 1–3 

hours to participate in an interview or 

focus group (1 hour for staff and 

students, 3 hours for coordinators/ 

provosts or other leaders). The 

estimated burden time is 750 hours. 

Dated: September 19, 2024. 

Suzanne H. Plimpton, 

Reports Clearance Officer, National Science 

Foundation. 

[FR Doc. 2024–21845 Filed 9–23–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7555–01–P 

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL 

MANAGEMENT 

Submission for Review: Revision and 

Consolidation of Two Existing 

Information Collections Related to 

Health Benefits Election Forms 

AGENCY: Office of Personnel 

Management. 

ACTION: 30-Day notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel 

Management (OPM) offers the general 

public and other Federal agencies the 

opportunity to comment on a revised 

information collection request (ICR) for 

two forms: SF 2809 Health Benefits 

Election Form and OPM 2809 Health 

Benefits Election Form. 

DATES: Comments are encouraged and 

will be accepted until October 24, 2024. 

This process is conducted in accordance 

with 5 CFR 1320.1. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice to https://www.reginfo.gov/ 

public/do/PRAMain. Find this 

particular information collection request 

by selecting ‘‘Office of Personnel 

Management’’ under ‘‘Currently Under 

Review,’’ then check ‘‘Only Show ICR 

for Public Comment’’ checkbox. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

specific questions related to these 

information collection activities, please 

contact: Retirement Services 

Publications Team, Office of Personnel 

Management, 1900 E Street NW, Room 

3316–L, Washington, DC 20415, 

Attention: Cyrus S. Benson, or sent via 

electronic mail to 

RSPublicationsTeam@opm.gov or faxed 

to (202) 606–0910 or via telephone at 

(202) 936–0401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office 

of Personnel Management, in 

accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 

3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the public with 

an opportunity to comment on 

proposed, revised, and continuing 

collections of information. This helps 

OPM assess the impact of its 

information collection requirements and 

minimize the public’s reporting burden. 

It also helps the public understand 

OPM’s information collection 

requirements and provide the requested 

data in the desired format. On May 5, 

2024, OPM published notice of its intent 

to combine OMB Control Nos. 3206– 

0160 and 3206–0141 into a single, 

updated collection in the Federal 

Register at 89 FR 37269. 

The SF 2809 and the OPM 2809 forms 

are generally very similar in terms of the 

information collected, with only a few 

different data points to reflect 

differences between an employee and an 

annuitant. Nonetheless, the forms were 

historically managed under two 

different information collections. OPM 

is not currently planning to consolidate 

the forms into a single form because the 


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