Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 78889-78890 [2011-32525]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 244 / Tuesday, December 20, 2011 / Notices
Dated: December 13, 2011.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011–32552 Filed 12–19–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and
Technology
[Docket Number: 111208744–1741–01]
Alternative Personnel Management
System (APMS) at the National
Institute of Standards and Technology
National Institute of Standards
and Technology, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice informs the public
that the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST) is extending for
six (6) months beginning on January 5,
2012, its APMS direct-hire authority
pilot. NIST will continue piloting
direct-hire authority under Title 5, CFR,
Part 337, Subpart B for all positions
within NIST in the Scientific and
Engineering (ZP) career path at the Pay
Band III and above, for Nuclear Reactor
Operator positions in the Scientific and
Engineering (ZT) career path at Pay
Band III and above, and for all
occupations for which there is a special
rate under the General Schedule pay
system.
SUMMARY:
This notice is effective on
December 20, 2011.
DATES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Janet Hoffman at the National Institute
of Standards and Technology, (301)
975–3185; or Valerie Smith at the U.S.
Department of Commerce, (202) 482–
0272.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Background
In accordance with Public Law 99–
574, the NIST Authorization Act for
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 project plan has been
modified twice to clarify certain NIST
authorities (54 FR 21331 of May 17,
1989, and 55 FR 39220 of Sept. 25,
1990). The project plan and subsequent
amendments were consolidated in the
final APMS plan, which became
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:28 Dec 19, 2011
Jkt 226001
permanent on October 21, 1997, 62 FR
54604. NIST amended the plan on May
6, 2005, 70 FR 23996, which became
permanent on June 6, 2005. NIST
amended the plan again on July 15,
2008, 73 FR 40502, and that amendment
became permanent on October 1, 2008.
On December 3, 2010, the Department
of Commerce approved NIST’s request
to pilot direct-hire under Title 5, CFR,
Part 337, Subpart B, for a period of one
year for all positions within the
Scientific and Engineering (ZP) career
path at the Pay Band III and above, for
Nuclear Reactor Operator positions in
the Scientific and Engineering
Technician (ZT) career path at Pay Band
III and above, and for all occupations for
which there is a special rate under the
General Schedule (GS) pay system.
NIST received approval to gather data
on the impact of direct-hire authority on
preference eligibles, as well as
information supporting the finding of a
severe shortage of candidates for the
positions covered under the direct-hire
authority. On January 5, 2011, NIST
published a Federal Register notice
implementing the direct-hire pilot for a
period of one year.
The APMS 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 formally
modifies the APMS plan to align directhire procedures with OPM’s direct-hire
authority on a pilot basis for an
additional six months. During this
extended pilot period, NIST will be
submitting a request to the Department
of Commerce to implement direct-hire
authority under Title 5, CFR, Part 337,
Subpart B, on a permanent basis. The
request will include a statistical analysis
determining the impact of direct-hire
authority on preference eligibles as well
as a justification supporting the finding
of a severe shortage of candidates in the
covered positions. If additional time is
required to complete review of NIST’s
request, the pilot may be extended for
an additional six (6) months.
Dated: December 15, 2011.
Kevin Kimball,
Chief of Staff.
Table of Contents
I. Executive Summary
II. Basis for APMS Plan Modification
III. Changes to the APMS Plan
I. Executive Summary
The National Institute of Standards
and Technology’s (NIST) Alternative
Personnel Management System (APMS)
is designed to (1) improve hiring and
allow NIST to compete more effectively
for high-quality researchers through
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
78889
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.
Since implementing the APMS in
1987, according to findings in the Office
of Personnel Management’s ‘‘Summative
Evaluation Report National Institute of
Standards and Technology
Demonstration Project: 1988–1995,’’
NIST has accomplished the following:
NIST is more competitive for talent;
NIST retained more top performers than
a comparison group; and NIST managers
reported significantly more authority to
make decisions concerning employee
pay. This modification builds on this
success by extending the pilot on directhire authority under Title 5, CFR, Part
337, Subpart B, for a period of six (6)
additional months.
This amendment modifies the October
21, 1997 Federal Register notice.
Specifically, it enables NIST 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 for an
additional period of six (6) months.
