83 FR 54707 - Commerce Alternative Personnel System

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 211 (October 31, 2018)

Page Range		54707-54708
FR Document		2018-23832

This notice announces the expansion of employee coverage under the Commerce Alternative Personnel System (CAPS), formerly the Department of Commerce Personnel Management Demonstration Project, published in the Federal Register on December 24, 1997. This coverage is extended to include employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Atmospheric Research (OAR) located in the Earth Systems Research Laboratory, the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, and the Pacific Marine Environmental Research Laboratory. This notice also serves to modify the plan to add the Investigative Analysis Series, 1805 to the Administrative (ZA) career path.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 211 (Wednesday, October 31, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 211 (Wednesday, October 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54707-54708]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23832]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Docket No.: 180928902-8902-01


Commerce Alternative Personnel System

AGENCY: Office of Administration, Office of Human Resources Management, 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the expansion of employee coverage under 
the Commerce Alternative Personnel System (CAPS), formerly the 
Department of Commerce Personnel Management Demonstration Project, 
published in the Federal Register on December 24, 1997. This coverage 
is extended to include employees of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Atmospheric Research (OAR) 
located in the Earth Systems Research Laboratory, the Great Lakes 
Environmental Research Laboratory, and the Pacific Marine Environmental 
Research Laboratory. This notice also serves to modify the plan to add 
the Investigative Analysis Series, 1805 to the Administrative (ZA) 
career path.

DATES: The amended Commerce Alternative Personnel System is effective 
October 31, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Department of Commerce--Sandra 
Thompson, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 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 final plan in the Federal Register 
on Wednesday, December 24, 1997 (62 FR 67434). The demonstration 
project was designed to simplify current classification systems for 
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 twelve 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); 81 FR 54787 (August 17, 2016); and 82 FR 1688 (January 6, 
2017). 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 expands CAPS to include 
additional bargaining unit and non-bargaining unit employees in the 
OAR, located in the Earth Systems Research Laboratory (ESRL), the Great 
Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), and the Pacific Marine 
Environmental Research Laboratory (PMEL); and adds the Investigative 
Analysis Series, 1805 to the Administrative (ZA) 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

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

[[Page 54708]]

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 1 office of the 
Deputy Secretary in the Office of the Secretary, 6 offices of the Chief 
Financial Officer/Assistant Secretary for Administration in the Office 
of the Secretary; the Bureau of Economic Analysis; 2 units of the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA): the 
Institute for Telecommunication Sciences and the First Responder 
Network Authority (an independent authority within NTIA); 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 December 24, 1997, Federal Register 
notice. Specifically, it expands DoC CAPS to include additional OAR 
bargaining unit and non-bargaining unit employees located in the ESRL, 
GLERL, and the PMEL; and adds the Investigative Analysis Series, 1805 
to the Administrative (ZA) career path

II. Basis for CAPS Expansion

A. Purpose
    CAPS is designed to provide supervisors/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.
    OAR is the primary research and development organization within 
NOAA. OAR research results allow decision makers to make effective 
judgements in order to prevent the loss of human life and conserve and 
manage natural resources while maintaining a strong economy. OAR 
conducts research programs in coastal, marine, atmospheric, and space 
sciences through its own laboratories and offices, as well as through 
networks of university-based programs. The work consists of research, 
modeling, and environmental observations relating to weather and air 
quality, climate, and ocean and coastal resources. Since the inception 
of the demonstration project in 1997, and subsequent modification/
expansion notices, units of OAR have participated in CAPS, with the 
exception of the GLERL, and the PMEL. In October 2005, the ESRL was 
formed, which absorbed the following former demonstration project 
covered units: Aeronomy Laboratory, Air Resources Laboratory--Surface 
Radiation Research Branch, Climate Diagnostics Center, Climate 
Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory, Environmental Technology 
Laboratory, and the Forecast Systems Laboratory. Subsequent 
reorganizations have occurred within OAR, resulting in the alignment of 
additional bargaining and non-bargaining unit General Schedule (GS) 
employees under ESRL. With the majority of ESRL employees being covered 
by an alternative personnel management system, a determination was made 
to have one uniform pay system and to convert the remaining GS ESRL 
workforce under CAPS.
    The expansion of CAPS coverage to include the remaining OAR 
laboratories and the bargaining unit and non-bargaining unit GS 
employees of ESRL will allow OAR to continue to benefit from the 
flexibilities provided by CAPS and should improve the organization's 
ability to recruit and retain a high-quality workforce by offering one 
uniform pay system throughout OAR.
    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.
B. Participating Employees
    Employee notification of this expansion will be accomplished by 
providing a full set of briefings to employees and managers and 
providing them electronic access to all CAPS policies and procedures, 
including the twelve previous Federal Register Notices. A copy of this 
Federal Register notice will also be accessible electronically upon 
approval. Subsequent supervisor training and informational briefings 
for all employees will be accomplished prior to the implementation date 
of the expansion.
C. Labor Participation
    Labor organizations were notified about the CAPS expansion 
pertaining to their bargaining unit membership. Bargaining-unit 
employees are covered by AFGE Local 2186, Boulder, Colorado, and AFGE 
Local 3908, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

