Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 8 / Tuesday, January 13, 2015 / Notices 1671 

Officer, National Science Foundation, 

4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1265, 

Arlington, Virginia 22230; 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 are invited on: 

(a) Whether the proposed collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of the 

Foundation, including whether the 

information will have practical utility; 

(b) the accuracy of the Foundation’s 

estimate of the burden of the proposed 

collection of information; (c) ways to 

enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 

of the information to be collected; and 

(d) ways to minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on those who 

are to respond, including through the 

use of automated collection techniques 

or other forms of information 

technology. 

Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting 

Requirements for the Engineering 

Research Centers (ERCs). 

OMB Number: 3145–0220. 

Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 

2015. 

Type of Request: Intent to seek 

approval to renew an information 

collection. 

Abstract: 

Proposed Project: The Engineering 

Research Centers (ERC) program 

supports an integrated, interdisciplinary 

research environment to advance 

fundamental engineering knowledge 

and engineered systems; educate a 

globally competitive and diverse 

engineering workforce from K–12 on; 

and join academe and industry in 

partnership to achieve these goals. ERCs 

conduct world-class research through 

partnerships of academic institutions, 

national laboratories, industrial 

organizations, and/or other public/

private entities. New knowledge thus 

created is meaningfully linked to 

society. 

ERCs conduct world-class research 

with an engineered systems perspective 

that integrates materials, devices, 

processes, components, control 

algorithms and/or other enabling 

elements to perform a well-defined 

function. These systems provide a 

unique academic research and 

education experience that involves 

integrative complexity and 

technological realization. The 

complexity of the systems perspective 

includes the factors associated with its 

use in industry, society/environment, or 

the human body. 

ERCs enable and foster excellent 

education, integrate research and 

education, speed knowledge/technology 

transfer through partnerships between 

academe and industry, and prepare a 

more competitive future workforce. 

ERCs capitalize on diversity through 

participation in center activities and 

demonstrate leadership in the 

involvement of groups 

underrepresented in science and 

engineering. 

Centers are required to submit annual 

reports on progress and plans, which 

will be used as a basis for performance 

review and determining the level of 

continued funding. To support this 

review and the management of a Center, 

ERCs also are required to submit 

management and performance 

indicators annually to NSF via a data 

collection Web site that is managed by 

a technical assistance contractor. These 

indicators are both quantitative and 

descriptive and may include, for 

example, the characteristics of center 

personnel and students; sources of cash 

and in-kind support; expenditures by 

operational component; characteristics 

of industrial and/or other sector 

participation; research activities; 

education activities; knowledge transfer 

activities; patents, licenses; 

publications; degrees granted to 

students involved in Center activities; 

descriptions of significant advances and 

other outcomes of the ERC effort. Such 

reporting requirements will be included 

in the cooperative agreement which is 

binding between the academic 

institution and the NSF. 

Each Center’s annual report will 

address the following categories of 

activities: (1) Vision and impact, (2) 

strategic plan, (3) research program, (4) 

innovation ecosystem and industrial 

collaboration, (5) education, (6) 

infrastructure (leadership, management, 

facilities, diversity) and (7) budget 

issues. 

For each of the categories the report 

will describe overall objectives for the 

year, progress toward center goals, 

problems the Center has encountered in 

making progress towards goals and how 

they were overcome, plans for the future 

and anticipated research and other 

barriers to overcome in the following 

year, and specific outputs and 

outcomes. 

Use of the Information: The data 

collected will be used for NSF internal 

reports, historical data, performance 

review by peer site visit teams, program 

level studies and evaluations, and for 

securing future funding for continued 

ERC program maintenance and growth. 

Estimate of Burden: 150 hours per 

center for 17 centers for a total of 2,550 

hours. 

Respondents: Academic institutions. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Report: One from each of the 17 ERCs. 

Dated: January 7, 2015. 

Suzanne H. Plimpton, 

Reports Clearance Officer, National Science 

Foundation. 

[FR Doc. 2015–00272 Filed 1–12–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7555–01–P 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory 

Committee; Notice of Meeting 

In accordance with the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (Pub., L. 92– 

463, as amended), the National Science 

Foundation announces the following 

meeting: 

Name: Astronomy and Astrophysics 

Advisory Committee (#13883). 

Date and Time: February 27, 2015, 12:00 

p.m.–4:00 p.m. EST, Teleconference. 

Place: National Science Foundation, Room 

1020, Safford I Building, 4201 Wilson Blvd., 

Arlington, VA, 22230. 

Type of Meeting: Open. 

Contact Person: Dr. James Ulvestad, 

Division Director, Division of Astronomical 

Sciences, Suite 1045, National Science 

Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, 

VA 22230. Telephone: 703–292–8820. 

Purpose of Meeting: To provide advice and 

recommendations to the National Science 

Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics 

and Space Administration (NASA) and the 

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on issues 

within the field of astronomy and 

astrophysics that are of mutual interest and 

concern to the agencies. 

Agenda: To provide updates on agency 

activities and to discuss the Committee’s 

draft annual report due 15 March 2015. 

Dated: January 7, 2015. 

Suzanne Plimpton, 

Acting, Committee Management Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2015–00273 Filed 1–12–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7555–01–P 

NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION 

SAFETY BOARD 

Sunshine Act Meeting 

TIME AND DATE: 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, 

January 27, 2015. 

PLACE: NTSB Conference Center, 429 

L’Enfant Plaza SW., Washington, DC 

20594. 

STATUS: The one item is open to the 

public. 


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