80 FR 57580 - Alternative Personnel Management System at the National Institute of Standards and Technology

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 185 (September 24, 2015)

Page Range		57580-57581
FR Document		2015-24224

This notice announces a modification to existing provisions of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS), changing the classification structure for the Administrative (ZA) career path, Pay Bands I through IV, based upon a classification review of the level of difficulty and responsibility associated with each Pay Band.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 185 (Thursday, September 24, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 185 (Thursday, September 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57580-57581]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24224]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket Number: 150904821-5821-01]


Alternative Personnel Management System at the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a modification to existing provisions of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Alternative 
Personnel Management System (APMS), changing the classification 
structure for the Administrative (ZA) career path, Pay Bands I through 
IV, based upon a classification review of the level of difficulty and 
responsibility associated with each Pay Band.

DATES: This notice is effective on September 24, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, please 
contact Janet Hoffman, by telephone at (301) 975-3185 or by email at 
janet.hoffman@nist.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In accordance with Public Law 99-574, the National Bureau of 
Standards Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987, the Office of 
Personnel Management (OPM) approved a demonstration project plan, 
``Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS) at the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),'' and published the plan 
in the Federal Register on October 2, 1987 (52 FR 37082). The published 
demonstration project plan was modified twice, once to clarify certain 
NIST authorities (54 FR 21331, May 17, 1989) and once to revise the 
performance appraisal system and the pay administration system in order 
to better link pay with performance (55 FR 39220, September 25, 1990). 
The APMS was made permanent in Section 10 of the National Technology 
Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995, Public Law 104-113, 110 Stat. 775 
(Mar. 7, 1996) (codified at 15 U.S.C. 275 note), and the project plan 
and subsequent amendments were consolidated in the final APMS plan, 
which was published in the Federal Register on October 21, 1997 (62 FR 
54604). NIST published seven subsequent amendments to the final APMS 
plan: One on May 6, 2005 (70 FR 23996), which became effective upon 
publication in the Federal Register; one on July 15, 2008 (73 FR 
40500), which became effective on October 1, 2008; one on July 21, 2009 
(74 FR 35841), which became effective upon publication in the Federal 
Register; one on January 5, 2011 (76 FR 539), which became effective 
upon publication in the Federal Register; one on June 19, 2012 (77 FR 
36485), which became effective upon publication in the Federal 
Register; one on August 13, 2012 (77 FR 48128), which became effective 
upon publication in the Federal Register; and one on August 24, 2012 
(77 FR 51518), which became effective upon publication in the Federal 
Register. NIST published a correction to the final APMS plan on July 
21, 2009 (74 FR 35843), which became effective upon publication in the 
Federal Register.
    The plan provides for modifications to be made as experience is 
gained, results are analyzed, and conclusions are reached on how the 
system is working. This notice modifies the classification structure 
for the Administrative (ZA) career path, Pay Bands I through IV, based 
upon a classification review of the level of difficulty and 
responsibility associated with each Pay Band.

Richard Cavanagh,
Acting Associate Director for Laboratory Programs.

Table of Contents

I. Executive Summary
II. Basis for APMS Plan Modification
III. Changes to the APMS Plan

[[Page 57581]]

I. Executive Summary

    The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) 
Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS) (62 FR 54604, October 
21, 1997) is designed to (1) improve hiring and allow NIST to compete 
more effectively for high-quality researchers through direct hiring, 
selective use of higher entry salaries, and selective use of recruiting 
allowances; (2) motivate and retain staff through higher pay potential, 
pay-for-performance, more responsive personnel systems, and selective 
use of retention allowances; (3) strengthen the manager's role in 
personnel management through delegation of personnel authorities; and 
(4) increase the efficiency of personnel systems through installation 
of a simpler and more flexible classification system based on pay 
banding through reduction of guidelines, steps, and paperwork in 
classification, hiring, and other personnel systems, and through 
automation.
    This amendment modifies the October 21, 1997 Federal Register 
notice. Specifically, it modifies the classification structure for the 
Administrative (ZA) career path, Pay Band I through IV. NIST will 
continually monitor the effectiveness of this modification.

II. Basis for APMS Plan Modification

    Modification of the APMS is based upon a change in the 
classification structure of the ZA career path. This new structural 
change will enable NIST to meet the intended design and objectives of 
the plan and increase the future vitality of the NIST workforce. The 
NIST APMS allows the NIST Director to make minor procedural 
modifications within already existing waivers of law or regulation with 
appropriate notice. Accordingly, NIST modifies the APMS to change the 
classification structure for the Administrative (ZA) career path, Pay 
Bands I through IV (set forth below).

III. Changes in the APMS Plan

    The APMS at NIST, published in the Federal Register on October 21, 
1997 (62 FR 54604), as amended, is modified as follows:
    1. The chart titled ``NIST Career Paths and Pay Bands'' under the 
subsection titled ``Position Classification'' is replaced with:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN24SE15.005

[FR Doc. 2015-24224 Filed 9-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P

57580 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 185 / Thursday, September 24, 2015 / Notices

order is dispositive. A full description We are issuing and publishing these project plan, ‘‘Alternative Personnel
of the scope of the order is contained in final results in accordance with sections Management System (APMS) at the
the Issues and Decision Memorandum. 751(b)(1) and 777(i)(1) and (2) of the National Institute of Standards and
Act, and 19 CFR 351.216. Technology (NIST),’’ and published the
Analysis of Comments Received
Dated: September 14, 2015. plan in the Federal Register on October
All issues raised by the parties in the Ronald K. Lorentzen,
2, 1987 (52 FR 37082). The published
case briefs are addressed in the Issues demonstration project plan was
Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement
and Decision Memorandum. A list of modified twice, once to clarify certain
and Compliance.
the issues addressed in the Issues and NIST authorities (54 FR 21331, May 17,
Decision Memorandum is appended to Appendix—List of Topics Discussed in 1989) and once to revise the
this notice. the Preliminary Decision Memorandum performance appraisal system and the
I. Summary pay administration system in order to
Final Results of Changed
II. Background better link pay with performance (55 FR
Circumstances Review
III. Scope of the Order 39220, September 25, 1990). The APMS
Upon review of the comments IV. Discussion of the Issues in Successor-in- was made permanent in Section 10 of
received, the Department has Interest the National Technology Transfer and
determined that Shanfu II operates in 1. Changes in Ownership and Management Advancement Act of 1995, Public Law
most material respects as a different 2. Production Facilities and Equipment 104–113, 110 Stat. 775 (Mar. 7, 1996)
business entity than Shanfu I, as 3. Supplier Relationships (codified at 15 U.S.C. 275 note), and the
discussed in the Preliminary Results 4. Customer Base
5. Dissolution
project plan and subsequent
and the Issues and Decision 6. Change in Corporate Form amendments were consolidated in the
Memorandum. Furthermore, Shanfu I 7. Expansion of Business Scope final APMS plan, which was published
officially and effectively ceased to V. Summary of Findings in the Federal Register on October 21,
operate for two years, having dissolved VI. Recommendation 1997 (62 FR 54604). NIST published
and de-registered in 2012. Therefore, the [FR Doc. 2015–23646 Filed 9–23–15; 8:45 am] seven subsequent amendments to the
Department adopts the Preliminary BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
final APMS plan: One on May 6, 2005
Results and finds that Shanfu II is not (70 FR 23996), which became effective
the successor-in-interest to Shanfu I. upon publication in the Federal
Instructions to U.S. Customs and DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Register; one on July 15, 2008 (73 FR
Border Protection 40500), which became effective on
National Institute of Standards and October 1, 2008; one on July 21, 2009
As a result of this determination, the Technology (74 FR 35841), which became effective
Department finds that Yongjia and upon publication in the Federal
[Docket Number: 150904821–5821–01]
Shanfu II are subject to the cash deposit Register; one on January 5, 2011 (76 FR
rate currently assigned to the PRC-wide Alternative Personnel Management 539), which became effective upon
entity with respect to the subject System at the National Institute of publication in the Federal Register; one
merchandise, i.e., $4.71 per kilogram.4 Standards and Technology on June 19, 2012 (77 FR 36485), which
Consequently, the Department will became effective upon publication in
instruct U.S. Customs and Border AGENCY: National Institute of Standards the Federal Register; one on August 13,
Protection to continue suspension of and Technology (NIST), Commerce. 2012 (77 FR 48128), which became
liquidation and to collect estimated ACTION: Notice. effective upon publication in the
antidumping duties for all shipments of Federal Register; and one on August 24,
subject merchandise produced by SUMMARY: This notice announces a 2012 (77 FR 51518), which became
Shanfu II and exported by Yongjia at the modification to existing provisions of effective upon publication in the
current cash deposit rate assigned to the the National Institute of Standards and Federal Register. NIST published a
PRC-wide entity of $4.71 per kilogram.5 Technology’s (NIST) Alternative correction to the final APMS plan on
This cash deposit requirement shall Personnel Management System (APMS), July 21, 2009 (74 FR 35843), which
remain in effect until further notice. changing the classification structure for became effective upon publication in
the Administrative (ZA) career path, Pay the Federal Register.
Notification to Parties Bands I through IV, based upon a The plan provides for modifications
This notice is the only reminder to classification review of the level of to be made as experience is gained,
parties subject to administrative difficulty and responsibility associated results are analyzed, and conclusions
protective order (APO) of their with each Pay Band. are reached on how the system is
responsibility concerning the DATES: This notice is effective on working. This notice modifies the
disposition of proprietary information September 24, 2015. classification structure for the
disclosed under APO in accordance FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Administrative (ZA) career path, Pay
with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely further information, please contact Janet Bands I through IV, based upon a
written notification of the return or Hoffman, by telephone at (301) 975– classification review of the level of
destruction of APO materials or 3185 or by email at janet.hoffman@ difficulty and responsibility associated
conversion to judicial protective order is nist.gov. with each Pay Band.
hereby requested. Failure to comply
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Richard Cavanagh,
with the regulations and terms of an
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

APO is a sanctionable violation. Background Acting Associate Director for Laboratory
Programs.
In accordance with Public Law 99–
4 See Fresh Garlic from the People’s Republic of 574, the National Bureau of Standards Table of Contents
China: Final Results and Partial Rescission of the
19th Antidumping Administrative Review, 80 FR Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987, I. Executive Summary
34141 (June 15, 2015). the Office of Personnel Management II. Basis for APMS Plan Modification
5 Id. (OPM) approved a demonstration III. Changes to the APMS Plan

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Document Created: 2018-02-26 10:18:16
Document Modified: 2018-02-26 10:18:16

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		This notice is effective on September 24, 2015.
Contact		For further information, please contact Janet Hoffman, by telephone at (301) 975-3185 or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 57580

80 FR 57580 - Alternative Personnel Management System at the National Institute of Standards and Technology

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Institute of Standards and Technology

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 185 (September 24, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology