[Federal Register: October 4, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 192)]
[Notices]
[Page 58638-58639]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04oc06-95]
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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project;
Department of Defense
AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.
ACTION: Notice of amendment to this demonstration to facilitate the
transition of Acquisition Demonstration Project employees to the
National Security Personnel System (NSPS) by authorizing an out-of-
cycle Contribution-based Compensation and Appraisal System (CCAS)
payout and amending conversion-out procedures.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Defense (DoD or ``the Department''), with
the approval of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), received
authority to conduct a personnel demonstration project within DoD's
civilian acquisition workforce and those supporting personnel assigned
to work directly with it. [See Section 4308 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 (Pub. L. 104-106; 10 U.S.C.A.
section 1701 note), as amended by section 845 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Pub. L. 105-85)]. The project
was developed under legislative authority granted in Fiscal Year 1996
and modified in Fiscal Year 1998. Subsequent legislation authorized
establishment of NSPS, a human resources management system for DoD
under 5 U.S.C. 9902, as enacted by section 1101 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Pub. L. 108-136). This notice
provides authorization for an out-of-cycle payout under CCAS prior to
transition to NSPS and addresses procedures for conversion of employees
from this demonstration project to NSPS.
DATES: This amendment is effective upon publication of this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DoD: Mary S. Thomas, Civilian
Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project, 2001 North
Beauregard Street, Suite 210, Alexandria, VA 22311, 703-681-3508. OPM:
Michael Carmichael, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street
NW., Room 7412, Washington, DC 20415, 202-606-1868.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background
OPM approved and published the project plan for the Civilian
Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project in the Federal
Register on January 8, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 5, Part VII). Since that
time, three amendments have been published. The first amendment was
published in the May 21, 2001, Federal Register, Volume 66, Number 98,
to (1) correct discrepancies in the list of occupational series
included in the project and (2) authorize managers to offer a buy-in to
Federal employees entering the project after initial implementation. A
second amendment was published in the April 24, 2002, Federal Register,
Volume 67, Number 79, to (1) make employees in the top broadband level
of their career path eligible to receive a ``very high'' overall
contribution score and (2) reduce the minimum rating period under CCAS
to 90 consecutive calendar days. Finally, the third amendment was
published in the July 1, 2002, Federal Register, Volume 67, Number 126,
to (1) list all organizations that are eligible to participate in the
project and (2) make the resulting adjustments to the table
[[Page 58639]]
that describes the project's workforce demographics and union
representation. This demonstration project involves hiring and
appointment authorities; broadbanding; simplified classification; a
contribution-based compensation and appraisal system; revised
reduction-in-force procedures; academic degree and certificate
training; and sabbaticals.
2. Overview
This amendment provides the authority to individual DoD Components
to conduct an out-of-cycle CCAS payout prior to transition to NSPS.
Prior to transition of any demonstration project employees to NSPS, a
CCAS closeout appraisal must be accomplished and an out-of-cycle payout
may be made. The required funding floors [not less than two percent of
an activity's total salary budget for Contribution Rating Increases
(CRIs) and not less than one percent of an activity's total salary
budget for Contribution Awards (CAs)] may be suspended for any out-of-
cycle payout. This amendment also provides authority to convert
employees from this demonstration project to NSPS in accordance with
DoD implementing issuances pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 9902. Office of
Personnel Management.
Linda M. Springer,
Director.
I. Executive Summary
The project was designed by a Process Action Team (PAT) under the
authority of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and
Technology, with the participation of and review by DoD and OPM. The
purpose of the project is to enhance the quality, professionalism, and
management of the DoD acquisition workforce through improvements in the
human resources management system.
II. Introduction
This demonstration project provides managers, at the lowest
practical level, the authority, control, and flexibility they need to
achieve quality acquisition processes and quality products. This
project not only provides a system that retains, recognizes, and
rewards employees for their contribution, but also supports their
personal and professional growth.
A. Purpose
The purpose of this amendment is to ensure that demonstration
employees are not inadvertently penalized, but receive their earned
contribution-based permanent pay increases and/or contribution awards,
upon transition to NSPS. Additionally, since the current demonstration
project plan only contains conversion-out procedures for employees
converting back to General Schedule positions, this amendment will
authorize conversion-out procedures for employees transitioning to
NSPS. Pursuant to 5 CFR 470.315, an amendment is hereby made to the
Federal Register, Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel
Demonstration Project; Department of Defense; Notice, Friday, January
8, 1999, Volume 64, Number 5, Part VII.
B. Employee Notification and Collective Bargaining Requirements
The demonstration project program office shall notify employees of
this amendment by posting it on the demonstration's Web site (http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/policy/acqdemo/
index.htm). Participating
organizations must fulfill any collective bargaining obligations to
unions that represent employees covered by the demonstration.
III. Personnel System Changes
[64 FR 1452] Section III.D.1. Contribution-Based Compensation and
Appraisal System. Insert the following new paragraph after the 2nd
paragraph: ``As described in detail below, the CCAS uses performance
factors to measure contributions for appraisal purposes. Any AcqDemo
organization scheduled to transition to the National Security Personnel
System (NSPS) may notify affected employees that, as of a specified
date, the performance appraisal provisions of Section III.D. shall
cease to apply, and that appropriate performance management standards
may be substituted for CCAS performance factors until the organization
is covered by NSPS.''
[64 FR 1477] Section III.D.4. Pay Pools. Amend the last sentence of
the last paragraph to read, ``The funds to be included in the pay pool
will be computed based on the salaries of the employees in the pay pool
as of the last calendar day of the CCAS appraisal period.''
[64 FR 1478] Section III.D.5. Salary Adjustment Guidelines. Insert
as last sentence in 4th paragraph (that begins ``The contribution
rating increase* * *''): In the event of an out-of-cycle payout (see
Section V.C.), this funding floor may be suspended.
[64 FR 1478] Section III.D.5. Salary Adjustment Guidelines. Insert
as last sentence in 5th paragraph (that begins ``The contribution award
fund* * *''): In the event of an out-of-cycle payout (see Section
V.C.), this funding floor may be suspended.
[64 FR 1484] Section V.C. [Added.] C. Conversion to the National
Security Personnel System (NSPS). Prior to transition of any
demonstration project employees to NSPS, a CCAS closeout appraisal must
be accomplished and an out-of-cycle payout may be made. Funding levels
for out-of-cycle payouts may be reduced on a pro rata basis if the
period between the previous CCAS payout and the out-of-cycle payout was
less than one year. Funding that corresponds to the general pay
increase shall not form part of the pay pools for any out-of-cycle
payouts. Thereafter, conversion of employees covered by this
demonstration to NSPS shall be accomplished in accordance with NSPS
implementing issuances published by the Department. The General
Schedule conversion procedures regarding reduction-in-force service
credit (i.e., Section V.B.4. of the existing demonstration project
plan) shall not apply to employees converted from the demonstration to
NSPS, because after conversion to NSPS, the Department will determine
retention standing solely on the basis of the NSPS final regulations at
5 CFR part 9901, subpart F, and related implementing issuances.
[FR Doc. E6-16261 Filed 10-3-06; 8:45 am]
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