81 FR 54787 - [Docket No. 160714611-6611-01] HEADOffice of Administration; Commerce Alternative Personnel System
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 159 (August 17, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 159 (August 17, 2016)
| Page Range | 54787-54789 | |
| FR Document | 2016-19616 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 54787-54789] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-19616] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE [Docket No. 160714611-6611-01] Office of Administration; Commerce Alternative Personnel System AGENCY: Office of Administration, Office of Human Resources Management, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces modifications to the provisions of the Commerce Alternative Personnel System, formerly the Department of Commerce Personnel Management Demonstration Project, published in the Federal Register on December 24, 1997. As published on January 2, 2015 (80 FR 25), the Commerce Alternative Personnel System implemented direct-hire authority, under section 3304(a)(3) of Title 5 of the United States Code, for recruitment of certain scientific and engineering positions in the ZP career path at the Pay Band IV and above. Direct-hire authority was authorized for positions located in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), employed under the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). The System was modified again, as published on June 22, 2016 (81 FR 40653), to increase the number of positions FirstNet could fill under direct-hire authority and to include certain occupational series in the ZP career path at the Pay Band III level and above. This notice serves to make changes to the System to expand the use of direct-hire authority to the NTIA, Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), and authorizes ITS to fill certain ZP positions, on a limited basis, at the Pay Band III level and above. This notice also serves to announce the addition of the 1520--Mathematics occupational series to the Commerce Alternative Personnel System. DATES: The amended Commerce Alternative Personnel System is effective August 17, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Department of Commerce--Sandra Thompson, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Room 51020, Washington, DC 20230, (202) 482-0056 or Valerie Smith at (202) 482-0272. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Background The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved the Department of Commerce (DoC) demonstration project for an alternative personnel management system and published the approval of the final plan in the Federal Register on Wednesday, December 24, 1997 (62 FR 67434). The demonstration project was designed to simplify current classification systems allowing greater flexibility in classifying work and paying employees; establish a performance management and rewards system for improving individual and organizational performance; and improve recruiting and examining to attract highly-qualified candidates. The purpose of the project was to strengthen the contribution of human resources management and test whether the same innovations conducted under the National Institute of Standards and Technology alternative personnel management system would produce similarly successful results in other DoC environments. The project was implemented on March 29, 1998. The project plan has been modified ten times to clarify certain DoC Demonstration Project authorities, and to extend and expand the project: 64 FR 52810 (September 30, 1999); 68 FR 47948 (August 12, 2003); 68 FR 54505 (September 17, 2003); 70 FR 38732 (July 5, 2005); 71 FR 25615 (May 1, 2006); 71 FR 50950 (August 28, 2006); 74 FR 22728 (May 14, 2009); 80 FR 25 (January 2, 2015); 81 FR 20322 (April 7, 2016); 81 FR 40653 (June 22, 2016). With the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Public Law 110-161, on December 26, 2007, the project was made permanent (extended indefinitely) and renamed the Commerce Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). CAPS 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 announces that the DoC implements ITS' use of direct-hire authority under 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) to fill specific scientific and engineering positions announced through this notice in the ZP career path and adds the occupational series: 1520--Mathematics to the ZP career path. The DoC will follow the CAPS plan, as published in the Federal Register on December 24, 1997, and subsequent modifications as listed in the Background Section of this notice. Kevin E. Mahoney, Director for Human Resources Management and Chief Human Capital Officer. Table of Contents I. Executive Summary II. Basis for CAPS Expansion III. Changes to the Project Plan [[Page 54788]] I. Executive Summary CAPS is designed to (1) improve hiring and allow DoC to compete more effectively for high-quality candidates through direct hiring, selective use of higher entry salaries, and selective use of recruitment incentives; (2) motivate and retain staff through higher pay potential, pay-for-performance, more responsive personnel systems, and selective use of retention incentives; (3) strengthen the manager's role in personnel management through delegation of personnel authorities; and (4) increase the efficiency of personnel systems through the 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. The current participating organizations include 7 offices of the Chief Financial Officer/Assistant Secretary for Administration in the Office of the Secretary; the Bureau of Economic Analysis; the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences--National Telecommunications and Information Administration; the First Responder Network Authority-- National Telecommunications and Information Administration; and 12 units of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, National Weather Service--Space Environment Center, National Ocean Service, Program Planning and Integration Office, Office of the Under Secretary, Marine and Aviation Operations, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, the Workforce Management Office, and the Office of the Chief Information Officer. This amendment modifies the June 22, 2016, Federal Register notice (81 FR 40653). Specifically, it expands and implements direct-hire authority for ITS and enables ITS to hire, after public notice is given, any qualified applicants in the ZP career path series as defined in the Basis for CAPS Expansion section without regard to 5 U.S.C. 3309-3318, 5 CFR part 211, or 5 CFR part 337, subpart A on a limited basis. II. Basis for CAPS Expansion A. Purpose CAPS is designed to provide managers at the lowest organizational level the authority, control, and flexibility to recruit, retain, develop, recognize, and motivate its workforce, while ensuring adequate accountability and oversight. ITS is responsible for providing core telecommunications research and engineering services to promote enhanced domestic competition and new technology deployment; advancing telecommunications and information services; improving foreign trade opportunities for U.S. telecommunication firms and more efficient use of the radio frequency spectrum. ITS also serves as a principal Federal resource for investigating the telecommunications challenges of other Federal agencies, state and local governments, private corporations and associations, and international organizations. In particular, this includes assisting Federal public safety agencies, the Federal Communications Commission, and agencies that use Federal spectrum. As specified in the June 28, 2010, Presidential Memorandum, ``Unleashing the Wireless Broadband Revolution'' NTIA is responsible for exploring innovative spectrum-sharing technologies. As the research and engineering laboratory for NTIA, ITS supports NTIA by performing research that enables the U.S. Government, national and international standards organizations, and many aspects of private industry to manage the radio spectrum and ensure that innovative, new technologies are recognized and effective. To continue to advance strategic initiatives to make additional spectrum available for commercial wireless use and to meet the increasing radio spectrum needs of both Federal and commercial users in the U.S. as efficiently and effectively as possible, ITS must quickly hire qualified individuals, for specialized roles, to advance communication technologies. Section 3304(a)(3) of Title 5 United States Code provides agencies with the authority to appoint candidates directly to jobs for which the OPM determines that there is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need. OPM's direct-hire authority enables agencies to hire, after public notice is given, any qualified applicant without regard to 5 U.S.C. 3309-3318, 5 CFR part 211, or 5 CFR part 337, subpart A. This notice implements ITS' use of direct-hire authority to fill up to 20 positions in the ZP career path, at Pay Band III or higher, in the following occupational series: 0854--Computer Engineering; 0855-- Electronics Engineering; 1310--Physics; 1550--Computer Science; or 1520--Mathematics. The use of direct-hire authority to fill these positions will not exceed 20 positions in the ZP career path at any one time. ITS will track the number of hires made under direct-hire authority, ensuring numbers specified for the occupational series are not exceeded. In 1997, with the approval of the DoC's Demonstration Project (62 FR 67434, December 24, 1997), OPM concurred that some occupations in the ZP career path at the Pay Band III and above constitute a shortage category, and some occupations for which there is a special rate under the General Schedule pay system constitute a shortage category. Past recruitment efforts have demonstrated a critical shortage of candidates possessing specialized technical expertise in spectrum measurements, spectrum monitoring, propagation modeling, 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technologies, mobile systems development, computer security, systems engineering, scientific software development, as well as expertise in public safety organizational operations and infrastructure capabilities. ITS will use direct-hire authority to recruit Computer Engineers, Electronics Engineers, Computer Scientists, Physicists and Mathematicians in the ZP career path, Pay Band III or higher, with efforts focused on recruiting individuals possessing the above listed specialized technical areas of expertise. Recruitment of individuals possessing this expertise is critical in order to measure, analyze, monitor, and evaluate cutting edge technologies and methods that will make spectrum sharing possible. DoC's CAPS allows for modifications of procedures if no new waiver from law or regulation is added. Given that this expansion and modification is in accordance with existing law and regulation and CAPS is a permanent alternative personnel system, the DoC is authorized to make the changes described in this notice. III. Changes to the Project Plan The CAPS at DoC, originally published in the Federal Register on December 24, 1997 (62 FR 67434), and subsequently expanded as discussed above, Section III (81 FR 40653, June 22, 2016), is modified as follows: 1. The following series is added to Table 2: Scientific and Engineering (ZP) Career Path 1520, Mathematics Series 2. Section III Personnel System Changes, (B) Staffing: Replace the paragraph in subsection titled: ``Direct-Hire Authority: Critical Shortage Occupations'' to state: [[Page 54789]] DoC FirstNet and ITS use direct-hire procedures for categories of occupations that require skills that are in short supply. The following occupations and series constitute a shortage category at the Pay Band III and above in the ZP Career Path: Emergency Management Specialists (Public Safety) (0089), Electrical Engineers (0850), Computer Engineers (0854), Electronics Engineers, (0855), Physicists (1310), Computer Scientists (1550), and Mathematicians (1520). FirstNet is authorized to fill positions in the following occupational series using direct-hire procedures: 0089, 0850, 0854, 0855, and 1550 in all duty locations. ITS is authorized to fill positions in the following occupational series: 0854, 0855, 1310, 1550, and 1520 in all duty locations. Positions in these categories may be filled by FirstNet and ITS through direct-hire procedures in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3). DoC FirstNet and ITS advertise the availability of job opportunities in direct-hire occupations by posting on the OPM USAJOBS Web site. DoC FirstNet and ITS will follow internal direct-hire procedures for accepting applications. [FR Doc. 2016-19616 Filed 8-16-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-EA-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 159 / Wednesday, August 17, 2016 / Notices 54787
identifiable name is attached to an DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE approval of the final plan in the Federal
objection, the Forest Service will Register on Wednesday, December 24,
attempt to verify the identity of the [Docket No. 160714611–6611–01] 1997 (62 FR 67434). The demonstration
objector to confirm objection eligibility; project was designed to simplify current
(2) Signature or other verification of Office of Administration; Commerce classification systems allowing greater
authorship upon request (a scanned Alternative Personnel System flexibility in classifying work and
signature for electronic mail may be paying employees; establish a
AGENCY: Office of Administration, Office
filed with the objection); performance management and rewards
of Human Resources Management,
(3) Identification of the lead objector, system for improving individual and
Department of Commerce.
when multiple names are listed on an organizational performance; and
ACTION: Notice.
objection. The Forest Service will improve recruiting and examining to
communicate to all parties to an SUMMARY: This notice announces attract highly-qualified candidates. The
objection through the lead objector. modifications to the provisions of the purpose of the project was to strengthen
Verification of the identity of the lead Commerce Alternative Personnel the contribution of human resources
objector must also be provided if System, formerly the Department of management and test whether the same
requested; Commerce Personnel Management innovations conducted under the
(4) The name of the plan revision Demonstration Project, published in the National Institute of Standards and
being objected to, and the name and title Federal Register on December 24, 1997. Technology alternative personnel
of the Responsible Official; As published on January 2, 2015 (80
(5) A statement of the issues and/or management system would produce
FR 25), the Commerce Alternative similarly successful results in other DoC
parts of the plan revision to which the Personnel System implemented direct-
objection applies; environments. The project was
hire authority, under section 3304(a)(3) implemented on March 29, 1998. The
(6) A concise statement explaining the of Title 5 of the United States Code, for
objection and suggesting how the project plan has been modified ten
recruitment of certain scientific and times to clarify certain DoC
proposed plan decision may be engineering positions in the ZP career
improved. If the objector believes that Demonstration Project authorities, and
path at the Pay Band IV and above.
the plan revision is inconsistent with to extend and expand the project: 64 FR
Direct-hire authority was authorized for
law, regulation, or policy, an 52810 (September 30, 1999); 68 FR
positions located in the National
explanation should be included; 47948 (August 12, 2003); 68 FR 54505
Telecommunications and Information
(7) A statement that demonstrates the (September 17, 2003); 70 FR 38732 (July
Administration (NTIA), employed under
link between the objector’s prior 5, 2005); 71 FR 25615 (May 1, 2006); 71
the First Responder Network Authority
substantive formal comments and the (FirstNet). The System was modified FR 50950 (August 28, 2006); 74 FR
content of the objection, unless the again, as published on June 22, 2016 (81 22728 (May 14, 2009); 80 FR 25 (January
objection concerns an issue that arose FR 40653), to increase the number of 2, 2015); 81 FR 20322 (April 7, 2016);
after the opportunities for formal positions FirstNet could fill under 81 FR 40653 (June 22, 2016). With the
comment; and direct-hire authority and to include passage of the Consolidated
(8) All documents referenced in the certain occupational series in the ZP Appropriations Act, 2008, Public Law
objection (a bibliography is not career path at the Pay Band III level and 110–161, on December 26, 2007, the
sufficient), except that the following above. project was made permanent (extended
need not be provided: This notice serves to make changes to indefinitely) and renamed the
a. All or any part of a Federal law or the System to expand the use of direct- Commerce Alternative Personnel
regulation, hire authority to the NTIA, Institute for System (CAPS).
b. Forest Service Directive System Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), and CAPS provides for modifications to be
documents and land management plans authorizes ITS to fill certain ZP made as experience is gained, results are
or other published Forest Service positions, on a limited basis, at the Pay analyzed, and conclusions are reached
documents, Band III level and above. This notice
c. Documents referenced by the Forest on how the system is working. This
also serves to announce the addition of notice announces that the DoC
Service in the planning documentation the 1520—Mathematics occupational
related to the proposal subject to implements ITS’ use of direct-hire
series to the Commerce Alternative authority under 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) to
objection, and Personnel System.
d. Formal comments previously fill specific scientific and engineering
DATES: The amended Commerce positions announced through this notice
provided to the Forest Service by the
Alternative Personnel System is in the ZP career path and adds the
objector during the plan revision
effective August 17, 2016. occupational series: 1520—Mathematics
comment period.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: to the ZP career path. The DoC will
Responsible Official Department of Commerce—Sandra follow the CAPS plan, as published in
The responsible official for the Thompson, U.S. Department of the Federal Register on December 24,
revision of the land management plan Commerce, 14th and Constitution 1997, and subsequent modifications as
for the Francis Marion National Forest Avenue NW., Room 51020, Washington, listed in the Background Section of this
is Rick Lint, Forest Supervisor, Francis DC 20230, (202) 482–0056 or Valerie notice.
Marion and Sumter National Forests, Smith at (202) 482–0272.
Kevin E. Mahoney,
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
4931 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
29212. Director for Human Resources Management
1. Background and Chief Human Capital Officer.
Dated: August 10, 2016.
The Office of Personnel Management
John Richard Lint, (OPM) approved the Department of Table of Contents
Forest Supervisor. Commerce (DoC) demonstration project I. Executive Summary
[FR Doc. 2016–19608 Filed 8–16–16; 8:45 am] for an alternative personnel II. Basis for CAPS Expansion
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P management system and published the III. Changes to the Project Plan
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:39 Aug 16, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM 17AUN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_54946/page/1.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 159 / Wednesday, August 17, 2016 / Notices 54789
DoC FirstNet and ITS use direct-hire DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL
procedures for categories of occupations that PROTECTION
require skills that are in short supply. The Industry and Security Bureau
following occupations and series constitute a Credit Union Advisory Council Meeting
shortage category at the Pay Band III and Submission for OMB Review;
above in the ZP Career Path: Emergency Comment Request AGENCY: Bureau of Consumer Financial
Management Specialists (Public Safety) Protection.
(0089), Electrical Engineers (0850), Computer ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
Engineers (0854), Electronics Engineers, The Department of Commerce will
(0855), Physicists (1310), Computer submit to the Office of Management and
SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the
Scientists (1550), and Mathematicians (1520). Budget (OMB) for clearance the
announcement of a public meeting of
FirstNet is authorized to fill positions in the following proposal for collection of
the Credit Union Advisory Council
following occupational series using direct- information under the provisions of the
hire procedures: 0089, 0850, 0854, 0855, and
(CUAC or Council) of the Consumer
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
1550 in all duty locations. ITS is authorized Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or
chapter 35).
to fill positions in the following occupational Bureau). The notice also describes the
series: 0854, 0855, 1310, 1550, and 1520 in Agency: Bureau of Industry and functions of the Council. Notice of the
all duty locations. Positions in these Security. meeting is permitted by section 9 of the
categories may be filled by FirstNet and ITS Title: International Import Certificate. CUAC Charter and is intended to notify
through direct-hire procedures in accordance Form Number(s): BIS–645P. the public of this meeting. Specifically,
with 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3). DoC FirstNet and section 9(d) of the CUAC Charter states:
ITS advertise the availability of job OMB Control Number: 0694–0017.
opportunities in direct-hire occupations by Type of Request: Regular. (1) Each meeting of the Council shall be
posting on the OPM USAJOBS Web site. DoC open to public observation, to the extent that
Burden Hours: 52 hours. a facility is available to accommodate the
FirstNet and ITS will follow internal direct-
hire procedures for accepting applications. Number of Respondents: 195 public, unless the Bureau, in accordance
respondents. with paragraph (4) of this section, determines
[FR Doc. 2016–19616 Filed 8–16–16; 8:45 am] that the meeting shall be closed. The Bureau
BILLING CODE 3510–EA–P
Average Hours per Response: 16 also will make reasonable efforts to make the
minutes per response. meetings available to the public through live
Needs and Uses: The United States recording. (2) Notice of the time, place and
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE and several other countries have purpose of each meeting, as well as a
increased the effectiveness of their summary of the proposed agenda, shall be
Foreign-Trade Zones Board respective controls over international published in the Federal Register not more
than 45 or less than 15 days prior to the
trade in strategic commodities by means scheduled meeting date. Shorter notice may
[S–75–2016] of an Import Certificate procedure. For be given when the Bureau determines that
the U.S. importer, this procedure the Council’s business so requires; in such
Approval of Subzone Status: Westlake provides that, where required by the event, the public will be given notice at the
Chemical Corporation, Geismar, exporting country, the importer submits earliest practicable time. (3) Minutes of
Louisiana an international import certificate to the meetings, records, reports, studies, and
U.S. Government to certify that he/she agenda of the Council shall be posted on the
On May 25, 2016, the Executive will import commodities into the Bureau’s Web site
Secretary of the Foreign-Trade Zones United States and will not reexport such (www.consumerfinance.gov). (4) The Bureau
(FTZ) Board docketed an application commodities, except in accordance with
may close to the public a portion of any
submitted by the Greater Baton Rouge meeting, for confidential discussion. If the
the export control regulations of the Bureau closes a meeting or any portion of a
Port Commission, grantee of FTZ 154, United States. The U.S. Government, in
requesting subzone status subject to the meeting, the Bureau will issue, at least
turn, certifies that such representations annually, a summary of the Council’s
existing activation limit of FTZ 154, on have been made. activities during such closed meetings or
behalf of Westlake Chemical portions of meetings.
Corporation in Geismar, Louisiana. Affected Public: Businesses and other
for-profit institutions. DATES: The meeting date is Thursday,
The application was processed in
Frequency: On occasion. September 1, 2016, 3:30 p.m. to 5:00
accordance with the FTZ Act and
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to p.m. eastern daylight time.
Regulations, including notice in the
obtain benefits. ADDRESSES: The meeting location is the
Federal Register inviting public
comment (81 FR 35297, June 2, 2016). Consumer Financial Protection Bureau,
This information collection request
The FTZ staff examiner reviewed the 1275 First Street NE., Washington, DC
may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
application and determined that it 20002.
Follow the instructions to view the
meets the criteria for approval. Department of Commerce collections FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Pursuant to the authority delegated to currently under review by OMB. Crystal Dully, Outreach and Engagement
the FTZ Board’s Executive Secretary (15 Written comments and Associate, 202–435–9588, CFPB_
CFR Sec. 400.36(f)), the application to recommendations for the proposed CABandCouncilsEvents@cfpb.gov,
establish Subzone 154C is approved, information collection should be sent Consumer Advisory Board and Councils
subject to the FTZ Act and the Board’s within 30 days of publication of this Office, External Affairs, 1275 First Street
regulations, including Section 400.13, notice to OIRA Submission@ NE., Washington, DC 20002.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
and further subject to FTZ 154’s 2,000- omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
acre activation limit. Dated: August 11, 2016. I. Background
Dated: August 11, 2016. Glenna Mickelson, Section 2 of the CUAC Charter
Andrew McGilvray, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief provides: ‘‘Pursuant to the executive
Executive Secretary. Information Officer. and administrative powers conferred on
[FR Doc. 2016–19647 Filed 8–16–16; 8:45 am] [FR Doc. 2016–19517 Filed 8–16–16; 8:45 am] the Consumer Financial Protection
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P BILLING CODE 3510–33–P Bureau by section 1012 of the Dodd-
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:39 Aug 16, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM 17AUN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_54946/page/3.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-09 11:34:56
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 11:34:56
| 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 | The amended Commerce Alternative Personnel System is effective August 17, 2016. | |
| Contact | Department of Commerce--Sandra Thompson, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Room 51020, Washington, DC 20230, (202) 482-0056 or Valerie Smith at (202) 482-0272. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 54787 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR