NSF receives more than 40,000 proposals annually for new or renewal support for research in math/science/engineering education projects and makes approximately 10,500 new awards. The Foundation exercises its authority primarily by making merit-based grants and cooperative agreements and providing other forms of assistance to individual researchers and groups, in partnership with over 2800 colleges, universities and other institutions  public and private, state, local and federal  throughout the United States.
The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) of 2006 (P.L. 109-282) requires agencies to make award and sub-award information available to be searched by the public in a single searchable website developed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The impetus for this Act was the lack of a single source of accurate, complete and timely information on federal government spending. The requirements and residual technical and policy impacts of FFATA were unanticipated at the time the prior information clearance package was cleared by OMB. In order to meet the legislative mandate and Congressional intent of FFATA, NSF needs a reliable source of data and the ability to validate the accuracy of that data. The change that is being proposed by NSF, therefore, is essential to ensuring compliance with FFATA requirements. If NSF cannot collect and validate the accuracy of award data, NSF will miss the deadline imposed by Congress to make award data publicly available by January 1, 2008.
NSF is committed to providing citizens accurate, complete, and timely information regarding the expenditure of taxpayer funds. The policy change for which NSF is seeking approval will enable the Foundation to accomplish this goal. If NSF must follow the normal OIRA clearance review process, the result will be incomplete and inaccurate award data on OMBÂs single searchable website.
US Code:
42 USC 1861
Name of Law: The National Science Foundation
The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) of 2006 (P.L. 109-282)requires agencies to make award and sub-award information available to be searched by the public in a single searchable website developed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This requirement is adding burden to the overall collection.
$0
No
No
Uncollected
Uncollected
Uncollected
Uncollected
Suzanne Plimpton
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form 428A Proposal Reviewer Form
CCRJustificationstatementemergency clearance.doc
Proposal Reviewer Form