32196 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 128 / Tuesday, July 7, 2009 / Notices 

negotiated between NIC and the 

successful applicant. Funds may only be 

used for the activities that are linked to 

the desired outcome of the project. 

This project will be a collaborative 

venture with the NIC Research and 

Evaluation Division. 

Eligibility of Applicants: An eligible 

applicant is any state or general unit of 

local government, private agency, 

educational institution, organization, 

individual or team with expertise in the 

described areas. Applicants must have 

demonstrated ability to implement a 

project of this size and scope. 

Review Considerations: Applications 

received under this announcement will 

be subject to the NIC Review Process. 

The criteria for the evaluation of each 

application will be as follows: 

Programmatic (40%) 

Are all of the six project goals and 

adequately discussed? Is there a clear 

statement of how each project goal will 

be accomplished, to include: Major 

tasks that will lead to achieving the 

goal; the strategies to be employed; 

required staffing; and other required 

resources. Are there any innovative 

approaches, techniques, or design 

aspects proposed that will enhance the 

project? 

Organizational (35%) 

Does the proposed project staff 

possess the skills, knowledge, and 

expertise necessary to design and 

complete the tasks? Does the applicant 

agency, institution, organization, 

individual or team have the 

organization capacity to achieve the six 

project goals? Are the proposed project 

management and staffing plans realistic 

and sufficient to complete the project 

within the nine month time frame? 

Project Management/Administration 

(25%) 

Does the applicant identify reasonable 

objectives, milestones, and measures to 

track progress? If consultants and/or 

partnerships are proposed, is there a 

reasonable justification for their 

inclusion in the project, and a clear 

structure to insure effective 

coordination? Is the proposed budget 

realistic, provide sufficient cost detail/ 

narrative, and represent good value 

relative to the anticipated results? 

Note: NIC will NOT award a cooperative 

agreement to an applicant who does not have 

a Dun and Bradstreet Database Universal 

Number (DUNS) and is not registered in the 

Central Contractor Registry (CCR). 

A DUNS number can be received at 

no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free 

DUNS number request line at 1–800– 

333–0505 (if you are a sole proprietor, 

you would dial 1–866–705–5711 and 

select option 1). 

Registration in the CCR can be done 

online at the CCR Web site: http:// 

www.ccr.gov. A CCR Handbook and 

worksheet can also be reviewed at the 

Web site. 

Number of Awards: One. 

NIC Opportunity Number: 09PEI28. 

This number should appear as a 

reference line in the cover letter, where 

indicated on Standard Form 424, and 

outside of the envelope in which the 

application is sent. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance Number: 16.602. 

Executive Order 12372: This program 

is not subject to the provisions of 

Executive Order 12372. 

Morris L. Thigpen, 

Director, National Institute of Corrections. 

[FR Doc. E9–15883 Filed 7–6–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4410–36–P 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To 

Reinstate With Revision an Information 

Collection 

AGENCY: National Science Foundation. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The National Science 

Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans 

to request clearance for this collection. 

In accordance with the requirement of 

section 3506(c)(2)(A) 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 OMB clearance 

of this collection for no longer than 

three years. 

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; 

and (d) ways to minimize the burden of 

the collection of information of 

respondents, including through the use 

of automated collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology. 

DATES: Written comments should be 

received by September 8, 2009, to be 

assured of consideration. Comments 

received after that date will be 

considered to the extent practicable. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments 

regarding the information collection and 

requests for copies of the proposed 

information collection request should be 

addressed to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports 

Clearance Officer, National Science 

Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 

Room 295, Arlington, VA 22230, or by 

e-mail to splimpton@nsf.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Suzanne Plimpton on (703) 292–7556 or 

send e-mail to splimpton@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 

between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, 

Monday through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title of Collection: Evaluation of the 

National Science Foundation’s Math 

and Science Partnership (MSP) Program. 

OMB Control No.: 3145–0200. 

Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 

2009. 

Abstract: The National Science 

Foundation (NSF) requests a three-year 

clearance for an evaluation of the Math 

and Science Partnership (MSP) program. 

The MSP program is a research and 

development (R&D) effort funded by the 

NSF to integrate the work of higher 

education, especially disciplinary 

faculty in math, sciences, and 

engineering, with that of K–12 

communities in order to strengthen and 

reform math and science education. The 

program is authorized under the NSF 

Authorization Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107– 

368), December 19, 2002 (to authorize 

appropriations for FY 2003–07 and ‘‘for 

other purposes’’). MSP is among 11 

programs specifically authorized by the 

legislation (Sec. 11 authorizes a 12th 

program, the Centers for Research on 

Mathematics and Science Learning and 

Education Improvement). 

The NSF’s MSP program portfolio 

consists of about 80 awards or projects 

(e.g., design grants, standard or 

continuing grants or cooperative 

agreements) that initially were funded 

between 2002 and 2004. The type of 

awards subject to study and data 

collection, however, include only the 

comprehensive MSPs, targeted MSPs 

and teacher institute partnerships, or a 

universe of approximately 65 discrete 

projects. 

The evaluation’s data collection and 

analysis activities will be conducted by 

COSMOS Corporation, Bethesda, MD, in 

partnership with Brown University via 

a contract administered by the NSF’s 

Division of Research, Evaluation and 

Communication (REC). This evaluation 

involves both quantitative and 

qualitative data, collected from multiple 

Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 128 / Tuesday, July 7, 2009 / Notices 32197 

sources using multiple methods, 

including secondary analyses of projectrelated materials such as existing 

databases (MSP Management 

Information System—OMB 3145–0199), 

annual reports, Web sites, and relevant 

policy and methodological documents 

and original data collection through 

one-on-one interviews with key 

stakeholders conducted during site 

visits. For the MSP Management 

Information System, the contract team 

will analyze these data using 

quantitative statistical models. A second 

data source consists of annual project 

reports and other reports submitted by 

the MSP grantees to the NSF in 

accordance with Federal research 

project reporting requirements 

established at NSF under OMB 3145– 

0058. A third source is U.S. Department 

of Education’s public use files on 

student achievement and school 

systems’ demographic characteristics. 

The fourth source for data is the 

proposed evaluation’s original data 

collection activities. In particular and 

principally, a series of site visits will be 

conducted during 2006–2011. 

The evaluation’s overall framework 

consists of several substudies each 

focusing on a different, but essential 

part of the MSP grantees’ work (e.g., 

partnerships, the role of disciplinary 

faculty, student achievement). The 

relevant evaluation design under these 

conditions might be considered a metaanalytic rather than singular design— 

e.g., providing a rationale for the 

selection of substudies as well as some 

guidance for conducting the substudies. 

Consultations have occurred with a 

team of external experts on the research 

design during the evaluation’s design 

phase and will continue to take place 

throughout the evaluation. The team of 

external experts represents the nation’s 

leading researchers and scholars on 

methodology and content in the field of 

evaluation and representatives are from 

top-tier university schools of education 

and departments of mathematics or 

science; an education advocacy group; 

and an education research council. 

The data collection instruments 

include face-to-face interviews, such as 

focus groups, and telephone or 

electronic surveys. An interview 

protocol based on the evaluation 

framework will be administered during 

the site visits. Expected respondents at 

site visits are Principal Investigators, coPrincipal Investigators, administrators, 

teams of external experts, and other 

stakeholders who participated in MSP. 

There are no costs to respondents other 

than the time involved in the interview 

or survey process. 

Information from the evaluation’s data 

collections and analysis will be used to 

improve the NSF’s program processes 

and outcomes. It will enable NSF to 

prepare and publish reports, and to 

respond to requests from Committees of 

Visitors, Congress, and the Office of 

Management and Budget, particularly as 

related to the Government Performance 

and Results Act (GPRA) and the 

Program Effectiveness Rating Tool 

(PART). 

The primary evaluation questions 

include but are not limited to: 

(1) How has the MSP Program effected 

or influenced the expertise, numbers, 

and diversity of the mathematics and 

science teaching force, K–12 student 

achievement in mathematics and 

science, and other presumed program 

outcomes? 

(2) What factors or attributes have 

accelerated or constrained progress in 

the MSP Program’s achievements? and 

(3) How have institutions of higher 

education (IHEs) disciplinary faculty 

(mathematics, science, and engineering) 

participated in the MSP Program, and 

what has been their role in the 

Program’s achievements? 

Respondents: Individuals and not-forprofit institutions. 

Estimated Number of Total 

Respondents: 216. 

Total Burden on the Public: 456 

hours. 

Dated: July 1, 2009. 

Suzanne H. Plimpton, 

Reports Clearance Officer, National Science 

Foundation. 

[FR Doc. E9–15916 Filed 7–6–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION 

SAFETY BOARD 

Sunshine Act Meeting 

Agenda 

TIME AND DATE: 9:30 a.m., July 14, 2009. 

PLACE: NTSB Conference Center, 429 

L’Enfant Plaza SW., Washington, DC 

20594. 

STATUS: The one item is open to the 

public. 

MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: 8126 

Railroad Accident Report—Collision 

Between Two Massachusetts Bay 

Transportation Authority Green Line 

Trains, Newton, Massachusetts, May 28, 

2008. 

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Telephone: (202) 

314–6100. 

The press and public may enter the 

NTSB Conference Center one hour prior 

to the meeting for set up and seating. 

Individuals requesting specific 

accommodations should contact 

Rochelle Hall at (202) 314–6305 by 

Friday, July 10, 2009. 

The public may view the meeting via 

a live or archived webcast by accessing 

a link under ‘‘News & Events’’ on the 

NTSB home page at http:// 

www.ntsb.gov. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Candi 

Bing, (202) 314–6403. 

Dated: Thursday, July 2, 2009. 

Candi R. Bing, 

Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. E9–16046 Filed 7–2–09; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 7533–01–P 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY 

COMMISSION 

[NRC–2009–0280] 

Final Regulatory Guide: Issuance, 

Availability 

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission. 

ACTION: Notice of Issuance and 

Availability of Regulatory Guide, RG 

5.74. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission (NRC or Commission) is 

issuing a new guide in the agency’s 

‘‘Regulatory Guide’’ series. This series 

was developed to describe and make 

available to the public information such 

as methods that are acceptable to the 

NRC staff for implementing specific 

parts of the agency’s regulations, 

techniques that the staff uses in 

evaluating specific problems or 

postulated accidents, and data that the 

staff needs in its review of applications 

for permits and licenses. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Bonnie Schnetzler, U.S. Nuclear 

Regulatory Commission, Washington, 

DC 20555–0001, telephone: (301) 415– 

7883 or e-mail to 

Bonnie.Schnetzler@nrc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction 

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission (NRC or Commission) is 

issuing a new guide in the agency’s 

‘‘Regulatory Guide’’ series. This series 

was developed to describe and make 

available to the public information such 

as methods that are acceptable to the 

NRC staff for implementing specific 

parts of the agency’s regulations, 

techniques that the staff uses in 

evaluating specific problems or 

postulated accidents, and data that the