During this extended pilot period,
NIST will be submitting a request to the
Department of Commerce to implement
direct-hire authority under Title 5, CFR,
Part 337, Subpart B, on a permanent
basis. The request will include a
statistical analysis determining the
impact of direct-hire authority on
preference eligibles as well as a
justification supporting the finding of a
severe shortage of candidates in the
covered positions. If additional time is
required to complete review of NIST’s
request, the pilot may be extended for
an additional six (6) months.
NIST will continually monitor the
effectiveness of this amendment.
II. Basis for APMS Plan Modification
Section 3304 (c) of title 5, United
States Code, provides agencies with the
authority to appoint candidates directly
to jobs for which OPM determines that
there is a severe shortage of candidates
or a critical hiring need.
E:\FR\FM\20DEN1.SGM
20DEN1
78890
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 244 / Tuesday, December 20, 2011 / Notices
In 1987 with the approval of the NIST
APMS (52 FR 37082), and in 1997 when
the APMS plan was modified (62 FR
54604), OPM concurred that all
occupations in the ZP career path at the
band III and above constitute a shortage
category; Nuclear Reactor Operator
positions in the ZT Career Path at the
Pay Band III and above constitute a
shortage category; and all occupations
for which there is a special rate under
the General Schedule pay system
constitute a shortage category.
OPM’s direct-hire authority enables
agencies to hire, after public notice is
given, any qualified application without
regard to 5 U.S.C. 3309–3318, 5 CFR
part 211, or 5 CFR part 337, subpart A.
NIST’s APMS allows the NIST Director
to modify procedures if no new waiver
from law or regulation is added. Given
this modification is in accordance with
existing law and regulation, the NIST
Director is authorized to make the
changes described in this notice. The
modification to our final Federal
Register Notice, dated October 21, 1997,
with respect to our Staffing authorities
is provided below.
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
III. Changes in the APMS Plan
The APMS at the NIST, published in
the Federal Register October 21, 1997
(62 FR 54604) is amended as follows:
1. The subsection titled: ‘‘Direct
Examination and Hiring’’ is deleted.
2. The subsection titled ‘‘Direct Hire:
Critical Shortage Highly Qualified
Candidates’’ is deleted.
3. The information under the
subsection titled: ‘‘NIST Applicant
Supply File’’ is replaced with: NIST
advertises the availability of job
opportunities in Direct-Hire occupations
by posting on the OPM USAJOBS Web
site. NIST will follow internal Direct
Hire procedures for accepting
applications.
4. The subsection titled: ‘‘Referral
Procedures for Direct Examination and
Hiring and Agency Based Staffing
Authorities’’ is deleted.
5. A new subsection titled: ‘‘Referral
Procedures for Direct-Hire’’ is added
and the information under this
subsection is as follows: After public
notice is given, a qualified candidate
may be referred without regard to
5 U.S.C. 3309–3318, 5 CFR part 211, or
5 CFR part 337, subpart A.
6. The subsection titled: ‘‘Direct
Referral’’ is deleted.
7. The subsection titled: ‘‘Rating and
Ranking’’ is deleted.
[FR Doc. 2011–32525 Filed 12–19–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–13–P
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:28 Dec 19, 2011
Jkt 226001
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XA873
Endangered Species; File No. 15566
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for
a permit modification.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
South Carolina Department of Natural
Resources, Marine Resources Division,
Charleston, SC 29422–2559
[Responsible Party: Mike Arendt], has
requested a modification to scientific
research Permit No. 15566.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email
comments must be received on or before
January 19, 2012.
ADDRESSES: The modification request
and related documents are available for
review by selecting ‘‘Records Open for
Public Comment’’ from the Features box
on the Applications and Permits for
Protected Species (APPS) home page,
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/, and then
selecting File No. 15566 from the list of
available applications. These documents
are also available upon written request
or by appointment in the following
offices:
Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,
1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705,
Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301)
427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376; and
Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th
Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701;
phone (727) 824–5312; fax (727) 824–
5309.
Written comments on this application
should be submitted to the Chief,
Permits and Conservation Division:
• By email to
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov (include
the File No. in the subject line of the
email),
• By facsimile to (301) 713–0376, or
• At the above address.
Those individuals requesting a public
hearing should submit a written request
to the Chief, Permits and Conservation
Division at the address listed above. The
request should set forth the specific
reasons why a hearing on this
application would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristy Beard or Amy Hapeman, (301)
427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
subject modification to Permit No.
15566, issued on April 8, 2011 (76 FR
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
22877), is requested under the authority
of the Endangered Species Act of 1973,
as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and
the regulations governing the taking,
importing, and exporting of endangered
and threatened species (50 CFR 222–
226).
Permit No. 15566 authorizes capture
by trawl up to 345 loggerhead (Caretta
caretta), 29 Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys
kempii), 9 green (Chelonia mydas), 1
leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and
1 hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata)
sea turtle in order to assess temporal
change in catch rates, size distributions,
sex and genetic ratios, and health of sea
turtles. Captures occur annually in
coastal waters between Winyah Bay, SC
and St. Augustine, FL. Turtles may be
handled, blood sampled, measured,
flipper and passive integrated
transponder (PIT) tagged, photographed,
and released. A subsample of animals
are subject to barnacle, keratin, fecal,
and tissue sampling, cloacal swabs, and
attachment of satellite and/or VHF
transmitters. Up to five loggerhead, one
Kemp’s ridley, one green, one
leatherback, and one hawksbill sea
turtle could be accidentally killed over
the life of the permit. The permit holder
requests authorization to increase the
number of authorized Kemp’s ridleys
from 29 to 79 turtles annually. The 50
additional sea turtles would be
captured, handled, blood sampled,
measured, flipper and PIT tagged,
photographed, and released. No other
changes would be made to the permit.
The purpose of the proposed research
remains the same.
Dated: December 14, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011–32543 Filed 12–19–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XA874
Marine Mammals; File No. 15240
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
the NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries
Science Center (PIFSC), 2570 Dole
Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
(Responsible Party: Frank A. Parrish,
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\20DEN1.SGM
20DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78889-78890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32525]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket Number: 111208744-1741-01]
Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS) at the National
Institute of Standards and Technology
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice informs the public that the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) is extending for six (6) months
beginning on January 5, 2012, its APMS direct-hire authority pilot.
NIST will continue piloting direct-hire authority under Title 5, CFR,
Part 337, Subpart B for all positions within NIST in the Scientific and
Engineering (ZP) career path at the Pay Band III and above, for Nuclear
Reactor Operator positions in the Scientific and Engineering (ZT)
career path at Pay Band III and above, and for all occupations for
which there is a special rate under the General Schedule pay system.
DATES: This notice is effective on December 20, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Hoffman at the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, (301) 975-3185; or Valerie Smith
at the U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-0272.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In accordance with Public Law 99-574, the NIST Authorization Act
for 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 project plan has been modified twice to clarify certain
NIST authorities (54 FR 21331 of May 17, 1989, and 55 FR 39220 of Sept.
25, 1990). The project plan and subsequent amendments were consolidated
in the final APMS plan, which became permanent on October 21, 1997, 62
FR 54604. NIST amended the plan on May 6, 2005, 70 FR 23996, which
became permanent on June 6, 2005. NIST amended the plan again on July
15, 2008, 73 FR 40502, and that amendment became permanent on October
1, 2008.
On December 3, 2010, the Department of Commerce approved NIST's
request to pilot direct-hire under Title 5, CFR, Part 337, Subpart B,
for a period of one year for all positions within the Scientific and
Engineering (ZP) career path at the Pay Band III and above, for Nuclear
Reactor Operator positions in the Scientific and Engineering Technician
(ZT) career path at Pay Band III and above, and for all occupations for
which there is a special rate under the General Schedule (GS) pay
system.
NIST received approval to gather data on the impact of direct-hire
authority on preference eligibles, as well as information supporting
the finding of a severe shortage of candidates for the positions
covered under the direct-hire authority. On January 5, 2011, NIST
published a Federal Register notice implementing the direct-hire pilot
for a period of one year.
