[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 201 (Monday, October 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55901-55902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27911]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Privacy Act of 1974: Revisions to System of Records
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), the
National Science Foundation (NSF) is providing notice of revisions to
two existing systems. Revisions to the current system NSF-64 ``Project
Participant File'' are being made to delete references to data that
will not be collected. NSF-65 ``Vendor File'' is being renamed to more
accurately reflect the records contained therein, and one new routine
use is added. The revised systems are reprinted in their entirety.
Effective Date: Sections 552a(e)(4) and (11) of Title 5 of the U.S.
Code require that the public have thirty days to comment on the routine
uses of systems of records. The new routine uses that are the subject
of this notice will take effect on November 18, 1998, unless modified
by a subsequent notice to incorporate comments received from the
public.
Comments: Written comments should be submitted to Leslie Crawford, NSF
Privacy Act Officer, National Science Foundation, Office of the General
Counsel, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 1265, Arlington, VA 22230.
Dated: October 13, 1998.
Leslie Crawford,
Privacy Act Officer.
NSF-64
SYSTEM NAME:
Project Participant File.
SYSTEM LOCATION:
Central electronic data system of the National Science Foundation.
Excerpts may be extracted or printed and held in separate files
maintained by individual NSF offices and programs. National Science
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230.
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
Individual participants who do work under NSF-supported projects,
other than principal investigators or project directors. Includes, for
example, other investigators, post-doctoral associates, graduate and
undergraduate assistants.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
Information gathered primarily through reporting on funded projects
about those who are supported by NSF awards or otherwise involved in
projects supported by NSF awards. The information includes: Name;
project identity or identities; involvement in project--nature and
description of involvement, level of effort, whether financially
supported by NSF; and demographic data--information on gender, race/
ethnicity, disability status, and citizenship. Submission of
demographic data is voluntary. The individual participant may report
``Do not wish to provide''.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
44 U.S.C. 3101; 42 U.S.C. 1870.
PURPOSE(S):
Supplements other information gathered via project reporting on
projects funded by NSF. The primary purpose is to enable NSF to
identify outcomes of projects funded under NSF awards for management
evaluation and for reporting to the Administration and Congress,
especially under the Government Performance and Results Act, 5 U.S.C.
306 and 39 U.S.C. 2801--2805. Information on participants will normally
be aggregated, usually statistically, to identify outcomes of NSF
programs. On occasion non-sensitive information might be used to
identify persons who have achieved distinction in science, engineering,
education, or the like (for example, by award of a prize) as
beneficiaries of NSF support. The information in the system may also be
used secondarily for compatible purposes including to (1) identify and
contact scientists, engineers, or educators who may be interested in
applying for support, in attending a scientific or similar meeting, in
applying for a position, or in taking advantage of some similar
opportunity; or (2) identify and contact possible candidates to serve
as reviewers in the peer review system or for inclusion on a panel or
advisory committee (information from this system may be entered in the
NSF's reviewer databases, NSF-51 and NSF-54, for this purpose);
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
An individual participant's name; the identity of any project on
which the participant worked; and information on the nature and extent
of the individual's involvement, level of effort, and NSF support may
be publicly released.
Demographic data pertaining to any individual may be released only
to:
1. Contractors who perform a service to or work on or under a
contract with the Federal government in pursuit of a purpose described
above. Individuals will be given access only if needed for their
specific job. The contractors are subject to the provisions of the
Privacy Act.
2. A Federal agency so that it can identify and contact persons who
might be interested in a scientific, technical, or educational program,
meeting, vacancy, or similar opportunity.
3. A Federal agency, or a researcher with appropriate scholarly
credentials, to use the data for scholarly studies or for Federal
program management, evaluation, or reporting only after scrutiny of
research protocols and with appropriate controls. Information from this
system may be merged with other computer files to complete such studies
or evaluations. The results of such studies or evaluations are
statistical in nature and do not identify individuals.
