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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 226 (Friday, November 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 92724-92725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27353]

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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Renew With Changes an 
Information Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request establishment and clearance of this collection. In accordance 
with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are 
providing opportunity for public comment on this action. After 
obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will prepare the 
submission requesting that OMB approve clearance of this collection for 
no longer than three years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by January 21, 
2025 to

[[Page 92725]]

be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be 
considered to the extent practicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22314; or send email to [email protected]. 
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).
    Instructions: Please submit one copy of your comments by only one 
method. All submissions received must include the agency name and 
collection name identified above for this information collection. 
Commenters are strongly encouraged to transmit their comments 
electronically via email. Comments, including any personal information 
provided become a matter of public record. They will be summarized and/
or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval 
of the information collection request.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; (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.
    Title of Collection: National Science Foundation's Education and 
Training Application.
    OMB Number: 3145-0248.
    Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2024.
    Abstract: The U.S. National Science Foundation Education & Training 
Application (NSF ETAP) is a customizable, common application system 
designed to connect individuals--such as students and educators--with 
NSF-funded education and training opportunities. ETAP enables the NSF 
to gather high-quality data for monitoring, targeted research, and 
evaluations of its programs. The system enhances the agency's ability 
to address key priorities, such as those outlined in the CHIPS and 
Science Act of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-167), which calls for new investments 
in STEM education while building a knowledge base on effective models 
for recruiting and retaining students in STEM fields.
    A new system of records, NSF-80, titled Education and Training 
Application Data System (ETAP), was published in the Federal Register 
in October 2023 and contains records from this system.
    ETAP is designed to collect data on applicants and participants in 
NSF-funded opportunities, thereby reducing the burden on Principal 
Investigators (PIs) and applicants while enhancing NSF's ability to 
monitor its education and workforce development programs and conduct 
evaluations of their impact. PIs of NSF awards can use the ETAP system 
to recruit prospective participants for a variety of NSF-funded 
opportunities, including research experiences, fellowships, 
scholarships, internships, teaching assistantships, dissertation 
grants, summer boot camps, and more. The centralized platform provided 
by ETAP allows potential applicants to easily discover and apply for 
these NSF-funded programs aimed at STEM professional development and 
growth.
    The data collected through the system typically falls into three 
categories: (1) opportunity information (provided by PIs creating 
opportunities for applicants), (2) application information (provided by 
applicants applying for NSF-funded opportunities), and (3) admissions 
decisions and participation (provided by PIs confirming participants 
funded through NSF award funds). In addition to the information 
collected via the ETAP system, other collections are necessary for 
continuous improvement and outcome tracking: (1) usability and 
satisfaction feedback (to gather input for planning and assessing 
system enhancements), and (2) tracking educational outcomes (to obtain 
educational outcomes from administrative data from the National Student 
Clearinghouse, posing no burden to participants or PIs).
    Estimate of Burden: We estimate that PIs (or their designated 
users) will spend an average of 4.7 hours using the system to set up 
and manage applications for their opportunities. PIs can determine 
whether applications to their opportunities are competitive; we 
estimate that 75% of opportunities will have competitive applications. 
For individuals applying for non-competitive opportunities, we estimate 
a time commitment of 3.25 hours to submit information through the ETAP 
system. For competitive opportunities (which often require additional 
materials, such as a statement of purpose), this estimate increases to 
7 hours. Additionally, we estimate that individuals writing letters of 
reference will spend approximately 0.5 hours drafting these letters in 
support of an applicant.
    Respondents: Individuals engaged in opportunities funded by NSF.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 103,239.
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 271,736 hours.
    Frequency of Responses: Three rounds of data collection.

    Dated: November 18, 2024.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2024-27353 Filed 11-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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