III. Changes to the Project Plan

    The CAPS at DoC, published in the Federal Register on December 24, 
1997 (62 FR 67434), is amended as follows:
    1. The following organization will be added to the project plan, 
Section II D--Participating Organizations
    Within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
    Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, (OAR),
    Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL)
    Pacific Marine Environmental Research Laboratory (PMEL)
    Additional employees in the following:
    Earth Science Research Laboratory (ESRL)
    2. The following bargaining units are added to the project plan, 
Section II F--Labor Participation Table 4--Bargaining Unit Coverage.

ESRL . . . Boulder, CO AFGE Local 2186
GLERL . . . Ann Arbor, MI AFGE Local 3908

    3. The following series is added to the project plan, Section II E. 
Participating Employees--Table 2.--Occupational Series by Career Path

Administrative (ZA) career path, 1805, Investigative Analysis

[FR Doc. 2018-23832 Filed 10-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-EA-P

54708 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 211 / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 / Notices

responsive personnel systems, and programs in coastal, marine, to the implementation date of the
selective use of retention incentives; (3) atmospheric, and space sciences expansion.
strengthen the manager’s role in through its own laboratories and offices,
C. Labor Participation
personnel management through as well as through networks of
delegation of personnel authorities; and university-based programs. The work Labor organizations were notified
(4) increase the efficiency of personnel consists of research, modeling, and about the CAPS expansion pertaining to
systems through the installation of a environmental observations relating to their bargaining unit membership.
simpler and more flexible classification weather and air quality, climate, and Bargaining-unit employees are covered
system based on pay banding through ocean and coastal resources. Since the by AFGE Local 2186, Boulder, Colorado,
reduction of guidelines, steps, and inception of the demonstration project and AFGE Local 3908, Ann Arbor,
paperwork in classification, hiring, and in 1997, and subsequent modification/ Michigan.
other personnel systems, and through expansion notices, units of OAR have
III. Changes to the Project Plan
automation. participated in CAPS, with the
The current participating exception of the GLERL, and the PMEL. The CAPS at DoC, published in the
organizations include 1 office of the In October 2005, the ESRL was formed, Federal Register on December 24, 1997
Deputy Secretary in the Office of the which absorbed the following former (62 FR 67434), is amended as follows:
Secretary, 6 offices of the Chief demonstration project covered units: 1. The following organization will be
Financial Officer/Assistant Secretary for Aeronomy Laboratory, Air Resources added to the project plan, Section II D—
Administration in the Office of the Laboratory—Surface Radiation Research Participating Organizations
Secretary; the Bureau of Economic Branch, Climate Diagnostics Center, Within the National Oceanic and
Analysis; 2 units of the National Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Telecommunications and Information Laboratory, Environmental Technology Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NTIA): the Institute for Laboratory, and the Forecast Systems Research, (OAR),
Telecommunication Sciences and the Laboratory. Subsequent reorganizations Great Lakes Environmental Research
First Responder Network Authority (an have occurred within OAR, resulting in Laboratory (GLERL)
independent authority within NTIA); the alignment of additional bargaining Pacific Marine Environmental
and 12 units of the National Oceanic and non-bargaining unit General Research Laboratory (PMEL)
and Atmospheric Administration: Office Schedule (GS) employees under ESRL. Additional employees in the
of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, With the majority of ESRL employees following:
National Marine Fisheries Service, the being covered by an alternative Earth Science Research Laboratory
National Environmental Satellite, Data, personnel management system, a (ESRL)
and Information Service, National determination was made to have one 2. The following bargaining units are
Weather Service—Space Environment uniform pay system and to convert the added to the project plan, Section II F—
Center, National Ocean Service, remaining GS ESRL workforce under Labor Participation Table 4—Bargaining
Program Planning and Integration CAPS. Unit Coverage.
Office, Office of the Under Secretary, The expansion of CAPS coverage to ESRL . . . Boulder, CO AFGE Local
Marine and Aviation Operations, Office include the remaining OAR laboratories 2186
of the Chief Administrative Officer, and the bargaining unit and non- GLERL . . . Ann Arbor, MI AFGE
Office of the Chief Financial Officer, the bargaining unit GS employees of ESRL Local 3908
Workforce Management Office, and the will allow OAR to continue to benefit
from the flexibilities provided by CAPS 3. The following series is added to the
Office of the Chief Information Officer. project plan, Section II E. Participating
This amendment modifies the and should improve the organization’s
ability to recruit and retain a high- Employees—Table 2.—Occupational
December 24, 1997, Federal Register Series by Career Path
notice. Specifically, it expands DoC quality workforce by offering one
uniform pay system throughout OAR. Administrative (ZA) career path, 1805,
CAPS to include additional OAR
DoC’s CAPS allows for modifications Investigative Analysis
bargaining unit and non-bargaining unit
of procedures if no new waiver from law [FR Doc. 2018–23832 Filed 10–30–18; 8:45 am]
employees located in the ESRL, GLERL,
or regulation is added. Given that this BILLING CODE 3510–EA–P
and the PMEL; and adds the
expansion and modification is in
Investigative Analysis Series, 1805 to
accordance with existing law and
the Administrative (ZA) career path
regulation and CAPS is a permanent DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
II. Basis for CAPS Expansion alternative personnel system, the DoC is
authorized to make the changes Foreign-Trade Zones Board
A. Purpose
described in this notice. [Order No. 2065]
CAPS is designed to provide
supervisors/managers at the lowest B. Participating Employees
Production Authority Not Approved;
organizational level the authority, Employee notification of this PBR, Inc. d/b/a SKAPS Industries;
control, and flexibility to recruit, retain, expansion will be accomplished by Foreign-Trade Zone 26; (Non-Woven
develop, recognize, and motivate its providing a full set of briefings to Geotextiles); Athens, Georgia
workforce, while ensuring adequate employees and managers and providing
accountability and oversight. them electronic access to all CAPS Pursuant to its authority under the Foreign-
OAR is the primary research and policies and procedures, including the Trade Zones Act of June 18, 1934, as
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

development organization within twelve previous Federal Register amended (19 U.S.C. 81a–81u), the Foreign-
NOAA. OAR research results allow Notices. A copy of this Federal Register Trade Zones Board (the Board) adopts the
decision makers to make effective notice will also be accessible following Order:
judgements in order to prevent the loss electronically upon approval. Whereas, the Foreign-Trade Zones
of human life and conserve and manage Subsequent supervisor training and (FTZ) Act provides for ‘‘. . . the
natural resources while maintaining a informational briefings for all establishment . . . of foreign-trade
strong economy. OAR conducts research employees will be accomplished prior zones in ports of entry of the United

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Document Created: 2018-10-31 00:33:42
Document Modified: 2018-10-31 00:33:42

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 October 31, 2018.
Contact		Department of Commerce--Sandra Thompson, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 51020, Washington, DC 20230, (202) 482-0056 or Valerie Smith at (202) 482-0272.
FR Citation		83 FR 54707