4. The Department of Justice, to the extent disclosure is
compatible with the purpose for which the record was collected and is
relevant and necessary to litigation or anticipated litigation, in
which one of the following is a party or has an interest: (a) NSF or
any of its components; (b) an NSF employee in his/her official
capacity; (c) an NSF employee in his/her individual capacity when the
Department of Justice is representing or considering representing the
employee; or (d) the United States, when NSF determines that litigation
is likely to affect the Agency.
5. Representatives of the General Services Administration and the
National Archives and Records Administration who are conducting records
management inspections under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING,
AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
STORAGE:
Primary storage is in centralized electronic data tables. Extracts
or paper printouts may be maintained in computers or paper files in
individual program offices.
RETRIEVABILITY:
Information can be retrieved electronically using participant
names.
SAFEGUARDS:
NSF employees, contractors, advisers, and others will have access
only after entering the NSF data system using a personal identifier and
password only
[[Page 55902]]
as needed for their specific assignments. Principal investigators will
have access only to information about their own awards, and only after
identifying themselves using a personal identifier and personal
identification number. Even then, they will not have access through
this system to demographic data on individuals other than themselves.
Persons covered by the system will have access only to information
about themselves.
RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
The file is cumulative and is maintained indefinitely.
SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:
Chief Information Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson
Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
The NSF Privacy Act Officer should be contacted in accordance with
procedures set forth at 45 CFR part 613.
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
See ``Notification Procedure'' above.
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
See ``Notification Procedure'' above.
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
Information other than demographic data is entered by the principal
investigator on the relevant award. Demographic data is obtained either
by having the individual participant enter it directly (preferred) or
by having the principal investigator enter it on the participant's
behalf.
EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
NSF-65
System name:
NSF Electronic Payment File.
SYSTEM LOCATION:
National Science Foundation, Division of Financial Management, 4201
Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230.
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
Employees, former employees, other individuals and vendors who will
or do receive electronic payment from the National Science Foundation
for goods or services.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
Name, address, Social Security Number, and payee banking
information.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 provides authority for
the National Science Foundation to implement mandatory electronic
payments for all obligations.
PURPOSE(S):
This system enables NSF to comply with the electronic payment
provisions of the Debt Collection Act of 1996.
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
Information from this system of records may be disclosed to:
1. The Department of the Treasury for the purpose of issuing the
payment directly to the financial account of the payee, and reporting
income paid in accordance with reporting requirements.
2. Financial institutions for the purpose of direct deposit.
3. The Department of Justice, to the extent disclosure is
compatible with the purpose for which the record was collected, and is
relevant and necessary to litigation or anticipated litigation, in
which one of the following is a party or has an interest: (a) NSF or
any of its components; (b) an NSF employee in his/her official
capacity; (c) an NSF employee in his/her individual capacity when the
Department of Justice is representing or considering representing the
employee; or (d) the United States, when NSF determines that litigation
is likely to affect the Agency.
4. Contractors, experts, and other individuals who perform a
service to or work on or under a contract, or other arrangement with or
for the Federal government, as necessary to carry out their duties.
5. Another Federal agency, a court, or a party in litigation before
a court or in an administrative proceeding being conducted by a Federal
agency when the Government is a party to the judicial or administrative
proceeding.
6. Representatives of the General Services Administration and the
National Archives and Records Administration who are conducting records
management inspections under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING,
AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
STORAGE:
These records are maintained electronically.
RETRIEVABILITY:
These records are retrieved by Social Security Number or vendor
institution number.
SAFEGUARDS:
These records are available only to those persons whose official
duties require access. A password is required for access to the
computer system. Printed reports of the data have restricted access and
are treated as confidential information.
RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
Updated information automatically replaces the old information.
File is cumulative and maintained permanently.
SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:
Director, Division of Financial Management, National Science
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
The NSF Privacy Act Officer should be contacted in accordance with
procedures found at 45 CFR part 613.
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
See ``Notification'' procedures above.
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
See ``Notification'' procedures above.
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
Information in this system of records obtained from the individual
or payees.
EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
[FR Doc. 98-27911 Filed 10-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
