Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 48128-48129 [2012-19812]
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48128
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 156 / Monday, August 13, 2012 / Notices
used in export production. On its
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choose the duty rate during customs
entry procedures that applies to diesel
engine fuel lines (duty rate—2.5%) for
the foreign status inputs noted below.
Customs duties also could possibly be
deferred or reduced on foreign status
production equipment.
Components and materials sourced
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adhesive tape, tubes/pipes/profiles,
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parts, plates, fixtures, alarm tanks, and
caps (duty rate ranges from free to
8.5%).
Public comment is invited from
interested parties. Submissions shall be
addressed to the Board’s Executive
Secretary at the address below. The
closing period for their receipt is
September 24, 2012.
A copy of the notification will be
available for public inspection at the
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 2111,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20230–0002, and in the ‘‘Reading
Room’’ section of the Board’s Web site,
which is accessible via www.trade.gov/
ftz.
For further information, contact Pierre
Duy at Pierre.Duy@trade.gov or (202)
482–1378.
Dated: July 26, 2012.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–19806 Filed 8–10–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and
Technology
[Docket Number: 120706222–2222–01]
Alternative Personnel Management
System (APMS) at the National
Institute of Standards and Technology
National Institute of Standards
and Technology, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of modifications.
AGENCY:
This notice announces
changes to the existing provisions of the
National Institute of Standards and
Technology’s (NIST) Alternative
Personnel Management System (APMS)
published October 21, 1997. NIST is
implementing direct-hire authority on a
permanent basis for all Nuclear Reactor
Operator positions in NIST’s Scientific
and Engineering Technician (ZT) career
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:41 Aug 10, 2012
Jkt 226001
path at the Pay Band III and above, and
for all positions in NIST’s Scientific and
Engineering (ZP) career path at the Pay
Band III and above except for the
Information Technology Management,
2210 series; the General Engineering,
801 series; and the General Physical
Science, 1301 series.
DATES: The changes to the APMS
announced in this notice are effective
on August 13, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Susanne Porch at the National Institute
of Standards and Technology, (301)
975–3000; or Valerie Smith at the U.S.
Department of Commerce, (202) 482–
0272.
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 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 first
amended the plan on May 6, 2005 (70
FR 23996), to strengthen the link
between pay and performance, to
simplify the pay-for-performance
system, and to broaden the link between
performance and retention service credit
for reduction in force, which became
permanent upon publication. NIST
amended the plan again on July 15,
2008 (73 FR 40500), to improve
flexibility in rewarding new and midlevel employees and to broaden the
ability to make performance distinctions
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 5 U.S.C.
3304(a)(3) 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. On January 5, 2011, a
Federal Register notice was published
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(76 FR 539) implementing the directhire pilot for a period of one year.
During the pilot, information was
gathered 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 December 20, 2011, NIST
published a Federal Register notice (76
FR 78889) extending the direct-hire
pilot for an additional six (6) months.
During this extended pilot period, NIST
submitted a request to the Department
of Commerce to implement direct-hire
authority under 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) on a
permanent basis for Nuclear Reactor
Operator positions in NIST’s Scientific
and Engineering Technician (ZT) career
path at the Pay Band III and above, and
for all positions in NIST’s Scientific and
Engineering (ZP) career path at the Pay
Band III and above except for the
Information Technology Management,
2210 series; the General Engineering,
801 series; and the General Physical
Science, 1301 series. The request
included 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. On April 20, 2012,
the Department of Commerce, in
consultation with OPM, approved
NIST’s request to implement direct-hire
authority on a permanent basis for the
above occupations. The Department of
Commerce also granted NIST approval
to continue piloting direct-hire
authority for all positions in the General
Engineering, 801 series and the General
Physical Science, 1301 series for an
additional period of twelve (12) months.
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
announces the modification to the
APMS and implements direct-hire
authority under 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) on a
permanent basis.
Dated: August 8, 2012.
David Robinson,
Associate Director for Management
Resources.
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
E:\FR\FM\13AUN1.SGM
13AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 156 / Monday, August 13, 2012 / Notices
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 (OPM’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 implementing direct-hire
authority under 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) on a
permanent basis.
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 on a permanent
basis.
NIST will continually monitor the
effectiveness of this amendment.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
II. Basis for APMS Plan Modification
Section 3304(a)(3) 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.
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,
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:29 Aug 10, 2012
Jkt 226001
with respect to our Staffing authorities
is provided below.
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
Pay 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.
III. Changes in the APMS Plan
The APMS at NIST, published in the
Federal Register on 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: ‘‘Direct Hire: Critical
Shortage Occupations’’ is replaced with:
NIST uses direct-hire procedures for
categories of occupations which require
skills that are in short supply. All
Nuclear Reactor Operator positions at
the Pay Band III and above in the ZT
Career Path constitute a shortage
category, and all occupations at the Pay
Band III and above in the ZP Career Path
constitute a shortage category except for
the Information Technology
Management, 2210 series; the General
Engineering, 801 series; and the General
Physical Science, 1301 series. Any
positions in these categories may be
filled through direct-hire procedures in
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3).
NIST advertises the availability of job
opportunities in direct-hire occupations
by posting on the OPM USAJOBS Web
site. NIST will follow internal directhire procedures for accepting
applications.
4. The subsection titled: ‘‘NIST
Applicant Supply File’’ is deleted.
5. The subsection titled: ‘‘Referral
Procedures for Direct Examination and
Hiring and Agency Based Staffing
Authorities’’ is deleted. The information
under this subsection titled: ‘‘1. Direct
Referral’’ and ‘‘2. Rating and Ranking’’
is also deleted.
6. 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.
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
48129
NIST intends to publish a
consolidated plan that reflects all
amendments to the APMS in FY13.
[FR Doc. 2012–19812 Filed 8–10–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and
Technology
National Institute of Standards and
Technology Performance Review
Board Membership
National Institute of Standards
and Technology, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice lists the
membership of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Performance
Review Board (NIST PRB) and
supersedes the list published on
September 9, 2011.
DATES: The changes to the NIST PRB
membership list announced in this
notice are effective on August 13, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Didi
Hanlein at the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, (301) 975–
3000 or by email at
desiree.hanlein@nist.gov.
SUMMARY:
The
National Institute of Standards and
Technology Performance Review Board
(NIST PRB or Board) reviews
performance appraisals, agreements,
and recommended actions pertaining to
employees in the Senior Executive
Service and ST–3104 employees. The
Board makes recommendations to the
appropriate appointing authority
concerning such matters so as to ensure
the fair and equitable treatment of these
individuals.
This notice lists the membership of
the NIST PRB and supersedes the list
published in the Federal Register on
September 9, 2011 (76 FR 55880).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
NIST PRB Members
Delwin Brockett (C), Chief Information
Officer, National Institute of
Standards & Technology,
Gaithersburg, MD 20899,
Appointment Expires: 12/31/13.
Robert Dimeo (C), Director, NIST Center
for Neutron Research, National
Institute of Standards & Technology,
Gaithersburg, MD 20899,
Appointment Expires: 12/31/12.
Stella Fiotes (C) (alternate), Chief
Facilities Management Officer,
National Institute of Standards &
Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899,
Appointment Expires: 12/31/12.
E:\FR\FM\13AUN1.SGM
13AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 156 (Monday, August 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48128-48129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19812]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket Number: 120706222-2222-01]
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 of modifications.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces changes to the existing provisions of
the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Alternative
Personnel Management System (APMS) published October 21, 1997. NIST is
implementing direct-hire authority on a permanent basis for all Nuclear
Reactor Operator positions in NIST's Scientific and Engineering
Technician (ZT) career path at the Pay Band III and above, and for all
positions in NIST's Scientific and Engineering (ZP) career path at the
Pay Band III and above except for the Information Technology
Management, 2210 series; the General Engineering, 801 series; and the
General Physical Science, 1301 series.
DATES: The changes to the APMS announced in this notice are effective
on August 13, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susanne Porch at the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, (301) 975-3000; or Valerie Smith
at the U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-0272.
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 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
first amended the plan on May 6, 2005 (70 FR 23996), to strengthen the
link between pay and performance, to simplify the pay-for-performance
system, and to broaden the link between performance and retention
service credit for reduction in force, which became permanent upon
publication. NIST amended the plan again on July 15, 2008 (73 FR
40500), to improve flexibility in rewarding new and mid-level employees
and to broaden the ability to make performance distinctions 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 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) 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. On January 5,
2011, a Federal Register notice was published (76 FR 539) implementing
the direct-hire pilot for a period of one year. During the pilot,
information was gathered 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 December 20, 2011, NIST published a Federal Register notice (76
FR 78889) extending the direct-hire pilot for an additional six (6)
months. During this extended pilot period, NIST submitted a request to
the Department of Commerce to implement direct-hire authority under 5
U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) on a permanent basis for Nuclear Reactor Operator
positions in NIST's Scientific and Engineering Technician (ZT) career
path at the Pay Band III and above, and for all positions in NIST's
Scientific and Engineering (ZP) career path at the Pay Band III and
above except for the Information Technology Management, 2210 series;
the General Engineering, 801 series; and the General Physical Science,
1301 series. The request included 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. On April 20, 2012, the Department
of Commerce, in consultation with OPM, approved NIST's request to
implement direct-hire authority on a permanent basis for the above
occupations. The Department of Commerce also granted NIST approval to
continue piloting direct-hire authority for all positions in the
General Engineering, 801 series and the General Physical Science, 1301
series for an additional period of twelve (12) months.
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 announces the modification to
the APMS and implements direct-hire authority under 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3)
on a permanent basis.
Dated: August 8, 2012.
David Robinson,
Associate Director for Management Resources.
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
[[Page 48129]]
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 (OPM'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 implementing direct-hire authority under 5
U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) on a permanent basis.
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 on a permanent basis.
NIST will continually monitor the effectiveness of this amendment.
II. Basis for APMS Plan Modification
Section 3304(a)(3) 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.
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.
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 Pay 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.
III. Changes in the APMS Plan
The APMS at NIST, published in the Federal Register on 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: ``Direct Hire:
Critical Shortage Occupations'' is replaced with:
NIST uses direct-hire procedures for categories of occupations
which require skills that are in short supply. All Nuclear Reactor
Operator positions at the Pay Band III and above in the ZT Career Path
constitute a shortage category, and all occupations at the Pay Band III
and above in the ZP Career Path constitute a shortage category except
for the Information Technology Management, 2210 series; the General
Engineering, 801 series; and the General Physical Science, 1301 series.
Any positions in these categories may be filled through direct-hire
procedures in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3). 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: ``NIST Applicant Supply File'' is
deleted.
5. The subsection titled: ``Referral Procedures for Direct
Examination and Hiring and Agency Based Staffing Authorities'' is
deleted. The information under this subsection titled: ``1. Direct
Referral'' and ``2. Rating and Ranking'' is also deleted.
6. 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.
NIST intends to publish a consolidated plan that reflects all
amendments to the APMS in FY13.
[FR Doc. 2012-19812 Filed 8-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