The APMS 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 formally modifies the APMS plan to align
direct-hire procedures with OPM's direct-hire authority on a pilot
basis for an additional six months. During this extended pilot period,
NIST will be submitting a request to the Department of Commerce to
implement direct-hire authority under Title 5, CFR, Part 337, Subpart
B, on a permanent basis. The request will include a statistical
analysis determining the impact of direct-hire authority on preference
eligibles as well as a justification supporting the finding of a severe
shortage of candidates in the covered positions. If additional time is
required to complete review of NIST's request, the pilot may be
extended for an additional six (6) months.
Dated: December 15, 2011.
Kevin Kimball,
Chief of Staff.
Table of Contents
I. Executive Summary
II. Basis for APMS Plan Modification
III. Changes to the APMS Plan
I. Executive Summary
The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST)
Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS) 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.
Since implementing the APMS in 1987, according to findings in the
Office of Personnel Management's ``Summative Evaluation Report National
Institute of Standards and Technology Demonstration Project: 1988-
1995,'' NIST has accomplished the following: NIST is more competitive
for talent; NIST retained more top performers than a comparison group;
and NIST managers reported significantly more authority to make
decisions concerning employee pay. This modification builds on this
success by extending the pilot on direct- hire authority under Title 5,
CFR, Part 337, Subpart B, for a period of six (6) additional months.
This amendment modifies the October 21, 1997 Federal Register
notice. Specifically, it enables NIST 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 for an additional period of
six (6) months.
During this extended pilot period, NIST will be submitting a
request to the Department of Commerce to implement direct-hire
authority under Title 5, CFR, Part 337, Subpart B, on a permanent
basis. The request will include a statistical analysis determining the
impact of direct-hire authority on preference eligibles as well as a
justification supporting the finding of a severe shortage of candidates
in the covered positions. If additional time is required to complete
review of NIST's request, the pilot may be extended for an additional
six (6) months.
NIST will continually monitor the effectiveness of this amendment.
II. Basis for APMS Plan Modification
Section 3304 (c) of title 5, United States Code, provides agencies
with the authority to appoint candidates directly to jobs for which OPM
determines that there is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical
hiring need.
[[Page 78890]]
In 1987 with the approval of the NIST APMS (52 FR 37082), and in
1997 when the APMS plan was modified (62 FR 54604), OPM concurred that
all occupations in the ZP career path at the band III and above
constitute a shortage category; Nuclear Reactor Operator positions in
the ZT Career Path at the Pay Band III and above constitute a shortage
category; and all occupations for which there is a special rate under
the General Schedule pay system constitute a shortage category.
OPM's direct-hire authority enables agencies to hire, after public
notice is given, any qualified application without regard to 5 U.S.C.
3309-3318, 5 CFR part 211, or 5 CFR part 337, subpart A. NIST's APMS
allows the NIST Director to modify procedures if no new waiver from law
or regulation is added. Given this modification is in accordance with
existing law and regulation, the NIST Director is authorized to make
the changes described in this notice. The modification to our final
Federal Register Notice, dated October 21, 1997, with respect to our
Staffing authorities is provided below.
III. Changes in the APMS Plan
The APMS at the NIST, published in the Federal Register October 21,
1997 (62 FR 54604) is amended as follows:
1. The subsection titled: ``Direct Examination and Hiring'' is
deleted.
2. The subsection titled ``Direct Hire: Critical Shortage Highly
Qualified Candidates'' is deleted.
3. The information under the subsection titled: ``NIST Applicant
Supply File'' is replaced with: NIST advertises the availability of job
opportunities in Direct-Hire occupations by posting on the OPM USAJOBS
Web site. NIST will follow internal Direct Hire procedures for
accepting applications.
4. The subsection titled: ``Referral Procedures for Direct
Examination and Hiring and Agency Based Staffing Authorities'' is
deleted.
5. A new subsection titled: ``Referral Procedures for Direct-Hire''
is added and the information under this subsection is as follows: After
public notice is given, a qualified candidate may be referred without
regard to 5 U.S.C. 3309-3318, 5 CFR part 211, or 5 CFR part 337,
subpart A.
6. The subsection titled: ``Direct Referral'' is deleted.
7. The subsection titled: ``Rating and Ranking'' is deleted.
[FR Doc. 2011-32525 Filed 12-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
