Commerce Alternative Personnel System, 22807-22808 [2019-10380]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 97 / Monday, May 20, 2019 / Notices
Notice and request for
comments.
ACTION:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites
comments on this information
collection for which approval from the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) will be requested.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received by July 19, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas Dickson, Rural Development
Innovation Center—Regulatory Team,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522,
Washington, DC 20250, Telephone:
202–690–4492, email: thomas.dickson@
usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office
of Management and Budget’s (OMB)
regulation (5 CFR part 1320)
implementing provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.
L. 104–13) requires that interested
members of the public and affected
agencies have an opportunity to
comment on information collection and
recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an
information collection that the Agency
is submitting to OMB for extension.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of
the Agency’s estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology. Comments may be sent to:
Thomas Dickson, Rural Development
Innovation Center—Regulatory Team,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522,
Washington, DC 20250, Telephone:
202–690–4492, email: thomas.dickson@
usda.gov.
Title: Broadband Grant Program.
OMB Control Number: 0572–0127.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The provision of broadband
transmission service is vital to the
economic development, education,
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SUMMARY:
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16:41 May 17, 2019
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health, and safety of rural Americans.
To further this objective, RUS provides
financial assistance in the form of grant
to eligible entities that propose, on a
‘‘community-oriented connectivity’’
basis, to provide broadband
transmission service that fosters
economic growth and delivers enhanced
educational, health care, and public
safety services to extremely rural, lower
income communities. The Agency gives
priority to rural areas that it believes
have the greatest need for broadband
transmission services. Grant authority is
utilized to deploy broadband
infrastructure to extremely rural, lower
income communities on a ‘‘communityoriented connectivity’’ basis. The
‘‘community-oriented connectivity’’
concept integrates the deployment of
broadband infrastructure with the
practical, everyday uses and
applications of the facilities. This
broadband access is intended to
promote economic development and
provide enhanced educational and
health care opportunities. The Agency
provides financial assistance to eligible
entities that are proposing to deploy
broadband transmission service in rural
communities where such service does
not currently exist and who will
connect the critical community facilities
including the local schools, libraries,
hospitals, police, fire and rescue
services and who will operate a
community center that provides free
and open access to residents.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 140.84 hours per
response.
Respondents: Public bodies,
commercial companies, cooperatives,
nonprofits, Indian tribes, and limited
dividend or mutual associations and
must be incorporated or a limited
liability company.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
82.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1.16.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 13,380.
Copies of this information collection
can be obtained from Diane M. Berger,
Rural Development Innovation Center—
Regulatory Team, (715) 619–3124.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
also become a matter of public record.
Chad Rupe,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–10408 Filed 5–17–19; 8:45 am]
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22807
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[Docket No.: 190430420–9420–01]
Commerce Alternative Personnel
System
Office of Administration, Office
of Human Resources Management,
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
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), National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
located in the Northeast Fisheries
Science Center.
DATES: The amended Commerce
Alternative Personnel System is
effective May 20, 2019.
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:
SUMMARY:
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 thirteen
times to clarify certain DoC
Demonstration Project authorities, and
E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM
20MYN1
22808
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 97 / Monday, May 20, 2019 / Notices
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); 82 FR 1688
(January 6, 2017); and 83 FR 54707
(October 31, 2018). 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 bargaining unit
employees in the NMFS located in the
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
(NEFSC).
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
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
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
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
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16:41 May 17, 2019
Jkt 247001
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: The
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research, the National Marine Fisheries
Service, the National Environmental
Satellite, Data, and Information Service,
the National Weather Service—Space
Environment Center, the National Ocean
Service, the Program Planning and
Integration Office, the Office of the
Under Secretary, the Marine and
Aviation Operations, the Office of the
Chief Administrative Officer, the Office
of the Chief Financial Officer, the Office
of Human Capital Services, formerly 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 NMFS bargaining unit
employees located in the NEFSC.
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.
NMFS is responsible for the
stewardship of the nation’s ocean
resources and their habitat. NMFS
provide vital services for the nation
including productive and sustainable
fisheries, safe sources of seafood, the
recovery and conservation of protected
resources, and healthy ecosystems.
NMFS works in partnership with
Regional Fishery Management Councils
to assess and predict the status of fish
stocks, set catch limits, ensure
compliance with fisheries regulations,
and reduce bycatch. Under the Marine
Mammal Protection Act and the
Endangered Species Act, NMFS works
to recover protected marine species
while allowing economic and
recreational opportunities. Since the
inception of the demonstration project
in 1997, and subsequent modification/
expansion notices, units of NMFS have
participated in CAPS. A September 17,
2003, notice (68 FR 54505) announced
the expansion of CAPS to include nonbargaining unit employees located in
the NEFSC. With the majority of NEFSC
employees being covered by an
alternative personnel management
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
system, NOAA and NMFS made the
determination to convert the remaining
bargaining unit GS NEFSC workforce
under CAPS.
The expansion of CAPS coverage to
include the remaining bargaining unit
GS employees of NEFSC will allow
NMFS to continue to benefit from the
flexibilities provided by CAPS and
should improve the organization’s
ability to recruit and retain a highquality workforce.
DoC’s CAPS allows for modifications
of procedures if no new waiver from law
or regulation is added. Given that this
expansion 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
thirteen previous Federal Register
notices and 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
The Labor organization was notified
about the CAPS expansion pertaining to
their bargaining unit membership.
Bargaining unit employees are covered
by AFGE Local 231, Woods Hole,
Massachusetts.
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),
National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS),
Additional employees in the
following:
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
(NEFSC)
2. The following bargaining units are
added to the project plan, Section II
F—Labor Participation Table 4—
Bargaining Unit Coverage
NEFSC ..............
Woods Hole,
MA.
AFGE Local
231.
[FR Doc. 2019–10380 Filed 5–17–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–EA–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 97 (Monday, May 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22807-22808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10380]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[Docket No.: 190430420-9420-01]
Commerce Alternative Personnel System
AGENCY: Office of Administration, Office of Human Resources Management,
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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), National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) located in the Northeast Fisheries Science Center.
DATES: The amended Commerce Alternative Personnel System is effective
May 20, 2019.
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 thirteen times to clarify certain DoC Demonstration Project
authorities, and
[[Page 22808]]
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); 82 FR 1688 (January 6, 2017); and 83 FR 54707
(October 31, 2018). 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
bargaining unit employees in the NMFS located in the Northeast
Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC).
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 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: The Office of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, the National Marine Fisheries
Service, the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information
Service, the National Weather Service--Space Environment Center, the
National Ocean Service, the Program Planning and Integration Office,
the Office of the Under Secretary, the Marine and Aviation Operations,
the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, the Office of the Chief
Financial Officer, the Office of Human Capital Services, formerly 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 NMFS bargaining
unit employees located in the NEFSC.
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.
NMFS is responsible for the stewardship of the nation's ocean
resources and their habitat. NMFS provide vital services for the nation
including productive and sustainable fisheries, safe sources of
seafood, the recovery and conservation of protected resources, and
healthy ecosystems. NMFS works in partnership with Regional Fishery
Management Councils to assess and predict the status of fish stocks,
set catch limits, ensure compliance with fisheries regulations, and
reduce bycatch. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the
Endangered Species Act, NMFS works to recover protected marine species
while allowing economic and recreational opportunities. Since the
inception of the demonstration project in 1997, and subsequent
modification/expansion notices, units of NMFS have participated in
CAPS. A September 17, 2003, notice (68 FR 54505) announced the
expansion of CAPS to include non-bargaining unit employees located in
the NEFSC. With the majority of NEFSC employees being covered by an
alternative personnel management system, NOAA and NMFS made the
determination to convert the remaining bargaining unit GS NEFSC
workforce under CAPS.
The expansion of CAPS coverage to include the remaining bargaining
unit GS employees of NEFSC will allow NMFS 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.
DoC's CAPS allows for modifications of procedures if no new waiver
from law or regulation is added. Given that this expansion 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 thirteen previous Federal Register notices and 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
The Labor organization was notified about the CAPS expansion
pertaining to their bargaining unit membership. Bargaining unit
employees are covered by AFGE Local 231, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
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),
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS),
Additional employees in the following:
Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)
2. The following bargaining units are added to the project plan,
Section II F--Labor Participation Table 4--Bargaining Unit Coverage
NEFSC........................... Woods Hole, MA.... AFGE Local 231.
[FR Doc. 2019-10380 Filed 5-17-19; 8:45 am]
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